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June 13th
On this day in history in ....
1940 - Orville Brown wins the first of two titles which earned him recognition as the first World Heavyweight Champion as recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance. Brown defeats Bobby Bruns in Kansas City, Kansas to win the Kansas City version of the Midwest Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title.
1957 - Ed Francis defeats Al Lolotai for the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii, ending Lolotai's second reign.
1960 - Jacques "The Mountie" Rougeau is born in Saint-Sulpice, Quebec.
1960 - Tony Borne defeats Bull Curry to win the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title in Fort Worth, Texas.
1962 - Mike Jones, better known as the WWF's Virgil and the NWO's Vincent, is born in Nashville, Tennessee.
1972 - Alfonso Dantes defeats Rey Mendoza for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Tijuana, Mexico, ending Mendoza's fifth reign.
1974 - The Interns (Tom Andrews and Jim Starr) defeat Bob Geigel and Rufus R. Jones to win the Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas, ending Geigel and Jones' third reign.
1975 - Black Gordman and Goliath win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title for the seventh time, ending the third reign of The Hollywood Blonds (Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts).
1975 - Great Kusatsu and Mighty Inoue defeat Tor Kamata and Duke Savage in a tournament final to win the vacant International Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Title in Morioka, Japan.
1978 - Jack and Jerry Brisco defeat Mr. Saito and Mr. Sato (The Great Kabuki) in Miami, Florida to win their seventh NWA Florida Tag Team Title.
1981 - The Kelly Twins (Pat and Mike Kelly) defeat Wilbur Snyder and Spike Huber to win the World Wrestling Association (Indiana) Tag Team Title in Indianapolis, Indiana.
1982 - "High Chief" Peter Maivia, father-in-law of Rocky Johnson and grandfather of The Rock, succumbs to cancer at age 45.
1982 - Centurian Negro defeats Gran Hamada in Monterrey, Mexico, for the Universal Wrestling Association World Middleweight Title, ending Hamada's second reign and beginning Negro's second.
1983 - Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama) defeats Fishman to win the vacant WWF World Junior Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, beginning his third reign.
1985 - Kuniaki Kobayashi defeats The Dynamite Kid for the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Title in Koga, Japan.
1986 - Lex Luger defeats Ron Bass to win the NWA Bahamas Heavyweight Title in Nassau, Bahamas.
1987 - Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation holds its second Superdome Extravaganza in New Orleans, Louisiana. The results:
- Shaska Whatley and Shane Douglas fought to a draw.
- Buddy Roberts defeated Mike Boyette.
- Steve Cox defeated Gary Young.
- The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy) defeated The Terminator and The Enforcer (Doug Gilbert).
- The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) defeated The Angel of Death and Vladimir Petrov to retain the NWA World Tag Team Title.
- The Lightning Express (Tim Horner and Brad Armstrong) defeated Rick Steiner and Sting to retain the UWF Tag Team Title.
- Big Bubba Rogers defeated Barry Windham to retain the UWF Heavyweight Title.
- Black Bart defeated Chris Adams.
- Steve Williams defeated Dick Murdoch.
1987 - Bill Dundee defeats Chick Donovan to win the AWA International Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning his second reign.
1990 - WCW Clash of the Champions XI was held in Charleston, South Carolina at the McAlister Fieldhouse. The show aired live on TBS, doing a 4.1 rating. Here are the results from the show:
- Steve Armstrong & Tracey Smothers defeated The Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes).
- Tommy Rich defeated Bam Bam Bigelow via disqualification.
- Tom Zenk & Mike Rotundo defeated the SST (Fatu & Samoan Savage).
- Mark Callous defeated Brian Pillman.
- The Rock N' Roll Express defeated U.S. Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane via disqualification.
- Barry Windham defeated Doug Furnas.
- Lex Luger defeated Sid Vicious in under thirty seconds after interference from Ole Anderson backfired.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions Doom defeated Rick & Scott Steiner.
- Paul Orndorff defeated Arn Anderson.
- Junkyard Dog defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair via disqualification.
1991 - Gran Hamada and Perro Aguayo defeat Los Brazos (Brazo de Oro and Brazo de Plata) to win the UWA World Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
1992 - Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. defeats El Egipicio in Mexico City, Mexico to win the Mexico National Heavyweight Title for the third time.
1993 - The WWF held the very first televised King of the Ring pay-per-view event at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio. Although the first pay-per-view event, it featured the seventh King of the Ring tournament. The results were:
- In a dark match, Papa Shango pinned Owen Hart to retain the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Title.
- Bret Hart pinned Razor Ramon in a first round match.
- Mr. Perfect defeated Mr. Hughes by disqualification in a first round match.
- Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Jim Duggan in a first round match.
- Tatanka and Lex Luger fought to a 15-minute time limit draw in a first round match.
- Bret Hart pinned Mr. Perfect after a Small Package in a semifinal match.
- Yokozuna pinned Hulk Hogan, after a fireball from a photographer's camera blinded Hogan, to win the WWF World Title for the second time, ending Hogan's fifth reign. This would be Hogan's final WWF television appearance and match until nearly nine years later.
- The Smokin' Gunns (Billy and Bart) and The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated The Headshrinkers (Samu and Fatu) and WWF Tag Team Champion Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster), when Billy pinned DiBiase.
- Shawn Michaels pinned Crush to retain the WWF Intercontinental Title.
- Bret Hart pinned Bam Bam Bigelow to win the King of the Ring Tournament. The match had originally been won by Bigelow, but the match was restarted when it was revealed that Luna Vachon attacked Hart with a steel chair. This was Hart's second time as King, as he won the tournament two years earlier. He is also, to this day, the only man to win two King of the Ring tournaments.
1994 - PG-13 (J.C. Ice and Wolfie D.) defeat The Eliminators (Saturn and Kronus) for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning their second reign.
1997 - Nygma defeats El Salsero to win the Mexico National Welterweight Title in Xochimilko, Mexico.
1998 - Buddy Landel defeats Jimmy Cicero in Alexandria, Virginia for the Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Title.
1998 - E.Z. Ryder and Darren Daulton defeat Damage Inc. (Skar and Sledge) to win the Canadian Wrestling Federation Tag Team Title in Garden City, Manitoba.
1998 - The NWA Michigan Tag Team Title changes hands twice in Hazel Park, Michigan, as The Outlaws (Woody and Bobby Lee) defeat The James Gang (Hoss James and Ricky James) to win the titles for the second time, then lost them back to The James', beginning their second reign.
1999 - WCW holds the 13th-annual Great American Bash at its usual home, the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. The results:
- Hak pinned Brian Knobbs in a Hardcore match, after Jimmy Hart accidentally hit Knobbs with a kendo stick.
- Hammer pinned Mikey Whipwreck after a Cobra Clutch Slam.
- Buff Bagwell pinned Disco Inferno after the Buff Blockbuster.
- The No Limit Soldiers (Konnan and Rey Misterio, Jr.) defeated The West Texas Rednecks (Curt Hennig and Bobby Duncum, Jr.), when Misterio pinned Duncum after Swoll attacked Duncum.
- Ernest Miller pinned Horace Hogan after hitting him with his shoe.
- Ric Flair defeated Roddy Piper by disqualification, when Buff Bagwell came out and attacked Flair. As a result of Flair's victory, Flair became WCW President.
- WCW World Television Champion Rick Steiner defeated Sting in a Falls Count Anywhere Match, after Sting was attacked backstage by dogs and Rick forced the referee to declare him the winner.
- The Jersey Triad (Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon) defeated Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn, when Kanyon pinned Benoit after a Diamond Cutter from Page, to win the WCW World Tag Team Title. All three members of The Jersey Triad (Page, Kanyon and Bam Bam Bigelow) would be recognized as champions.
- Kevin Nash defeated Randy Savage by disqualification to retain the WCW World Title, after Sid Vicious, making his return to WCW, attacked Nash. This was Sid's first WCW appearance since the infamous 1993 hotel brawl with Arn Anderson during a British tour, during which Anderson was stabbed several times by Sid with safety scissors.
1999 - Koji Nakagawa and Gedo defeat Masato Tanaka and Tetsuhiro Kuroda to win the FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Title in Okayama City, Japan.
2002 - Shouichi Ichimiya defeats Chocoball Mukai for the Dramatic Dream Team Ironman Heavymetalweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Mukai's second reign.
2003 - Yutaka Yoshie and Hiroshi Tanahashi defeat Masahiro Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan in Tokyo, Japan, to win the IWGP World Tag Team Title, ending Chono and Tenzan's fourth reign.
2003 - The Goonees (Slacker-J and Slacker Dan) defeat Superfly P and Krull for the United States Wrestling Organization Tag Team Title in Madison, Tennessee.
2004 - WWE holds its Bad Blood pay-per-view event at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The results were:
- In a match for Sunday Night Heat, Batista pinned Maven after a Batista Bomb.
- WWE World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit and Edge defeated World Tag Team Champions La Resistance (Sylvain Grenier and Rob Conway) by disqualification, after Kane interfered and attacked Benoit. La Resistance retained the title.
- Chris Jericho Jericho pinned Tyson Tomko after a Running Enzuigiri, after Tomko accidentally collided with Trish Stratus, who accompanied Tomko to ringside, on the apron.
- Randy Orton pinned Shelton Benjamin by rolling through a Crossbody and grabbing Benjamin's tights for leverage, to retain the WWE Intercontinental Title.
- Trish Stratus defeated champion Victoria, Lita and Gail Kim in a Fatal Four-Way match to win the WWE Women's Title, beginning her fifth reign and ending Victoria's second. Trish won by catching Lita with a schoolgirl pin.
- Eugene pinned Jonathan Coachman after a Rock Bottom and People's Elbow. After the match, Garrison Cade hit the ring to attack Eugene, but received a Stone Cold Stunner.
- Chris Benoit pinned Kane with a roll-up to retain the WWE World Title.
- Triple H pinned Shawn Michaels after two Pedigrees in a Hell in a Cell match after nearly 47 minutes.
2006 - The premiere, and taped, edition of ECW on SciFi airs from Trenton, New Jersey's Sovereign Bank Arena, posting a 2.8 rating. The show opened with Paul Heyman presenting new WWE Champion Rob Van Dam with the ECW World Title, in reward for his defeat of John Cena at the previous Sunday's One Night Stand to win the WWE Title. The show also featured the debut of Kelly Kelly in her segment which would become known as Kelly's Expose, as well as the debut of the then-unnamed vampire, Kevin Thorn.
Match results were:
- The Sandman pinned The Zombie (Tim Arson) in just 17 seconds after a White Russian Legsweep.
- Kurt Angle defeated Justin Credible by submission with a choke and bodyscissors.
- Sabu won a 10-man Extreme Rules battle royal to earn a match with John Cena at June 25's Vengeance event. Other participants were Big Guido, Big Show, Danny Doring, Tommy Dreamer, Little Guido, Balls Mahoney, Tony Mamaluke, Stevie Richards, Roadkill and Al Snow.
2009 -One of the greatest in-ring workers of the modern age and the founder of Pro Wrestling NOAH, Mitsuhau Misawa, just a few days short of his 47th birthday, passed away following an in-ring accident stemming from a suplex. Misawa was wrestling in a tag team bout at the Hiroshima Green Arena, teaming with Go Shiozaki to challenge Bison Smith and Akitoshi Saito for NOAH's Global Honored Crown Tag Team championships Around 15-17 minutes in, Saito delivered a back suplex. Misawa went over for the bump but didn't get back up. The entire roster surrounded the ring as they attempted to revive him. The crowd, realizing something was wrong, went silent and then began chanting Misawa's name.
It is believed Misawa may have suffered a heart attack as he immediately stopped breathing. EMTS attempted to revive him in the ring via AED in the ring and he was rushed out to an ambulance. In the wake of the Misawa incident, the show was immediately halted. The NOAH roster were instructed to return to their tour buses and were later informed Misawa had passed away.
Yomuri Online in Japan reported that Misawa passed away en route to the hospital at 10:10 PM Japanese time. It's possible he passed away before that, but 10:10 is the official time in media reports.
Misawa was groomed for stardom from the day he was brought into All Japan by Shohei "Giant" Baba after being successful amateur High School wrestler. He became the second Tiger Mask (under the hood, he wrestled Bret Hart in 1990) before eventually competing under his real name.
Misawa's classics with Toshiaki Kawada and Kenta Kobashi were the stuff of immediate legend, with Japanese photos of the bouts showing hard-hitting still photos that looked more like boxing matches. Then, when you'd see the tapes via trading, you were awe-struck at how intensely athletic and competitive the bouts were. Before hardcore was a buzz word used to promote a certain style, that's what All Japan main events were - a hardcore, physically brutal style of storytelling in professional wrestling that was unlike anything else in the era.
When All Japan Pro Wrestling owner Shohei "Giant" Baba passed away in 1999, issues with Baba's widow, Motoko Baba eventually led to Misawa leading an exodus of most of the core All Japan talents from the company a year later, forming Pro Wrestling NOAH. The biggest hold-out was Toshiaki Kawada but every other major AJPW name at the time jumped. NOAH, almost immediately, became one of the top in-ring products anywhere in the world, with Misawa as one of the key figures in and out of the ring. All Japan was never the same, although it continues to live on under the ownership of Keiji Mutoh.
Stateside, Misawa made very few trips to the United States to perform, working a pair of shows for Ring of Honor and Harley Race's WLW last year as well as appearing for California's Pro Wrestling Iron, an American satellite promotion for NOAH a few years prior run by Mike Modest and Donovan Morgan.
In Japan, Misawa was one of the all-time greatest in-ring performers and in many ways, was still carrying the torch for the style that Baba and All Japan, in their prime, excelled at. He wasn't in his prime shape anymore and physically, was beaten down by the punishment he put his body through, but when needed, could still perform at an incredible level in comparison to others half his age.
I can't even begin to express what an awesome performer Misawa in his prime was. In many ways, the style that he, Kenta Kobashi and Toshiaki Kawada, among others, popularized in the United States via tape traders helped inspire the entire "strong style" phase of wrestling on the independent level of the United States. It's impossible to even access the influence his work had on the entire wrestling industry.
2009 - Ring of Honor returned to the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, presenting "Manhattan Mayhem III". Mike Johnson filed the following report:
Before the event, the entire ROH locker room assembled around the ring. Ring announcer Bobby Cruise announced that earlier today, Mitusharu Misawa passed away in Japan. He issued ROH's public condolences to Misawa's family and friends as well as their Japanese partners in Pro Wrestling NOAH. The promotion held a 10 bell salute for Misawa, followed by a moment of silence. It was a classy moment.
After everyone departed, ROH commenced with their usual entrance music and pageantry to officially open the show.
Austin Aries made his way to the ring. He cut a promo talking about how tough New York City is supposed to be. He began cutting down NYC and at one point said, "You weren't so tough on a certain day in September a few years ago." Believe it or not, the line didn't get much of a reaction. He then ripped on the crowd noting that at the last show, a fan took a poke at him and got destroyed. THAT the crowd reacted to. He introduced Kenny King and Rhett Titus.
*The Young Bucks defeated Kenny King & Rhett Titus. Really good opener. The crowd was all over the Bucks for being Hardy-looking pretty boys, but by the end, had been completely won over. They started slow but built to a ton of highspots that blew the crowd away.
Necro Butcher pinned Jimmy Rave. Necro pretty much killed Rave early. Rave got the better of Necro by attacking the knee while Necro was being restrained as he tried to get through the ropes into the ring. Butcher caught Rave with a small package out of nowhere. The Embassy began beating Butcher. Colt Cabana finally saved Butcher, coming out after his theme music hit.
Ric Flair cut a promo about the NYC fans and tonight's ROH title bout. Flair then left the venue so he won't be appearing ringside as advertised for the ROH title bout. I have more on this on the main page.
Roderick Strong defeated Sonjay Dutt in a solid match.
Jimmy Jacobs defeated Tyler Black in a short First Blood match after stabbing him in the forehead with a screwdriver. Tyler Black then destroyed Jimmy Jacobs and then announced he was going to use his World title shot tonight, making the main event a three way match. The match was too short to really be anything of note, but given how Black was to work a main event bout, it made sense.
Colt Cabana won a Four way when he made D'Lo Brown submit. Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli also competed. Lots of cute comedy with Cabana trying to get Danielson to dance early, then rolling him up for a near fall. This was easily the best Brown appearance to date from an in-ring standpoint.
ROH Tag champs American Wolves defeated Steen Generico in a submission match. Really good match with lots of near submissions and cool spots. The Wolves are probably the most underrated team in the business right now. The crowd was really into Steen and Generico's saves and come from behind spots. Davey Richards finally caught Generico's bad knee in a submission and he tapped. Steen cut a good promo after saying they would get the belts.
Jay Briscoe pinned Little Guido with the Jay-Driller in a really good match. Guido got a nice reaction coming out and fans chanted, "Where's my pizza?" Guido worked a serious style. They had an awesome exchange of mat wrestling early. Guido missed a dive out of the ring. They went back and forth until Jay nailed the finisher. If Guido didn't earn a job here, there is no justice in the world. He got a standing ovation and a thank you chant on the way out. Great stuff.
Austin Aries became the first 2 time ROH champion defeating Jerry Lynn and Tyler Black. Nigel McGuinness was the outside enforcer. This was an elimination style bout. Black's ankle was worked on for a long time. Aries locked a figure four outside the ring around the ringpost on Black but Nigel broke it up. Black pinned Lynn to eliminate him and the crowd went nuts, realizing there would be a new champ crowned. Aries and Black went into overdrive with tons of stiff kicks, back and forth exchanges and near falls. The crowd was dying to pop for a Black win but it was not to be as Aries drilled him with the brainbuster and won the belt. Aries was announced as the first two time champion, which has been the direction ROH has been building to with him for several months. He won his first title from Samoa Joe with the same move. The title change left the crowd buzzing on the way out.
Notes: ROH will return to NYC on 9/26 with Bret Hart appearing. The show will be held upstairs in the Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom. ROH originally had the Hammerstein booked but the venue came back to them and asked them to release the date for a Latin themed event taking place over that weekend....In a departure from previous events, ROH did not bring a lighting truss to the Hammerstein....Former WWE developmental talent Danny "Inferno Kid" Gimondo was visiting at the show...I have more on the Ric Flair situation on the main page.
2010 -TNA held a press conference and signing event this afternoon to officially launch their action figure line with Jakks Pacific. Jeremy Borash and Don West presided over the launch, introducing all six of the talents who comprise the initial series - Sting, Suicide, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett. Each talent was brought out one at a time and unveiled their figure, giving comments about the action figure line. Sting joked that when he grows up, he wants to look like his figure. Jeff Jarrett noted that when he and Sting broke into the business, the sign that you made it was your first championship, but now that sign is when Jakks Pacific creates an action figure for you. AJ Styles joked that his figure was a collector's item, since it shows the beard he no longer sports. Samoa Joe said he might not have the prettiest action figure, but was sure his could beat AJ's figure up. TNA President Dixie Carter was then introduced and talked about how happy the company was to work with Jakks Pacific. She said that when Jakks came to them about working together, she knew it meant it would keep TNA out of the toy marketplace for some time, but all good things are worth waiting for. She thanked everyone for their support of the company and told them the best was yet to come. After the launch ceremony, each of the talents made their way to tables where they signed limited edition versions of the TNA action figure line. The talents were each given their #1 numbered figure to keep while fans each received a complete set with the same number. It was a pretty professionally run deal that went smoothly.
2010 - TNA held their Slammiversary PPV. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
TNA Slammiversary opened with a video package on the growth of TNA has a company.
Kurt Angle vs. Kazarian.
Yep, Kurt Angle in the opening match on a PPV. You have to feel bad for everyone else on the show, since they all have to follow him now. Huge chant for Angle before the bell. Angle took Kazarian down with a side headlock. Angle hit a shoulderblock, but Kazarian grabbed a pair of armdrags. Kazarian posed in the ring, then they locked up and Angle grabbed an armwringer. Kazarian flipped out of it and applied his own, but Angle countered and tripped Kazarian down to the mat. Kazarian kipped up and put Angle in a headlock. Angle caught Kazarian on a leapfrog attempt and rammed him in a corner. Angle missed a charge in a corner and Kazarian hit a springboard dropkick. Kazarian picked Angle up off the mat, but Angle grabbed a waistlock and hit two German suplexes. Angle went for a third, but Kazarian hit Angle low with a mule kick. The referee was going to disqualify him, but Angle insisted the match go on.
Kazarian charged Angle and beat him down in a corner. Kazarian threw Angle to the floor, then hit a somersault dive on him. Kazarian rammed Angle headfirst into the apron, then rolled him in the ring. Kazarian hit a slingshot legdrop for a two count, then applied a front facelock. Angle punched out of it, but missed a clothesline, only to come back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Kazarian reversed a whip into a corner, then hit a clothesline. Kazarian choked Angle with his shin, then kicked him in the back before returning to the front facelock. Angle powered up and broke out. Angle hit some punches, then ducked a Kazarian counter punch and hit a German suplex, flipping Kazarian to the mat.
They both got up slowly and traded punches. Angle landed two clotheslines, then hit a backdrop. Angle whipped Kazarian into a corner, but ran into a boot. Kazarian charged Angle, who tossed him with a belly to belly suplex. Angle went for an Angle Slam, but Kazarian floated out of it and hit a spinning neckbreaker. Kazarian charged Angle, but Angle kicked him in the gut and hit a powerbomb. Kazarian kicked out at two, but Angle went right into an ankle lock. Kazarian turned it into a rollup for two, then dropkicked Angle for another near fall. Kazarian went to the top rope, but took too long and Angle ran up and pulled him down with a belly to belly suplex for two.
Angle went for the Angle Slam again, but Kazarian floated over into a sunset flip, but Angle rolled through it into an ankle lock. Kazarian kicked Angle in the face to escape it. Kazarian charged, and Angle backdropped him to the apron. Kazarian hit Angle, then hit a slingshot DDT for a two count. Kazarian went for an reverse backdrop piledriver (Axe Guillotine Driver), but Angle hooked the top rope and pulled out of Kazarian's grasp. Angle dodged a charging Kazarian, who bounced chest first into the ropes, and Angle hit a lightning fast German suplex. Angle maintained his grip and hit three more German suplexes. Angle pulled down his straps and measured Kazarian. Angle went for the Angle Slam, but Kazarian armdragged out of it. Kazarian hit his Axe Guillotine Driver for a two count. Kazarian picked Angle up, and Angle went for a tilt-a-whirl, but Kazarian landed on his feet and hit a clothesline.
Kazarian went for a springboard, but Angle kicked him in the gut and hit an Angle Slam, finally. Kazarian kicked out at two. Angle went to the top rope for a moonsault, but Kazarian cut him off and hit a powerbomb for a two count, using the ropes for leverage. Kazarian went for his piledriver again, but Angle rolled out of it and hooked Kazarian in an ankle lock. Kazarian went for the ropes, but Angle pulled him back into the ring and added a leglace to the move. Kazarian tapped at the 15-minute mark.
Winner: Kurt Angle.
Angle gestured that contender "number nine" will be next.
Mike Tenay and Taz welcomed us to the show. Tenay thanked the fans for eight years of support, and Taz thanked the "pioneers" of TNA, naming many who are still with the company like AJ Styles, James Storm, Chris Sabin, Abyss, Bob Ryder and Don West, and also thanked Jerry Lynn, who is no longer with TNA. Tenay mentioned that Jeff Jarrett, the founder of TNA, had to watch the show from home tonight.
They reviewed the X-Factors for the next bout.
X-Division Champion Douglas Williams vs. Kendrick.
Williams went for a wristlock at the start, which Kendrick escaped. They went to a double knucklelock, then Kendrick grabbed a Fujiwara armbar, but Williams grabbed the ropes. Williams took Kendrick down with a waistlock, but Kendrick escaped and hit some elbows to the back of the head. Kendrick charged into a Williams kick, then Williams used a leglace to roll Kendrick to the mat. Kendrick reversed the hold, and Williams kicked Kendrick to the floor. Williams went outside and rammed Kendrick into the guard rail, then gave him a back suplex on the floor. Williams decked Kendrick, then tossed him back into the ring.
Williams raked Kendrick's face, then they traded forearms. Kendrick went for a bodyblock, but Williams caught it and turned it into a Samoan Drop for a two count. Williams hit a backbreaker, then put Kendrick in a bow and arrow. Kendrick pulled out of it and landed on top of Williams for a cover, but Williams easily kicked out. Williams applied a cravate, and the fans chanted for Kendrick. Kendrick fought up and Williams went for a suplex. Kendrick blocked it, but Williams muscled him up and dropped him gut first on the top rope. Williams then went to knock him off the apron, but Kendrick slingshotted over him and Williams fell through the ropes and to the floor.
Kendrick hit Williams with a tope, then tossed him back in the ring and hit a missile dropkick for a two count. Kendrick hit an enzugiri and a Shining Wizard kick for a two count. Kendrick hit a flying kick to Williams' face for another two count. Kendrick went for a whip, but Williams reversed it. Kendrick tried to kick him, but Williams blocked it and hit a kick to the inner thigh. Williams hit a clothesline and some forearms. Williams went for a backdrop, but Kendrick grabbed a sunset flip, leading to some reversals for two counts. Williams hit a jumping knee, then a snap suplex, then a gut wrench suplex. Williams then hit an Exploder for a two count.
Kendrick, from his back, slapped Williams in the face after his kickout. Williams went for the Rolling Chaos Theory suplex, but Kendrick bit Williams' arm to escape it. Kendrick put Williams on the top rope for a superplex, but Williams shoved him off. Williams then jumped off the middle rope into a tornado DDT for the pin at the ten minute mark.
Winner: Douglas Williams.
The announcers noted how Williams used a move off the ropes, something he always criticizes others for doing, to get the win.
Backstage, Christy Hemme interviewed Eric Bischoff about Sting's recent comments. Bischoff essentially said he had no idea what Sting was talking about, and that after tonight, he hoped Sting would be out of their hair.
Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne vs. Roxxi
Rayne came out alone, without the rest of the Beautiful People. Madison Rayne got on the mic before the bell, and said she wanted Roxxi to explain how she could "pop in and out of the company whenever she felt like it" while the Beautiful People were dominating. Rayne said this time she "popped in and was handed a title shot". Rayne said she is putting everything on the line tonight, while Roxxi is putting up nothing. Rayne said Roxxi should put up the same thing that Tara did, her career. Rayne badgered her into agreeing, and just as she did, Rayne hit her in the head with the microphone.
Rayne called for the bell and covered Roxxi, but she kicked out at two. Roxxi was busted open from the microphone shot. Roxxi hit some shots, but was knocked to the floor by Rayne. Roxxi was quickly becoming a bloody mess. Roxxi got on the apron and shoulderblocked Rayne, then rammed her into the turnbuckles. Roxxi went to climb the ropes, but Rayne yanked her into the ring and got a near fall. Rayne put Roxxi in an armbar, but Roxxi fought out of it. Roxxi hit an enzugiri, then a series of forearms. Roxxi hit a running elbow and a kick to the chest, then a fallaway slam. Roxxi hit a spinebuster for a two count. Rayne reversed an armbar and went for her finisher, but Roxxi blocked it and hit the hammerlock spinebuster. Rayne rolled to the floor. Roxxi went outside, tossed Rayne back in. As Roxxi was getting back in, Rayne kicked her and hit her neckbreaker on the knee for the win at the five minute mark.
Winner: Madison Rayne.
Madison waved goodbye to Roxxi, and yelled for her to get out of here. Roxxi, a bloody mess, looked despondent, then waved to the crowd and left.
A video package on the Ray-Neal match was shown.
Brother Ray vs. Jesse Neal.
Before the match could start, Brother Ray said he wanted Devon to come out. As Devon did, Shannon Moore ran out, thinking it might be a set up. Brother Ray apologized to Neal, saying that Shannon was right, he has been a bully lately. Ray said that Devon has talked a lot of sense into him, and continued to apologize. Ray said Neal was a hero in the Navy, and he was wrong to call him a failure. Moore left at this point. Brother Ray offered Neal a handshake, then gave him a hug. Devon and Brother Ray raised Neal's arms, then the three of them left the ring. They were halfway up the aisle when Brother Ray nailed Jesse, then flung him into the ring.
The bell rang, and an angry Devon was rushing back to the ring, but security stopped him and the referee, at Brother Ray's request, ordered him away, since the match had officially started. Brother Ray kicked Neal. Moore was watching from the stage. Devon yelled "This isn't over" as security walked him off. Ray dropped some elbows on Neal, then ripped off Neal's shirt and chopped his chest. Brother Ray just mauled Neal, hanging him in the Tree Of Woe and slapping him. Ray pulled Neal off the ropes with a neckbreaker. Brother Ray ripped the dog tags off Neal, said "Your best friend's dog tags? Ha!" and chopped Neal on the chest. Neal fired back with some shots, building momentum. Ray reversed a whip, but Neal jumped on the ropes and hit a flying bodypress, then slammed Ray with a belly to belly suplex. Brother Ray avoided a punch and hit a Bubba Bomb full-nelson slam, then chopped him in the back.
Tommy Dreamer, to a huge ovation, started walking down the steps in the stands. Brother Ray was on the middle rope, then stopped and stared at Dreamer, who did his crucifix pose. There was an "ECW" chant. Dreamer moved into the crowd, and posed again. Jesse Neal charged Brother Ray, who kicked him down. Brother Ray went for the second rope senton, but Neal moved out of the way. Neal hit Brother Ray with the spear for the pin at the four minute mark.
Winner: Jesse Neal.
Dreamer exited the crowd, a smile on his face. Ray was dumbfounded in the ring. Ray argued with the crowd as he left.
Hernandez was interviewed about Matt Morgan, saying he watched while Morgan treated him, the tag titles, and the whole tag division as a joke. Hernandez said he got a taste of Morgan at Impact, and tonight he would get the whole meal. They then aired a video package on Morgan-Hernandez.
Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez.
Morgan came out in street clothes, wearing a neckbrace. Morgan came out and gave an "emotional" promo about how he could not perform on the PPV tonight. Morgan claimed Hernandez "jumped him from behind" and injured his neck. Morgan told the referee that he had a signed note from his physician that he could not perform. Morgan apologized to the fans that he could not perform, then walked off. Hernandez ran out and jumped Morgan from behind, ripping his neckbrace off and tossing him into the ring.
The referee rang the bell, so I guess we have a match after all. Hernandez choked Morgan with his t-shirt. You know, that can get you fired in some places. Hernandez choked Morgan in a corner. Sorry, couldn't resist. The referee broke them up. Hernandez picked up the referee and sat him in the top rope. Morgan begged for mercy, then tripped Hernandez out of the ring. On the floor, Morgan hit a discus lariat. Back in the ring, Morgan threw Hernandez shoulder first into the ringpost, then did it a second time. A third time, and Morgan tossed Hernandez to the floor. Morgan seemed content to take a countout victory, and mockingly acted like his neck was hurt. Hernandez rolled in at eight, and Morgan stomped him. Morgan hit back elbows in the corner, then an avalanche.
Morgan hit a sideslam for a two count. Hernandez reversed a whip and hit a avalanche, then a shoulderblock. Hernandez ripped Morgan's shirt off him and choked him with it. The referee broke it up, but Hernandez went back to choking him again. Hernandez grabbed the referee and tossed him to the mat. The referee disqualified Hernandez at the five minute mark.
Winner via disqualification: Matt Morgan.
Hernandez went after Morgan, who was trying to exit, and rammed him back first into the ringpost. Hernandez put Morgan's head against the ringpost, and went to kick him, the same thing Morgan did to Hernandez to injure him. As Hernandez went for the kick, Morgan pulled referee Brian Hebner in the path, and Hebner got kicked in the ribs. Morgan escaped, and Hernandez soon went after him, while Earl Hebner (Brian's Dad) and the other referees checked on Brian Hebner.
Christy Hemme interviewed Hulk Hogan about Sting. Hogan said Sting "crossed the line" and broke the "unwritten code" amongst wrestlers when he injured Jeff Jarrett the way he did. Hogan said he would have his eye on Sting.
Abyss vs. Desmond Wolfe in a Monster's Ball match.
Wolfe was accompanied by Chelsea, since her 30-days with Abyss are now over. Abyss started tossing weapons in the ring as soon as he came out. They went right at it, with Wolfe missing with a kendo stick shot and Abyss hitting a boot to the face. Abyss went for a chair, but Wolfe kicked it in his face. Wolfe wedged the chair in a corner, then hit Abyss in the gut with a kendo stick. Abyss reversed a whip and Wolfe went for a leapfrog, but Abyss caught it and hit a side slam for a two count.
Abyss went under the ring and pulled out a barbed wire board, tossing it into the ring. Abyss put it in a corner, but Wolfe hit Abyss with some forearms. Wolfe went to whip Abyss into the chair in a corner, but Abyss put on the brakes. Wolfe chargeed, Abyss moved and Wolfe went head first into the chair. Abyss went and got two trash cans. As Abyss was getting in the ring, Wolfe kicked the middle rope into Abyss' groin. Wolfe hit Abyss with a pair of trash can shots. Wolfe yelled something to Chelsea, that you couldn't make up.
Wolfe went into a trash can, and pulled out a teddy bear wrapped in barbed wire. Wolfe asked out loud if this was some kind of joke. Abyss bodyblocked Wolfe, driving the barbed wire teddy bear into Wolfe's midsection. I should note, Wolfe still has his shirt on. Abyss went to ringside and presented the barbed wire bear to Chelsea, then sort of barked at her. Abyss pulled out a bag and got back in the ring. Abyss emptied the bag, which was filled with broken glass, in the ring. Wolfe said "I didn't sign up for this" and left. Abyss followed, and Wolfe used Chelsea as a shield. Wolfe grabbed a kendo stick and hit Abyss as he was distracted by Chelsea.
Wolfe pulled Abyss over the the staging area, then up on a platform. Wolfe held up the stick and said "Now he dies!" buy Abyss grabbed Wolfe by the throat and chokeslammed him, breaking up part of the platform when he landed. Wolfe was convulsing. Abyss dragged Wolfe to the ring and covered him, but Wolfe got his foot on the bottom rope at the two count. Abyss put the barbed wire board in the ring, and set up Wolfe for a superplex. Wolfe fought out of it, then used a sunset flip-style powerbomb off the top rope to sent Abyss into the barbed wire board. Abyss' arm was sliced open. Wolfe got a two count.
Wolfe grabbed a kendo stick and hit Abyss in the head twice, but missed on the third try. Abyss grabbed Wolfe and hit the Shock Treatment backbreaker for a two count. Abyss picked up Wolfe off the mat, but Wolfe hit a knee to the midsection. Wolfe hit Abyss with a kendo stick shot to the back of the head, and Abyss fell down, face first, into the broken glass. Abyss was bleeding from the head. Wolfe still couldn't put Abyss away. Wolfe told Chelsea to give him her purse. Chelsea reluctantly gave it to Wolfe. Wolfe opened the purse, but the brass knuckles weren't in it. Wolfe asked where the knucks were, and Chelsea had them in her hand. She then tossed the knucks over Wolfe, to Abyss. Abyss hit Wolfe with the knucks, then finished off Wolfe with a Black Hole Slam for the pin at the 12-minute mark.
Winner: Abyss.
Chelsea was expressionless at ringside. In the ring, Abyss was tasting his own blood. Abyss saluted the fans and celebrated his win. Chelsea backed down the ramp along, still holding the teddy bear. Wolfe, who rolled to the floor, was complaining about Chelsea costing him the match.
Rob Van Dam was interviewed, saying he wasn't going to let Sting play mind games with him, but what Sting did with the belt on Impact did bother him. RVD said he doesn't care about Sting's agenda, he cares about his own. Van Dam said he is at his best, and that it was "Showtime.... the Whole F'N Showtime".
A video package on Styles-Lethal was shown.
AJ Styles vs. Jay Lethal.
Ric Flair accompanied Styles to the ring. Lethal kept glancing at Flair at ringside as the bell rang. They locked up, and jockeyed for position. AJ backed Lethal in a corner and chopped him. Lethal responded with a slap, and Styles tripped over his own feet. Styles went to the floor and regrouped. They locked up again, and Styles grabbed a side headlock, taking Lethal to the mat. Lethal grabbed a headscissors to escape and kept Styles on the mat. Styles rolled out of it and got his headlock back. Styles dropkicked Lethal in the leg, but Lethal fought back with punches and a chop. Styles slid under Lethal and hit a chop. Lethal went for a monkeyflip, but Styles landed on his feet. Styles hiptossed Lethal, who reversed it and hit one, then dropkicked Styles in the face. Lethal hit a snap suplex for a one count.
Styles punched Lethal in the gut, but Lethal hit a series of punches, then chopped Styles. Lethal rammed Styles in a corner, then hit a side backbreaker for a one count. Lethal hit a spinning headscissors, sending Styles to the floor. They did a nice spot where each teased a dive, then stopped themselves when the other moved out of the way, ending with Lethal tripping Styles on the ring apron, and Styles bumped to the floor. Back in the ring, Styles choked Lethal, but missed a chop. Lethal hit a chop, but Styles tossed Lethal crotch first on the top rope and he attempted a leapfrog. Styles and Lethal exchanged chops, then Styles hit a jumping kick on Lethal for a two count.
Styles slammed Lethal, then hit a kneedrop for a two count. Lethal battled back with shoulder blocks, chops and punches. Lethal went for a backdrop, AJ stuffed it, but Lethal hit a side kick for a two count. Lethal picked up Styles, and Styles quickly grabbed a back suplex. Styles tossed Lethal to the floor, at the feet of Ric Flair. Flair choked Lethal with his jacket while Styles distracted the referee. Styles went to the floor and chopped Lethal, then tossed him into the ring for a two count. Styles put Lethal in a chinlock, but Lethal elbowed out of it. Styles tried a clothesline, but Lethal hit a handspring elbow as he bounced off the ropes. Styles kept trying to grab a front facelock, but Lethal would slap, punch or elbow Styles every time he went for it. Lethal hit a second rope leg lariat, then hit a second rope moonsault onto a standing Styles for a two count.
Lethal chopped Styles, then hit a dropkick in a corner. Lethal hit the backbreaker/faceplant Lethal Combination for a two count. Lethal went to the apron and tried for a springboard, but Styles caught it and hit a neckbreaker across the knee for a two count. Flair and Hebner argued about the count. Styles went for a discus punch, but Lethal ducked it and hit a back suplex into a neckbreaker for a two count. Lethal let himself get distracted by Flair for a moment, and Styles poked him in the eyes. Styles put Lethal in a figure four leglock, but Lethal made the ropes. Styles kicked at Lethal's leg, then hit a brainbuster for a two count. Styles went for a Styles Clash, but Lethal rolled under it and gave AJ a released Dragon Suplex. Flair pulled Styles towards the ropes to break up the cover.
Lethal grabbed Styles by the legs, and despite Flair's protests, put Styles in a Figure Four leglock. Styles managed to make the ropes. Lethal gave Styles a backbreaker, then went to the top rope but missed the elbow smash. Styles hit the Pele Kick, then went to climb the ropes, but his knee gave out under him, the result of the figure four. Styles tried to jump up to the middle rope, but his knee buckled as he did so. Styles jumped off the middle rope, but Lethal caught him and delivered a Northern Lights suplex for the pin at the 18-minute mark.
Winner: Jay Lethal.
Lethal celebrated with the fans at ringside, giving out a "Whoo!" Flair yelled at Styles for losing, while Styles pointed at his knee. Kazarian came down, and looked to calm down Flair. Styles said "I'm sorry" and was sitting in the corner, as Flair and Kazarian left together.
Sting did an interview, saying he would take the World Title from the "pawn" Rob Van Dam. Sting said 'some want to rule the world, some want to make it a better place, and some just want to watch it burn'. Sting asked who everyone thought he was.
Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy did an interview, trying to come up with a name for their team. They decided on "The Enigmatic A**holes."
Mr. Anderson & Jeff Hardy vs. Beer Money.
Anderson and Roode started out, with the fans chanting "Let's go A**holes." Roode tripped Anderson to the mat and tagged in Storm, who grabbed a front facelock. Anderson reversed into a hammerlock and got away from them. Hardy tagged in, and there was a chant for him. Roode took Hardy down with a armwringer and Beer Money hit a reverse atomic drop/legsweep combo. Roode screamed "This is a real tag team" as Hardy and Anderson conferred. Hardy kicked Storm in the gut and tagged in Anderson. Anderson and Hardy hit a double back elbow, then some of the old Hardy Boys spots. Roode eye raked Anderson and chopped him. Anderson fought back, but Roode held the ropes open as Anderson was bouncing off them, and Anderson fell to the floor.
Roode blasted Anderson and rolled him into the ring, where Storm got a two count. Beer Money made a wish on Anderson, then Roode stomped him and hit a kneedrop for a two count. The fans were spelling out the word "A**hole" in support of Anderson. Anderson rallied with a clothesline on Storm. Hardy tagged in and cleaned house, hitting a gourdbuster on Roode, but Storm broke up the cover. All four men were in the ring, and Storm tossed Anderson to the floor. Roode catapulted Hardy into Storm's DDT, and Roode got a two count. Roode held Hardy , but Anderson pulled Storm out of the ring before he could deliver a superkick. Hardy gave Roode a Twist Of Fate and a Swanton, but Storm pulled the referee out of the ring before the cover. The referee thought Anderson did it, as Storm dropped to the ground after doing it. Anderson was ordered back to his corner. Roode punched Hardy, but Hardy unloaded with a flurry of shots. Roode came in for a double team gutbuster, but Anderson broke up the cover.
Storm gave Hardy an elevated DDT for a two count. Roode tagged in and hit a side backbreaker for a two count. Beer Money hit a double vertical suplex, then did the "Beer... Money" pose. Roode tagged in Storm, then slammed him. Hardy grabbed a small package on Storm, but Roode was distracting the referee. Roode tagged in and clotheslined Hardy. Hardy rallied, but missed a Whisper In The Wind attempt on Roode. Roode picked up Hardy, but Hardy hit a Twist Of Fate. Anderson got the hot tag and cleaned house, including a rolling Samoan Drop on Roode. Storm went to elbow Anderson, but he moved and Storm elbowed Roode. Hardy threw Storm to the floor, then jumped off the back of Anderson and dove into Storm. Anderson went for the Mic Check, but Roode blocked it and hit the spinebuster. Hardy broke up the cover and kicked Roode. Storm ran in and gave Hardy the Eye Of The Storm. Beer Money set up Anderson for the suplex/neckbreaker combo, but Hardy pushed Storm out of the ring. Anderson floated out of Roode's suplex with a Hardy assist, and Anderson, who was bleeding from the eyebrow, hit Roode with the Mic Check for the win at the 14-minute mark.
Winners: Mr. Anderson & Jeff Hardy.
Mr. Anderson's mic came down, and Anderson and Hardy proclaimed each other as the winner. Hardy wished TNA a happy anniversary.
They hyped the main event.
World Champion Rob Van Dam vs. Sting.
The cameras followed both men for their whole entrance, with Sting starting in the bleachers, and Van Dam (who had a singlet painted like Iron Man) starting in the back. Jeremy Borash did the "big match introductions" for the bout. They locked up at the start, with Sting putting Van Dam in a corner and kicking him. They went right to the rampway, then Sting dragged Van Dam to the floor. They went over the guard rail and into the crowd. Sting told the referee "I've got business to take care of" as he tried to whip Van Dam into the wall. Van Dam stopped it, kicked Sting, and threw him into the wall repeatedly. Van Dam punched Sting, who was leaning over the guard rail. Van Dam jumped off the guard rail and legdropped Sting in the back of the head.
Van Dam battered Sting around ringside, then Sting backdropped Van Dam over the rail. Sting threw Van Dam into the wall a few times. They made it back to ringside and exchanged punches, then Sting raked his eyes. We finally made it back into the ring, with Sting stomping RVD. Sting hit a Stinger Splash to RVD's back, then one to the front. Sting scored a two count. Sting put Van Dam in a chinlock, but Van Dam battled up. RVD ducked a clothesline and hit a double leg lariat. RVD hit some punches, then a pair of clotheslines and a superkick.
RVD did his pose, and hit a second rope thrust kick after ducking a Sting clothesline. Van Dam hit a powerslam and a split leg moonsault for a two count. Sting muscled Van Dam into a corner and pounded Van Dam. Somehow Earl Hebner caught a shot in the eye and was stumbling around. Van Dam went to the top rope off a Sting whip and dove into a bodypress, but Sting moved and Van Dam slammed into Hebner. Sting picked up his baseball bat and hit Van Dam in the gut, then the face, then the leg. Hebner was down and didn't see any of this.
Jeff Jarrett walked down to the ring and snatched the bat away from Sting. Jarrett hit Sting in the gut with it, then in the jaw. Jarrett gave RVD a thumb's up, then walked off, keeping the bat with him. RVD hit Sting with a Rolling Thunder backsplash. Hebner crawled over for the count, but Sting got his shoulder up at two. RVD missed a monkey flip attempt in the corner. Sting missed a Stinger Splash, hitting the turnbuckles hard. Van Dam hit a kick to the head and the Five Star Frog Splash for the pin at the 11-minute mark.
Winner: Rob Van Dam.
Rob Van Dam celebrated with the belt as the show ended.
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