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April 9th
On this day in history in ....
1978 - Ken Patera defeats Wahoo McDaniel in Charlotte, North Carolina to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title, ending Wahoo's fifth reign as champion.
1987 - Jim Crockett Promotions purchases the Universal Wrestling Federation from Bill Watts. The UWF, which had grown from Watts' Mid-South Wrestling, became incredibly hot in 1986 with a roster of talent that included Hacksaw Duggan, Steve Williams, Ted DiBiase, the Fabulous Freebirds, Eddie Gilbert, a youngster named Sting, and others. The group was expanding outside of it's Louisiana/Oklahoma/Texas territory, and was penetrating new markets with a very well produced syndicated show, hosted by Jim Ross. However, just as the UWF was booming, the bottom fell out of the U.S. oil market, hurting what were traditionally strong towns for Watts. Eventually, the financial problems would force Watts to sell to Jim Crockett, who he had a working relationship with.
1988 - Carlos Colon defeats Hercules Ayala to win the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title for the seventh time in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
2001 - WWF Raw was broadcast from the Fleet Center in Boston, earning a 5.4 rating. Tim Whitehead penned the following report on the show:
The latest edition of RAW IS DETERMINED TO MAKE STEVE AUSTIN A HEEL aired live from the Fleet Center in Boston on 4/9. Like most recent episodes, it was short on actual wrestling and long on soap opera. It was entertaining, but there are still some big holes to be filled in the current storylines.The broadcast opened with highlight clips of Vince McMahon's marital problems with wife Linda over the last few months, culminating in Linda slicing the grapefruits on Smackdown.
Vince was shown waiting in the Fleet Center lobby for Jim Ross to arrive. He saw a display featuring Bruins jerseys and ridiculed them for not making the playoffs. Sorry, but the guy who created the XFL shouldn't be running down any other teams in the world of sports. JR arrived with his face all bandaged and bruised up from the beating he took from Steve Austin on Smackdown. Vince feigned shock at JR's appearance, but then said he owes JR an apology and took some of the blame for what happened. He said he was worried that JR, in his present state of mind, shouldn't go on the air. JR said he was ready to work, but Vince said he wanted to have a talk with him in his office first. Vince put his hand on JR's shoulder but JR shook it off, not wanting to be even near him. Vince was acting very nice and called JR his pal and said they would have a nice talk in the office.
Paul Heyman, alone at the broadcast desk, said he would have to go solo until Vince and JR finished their meeting. He imitated JR on the mic.
Kurt Angle came out and bragged about his championship record, saying Boston doesn't know anything about winning championships, and that the Red Sox have spent the past 80 years proving that to be true. Red Sox player Tim Wakefield was in the crowd and Angle asked, "Are you still active?" When he responded in the affirmative, Angle replied, "Only in Boston". That was so funny I almost choked on my Double Cheese Krystal. Angle then noted that he won the King of the Ring tournament in the Fleet Center and, unlike other guys like Roger Clemens and Bill Parcels, he doesn't have to leave Boston to be victorious. He said he was ready to win a title right then and there and challenged any reigning champion to come out and defend their belt against him, emphasizing that he wanted Steve Austin. He promised that, unlike Nomar Garciaperra, he wouldn't fake an injury to avoid competing. It was Kane who ended up coming out to defend his Hardcore Title.
Kane defeated Kurt Angle and Big Show in 3:54 to retain the Hardcore Title. The match began in the aisle. Heyman noted that Angle was wrestling a classic Olympic style just as he hit Kane with a garbage can lid. Funny! Kane hurled Angle onto a garbage can. Big Show then came out and joined the match under the on-again/off-again 24/7 rule. Angle and Show doubled on Kane. Undertaker came out and, along with Kane, flattened Angle. UT & Kane then double chokeslammed Show and Kane pinned him.
Vince was being very nice to JR in his office. Then, Austin barged in and sat down next to JR. He was acting like a schoolyard bully, making sarcastic comments about what a nice cowboy hat JR was wearing, and generally pressing up against JR and intimidating him. Vince informed JR that he has a movie he wants him to see.
Kevin Kelly interviewed Big Show, who was angry about Undertaker interfering in his business and said he wanted a one-on-one match against UT later in the show. It was soon reported that the match would take place.
Vince popped a tape into a VCR, saying it was titled "The Life & Times of Good Ol' JR". It turned out to be the complete angle from Smackdown where JR interviewed Austin, with Austin assaulting JR afterward and bloodying him up. Since this was cable, there was a little more focus on the blood. As the long taped segment ran, they kept showing JR watching it with a blank expression on his face while Austin kept sarcastically patting him on the shoulder. Vince had a look of delight on his face as the violent parts aired. After the tape ended, Austin said it proved how weak and pathetic JR is, and walked out. Vince then sneeringly asked JR if the tape put him in a better frame of mind as an announcer. JR said he has talked to his attorney and he thinks there is a good case to sue the WWF (Vince looked disturbed), but JR then said suing wasn't his style (Vince looked relieved). JR said he might quit, and Vince told him he was the quitting type. But JR then added that if he does quit he will immediately go to work for Shane in WCW. Vince got upset again. JR then said he was ready to go to work, and quietly left the room.
JR came down the aisle to join Heyman on the mic to a big pop. Heyman told JR that if he had quit, he would have quit as well in support of JR, since that's what broadcast partners do. The tension between JR & Heyman, epitomized by comments like that, is great.
Rhyno beat Crash & Molly Holly in a handicap match in 1:28. Before the match they aired a clip from last week where Rhyno squashed Crash in the time honored WWF tradition on squashing the light heavyweight champion. In case anyone missed the point, Rhyno squashed Crash again, goring him for the pin. Afterward he was about to gore Molly but Hardcore Holly returned, making the save by hurling Rhyno from the ring.
Backstage, Vince was worried about JR's comments that he might go to work for Shane. Stephanie tried to tell him not to worry. Linda then arrived at the arena and Vince saw her on the monitor and got worried all over again. He asked Steph to bring him a glass of water.
Linda entered the main hallway and encountered the Acolytes, who greeted her warmly and welcomed her back. Chyna did the same.
Michael Cole interviewed Spike Dudley, who lost a match the night before on Heat to Lita. Spike accepted the defeat graciously. However, X-Pac, Albert, and Justin Credible arrived and started making fun of him for losing to a girl. X-Pac said he's heard of lying down for a female before but never in a wrestling match. Albert ended up hurling Spike hard against a chain link fence and X-Pac put the boots to him.
Commissioner William Regal expressed concern that Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho might be getting friendly towards one another since they have common enemies (one of whom is Regal) and have saved one another from recent beatings. To nip any alliance between them in the bud, he ordered a match between them for later in the show.
Smackdown footage aired of HHH beating Jericho for the IC Title. JR said the situation with Mr. McMahon having his crony Regal setting up all the matches, and having both Austin and Hunter Hearst Helmsley as his allies, just plain sucks.
Undertaker beat Big Show in 1:31. At least it was short. Show backed UT into the corner and was standing on the ropes, pounding him. UT basically hoisted him off the ropes into a spot resembling a powerbomb, as close as you could get to a real powerbomb with a guy as big as Show, and got the pin.
Hour two began with Linda coming out to pop entrance music. She's got pop! She said she had three announcements, the third of which was her "big surprise". The first announcement was that she is back as CEO and is no longer drugged. The second was that she congratulates Shane and wishes him well with his "new acquisition". For the third announcement, she asked Vince to come out. JR wondered aloud why a wonderful lady like Linda would marry a man like Vince, and Heyman said she was just after his money. Vince came strutting out, and said Linda surely must want to apologize for kicking him in the gonads. Linda told Vince to shut up, in a monotone voice, no less. She then had a lot of footage aired on the Titantron, such as when Vince originally asked for a divorce, as well as footage of Vince with Trish, including the scene where Trish wanted Vince to spank her for being a bad girl. After all this aired, Linda noted that at WrestleMania, Vince was defeated and she, Shane, Mick Foley, and Trish all got a measure of revenge against him. But she said that wasn't enough. Vince started trying to humor her, and said that she probably just wants a nice apology, so he sort of tongue-in-cheek got down on one knee and apologized. But Linda wanted more than an apology. She made her third announcement, which was that she wanted a divorce. She then walked out, leaving a stunned Vince in the ring, as JR & Heyman noted that a divorce could take Vince to the financial cleaners. Linda was getting into her limo when Lita congratulated her and said it was inspiring that she is standing up to Vince. Vince arrived and tried to talk to Linda but the limo sped away. He then turned in anger toward Lita and said that because of her support for Linda he would force her and the Hardys to face Austin & HHH & Stephanie in the TV main event. The Dudleys (including Spike) beat X-Pac & Justin Credible & Albert in 2:36. X-Pac & Co. have new entrance music. Spike did a plancha but Albert caught him and posted him. They did some standard brawling with Credible getting pinned after a 3D. Afterward, the Dudleys did the wazzup on X-Pac. Albert hurled Spike from the ring for a risky-looking bump. Credible saved X-Pac from being put through a table and Albert put Buh Buh Ray through it instead. Vince left the arena to go find Linda. HHH & Stephanie tried to stop him and they also complained about Vince putting them in the main event without consulting them. Vince said they were being selfish and stormed out. Matt Hardy was worried about facing both Austin & HHH combined, but Jeff popped up and said it in fact is a golden opportunity, noting that if they beat them it will be a huge boost to their careers and that Austin and HHH aren't accustomed to teaming with one another. Jeff's optimism made both Matt and Lita feel better. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho went to a no-contest in 3:49. William Regal came out as the surprise special referee. He kept slow counting or ignoring pin attempts, with the idea that he was prolonging the match so that both wrestlers would have more time to get angry with one another. But they ended up joining forces to assault Regal. Jericho gave him a lionsault, followed by a Benoit diving headbutt, followed by a Walls of Jericho, followed by a Crippler Crossface. After laying Regal out, Benoit and Jericho had another stare down. They aired an XFL promo and JR put over the upcoming playoffs. Val Venis & Steven Richards tried to recruit Raven to the RTC, but he dismissed them as hypocrites. Venis warned him that anyone who isn't with them is against them. Edge & Christian celebrated being seven time WWF Tag Champs at WWF New York. They had seven drinks with little umbrellas sticking out of each glass and a seven layer cake with their picture on it. How rare is it to see a cake on a wrestling show which doesn't get someone's face smashed into it? Austin & HHH discussed strategy for their main event match. Stephanie whined because they were ignoring her. JR repeated that Rock has been indefinitely suspended by Mr. McMahon. In fact, he'll be out for quite a while working on his movie project. Val Venis beat Raven in 1:42. There was a ton of interference from the other RTC members, leading to a Venis win with the Money Shot. The Hardys & Lita beat Steve Austin & HHH & Stephanie in 6:57. The Hardys dominated early with the commentary emphasizing that their speed and continuity was frustrating Austin and HHH, who have no background as partners. Jeff got tied up in the wrong corner, but finally made the hot tag. The four guys ended up fighting on the floor, enabling Lita to isolate Stephanie in the ring. Lita pinned Steph after the Twist of Fate. HHH was furious and began stomping Lita and gave her a Pedigree. Austin hit Jeff with a chairshot and then mauled Matt with a chair. Lita recovered from the Pedigree, a little too fast probably, and tried to get them to stop beating Matt. Austin then hit Lita with a chair (across the back rather than in the head) and used the chair on her some more to make him an even bigger heel. HHH Pedigreed Jeff. Austin then finished Lita off with a stunner, as JR sold Austin's heel actions big time to end the show.
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