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May 12th
On this day in history in ....
1964 - The WWWF ran a television taping in Bridgeport, CT at the City Arenafeaturing:
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Magnificent Maurice.
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Dave Morgan.
-Jerry & Luke Graham defeated Tony Marino & Manuel Soto.
-Miguel Perez defeated Frank Hickey.
-Bobo Brazil defeated Matt Gilmore.
-Don McClarity defeated Boris Malenko.
-Ernie Ladd defeated Pedro Rodriguez.
-Gorilla Monsoon defeated Carlos Milano.
-Killer Kowalski defeated Ted Lewin.
1965 - WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino competed in two different markets on the same day. Sammartino teamed with Argentina Apollo to defeat Waldo Von Erich & Smasher Sloan in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-1 in Fredericksnburg, VA before heading to Pittsburgh, PA to successful defend his championship, defeating Bill Miller by DQ.
1965 - The undercard of the aforementioned WWWF event in Virginia featured:
-Arnold Skaaland pinned Tony Newberry.
-Miguel Perez defeated the Golden Terror via disqualification.
-Wahoo McDaniel fought Bill Watts to a draw.
1966 - WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino & Antonio Pugliese fought Curtis Iaukea & Bill Miller to a draw in the main event of a card in Washington, D.C.
1972 - WWWF ran two events on the same day. Here are the complete results:
North Attleboro, MA at Witschi's Sports Arena:
-Tony Contilles defeated Joe Nova via disqualification when Nova hit the referee.
-Jimmy Valiant pinned Ricky Sexton.
-Chief Jay Strongbow pinned Smasher Sloan; stipulations stated the loser would have to leave New -England.
-Sonny King pinned Juan Caruso
-Rene Goulet fought the Black Demon to a double count-out; Demon was unmasked as Tony Nero.
Queens, NY at Sunnyside Gardens:
-The Haiti Kid & Sonny Boy Hayes defeated Frenchy Lamont & Sky Low Low.
-Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Manuel Soto.
-Thomas Marin defeated Chuck Richards.
-Victor Rivera defeated King Curtis via disqualification.
1976 - The WWF ran White Plains, NY at the Westchester County Center, headlined by Ivan Putski defeating Superstar Graham.
-Kevin Sullivan defeated Johnny Rodz.
-Skandar Akbar defeated Louis Cerdan.
-Tony Parisi fought Baron Mikel Scicluna to a draw.
-Susan Green & Vivian St. John defeated Paula Kaye & Kitty Adams.
1978 - WWF ran Pittsburgh, PA at the Civic Arena with the following results:
-Dewey Robertson defeated Chris Tolos.
-Ivan Putski defeated George Steele via disqualification.
-Billy Lyons defeated Nick Busick.
-WWWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Spiros Arion via countout.
-Gorilla Monsoon defeated Butcher Vachon.
-Superstar Billy & Luke Graham defeated Dusty Rhodes & Haystacks Calhoun.
1979 - WWF ran Baltimore, Maryland with the following results:
-Nikolai Volkoff defeated Johnny Rivera.
-Tito Santana defeated Johnny Rodz.
-Cowboy Lang & Tiny Thumb defeated Little Tokyo & Butch Cassidy.
-Hussein Arab defeated SD Jones.
-WWF North American Champion Ted DiBiase defeated Jimmy Valiant via disqualification.
-Ivan Putski defeated Bulldog Brower.
-WWF Tag Team Champions Johnny & Jerry Valiant defeated Steve Travis & Dominic DeNucci.
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund fought Greg Valentine to a no contest.
1980 - WWF ran Totowa, NJ at Ice World with the following results:
-Baron Scicluna defeated Jose Estrada.
-Larry Sharpe defeated Angelo Gomez.
-Tor Kamata defeated Frank Williams.
-Rick McGraw defeated Johnny Rodz.
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Wild Samoans defeated Dominic Denucci & Rene Goulet.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Ken Patera defeated Pat Patterson.
-Larry Zbyszko defeated Ivan Putski.
1981 - WWF ran Portland, Maine with the following results:
-The Great Yatsu defeated Don Serrano.
-Rick McGraw defeated Johnny Rodz.
-SD Jones defeated Frank Savage.
-Tony Garea & Rick Martel defeated Lou Albano & Moondog Rex.
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Killer Khan.
1983 - NWA World champion Ric Flair defeated Billy Jack Haynes via disqualification in Yakima, Washington.
1983 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Norfolk, Virginia, featuring Mike Rotundo & Rufus R. Jones defeating Dory Funk Jr. & Jake Roberts and NWA U.S. Champion Greg Valentine defeating Johnny Weaver in the main events.
1983 - WWF ran Manchester, NH at JFK Coliseum with the following results:
-Johnny Rodz defeated Frankie Williams.
-Jose Estrada defeated Pete Sanchez.
-Salvatore Bellomo defeated Pete Doherty.
-Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Victor Rivera.
-Iron Mike Sharpe defeated SD Jones.
-Jules Strongbow defeated Samula via disqualification.
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Afa via disqualification.
1984 - NWA World champion Kerry Von Erich defeated Ric Flair in San Antonio, Texas.
1984 - New Japan Pro Wrestling ran Niage, Japan, headlined by Tatsumi Fujinami defeating John Quinn,
WWF Tag Team Champion Adrian Adonis defeating Otto Wanz and a tag bout where Riki Choshu & Mr. Saito defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan & the Masked Superstar via disqualification.
1984 - The Masked Outlaw (Dory Funk Jr.) defeated NWA Mid Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Angelo Mosca Jr. to win the championship at a Jim Crockett Promotions event in Spencer, NC. On the same card, Mark & Jay Youngblood defeated NWA Tag Team Champions Ivan Koloff & Don Kernodle (with Gary Hart) via disqualification at around the 7:40 mark after Kernodle struck Jay with a clothesline using a loaded forearm pad; after the bout, Wahoo McDaniel and Pez Whatley ran out to make the save.
1985 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran the Omni in Atlanta, GA featuring the following results:
-The Barbarian defeated Sam Houston.
-Superstar Billy Graham defeated the Italian Stallion.
-Buzz Sawyer fought Krusher Kruschev to a draw.
-NWA U.S. Champion Magnum TA defeated John Tatum.
-Tully Blanchard defeated National Heavyweight Champion Ron Garvin.
-Jimmy Valiant fought Abdullah the Butcher to a no contest.
-Thunderbolt Patterson & Manny Fernandez defeated National Tag Team Champions Ole & Arn Anderson
-Dusty Rhodes & Dick Slater defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions Ivan & Nikita Koloff.
1986 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Oakwood, VA headlined by NWA World Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey defeating Manny Fernandez & Hector Guerrero.
1986 - JCP also ran Greenville, SC at The Memorial Auditorium featuring the following results:
-Thunderfoot defeated Rocky Kernodle.
-Black Bart fought Don Kernodle to a draw.
-Ron Garvin defeated Ivan Koloff.
-Wahoo McDaniel defeated Jimmy Garvin via disqualification.
-NWA National Heavyweight Champion Tully Blanchard & NWA TV Champion Arn Anderson fought The Rock N' Roll Express to a no contest.
-Nikita Koloff defeated Magnum TA in a Russian chain match.
1987 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Columbia, SC for a TV Taping, featuring NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard (with JJ Dillon) defeated Robert Gibson (with Ricky Morton) via disqualification around the 17 minute mark when the referee was knocked to the floor, allowing Morton and Dillon to interfere. Gibson backdropped Blanchard over the top rope. After the bout, NWA World Champion Ric Flair came out, attacked Morton in and out of the ring, and helped triple team him before Gibson made the save.
1987 - The WWF ran a long Superstars taping in Anaheim, CA headlined by Hulk Hogan defeating King Harley Race to retain the WWF championship in a dark match main event. The same taping featured Hogan making a rare televised wrestling appearance on the syndicated series (Hogan would wrestle on NBC specials but never on syndication, which was designed to sell tickets to live events) as he pinned Bob Orton in a match that aired Memorial Day weekend. Bobby Heenan was introduced as the manager of the Islanders at the taping as well.
1988 - WWF ran three events the same evening with the following results:
Erie, PA at the Civic Center in front of 1,000 fans:
-Iron Mike Sharpe pinned Scott Casey.
-Brady Boone pinned Steve Lombardi.
-The Junkyard Dog pinned Ron Bass.
-The Ultimate Warrior pinned Hercules.
-Bret Hart fought Bad News Brown to a double countout.
-WWF Women's Champion Sensational Sherri pinned Desiree Peterson.
-Strike Force, Rick Martel & Tito Santana defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition via disqualification.
Columbus, GA at The Municipal Auditorium in front of 3,600 fans:
-Hillbilly Jim pinned Steve Lombardi.
-The Young Stallions Paul Roma & Jim Powers fought The Bolsheviks, Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov to a draw
-Greg Valentine pinned Outback Jack.
-Dino Bravo pinned Ken Patera.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion the Honkytonk Man defeated Brutus Beefcake via countout.
Winnipeg, Manitoba at the Arena in front of 4,000 fans:
-Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated The Killer Bees, B. Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell.
-Don Muraco (sub. for Bam Bam Bigelow) pinned the One Man Gang.
-George Steele defeated Jim Neidhart via countout.
-Koko B. Ware pinned Bobby Heenan.
-Haku & Sivi Afi defeated Hillbilly Jim & Don Muraco.
-Jake Roberts fought Rick Rude to a double countout.
-WWF champion Randy Savage pinned Ted Dibiase,
1989 - Roddy Piper, who had retired at Wrestlemania III in March 1987, made a surprise return to the ring in the main event of the WWF house show in Los Angeles, CA before 15,000 fans. Piper was a surprise substitute for the injured Jake Roberts, returning to the ring and pinning Ted DiBiase. The same card saw Randy Savage defeat WWF champion Hulk Hogan by countout while Bret Hart and Mr. Perfect went to a 15 minute time limit draw.
Other results from the LA card:
-Paul Roma pinned Boris Zhukov.
-WWF Women's Champion Rockin Robin pinned Judy Martin.
-Dino Bravo pinned Hercules.
-The Bushwhackers defeated The Brain Busters, Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard.
1989 - Beyond the Los Angeles card, WWF also ran two other events the same night. Those results saw:
Miami, FL at the Arena:
-Greg Valentine pinned the Blue Blazer.
-The Honkytonk Man pinned Hillbilly Jim.
-Rick Martel pinned Tito Santana.
-The Ultimate Warrior fought WWF IC Champion Rick Rude to a double count-out.
-The Genius pinned Jim Powers.
-Brutus Beefcake pinned Bad News Brown; Ron Garvin was the guest referee for the match.
-WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated the Big Bossman & Akeem via disqualification.
Springfield, MA at the Civic Center in front of 5,100 fans:
-Tom Magee pinned Tim Horner
-The Red Rooster pinned the Brooklyn Brawler
-The Warlord pinned Koko B. Ware
-Big John Studd defeated Andre the Giant via disqualification
-Jim Duggan pinned Haku
-Barry Horowitz pinned Mike Reskin
-Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated The Rockers. The Rockers won the match via pinfall but the referee, groggy after being knocked down moments earlier, mistakenly awarded the bout to the Rougeaus.
1990 - The NWA ran Detroit, Michigan at The Cobo Arena, drawing 1,700 fans, featuring the following results:
-Robbie Idol pinned Ned Brady.
-Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Paul Drake.
-Jonnie Stewart defeated Kevin Sullivan via disqualification at the 42-second mark; after the bout, Sullivan attacked Stewart.
-NWA U.S. Tag Team Champions Brian Pillman & Tom Zenk defeated the Samoan Swat Team; Zenk sustained an injury during the match.
-Mike Rotunda (substituting for NWA Tag Team Champion Rick Steiner, who was bumped up to the main event) & NWA Tag Team Champion Scott Steiner defeated The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane.
-The Road Warriors defeated Doom in a Street Fight.
-NWA Tag Team Champion Rick Steiner (substituting for NWA U.S. Champion Lex Luger, out with a staph infection) defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair via disqualification at the 21-minute mark when Flair hit the referee. Due to Luger's illness, refunds were offered to fans in attendance.
1991 - WWF ran Albuquerque, NM at Tingley Coliseum, drawing 5,500 fans with the following results:
-IRS pinned Jimmy Snuka.
-Bret Hart pinned the Barbarian.
-The Bushwhackers defeated the Orient Express.
-Ricky Steamboat pinned Haku.
-The Big Bossman defeated the Mountie.
-Sgt. Slaughter defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan via disqualification.
1991 - WCW ran Dayton, OH at The Nutter Center with the following results:
-Sam Houston defeated Ron Cumberledge.
-Brad Armstrong defeated the Black Scorpion.
-The Junkyard Dog & Sam Houston defeated Rip Morgan & Jack Victory when Rhodes pinned Morgan.
-Bobby Eaton defeated Terrance Taylor.
-Big Josh & Tommy Rich defeated the Angel of Death & Dan Spivey when Rich pinned the Angel of Death.
-Sting defeated WCW World Champion Ric Flair via disqualification.
1994 - WCW taped WCW Worldwide at the Disney-MGM Studios. Several one hour tapings were filmed over the course of the day with admission being free to those attending the parks. The most newsworthy results saw Ron Simmons defeat Maxx Payne in a Streetfight,"Stars and Stripes" (Marcus Alexander Bagwell and The Patriot) debuting as a team defeating Dick Slater & Chris Sullivan and the first ever Marquee of Queensbury Rules bout in WCW with featuring European Rounds rules and several judges. In Round 5, WCW World Champion Ric Flair defeated WCW World TV Champion Lord Steven Regal. The match was originally ruled a draw by judges Jimmy Jet, Randy Anderson, and Sgt. Craig Pittman but referee Nick Patriot issued an overtime period.
1994 - WWF ran a rare show in Guam while heading to Japan for a tour, featuring the following results for their event at the University of Guam Fieldhouse:
-Adam Bomb defeated the 1-2-3 Kid.
-WWF Women's Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Bull Nakano.
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers defeated the Smoking Gunns.
-Doink the Clown defeated Bob Backlund.
-The Undertaker defeated Yokozuna via disqualification.
-Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Tatanka.
-Randy Savage defeated Rick Martel (substituting for Shawn Michaels).
-WWF World Champion Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart.
1995 - WWF ran Providence, RI at the Civic Center featuring the following results:
-Man Mountain Rock defeated Kwang.
-Jacob & Eli Blu defeated the Bushwhackers.
-WWF IC Champion Jeff Jarrett defeated Bob Holly.
-Razor Ramon defeated The Roadie.
-Bret Hart defeated Jerry Lawler in a Kiss My Foot match.
-Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Tatanka.
-The New Headshrinkers defeated the Heavenly Bodies.
-WWF World Champion Diesel & the Undertaker defeated Psycho Sid & Kama.
1996 - The multi-day WWF Kuwaiti Cup tournament ends Kuwait City, Kuwait, with Ahmed Johnson defeating Hunter Hearst Helmsley to win the Cup. Here are the results from the full event:
-Bushwhacker Luke defeated Aldo Montoya.
-Bushwhacker Butch defeated Leif Cassidy.
-Duke Drose defeated Marty Jannetty.
-Yokozuna & Savio Vega defeated Bob Backlund & Isaac Yankem DDS.
-Bret Hart & the Undertaker defeated Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith.
-WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels defeated Steve Austin.
1996 - WCW ran Knoxville, TN in front of 2,800 fans with the following results:
-Alex Wright pinned Disco Inferno.
-The Booty Man pinned Arn Anderson.
-Eddie Guerrero pinned Chris Benoit.
-The Nasty Boys defeated Public Enemy.
-WCW TWorld V Champion Lex Luger defeated Jim Duggan.
-Randy Savage pinned Ric Flair; Flair originally won the match but the bout continued after the referee found him with a foreign object.
-WCW World Champion the Giant defeated Sting via disqualification.
1996 - The WWF ran a second show in Binghamton, NY, drawing 3,278 fans with the following results:
-Justin Bradshaw defeated Barry Horowitz.
-Marc Mero defeated the Brooklyn Brawler.
-The Smoking Gunns defeated Samu & the Tahitian Warrior.
-WWF Tag Team Champions Skip & Zip defeated Henry & Phinneas Godiwnn.
-Mankind defeated Jake Roberts.
-Jerry Lawler defeated Razor Ramon; Mr. Perfect was the guest referee for the bout.
-The Ultimate Warrior defeated Vader.
1997 - WCW broadcast Nitro from Baltimore, Maryland in front of 8,058 fans with the following results:
-Meng defeated Rick Fuller.
-Mortis defeated Super Calo.
-Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Psychosis.
-Glacier defeated Villano IV.
-The Giant & Diamond Dallas Page defeated Harlem Heat.
Nitro:
-WCW World TV Champion the Ultimo Dragon defeated Juventud Guerrera.
-WCW U.S. Champion Dean Malenko pinned Steve McMichael.
-Wrath pinned Scotty Riggs.
-Konnan & Hugh Morrus defeated Alex Wright & Ice Train.
1997 - Meanwhile, WWF filmed Raw in Newark, Delaware with the following results from the taping:
Shotgun Saturday Night- (airing 5/17/97):
-Jim Neidhart pinned Marty Garner with a bodyslam
-Leif Cassidy pinned Matt Hardy with a fallaway slam
-Rocky Maivia defeated Rockabilly disqualification when Honkytonk Man hit Maivia with his guitar
-Farooq pinned Jason Ahrdnt with the Dominator
Raw is War:
-King of the Ring Quarter-Finals: Ahmed Johnson defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/ Chyna) via disqualification when Chyna interfered and hit Ahmed with a steel chair
-Scott Putski pinned Leif Cassidy with a suplex; after the bout, Putski won a brief brawl with an incensed Cassidy
-The Legion of Doom defeated PG-13 following the Doomsday Device on both Wolfie D and JC Ice; after the bout, the Nation left their fallen teammates behind
-WWF World Champion the Undertaker defeated Savio Vega (w/ the Nation) via disqualification in a non-title match when Farooq interfered after the champion hit the tombstone and began whipping Taker with his belt
-Rob Van Dam pinned Jeff Hardy with a split-legged moonsault at 2:29; prior to the bout, Jerry Lawler introduced RVD to the crowd, nicknaming him “Mr. Monday Night”, and then both he and RVD cut an anti-ECW promo in RVD's first-ever WWF appearance.
-WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith defeated the Headbangers, the New Blackjacks, and Doug Furnas & Phil LaFon in an elimination match; order of elimination: Furnas & LaFon, Blackjack Windham & Blackjack Bradshaw by the Headbangers via interference from Furnas & LaFon who remained ringside, the Headbangers.
Dark Matches:
-WWF World Champion the Undertaker defeated Mankind
-Steve Austin & Legion of Doom defeated Brian Pillman, WWF Tag Team Champions - WWF IC Champion Owen Hart & WWF European Champion Davey Boy Smith
1999 - WCW ran Springfield, MO at the Shrine Mosque with the following results:
-Vampiro defeated Lash Laroux.
-Hugh Morrus defeated Jerry Flynn.
-La Parka & Silver King defeated Super Calo & Lizmark Jr..
-Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated Juventud Guerrera.
-Konnan defeated Disco Inferno.
-WCW World TV Champion Booker T defeated Brian Adams.
-Sting defeated Ric Flair and Diamond Dallas Page.
1999 - WWF ran Tallahassee, FL, drawing 8,203 fans with the following results:
-Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated Brian Christopher & Scott Taylor
-Steve Blackman defeated Darren Drozdov
-WWF Hardcore Champion Al Snow defeated Hardcore Holly
-Kane & Test defeated Skull & 8-Ball
-Mankind & Ken Shamrock defeated the Acolytes; the Acolytes played the faces for the match due to Farooq being a Florida State alum; to help in that effort, Mankind & Shamrock wore University of Florida jerseys to the ring
-The Big Show defeated the Big Bossman in a steel cage match
-WWF Intercontinental Champion the Godfather defeated Goldust
-Val Venis & Jackie defeated D-Lo Brown & Ivory
-Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett defeated Christian & Edge
-The Rock defeated Billy Gunn
2001 - John Zandig defeats Wifebeater in Smyrna, Delaware to win the Combat Zone Wrestling World Heavyweight Title for a fourth time, ending Wifebeater's second reign.
2002 - Keiji Mutoh, George Hines & Kaz Hayashi defeat Genichiro Tenryu, Arashi & Nobutaka Araya to win the All Japan Giant Baba Memorial Cup Six-Man Tournament.
2002 - WWE ran Halifax, Nova Scotia at the Metro Centre before 4,500 fans with the following results:
-Christian defeated Sho Funaki.
-Hardcore Holly defeated Randy Orton.
-WWE Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri defeated Billy Kidman and Chavo Guerrero.
-WWE Tag Team Champions Billy Gunn & Chuck Palumbo defeated Al Snow & Maven when Palumbo pinned Maven after Rico interfered and hit a spin kick
-Mark Henry, the Hurricane, & Val Venis defeated Lance Storm, .Albert, & the Godfather when Henry pinned Storm.
-Test pinned Farooq with the boot to the face.
-D-Von Dudley defeated Tazz.
-Chris Jericho defeated Rikishi.
-Torrie Wilson defeated Ivory and Stacy Keibler in a swimsuit contest.
-Edge defeated Kurt Angle in a steel cage match, despite interference from Chris Jericho, by leaving through the door.
2002 - Southern States Wrestling promoted the Third Annual Mark Curtis Memorial event. Tim Whitehead filed the following live report:
NWA:TNA PPV REPORT INCLUDING AJ STYLES VS. CHRIS HARRIS, AMAZING RED VS. SONJAY DUTT, FOX SPORTS, LUCKY CHARMS, THE BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER & MORE
This week's NWA:TNA PPV opened with Team Canada saying that only dirty Americans steal cable. Well, no that's not true but they did say the American crime rate is out of control, so please pay for the PPV because that's what they do in Canada. They then began singing "O Canada." That was funny!
Mike Tenay said the last two years have been a roller coaster ride for everyone in NWA:TNA. Tenay said that he was happy to announce that TNA, Universal Studios, and the Fox Sports Network will be working together to produce "Impact" a weekly series starting Friday June 4th. Mike Tenay thanked everyone for their support and invited them to enjoy tonight's PPV. I'm glad Tenay was the one to make the announcement as he has a ton of credibility with the fans and has been the MVP of the promotion from Day One.
A video feature on recent events in NWA:TNA aired. Outside the "Asylum", Pat Kenny was outside waiting for the NYCs. Mike Tenay announced that Kenny had challenged them outside the building as he didn't want to interrupt the show.
Mike Tenay and Don West welcomed everyone to the show.
The opening contest saw NWA Tag Team champion Kid Kash facing James Storm. Kash was backdropped over the ropes to the floor. They brawled on the floor. Kash had his arm heavily taped, which the announcers noted was due to a bite from a brown recluse spider and it's been haunting him. They brawled into the crowd. Kash was tossed over the guard rail. Tenay joked that he was worried for the spider because of who he bit. Right now, Jess McGrath is chuckling. Kash ran into the crowd and was chased by Storm. Kash threw a chair but Storm caught it and sent it back. Kash locked on a one-legged Boston Crab. Dallas made his way to the ring. Dallas tried to hit Storm with the pipe but missed. Kash got the pipe and went to use it but the referee grabbed it. Storm superkicked Kash for the pin. Dallas and Storm began beating Storm. Storm fought back but was cut off. D-Lo Brown hit the ring but was beaten down as well. Dusty Rhodes hit the ring and ran off Kash and Dallas.
They went to a pre-taped interview with Mike Tenay interviewing Vince Russo. Russo said that the entire company earned the slot on Fox Sports, from the ring crew to management. Russo said that he isn't protecting AJ Styles because Styles only needs to defend the belt once a month but is defending it every week. Tenay brought up Raven and Ron Killings. Russo said that they deserve rematches but you can't have the inmates running the asylum by booking their own matches. Russo said he knows Konnan was the one who destroyed his office last week. He said they were friends before they were enemies and Konnan sometimes acts like a child. Russo explained that Killings and Raven would be handcuffed to the ringposts tonight in order to prevent interference and make sure that the best man won tonight.
Monty Brown made his way to the ring and took the ring mic. He said that it wasn't rabbit season or dog season, but it was open season on 3 Live Kru. BG Jammes made his way to the ring and they quickly brawled towards the back of the building. Brown hit Jammes with a trash can lid, then set up a table. He tried to put Jammes on the table but he fought back and they brawled into the upper level of the building, into the fans. They brawled back down the stairway, and Brown slammed Jammes into the guard rail. Jammes was whipped into a wall, but was able to stop Brown and powerbombed him through a table. Brown hit an atomic drop on the railing on Jammes, then slammed Jammes' leg with a chair several times. The commentators noted that he was going after Jammes' left knee. They brawled back to the ring and Brown hit the Pounce for the pin. Brown grabbed a chair and continued to beat Jammes with it. The other members of Three Live Kru hit the ring. The winner of the bout, Monty Brown who remains unbeaten.
Outside, Pat Kenny was running the stairs and doing pushups, waiting for NYC.
They went to a pre-taped segment with Don West talking to Desire, talking to her outside in a park about her back injury. Desire said it felt like her back exploded but she had the adrenaline to finish the bout. She yelled at Sonny Siaki not to let "the kids" climb too high, off screen. She said that her children drove her to return to the ring as she had to pay the billls. She didn't have a choice but to return to the ring. She said when she was hurt, Siaki took care of the kids and made their lunch because she was too hurt to do anything. She said Siaki was concerned about her. West said that Trinity was out to hurt her and put her out of wrestling. She said that she was a competitor and Trinity shouldn't forget that. Trinity attacked her and rammed her into a wooden fence, then kicked her in the back and locked on a surfboard in the grass. West got punched as well. Where was Siaki? Siaki finally ran off Trinity as Desire cried not to let the kids (who were never seen) see her this way.
The next bout was the second match in the "Three Strike Series" with Sonjay Dutt vs. The Amazing Red. They noted that Dutt was up 1-0. No mention of Desire. Dutt and Red shook hands as the match started. X-Division champion Frankie Kazarian's music hit and he came out to watch them from the stage of the building. They locked up with neither man getting the advantage. They did a series of reversals which ended with a faceoff. They noted that Siaki was "off with the kids and wasn't able to help" during the Trinity attack on Desire. They went to the floor. Red got tossed over the guard rail. Dutt dove off the guard rail with a flip dive but only grazed Red's back. Back in the ring, worked over Red. Red jumped in the ring, using the ropes as a catapult and landed on Dutt's back, turning it into a sunset flip powerbomb for a 2 count. Red climbed the turnbuckles , but was caught by Dutt. He shoved off Dutt who came back with a dropkick in the corner. Red fell off the turnbuckle to the floor and hit the table as he went down. Dutt went for the Hindu Press but missed. Red hit the red spike and the Infrared standing splash for the pin. It's now tied up one each.
Scott Hudson interviewed 3 Live Kru in their locker room. BG Jammes was on the floor in pain. Ron Killings said Jammes is hurt and that's not right. Killings said that Chris Harris has a title shot tonight and that's not right. Killings said Vince Russo was responsible. Konnan said he was going to find Russo and deal with this.
They aired a video on the Shane Douglas-Michael Shane feud.
Michael Shane made his way to the ring with Traci Brooks. Douglas then made his way to the ring for the "Corporal Punishment" bout, with the ring surrounded by leather straps and wooden mallets. Oddly enough, they went to the mat early for several pin attempts and Douglas used a rear hammerlock to wear down Shane. Shane slapped Douglas and retreated outside the ring. Douglas hit several elbows and a headbutt. Douglas grabbed a paddle but Traci grabbed him. Shane charged and Douglas backdropped him over the ropes to the floor, where he landed glancingly on Traci. Douglas throws Shane into the guard rail and spit water in his face. He slammed Shane into the ringpost. Shane battled back and slammed Douglas into the ring steps. Douglas powerbombed Shane on the floor. Douglas gets a two count after tossing him into the ring. Douglas was shot into the turnbuckle, but hit a rolling neck snap as he came out of the corner. Douglas began whipping Shane with one of the leather strap.
Backstage, Konnan was screaming at Vince Russo and said he has no respect for him. Russo argued back and Konnan said, "What are you going to do, suspend me?" They continued to go at it as we went to....
Somewhere else, in an empty arena, Pat Kenny was beating up Glen Gilberti and Johnny Swinger. Swinger was rolled down bleachers and slammed him into a fence. Trinity hit him with a trash can and beat him with it. They poured syrup on Kenny and poured Lucky Charms on Kenny.
They ran a video feature on Erik Watts vs. Goldilocks. Goldilocks addressed TNA and Vince Russo and said they have a problem because Watts has a job again when he doesn't deserve one. She said he slandered her name and she never stole his money. She said that he stole it on his own merit. Goldilocks said she spoke to other women (her alter egos) and they told her she is right and she told them that Watts can be dismissed or she will take it to the lawyers. She said she wants a public apology. She said that when Russo is down with his title mess, she has someone ready to take over and Abyss stepped into the screen. Tenay and West talked about Goldilocks being out of her mind.
They ran a video feature on the World X Cup PPV on 5/26.
Team Canada's Petey Williams and Bobby Rude with Scott D'Amore made their way to the ring for their bout with Team Mexico, announced as Heavy Metal and Hector Garza. Abismo Negro made his way to the ring. Mike Tenay covered saying Jeremy Borash didn't know about the change as AAA's Antonio Pena made the change to throw off Team Canada. It started with Williams and Garza. Garza hit a standing fall away slam. Williams hit a top rope hurrancanrana. Bobby Rude and Garza faced off. Garza offered his hand but kicked Rude in the hamstring. Rude put Negro on top but he battled out and hit a double leg takedown. Williams made the save and they hit a doubleteam bulldog off the top rope. Team Mexico hung up Rude upside down in the corner, then ran Williams into him. Williams went down and Team Mexico crotched him on Rude, still hanging upside down. Rude began beating Garza with a series of kicks. They went back and forth with several near falls. Williams hit a head scissors takeover on Williams. Garza tagged in with several kicks to the hamstring. Williams hit a deep armdrag, sending him out of the ring. He slingshot himself over the ropes into a hurrancanrana. Negro clotheslined Rude. Scott D'Amore hit Negro with the hockey stick as he was coming off the ropes and Rude hooked the tights as he rolled him up for the pin. Your winners, Team Canada. They continued the beat down and Jerry Lynn hit the ring. The Canadians were run off. They had D'Amore cornered, but he escaped. Lynn said that D'Amore is always talking about how he should be replaced as the captain of Team NWA but at least he's wrestling, not hiding behind his team. Lynn challenges D'Amore to step in the ring for 5 minutes. D'Amore says that if Lynn can defeat Bobby Rude, D'Amore will step in the ring. D'Amore says that if Lynn wants it, he needs to step down as the captain of Team NWA. Lynn agreed.
They go to the back, where someone had jumped Konnan. Ron Killings was over Konnan and asked him if it was Vince Russo. Konnan said he didn't see who it was. Killings said he needed to go find Russo but Don Harris said he wasn't going anywhere but the ring and handcuffed him.
Mike Tenay and Don West did a hard sell on the TNA trading cards, the TNA school, and next week's PPV. They announced they would be on the Best Damned Sports Show tomorrow on the FOX Sports Network as well. They announced the return of Dusty Rhodes next week, teaming with James Storm against Kid Kash and Dallas in a Bunkhouse match.
Dusty made his way to the ring. Rhodes said that everyone wants to get aboard a super fast train when it's hot and that's why FOX Sports are jumping on board with NWA:TNA. Rhodes said that Storm is coming next week for Dallas and Kid Kash, and he's coming with Storm. Dusty took off his boots and laid in the ring. He put the hat on top of the boots and said it was "Kid Kash with the stuffing kicked out of him." He told "Kash" that hell is coming in the form of he and Storm. The crowd chanted Dusty's name.
They did a video feature on the main event.
Backstage, Raven told Scott Hudson that he can't believe Vince Russo would allow Chris Harris to interfere in his title match and then give one to Harris. Raven said that he can't believe he has to be handcuffed to the ringpost. He said that it's not a matter of if he will win the belt, just a matter of when. He promised that it won't be the destination, but the journey. Raven promised the darkest journey of his career. Harris handcuffed him and led him offscreen.
Ron Killings made his way to the ring to be handcuffed to the ringpost. Raven then made his way to the ring to be handcuffed. Chris Harris made his way to the ring. AJ Styles made his way to the ring and they did very boxing-like ring introductions. Styles and Harris began feeling each other out. Harris shoulderblocked Styles down. Styles hit an armdrag and locked in an armbar. Styles slammed Harris. Harris began fighting back, but Styles kicked him and cut him off. Harris hit a clothesline and Styles hit a flip bump off of it that looked great. Harris hit a running powerslam out of the corner. Harris hit a fullnelson into a slam for a two count but Styles got his shoulder up. Harris and AJ battled in the corner. AJ flipped over and tried for a powerbomb but Harris held on. AJ focused on his back and then hit a German Suplex off the ropes on Harris. Styles went for a Styles Clash but Harris turned it into a sharpshooter. Konnan came out with bolt cutters and freed Ron Killings. Harris charged Styles, who ducked and Harris hit the ringpost shoulderfirst. With the referee distracted, Killings clotheslined Styles. Security removed 3 Live Kru. Harris hit an elbow off the top rope but Styles kicked up at two. Harris dove off the ropes but Styles kicked him down. Styles charged and hit Harris in the corner. Harris hits Catatonic but Raven pulled the referee out of the ring at the 2 count. Raven got the key to the handcuffs from the prone referee and hit the ring with a chair. Raven hit Harris with the chair in the midsection. He hit the drop toehold on the chair on Harris. Sabu hit the ring and dove over the ropes with a legdrop on Raven outside the ring. Sabu and Raven brawled into the crowd. Styles covered Harris but only got a two count. Styles springboarded off the ropes but Harris speared him for a two count. They showed Russo watching in the back. Sabu and Raven brawled out of the back of the building. Harris went for the Catatonic again but Styles turned it into a crucifix for a two count. Both men clotheslined the other and crumpled to the mat. Kid Kash and Dallas came out. Kash hit Harris in the chest with the lead pipe. He stumbled towards Styles, who hit him with a big clothesline for the pin.
Your winner and still NWA champion AJ Styles!
Styles and Harris faced off after the match. Raven hit Styles with a chair as Harris watched. Harris then hit a spear on Raven. Killings hit the ring. The locker room pulled everyone apart. Vince Russo came out and said enough is enough. He told Raven, Killings, and Harris that they would all get a title shot next week, so go ahead and kill each other. The brawl continued as they went off the air.
2005 - Captain Lou Albano was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack.
There were no major changes to the Ring of Honor product as a result of the PPV taping, with the exception of some small music changes to either generic clones of known songs (such as in the case of Bryan Danielson) or new, original music (such as in the case of Rocky Romero).
It was, however, the ROH that has made its name over the last five years - long matches, lots of matwork and striking that wouldn't seem foreign to a MMA fan coming across the product, wrestling based around athletics, not looks and matches built around the Japanese style with hard hitting athletics, submissions, strikes, lots of big moves and kickouts, and highspots galore.
This show wasn't meant to compete with WWE or TNA, but to be an entirely different niche product for fans to sample. My feeling watching it was that if you were already an ROH fan, you'll probably like the show. If you are into MMA or old school wrestling, you'll like aspects of it but it will seem different. There was no mistaking the work ethic of the performers involved as they went all out balls to the wall physically, with the only downside to that being the fear (at least on my part) that eventually it becomes impossible to top yourself, and where do you go from there?
That, however is the future, and tonight was something of a start for the small company that started struggling at the Philadelphia Murphy Recreation Center. It was the latest in a series of small steps to expand the product's awareness and hopefully, bring in more of an audience over time by ROH owner Cary Silkin. In that respect, it was a good first step, particularly during a phenomenal first half of the show, which was among the best first halves of any live show I've seen ROH produce.
Full results of the show, in order (with segments confirmed to be airing on the PPV listed as such), saw:
*In a pre-PPV taping bout, Brent Albright pinned Tank Toland with an exploder suplex. Toland is the former James Dick in WWE while Albright was Gunner Scott on Smackdown. Toland is ripped physically with veins protruding even out of his thighs. He is supposed to be something of a personal trainer here for heel Chris Hero and was managed by "Agent to the Stars" Larry Sweeney. Bobby Dempsey, an ROH school trainee who is really heavy, came to ringside with them as the backstory is that Toland is trying to get him in shape. Toland would do exercises while on offense, including doing situps while Albright was locked in between his legs with a scissor, elbowing Albright in the back of the head while he pulled himself up. Match was an OK opener with some spots that didn't work perfectly but the crowd was really into Albright and getting on Toland's case.
ROH announcer Dave Prazak came to the ring with BJ Whitmer. Whitmer, one of the senior members of the locker room, is something of a Tommy Dreamer for the company, having some great brawls and also really sacrificing himself physically when needed, like the CZW feud. Prazak hyped up the crowd and pushed how important it was that the debut PPV was being taped in New York City. That was a shoot in that management wanted it in NYC because of the importance factor of the Big Apple as well as the hot crowds.
PPV SEGMENT - Prazak handed it over to Whitmer who opened the PPV inside the ring welcoming everyone at home to Ring of Honor. He said that in ROH, they let their wrestling do their talking for them and challenged anyone who thought they could take him out to come to the ring for a fight. Out came ROH champion Takeshi Morishima, which the live crowd popped for.
PPV SEGMENT- Takeshi Morishima pinned BJ Whitmer in a good, but short match. Whitmer got near falls on the champion with an Exploder and a lariat. Morishima, who physically works like Terry Gordy in his prime, drilled Whitmer with a lariat and a big boot. Whitmer kicked up. Morishima drilled him with another lariat and then hit a backdrop driver for the pin.
British star Nigel McGuinness came to the ring and congratulated Morishima on a good match. He told Morishima, "You are one hell of a wrestler, but so am I" which the place popped for and challenged him for a title match tonight. Bryan Danielson, dressed in dress clothes came to the ring and noted he was champion for 15 months while dropping names of people he defeated as champion like Lance Storm, Homicide, and even McGuinness. He said that if anyone deserves a title shot, it's him. McGuinness and Danielson begin to argue with Danielson poking his finger in Nigel's chest. Nigel tells him that if he does it again, he's going to break Danielson's finger off and shove it down his throat. Danielson attacks Nigel and they begin fighting. Morishima assists Danielson and they lay out Nigel. As Morishima is trashing Nigel, Danielson picks up the ROH title belt. Morishima sees this, snatches it away, teases a fight, then walks off. Nigel has recovered by then and when Danielson realizes it, he rolls out of the ring..
Naomichi Marufuji defeated Rocky Romero in a good match with Sliced Bread #2 off the ropes. He offered Romero a handshake at the bell, but Romero spit at his hand. Marufuji did some fast offensive mat wrestling to start. Romero broke out an Octopus submission, before turning that into a near fall. The crowd began doing "Rocky sucks" chants. Romero mounted Marufuji like an MMA fight and began slapping him with both hands. There were a lot of MMA style back and forth striking sequences tonight. Marufuji hit a springboard dropkick onto Romero, who was outside on the apron, sending him into the guard rail. On the floor, he picked up Romero and rammed him knee first into the ring post. He worked over Romero's knee back in the ring, even locked on a figure four leglock. Romero came back with several Tornado DDTs for near falls. Romero went to the top rope but was dropkicked and then his with a dragon screw legwhip while on the ropes, sending him into the ring. Marufuji escaped a Dragon Suplex, landing on his feet, then drills Romero's face into his knees. He nails a powerbomb for a two count. Marufuji goes to the top rope but Romero uses a takedown to bring him to the mat from the ropes, locking on a cross armbreaker in the process. Marufuji got to the ropes. Marufuji hit a Van Terminator from one corner to the other on Romero, who kicked out. At that point, I thought they were doing too much. Romero tried for a Dragon Suplex and got a two count before Marufuji nailed the Sliced Bread #2. Real good match. I thought it was probably the best Romero ever looked for ROH.
PPV SEGMENT - Nigel McGuinness returned to the ring. He said that he didn't come to New York with a separated shoulder and a herniated disc in his back (Both true, which necessitated his missing the CT house show on 5/11 in order to be physically able to wrestle at the PPV.) He said that in ROH, they settle their problems in the ring and challenged Morishima and Danielson to come back out and fight. Morishima hit the ring and they fought back and forth. Danielson hit the ring and they doubled on Nigel. Pro Wrestling NOAH's KENTA hit the ring and made the save, nailing a big boot on Danielson, who bumped out of the ring. Nigel drilled Morishima with a lariat. Nigel said that apparently KENTA has his back, so tonight they'll have a tag match.
In what was billed as a Grudge Match, Davey Richards defeated Erick Stevens via tapout with a keylock submission. Richards is part of the No Remorse Corps with Roderick Strong and Rocky Romero. Stevens is part of the Resilience with Matt Cross and (until he was yanked by TNA) Austin Aries. The two factions have been feuding since Strong turned on Aries at the last Manhattan show. With Aries' departure, the feud continues. Stevens is new to the company but has worked for sister promotion FIP, so the audience is somewhat familiar with him. He does the Godfather Ho Train charge into the corner and yells "Choo Choo" when he does it, so the crowd chants it at him. Richards attacked Stevens at the bell but ended up on the defensive. Stevens went for the "Choo Choo" (and Lord, I feel silly typing that) but Stevens exited the ring. They brawled around ringside. Some fan got tossed for pouring beer on Richards. As Stevens returned to the ring, he was caight by several stiff kicks to the chest as he was in between the ropes. Richards nailed a big boot with Stevens taking the Cactus Jack Nestea Plunge backwards into the railing. Richards worked him over on the floor, then got a two count with a legdrop off the ropes. He grabbed Stevens' neck in leg scissors. Richards hit a sick innovative move where he suplexes Stevens over the top rope out of the ring, but as Stevens was falling backwards, Richards held on and pulled him over the ropes back into the ring with a reverse brainbuster of sorts. Stevens came back and suplexed Richards over the top rope to the floor. I remember the first time I saw Brian Pillman and Jushin Liger do that and I thought it was the most incredible thing ever. Now, it's just another in a series of insane spots. Weird how evolution goes. Stevens hits the "Choo Choo" (as opposed to the "Moo Moo"), then drills Richards with a TKO for a near fall. Richards snaps on his hammerlock submission but Stevens gets to the ropes. They go into back and forth with strikes. They end up battling in the corner, where Richards nails Stevens with stiff as hell headbutts to the nose. Stevens eventually goes down and Richards locks on the keylock submission for the win. Leaving, Richards looked to be favoring his arm and pectoral muscle, but he could have been selling.
PPV SEGMENT - ROH Tag Team champions The Briscoes defeated Claudio Castagnoli and Matt Sydal after nailing a Doomsday Device on Sydal. This was easily my pick for the best match of the night and was completely off the charts. Claudio now sports shorter hair and was wearing a suit when he came to the ring. He did mic work slowly so the crowd would finish his sentence and reminded me of both Andy Kaufman and movie character Borat in delivery and look, but not in a lame knockoff way. There was tons of great back and forth wrestling here and everyone really busted their ass. Briscoes were in control early and it was something of a tag team showcase, which is smart on ROH's part since no one else really showcases their tag teams in a pushed position. Jay Briscoe hit a split legged moonsault on Claudio. Sydal backdropped Mark over the ropes to the floor, then caught Jay with a rana while he was on the top rope. Claudio walked the ropes and dropped an elbow. The Briscoes pulled out double beel throws on Sydal and Claudio. I popped for those. As if that wasn't awesome enough, Claudio did the big swing on Jay. Perfection! Mark finally gets tagged in. Jay hits a flip dive to the floor on Claudio. Mark evades a Sydal rana while on the top, then dives off, catching him with a sunset flip takedown. By this point, there was far too many spots and near falls to remember. Jay nailed a flying bodypress on Caudio for a two count. Sydal drags Mark to the floor, where they brawl. Jay gets tossed out. Sydal jumps on Claudio's shoulders and dives down onto the Briscoes. Sydal nails a shooting star on Mark but Jay breaks it up. Jay presses him over his head and drops him, nailing a death valley driver. Mark dives out of the ring on Claudio, setting up the Doomsday Device, with Mark springboarding off the ropes to clothesline Sydal. Phenomenal stuff here.
PPV SEGMENT - With the Briscoes still in the ring celebrating, ROH announcers Lenny Leonard and Dave Prazak (making what I believe to be their first on camera appearance) are in the general admission section of the audience, with their backs to the ring. They talk about how important the ROH live experience is and run down many of the cities the company will be coming to soon (strangely enough, they didn't mention Tokyo) and how those shows may host future PPV tapings. Kevin Steen and El Generico interrupt them and demand a title shot against the Briscoes. The Briscoes offer to go right now, so the Canadians come through the crowd and they do a pull apart brawl in the ring. The Briscoes are removed to the aisle by officials, leaving Steen and Generico to destroy two students and former ROH regulars Deranged and Azrieal (of Special K fame, although I don't know how they will be referred to on the broadcast). Generico did a dive onto everyone in the aisle (think Kid Kash in ECW) and they all brawled to the back. Crowd was into the segment.
Ring announcer Bobby Cruise said they had a very special guest to introduce. The theme to Kill Bill hit and out came NYC's own Homicide and Julius Smokes. The Manhattan Center went insane for it. Homicide said that he lives 10 minutes away and said that everyone should have known he wasn't going to miss the biggest party in New York City. He asked where the Boston fans were, then tossed a Red Sox hat one of them was wearing into the crowd. The crowd started chanting, "F*** TNA" which Homicide just smirked at. He took a long time because the crowd was going nuts for him and then said that everyone has their own opinion, but then directed the fans to show their love for those in TNA that had been in ROH like Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, and "The man I wish was standing next to me right now" Austin Aries. Homicide said he's got to go back care of "some LAX business." The crowd booed a little. He said that he wanted to come out and thank ROH and their fans for supporting him for the last five years. He said he wanted to thank the "Three Kings of ROH", Cary Silkin, Syd Eick, and Gabe Sapolsky. He told Sapolsky he was a "genius booker, the next Bill Watts." He told the fans that Ring of Honor is going to be the number one company in the world and added, "That's right, I said it. I don't give a F***." He said that he thanks everyone whether they booed or cheered him for their support over the last five years. He kissed the ROH ring mat, and asked the ROH sound guy to play his theme "for the last time." He returned to the locker room, where several of the wrestlers and Sapolsky met him at the entranceway. Homicide hugged Sapolsky for a long time before everyone returned to the back. The Homicide segment was done specifically for the live New York City audience and will not be released on DVD or PPV for obvious reasons.
After intermission, Sara Del Ray defeated Daizee Haze in what was billed as a SHIMMER Women's Wrestling bout. Haze tried to hit a flying bodypress early but was caught and nailed with a Fall Away Slam. Ray got several near falls and locked a Boston Crab on Haze, who got to the ropes. They battled in the corner while on the ropes, which Haze won after pulling out a heart punch, which sent Ray sailing back into the ring. Haze was finally caught in an over the shoulder backbreaker style submission but escaped and turned it into a sunset flip. Ray finally got the win with a forward roll.. Solid.
In a Scramble match, Kevin Steen & El Generico defeated Mitch Franklin & Pelle Primeau, Irish airborne, and Jimmy Rave & Adam Pearce. The crowd was into Steen bigtime, especially after he hit a dive onto everyone. Steen's put on a lot of girth since the last time I've seen him. At one point, Pearce pulled out a RepoMan style mask and put it on to mock fans who chant "Repo Man" at him since there's a resemblance to Barry Darsow. This was all crazy spots and far too much to cover. It put the car crash in car crash wrestling. I didn't personally get into this one (Scramble Matches to me are either perfect or not entertaining, there's no in between) but edited properly it will look like one hell of a highlight reel of spots.
PPV SEGMENT - Roderick Strong defeated Delirious with a sitdown powerbomb in a match that the crowd was into but I thought would have benefited from being placed earlier on the show. It was a little slow building during the first third and that felt weird coming off some of the matches seen earlier on the show. Delirious, who wears a mask and babbles in odd tongues, went insane during his introduction, causing Strong to go to the floor early. Delirious began running around and they battled on the floor. Crowd was loving messing with Strong by reciting his name "Rooodeeriiiick" in a whiny fashion. Strong played off the crowd, screaming at them, which again, seemed weird for a match that late in the show. Delirious hit a rana from the top on Strong, who came back drilling him facefirst into the turnbuckles. Roderick was working on removing Delirious' mask early, even trying to tie it to the ropes, which didn't seem to work out as planned. Strong nailed a number of backbreaker variations and gutbusters and chops. Delirous drilled Strong with a neckbreaker. Strong came back with a Fall Away Slam off the ropes. Some of the crowd chanted, "This match sucks" but were shouted down by others in the audience. Delirious hit a dive onto the floor on Strong. In a sick spot, Strong suplexed and dropped Delirious on the apron outside the ring. After the pin, the No Remorse Corps. all beat down Delirious. They bridged a piece of guard rail between the ring and railing. Strong hit a powerbomb on Delirious onto the rail. Erik Stevens hit the ring for the save. The crowd chanted "Thank you Choo Choo." I'll be interested in seeing how this is edited or changed in positioning for the PPV broadcast. It wasn't terrible but just seemed like it was in the wrong place on the card, plus I think the crowd was getting a little restless.
PPV SEGMENT- ROH champion Takeshi Morishima & Bryan Danielson defeated KENTA and Nigel McGuinness when Danielson forced KENTA to tap out to the Cattle Mutilation submission while Morishima beat down Nigel in the corner. Lots of great back and forth wrestling here. For a guy with a history of shoulder problems in the last year, Danielson looked great, For someone who was working with a separated shoulder, Nigel is a monster, and the NOAH talents are out of this world. All of that led to a really fun main event. Danielson and KENTA started with back and forth exchanges. Morishima shoulderblocked Nigel down. Danielson drilled McGuinness with a forearm off the ropes. KENTA nailed Morishima with a boot to the face but was caught by Danielson with a Dragon Screw leg whip. All four faced off center ring, which led to a "ROH chant." Nigel DDT'd Morishima on the apron outside the ring, but Takeshi shrugged it off and powerbombed him into the railing ringside. KENTA tried to help but was whipped into the railing. He held KENTA for Danielson, who came charging with a running boot to the face. Danielson and Morishima worked over Nigel in the corner and on the mat for awhile with Danielson focusing on his knees. KENTA finally got the hot tag in and nailed a springboard missile dropkick to Danielson Morishima nailed one of his own on KENTA and followed that up with a sideslam. KENTA powerslammed Morishima, which the place came unglued for due to the size different. Nigel tagged in and began drilling Morishima with strikes and thrusts, taking him out in the corner. McGuinness hit a running charge into a forearm, which looked awesome. Morishima came back with a big boot, but missed a missile dropkick. Nigel clotheslined him for a two count. Morishima went for a cartwheel into a handspring elbow, but Nigel drilled him with a lariat for another near fall. Nigel and Morishima battled atop in a corner. Danielson tried to get involved so KENTA attacked him. It ended with Morishima dropping down on Nigel like former WWF champion Yokozuna would. Morishima nailed a backdrop driver but KENTA broke up the two count. KENTA hit a diving knee onto Danielson, who was draped against the ropes. . Danielson nailed a Dragon Suplex then locked on a Crossface Chicken Wing. KENTA pushed off the corner and Danielson nearly ended up pinning himself. Danielson goes to the top but Nigel comes from under him and nailed a powerbomb. KENTA tries to hit a bodypress from the ropes but Morishima catches him and tosses him with a suplex. Nigel nailed a forearm off the ropes on Danielson. He tosses Morishima into the first row, then dives off the top rope onto him. Danielson goes for a diving headbutt on KENTA but KENTA gets his feet up. He nails a dropkick and hits the Go To Sleep for a two count, but Morishima breaks the count. Morishima clotheslined KENTA and Danielson nailed him with a backfist. KENTA kept kicking out. At some point, Nigel ripped up his arm as he was at ringside taping it up and you could see blood peering out from under the tape. He rebounded off the ropes and drilled a lariat into Morishima, but went down selling the arm. KENTA nailed a suplex and got a two count on Danielson. The place changed ROH. KENTA was drilled with a back suplex and Danielson went for the Cattle Mutiliation but didn't get it. He nailed a back suplex on KENTA and began beating him with elbow after elbow, teasing a MMA-like ref stoppage. They then went to the finish.
After the match, Morishima laid out Danielson and Nigel in the ring and began swinging the ROH title above his head. Not sure where the PPV will end, but live Danielson left to his theme music and the company thanked the fans for attending.
NOTES: It was the fourth sellout for the company in the Manhattan Center....ROH returns on Saturday 8/25, the night before Summerslam 2007....A lot of the wrestlers were sporting new gear and tights in honor of the PPV. You could see a lot of the talents were trying hard to do the most they could, although as I wrote earlier, the downside to that is it can sometimes be too hard....The first half of the show was rocking and I loved the main event. For a $10 price tag, you probably won't get a better amount of wrestling for your money.
Thanks to www.thehistoryofwwe.com for their assistance with archival results.
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