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April 28th
On this day in history in ....
1979 - WWF ran at the Philadelphia Spectrum with Greg Valentine defeating WWF World Champion Bob Backlund when the match was stopped due to Backlund's excessive bleeding. However, because there was no pinfall or submission, Backlund retained the title.
1987 - Drew Gulak is born.
1990 - Jimmy Valiant defeats Jerry Lawler for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Lawler's fifth reign with the title and beginning Valiant's second run. On the same show, Brickhouse Brown & Sweet Daddy Falcone defeated Rex King & Steve Doll for the USWA Tag Team Title.
1990 - Saturday Night's Main Event, "The Tussle In Texas" aired on NBC, showing matches that were taped on April 23rd in Austin, Texas. Here are the matches that aired:
- Hulk Hogan defeated Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig with a legdrop.
- Earthquake defeated Hillbilly Jim with an Earthquake splash.
- The Hart Foundation vs. The Rockers ended in a double DQ when Demolition came in and all three teams started brawling.
- WWF World Champion The Ultimate Warrior defeated Haku with a splash.
- The Big Boss Man defeated Akeem via DQ when Ted Dibiase interfered.
1995 - A new record for the largest crowd to attend a professional wrestling event is set in Pyongyang, North Korea for a New Japan event held in Pyongyang Stadium as part of the World Peace Festival. The show drew a crowd of 150,000, but the record would only stand for one day, as it would be shattered the next night. Here are the results from the show:
- Yuji Nagata defeated Tokimitsu Ishizawa with a choke.
- Bull Nakano & Akira Hokuto defeated Manami Toyota & Mariko Yoshida when Nakano pinned Yoshida.
- Hiroshi Hase defeated Wild Pegasus (Chris Benoit) with a Northern Lights Suplex.
- Masahiro Chono & Hiro Saito defeated El Samurai & Tadao Yasuda when Chono pinned Samurai.
- 2 Cold Scorpio defeated Shinjiro Ohtani when the referee stopped the match due to excessive bleeding.
- Kensuke Sasai defeated Masa Saito.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto vs. Scott Norton ended in a twenty minute draw.
1996 - In Your House VII, "Good Friends, Better Enemies" aired on Pay-per-view from Omaha, Nebraska at the Civic Auditorium. The show would feature the final WWF Pay-per-view appearances of Diesel (Kevin Nash) and Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) before their historic move to WCW.
Here are the results:
- In a match shown on the "Free-For-All" preshow, Marc Mero defeated The 1-2-3 Kid via DQ when Hunter Hearst Helmsley ran in and gave Mero a pedigree.
- Davey Boy Smith & Owen Hart defeated Jake Roberts & Ahmed Johnson when Smith made Roberts submit to a half crab after Jim Cornette hit Roberts in the leg with his tennis racket.
- The Ultimate Warrior defeated Intercontinental Champion Goldust via countout when Goldust refused to return to the ring and face the Warrior.
- Vader defeated Razor Ramon with a sit-down splash as Ramon went for a sunset flip.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions The Bodydonnas defeated The Godwinns.
- WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels defeated Diesel in a no-disqualification match with a superkick. During the match, Diesel pulled the prosthetic leg off of Mad Dog Vachon (who was sitting at ringside) and used it to hit Michaels.
The following matches were held after the PPV broadcast had ended:
- Savio Vega defeated Steve Austin.
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Marc Mero.
- The Undertaker defeated Mankind.
1997 - Owen Hart defeats Rocky Maivia for the WWF Intercontinental Title in Omaha, Nebraska with a backslide, putting an end to Rock's first-ever WWF championship reign.
1999 - Rob Conway defeats Nick Dinsmore for the Ohio Valley Heavyweight Title.
2002 - Former NWA World champion Lou Thesz, who many consider to be the greatest wrestler of all time, passes away at 86. Thesz had undergone a triple bypass surgery earlier in April and had been recuperating from the surgery. Although he had long retired when the internet came along, Thesz spent a lot of time communicating with fans via different forums.
Sheldon Goldberg, promoter of NECW in MA and a friend of Thesz' penned the following upon learning of Thesz' passing:
I just received word that we lost our greatest champion and one of our dearest friends, Lou Thesz at 7:35 this morning. He had been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks for heart surgery. His wife Charlie had kept us informed of his progress by e-mail and sent word of his passing this afternoon. Her words were upbeat and full of love.
In part of her message she said, "With a full heart and clear head, I can tell all of you Lou died content and with no regrets!"
She continued by saying, "Lou will be cremated here in Florida, I will take his ashes to St.Louis, we will have a simple memorial service (yet to be determined), and I will let his ashes go into the Merrimac River where his happy memories of life started. Later we will have a wake type party here in Winter Garden. Don't mourn - just love what he gave you. He loved and appreciated what you all gave him.
Any contributions, in lieu of flowers, can be sent to the IWIM/Thesz Memorial Fund at P.O. Box 794 Newton, IA 50208 or you can send a check for IWIM to me at P.O. Box 783783 - Winter Garden, FL - 34778.
In the meantime, have a glass of wine, or a beer for Lou...and pray you have a life as full or as happy!"
R.I.P. Champ.
2002 - WWE broadcast Sunday Night Heat. John Keane filed the following TV report:
Heat Report for 4/28/2002.
Matches taped on 4/22 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Your Announcers are Jonathan Coachman and Raven.
Show opens with still photos from last Sundays Backlash PPV. In the nights main event, Hulk Hogan defeated HHH to become our new Undisputed Champion. Hulk had some unasked-for help from The Undertaker.
The pyros explode, Coach and Raven welcome us in, and we get straight to work…
1st Match: Crash Holly vs. The Bossman.
Decent pop for Crash, INCREDIBLE hatred for Bossman. Circle, lockup, Bossman shoves Crash across the ring into corner. Crash right back, sets for scoop-slam, nope, Bossman lands uppercut, Crash down. Bossman lays in boots, brings Crash up, test of strength won by Bossman, Crash into corner. Crash climbs to top rope, screaming in terror all the way, Bossman chucks him across ring. Crash to ropes, Bossman slides out of ring, nails Crash with uppercut to face. Crash down, Bossman back in, sets Crash in corner, whips him to opposite, Bossman charges, Avalanche sends Crash down for 2, then 2 more. Bossman argues with ref, Crash recovers, Bossman turns into punches to gut. Crash again tries for scoop-slam, Bossman counters with headbutt, Crash down yet again. Bossman meets with success on his scoop-slam attempt, Crash down, Bossman goes off ropes, drops the elbow, Crash evades, Bossman to canvas. Up, Crash scores forearms to face, goes off ropes straight into a Big Boot, Crash to usual place. Bossman pauses to taunt crowd, brings Crash up, hiptosses him right back down. Bossman tears at Crash’s face, ref calls for break, Crash gets slammed to mat at Bossman complies. Bossman drops the knee, brings Crash up, whips him to corner, Crash face-first to mat. Bossman applies a chinlock, letting off with a punch to back of Crash’s neck. Crash crawls to corner, Bossman takes break to bask in crowds adulation (excuse me while I pause to wipe the dripping sarcasm from the monitor), turns, Crash scores a series of kicks to gut. Bossman responds by grinding in the boot, again warned off by ref. Bossman hauls Crash up, lands punch to lower back, Crash again down, Bossman scores boot. Bossman brings Crash up, forearms him to ropes, Crash strikes back with forearm shots, Bossman to corner. Crash whips Bossman to opposite corner, charges, Bossman gets both boots up, Crash takes them in face. Bossman approaches, Crash again tries for scoop-slam, AND IT WORKS! Crash pauses in shock, Bossman gets to feet, Crash scores punches to face, goes off ropes, scores with an elbow, Bossman still standing. Crash again goes off ropes, dropkick bounces Bossman off ropes, still up. Crash off ropes again, ducks a clothesline, off again straight into Bossman Slam, 1-2-3.
Winner: The Bossman.
Raven did a valiant job trying to put over the Bossman. More after we break.
Back, we get some hype for Rocky’s ‘Scorpion King’ movie, then get back to the ring..
2nd Match: Justin Credible vs. Tommy Dreamer.
Crowd hates Justin, Tommy gets decent pop by default. Tommy straight in with a side headlock, Justin elbows out, Tommy off ropes, scores with a shoulder, Justin down. Up, leapfrog sequence, Tommy blocks a hiptoss, scores own, Justin again to canvas. Up quick straight into a scoop-slam. Justin again right back up at ropes, Tommy shoots him to opposite, Justin holds ropes, exits ring. Tommy follows, forearms Justin to mats outside. Tommy rolls Justin in, follows, Justin begs off in corner. Tommy responds with boots to gut, whips Justin to opposite corner, he gets hung up on top turnbuckle. Tommy scores boot to gut, Justin crotched on top rope, Tommy shakes ropes, sending Justin for classic ride of discomfort. Justin dismounts, staggers toward corner, Tommy approaches, scores snap suplex, Justin down for 2. Tommy brings Justin up on shoulder, he floats over, scores boot to gut, tosses Tommy left shoulder first into ring post. Tommy down in corner, Justin lays in boots, goes for boot choke, warned off by ref. Justin scores his trademark sitdown powerbomb, good for 2. Tommy crawls toward corner, left shoulder appears hurt (ah, that psychology thing!), Justin exits ring, wraps Tommy’s bad arm around ring post, slams it into stairs and post. Justin back in, Tommy up, blocks a punch, scores with an elbow, Justin to ropes, Tommy goes for whip, Justin puts on brakes, scores armdrag takedown, continuing to focus on Tommy’s bad arm. Tommy up slowly, Justin yanks arm, Tommy back down. Justin applies arm-wrench, drops a quick knee, Tommy gets to feet, scores forearms, breaks hold, sends Justin off ropes, sets for backdrop, Justin scouts it, scores spinning DDT, Tommy down for 2. Tommy crawls to corner, Justin lays in boot, Tommy to feet, Justin scores series of straight punches. Tommy at ropes, Justin goes for clothesline, Tommy ducks, scores own clothesline, Justin goes over top and out of ring. Justin to apron, Tommy meets him, gets slammed face first into top rope. Tommy staggered, Justin enters, misses a clothesline, goes off ropes, Tommy scores 1-handed spinebuster, both men down. Both up at 4 count, Justin misses with a forearm, Tommy scores pair of knockdown punches, neckbreaker, Tommy whips Justin off ropes, scores powerslam, good for 2. Tommy attempts another whip, reversed, Tommy off ropes, Justin sets for backdrop, Tommy knows that trick also, counters with DDT, Justin again down for 2. Tommy to 2nd turnbuckle, flies, Justin scores midair superkick, Tommy down, Justin covers-only 2! Justin in shock, Tommy slowly to feet, Justin brings him up, Tommy floats over, Justin ducks a forearm, goes for another superkick, Tommy catches boot, spins him around, scores Death Valley Driver, gets the 1-2-3.
Winner: Tommy Dreamer.
Raven had some interesting comments about Justin, feels he’s great when focused, but when he’s not-pretty much palookaville. Nothing but praise for Tommy, though.
We go backstage, where the lovely and talented Lillian Garcia interviews D’Lo Brown, who’ll be taking on Intercontinental Champ Eddy Guerrero later on in a non-title match. D’Lo is in TOTAL babyface mode, wants to make a big impact in his return to the WWF.
A WWF Flashback, Hulk Hogan defeating the Iron Sheik for his first WWF Title back in ‘84, sends us to break.
(Commentary: That was 18 years ago. That just hit me.)
Snap of the Night: Hulk wins at Backlash.
Time for the recap segment. Last week on Raw, The Undertaker officially announced that he’ll be taking on the Hulkster at the Upcoming Judgment Day PPV for the Undisputed Championship. We cut to HHH storming through the backstage area. ‘Taker is enraged, as currently Hunter should only be appearing on Smackdown. Hunter came down to the ring and beat ‘Taker like a government mule. The announcers table got trashed, ‘Taker was busted open, they brawled to the backstage area, Hunter produced a sledgehammer, then slammed it into ‘Takers gut. Security and armed police appeared, and The Game was led off in handcuffs.
On to Smackdown. Last Thursday, the Hulkster and HHH expressed their mutual respect in the ring and attempted to set up a re-match for later on the show. Smackdown boss Vince McMahon put the kibosh on that, announcing that instead, Hunter would face former Undisputed Champ Chris Jericho later on, with the winner getting a title shot with Hogan on next weeks show.
The Game and Y2J proceeded to have a great match, featuring innovative counters for finishers and lots of dramatic 2-counts. End saw Hunter setting Y2J for the Pedigree, ‘Taker appearing at ringside, making an unsanctioned appearance on the show. He distracted HHH, allowing Chris to score a quick roll-up (with the requisite tug of the tights) to get the 1-2-3. Jericho will face Hulk Hogan next week on Smackdown for the Undisputed Championship. Post-match, he and ’Taker beat down Hunter, save made by the Hulkster.
Coach lets us know Hogan will be in the house for Raw tomorrow night. Break.
Back, Steven Richards (aka ‘Wacko Stevie) storms the ring. He’s enraged that Raven gave him the ‘Wacko’ moniker 2 weeks ago, and challenges him to get in the ring right now. Accepted!
3rd Match: Steven Richards vs. Raven.
Crowd went nuts as Raven removed his headset and made to enter the ring. Steven a house on fire as Raven comes in, booting our color announcer into the corner and peppering him with forearms. Steven goes for whip, reversed, Steven into corner, Raven scores with a forearm, LIGHTNING quick bulldog for a quick 2-count. Up, Steven tries another whip, again reversed, Steven off ropes, Raven sets for backdrop, Steven scouts it, scores boot to face. Raven staggers, Steven charges, Raven clotheslines him out of his boots, covers for 2. Steven to corner, Raven lays in chops, ref calls for break. Raven argues with ref, approaches Steven, takes kick to face, Raven down. Up, Steven goes off ropes, cross-body block sends Raven over top, momentum sends Steven over also, both go down outside. Steven rolls Raven in, gets a quick cover for 2. Steven brings Raven up, scores snap suplex, Raven again down. Steven doesn’t capitalize, is close to tears due to crowds hostility. Finally he brings Raven up, sends him off ropes, scores sidewalk slam for a 2-count. Steven sets Raven on ropes, lays in chop, whips Raven off ropes, catches him with a forearm to gut as he bounces back in. Raven doubled over, Steven off ropes, sunset flip is good for another 2. Raven to corner, Steven approaches, cagey ol’ Raven playing possum, tosses Steven into corner, lays in forearms. Raven shoots Steven off ropes, scores back-body drop, Steven down and up quickly. Forearm sends Steven down, Steven to corner, Raven whips him to opposite, Raven goes off ropes, big clothesline sends Steven down. Up, Raven scores with a knee, Steven down for 2. Raven brings Steven up, tries for whip, Steven puts on brakes, Raven tries for quick DDT, Steven blocks it, rams Raven into corner. Steven whips Raven to opposite corner, sets for Steven Kick, Raven sidesteps, scores boot to gut, Raven Effect, Goodnight Big Stevie Cool, 1-2-3.
(Commentary: Both guys seemed to be having a blast.)
Winner: Raven.
Straight to break.
We return to the obligatory Tough Enough 2 recap. Tough Enough 1 winners Maven and Nidia paid a visit, which seemed to prop up the current contestants sagging spirits. No cuts this week. Break.
Overdrive of the Night: Headliner of last weeks Raw was Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Big Show vs. Scott Hall and X-Pac of the n.W.o. End of match saw Show turn on Austin and join the boys in black and white.
Coach and Raven return for our main event….
4th Match: Intercontinental Champion Eddy Guerrero vs. D’Lo Brown. Non-title match.
Loads of heat for Eddy, surprisingly big pop for D’Lo. Eddie immediately works a headlock into a takedown, D’Lo to feet, forces Eddy to ropes, breaks out of hold, sends Eddy off ropes. Eddy back in with a shoulder, D’Lo down. Up, Eddy scores a quick snapmare into a sleeper, D’Lo to feet, elbows his way out. D’Lo sends Eddy off ropes, leapfrog sequence, D’Lo takes Eddy down with an armdrag. Up, Eddy responds with an armdrag of his own, followed by another by D’Lo. Eddy to feet, D’Lo works an armbar, Eddy elbows out, slams D’Lo face first into turnbuckles. Eddy scores pair of punches gets warned by ref. Eddy goes for whip, D’Lo to corner, Eddy charges, D’Lo scores with a back elbow to Eddy’s face. Eddy staggered, D’Lo to 2nd turnbuckle, Eddy turns, D’Lo scores flying clothesline for a 2-count. Up, D’Lo blocks a punch, brings Eddy up, spinning sidewalk slam is only good for 2. Wow. D’Lo brings Eddy up, scores punch, kick to gut, Eddy to ropes, takes another punch to face. D’Lo tries for whip, reversed, Eddy drops to canvas, D’Lo off ropes and over, Eddy up, D’Lo off again, Eddy scores with an elbow, D’Lo down. Up slowly, Eddy scores with an elbow, D’Lo to corner, Eddy continues in with elbows, brings D’Lo out, scores belly-to-back suplex, D’Lo down. Eddy exits to apron, scores senton bomb, covers for 2. Eddy lays in boots, brings D’Lo up, locks in abdominal stretch. D’Lo gets leverage, hiptosses Eddy to break hold. D’Lo misses with a forearm, Eddy scores boot to gut, snapmare, D’Lo down, Eddy does spinning boot-grind to D’Lo’s face. Eddy brings D’Lo up, scores with an elbow, D’Lo to ropes, Eddy tries whip, reversed, Eddy off ropes, D’Lo hits gorgeous powerslam, just good for 2! Both up, D’Lo scores with an elbow, Eddy responds with poke to eyes. D’Lo to ropes, Eddy chops away, whips D’Lo off ropes, clotheslines him down. Eddy scores low dropkick to back of D’Lo’s head, covers for 2. Eddy slaps on a rear chinlock, D’Lo to feet, Eddy lets up, gets in a quick elbow, D’Lo to ropes. Eddy whps D’Lo off ropes, misses with a clothesline, D’Lo puts on brakes, scores leaping calf-kick, Eddy down. D’Lo brings him up, whips Eddy off ropes, scores back-body drop, Eddy down. D’Lo brings him up, slams him right back down, drops the leg, JUST good for 2! D’Lo brings Eddy up, scores forearm, sets him on top turnbuckle, joins him for superplex attempt. Eddy counters with headbutts, tosses D’Lo to mat, Eddy sets for Frog Splash, sees D’Lo rising, instead flies over, somersaults to opposite corner. D’Lo misses with a clothesline, Eddy scores boot to gut, Tornado DDT, D’Lo down. Eddy to top turnbuckle, pauses to bask in crowds hatred, hits that Frog Splash, 1-2-3. F’ing fantastic match, I wish my report could do it justice.
Winner: Intercontinental Champion Eddy Guerrero.
Coach and Raven plug tomorrow nights Raw to end the show.
Pretty damn good show! Matches were all solid, even the opener served a purpose (allowing the crowd to vent at the Bossman). Main event was off the chart, up there with the RVD/Jerry Lynn match back in the Alliance days. I can’t say enough good things about Raven. Whether it’s putting across angles or doing detailed commentary on the matches, the guys fantastic. I just hope D’Lo can get himself into a decent angle or feud-his generic promo left me a bit cold. Delivered very nicely in the ring though. See you next week.
2003 - Former WWE champion and the most popular draw in the history of modern professional wrestling, Steve Austin announced he is done as an in-ring performer while discussing his new WWE role as Raw General Manager in a WWE.com interview.
"In this business, I've learned never say never....But I would say probably 99.9 percent out of 100 that you'll never see Rock and Stone Cold in the ring again.....I'm not wrestling anymore. That was my last match, " said Austin,
Austin cited his long-time neck problems as the reason for the retirement. He noted he had several MRIs prior to Wrestlemania 19, but didn't discuss them because "I'm Stone Cold Steve Austin."
Austin also claimed those problems were actually the primary reason he walked out of WWE in 2002, when the company wanted him to lose to Brock Lesnar on Raw with no build.
"I've got some serious problems in my neck. It's too long and too complicated to discuss. But a lot of the reasons I walked out of this company seven or eight months ago were things I didn't want to talk about at the time because we had WrestleMania coming up. The biggest reason I walked away was because my health is going downhill so badly, and I can't compete at an acceptable level to me, and at a risk factor that's high enough to me. Everything I do in that ring is very dangerous and makes me go even further downhill. It's potentially something where I could end up being a quadriplegic. That was the biggest reason I walked out. The creative and the political issues were just icing on the cake -- the straw that broke the camel's back."
Austin said that while he will not rule out the possibility of a match down the line, as of right now, the condition of his neck isn't going to allow that and he doesn't want to work below the level of what is expected of him.
"I refuse to go out there anymore, perform at a substandard level and have people judge me on what I'm putting out right now. I had a hell of a run. I'm completely satisfied with it." Austin told the WWE website.
To date, Austin has not returned to the ring for an official match but has made cameo appearances. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 and has talked of returning to the ring in recent years, claiming that he feels great and that his health is fine, but he doesn't need to wrestle if he doesn't want to.
2003 - WWE broadcasts Raw, featuring the first ever editon of The Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho interviewing Bill Goldberg. Tim Whitehead filed the following TV report:
The 4/28 episode of RAW IS REHABBING GOLDBERG aired live from Boston. It was a good show that actually did a fine job of rebuilding Goldberg as a babyface using some common sense tactics, based largely around some semi-shoot angles. There was also a big pop at the end for the return of Steve Austin, albeit in a repetitive angle.
Jerry Lawler & Jonathan Coachman opened the show by putting over Backlash. Lawler accused Coach of having been anti-Goldberg during the Goldberg vs. Rock main event, which was funny because it was actually Lawler who ragged on Goldberg during that match.
Chris Jericho came down to the ring, where there were two chairs waiting for him. He said he turned on the TV recently and saw a huge stomach walking around wearing a kilt, and realized it was Roddy Piper. Jericho said if Piper, at age 175, can revive Piper's Pit on Smackdown, then he can host a younger, cooler show on RAW called "The Hi-Lite Reel". His first guest, whom he described as an old friend from their WCW days, was Goldberg. A "Goldberg" chant started up. Goldberg came down to the ring and took a seat. Jericho said Goldberg destroyed Rock at Backlash, though he added that he himself has destroyed Rock on several occasions. He kept referring to Goldberg as an "old buddy" and "old pal", but then noted that he challenged Goldberg to a match back in WCW, but Goldberg refused to fight. This was a shoot comment based on the fact that Goldberg did nix a planned Goldberg vs. Jericho feud back in WCW. Goldberg sort of smiled and said he was ready to fight anytime Jericho wanted. Jericho backed down and said that at the moment he was an interviewer and not out there to wrestle, and that he had a lot of other questions to ask. He then demanded to know why Goldberg waltzed into WWE unannounced, and speared Rock for no reason, acting like he owned the place. He asked why Goldberg didn't stay in Japan, or stay home with his 57 pet animals. Goldberg started to say something but was immediately cut off by Christian, who had come out on the ramp top. Christian claimed to be Rock's favorite wrestler, and said that makes him the new people's champion while Rock's away. He asked Goldberg how it felt at Backlash to be booed out of the arena by the fans, noting that the booing occurred even though Massachusetts fans are dying for something to cheer for since their baseball team hasn't won anything since 1918. Goldberg said the fans pay their hard earned money to see the show and can boo or cheer whomever they wish. He said he's there to earn his stripes and will beat anyone they put in the ring with him. That was a good answer. Goldberg noted that he got cheered two weeks in a row when he speared Christian. Jericho told Goldberg that no one paid to see him spear anyone, and that rumor on the street and in the locker room is that no one wants him there in WWE. That was another shoot based on legit locker room resentment at Goldberg. Christian said Jericho was right, and to prove it he brought out Rosey, Jamal, Rico, Victoria, and Steven Richards, claiming that all of them want Goldberg out of WWE. Richards got on the mic and confirmed that, saying it was wrong for Goldberg to be put in a PPV main event so soon after signing while guys such as himself didn't even get on the show. Guess they've been reading 1wrestling. The crowd chanted for Goldberg again. Christian shouted that he's a nine time tag champ, a former IC, European, and Hardcore champ, and he also didn't get to be on the PPV. All six started down to the ring, vowing to kick Goldberg's ass. However, when they got there, five of them halted, intimidated by Goldberg. Richards, not knowing the other five halted, went in the ring. He challenged Goldberg, not realizing the others weren't backing him up. Goldberg speared the hell out of him. Jericho looked worried. Everyone else retreated. This was a long opening segment but a very good one which did what it set out to do.
After a break they replayed Goldberg's spear on Richards, and showed Richards being helped to the back by referees.
Hurricane beat Chief Morley in 5:39. Morley mocked Hurricane's superhero pose. Hurricane responded by wrapping his cape around his waist like a towel and mocking Val Venis' crotch thrusts. Morley attacked Hurricane and pounded him. Hurricane came back after a beating with a lariat and a neckbreaker. He missed a shining wizard when Morley ducked. Morley hit a powerbomb. Morley went for the money shot but Hurricane moved. Morley crashed to the mat and Hurricane nailed him with his flying neckbreaker for the pin.
Ric Flair was reading the new RAW magazine when Triple H came in. Flair pointed to HHH's picture on the cover and began praising HHH as the greatest champ of all time. HHH said it was an honor to be praised by Flair since he's been world champ 16 times. HHH said he'd like to see Flair with gold around his waist again, so he reported that he asked Eric Bischoff for a tag title shot against Rob Van Dam & Kane, and that Bischoff agreed to the match. Both looked forward to capturing the tag belts. Whooooo!
Rodney Mack defeated another Unidentified White Jobber in 1:57. Theodore Long ran down Larry Bird, saying if he'd been black he would never have been given a chance in basketball. LOL! Long said that unlike whitey, he believes in giving everyone a fair shot, so the Unidentified White Jobber would have an opportunity to compete against Mack. Long did color commentary for the almost two minutes of the match. After Mack won with his running powerslam, Long got in the ring and praised Jazz, his other wrestler, for winning the women's title at "Blacklash". She came out and joined Long & Mack for an in-ring celebration, including balloons dropping on the ring.
Bischoff, as usual, was on the phone with someone. Trish Stratus came in and asked for a rematch against Jazz for the title. Bischoff said her contract didn't include a rematch clause. Trish said Jazz cheated to win, and that she'd do whatever it takes to get the rematch. Bischoff got that evil grin on his face at this point. He challenged Trish to a match with the stips that if she wins, she gets a shot at Jazz next week for the title, but if he wins, she has to come to his hotel room after the show and put out for him. He said Long may have screwed her at Backlash, but that he'd screw her in a different way. Believe it or not, Trish accepted the challenge. Hey, she put out for Vince McMahon, didn't she?
Test and Stacy Keibler argued again. Test agreed that Stacy doesn't have a thing for Scott Steiner, claiming it was impossible for any female to prefer Steiner to him. He again denied being infatuated with Torrie Wilson. He demanded to know why Stacy had signed for him to team with Steiner again. Stacy said she thought Steiner could help him in his career and that they could be tag champs. Test said Steiner can do nothing for him, but agreed to team with him if it would make Stacy trust him again. Stacy said she'd like to trust Test, but in a voice that indicated she doesn't.
Hour two began with RVD & Kane defeating HHH & Flair to retain the RAW Tag Titles in 15:47. Flair got a big pop for his strut. Flair chopped Kane, who came back with a bodyslam. RVD came in and kicked HHH, who bumped out. RVD hit a plancha on HHH & Flair. HHH laid RVD out with a lariat. At this point, they cut to the back where Shawn Michaels was on the phone with someone, telling them HHH was in the ring and thus was a sitting duck. They then went to a commercial break, and when they came out Kane & RVD were working HHH over, scoring some twos on him. Flair tagged in and put a beating on RVD. HHH hit RVD with a high knee lift. Flair wrapped RVD's knee around the post. HHH hooked a version of the death lock but RVD made the ropes. RVD finally escaped and made the hot tag. Kane came in, throwing lariats like crazy. He was about to chokeslam HHH but Flair made the save. He then tried to chokeslam Flair, with HHH making the save. Flair put Kane in the figure four. RVD missile kicked HHH and rescued Kane. HHH gave RVD a DDT and then pedigreed Kane. Victory seemed assured for HHH & Flair, but suddenly Kevin Nash ran in with a sldegehammer (making it obvious who Michaels had been talking to, if it wasn't already). HHH fled with Nash in hot pursuit. Well, make that lukewarm pursuit because even with a bad leg and a lot of bulk, HHH is Jesse Owens compared to Nash. Flair was left alone, and ended up chokeslammed by Kane and frog splashed by RVD for the pin. Very good TV match!
HHH continued running from Nash backstage. He had to stop every so often for Nash to catch up, but otherwise it was a fun chase. HHH made it to his limo, but Nash managed to break two windows out with the sledgehammer before it drove off. Lawler said Nash had gone off the deep end.
Steiner & Test defeated Christopher Nowinski & Rico in 3:55. Steiner juiced early for no apparent reason. He dominated Nowinski until Rico distracted him. The heels doubled on Steiner as Test ignored the action, arguing with Stacy instead. Steiner suplexed both foes and tagged Test. Test went in and was almost wild in his aggression, as he was trying to show Stacy he was the dominant male. He pretty much beat down both opponents, but Steiner tagged himself back in and scored the pin on Nowinski with a neckbreaker. Test was frustrated that Steiner scored the pin. Stacy hugged Steiner, so Test got jealous again. She claimed she was just happy they won. Test & Stacy walked out, arguing the whole way back to the locker room.
Steiner stayed in the ring and started cutting his standard promo about all his freaks. He was interrupted by Sylvan Grenier & Rene Dupree. They identified themselves as "La Resistance". They reminded Steiner of his debate with Nowinski a couple of weeks ago, and had a clip shown on the TitanTron where Steiner defended the war and ridiculed France. A "USA" chant started. La Resistance said the French are both lovers and fighters, and went to the ring saying they wished to discuss their differences with Steiner in a peaceful manner. Once there, they tried to attack him. Steiner briefly held both of them off but eventually they beat him down and left him laying to start their first WWE feud. They were both pretty good here.
Morley told Bischoff the Dudleys have been suspended without pay again for their actions at Backlash. Bischoff was pleased. Bischoff boasted about his upcoming match with Trish, saying the "do not disturb" sign is already hanging on his hotel room door. Morley indicated he had taken some actions to help assure a Bischoff win.
Trish was shown doing warm-up exercises. They sure warmed up Lawler.
Goldberg encountered Booker T backstage. Booker praised Goldberg as a guy who was always straight with him back in WCW. He said he was the new WCW kid on the block in WWE a couple of years ago, and it was hard at first to get established, but now he has a strong following and is comfortable there. He told Goldberg to just stay on track and he'll make it there. They hugged.
Booker beat Christian by DQ in 5:35. Booker hit Christian with a lariat, kicks, and chops to score a near fall. Christian sent Booker to the floor and rammed him into the stairs. Christian scored some twos with brawling tactics. Booker sidestepped Christian, who came off the top, and took him down for a near pin. Booker blocked an unprettier and hit a scissor kick. He did a spinaroonie, but at this point Rosey & Jamal & Rico attacked Booker for the DQ. It interrupted a solid match, but it made sense as part of the rehab of Goldberg. The crowd began chanting "Goldberg" as Booker got pounded four-on-one. Goldberg ran in and cleaned house. He speared Rico, jackhammered Jamal, and sent Rosey bumping to the floor. He then speared Rosey on the floor and it sent Rosey crashing through the security barrier, leaving a gaping hole. This was great! Christian fled in terror. Goldberg left through the crowd to a huge babyface reaction, so they did a masterful job restoring his babyface aura.
After a break, they repayed Godberg spearing Rosey through the barrier, and showed security taping up the broken section.
Bischoff beat Trish in 3:17. Before the match began, Bischoff announced that it would be fought under no-DQ rules. He did the "Karate Kid" movie martial arts poses. Trish kicked him in the head. But before she could go after Bischoff any further, Victoria ran in and attacked her. Trish disposed of her, only to be attacked by Jazz, who was cheered on by Theodore Long. I guess it's okay to help a powerful white man if it keeps Trish from getting a rematch. Jazz destroyed Trish until Bischoff told her it was enough. He joked that he needed to keep her conscious, for obvious reasons. Bischoff pinned Trish, boasting that she bit off more than she could chew. That was a bad choice of words, considering what he had planned. Suddenly, a limo pulled into the parking area and Linda McMahon emerged. Bischoff stopped boasting and smirking, and instead pretended to be concerned about Trish, ordering some refs to help the poor injured girl to the back.
So Linda came out to the ring. She said she represents the board of directors, so it's her responsibility to monitor upper management, including Bischoff. Bischoff praised her as being beautiful, elegant, radiant, etc. He said he wasn't really going to have sex with Trish, claiming that stip was just a TV gimmick to make the show more compelling. In fact, he claimed to prefer "mature women". Linda told him he was making her job a lot easier by his behavior. Bischoff looked scared. She said his actions as General Manager have been unprofessional, abusive, harassing, and ego-maniacle. Guess she's been watching the show. She said half of the board wants him fired as GM, but in the end they settled on a compromise where Bischoff will share control of RAW 50-50 with someone more in tune with the fans and who knows right from wrong. I thought Sam Muchnick and Giant Baba were deceased, but it turned out she was talking about "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Austin came out to a big pop as Bischoff looked totally deflated. Austin asked Bischoff a ton of rhetorical questions to the requisite "whats". He offered to shake Bischoff's hand. Bischoff was afraid to do it, so Austin asked the crowd if Bischoff should shake his hand and agree to start working together as of tomorrow morning. The crowd shouted "hell yeah!". Bischoff cautiously shook hands, saying he hoped they could work together as a team. Austin then noted that he said they could start working together tomorrow, and gave him a stunner. It was a good angle, though we've obviously been through this 50-50 partner stuff before. Since Austin can't wrestle, I guess this gives him a role, so we'll see how it works out. Anyway, it was a good show this week.
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS:
Don't all of those charges Linda made against Bischoff also apply to Vince?
Who is Bischoff talking to on the phone every week?
Did you notice that none of the balloons dropped during Long's celebration were white?
Isn't Jericho a good choice to host an interview segment?
Didn't they use their heads for a change when they thought up how to rebuild Goldberg?
Will Nash be entering the Boston marathon any time soon?
2005 - Former NWA champion Chris Candido, who worked for every major U.S. promotion (WWF, WCW, ECW, SMW, TNA) during his career, passed away at the age of 33 due to a blood clot causing heart failure. The clot was the result of surgery he had undergone several weeks earlier. Candido had broken his leg during a TNA match and underwent surgery to repair it. He continued to appear on TNA television in a managerial role, leading The Naturals to the NWA World Tag Team Championship on April 26th, a match that would air on television the day after his passing.
Here is PWInsider.com's original coverage from that day:
TNA star Chris Candido passed away suddenly on the evening of April 28th in New Jersey. Candido, 33, had suffered a myriad of injuries to his ankle at the TNA Lockdown PPV last Sunday. He was said to have been in good spirits following surgery on Monday, where a metal plate and screws were inserted to fix a dislocated ankle, a broken tibia, and a broken fibula.
Candido had appeared at the TNA taping in Orlando, Florida this past Tuesday, just 24 hours after the surgery, managing the Naturals from a wheelchair to the NWA Tag Team championships. The episode is scheduled to air tomorrow on the Fox Sports Network.
It should be noted that the police department in Candido's hometown of Matawan, New Jersey would not confirm his passing.
TNA posted the following message on their website "TNA joins the entire wrestling world in mourning the untimely death of Chris Candido on Thursday."
PWInsider.com wishes to send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Chris Candido
LOOKING BACK AT THE CAREER OF CHRIS CANDIDO
TNA star Chris Candido passed away suddenly Thursday evening in New Jersey. Candido, 33, collapsed on Thursday evening. He was rushed to the hospital but was not able to be revived.
Candido was said to have been in good spirits following surgery on Monday, where a metal plate and screws were inserted to fix a dislocated ankle, a broken tibia, and a broken fibula. He had suffered the injury this past Sunday while working the opener of the TNA Lockdown PPV in a freak accident while taking a dropkick from Sonny Siaki. Candido had appeared at the TNA taping in Orlando, Florida this past Tuesday, just 24 hours after the surgery, managing the Naturals from a wheelchair to the NWA Tag Team championships. The episode is scheduled to air today on the Fox Sports Network.
The grandson of Popeye Chuck Richards, who worked the undercards for the WWWF, including Terry Funk's Madison Square Garden debut, Candido grew up around the business, breaking in as a teenager, setting up rings in the New Jersey area with boyhood friend Balls Mahoney. The two would often put together and promote their own shows, even as teenagers, a generation before the term "backyard wrestling" was popularized. Candido and Mahoney would go on to train under Larry Sharpe at the Monster Factory.
Candido debuted working for the late Dennis Coraluzzo's WWA promotion in the early 1990s with the moniker "Mr. Charisma" holding their Junior championship. Candido was often accompanied to shows by his High School girlfriend Tammy "Sunny" Sytch, who would later break into the business after accompanying him to Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Whatever the intangible "it" is that creates a great performer, Candido had it from the second he began working professionally, having great matches and showcasing a knack for carrying less talented performers to good matches. He also developed strong mic skills, cutting great promos, and a comedic timing well beyond his years.
Candido worked the early days of Eastern Championship Wrestling, under booker Eddie Gilbert, where he held the ECW Tag Team championships with Johnny Hotbody as The Suicide Blondes. INXS' "Suicide Blondes" would remain Candido's theme until he returned to ECW in 1996, when he began using AC/DC's "Back in Black."
Candido left the fledgling ECW, then running once a month, to work full-time for Jim Cornette's SMW territory, where he worked singles as a crybaby heel. Candido debuted for the promotion busting out every high impact move he could think of to no reaction from the crowd. Cornette sent him back out during the same TV taping and instructed him to whine and complain about the first bump he took. He did so, and the crowd was on him immediately. Candido was later teamed with Brian Lee, with the pair managed by Sytch, who had moved with Candido to stay with him while he was working SMW and had been turned into an on-air feminist manager. He feuded with Tracey Smothers, Bobby Blaze, and The Rock N' Roll Express, among others.
Candido won a tournament in November 1994 in New Jersey to win the vacant NWA championship, defeating Tracey Smothers in the final. Candido later dropped the belt to UFC star Dan Severn during an SMW house show. He was becoming a hotter name on the independents, booked against the other breakthrough indy names of the period like Sabu, Louie Spicoli, and The Tasmaniac (Tazz). After a tour of All Japan Pro Wrestling, Candido was signed by WWF in early 1995.
Sytch had already been signed, doing TV promo work under the name "Tamara Sytch." Candido was linked with her once he was signed, briefly given the names "Chris and Tammy Power." The gimmick was scrapped after one TV taping. The pair were re-christened Skip and Sunny, The Body Donnas, doing a heel gimmick similar to the one currently held by Simon Dean, as evil fitness instructors, ripping on the poor condition of the "fat fans." Candido was used in an undercard role with no real sense of upward mobility, with the highlight of the run losing to longtime prelim wrestler Barry Horowitz on TV and then a PPV rematch at Summerslam '95. Sunny, meanwhile, was becoming the precursor to today's WWE Divas, becoming a star as a heel female manager and TV personality for the company.
Dr. Tom Prichard was brought into the act and added as "Zip" (at one point it was going to be Flip) to the act. The pair won the WWF Tag Team championships at Wrestlemania 12 in Anaheim, California, holding them for a short stint and doing programs with The Smoking Gunns and The Godwins. Sunny broke off from the team, which briefly was managed by a transvestite character named Cloudy (Candido's old friend Jimmy Shoulders, who he had broken into the business with). Candido suffered a broken neck while taking The Smoking Gunns finisher, The Sidewinder, in Madison Square Garden. When he recovered, WWF utilized him as a trainer and discussed retiring him and putting him in that position full-time. Candido, at that point just 23 years old, opted out, wanting to wrestle full-time.
Candido heading to Extreme Championship Wrestling, debuting to a standing ovation as a surprise during an October 1996 ECW Arena event, defeating Spike Dudley. Given the nickname "No Gimmicks Needed" as a play on his forgettable WWF character, Candido received his strongest national push ever as a member of the Triple Threat with Shane Douglas and Brian Lee (with Bam Bam Bigelow later replacing Lee). Behind the scenes, Candido began working with Paul Heyman on a number of backstage duties, including assisting with booking and television production. He had been scheduled to face Lance Storm on the debut ECW PPV, Barely Legal, but suffered a separated shoulder in the weeks leading to the show. The night before the PPV, Candido joked during a speech that he was killing himself just trying to keep up with 53 year old Terry Funk, who was in the main event of the show and was being honored by the company at a banquet.
"One of the coolest things I ever got to do was something that happened behind the scenes that no one ever knew I was involved with. We did a Terry Funk retirement show in Amarillo, Texas, which was about his 15th retirement (laughs). Funk and Bret Hart were going to wrestle in the main event that night and they both called me to help them with the match. That was one of the coolest things ever in my life."
Candido held the ECW World Tag Team championships with Lance Storm, with the duo breaking up while champions in December 1997. Tammy Sytch, who had been released by WWF, joined Candido in Extreme Championship Wrestling that summer. Once Sytch arrived, the change was immediate in Candido. The pair soon fell out of favor with Paul Heyman due to their personal problems, although he would bring them back several times before finally writing them off. Candido's last run with ECW was early in the promotion'¢s run on TNN, where he was paired with Rhino as a tag team.
Candido and Sytch popped up in XPW in California, and began working a number of independent companies including USA Pro Wrestling in New York. After some back and forth wrangling with ECW over their contracts, the pair received releases and headed to WCW for a short run, which included Candido winning the WCW Cruiserweight championship and losing it during some nonsensical Vince Russo era booking. Candido did end up working with one of his heroes, Terry Funk. In a story that was recently recounted in Funk's autobiography, the pair had a Hardcore match on Nitro where they had brawled into a horse's stable, complete with the horse kicking Funk in the face in a story you can't make up. Candido suffered a broken arm while working for the company, which upset then-WCW Executive Eric Bischoff. Candido ripped the cast off his arm so he could wrestle despite the injury, only to end up fired by the company anyway after an issue with Sytch backstage. Candido would later publicly say he regretted working hurt and wasn't high on his time in the WCW.
"Most of the lowpoints were all my fault, so I promised myself I'd never do them again. The worst I'd have to say was near the end of WCW when I broke my arm. I came to the television tapings the next week with a cast on my arm. Eric Bischoff yelled at me for wearing a cast, which I guess meant I was a jerk for breaking it or something. So he made me cut the cast below the elbow so I could wrestle. A week after that, I was fired by him because I was hurt. That was the worst thing ever in my career. On top of it, it wasn't even my fault."
By this point, Candido and Sytch's reputations had been completely tarnished by their outside issues. Candido wasn't shy in hiding he had gone through problems with painkillers and drugs in the period that followed while working independents.
"Obviously, me and Tammy did a lot of stupid things but some of it got blown out of proportion worse on the internet. We were legitimately stupid, but we became even stupider when you read about us on the internet. The word of the internet fans goes a long way now. For some reason the business has been greatly influenced by somebody typing on their computer all day. I guess it's a good thing, but in a way it hurt us. So now, I just want to ask the internet wrestling fans to give me the opportunity to watch for me what I am and I hope you enjoy my work. But at least I can say me and Tammy always gave the internet something good to talk about."
Candido finally cleaned himself up to the point his matches began looking like the Chris Candido of old and little by little, promoters started to take notice. Sytch as well had cleaned herself up, began losing weight. She had publicly discussed becoming a flight attendant but later ended up running a tanning salon in New Jersey. Through it all, good and bad, the pair had remained together. Candido began helping advising many of the younger workers he was running into at independent shows, and broke his younger brother, Johnny into the business.
Over the last year or so, Candido looked as if he was following the success stories of Eddie Guerrero and William Regal in overcoming his issues and making a go of it with his career, as opposed to following the tragedies of Brian Pillman and Louie Spicoli. He was regularly working and having good matches for USA Pro, IWA Mid-South, the International Wrestling Cartel out of Pittsburgh, NWA Cyberspace, Pro Wrestling Unplugged and other companies.
"I stuffed a lot of fun into my first 31 years so now I just try to do the home thing. Me and (wrestler) Hack Myers were hanging out a couple weeks ago and he told me that some mutual friends were telling some Chris Candido stories that were new to him. Well, they were new to me too because I had done a lot in those years that I don't remember doing. To think about those years and what we went through, I feel excited to be able to lead a normal life now."
Candido had tried hard to get a WWE tryout dark match at several points over the last year, and at one point was scheduled to work a Raw taping in Long Island, but it never came to pass. He finally hooked up with TNA through booker Dusty Rhodes, who was extremely high on him. He earned himself a regular slot after an excellent match with TNA flagbearer AJ Styles on Impact! Candido continued to have a string of decent matches, was co-hosting the syndicated Xplosion show and was cast as The Naturals' advisor.
"Me and Dusty Rhodes appeared on a few independent shows together. We had met a few times in the past, but we ended up having a heart-to-heart talk about me getting cleaned up, getting back into ring shape and doing the right thing while I'm still young and able to make another run at it. He was proud of me for admitting my problems and trying to fix them, and he told me if he was ever in a position to offer help he would. As soon as he got into that position in TNA he called me right up. I owe him a lot."
The injury at Lockdown, suffered while taking a Sonny Siaki dropkick, was horrible timing for Candido's comeback but he still intended to make all his dates despite the injury. Sytch had posted on the USA Pro Wrestling message board that Candido still intended to make all his bookings, doing promos or managing at ringside, because he didn' want to miss any dates. Candido had hoped to return to the ring within six weeks, which given the nature of the injury seemed to be unrealistic. Candido had told many that he was excited for the "ECW" weekend where he was scheduled to work the Hardcore Homecoming event being organized by Shane Douglas and Jeremy Borash.
Candido had also privately discussed working the WWE organized ECW One Night Stand PPV, as he wasn't signed to a TNA deal, which would have prevented that. The idea was for Candido to appear as a surprise to open the show, facing Lance Storm.
Chris Candido quotes courtesy TNAWrestling.com interview
Chris Candido Championship History
WCW Cruiserweight Championship
Defeated Prince Iaukea, Juventud Guerrera, Crowbar and Lash LeRoux to win vacant title in Chicago, Illinois on April 10, 2000.
Lost to Daffney in a tag team match with Tammy Sytch against Daffney & Crowbar when Daffney pinned Sytch in Biloxi, Mississippi on May 15, 2000.
ECW World Tag Team Championship
With Johnny Hotbody
Defeated Larry Winters & Tony Stetson in Radnor, Pennsylvania on April 3, 1993.
Winters & Chris Michaels (part of the Suicide Blondes group) lost the belts to The Super Destroyers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 15, 1993.
With Lance Storm
Defeated champions Doug Furnas & Phil LaFon and Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney in a three way dance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 6, 1997.
Lost to Sabu & Rob Van Dam in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 27, 1998.
WWF World Tag Team Championship (as Bodydonna Skip)
With Zip (Tom Prichard)
Defeated The Godwinns in a tournament final in Anaheim, California on March 31, 1996.
Lost to the Godwins in New York City on September 22, 1996.
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Defeated Tracey Smothers in a tournament final in Cherry Hill, New Jersey on November 19, 1994.
Lost to Dan Severn in Erlanger, Kentucky on February 24, 1995.
SMW Television Championship
Defeated Tracey Smothers in Jefferson, North Carolina on December 6, 1993.
Lost to Robbie Eagle in Chilhowie, Virginia on January 10, 1994.
Defeated Scott Studd for vacant title in Warrensville, North Carolina on July 5, 1994.
Lost to Lance Storm in Saltville, Virginia on August 8, 1994.
SMW Tag Team Championship
With Brian Lee
Defeated The Rock N' Roll Express in Johnson City, Tennessee on April 23, 1994.
Lost to The Rock N' Roll Express in Knoxville, Tennessee on August 5, 1994.
Defeated The Rock N' Roll Express in Johnson City, Tennessee on August 6, 1994.
Lost to The Rock N' Roll Express in Saltville, Virginia on August 8, 1994.
SMW United States Junior Heavyweight Title
Defeated Bobby Blaze in Jellico, Tennessee on October 4, 1993.
Lost to Bobby Blaze in Knoxville, Tennessee on October 8, 1993.
Defeated Bobby Blaze in Barbourville, Kentucky on October 9, 1993.
Lost to Bobby Blaze in Johnson City, Tennessee on October 10, 1993.
USA Pro Wrestling United States Championship
Defeated Xavier on in Queens, New York on August 19, 2002.
Lost to The Sandman in Queens, New York on October 19, 2002.
Defeated Mike Tobin in Franklin Square, New York on June 19, 2004.
Lost to Trent Acid in Queens, New York on November 19, 2004.
XPW Heavyweight Championship
Defeated Damien Steele in Hollywood, California on February 26, 2000.
Vacated the title when he left the promotion to work in WCW.
Independent Superstars Of Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Championship
Defeated champion Ace Darling and 2 Cold Scorpio in a three way match in Wildwood, New Jersey on July 22, 1999.
Lost to Ace Darling in Wildwood, New Jersey on August 5, 1999.
Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling United States Championship
Defeated Ray Odyssey for vacant title in Reading, Pennsylvania on June 14, 1996.
Vacated title.
Candido also held numerous other Independent Championships, including the Jersey Championship Wrestling Television Title, the WWA Junior Heavyweight Championship, and more.
CHRIS CANDIDO'S BROTHER COMMENTS ON CANDIDO'S PASSING AND CAUSE
Chris Candido's brother Johnny posted the following message:
"I find it only fitting you hear the truth from me about the death of my bestfriend, brother, and soulmate. Chris died tonight due to a blood clot brought on by complications with his surgery.
I just want to tell everyone that in their sorrow, find a way to be happy that he went out the way he wanted to...on top of the world, blonde, tan, and loving life up until the last minute. Every ounce of my brother loved this sport, and for him to go out 2 or 3 years ago wouldn't have been a fitting end to the life of such a determined, passionate, and benevolent human being.
I truly view my brother as an angel as will all who knew him. Thanks to everyone for all your positive press, Chris went out a happy man and will forever live on as the(one of) greatest of all time. He would have had it no other way."
2006 - MTV picked up Wrestling Society X as a series following a pilot taping several months earlier. The series would last one season.
2006 - VH-1 announced they had picked up the Hogan Knows Best reality series for a third season. It would be the series' final season, although daughter Brooke was spun off into her own series, which featured appearances from other members of the Hogan clan.
2007 - Ring of Honor returned to Chicago Ridge, IL featuring the farewell for Colt Cabana, who had signed a WWE developmental deal, as well as Chris Daniels who "quit" as he was returning to TNA for a new role. Keith Lipinski filed the following live report:
Ring Of Honor
Saturday April 28, 2007
Frontier Park Field House - Chicago Ridge , Illinois
1,100 fans
"Good Times, Great Memories" A Tribute To Colt Cabana
Six Man Mayhem: Delirious defeated Gran Akuma, Jigsaw, Hallowicked, ROH Top Of The Class Trophy winner Pelle Primeau, and Mike Quackenbush in 10:29 when Delirious pinned Akuma with the Chemical Imbalance II. Outstanding opener where the CHIKARA guys shined. Mike Quackenbush was welcomed along with his students with total open arms, as in one point in this match, Akuma was thrown to the floor, he got up but was met by Hallowicked who attemped an electric chair, as Hallowicked was on Akumas shoulders outside the rip, Quackenbush busted out an incredible tope to the outside. Delirious and Hallowicked reformed their CHIKARA pro team Incoherence after a conversation in which Delirious noticed audibly that they were both "green and black" Last two minutes saw every man hit their big moves, including Quackenbush hitting Quackendriver's one and two, the shadows over hell by Delirious, A awesome looking stunner by Akuma, a tornado DDT by Pelle (did he ever bodysurf up to Nomb Alaska?), a superkick by Jigsaw and a fisherman bomb by Hallowicked with other guys breaking up the near falls til the end. The CHIKARA guys need to come back to ROH as their style is reminiscent of the Dragon Gate style of high paced, fast action with great flying and matt wrestling. With so many people (Shingo, Daniels, Cabana) leaving, these guys seem to have definite character and should be on the 2007 ROH roster (with El Generico and Kevin Steen)
Erick Stevens vs. Christopher Daniels went to a fifteen minute time limit draw. Slow moving at times, but got good towards the end. Neither man seemed to have much of an advantage here. Much of the match was Daniels playing the heel by choking Stevens, slamming him on the outside, and going back with the abdolinal stretch and using his elbow and digging into this side of the body. Stevens did come back with an overhead belly to belly and another overhead suplex, and did his Cho-Cho run into the corner. He attempted it a second time only to have Daniels move out of the way, and hit a double knees on Stevens chest for a near fall. Samoan Drop/ Arabian Press for another two. Stevens caught Daniels on the top rope and got him in a powerslam neckbreaker (had him up for a powerslam but hit the neckbreaker when Bobby Cruise announced their was only one more minute in the match. Stevens attempted to hoist up Daniels for a gut wrench move but Daniels grabbed Stevens leg and held on for the draw. Now it gets interesting.
The crowd was chanting for five more minutes. Stevens got on the mic and said even though he was the new guy he was "seconds away" (?) from beating Daniels. He wanted five more minutes on the clock. Daniels got on the mic and gave one of the greatest promos I have heard in sometime "I'm going to tell you no. I'm pulling status" Daniels noted as he laughed into his thoughts while telling Stevens to "vacate as I have something to say." Daniels talked about his exile from ROH after the Rob Feinstein-Perverted Justice issue. "Two years back my exile ended and I should have never come back. I fought tooth and nail and you don't even care. I'm inconsequential" He went on to say he was taken for granted and asked when the last time he was given a shot at the world championship rather then "fill in matches" and "four corner scrambles." He said "four corner scrambles" with amazing sarcasm. He felt like he was treading water while the breaks belong to others. He mentioned his world tag team championship title reign with Matt Sydal and how the fans viewed them as "ham sandwiches" waiting to lose the titles to Aries & Strong or the Briscoes. "You gave up on us." Then he hit a point "just because I'm part of TNA and the only people thinking there is a rivalry is you people. I was forced to make a decision three and a half years ago and I chose TNA." He then noted his bank statement was much bigger then Bryan Danielson. "Six figures." He then got super personal "Do you think I can feed my daughter because you idiots chant this is awesome?" He did the clap by hitting the top of the microphone. He then talked about his son and the internet "giving me a four star match with Austin Aries." He then ripped hard on the fans saying "you have less then no knowledge of this business." "You used me up the same way you used up Samoa Joe." He also said "TNA tried to protect Joe from you people." Daniels also mentioned CM Punk and Colt Cabana "who you will forget in a week. The official Chris Daniels Farewell tour is starting now and ends once I step behind the curtain you people have seen my last ROH match, you broke my heart, I quit." The crowd was so hot for him now chanting Don't Come Back. He pushed down Allison Danger and went to the back. What a fantastic promo to leave the company under as it was full of real feeling and emotion being used in this setting.
3. Brent Albright defeated BJ Whitmer, Homicide, and Jimmy Rave after pinning Whitmer at 10:15 after an Half Nelson Suplex, right after Whitmer hit a full nelson roll thru suplex on Homicide. Jimmy Rave, coming back from having a broken jaw at the hands of Nigel McGuinness in Liverpool ) seemed to hurt again tonight while bumping heads with BJ Whitmer. His left eye looked extremely swollen and was bleeding and it seemed like he was missing from a lot of the end of the match. Rave also had to eat a top rope jawbreaker (too soon?) and a vicious Albright clothesline. Fine for what it was, even though they could have gone longer. Finish saw Whitmer hit his roll thru full nelson suplex on Homicide (where he hits the suplex and rolls thru it for another one). Albright is stiff and works great in ROH for a big man, I'd be very curious to see him vs. Morishima down the line. After the match, Whitmer and Homicide seemed to hint they would face each other again (for the first time in three years) very soon.
4. Austin Aries of the Resilience defeats "Chicken Legs" (at one point tonight the crowd chanted this) Rocky Romero of the No Remorse Corps in 12:29 after the brainbuster 450 Splash combination. Rocky looked very polished here and does a very nice Latin Salsa heelish dance as part of his lack of remorse. At one point of the match as Aries was on the top rope, Romero grabbed Austin 's arm and applied an arm bar and drove him down to the mat from the rope, then into an ankle lock. He used submissions and kicks but it was all for naught. After the match, Roderick Strong came down to beat on Aries, only to be driven off by Delirious who went after Strong. Please note: this is the fourth time Delirious went running after a member of the No Remorse Corps, can the next time this happens can Wayne the ROH sound guy play the Benny Hill chase music?
5. ROH World Heavyweight Championship: Takeshi Morishima defeats Shingo in 15:24 after a back drop driver. Second best match of the night and a very entertaining match. Shingo got a lot of offense against the big man, and even though he had little chance of beating Morishima this presented well where you believe an upset could come at any time. Shingo worked for some time but finally got Morishima in a suplex, and even hit a Death Valley Driver on the outside. Shingo used his speed and quickness to battle Morishima, but then tried to rely on power moves against the large Japanese world champion. He attempted a powerbomb but he fell back and Morishima sat on him earthquake style, after a super larieto, he hit the backdrop driver for the win. Excellent match and it seems like SHINGO is going back to Dragon Gate in Japan and will be missed greatly as he has improved by leaps and bounds in ROH and has become a much better all around wrestler. While Takeshi Morishima is becoming more over with the fans for his style and doing Samoa Joe's OLE type moves into the barricades while using his rear end.
6. Natural Superior Athlete Tank Toland defeated Sugarfoot Alex Payne in 2:40 with the overhead spinebuster. Toland has a new Simon Dean like gimmick where he is trying to get Bobby Dempsey in shape and turn the chuck into hunk. This works perfect for Tolland who isn't as high flying as the other guys, but has a good body and the promo ability to make this work. It could at least lead to some very entertaining vignettes. Oh yeah, Sugarfoot was way over in Chicago Ridge as he even got a theme (Down On Me by Jackyl) but no win.
7. Roderick Strong (with Rocky Romero) defeated Jack Evans in 15:12 with the CX '02 (Crucifix hold rotated into a cutter). Poor Evans was abused in this match, but at the same time he ran to the ring and hit on Roderick before the bell. Lots of high flying by Evans and a total lack of remorse by Strong. At one point Strong got the crowd to do the "shhhhhh" before one of his harsh chops only to hit an eye poke. What a heel. Strong then would stretch out flexible and quarter century old Evans including doing a camel clutch and pulling back on Jack so much he ended up with Jack's head in his crotch. The crowd chanted "Tea Bag" - I was ashamed. Jack, who looks incredible sharp due to many tours for Dragon Gate came back with his high flying quick feet. But Roderick took advantage of a mistake on a corkscrew elbow into the corner when he caught Jack and dropped him flat to the mat. Jack made another comeback and called for the 630, only to have Roderick catch him on the top rope and hit the Scott Hall last call overhead slam off the middle rope. Another backbreaker, and then Strong put on his Stronghold. Evens got to the ropes, but as the referee was admonishing Strong, Romero got him with a kick to the face which set up the pin after the CX 02. Afterward, Romero joined in on a beating and Delirious made the save again, cutting a promo with plenty of spoken English about Roderick, Rocky and June 23rd.
8. ROH World Tag Team Titles: Mark & Jay Briscoe defeated The Motor City Machine Guns. (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) in 34:19 after Mark delivered a cutthroat driver to Shelley while at the same time Jay came off the top rope with a guillotine legdrop. Match of the night. An outstanding showcase of tag team wrestling by a very strong and powerful team (Bricoes) and a graceful team who should be a permanent tag team every Thursday night on Spike TV. I was amazed how good the former Murder City Machine Guns were live and how well their double teams worked and how they gelled together. I have 7 pages of notes on this match alone (plus I went to another show today for IWA-MS 180 people in Midlo where I saw an outstanding comedy match with the incredible Chuck Taylor's mullet vs. Joey Ryan's mustache and its almost 6am), and it was anything but a let down as it started slow but built up towards a crazy finish and so many near falls toward the end. Really, anything I write here doesn't do this baby justice please get the DVD and please bring back the Motor City Machine Guns to ROH. They impressed the s*** out of me and it sure beats anything with them jumping out of a tree onto Bob Backlund. This f****** ruled.
9. Colt Cabana defeated Scrap Iron Adam Pearce in 13:28 with the Billy Goat's Curse (Inverted Boston crab). Cabana got the 1000 streamer treatment and Pearce attacked him while he was being introduced and they did some moves on the streamers as Colt almost mummified him with steamers. High on comedy (not as funny as CHUCK TAYLOR~!) but had its moments as it was the final match in ROH for the funny kid from Maxwell Street (or at least he was billed by then tonight). Match started with a test of strength which led to a YMCA by colt. Shane Hagadorn interfered but got booted after Colt pulled an Eddy and hit a chair against the ring apron and acted like it hit him in the head from Hagadorn. Colt selling this chair shot was quite sensational. Ooooooooow. Oooooooooooowe. Colt sold this like he was brain damaged from this chair. Really, it was quite great and Zach the ROH security guy escorted Hagadorn out. Fight went to the outside, Pearce pulled out some gold bond power (Cabana, CM Punk, Prazak, and Cabana were part of the gold bond mafia in the Midwest indys in the early 00's) but it didn't work. Colt hit a moonsault of the second rope, Pearce came back with a spine buster. Colt attempted his flying asshole into the corner, but Pearce in an awesome moment picked him up and hit a german for a near fall. Cabana a minute later got the flying asshole and the reverse crab for the submission. Short sweet and funny at times. Good stuff.
Afterward, Cabana put over Pearce and them coming up together in the business and Cabana wanting to be like him and Pearce spit in his face and went off in a huff. Then the ROH faces came down along with Mr. & Mrs. Cabana and Cabana gave a great speech about how he became a star in ROH and how much ROH means to him and how its the greatest company in the world and his only regret was not holding the world title and maybe someday down the road he can have Gabe Sapolsky use his pencil to give him a shot. Or something to that point. Very good speech and an emotional moment.
2008 - WWE released Balls Mahoney, David Taylor and developmental talent Michael Thompson.
2008 - WWE broadcast Raw, ending without a finish as part of an angle with William Regal. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Last night at Backlash, we saw two new champions crowned as well as the debut of a new announcer. The important development out of last night's pay per view is that The Game is back on top on Raw. Triple H defeated Randy Orton, JBL, and John Cena to become a twelve time World Champion. Speaking of multiple time World Champions, Shawn Michaels defeated Batista last night in the Apology for Doing What Ric Flair Wanted to Do Match featuring special guest referee Chris Jericho who called it right down the middle and did not get any revenge on the two men who beat him up during the build to last night's match. While it is time to look forward to Judgment Day, it is also time to celebrate the reign of the new King of the Ring, William Regal. What is in store for the new King? What will happen when Ken Kennedy returns to the ring? Will Beth Phoenix challenge Mickie James for the Women's Title?
We begin with a look back at last night’s Backlash pay per view and the Fatal Four Way Elimination Match which saw Triple H win the title.
We are live from Exit 16W in East Rutherford, New Jersey and your announcers are Jim "12 Divas in Baltimore and no Crabs" Ross and Jerry 'That is one big alligator on this building' Lawler.
After a brief delay, the sounds of the Game play in the Meadowlands as the new WWE Champion Triple H comes to the ring and he is wearing his spinner belt without spinning capabilities, but the champ does the GameFountain for his adoring fans. The music stops and it is time for the champ to talk. Hunter says that he has an announcement. As of right now, the Age of Orton is officially dead. Eight months ago, he stood behind that curtain (which is hiding a Wrestlemania sign) ready to make his comeback not knowing what was going to happen and if he could be the best again. Eight months later, he returns to the same building and without a shadow of a doubt, the Game is back.
Hunter is interrupted by Randy Orton’s music and Orton comes to the ring with his own mic. Orton says that Hunter does not get a victory speech. Orton asks Hunter if he is proud of what he did last night. Orton talks about the odds stacked up against him. Hunter reminds Orton about how confident he was last night and how he was going to walk out as the WWE Champion. Orton says that he is a victim of his own success. He was so dominant that they couldn’t put him against anyone one-on-one. Hunter wonders if Orton wouldn’t face anyone in a one-on-one match. Hunter points out that Orton gets to sit back and slide in there to get the victory while others do the work. Orton says that he is going to prove that he is the best. In three short weeks, at Judgment Day, he will use his rematch clause to get his title back. Orton says that he was champ for six months. Hunter says that he made his career on running his mouth talking about how great he was, but the difference is that when Hunter did it, he was telling the truth.
Hunter tells Orton that since everyone is sick of hearing Randy run his mouth, he suggests that Orton get out of his ring. Orton refuses to leave the ring. Orton says that it is his ring and Hunter has his title. Nobody is going to tell him . . .
Hunter punches Orton and Orton leaves the ring. Orton says to forget Judgment Day because he cannot wait that long. Hunter was wrong to say that the Age of Orton is dead because it has only just begun. Orton points out that Hunter’s last title reign did not even last twenty-four hours and this one will not either because he is going to get his title back tonight.
Lawler and Ross wonder if we will have the rematch tonight and they will let us know later tonight, maybe when we get back from commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Orton’s demand to use his rematch clause . . . TONIGHT!! The match is officially on for tonight on Raw.
Match Number One: Mickie James, Michelle McCool, Maria, Kelly Kelly, Ashley Massaro, and Cherry versus Beth Phoenix, Victoria, Natalya, Melina, Jillian Hall, and Layla El in a We have Nothing New Rematch from Last Night Match
The match starts with all twelve in the ring and it slowly gets to Beth Phoenix and Kelly Kelly and Beth with a double sledge to the back. Beth with a vertical choke slam and then she mocks Kelly with an intended tag. Beth runs Kelly into the corner and Victoria is tagged in and Victoria tosses Kelly around the ring. Kelly with a punch but Victoria with an elbow to the back. Victoria tries for a side slam but Kelly counters into a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Melina is tagged in and Victoria puts Kelly in the Tree of Woe and Melina with a screaming charge into the corner and she gets a two count. Michelle hits Melina from behind and Kelly gets a two count. Melina with a front face lock and then she takes Kelly down. Jillian tags in and she Irish whips Kelly into the corner and she tries for a handspring back elbow into the corner but Kelly with a kick and Mickie is tagged in. Mickie with a flying clothesline but Jillian with an Irish whip. Mickie with an elbow and then Mickie gets sent to the apron. Victoria tries to attack Mickie on the apron but Mickie knocks her off. Mickie with a head scissors and a Thesz Press. Layla hits Mickie from the apron but Mickie with a rollup and Backlund Bridge for the three count.
Winners: Mickie James and her Merry Band of Eye Candy (and Ashley)
We are reminded that the Coronation of King William Regal I is still coming tonight as we go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for a recap video of Backlash, and in case you didn’t know, there are replays this week.
Match Number Two: Bradshaw with JBLimo sponsored by Mamajuana and Fox Business Channel versus Robbie McAllister with Rory McAllister
Bradshaw backs Robbie into the corner and he connects with a knee and boots to the head. Bradshaw with a Saito suplex and a kick to the back. Bradshaw with a number of elbow drops to Robbie. Bradshaw with a Clothesline from Wall Street for the three count.
Winner: Bradshaw
After the match, Bradshaw joins Lawler and Ross at the announce table. Bradshaw says that should have been John Cena because Cena robbed him of what his cares about the most. Hell has been unleashed, and he challenges the winner of the WWE Title Match tonight. He says that he will get revenge on Cena and he will get his title back.
We go to commercial as they pull Robbie off the mat after what Bradshaw did to him.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Trevor Murdoch losing to JTG two weeks ago on Raw and Cade gives Murdoch a nasty look before leaving.
Match Number Three: Paul London and Brian Kendrick versus Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch
London and Cade start things off and Cade with punches to London. Cade with a back body drop to London for a near fall. Murdoch tags in and he works on London’s back. Murdoch with an elbow to the top of the head for a near fall. Murdoch pulls London back into the corner and he tags in Cade who connects with a boot. London tries to get out of the corner. London with an elbow to Cade and then he tags in Kendrick. Kendrick with a slingshot kick to Cade followed by a flying forearm and drop kick. Kendrick tries for Sliced Bread #2 but Cade sends Kendrick into the corner and Cade with a clothesline. Kendrick with a rollup and since Murdoch is not the Undertaker, he gets counted out instead of applying That Submission Maneuver.
Winners: Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch
After the match, Cade yells at Murdoch but Murdoch gets the mic from Lillian and he stands on the announce table. Murdoch sings to Cade on Raw Karaoke. Cade does not like the performance and he leaves the ring and walks to the back. Maybe next week we will see Dancing with the Murdochs.
We see footage of Shawn Michaels fighting through the pain to beat Batista last night at Backlash. Chris Jericho’s guest on the Highlight Reel will be Shawn Michaels.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to see the press that last week’s appearance by the top presidential candidates.
Match Number Four: Paul Burchill and Katie Lea versus Super Crazy
Before our next match, Katie Lea says that William Regal made this a handicap match.
Burchill attacks Crazy but Crazy punches Burchill and then Lea with a waist lock but Crazy with a reversal and waist lock take down. Burchill with knees and then he puts Crazy in a rear chin lock while Lea kicks Crazy in the head. Crazy with kicks to Burchill’s legs but Burchill maintains control. Crazy moves when Katie charges into the corner and he connects with a series of kicks. Crazy goes up for a moonsault but he misses when Burchill moves. Lea with a missile drop kick and then Burchill with the curb stomp and then Lea gets the three count.
Winners: Paul Burchill and Katie Lea
Todd Grisham is with Randy Orton in the interview area and Todd reminds Randy that he invoked his rematch clause tonight. Todd wonders if Randy has any second thoughts. After a few seconds, Orton gives a resounding NO!!
The Coronation is coming after this commercial.
We are back and it is time for Royalty in New Jersey as Lillian Garcia announces that the coronation is about to begin.
William Regal is in the ring in his throne as he looks at the peasants in the crowd. William Regal says that he wants to put an end to any speculation. He will not be relinquishing his role as General Manager of Raw. As General Manager and King, he has become the most powerful entity in the WWE. Regal says that he will not mince his words and he says that the fan’s xenophobia will not allow them to like him. Everyone will have to respect him and fear him. From this day forward he is their ruler, their better, and their superior.
Regal is interrupted by Ken Kennedy’s return. Kennedy walks to the ring and he addresses Mr. Regal. He would love to be the first guy to congratulate William Regal, but he just cannot do that. Kennedy asks who the biggest wrestler not to be invited to participate in the King of the Ring Tournament. Who is the guy who would have won the tournament? Who is the guy to challenge Regal to be the King.
Regal tells Kennedy that he is not a common wrestler, he is the general manager and the King. Nobody talks to him unless he gets an appointment. Regal tells Kennedy to apologize. Kennedy refuses to apologize and reminds everyone what his name is. Regal punches Kennedy after the dramatic pause and then he knocks Kennedy out of the ring. Regal and Kennedy exchange punches in the ring and then the Royal Referees break things up.
We go to commercial.
We are back for the WWE Rewind: Santino Marella saying that they will have the tag title belts around their bellies; and then we see Santino and Cody exchange the verbal barbs before they fight.
Santino gets on the mic before his match and he says that he does not like New Jersey or The Sopranos because of the fake stereotypes and fake accents.
Match Number Five: Santino Marella with Carlito versus Cody MAH THUN Rhodes with Bob Holly
Santino with a kick and punches followed by forearms and a snap mare and kick to the back. Santino with an elbow to the back of the neck and then he runs Rhodes into the corner. Marella with a forearm to the back. Rhodes misses a cross body when Marella moves. Marella with a near fall and then he applies a rear chin lock. Rhodes with a rollup for a near fall, but Marella with a hip lock into a near fall. Marella continues to work on the back and he puts Rhodes in a camel clutch. Rhodes gets to his feet and he hits an electric chair drop. Rhodes and Marella exchange forearms and then Rhodes with a drop kick and clothesline. Rhodes sends Marella into the turnbuckle and Rhodes tries for a bulldog but Marella sends Rhodes into the turnbuckle and gets a near fall on Rhodes. Rhodes with a DDT for the three count.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
After the match, Carlito paces around the ring as he thinks of a good song to sing to Santino.
Rhodes gets on the mic and he mocks Santino’s accent. Cody’s promo is interrupted by a lungblower from Carlito.
Chris Jericho is dressed for prom (darn you Jerry Lawler for saying it just as I type it) as he walks us into commercial.
We are back for the Highlight Reel and the King of the Prom Chris Jericho comes to the ring. Jericho welcomes everyone to an awards edition of the Highlight Reel. Jericho has the award for Best Actor in Sports Entertainment. The first nominee is Magnificent Muraco and Mr. Fuji in Fuji General. The next nominee is Michael Cole in Deliverance II with co-star HEIDENREICH. The final nominee is Shawn Michaels in Pretending to Have a Knee Injury to Win at Backlash. Jericho announces the winner and it is Shawn Michaels. Shawn limps to the ring to appear on the Highlight Reel. Jericho tells Michaels that it was a masterful performance last night. Jericho tells Shawn to give an acceptance speech. Shawn tells Chris that he is hurt. Jericho tells Michaels that the charade is over. Jericho reminds Michaels that he told Batista he would do whatever it would take to win. Jericho says that nobody goes from pious preacher to backstabbing bastard as fast as Shawn. Jericho says that he would be super kicked if he was not standing on the other side of the podium. Jericho calls Michaels the Daniel Day Lewis of the WWE. Jericho leaves the ring while Michaels stays in there. Jericho walks to the back.
Triple H is getting ready for his match in the back by a metal door as we go to commercial.
We are back and Santino is walking in the back and he says that there is one thing that makes him happy and it is the WWE Divas and he sees one with junk in the trunk. Santino gets a Diva mixed up with Roddy Piper. Santino says that Piper looks like Chunk from Goonies and he asks him to do the Truffle Shuffle. Piper slaps Marella. Piper wonders if Santino has a death wish or if he is just special.
Match Number Six: Randy Orton versus Triple H for the WWE Title
The bell rings and they stare at each other before locking up and working their way around the ring in a collar and elbow tie up. The referee separates both men and then they get in each other’s face as they go nose-to-nose. They lock up again and Orton with a side head lock. Orton with a shoulder tackle to Hunter. They lock up again and Orton with another side head lock. Hunter tries for an Irish whip but Orton holds on to the side head lock. Hunter tries to escape and he does and he puts Orton in a hammer lock and a side head lock. Hunter with a shoulder tackle and then he gives Orton a crotch chop. Orton tries for a hip toss but Hunter blocks it and responds with a short arm clothesline. Hunter works on Orton’s arm but Orton with a knee and punch. Orton with an Irish whip but Hunter moves when Orton charges into the corner and Orton goes into the ring post. Hunter sends Orton into the ring post again as Hunter works on the shoulder. Hunter wrings Orton’s shoulder into the ring post and ring steps. Hunter with a wrist lock and arm wringer. Hunter uses his collarbone to work on Orton’s arm.
They go outside and Hunter rams Orton’s arm into the ringside barrier. Orton is sent back into the ring and when Hunter gets back in the ring, Orton kicks Hunter in the face. Orton with a Hangman’s DDT as we go to commercial.
We are back and Orton with a forearm to the back of the neck followed by punches as Orton punches Hunter around the ring. Hunter and Orton with punches but Orton with a drop kick and both men are down. Orton gets a near fall and then it is time to the old standby of a side head lock. Hunter gets to his feet but Orton keeps the hold applied. Hunter goes down to his knees. Hunter gets to his feet again and he applies a sleeper on Orton but Orton with a belly-to-back suplex to get out of the hold. Orton starts with the Garvin Stomp followed by a knee drop. Orton with another knee drop and he gets a two count. Orton chokes Hunter in the ropes and then Orton goes to the floor as he punches Hunter off the apron. Orton with more punches on the floor and then he sends Hunter into the ringside barrier. Orton slams Hunter’s head into the ring steps.
They return to the ring and Orton gets a two count. Orton with forearms across the upper chest and then he returns to the reverse chin lock. Hunter returns to his feet and he hits a belly-to-back suplex of his own to get out of the hold. Hunter charges at Orton in the corner, but he is met with a boot to the head. Orton sets for the RKO with the Orton push ups. Hunter sends Orton into the corner on an RKO attempt and Orton’s injured arm hits the turnbuckles. Hunter with a punch to Orton. Hunter with more punches but Hunter with a face buster and a clothesline. Orton with a power slam when Hunter comes off the ropes and Orton gets another two count. Hunter hits a high knee on Orton for a two count. Hunter with punches to Orton and the referee tries to stop Hunter. Orton with a back breaker after the referee admonishes Hunter. Orton gets a two count. Orton goes up top but Hunter crotches Orton on the top turnbuckle. Hunter punches Orton and then he sets for a superplex and hits it. Hunter covers Orton but Orton is able to kick out. Orton with a European uppercut and he tries for an RKO but Hunter gets out of the hold. Hunter tries for a Pedigree but Orton counters and he catapults Hunter into the turnbuckles. Hunter with a drop toe hold into a Crossface.
We see Regal in the production truck and he tells the producer that nobody will disrespect him any more so he tells the producer to take the show off the air.
While Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler do commentary, we have no video feed because of Regal and we have a Tony Schiavone moment as we go to Law and Order. I hope the tape machines are recording things to show the finish on next week’s WCW Saturday Night.
Mike Johnson filed the following: Monday Night Raw went off the air without a definitive winner as the storyline was William Regal forced the show to go off the air. Live in the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ, WWE champion Triple H and Randy Orton brawled before Orton powdered out and Triple H's music hit. There was no announced winner, so the live crowd didn't get a conclusive result, either.
2009 - WWE broadcast ECW on Syfy from Madison Square Garden. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off tonight with footage from the match between Jack Swagger and Christian from Backlash when the boyhood dream of winning a major title finally came to Christian (based on the WWE announcers).
We are live on tape from New York and your announcers are Josh ‘A Capital Idea’ Mathews and Matt ‘Bower-Lovey’ Striker.
The new ECW Champion is introduced by Tony Chimmel and Christian comes to the ring. Christian says that since he came back to the WWE, he said that he would be the ECW Champion. He says that it is sinking in right now. Before Jack Swagger comes out to interrupt him, because it will happen, this is the greatest day of his career. He is before all of his peeps in Madison Square Garden as a champion. He tells Swagger that it is time for him to interrupt him.
Christian is interrupted, but it is not by the man he defeated for the title, but the man who was the face of the Original ECW. Dreamer comes to the ring in a suit. Tommy congratulates Christian while the crowd chants ‘ECW’. He says that for the first time in three months, there is finally a champion who is what ECW is all about. Tommy mentions that they have been friends for a long time. He says that he is not only here to congratulate Christian. Tommy says that he vowed to win the ECW title one more time before his contract runs out. Dreamer says that his time is running out. He has less than six weeks until his contract expires. Dreamer says that he is in the building that made him love the business to challenge Christian for the ECW Title. Christian says that he will give Dreamer the title match tonight in Madison Square Garden.
Now the former champion comes out and Jack Swagger is not in a good mood. He says that he was willing to let this farce go on because the moment is fleeting but enough is enough. Swagger says that Christian is the champion only because he cheated and that is not fair. Swagger says that it is a joke that Dreamer is asking for an ECW Title match and he calls Dreamer a joke. The only thing saving both men from being beaten up is that in three weeks, he will win the title back when he gets his rematch. They can talk about title matches all they want, but no one gets a title match until he does.
Tiffany comes out and interrupts Jack. She wants to welcome everyone to ECW and she tells Swagger that he has a title match at Judgment Day. Jack is wrong about being the next person to have a title match. Tiffany says that there will be an ECW Title match tonight.
Tyson Kidd is in the back getting his hair done by Natalya. We go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage of the mixed tag match from Superstars when Finlay cheated with a shillelagh to get the victory over Natalya and Tyson Kidd.
Match Number One: Tyson Kidd with Natalya versus Fit Finlay
They lock up and Finlay backs Kidd into the corner but Finlay with a clean break. Finlay with an wrist lock take down. They lock up and Finlay with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Kidd rolls to the ropes and then he goes to the floor to discuss strategy with Natalya. Kidd returns to the ring and Finlay with a kick when it appears that they are going to have a test of strength. Kidd gets his boots up when Finlay charges and then he comes off the turnbuckles but Finlay blocks it and then he puts Kidd in a single leg crab. Kidd tries to get to the ropes but Finlay pulls Kidd into the center of the ring. Kidd gets to his feet and he misses an enzuigiri and Finlay clotheslines Kidd over the top rope to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Finlay with a seated splash for a near fall. Finlay tries for a short arm clothesline but Kidd with a drop kick to the knee and then Kidd with a series of elbows to the knee and then he works on the leg. Finlay tries to get out of the hold by raking the eyes but Kidd holds on and he applies more pressure to the knee. Kidd with a step over toe hold and then he falls back to the mat to add more damage to the knee. Kidd works on the ankle. Finlay finally escapes the hold but he is showing the effects of the work that Kidd did on the leg. Finlay with forearms and a side head lock but Kidd with an atomic drop onto the knee. Finlay responds with a clothesline. Kidd charges into a boot from Finlay but Finlay misses a knee drop. Finlay blocks an attempt by Kidd to go for the knees and Finlay gets a near fall with a backslide. Finlay with clotheslines and a neckbreaker. Kidd with a kick but Finlay with a power slam for a near fall. Finlay with a shoulder in the corner and then he tries for the rolling fireman’s carry slam but he cannot get Kidd up because of the damage to the knee. Kidd with a corkscrew drop kick and Finlay goes to the floor. Kidd tries for a baseball slide but Finlay pulls up the ring apron and he punches Kidd. Finlay rolls Kidd back into the ring and then Natalya distracts the referee and that allows Kidd to use the shillelagh that Finlay left on the apron on Finlay’s injured leg and Kidd gets the three count.
Winner: Tyson Kidd
We are back and Vladimir Kozlov comes out and he is dressed to patrol the Berlin Wall. He says that he is the product of the Russian army and Russian athletics. There is no one in Double Double E or entire world who can beat him. It will be a matter of time until he achieves Global Domination.
Matt Striker introduces the newest member of the ECW announce team and we go to interviewer Gregory Helms. Helms is in the back and he says that he is excited to be here. Helms interviews Evan Bourne. Gregory asks Evan about the new day that is dawning in ECW. Evan mentions that the draft brought some new faces and there was a new champion crowned at Backlash. If you stop for a second, your moment will pass you by. Evan says that Tommy Dreamer is not the only person with championship aspirations.
Evan is interrupted by Paul Burchill and Katie Lea and Paul says that those championship aspirations are going to have to be put on hold. They have a rematch on Thursday night. Paul tells Evan that he was lucky last week and this week Evan’s luck runs out. Helms with a Watupwitdat.
Match Number Two: Tommy Dreamer versus Christian for the ECW Title
They shake hands as the match begins and then they lock up. Christian with a clean break. They lock up again and Dreamer with a waist lock but Christian with a hammer lock. Dreamer with a shoulder tackle. They lock up again and Dreamer with a side head lock. Dreamer and Christian each block hip toss attempts and Christian with an arm drag into an arm bar but Dreamer reverses and has Christian in an arm bar. Christian with a hammer lock but Dreamer with a side head lock. Christian with a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Christian with a side head lock and then Christian hits the Pendulum kick. Dreamer is able to escape an attempted Killswitch and Christian avoids the DDT.
They lock up and Dreamer with a side head lock and shoulder tackle followed by a near fall. Dreamer with a back slide for a two count. Christian with a kick but Dreamer catches Christian on a float over and hits a power slam for a two count. Christian with a punch that staggers Dreamer and sends him to the canvas. We go to commercial.
We are back and Dreamer with an Irish whip but Christian moves when Dreamer charges into the corner and Dreamer hits the ring post. The referee checks on Dreamer while Christian waits for him to emerge. Christian works on Dreamer’s arm and then he applies a key lock. Dreamer with punches to get out of the hold and then Dreamer tries for a DDT but Christian escapes and hits a Divorce Court for a near fall. Christian drops Dreamer’s arm across the top rope and then Christian goes up top for a missile drop kick and a near fall. Christian with an arm bar into a key lock. Christian with forearms and he continues to wring the arm. Christian goes up top but Dreamer stops him. Dreamer with a superplex and both men are down and Dreamer gets a near fall. Christian with a kick and then he returns to the injured arm. Dreamer with a kick and then he hits a Mick Foley clothesline that sends both men over the top rope to the floor.
Christian goes up top but Dreamer punches Christian in the midsection and Dreamer with a clothesline and then he drops Christian face first on the canvas. Dreamer with an inverted DDT for a near fall. Christian tries for a sunset flip but Dreamer stays up and gets a near fall. Christian with a near fall and Dreamer with another near fall of his own. Christian runs Dreamer into the turnbuckles but Dreamer with a clothesline that flips Christian. Dreamer puts Christian in the Tree of Woe but Swagger attacks Dreamer before he can hit a drop kick. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner: No Contest
Swagger attacks both men and then he hits a belly-to-belly suplex on Dreamer. Swagger sends Dreamer into Christian who is still in the Tree of Woe. Swagger turns his attention to Christian and then he hits a Doctor Bomb on Christian. Swagger stands over both men as we go to credits.
2010 - WWE taped an edition of Smackdown at Madison Square Garden. Here are the results filed by Mike Johnson:
*They dropped the Scramble match and announced a Fatal Four Way as the main event with Chris Jericho vs. Kane vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Jeff Hardy. No Great Khali or John Morrison.
*Chris Jericho came to the ring in a suit. Jericho said that while things may have changed regarding what show he is on, what remains the same is how clueless and pathetic the fans are by not knowing how great he is. He said he had a mission statement for everyone and that was he was taking over. Smackdown is now his show and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
Jericho said its a travesty he has to compete in a Fatal Four Way because he should already be the number one contender. He said he would go on to Judgment Day to win the World title and nothing would stop him.
World champion Edge came out and mockingly introduced Jericho to the crowd. Edge pointed out that Jericho is a former World champ who lost his belt to John Cena. He said Jericho has never beaten Cena while Edge beat him in a Last Man Standing bout to become nine time World champion.
Edge told Jericho it was his show and he was the main event. He said that no one who was drafted over was going to rock the boat. The fans chanted for John Cena. Edge told Jericho to save his speeches because Smackdown wasn't his to take...because it was Edge's show.
CM Punk came out and introduced himself and reminded everyone he was Mr. Money In The Bank. He said everyone must remember him from such moments as this and they showed the clips of the night he cashed in and beat Edge. Punk said that later tonight....Jericho cut him off and said no one cares about what Punk has to say. Jericho told him he had no right to get involved and to leave right now.
Punk didn't leave so Jericho said he had enough with being disrespected and walked out. Punk tried to speak and this time Edge said no one cares about what Punk said to say. Edge tried to walk off but Punk stopped him. Punk said it was a new era on Smackdown because Vickie Guerrero is no longer Smackdown GM.
Punk said that the new GM Teddy Long told Punk to come out and tell Edge that he would be competing against Punk tonight. Edge blew him off and said it would be non-title. Punk reminded Edge he could cash in for a title match anytime he wants. He said he was going to take out Edge with the GTS and then cash in to become the new World champ tonight.
*John Morrison pinned Shelton Benjamin with the Moonlight Drive.
*Backstage, Chris Jericho complained to Teddy Long that he should be the number one contender after beating three legends at Wrestlemania. Great Khali showed up and Jericho said that he knows Khali respects him. Singh told Jericho that Khali thinks he should stop whining and get over himself. Jericho walked out disgusted.
*Fatal Four Way: Hardy nailed Kane with the swanton but Jericho pulled him out of the ring and covered him. Kane eliminated. Kane destroyed Hardy on the floor. Rey went for a springboard splash but Jericho nailed him with a chair and got DQ'd. Final two are Rey and Hardy. They go back and forth and have some great exchanges. In the end, Rey hits the West Coast Pop but Hardy turns it into a pin combination for the clean pin. Really good.
*Chris Jericho stormed into Teddy Long's office but only found Maria who was "waiting to show off her clothing line." Jericho complained and stormed off as Edge showed up. Edge then complained to Maria about having to wrestle and said he was going to call his wife. Maria looked exasperated.
*Cryme Time came to the ring and cut a promo. They put over being in their hometown on their first official night on Smackdown. They said they were going to have a Brooklyn Breakdown dance contest with the Divas. The competitors were Layla and Eve. Layla was incredible. Eve won the fan vote since she was a face. Layla slapped Eve down and there was a brief catfight.
*Backstage, Sherri from the View had a Ric Flair style robe and told MVP she would show him around the View on Monday.
*United States champ MVP defeated Dolph Ziggler. Sherri was at ringside and slapped Ziggler at one point when he asked for a kiss.
*Backstage, Chris Jericho was screaming at Teddy Long. John Morrison walked past him and Jericho asked him what he was looking at. Morrison said "a loser" so Jericho slapped him and they had a brief pull apart. CM Punk walked through the middle of it with a smirk on his face.
*CM Punk defeated Edge with the GTS in a non-title match. Punk was about to cash in his briefcase, but before the bell was rung, Umaga came in from the crowd and laid out Punk with the Samoan Spike. Umaga left through the crowd. Edge grabbed the briefcase and was about to hit Punk with it, but Jeff Hardy ran out, nailed Edge and gave him the Swanton. Hardy stood over Edge to end the show, and Punk grabbed the briefcase (which he never cashed in) when he left.
Dark Match: Batista, John Cena & Rey Mysterio defeated Randy Orton, Chris Jericho & Edge.
2010 - TNA Knockout Tara announced she would be leaving the company, writing the following on her Myspace page:
"It appears that I'm winding down at TNA. Unfortunately some organizations "leak" information to wrestling websites to put their spin on a situation, to make sure they come out in the best light. Not me. I'm gonna say it. I'm gonna put my name on it. And I'm going to stand behind it.
I came to TNA last year because I still had a lot of wrestling left in me. I was paid a fraction of what I thought I deserved. But I wanted to show I was still at the top of my game. Now my contract is up in May. I want a modest pay increase. They don't want to pay me what I think is fair. I have no problem going my own way.
But about 12 hours after the conversation where we didn't agree on pay, unnamed sources claim that I am hard to work with and that I don't give my best effort. My only response is that TNA made an aggressive effort to re-sign me, among other things saying that they want to build the women's division around me. And I think wrestling fans see, both on TV and at live events, that I always give 100%. I take pride in that. Smearing me on the way out the door is an act of second rate character.
I take pride in making my best effort to elevate my own wrestling and the entire TNA Women's Division. If people were rubbed the wrong way in the process, I stand behind my work and my positive intentions.
In closing I will say this. In the few weeks that I have left in TNA, I will be the same wrestler that you have seen for the past ten years. After that, I haven't decided if I will stay in wrestling, or finally make the jump to MMA. I do have a lot of irons in the fire. We'll see where life takes me. But wherever that is, there's gonna be competition, and I'm gonna give it my all."
Tara would return to the promotion several months later as a masked woman seconding Madison Rayne before being unmasked.
2011 - TNA broadcast Impact. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the TNA Impact Report here on PWInsider.com!/p>
We start off by recapping last week's memorable incident that saw Kurt Angle dump horse doody on Karen Angle and lay Jeff Jarrett out, as well as Hogan's continued frustration with the Network.
We head out to the ring where Karen Angle has called all the TNA Knockouts to the ring. She says that her crazy ex-husband has hired some slut to take her out, so before anything can happen, she called them out here to try and find out who Kurt's secret weapon is. She starts by picking on the catering woman, who Karen has noticed fawning over Kurt for years now. Karen knows that the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but the lady says she cooks for Kurt and a bunch of other wrestlers here, and she asks if she can go since she has to cook her pot roast. Karen tells her that her tacos suck and lets her go, so she moves on to Jolene the Seamstress, who she's seen running her fingers up and down Kurt's body for the last six years. Jolene says she's doing her job and it's what they pay her to do, so Karen tells her to take her dancing fingers and dance them out of the ring. Karen moves on to Miss Tessmacher, and it's a coincidence that they arrived at the same building at the same time, isn't it? Tessmacher says they both work for TNA and both showed up to earn their paychecks, so Karen points out that they were at the same gym at the same time this morning. Tessmacher points out the other 25 wrestlers working out there and then drops her glasses so she can bend over and pop the crowd. Karen sends Tessmacher on her way, so Karen moves over to Rice & Beans (aka Sarita & Rosita), and she says Kurt likes them hot and spicy. She makes a weak connection between Kurt being an American hero and Sarita & Rosita doing the American thing, but Sarita tells her to get her head out of her ***** and watch Impact because they're MEXICAN Americans and want nothing to do with her husband. They leave, so Karen points out that Madison Rayne & Tara are former TNA World Champions like Kurt and that must make them think they're special like Kurt. Madison says that Tara probably did lay down for Kurt because she's a dirty, filthy slut. Tara spits her gum out at Madison and walks off, then Madison tells Karen to watch out in case Tara tries to screw Jeff too. Karen brings us to Velvet Sky and says she's every man's dream and every woman's nightmare, she's lost her best friend and has gone as far as she's ever going to go in TNA, but if she lands herself on the arm of Kurt Angle, that would catapult her to the top. She's at the end of her velvet rope, so she's decided to swing on someone else's, and she's heard that Velvet is real good at laying down. Velvt goes to slap Karen, but Jeff catches her hand and reads her the riot act. Velvet slaps Jeff instead, so Karen shoves her and Velvet catfights Karen. Jeff tries to separate them, but Angelina comes marching out and thrusts Velvet to the mat with a devastating hair yank while Winter threatens So Cal Val to ring the bell. Okay, I guess we have our opening match...
Angelina Love vs Velvet Sky
Angelina beats Velvet up a bunch, and Velvet tries to fight back, but Angelina no-sells all of Velvet's offense and lays her out again, repeatedly choking her and trying to tear her hair out. Angelina goes after the eyes, but Velvet finally comes back with a jawbreaker and a clothesline. Velvet tries to go after Winter, but Winter gouges her eyes and snaps Velvet on the second rope, allowing Angelina to lock in a rear naked choke. Velvet tries to hang on but finally passes out and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Angelina Love
We barely have time to digest the outcome of that match before we go to the parking lot where Ken Anderson is arriving at the arena. The cameraman compliments his truck, and Anderson says it's old and beat up but has sentimental value. He also says he wants his freakin' title shot.
Matt Morgan is marauding around backstage, yelling for Scott Steiner to show his face. Morgan says he has his eyes on winning the TNA World Title and nobody is going to stand in his way. Steiner's a problem and he's going to eliminate him now.
Time for our next match...but first, Mexican America comes out and drops the giant Mexican flag. Willie Urbina and Hector Guerrero salute the flag as Anarquia tells us that next week is Cinco De Mayo and the fans will salute their flag. This land was their land, but now it belongs to Mexican America.
Anarquia vs Chris Sabin
Anarquia jumps Sabin before the bell and works him over in the corner, then hits a snapmare and scrapes the boot over Sabin's forehead. Sabin ducks a clothesline and hits a series of flying forearms and a leaping elbow in the corner. Sabin dodges attempted interference from Hernandez and hits a springboard clothesline for 2. Sabin appears to have hurt his leg on that move, and we pause for a replay that clearly shows Sabin come down bad on his right foot, and Anarquia quickly rolls him up for the win.
Winner: Anarquia
Mexican America beats Sabin down 4-on-1, but Alex Shelley suddenly runs out to make the save.
We go backstage where Scott Steiner is playing golf , and he says he beat up Matt Morgan because he is there and he wanted to jump him. He doesn't need a reason, and talks about how Matt Morgan shot his DNA into space and now aliens are going to find his piece of ****. The Cameraman tells Steiner that Matt Morgan is looking for him, and Steiner says that he's not a hard man to find and if Morgan wants him, he knows where to find him.
Matt Morgan finally finds Scott Steiner, and Steiner tells Morgan to come on after him and ducks behind a curtain. Morgan goes after him, so Steiner hides and nails him from behind, then rams him into a wall and beats him down, smashing a table into his head and saying all kinds of things that get bleeped out. Steiner takes a chair and the table and literally throws them at Morgan before choking him out with a broom and tells Morgan that he'll never be like him, and **** the **** with his ****. Steiner continues just brutally beating Morgan down until Morgan turns it around and throws Steiner into a table and then launches him into a pile of chairs and starts choking him out while saying that nobody's goingg to get in his way, not Steiner or anybody. Morgan chokes Steiner out with a chair as Steiner yells that he's sorry, but Morgan tells him to shut up, and picks him up and rams him into a refrigerator backstage. Morgan stands over Steiner and says that nobody's getting in his way and he will be the World Champion.
We head out to the parking lot where Sting (as if you didn't see this coming a mile away), calmly walks out to Ken Anderson's truck, takes off his robe, and begins beating in the windows and headlights with his baseball bat. He then calmly picks his robe back up, takes a sip from his bottle of water, and starts to walk away before stopping, climbing on the hood, and smashing in the windshield as well. He leaves the bat buried in the hole in the windshield and walks off.
Time for a title match...
TV Title Match: Gunner vs Christopher Daniels
Gunner powers Daniels to the corner and unloads on him with heavy forearms and right hands to the ribs before running Daniels over with a hard back elbow. Daniels responds by kicking Gunner's leg out from under him and hitting a Northern Lariat. Daniels leapfrogs Gunner out of the corner and chops the back of the head, but Gunner quicklr regains control with a knee to the midsection and chokes Daniels on the ropes. Daniels gets a crucifix out of nowhere for 2 and then nails Gunner with a palmstrike, but another big kneestrike to the midsection and a rear bearhug grounds Daniels. Daniels slips out of that so Gunner hits the hardest gourdbuster I think I've ever seen for 2, then stalks Daniels in the corner before nailing him with more right hands. Daniels gets a boot to the face and hits the second rope curb stomp, then goes after Gunner with right hands and an STO. Daniels rams Gunner to the corner and sits him up top, hitting an Iconoclasm for 2. Daniels goes for the Angel's Wings but Gunner rams him ot the corner and repeatedly lays in shoulderblocks to the midsection. Gunner whips Daniels hard to the corner but Daniels ducks a clothesline and hits a uranage and goes for the BME, Gunner moves and Daniels lands on his feet, but Gunner rams Daniels hard into the corner and hits an F5 for the win.
Winner: Gunner
That was a really good match, and I think this is the best Gunner has looked so far in TNA.
Sting is backstage, and he's...WALKING!
Sting comes out to the ring and says he's not sure who the truck in the parking lot belongs to, but they left their windows down. He's trying to get rid of Hogan and Bischoff, but every time he turns around, Anderson's standing in his way. He tells Anderson to come out to the ring now so they can hash this out. Anderson comes out with bat in hand (and microphone in other hand) and goes face to face with Sting. Anderson asks Sting if he smashed out the windows in his truck, and Sting says no so Anderson asks if the video he just saw of Sting smashing out his windows was a figment of his imagination, and Sting says yes. Anderson asks Sting again if he smashed out the windows on his truck, and Sting pauses before saying yeah, it was him. Anderson says that's fine because he'll get it replaced and Sting can do whatever he wants because he's rich, BIATCH! Anderson says Sting can play all the games he wants because Anderson's going to one up him every time, and Sting has the authority to pick his opponents because he's got a friend at the network, but he wants to do it right now and right here on Impact.
Rob Van Dam's music hits and he comes out to the ring to join the party. He says that Sting finally gave him a fair shot at the title at Sacrifice and he appreciates that he's a stand up guy and thanks him. As much as the TNA Title means to him and as much of a dirty player they know this asshole is, he knows that the Network wants him around to help the ratings and they need to show Anderson that he's not needed. Anderson quotes Meatloaf and asks him what's it gonna be boy, yes or no? Sting says let's do it tonight, Sting vs Anderson for the TNA World Title, but Hogan's music hits and he comes out to tell Sting that he loves the way he's using the power the Network gave him and the way he's handing out title shots, and he's the best fighting champion TNA has ever had. But if it's a fight he wants, he'll get a fight because the title match he booked is now a three way because he has the power to make matches too. He says Anderson and Sting aren't walking out with the TNA World Title because the new champion is going to be Bully Ray, brother. Ray comes out to look menacing as Hogan says it's showtime, brother.
The Mystery Cameraman asks Joe what he thinks of Crimson, and Joe says that he's great and has a lot of potential. People might think what he did to Abyss was harsh, but he thought it was a thing of beauty. Joe says that Crimson's streak isn't close to what Joe did, and he's never been in the ring with him before, but he is tonight and when you get in the ring with Samoa Joe, you always lose.
To the ring!
Crimson vs Samoa Joe
Crimson goes right after Joe and they trade blows, but Crimson wipes Joe out with a big boot and then locks him in a three quarter nelson and fires knees into the head. Joe fights his way out and hits a leaping kneestrike off the ropes, then whips Crimson to the corner, follows him in with a clothesline and a leaping enziguiri for 2. Joe comes off the ropes but Crimson catches him and hits a T-Bone suplex, then gets the three quarter nelson with the kneestrikes and turns it into a neckbreaker for 2. Crimson goes for a slam but Joe blocks and hits a kick to the chest, he tries a leaping enziguiri but Crimson ducks and hits a low vertical suplex for 2. Crimson with hard right hands and whips Joe to the corner, but runs right into the STJoe. Crimson rolls to the floor and Joe comes after him, ramming him into the barricade and goes for the Ole Kick, but Crimson catches him with a back elbow. Suddenly, Abyss comes running out from the back and attacks Crimson to call for the DQ.
Winner: Crimson by DQ
Abyss stands staring a challenge at Joe, who says screw it and walks off, leaving Crimson to suffer the wrath of Abyss, who rams him hard into the barricade and then the stairs. Abyss rolls Crimson into the ring and hits the Black Hole Slam.
We go backstage where the Mystery Cameraman tells Ken Anderson to explain what the top spot means to him, and Anderson says he wants to gold medal, but instead of a straight title match he's getting a three way. He won't sit around complaining, he's going to make lemonade out of lemons and he'll make chicken salad out of chicken ****.
We go to Kurt Angle, who says Karen is making an ass out of herself by accusing all the Knockouts because she has no idea who the mistress is. Karen's gone from being covered in **** to stepping in it, and she might just run into the mistress next week. She has no idea who it is, and when she meets Ms Angle, she's going to **** her pants. Okay, then.
Mickie James come out to the ring and says that when she got into the business 12 years ago, the only thing she wanted was to become the greatest women's wrestler of all time. But what she wants most of all right now is to dedicate the Knockouts Title she now holds to all the fans who stood by her and believed in her through everything, and it's because of them that she stands here right now with the title and gets to live her dreams because of them. She thanks the fans and her music hits.
Bully Ray is backstage talking to Abyss, and saying that him as the TNA World Champion would be great because it would piss the entire wrestling world off. He would trade in all 23 World Tag Team Titles for one TNA World Title, mostly because he teamed with that slacker for 15 years. But now he gets to beat up Anderson and Sting and be the guy who represents the company as World Champion.
It's main event time!
TNA World Title Match: Sting vs Ken Anderson vs Bully Ray
The bell rings and we're off, with Sting going right after Anderson and beating him down as Bully Ray sat back and watches. Ray nailed Sting from behind and unloaded with hard forearms, then rammed Sting back and forth from corner to corner. He went back and forth beating both Sting and Anderson down before hitting a side suplex for 2. Anderson nailed Ray and hit a short clothesline on Sting for 2, then starts trading blows with Ray. Sting wipes them both out with a double clothesline and then takes turns nailing each of them with right hands. Sting dumps Anderson to the floor and gets a clothesline on Ray for 2, but Ray boots Sting in the face and then nails Anderson, and we're at commercial.
We're back and Ray hits a vertical suplex on Anderson for 2 and then a diving headbutt for another 2. Anderson fires back with right hands and rocks Bully Ray, but Ray with a hard elbow to the top of the head and a punt to the ribs of Sting. Anderson nails Ray with a series of clotheslines and a neckbreaker for 2, buth Sting lays Anderson out with a series of clotheslines and hits the Stinger Splash. Ray follows that up with a charge on Anderson and Sting tries a Stinger Splash on Ray, but Ray pulls the referee in the way and then lays Sting out with a clothesline. Ray grabs the pipe and stalks Sting with it, and nails a shot to the midsection. He tells the crowd that that one was for Hogan, but AJ Styles suddenly runs in and goes after Ray, hitting a Pelle Kick and then heading to the outside. Sting grabs the pipe and nails Ray with it, and a second referee slides into the ring and makes the three count.
Winner: Sting
Anderson grabs the pipe from ringside and slowly peers over the ring apron with hatred in his eyes...and we're at commercial!
We go backstage where Bully Ray says that he should be the TNA World Champion and wants to know what business AJ Styles had out there because it was a three way match, not a four way. He thinks that if we thought he took it out on AJ before, AJ cost him the World Title and now he's really going to take it out on him. The Mystery Cameraman says that he tried to end AJ's career, but Ray says he got his comeuppance at Lockdown, but he got involved tonight and next time there won't be a table, it'll be concrete, and he says to tell AJ that it's not in his family's best interests for him not to show up. He's been in the business for a long time and he's been in the ring with bigger, tougher, stronger men than AJ, and Ray is a 300 pound warrior and there's nothing AJ can do to hurt him and he's picking a fight with the wrong grizzly.
We flip over to AJ, who says that Ray tried to end his career and he has to get in here to provide for his family. Scott Steiner tells Matt Morgan that he's a Division III basketball player and Steiner was a Division I wrestler and nobody's scared of basketball players. Next week, Morgan's ass is his and Morgan's a dead man next week. The Jarretts are backstage and Karen says she went through all the TNA hos, and now she's freaking out over the war still going on. Velvet Sky says that Karen called her a slut, but she's hot and doesn't need Angle, and she has enough problems with Angelina Love. We go back to the Jarretts and Karen has no idea who the mistress is, and Jeff says he's going to find out who the mistress is because this is a bunch of crap.
2011 - WWE issued the following:
WWE® Announces Revised Dividend Policy
Adjusts Quarterly Dividend to $0.12 per share
STAMFORD, Conn.-- WWE (NYSE:WWE) today announced a revised dividend policy to enhance the Company's financial flexibility and support the "New WWE" initiative. Beginning in June of 2011, the Company's quarterly dividend will be adjusted to $0.12 per share of common stock held by the Company's Class A public shareholders. Members of the McMahon family will also receive dividends in the revised per share amount and, as a result, all Class A and Class B shares will receive dividends in the amount of $0.12 per share.
"Our Board of Directors has determined that an adjustment to the current dividend is both prudent and appropriate," stated Vince McMahon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe this change strikes the right balance between returning capital to shareholders and investing in our future. We are confident that WWE is ideally positioned to create long term value for our shareholders."
"The Company's revised quarterly dividend was set based on targeted ranges for payout ratios and liquidity levels," stated George Barrios, Chief Financial Officer. "Aligning payouts with our current level of earnings and cash flow will significantly enhance our financial flexibility, support our current growth initiatives, and enable us to take advantage of important strategic opportunities in a quickly changing media landscape, including executing on our 'New WWE' initiative."
WWE's management and Board remain committed to delivering value for the Company's shareholders, and the revised dividend will continue to return significant cash to its investors. The revised quarterly payout of $0.12 per share provides a yield of 4.2% based on the April 28 stock price, representing an approximate 130% premium to the S&P 500. Further, the Board will continue to review the Company's dividend policy on an ongoing basis, including the appropriateness of one-time returns of capital.
The new quarterly dividend rate will become effective with our June 2011 dividend payment. The record date for the dividend will be June 15, 2011, with a payment date of June 27, 2011
2012 - PWInsider.com broke news that Sabu, who was booked for the main event of Extreme Reunion in Philadelphia, would not be working the show. Sabu was found in "bad shape" in his hotel room, according to a source within the promotion. 911 was called and Sabu was rushed to the hospital in Philly. Sabu was scheduled to work Shane Douglas in the main event. He was replaced by 2 Cold Scorpio. Footage of the scene, originally shot by Extreme Reunion, was later seen in the documentary "Barbed Wire City."
2012 - Ring of Honor and CHIKARA held a double header in Chicago, IL titled "Synergy." Jonathan Murphy filed the following report:
CHIKARA:
The Colony & Jigsaw vs. The Swarm & The Shard
- 8-man tag match opener
- Really fun 13 minute opener
- Great brawling
- Storyline of the match was The Swarm and The Shard trying to remove the masks of The Colony and Jigsaw.
- Winners: The Colony and Jigsaw via submission!
Archibald Peck vs. Kobald
- Really silly match (Les would love this one)
- Storyline was Peck didn't know how to pin his opponent.
- The referee had to show Peck how to cover Kobald.
- Crowd loved this match but there were some fans who found it over the top
- Not as good as the opener.
- Next.....
Winner - Archibald Peck. Peck had to have the referee cover Kobald.
Batiri vs. The Throwbacks
- Throwbacks come out with one guy in a football uniform and the other partner in a baseball uniform. Batiri look like The Headshrinkers with facepaint.
- First 3 minutes of the match is the referee and the baseball player trying to take the football pads off the football wrestler. Another silly segment.
- The football wrestler then got upset with the baseball wrestler because he wanted to take his pads off himself. This lead to the baseball wrestler sitting on the barricade wall for the match (No, I'm not making this up!)
- In the end all is well, and the baseball wrestler forgives the football dude.
- The quality of the match is really good, however, the storylines within the match are a bit silly.
- The Throwbacks win when the football wrestler nailed one of the Batiri team in the head with a football helmet.
- Again, the guys worked hard but the gimmicks are a bit of the top. Crowd was really into the match.
20 minute intermission
3.0 & Spectral Envoy vs. Bravado Brothers & Hammermeier/Donst
- Run of the mill 8 man tag. Heels (Bravados and crew) completely dominate the faces for the first half of the match.
- Hollow wicked (the 4th member of the face team) was taken out during intermission but made his return during this match.
- This never really seemed to get out of first gear but the guys worked hard.
- Match was kind of a mess. Crowd wasn't really into it.
Winners: 3.0 and Spectral Envoy
Eddie Kingston vs. Kevin Steen (Grand Championship Match)
- This match was the payoff from the angle at Young Wolves Rising
- Even before the match, the crowd was hot for this match!
- Steen asks a big guy in the front row 'What are you doing with a Diet Pepsi?!?!' Crowd popped!
- Steen was playing the crowd huge.
- Steen was able to lock the Sharpshooter on Edwards. Huge Canadian pop from me! (Note: Sting should watch how Steen put the Sharpshooter on. He does it correctly!)
- Kingston showed a lot in this match. Really good worker!
- DQ finish. Steen gave a low blow to Kingston right in front of the ref! Keeps heat on both guys. Smart booking!
- Another good match here! Kingston and Steen showed a lot in this match!
Gran Akuma vs. Icarus & Taylor & Gargano
- This 3-on-1 match was booked in typical WWE fashion.
- The three heels dominate the face for the first 5 minutes and the face makes his comeback.
- Babyface wins the match with a quick surprise cover.
- Nothing to see here.
Main Event - El Generico vs. Sara Del Ray
- Generico is super over!
- Si Si Si Si Si chants for Generico!
- Del Ray is freaking hot! Wow!
- The chops by Generico and Del Ray were stiff! Good lord!
- Generico gave a stiff kick to Del Ray's face! My goodness! She's a toughie!
- Such a kid friendly product. The crowd was chanting 'Holy poop!' during this match!
- Sara Del Ray wins with a piledriver!
- Excellent main event!
Overall, well worth the $25 admission!
Great show!!!!!
ROH:
Michael Elgin & Roderick Strong (with Truth Martini) vs. All Night Express
- Martini is much cooler in person!
- Strong faked an injury during the match which cased Elgin to get pinned!
- Strong fell off the top rope and looked like he had a legit ankle injury. The crowd went silent and Cary Silken even came out.
- All Night Express win with a doomsday device/neck breaker. Absolutely sick move!
- Major dissension teased between Strong and Elgin at the end of the match. Martini made the two friends shake hands. Good angle to start the show.
- Awesome match!
Mike Bennett (with Maria) vs. Local Chicago guy
- Bennett and Maria had a make-out session in the middle of the ring before the match.
- A local guy came out and interrupted Bennett and Maria and challenged Bennett to a match. No one around us knew who this guy was.
- Bennett wins with an F5.
- Match was okay. We all knew Bennett was going to win.
The Young Bucks vs. The Bravados
- This match was dedicated to Les Thatcher and Adolfo Acosta (Kidding!)
- This is the first match I've seen with a surfboard submission in the first two minutes of a match!
- Lots of 'Let's go Hardy' chants for the Bucks!
- The Bravado's were treated with 'We want Beiber' chants.
- There must have been 50 superkicks in this match!
- The Bravados win with a roll-up after a back-and-forth 15 - 20 minute match.
ROH just announced the Death Before Dishonor PPV will be held in Chicago on Saturday, September 15.
During the PPV announcement, Kevin Steen interrupted and said he would be the champion by the time September rolled around!
Kevin Steen & Jimmy Jacobs vs. El Generico & PJ Whitmer
- All out brawl with backstage personnel coming out to try and stop the match!
- Match was changed into a NO DQ!
- 5 minutes into the match, the crowd was chanting ' We want fire!!!'.
- Whitmer gets the pin on Jacobs after doing a suplex off the top rope through a table. Unreal!
- Absolutely sick match with tons of spots. Too many to mention here.
- Simply amazing match!
5 minute intermission!!!
The Barrister comes out with no Prince Nana! Barrister announces Ciampa vs. Lethal will conclude at Border Wars in Toronto (which this Canadian boy will be attending).
Kind of pointless segment after intermission.
Trio Tag Match - ROH & CHIKARA synergy match.
The Colony (Green Ant, Soldier Ant, and Fire Ant) vs. Jay Lethal & Adam Cole & TJ Perkins
- Match will be Lucha Libre rules
- The Colony were working really hard to impress the ROH fans.
- Huge 'Colony' chants by the end of the match!
- Perkins takes the pinfall by Fire Ant.
- Complete spotfest match but a lot of fun!
Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team vs. Davey Richards & Kyle O'Reilly
- O'Reilly's tattoo looks worse live.
- Haas and Benjamin were total heels. Haas had no problem saying '*#@$ you!' to the fans at ringside.
- Tons of kicks and elbows to WGTT's faces by Richards!
- O'Reilly looked a step ahead of every move here. Not impressive.
- Good half hour match but nothing to go out of your way to see.
- WGTT win by pinfall. Benjamin pins O'Reilly.
Jigsaw& Hallow Wicked vs. Briscoe Brothers - ROH Tag Title Match
- The Briscoes are super over!
- Excellent brawling by both teams! Crowd was really into this from start to finish.
- Two ref bumps. One for ROH and one for CHIKARA
- Both companies come out at the end and root for their own company. Really fitting and cool scene!
- Briscoes win by an elbow of the top rope
- Great main event!
2012 - Extreme Reunion held their first event in Philadelphia, PA. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Pre-Show Notes: The live crowd is HUGE. There is a line around the building for the show....There will be a pre-show before the Reunion event...Backstage are Homicide, Ruckus, Jeez, The Maximos, DJ Hyde, Matt Tremont and Rory Mondo. Some will be working the show. Some are visiting....They are using CZW's ring and production team for the event....They are selling several different t-shirt designs....
Pre-Show Notes #2: The show is officially sold out with 2,100 fans here.....There are lots of "ECW" chants in the crowd.....There are multiple cameras filming, including a crane camera, a hard camera and several handhelds...They are also filming with several flip cams...UWF's Larry Legend is helping out backstage....The start of the show is being delayed as the PA Athletic Commission doctor was delayed in arriving at the venue.
The show opened with a video tribute to former ECW stars who have passed away, ending with Paul Heyman's speech after Louie Spicoli died, saying that "if you are part of the family of ECW, whether you are with us or not, you are I assure you, for life." I was told this was something a fan made in honor of the wrestlers who passed so they decided to play it. The crowd popped HUGE for most of the names. No Chris Benoit mention.
They played the old ECW opening, followed by a backstage promo with Shane Douglas. Both had no audio so the crowd chanted, "Bullsh**." The crowd then entertained themselves chanting, "Yes!" Production turned everything off.
Bob Artese came to the ring and asked who wants some autographed hats. He tossed them out. He introduced Larry Legend.
Ruckus & Blk Jeez vs. The Dramatics.
This is a dark match to test all the cameras and production.
Dramatics are a masked team billed from Puerto Rico. Looks like the Maximos to me. The larger one went back and forth with Jeez and was sent out of the ring. Jeez hit a tope con hilo over the top to the floor. Ruckus then hit a dive. Back in the ring, he went for a handspring elbow but was taken out by the larger Dramatic.
The Dramatics tagged in and out working over Ruckus. Jeez hit the ring to help but was taken out. The Dramatics whipped Ruckus into the corner and nailed a double big boot then cannonball in the corner. Ruckus and Jeez turned the tide with double team maneuvers. They worked over one of the Dramatics in their corner, choking him.
Ruckus nailed the Razzle Dazzle in the corner on the smaller Dramatic. They did the Backseat Boyz' T Gimmick for a two count. Ruckus went for a moonsault but the Dramatic put his foot up. He made the hot tag to the other Maximo,er Dramatic.
The new Dramatic cleaned house on his opponents. He nailed a back suplex with a bridge on Ruckus. Jeez drilled him with a double stomp. They nailed the Hart Attack on him, then turned him over into a Boston Crab. Jeez dropped a big legdrop on him for a two count.
They went to work over the Dramatics in the corner but Ruckus was shoved off the ropes to the floor. The Dramatics hit the Spanish Fly off the top. The crowd chanted ECW. Jeez broke up the pinfall. Ruckus nailed a moonsault into a legdrop but missed and was covered.
Your winners, the Dramatics!
Solid, fun match.
Cordova vs. Bu Ku Dao
I have no idea idea who these guys are. The crowd chanted, "F*** you both." Dao, who was billed from Asia, began doing mic work. He introduced Luke Hawx, who called out Shane Douglas, calling him out. They've been doing some viral videos of Hawx calling out Douglas and crapping on the reunion. The crowd chanted for New Jack and he said whoever came out, he would beat the sh** out of them.
Cordova attacked him and Hawx left the ring, then kept calling Douglas out, saying he wanted Shane to come out and face him. The crowd booed Cordova when he was left in the ring and they booed him terribly and chanted, "No! No! No!"
Crowd didn't seem to know what to make of all this.
Bob Artese introduced Robby Mireno. Mireno said it was an honor to have the spot that Joey Styles made famous, being the play by play man for Extreme Reunion. The fans chanted "Joey Styles." Mireno said Styles was the best announcer of all time and it was an honor. Joel Gertner came out and said it was an absolute honor for him to introduce....and he went into his patented spiel. Gertner got a monster pop and the crowd chanted, "Welcome back." Gertner then told the crowd on behalf of everyone in the back, "Thank you, you guys are beautiful. Thank you."
The Final Battle: BWO vs. The FBI
Stevie Richards and The Blue Meanie came to the ring with Thomas Rodman, who was part of the BWO in the 1996-1997 era. No Hollywood Nova as Mike Bucci turned down the booking. FBI are Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke. No Tracy Smothers as he pulled out at the last minute, claiming he was done with the business.
Mamaluike and Richards started out shoving each other . Mamaluke grabbed a side headlock. They went back and forth with reversals and faced off. Mamaluke overpowered him and tossed Richards into the corner, chopping him. They fired back and forth with chops. Richards snapmared him and nailed a kick to the back.
Guido tagged in and Meanie tagged iun as well. Guido worked him over and beat him in the corner but Meanie was too heavy for him to whip out of the corner. They started thumbwrestling. Yes, thumbwrestling. That was funny. The fans chanted ECW for it. Mamaluke tried to interfere and Meanie hit them with a double noggin' knocker.
Guido began jawing with Meanie and dared him to a dance-off. He offered to let Meanie go first, then he and Mamaluke attacked him. The FBI double teamed Meanie, taking turns. Mamaluke drilled him with several kicks to the back. They FBI went to do a double Russian legsweep but Meanie turned it into a double Stroke. Richards made the hot tag and killed Mamaluke with a Steviebomb. Guido broke up the pinfall.
Luke Hawx came out to the ring and grabbed Stevie's leg. Richards turned to him and was rolled up and pinned by Mamaluke.
Your winners, the FBI!
Fun comedy and decent wrestling but a weak finish.
A pissed off Stevie nailed Rodman with the Steviekick afterwards and looked as if he was going to fight with Meanie. He and Meanie left alone.
Al Snow vs. CW Anderson.
This is the first time they've ever wrestled. Big reaction and "Head" chant for Snow. He was wearing his JOB Squad era outfit and argued with the head. He and Anderson did some nice back and forth wrestling to start, going back and forth on the mat and reversing holds. Snow hiptossed Anderson and grabbed the head.
They went back and forth on the mat, working holds. Snow caught Anderson with a belly to belly suplex for a two count. He nailed Anderson into the buckles. Anderson made a comeback and Snow rolled out of the ring to recover. Snow missed a bodypress. Anderson grabbed Snow and slammed him shoulder-first into the ring post. Snow went to the floor hurt and was almost counted out by the referee.
Snow made it back to the apron, where Anderson worked him over with right hands. They fought to the floor, where Snow tossed Anderson over the guard rail into the first row. Big pop for that. Snow grabbed the head to celebrate but Anderson nailed him from behind, then drilled him with a chair. He went for an Irish whip but Snow reversed and Anderson went into the guard rail. He whipped Anderson into another.
Anderson returned to the ring, where Snow had used a maneuquin torso that was tossed in from the front row and nailed Anderson with it. He suplexed Anderson for a two count. Anderson mounted a comeback with a series of right hands and drilled Snow over the back. He began working over Snow's arm, using the ropes for leverage. Anderson continued working over the arm on the mat, methodically working it over.
Anderson slipped away from Snow mounting a comeback and drilled him with a swinging necbreaker. He went right back to the armbar. Snow tried to mount a comeback but was cut off and locked in the armbar again. The crowd was getting restless but they were telling a story with the match.
Snow finally broke free. Anderson tried to kick him coming off a rebound but his leg was caught. Snow nailed an enziguiri on Anderson. Anderson recovered to his feet first and locked the armbar back on. He began stomping the hell out of Snow's arm. He grabbed the head and set up to punt it into the crowd but Snow tackled him and went nuts with offense on him.
Snow drilled Anderson with the Head. Anderson rolled to the outside and Snow began talking to the Head. Anderson was whipped into the corner, taking out the referee. Snow nailed the Snowplow but there was no referee. The ref finally counted two and Anderson kicked out.
Snow went to nail him with the Head but the referee took it away. Snow was drilled with the Spinebuster and pinned.
Your winner, CW Anderson!
OK match. They were telling a solid story but they never seemed to capture the crowd. I enjoyed it however. It was a nice throwback to when guys worked holds.
After the match, Snow argued with the Head, called it a whore and attacked it with a series of elbows. He beat it into the buckles with the fans counting. Snow then nailed it with a superplex and walked off without it.
Axl Rotten vs. Balls Mahoney
They each came out with chairs but agreed to put them down in their respective corners. They began exchanging punches with the crowd going "Balls" and "Axl." Balls got the better of the exchange, sending Rotten to the floor. He followed and nailed Rotten with a bottle of water. He grabbed a fan from a ringside fan and nailed Rotten with it. They battled up the aisle, hitting each other with weapons and punches.
They returned to the ring, where a ton of weapons were brought into the ring by Balls, including a cheese grater. He rammed Axl's head with it. He choked Axl against the ropes and used the grater, busting him open. He then began using it on Axl's arm. Axl fought back and used the grater on Balls' face. Balls dared him to fight and Axl nailed him with a nerf bat embedded with tacks or nails.'
Rotten then used a small kid's back covered in tacks on Balls' arm. He wrapped a piece of metal around Balls' head. Mahoney was bleeding from his head and arm. The crowd chanted for Rotten. Balls nailed Rotten with a sign, then grabbed his chair. He placed it on the mat to use. He grabbed Rotten and slammed him on the chair for a two count.
Rotten came back and nailed Mahoney in the head with the chair. Mahoney pulled himself up. Rotten killed him with another chairshot and DDT'd Mahoney on the chair for the pin.
Your winner, Axl Rotten!
Mahoney and Rotten had words after the match but finally embraced and hugged. The crowd cheered and chanted, "ECW".
They sang "Big Balls" with the crowd.
We are going to intermission!
Angel of The Baldies came to the ring. Angel said that tonight was supposed to be about the legacy of ECW. He said that he's tired of hearing about who was the best Tag Team champions. He's tired of hearing about Taz, Raven and Sandman. He's tired of hearing about Impact Players, Eliminators and Balls and Axl. He said that Baldies were the best team in ECW history. He said they were the baddest and its not their fault they were there at the end when the checks were bouncing like the Blue Meanie's stomach. He said that he that if anyone wants to step to the plate and stand by him and prove who the baddest is, to come on out. The crowd chanted, "Shut the f*** up."
The Gangstas' music played and out they came to the biggest pop of the night. They trashed Angel. Jack laid something over his nether-regions and trashed him with a stick. He pulled out a claw that looked like Freddie Kruegers and dug it into Angel's head. That got an ECW chant.
They pulled a table into the ring. Mustafa worked over Angel. They set him up on a table and were about to put him through it when Ruckus and Jeez hit the ring for save. They worked over the Gangstas. Jack fired back and brawled with Ruckus. Angel worked over Mustafa as Jeez and Ruckus worked over Jack. They finally walked off.
This looked like the start of a storyline. The angle didn't get over at all as the fans were chanting for "refund" and booing it after. A fan threw water on Jeez on the way out and Jeez had to be held back from murdering him.
Extreme Reunion attempted to reach out to Devito and HC Loc to get them to team with Angel. Devito turned it down, citing health issues. Loc was called too late to make it to the show.
Pitbull Gary Wolfe (with Christina Vicious) vs. Raven.
Wolfe took the mic and says that everyone knows Pitbull 2. He said their brothers are watching above, especially Pitbull 2, waiting for him to kick the sh** out of Raven so let's get it done. Raven came out with a new Flock, including a legitimately crippled guy who called him "Cripple H." Raven began ripping on the legacy of ECW, saying reunions are for "f**s and morons." He said that now ECW means "Extremely C**ty Wrestling." The Flock attacked Wolfe. Raven said he came here to mock how pathetic everyone is for not moving on and living in the past. They all worked over Wolfe.
"Enter Sandman" began to play and out came Sandman for his grand entrance. The Flock beat the crap out of Wolfe. Sandman entered the ring and caned the entire Flock. He was laid out and beaten with by a muscular guy in the Flock. Wolfe and the muscle guy brawled. Wolfe hit a sitdown slam and pinned him.
Yes, Wolfe pinned someone not even in the match to win.
Raven said this was pathetic and he needed a new Flock. He walked out.
Sandman caned the hell out of Criple H and then he and Wolfe drank a bunch of beers.
Holy bait and switch Batman. Raven didn't even work. WTF. They draw over 2000 fans and one of the top names on the show treats it like a joke and doesn't work. Sad.
There was a small but noticeable "This show sucks". Ouch.
Devon Storm vs. Jerry Lynn
Storm is better known as Crowbar. He did have an ECW run in 1996. He's replacing Justin Credible, who was here but pulled off the show. I'll have more on that later.
There was a HUGE "Save the show" chant.
They went back and forth, locking up and going back and forth with some nuce reversals. Lynn locked on an armbar. Storm reversed and they went back and forth working on the arm. Crowbar went to work on the leg but Lynn slipped out and grabbed a headlock. The fans chanted, "This is wrestling."
Lynn whipped Storm into the corner. He nailed Storm and whippped him into the opposite corner. Storm reversed and went up and over but Lynn turned it into a flying headscissors, sending him to the outside. Lynn went for a sliding kick but Storm slipped out of the way and nailed him. He knocked Lynn off the apron to the floor and slammed him into the guard rail.
Back in the ring, Storm peppered him with a series of kicks to the chest and choked him against the ropes. Storm nailed a flying leg lariat. Lynn was locked in a chinlock but fired back with a series of elbows to the gut. Storm went for a back suplex but Lynn turned it into a bodypress for a two count. Storm nailed him and kicked him with a punting kick.
Lynn fired back with forearms but was nailed and whipped into the ropes. He charged Storm who went for a powerbomb but they tumbled over the ropes to the floor. They battled on the floor with stiff chops. Lynn did Flair mannerisms as they battled up the aisle. Storm grabbed a piece of guard rail and brought it to the ringside area. He bridged it between the ring and the guard rail.
Lynn grabbed a fan's cane and hit Storm with it. They brawled around the ringside area. Homicide was out there. Storm trashed Lynn and tossed him into the ring. He went to use a chair but Lynn stomped his hands. Lynn went to nail him with it but Storm nailed him and hit a Northern Lights suplex on the chair for a two count.
They battled back and forth. Lynn nailed a tornado DDT on the chair for a two count. Lynn went for the cradle piledriver but Storm nailed a double leg takedown and legdropped Lynn between the legs. They battled to the floor, where Storm nailed a standing vertical suplex through the guard rail. The crowd popped and chanted ECW.
Storm used a chair on Lynn on the outside. He placed Lynn on a table. He went to the ropes but Lynn nailed him with a chair and hit a top rope hurancanrana on the outside through a table on the floor. The crowd chanted, "Thank you Jerry." They then chanted, "Thank you Crowbar."
Back in the ring, Crowbar took control and set up two chairs facing each other, then another on top. He went for a move but Lynn reversed it into a suplex on the chair. Big ECW chair. Lynn nailed the cradle piledriver on two chairs for the pin.
Your winner, Jerry Lynn!
Huge chant for Lynn. Far and away the best match on the show. The crowd loved it because they gave them an ECW style match and brawl and highspots, which is all they wanted all night and never really got.
The crowd chanted, "That was awesome."
Lynn took the mic and said, "No, No, you guys are f***ing awesome." He noted that he was retiring at the end of the year and the crowd chanted No and told him that he's still got it. He said it was his 24th year and he has to be smart and listen to his body. The crowd applauded. The crowd thanked him with chants. He told them that he thanked them. He said he was told 5-6 years ago to retire and he didn't because he didn't listen. He said that ECW fans were awesome and came to have fun and make it a party. He thanked them once again.
Far and away the best thing on the show. That was incredible. Both guys deserve a hell of a lot of credit.
Shane Douglas vs. TBA
Shane Douglas came out. The crowd chanted, "F*** you Shane" and "Refund." Douglas told the crowd that he works them, not the other way around. Douglas said that unlike jackasses that lie to the fans, he will shoot. He said that Sabu was found unresponsive in his hotel room. He said that ECW never hid behind a bullsh** story and neither will Extreme Reunion.
Douglas name checked Bam Bam Bigelow and Chris Candido and said that in ECW, whatever happened, they were a fraternity. He said that they were a family and family watches out for family. He said Sabu's been rushed to the hospital and have heard nothing credible from the hospital. Douglas cut a promo about the night he tossed down the NWA title and beating 2 Cold Scorpio.
He said that if Scorpio would face him, he wanted to re-live that moment and see what could have been. Scorpio came to the ring with Bill Alfonso, who was brought in to manage Sabu as a surprise. So, that's our main event.
They locked up and went back and forth then brawled on the floor. They brawled into the ring and out into the crowd. It was impossible to see what they were doing from my vantage point. The crowd didn't like what was going on and chanted, "This is bullsh**."
With Shane in the crowd, Scorpio went to the top and nailed a twisting bodypress to him on the floor. The crowd popped for that. They finally returned to the ring. Back in the ring, Douglas went for a piledriver but was backdropped over. Fans chanted, "Just retire."
Scorp nailed a moonsault off the top and covered Shane for a two count. A masked man came to the ring. Douglas nailed a move on Scorpio for a two count. Douglas nailed Scorp. The masked man pulle th referee out of the ring and sent him into the ringpost. He entered the ring and went face to face with Douglas. Douglas told him to work over Scorp but instead he attacked Shane and unmasked, revealing Kevin Sullivan.
Scorp nailed Shane with a superkick and came off the top with a twisting frog splash. The referee rolled back in the ring and counted two but Douglas kicked out. Sullivan went to the back. Scorp nailed a flip legdrop for a two count. The crowd chanted, "F*** you Shane."
Scorp nailed an Arabian Press for a two count. Douglas was bleeding from the lip. Scorp charged him in the corner but was kicked off. Douglas went for a piledriver but Scorpio nailed him with a series of combinations. Another masked man ran in. It was Tod Gordon. He hugged Scorpio. Shane hit a twisting sunset flip and pinned Scorpio.
Your winner, Shane Douglas!
Scorpio took the mic and said Douglas wasn't sh**, then told Tod Gordon to kiss his black ass.
There's not much a positive feeling from fans leaving.
Thanks for logging in with us tonight. That's it from Philadelphia.
2013 - WWE ran Cologne, Germany. Matys Marco filed the following report:
SmackDown WrestleMania Revenge Tour results from Cologne, Germany
Here are the results of tonight's live event from the LANXESS Arena in Cologne, Germany:
- Fandango (w/ Summer Rae) def. Ted DiBiase
- Justin Gabriel & Alex Riley def. Primo & Epico
- Layla def. Aksana (with guest ring announcer Hornswoggle)
- 2 on 1 handicap match: Big Show def. The Usos
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Wade Barrett (c) def. Santino Marella
- No DQ: Alberto Del Rio (w/ Ricardo Rodriguez) def. Jack Swagger (w/ Zeb Colter)
- Sheamus def. Mark Henry
- 6-men tag team match: Randy Orton & New Age Outlaws def. The Shield by DQ.
2015 - Verne Gagne, the founder of the American Wrestling Association and former AWA World Champion passed away. Mike Johnson penned the following:
The announcement late Monday night by Gene Okerlund that Laverne "Verne" Gagne, the founder of the American Wrestling Association and a Hall of Famer by any description, had passed away closed the final chapter on the glory era of professional wrestling in Minnesota. Gagne was 89 at the time of his death and in recent years, had been living in a nursing home due to the effects of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
A High School wrestling and NCAA star, Gagne broke into the business in 1949, one year after competing in the Olympics as a member of the 1948 wrestling team, trained by Tony Stecher and Joe Pazandak. His timing was perfect as the young, athletic All-American amateur wrestling star made the perfect babyface as pro wrestling was being broadcast on the Dumont Network, which featured live broadcasts from the Northeast. Gagne was a ready-made star and quickly was headlining in Madison Square Garden.
Gagne was not only a quick success, but given his legitimate looking style in the ring and obvious pedigree in amateur wrestling, he was long pushed as the successor to then-NWA World champion Lou Thesz, but the trigger was never pulled, often blamed on politics, specifically that Thesz didn't want Gagne to be his successor despite all the obvious money that could be made from their natural rivalry and obvious chemistry in the ring. But, it was not to be and that would have long-lasting ripple effects.
Instead, Gagne was awarded the first United States Heavyweight championship, which was a belt created specifically for him that was defended in the Mid-Western region of the U.S. The idea was that the belt would allow Gagne to travel and work as a traveling champion similar to Thesz, making a percentage of the live gates in areas he worked due to the credibility of the champion coming into the area.
When longtime Minneapolis Boxing and Wrestling Club promoter Anton Stetcher passed away, control of his territory in the Minnesota area went to his son Dennis and Wally Karbo, who helped promote the territory. In 1959, Gagne purchased Dennis' shares in the company, which became the parent company for what would eventually become known as the American Wrestling Association. The National Wrestling Alliance attempted to bring the pair into the fold as official members who would promote the Minnesota area, but Gagne and Karbo, perhaps remembering Thesz' slight on Gagne and refusal to drop the NWA title, instead decided to promote on their own.
Gagne was named the first AWA World champion (the cover story was that then-NWA champion Pat O'Connor had refused to defend it against him) and was the focal point of the promotion. Now, Gagne not only had the star-power but the title and he could control the shots to boot. No politics. He was the boss and in the ensuing years, he and Karbo would expand the AWA to not just run Minneapolis but also Milwaukee, Chicago, and Winnipeg, Canada, among other markets. Later on, Las Vegas, Denver and a number of other markets would see AWA action as well, but for the lion's share of the AWA's glory era, it was running a big chunk of the Mid-Western United States.
During the 1970s, Gagne not only became the perennial (and multi-time champion) but also one of the most renowned trainers of all time. Holding court inside a barn that was by all accounts freezing and probably one of the all-time worst conditions to train professional wrestlers in, Gagne created one of the toughest training camps of all time - one that was so tough, Ric Flair tried to quit after he began training there. Gagne showed up at his house and allegedly threatened to kick his ass if he quit and as the story allegedly goes, Flair was so scared of that, he went back to training.
While Flair was undoubtedly the greatest all-around performer to come out of the camp, the others who did were, in many cases, mind-blowingly awesome and legends as well - Ricky Steamboat, Ken Patera, The Iron Sheik, Bob Backlund, Ole and Gene Anderson and Larry Hennig. All of Gagne's trainees often had the same traits - they were beyond tough and when it came to the science of pro wrestling and the finesse that it takes to have a great physical match, they excelled at it.
Inside the ring, Gagne had a bevy of classic feuds over the AWA championship. Always the babyface and armed with his deadly sleeper hold as a finisher, he battled the likes of Ray Stevens, Nick Bockwinkel, The Crusher, The Vachons, Larry Hennig, Fritz Von Erich and many, many others. He was the local star pro wrestler who was known for giving back to the amateur wrestling clubs in the area, often having local amateurs on the TV show to promote their upcoming events. A purist to the end, Gagne loved wrestling and what it had brought to his life. That showed in his creative - the villains were all loud, brutes who in the end, always lost to the better, heroic classically-trained pro wrestlers.
Gagne was also one of the most powerful promoters from the time the AWA launched well into the mid-1980s when the WWF national expansion came along with the advent of cable television. The territory was liked because the travel was easy (although when it came to the weather, the winters were terrible and very much hated because of the bitter icy cold and snow).
Gagne even wrote, starred and produced in his own film "The Wrestler", where actor Ed Asner played what was obviously a version of Verne in promoter Frank Bass, who was dealing with his own champion Mike Bullard (played by Gagne) preparing to face off his an upstart challenger (played by the late Billy Robinson) at the same time local mobsters are trying to force him to throw matches so they can make money gambling. The entire script is obviously Gagne's voice and featured an angry rant by Asner's Bass towards newspaper reporters who won't take pro wrestling seriously, not even after a wrestler is killed in the ring. Legend has it that other promoters were sold a piece of the film in advance to help finance the production and lost a fortune when it was a bomb, although the film, shot for $400,000 is also alleged to have made several million in some media reports. Today, it's an interesting slice of 70s wrestling history with everyone from Vince McMahon Sr. to Lord James Blears making appearances, a bar fight with Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch kicking ass and the mobsters getting theirs from no less of authorities then the Crusher and The Bruiser. On a personal note, I love the film so much that I have it's theatrical poster hanging in my office. It's a very unique love letter to the business from Gagne and well worth checking out if you want to see something pretty well, different.
Gagne announced his first retirement in 1981 and in an ironic twist given the issues with Lou Thesz, never lost the AWA World title. Nick Bockwinkel was named the champion. While Gagne would never hold the belt again, he would end up with a record ten reigns and held the belt well over 4,000 days. Like most wrestling retirements, Gagne's didn't stick and he would become involved in the ring at different times, often to kick the hell out of an evil manager as a big blow-off stipulation.
The AWA continued to be a strong promotion through the mid-1980s. While WWF would have one believe that Hulkamania started there, the reality was that Hulkamania started with Rocky III, the Sylvester Stallone film that featured Hogan as Thunderlips. According to stories Hogan has told over the years, Vince McMahon Sr. refused to give him time off to make the film, so Hogan quit and went and made it, then went to the AWA. When the film came out, it was a huge sensation and suddenly, so was Hogan, who was the super-babyface chasing then-AWA World champion Bockwinkel, managed by Bobby Heenan.
The promotion teased a number of times that Hogan was about to win the belt, or that he had and the decision was reversed. Perhaps Gagne was trying to delay the inevitable to get a bigger house when it finally happened, but at the time same time, a lot of factors began working against him, factors that would eventually cripple and destroy the promotion. One, Hogan and Gagne were butting heads over money, especially money Hogan was making on t-shirts and New Japan tours. One version is Gagne wanted his cut of the tours, feeling Hogan got them because of his work in the AWA. Another is that Gagne was selling shirts and not giving Hogan his cut.
Vince McMahon Jr. called Hogan and pitched the idea of Hogan being the centerpiece of his WWF expansion. Hogan, frustrated with Gagne, was gone without notice. That was the first stake in the AWA coffin. Hogan being gone didn't stop the AWA from advertising he would be appearing at events he was scheduled for - and of course he didn't appear. That was stake number two as now fans had been baited and switched. The third was the WWF's national expansion as Vince McMahon tried to buy the AWA out. Verne balked, likely believing, as many did, that McMahon was full of it and would never succeed. So, Vince hired everyone he could from Jesse Ventura to Hogan to Bobby Heenan and all of them, except Heenan, left without notice. Some did because of unhappiness over pay. Some claimed they were told to do so. Either way, it was crippling to the AWA, which was never again the powerhouse it once was. It was around this time that Gagne, according to The Iron Sheik, offered Sheik a big payday to break Hogan's leg in the bout where Hogan won the WWF title. Although Gagne was his original trainer, Sheik remained loyal to McMahon.
Gagne continued on, even getting a cable slot on ESPN. Based on stories that have been told, Gagne didn't seem to realize how technology was changing before his eyes and according to former AWA announcer Larry Nelson's book Stranglehold, Gagne would ask him how the show looked and was, because Verne didn't have cable where he lived. While the AWA maintained a weekly show locally and on ESPN as well as live specials on the cable network (imagine if someone had THAT today), the WWF was growing stronger by the week, with better production values, the AWA's old stars and the biggest star period, Hulk Hogan. It was likely a matter of time.
I've seen some blame the heavy push Verne's son Greg Gagne received as one of the causes of the company's issues, but I don't believe that to be the case - Greg was certainly a draw as a tag team with Jim Brunzell but even if he didn't click with the masses as a single, it didn't matter who was in that position, sort of like TNA today - there were bigger issues that needed to be addressed and Gagne wasn't able to step into the future (or hire someone with that foresight) in order to compete with the WWF.
That said, the AWA was able to stave off the bleeding, at least in the beginning, due to the rise of The Road Warriors, who at the time were the biggest stars in wrestling outside of Hulk Hogan or Ric Flair and were legitimate drawing cards for the company. In an attempt to cut McMahon off at the pass, a number of other promoters including Gagne and Jim Crockett of the NWA and others formed Pro Wrestling USA, with the idea being they would share talent and tape TV together and create a super-promotion to ward off McMahon and erode his troupe's popularity. As you might imagine, it didn't last long.
There were bright spots in the last few years of the promotion. They had a toy line and a VHS tape series deal, although the success of those paled in comparison to what WWF had produced. The AWA provided the first national exposure for the Midnight Rockers, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. Curt Hennig, the soon to be Mr. Perfect, was an excellent AWA World champion after defeating Nick Bockwinkel. Larry Zbsyzko had his World title runs. Lots of other names who went on to become huge stars in the business including Scott Norton, Paul Heyman, Diamond Dallas Page, Kevin "Nailz" Walcholz, Madusa, The Patriot (at the time, The Trooper) and even Eric Bischoff, who came to the AWA seeking a venue to advertise toys he and partner Sonny Onno had created and ended up taking a job in the office before one day being put in front of the camera as an interviewer, had their initial breaks with the company or runs early enough that it certainly helped them in the long-run.
The company even produced the first-ever live wrestling PPV outside of the WWF and Jim Crockett Promotions. Superclash III on 12/13/89 was headlined by Jerry Lawler defeating Kerry Von Erich to unify the AWA and World Class championships (it didn't last long) and an undercard made up of matches from the AWA, World Class, Memphis talents and even David McLane's POWW. While the show at the time was entertaining, it didn't make money, not even with the ESPN exposure. There was talk of talents who were never paid but whether that was true or sour grapes over low pay when the expected windfall from the PPV didn't come in, I don't know.
The AWA limped on until 1991, when it finally shut down. The Team Challenge Series that came at the end of it's life was in many ways, laughable and a long journey from what the promotion had been founded on. Still, in the end, the final nail in the coffin was most likely the decision by the government to declare ownership over a big piece of Gagne's property via eminent domain. Now Gagne was fighting in court to keep what he had earned and bought for himself with all his hard work at the risk of losing it for a fraction of what it was worth. In the end, Gagne lost, and with it went the money that the property was worth as well as everything he had lost in the court case and in the AWA's promotional war with WWF. A proud man who worked hard and wrestled hard for what he earned, Gagne had lost it all. Personal bankruptcy soon followed and the Boxing & Wrestling Club was no more.
The nostalgia for the AWA lived on locally for some time as Verne and Greg would host a local AWA Classics series for a time in Minnesota but the past could never truly be recaptured. It could, however, be celebrated. Verne Gagne was one of the first inductees into the WCW Hall of Fame in May 1993 when Eric Bischoff launched Slamboree: A Legend's Reunion as an annual PPV event. He would become a member of the first Hall of Fame class for the Lou Thesz & George Tragos Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, which at the time was a Hall where the members were chosen for their work as professionals as well as their work in the amateur wrestling world. Gagne would later be voted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Amsterdam, NY. Finally, after the AWA video library was sold to the WWF, Verne would be inducted into the WWE Hall in 2006 and WWE would later made a documentary DVD about the AWA. The Hall of Fame would prove to be one of Verne's last appearances publicly outside of the Minnesota area and he even got the last laugh at one point, joking how he never liked Vince McMahon, which brought the house down in Chicago.
As Verne grew older, he began experiencing a number of health issues. At first, they would never be publicly explained but he would end up missing advertised convention appearances and his son would explain that his father had become too ill to travel. It was later revealed that Gagne was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and dementia after an incident in a Minnesota nursing home where he tossed his roommate, breaking the man's hip and eventually causing his death. Gagne had no recollection of the issue happening and his roommate had no recollection either and couldn't understand why he was hurt. The story was picked up nationally because of Gagne's connection as a wrestler and it was a sad story, one that shouldn't have been the way the general public last heard of Verne Gagne.
So, we'll end it on another one. In 2012, "The Wrestler" returned to theaters locally in Minnesota as part of a celebration of the film. Verne had not been well (and wasn't well enough to even sign autographs) but attended the screening and absolutely loved that the film was being shown and that people wanted to see it. He hadn't been seen publicly in years but had a huge smile on his face, getting a chance to see the good old days on the silver screen and share it with people who loved them as much as him. That's the ending we all deserve and at least in this article, it's the one we'll give Verne Gagne.
The news of Gagne's passing was acknowledged late Monday by WWE and is already a news story locally within the Minnesota area.
2017 - WWE NXT ran St. Louis, Missouri. Stephen Ground filed the following report:
NXT just wrapped up a great show in St. Charles, MO (basically St. Louis). Here are the results (disclaimer: I am doing this from memory, but I am pretty confident these are the results.
No Way Jose defeated Eric Young by pin fall (rollup)
---after the match, Alexander Wolfe grabbed a mic and screamed at the crowd in German. EY took it from them and laid down an open challenge. DIY came o
Team DIY defeated Killian Dane and Alexander Wolfe by pinfall
Sonya Deville (the erstwhile Daria) defeated Aliyah by pinball
Dylan Miley defeated Patrick Clark by pinfall
Alesteir Black defeated Cezar by pinfall (Black Mass)
(Cezar received "Caesar Salad" and "Pizza Pizza" chants)
---intermission---
(During intermission they played highlights of Bayley vs. Sasha Banks at Takeover: Brooklyn, chosen by fan vote)
Hideo Itami defeated Andrade "Cien" Almas by pinfall (GTS)
Asuka and Ruby Riot defeated Billy Kay and Peyton Royce by pinfall (Asuka pinned Kay)
Bobby Roode defeated Tye Dillinger in an NXT Title match (Glorious DDT after a low blow)
(During the match, Bobby Roode grabbed a Nashville Predators jersey and put it on, whereupon Dillinger found a St. Louis Blues jersey from a fan at ringside and wore it, to thunderous applause. The two then pretended to "drop the gloves" and have a hockey fight. A very fun in ring segment playing off the current Blues vs. Predators playoff series)
After the match, Roode grabbed a chair and raised it, Dillinger hit a low blow and then a Tye Breaker. As Roode recovered, he started double my the 10 Chant, and then tried a cheap shot, only for Tye to hit him with a Stone Cold Stunner to send the fans home happy.
It was a very fun show and the crowd was red hot, especially for the main.
2017 - Ring of Honor ran ROH Unauthorized in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Joe Chmielewsk filed the following report:
ROH Unauthorized was far away the best Ring of Honor show I've seen live. The event was sold out, which is a first for Turner Hall, which only holds about 750 people tops, and the crowd was LIVE all night. I'll try to keep everything in order.
Women of Honor Match: ??? def. Sierra(?)
There was a Women of Honor matched that they taped for YouTube. The first woman was billed from Green Bay, didn't recognize her. Her opponent was named Sierra (didn't know her either) and was billed from Milwaukee. The match was fine, nothing special.
The show started with Silas Young and the Beer City Bruiser coming out. Silas was going to be our ring announcer for the first half of the night. He ran all of us average people in average town USA. And since the board of directors wasn't there he and Bruiser were going to sit out there drink beer and do whatever the hell they wanted.
The Motor City Machine Guns def. The Kingdom
Silas as the ring announcer was good stuff, running down the people he didn't like. The match was a great opener they brawled out into the crowd. And every time Matt Taven is in Milwaukee the crowd chants 'shots' at him because he promised many shows ago that he would buy shots for everyone in the building and we haven't ever let him forget it. So he and Vinny stood on the bar and drank a shot, much to the ire of the crowd. It was a super fun opener with all the typical MMCG stuff, good back and forth match. Machine Guns won with their tandem finisher that I can't remember the name of.
The Beer City Bruiser def. Cheeseburger, Shane Taylor and Punishment Martinez in a four corners match.
One of the loudest pops of the night for Burger as he was in with three monsters. Lots of comedy stuff and some pretty good back and forth wrestler. Shane Taylor is scary fast for a guy his size. Martinez is a beast, Burger had some pretty funny comedy stuff. Bruiser got the pin on Burger at the end, really fun match.
Adam Cole def. Jay White
Cole was WAY over and they had a very good back and forth match, lots of near falls. When White started to get the upper hand out came Hangman Page to interfere, which paid off and Cole got the less than clean win. After the match they went to hang Jay White until he was saved by... The Romantic Touch! He announced he was coming down to save White because he was going to face Hangman Page, which lead to...
Hangman Page def. The Romantic Touch
There was some quick comedy bits, Touch kissed Adam Cole when he tried to interfere, and Jay White ran Cole off. But after that it was just a squash. After the match Hangman hung Touch over the ropes, no one came out to stop him.
Before the next match Silas ran down Jay Lethal and announced he got his match with Lethal made the main event.
The Briscoes and Bully Ray def. Dalton Castle and War Machine
This match was the best match before intermission by far. There were no titles on the line, Bully got a very loud ECW chant when he came out, but the best entrance of the night was Dalton who came out and when he snapped his fingers for the boys, out came WAR MACHINE DRESSED AS THE BOYS! They did the whole Dalton entrance, it was great!. The crowd just ate it up, Dalton called them Boy Machine. Bully got on the mic and asked what he was looking at and Dalton interrupted him and they went back and forth. The crowd began to chant we want tables and Bully said they should make this a Milwaukee Street Fight. All six men just brawled all over the place, it was great. Eventually Dalton and Bully got back into the ring and they did a pose off for like 5 minutes, the crowd was super into it. Eventually after one of the poses Bully had enough and just laid a sick chop on Dalton and the match settled into a tradition six man tag. Lots of great wrestling here, Dalton Castle got power bombed through a time by Bully, and eventually Hanson (I think) ate a 3D and they got the win. After the match, we saw the only adherence to the Code of Honor all night. Bully put over everyone else in the match and put over the crowd and said this is why he's here. He got a great ovation for it. It is worth buying the DVD just for the entrance with War Machine as the Boys.
INTERMISSION
Beer City Bruiser came out to assume ring announcing duties, it was more of the same bit as Silas, but it was over all night as they're both Milwaukee guys and the crowd loved it.
Will Ferrara def. ???
Didn't catch the opponent's name, and I didn't recognize him, he was billed as from Madison, WI. Ferrara got the quick win.
"The Villain" Marty Scurll def. Delirious
The TV title wasn't on the line, but this was a super fun match. Scurll got a huge pop when he came out and the crowd was chanting whoop-whoop during the whole match. This is the first time I've seen Delirious wrestle live, it's quite the interesting experience. There was all kinds of craziness and some very good back and forth wrestling. Scurll did all his spots, including the finger breaking (which unnerves me, but it's great) and got the tapout with the chicken wing.
The Young Bucks def. The Addiction
Easily my favorite match of the night. The Bucks are the most over thing ever, the place went crazy for their entrance. Then someone came out and handed BCB a note that said The Addiction had food poisoning and couldn't compete. So the Bucks challenged any tag team past or present to face them, except the Revival (because those guys suck said Matt Jackson). Then someone on the mic from the back yells out 'OH what a Rush' and starts singing Iron Man, it turned out to be Christopher Daniels as the Addiction came out dressed as the Legion of Doom, face paint and all! It was fantastic, they had 'Legion of Boom' written on their tights. Some great comedy stuff early with Daniels and Kazarian no selling everything and Frankie asking the crowd where Paul was at least twice that I heard. Eventually they settled into just a great, insane, spot-filled match with all kinds of highspots and near falls, two ref bumps, a Doomsday Device and all kinds of other craziness. The Bucks got the clean win with a Meltzer Driver on Frankie. Typical Bucks match with some great, crazy stuff.
Silas Young def. Jay Lethal.
What a great main event to end a super hot show. Just a great wrestling match with all kinds of good action. Lethal hit all his stuff, Silas did all his stuff and eventually Silas countered the Lethal Injection into Misery for the clean pin. After the match Silas screamed for Lethal to shake his hand, and when he tried to Silas turned and walked away, and that was the show. I say it every time, ROH puts on the best live wrestling show every time and I will never miss a show when they come here. Just a great show all around.
2018 - Ring of Honor ran Bound by Honor in Lakeland, Florida. Richard Trionfo filed the following results:
In a Future of Honor Tag Match, The Dawgs (Rhett Titus and Will Ferrara) defeated David Mercury and Vincent (some issues with the sound so I missed his first name) when Rhett Titus hit a frog splash.
Match Number One: Coast 2 Coast (Shaheem Ali and Leon St. Giovanni) defeated Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) when Ali pinned Sabin with a rollup.
Match Number Two: Cheeseburger defeated Serpentico by disqualification when Bully Ray came to the ring as Cheeseburger was about to hit the Shotei and hit Cheeseburger with a low blow.
After the match, Bully Ray started to cut a promo, but was interrupted by Flip Gordon.
Match Number Three: Matt Taven defeated Josh Woods, Beer City Bruiser, and Kenny King when Taven pinned Woods with a rollup using a handful of tights and his feet on the ropes.
After the match, Vinnie Marseglia and TK O’Ryan join Taven in the celebration and then they tell Taven to go to the back to watch the Celtics game while they deal with the conspiracy against the Kingdom and face The Addiction.
Match Number Four: The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) defeated The Kingdom (Vinnie Marseglia and TK O’Ryan) with Celebrity Rehab.
Match Number Five: Flip Gordon defeated Scorpio Sky with the Star Spangled Stunner.
After the match, Bully Ray attacks Gordon and hits him with a low blow.
It was time for a brief intermission.
Match Number Six: Deonna Purrazzo defeated Ava Storie with a Fujiwara Arm Bar.
After the match, Kelly Klein attacked Purrazzo.
The scheduled Adam Page versus Punishment Martinez match never happened because Martinez attacked Page from behind during Page’s entrance. Martinez hit Page with a chair and then choke slammed him through the ringside table.
Jay Lethal comes out and he tells everyone that tomorrow is his birthday and he brings out a special guest to help him celebrate his birthday, Leaping Lanny Poffo. Poffo tells Lethal that Jay has done so much to help people remember his brother and he has a special birthday present for Jay. Lanny gives Jay a pair of Randy’s glasses. Jay puts them on and then he asks Lanny to recite the poem that he read when Randy was crowned the Macho King. Lanny recites the poem and then they are interrupted by Shane Taylor. Jay inquires why is Kamala here since he was not invited. This leads to a match.
Match Number Seven: Jay Lethal (with Lanny Poffo) defeated Shane Taylor with Hail To the King after Lethal Injection.
They play a promo from Dalton Castle talking about the Champions versus Bullet Club Match.
Match Number Eight: The Bullet Club (Marty Scurll, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson and Cody) defeated The Ring of Honor Champions (ROH World Champion Dalton Castle, ROH Television Champion Silas Young, ROH Tag Team Champion Jay Briscoe, and ROH Tag Team Champion Mark Briscoe) in an Elimination Match with Cody being the sole survivor for the Bullet Club.
The order of elimination was: Jay Briscoe (by disqualification) Burnard (unofficial but nailed by Jay Briscoe with chair), Matt Jackson (rollup), Mark Briscoe (450 Splash), Nick Jackson (Misery), Silas Young (crossface chicken wing), Marty Scurll (Bang-O-Rang), and Dalton Castle (crucifix)
After the match, Cody and Marty continue to show some of the tension that existed during the match, but Cody wants a hug and Marty thinks about leaving the ring and goes to the apron. Eventually they hug.
After the online broadcast ended, Cody got on the mic and he wanted to know if everyone had a fun time. He asks everyone if they want to see a second season of Being the Elite and he says it will happen if you believe. Cody wants the Young Bucks to come out since he wants the whole cast present. They do not come out and he asks a member of the ring crew to go get The Young Bucks.
Cody then asks for Marty to sing for the crowd, but Marty says that his voice is not ready to sing tonight. Cody suggests that Marty’s muse comes out to convince him to sing and he brings out Deonna Purrazzo. She suggests something from Justin Timberlake or Brittney Spears.
Marty then performs Baby One More Time.
2021 - Ring of Honor debuted Women's Division Wednesday. Shannon at WrestlingwithDemons.com filed the following TV report:
The reboot of the Ring Of Honor women’s division premiered on YouTube on 4/28/21 with a show called ROH Women’s Division Wednesday. It was taped from Baltimore, Maryland, USA ???????? at UMBC Event Center. Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, and Maria Kanellis-Bennett were the broadcast team. There was only one match on the card and the whole thing lasted 25 minutes.
Quinn McKay opened the show but she wasn’t with everyone else at the venue by the looks of things. She said this would be a weekly show leading up to a women’s title tournament this summer for the vacant ROH Women’s Title. She said Maria Kanellis-Bennett is a member of the ROH Board who will announce the first name in the tournament on next week’s show. She then turned the show over to Maria at the venue.
Maria walked out on stage and gave a commanding and almost heel level promo. She said as a member of the ROH Board, she was bringing back the ROH Women’s Division. She recapped McKay’s notes on the title tournament this summer. She said tonight was going to be all about new faces getting the stage for a chance to impress. She walked over to the broadcast table and became a friendly babyface full of smiles with a happy change of tone.
Hyan and Laynie Luck went to a 15-minute time limit draw with Rok-C and Max The Impaler. Everyone but Max respected the code of honor and shook hands while Max stormed out of the ring in frustration.
All four women are well known to indie pro wrestling fans. Hyan and Rok-C are stars out of Texas who have been getting work in other promotions around the country. Luck is currently the Zelo Pro Wrestling Women’s Champion and the Freelance Underground Independent Champion. Max has held the OVW Women’s Title, the IWA Mid-South Women’s Title, and the H20 Women’s Title.
2021 - New Japan Pro Wrestling presented Satsuma no Kuni in Kagoshima, Japan. James Kurokawa filed the following report:
Gabriel Kidd and Tiger Mask vs. Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji. Tsuji uses a Giant Swing on Kidd. Tsuji transitions into a Boston Crab. Kidd taps out.
DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi vs. Jado, Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga. Taichi led his team to the ring. G.O.D. attacks them from behind. The fight spills out all around the ring. Taichi takes a wicked shot from Jado's kendo stick on the floor. Finally in the ring, Bullet Club beat down Taichi. DOUKI gets hit with a Magic Killer. Jado calls for another Magic Killer on ZSJ. Taichi grabs a ladder and attacks G.O.D. The referee calls for a disqualification and declares G.O.D. the winners.
Taichi continued to beat down Tama Tonga with the ladder as G.O.D.'s music plays. Taichi tries to choke out Tama Tonga with the ladder. ZSJ takes the mic. He tells G.O.D. that he agrees they have taken everything from them. But in Fukuoka Japan, they will take back what is rightfully theirs. ZSJ says in Fukuoka they will prove that they are the best tag team.
Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Gedo, Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi. A few comedy spots in this match. At one point, Gedo bit the butt of Taguchi. Good grief. Tanahashi traps Gedo in the Texas Cloverleaf and Gedo taps out.
BUSHI, SANADA, Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb, Aaron Henare, Great O-Khan and Will Ospreay. LIJ come to the ring first. United Empire's music plays. O-Khan comes out without his robes. He is ready to fight. They all remain on the entryway until Ospreay comes out. They enter the ring together as a team. United Empire attacks as the bell rings. The match settles in the ring with O-Khan beating on Naito. Henare and Cobb tag in to double team Naito. Cobb hits a standing moonsault on Naito. Wow! The pace picks up and all 8 men hit their big moves on each other. Great action. Cobb catches BUSHI and hits Tour of the Islands. Cobb pins BUSHI. Really good match. These men work so well together.
Ospreay teases Takagi to be careful of the Hidden Blade. Taichi is on Japanese commentary and takes photos on his phone of Ospreay kissing his Title belt.
KOPW 2021 Provisional Match - (Blindfold/Darkness Match): Toru Yano vs. EVIL, with Dick Togo. I expect lots of shenanigans in the match. The match can be won by pin, countout or submission but the loser must be blindfolded (in darkness). Both men tried to get the black hood on each other early in the match. Togo hits Yano with a turnbuckle pad. Yano and EVIL fight on the ring floor. EVIL blasts Yano in the head with a chair. EVIL tapes both of Yano's arms to the guardrail, right in front of Taichi, and puts the black hood on Yano. The referee starts the count. Yano struggles to get out. As he is moving, the announcer table is getting bumped and all the announcers' things are falling off the table. At the 19 count, Yano is able to wiggle the hood off his head. The count stops and Yano survives. EVIL starts choking Yano still tied to the guardrail. Yota Tsuji, working ringside, untied Yano from the guardrail. EVIL threw a groggy Yano into the bell ringer's table. EVIL and Togo double teamed Yano stomping him. They put the hood on his head and threw Yano under the ring. The referee began the count. At the 17 count, Yano found his way back inside the ring. Yano made a comeback and threw EVIL across the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex. Yano threw EVIL chest first into the turnbuckle. Yano went for a low blow, but the referee stopped him. Yano pulled out a black hood and put it on the referee. EVIL pushed Yano into the referee who went flying. Yano tried for a low blow but Togo tried put the hood on Yano. Yano takes the hood and puts it on Togo and pushes him into the ropes. EVIL hits a low blow on Yano. EVIL grabs a hood and puts it on Yano. Yano low blows EVIL and puts another black hood on EVIL.
The Japanese announcers are laughing as all men in the match have black hoods on.
Togo leaves the ringside area. Referee recovers and starts counting out both wrestlers. Both men recover and Yano launches EVIL into the turnbuckle. EVIL is stunned and Yano goes to put the hood on Yano again. Lights go out. The lights come on and Yano has the hood over his head and getting choked out by EVIL. EVIL gets rid of the piano wire. Togo comes back to ringside. EVIL hits a lariat on a blind Yano. Two count. EVIL puts the Scorpion Death Lock on Yano. Yano pulls off his hood and referee breaks up the hold. EVIL puts the hood back on Yano, and goes for Everything is Evil. Yano reverses out. EVIL grabs the referee and throws him into Yano. Yano pokes the referee in the eye. Togo jumps in the ring to double team a hooded Yano. EVIL and Togo try for a Magic Killer, but Yano reverses out and hits a double low blow. Yano puts the hood on EVIL. Yano throws Togo into EVIL. EVIL hits Everything is Evil on Togo. EVIL takes off the hood and sees what he has done to Togo. Yano hits another low blow on EVIL. Yano puts the hood on EVIL and rolls him up in a school boy. Yano pins EVIL.
Yano goes under the ring and pulls out a gold spay paint can. The referee awards the KOPW Trophy to Yano. Yano spay paints his black trophy into gold. Yano holds his trophy up and says "My Baby! My Baby!"
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match: SHO and YOH vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado. Suzuki-Gun targeted YOH's left leg by stomping and wrapping it around the steel post. SHO makes the hot tag and takes control of the match. Kanemaru stopped the rally by dragging SHO out of the ring and dropped a knee on his head. Desperado continued to attack YOH, while Kanemaru dropkicked SHO in the face. SHO is in trouble as Suzuki-Gun tagged in and out while keeping their opponent on his back. SHO made a hot tag to YOH. YOH hit Desperado with two elbows then a flying elbow. On his back, YOH did a kip up to his feet. For a moment, YOH paused. It looked like he had forgotten he should be selling the injured leg early in the match. He started whacking and grabbing at his leg, as if to sell the pain.
YOH hit a unique pumphandle facebuster to Desperado. Desperado countered with a knee crusher. Kanemaru came out of nowhere to dropkick the left knee of YOH. Desperado locks in Numero Dos. Kanemaru has SHO in a chokehold, preventing him from getting in the ring to save his partner. SHO gets free and breaks the hold. YOH avoids Pinche Loco and hits a GTR but could not go for the pin. SHO and Kanemaru tag in. SHO locks in a hammer lock submission, but Desperado breaks it up. Pace picks up. Kanemaru hits a running boot on SHO and a moonsault. Two count. All four men in the ring. SHO locks a cross arm breaker on Kanemaru. Kanemaru gets to the ropes. SHO and YOH hit a double super kick on Desperado who falls to the ring floor. YOH slaps his leg and hits a Tope Con Hilo on Desperado. SHO pairs off with Kanemaru and hits a piledriver. Kanemaru kicks out. SHO gets Kanemaru in position for a Shock Arrow. YOH comes off the top with a stomp and Kanemaru is dropped on his head. SHO pins Kanemaru.
SHO and YOH retain the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Titles.
Good match. They told the story of Suzuki-Gun attacking YOH's injured leg leading up to this match. When YOH stopped selling the leg, it took me out of the match for a bit. When YOH went for the Tope and double stomp off the top rope, that also made me shake my head. Don't tell the story if you are not going to sell it to the audience.
Desperado stares down YOH as they will be facing each other for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title.
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