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1998 - WCW ran a Thunder taping in Fargo, ND with the following results, courtest of TheHistoryofWWE.com:
WCW Tag Team Champion Scott Hall pinned Konnan with a clothesline and the Outsider's Edge at 6:52; following his entrance, Hall cut an in-ring promo on Kevin Nash and then surveyed the fans to see who came to see the nWo Black & White; after Konnan's entrance, Konnan took the mic to cut a promo on Hall and praised nWo Wolfpack
Horace Boulder defeated Raven (w/ Lodi) via disqualification in a Raven's Rules match at 3:31 when Scotty Riggs, Billy Kidman, and Sick Boy came out and attacked Horace; following Raven's entrance, he took the mic and said Horace's insubordination would not be tolerated and Horace was the reason he lost at Road Wild; after the contest, Perry Saturn ran out to make the save, only for Horace to attack him and Saturn be ganged up on by the Flock; Kanyon soon followed and laid out the Flock before Saturn then attacked Kanyon and Horace as Raven went to the floor; moments later, Raven left ringside with the Flock as Saturn watched on
WCW TV Champion Chris Jericho defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr. via disqualification at around the 10-minute mark when the challenger pulled out a larger Pepe from under the ring and attacked Jericho with it; prior to the bout, Tony Schiavone said he would meet the following day with JJ Dillon to clear up the situation regarding the TV title situation - Stevie Ray holding the belt for Booker T and Jericho then beating Stevie Ray; late in the contest, Jericho took Guerrero's Pepe, left in the corner, and pulled its head off the broom stick, prompting Guerrero to get his second, larger Pepe
Disco Inferno & Alex Wright (w/ Tokyo Magnum) defeated Public Enemy at 3:24 when Wright pinned Johnny Grunge with a neckbreaker after Grunge put Magnum through a table set up in the corner; after the contest, Meng ran out and attacked all the wrestlers before the Barbarian, with Jimmy Hart, appeared; moments later, Meng applied the Tongan Deathlock on Barbarian and attacked a security guard that tried to intervene
Kevin Nash defeated Curt Hennig (w/ Rick Rude) via disqualification at around the 3:30 mark when Rude attacked the referee and distracted Nash long enough for WCW Tag Team Champion Scott Hall to run out and attack Nash from behind; following his entrance, Nash cut an in-ring promo on WCW World Champion Bill Goldberg's actions during Nitro, then adding he had a nWo Black & Red T-shirt waiting for Goldberg whenever he wanted; after the bout, Nash was triple teamed until WCW US Champion Lex Luger ran out to make the save and clear the ring
Stevie Ray pinned Eddie Guerrero with the Slap Jack at 4:05; during the bout, WCW Tag Team Champions the Giant & Scott Hall appeared near the entrance stage to watch Stevie Ray
Bret Hart defeated WCW US Champion Lex Luger to win the title via KO with the Sharpshooter at 9:49, moments after Hart dropped Luger with a DDT onto a steel chair as the referee was knocked down.
Other results from the taping, saw:
-WCW Cruiserweight Champion Juventud Guerrera defeated Psychosis.
-Eddie Guerrero defeated Lizmark Jr.
-Brian Adams defeated Dean Malenko.
-Jim Duggan defeated Barry Darsow.
-Raven defeated Chris Kanyon, Horace Boulder, & Perry Saturn.
-Curt Hennig defeated Steve McMichael via disqualification.
-The Giant defeated Stevie Ray.
-WCW World Champion Bill Goldberg defeated the Giant.
2000 - WCW held their "New Blood Rising" Pay-per-view, which included the start of the ridiculous "Ms. Hancock is pregnant" storyline. That storyline would end with Stacy Keibler (she started using her real name during the angle) giving birth to... well nothing. She just showed up one day, not pregnant, with a baby carriage full of 8x10 pictures of Sean Stasiak, her new charge. No, I didn't make that up either. Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:
WCW's New Blood Rising, 8/13 from the Pacific Northwest Exhibition Center in Vancouver, was a mix of good and bad, essentially balancing out at average. There was a great opener and a strong main event, but all the stuff in between was all over the map, and included some matches and angles that were pretty bad. The crowd heat was mostly okay, as was the commentary. The worked-shoot angle concept got another workout as they did supposed "shoot" incidents with both Goldberg and Miss Hancock. These angles work occasionally but to use them every show negates their effectiveness. People watch wrestling because they want to pretend that it's real. Having a supposedly real incident occur, and explaining it as a real incident, as opposed to the usual fake wrestling incident, undermines people's escapist desires. When I was a kid watching Star Trek I knew it was "fake", but wanted, for an hour at least, to get lost in the sci-fi illusion. I wouldn't have wanted Mr. Spock to get injured during a battle with Klingons, and then for Capt. Kirk to "explain" that the injury is real and it's not in the script like the other fake injuries they've had on the show and in this case the injury is to Leonard Nimoy, not to Mr. Spock. What purpose would that serve?
If there are still people out there who think wrestling is real, leave them alone and let them believe. For the millions who know it's a work, leave us alone and let us suspend disbelief for a few hours a week.
THREE COUNT defeated THE JUNG DRAGONS in a ladder match in 11:30. Great opener! Three Count's gold record and recording contract was hanging from the ceiling and the team to retrieve them would win. Shane Helms started off against Jamie-San. They all ran for the two ladders and brawled their way back to the ring with them. They did some neat spots, including one where all three Dragons were dumped on a ladder in the corner. They started trying to climb and took some great bumps off the ladders. Ying Yang took a neckbreaker off one ladder. Evan Karagias suplexed Kaz Hayashi off another one. Jamie-San did a crazy dive off the ladder from the ring onto Three Count on the floor. Helms and Shannon Moore legdropped a ladder onto Yang. The Dragons began throwing kicks until Karagias slammed Yang on a ladder, which looked very painful. Jamie-San got hit in the face with a ladder on a teeter-totter spot. Kaz and Yang did splashes off the ladder. Jamie-San climbed up and got the record but Tank Abbott took it from him before the ref could see it. The Dragons used a ladder to wallop Tank and Three Count. They all began trying to climb again and took some more bumps. In one instance, Tank caused Moore to bump off as well as Kaz. Finally, Karagias made it up and got the contract and the ref awarded Three Count the win. Tank ran off with both the record and the contract with the commentators acting like he was stealing them for himself.
The Filthy Animals went to Cat's office. He threw them out, but not before cutting a deal where they agreed to help him win his match against Great Muta in return for a tag title shot on Nitro.
CAT beat GREAT MUTA in 6:45. Cat hit Muta with a microphone. It was pretty bad, with Cat just throwing his kicks and Muta trying to use martial arts moves. Tygress came out for the Filthy Animals. Cat choked Muta with a cable. Muta missed a moonsault attempt and then accidentally sprayed the mist on the ref (he was aiming at Cat, who ducked). Tygress hit Muta with a chair but by the time the ref recovered he only scored a two. Scott Hudson said Tygress wasn't just out there for her looks. Actually, she was. Cat hit a bunch of kicks and then simply pinned Muta. I guess this puts him in line for an IWGP Title shot at the Tokyo Dome. Let's see....our guys go to Japan and are treated with respect and have good matches, which are never mentioned over here. Their guys come here and job in gimmick matches which no one over there wants to see.
BUFF BAGWELL defeated KANYON in 6:45. For this match, Judy Bagwell was supposed to be on a pole, but Kanyon said there wasn't a pole big enough to hold her and settled for a forklift to hold the "big fat battleaxe". This was a decent match. They brawled through the crowd at first. Kanyon removed the padding from one of the turnbuckles but, as usual, was the one rammed into the exposed steel. Kanyon scored several twos, including a near fall with a Kanyon Kutter. Out came David Arquette, the former WCW World Champion (nice of them to remind us). They should bring in Eva Save-A-Lot. At least she's a babe. Arquette hit Bagwell with a construction hardhat but Kanyon only got two. Bagwell then lariated both and did a double Buff Blockbuster (that was cool) on both and scored the pin. Buff rescued his mom. Kanyon gave Arquette a Kanyon Kutter for a pop afterward.
Lance Storm arrived like a major VIP in a limo with a huge entourage.
The announcers said that Bill Goldberg had been injured in a motorcycle accident in Sturgis, SD and had not arrived. He was in a minor accident but was in fact in the building at the time.
KRONIC defeated SEAN STASIAK & CHUCK PALUMBO and CAPT. RECTION & CPL. CAJUN and SEAN O'HAIRE & MARK JINDRAK in a four way match to retain the WCW World Tag Titles in 12:20. The Filthy Animals were out there as special refs. Konnan did his usual shoot-style color commentary, Disco Inferno was the in-ring ref, while the other Animals were out-of-ring refs. Rey Mysterio Jr. appears to be growing antlers. Oh wait, those were his devil horns. Disco read all the participants the riot act before the match. This match had some good spots scattered throughout but overall it ran too long and was confusing. Disco kept slow counting every pin. It would have made some sense, given that the Animals get a shot at the winners, for Disco to be biased towards the team they would most like to face and against the team they most fear. But instead, he was biased against every team and slow counted every pin attempt from every team. The out-of-ring Animals kept interfering with no particular goal apparent. O'Haire & Jindrak look to have potential. O'Haire hit his Seanton move, which looks cool. Cajun was good when he was in. The rest weren't all that good when they were in. Kronic cleaned house and had Palumbo up for the High Tide but Vampiro & Muta attacked them. Kronic tossed everyone out and then hit the Meltdown on Palumbo but Disco wouldn't count the pin. Lt. Loco then ran in and slugged Disco and took over as ref, counting the pin when Kronic nailed Palumbo with the High Tide. It made no sense for a member of the Misfits to aid Kronic when there were two Misfits (Rection & Cajun) also in the match. But then, not much made sense in this match.
Jeff Jarrett did a promo and said Booker T had better have eyes in the back of his head.
BILLY KIDMAN beat SHANE DOUGLAS in 8:22 in a strap match. Douglas said Kidman wasn't man enough to handle a gal like Torrie Wilson. He had the nerve to bring up that issue after being the only male under the age of 97 who couldn't be aroused by her? Kidman started off tripping Douglas with the strap. They went to the floor and Douglas got posted. Torrie distracted Kidman and Douglas took control. Douglas whipped Kidman with the strap. Kidman came back with a Frankensteiner. He ripped Douglas' shirt off and strapped him. Kidman scored some twos. Torrie swung at Kidman with her high-heel shoe (Mark Madden said she turned heel, which was funny) but hit Douglas. Kidman only scored a two, so that proves Miss Elizabeth's high-heels were more effective. Douglas dropped Kidman on the ropes, though he actually missed them. Douglas got two with the Pittsburgh Plunge. Douglas then collided with Torrie in a real weak collision and Kidman pinned him with the Kid Krusher. Afterward, Kidman was spanking Torrie's butt with the strap but Douglas saved her and "hung" Kidman from the corner with the strap. Big Vito made the save but then Reno ran in and attacked Vito, with the announcers wondering why.
Booker T arrived driving his own car. I thought the champ got a stretch limo? Anyway, Jarrett assaulted him and slammed the car door three times on his bad knee. It was a good angle.
MAJOR GUNNS beat MISS HANCOCK in 6:41. The rules were that you had to strip your opponent to win, and there was also a mud pit in the back. This actually wasn't as bad wrestling-wise as you'd think. Hancock hit a halfway decent handspring elbow. Madden was putting the match over like crazy. Toyota vs. Shimoda it wasn't, but it was a very small step above the usual catfight. And beauty-wise it was great, with lots of provocative camera shots. Hancock missed a cross body and sold that it hurt her stomach. They fought back to the mud pit, stripping each other more and more. Into the mud they went. Hancock then began clutching her stomach in pain and collapsed, with Gunns pinning her. I thought you won by stripping your opponent? Anyway, Hancock sold it big and the commentators acted like this wasn't "part of the script". David Flair ran out and was all concerned. Gunns was upset, too. Hancock was stretchered out as the commentators began referring to her by her real name (Stacy Keibler). I guess they're going to do a pregnancy angle. If they have to copy the WWF, at least copy good angles and not tasteless angles that flopped.
STING beat DEMON in 0:51. Before the match, Vampiro warned Demon there would be serious consequences if he lost. The commentators brought up the fire angle involving Sting, which is one of those angles they should just pretend never happened. Sting repelled down from the ceiling and squashed Demon with the Scorpion Death Drop is less than a minute. So they had Sting come down from the roof for a mid-card squash. Vampiro & Muta attacked Sting afterward but Demon didn't help his allies, and instead just left. Kronik then came out and rewarded Vampiro & Muta for attacking them earlier by offering them a tag title shot.
The doctor was shown working on Booker's injured knee.
LANCE STORM beat MIKE AWESOME to retain the U.S. Title (which Storm calls the Canadian Title) in 11:22. This was really weird. They've actually done a good job building Storm up. And when he came out and ran down the U.S. in front of the Canadian crowd, he got a great reaction, even though it went on too long. Then, they basically made him look like a loser in front of the whole world, especially his Canadian fans. Storm said that according to WCW's Rule 32-B he has a right to name a special ringside referee and to demand Canadian rules for a match in Canada. Jacques Rougeau was the Canadian ref. The match began and it was fine as far as work goes but then the angles began. Awesome dominated early. Storm hit a missile kick. Awesome slipped doing a rope spot and the fans laughed but he quickly recovered. Storm blocked Awesome from bombing him through a table. Awesome then hit a regular powerbomb and the ref counted three. Actually, Storm got his shoulder up in time but they pretended he didn't. Awesome was declared the winner but Rougeau said that Canadian rules require a five count and overruled the ref. Madden was funny explaining that since Canada uses the metric system, five is about the same as three. So the match continued and Awesome hooked the Dragon Sleeper. Scott Hudson brought up that Ultimo Dragon, inventor of the Dragon Sleeper, had at one time held ten belts at the same time, so someone did their homework. Storm submitted but Rougeau said titles can't change on a submission under Canadian rules. They started again and after some good action, Awesome hit a frog splash and scored a five count, but Rougeau ruled that the man pinned, under Canadian rules, also had a ten count to get back up and if he did, the match would continue. Storm got back up and the match began again. Awesome superplexed Storm through a table and both stayed down. Rougeau announced that when that happens under Canadian rules, they both have a ten count to get up and if one man beats the count, he wins. Both were getting up but Rougeau slugged Awesome so it was Storm who made it up and "won" the match. Talk about a Pyrrhic victory. Afterward, Bret Hart came out to a good pop and hugged Storm.
Kevin Nash cut a promo on Goldberg. Madden said if Goldberg no-shows he owes someone $300, which was a shoot reference to Brad Siegel's ruling that wrestlers will be fined for tardiness or no-shows. The funniest part was that Tony Schiavone didn't know what Madden was talking about.
GREAT MUTA & VAMPIRO defeated KRONIK to capture the WCW World Tag Titles in 9:04. This match was apparently arranged because Kronik didn't want to lose the titles on Nitro to the Filthy Animals, so they dropped them to some bigger guys instead. You know things are out of whack in the locker room when Kronik has creative control. Muta did a couple of moves but otherwise this was real bad. Mostly power moves by Kronik and some low blows from Vampiro. There was no heat, even after Brian Adams did a hot tag to Bryan Clarke. Muta again misted the ref by accident. It was becoming a real mess when the Harris Boys made their return and laid out Kronik. Muta moonsaulted Adams and got the pin as the ref revived.
Booker T did a hot promo and said Jarrett would have to kill him to get the belt off him.
KEVIN NASH won a three-way over BILL GOLDBERG and SCOTT STEINER in 10:46. They played Goldberg's music but he didn't come out, supposedly no showing. The camera focused for a long time on a "Goldberg fears Gillberg" sign in the crowd, which was either a big mistake or an inside joke, and it could be either in WCW. Steiner and Nash brawled to the floor, but after about a minute Goldberg arrived with taped ribs and hit Nash with a chair. Steiner threw Goldberg in the ring but Goldberg sent him right back out. Nash went in and hit Goldberg in his injured ribs. Steiner then nailed Nash and scored some twos. Steiner got on the ref for supposedly not counting fast enough. The match wasn't very good but had okay crowd heat. Nash went to jackknife Goldberg but Goldberg pushed him away with Nash acting like he didn't understand what Goldberg was doing. The shoot-angle then began, with the commentators acting like Goldberg was "supposed" to take the jackknife but wasn't following the script. Goldberg walked out. Vince Russo met him in the aisle and told him to get back in the ring but Goldberg used the "F" word to him and kept on walking. Anyway, Nash and Steiner continued the match with the announcers acting like they were improvising since Goldberg's "shoot" departure had thrown them off script. Good grief! Nash dropped Steiner face-first on the turnbuckle, with Madden selling it huge as the Snake Eyes, which is what that move was called when Nash wrestled years ago as the forgettable Vinnie Vegas character. Madden was a riot throughout this show. There was a lame ref bump. Midajah gave Nash a low blow. He went after her but Steiner made the save. Nash finally won with the jackknife to earn a world title shot. Schiavone said Goldberg had refused to take the jackknife but acted like Steiner had been more agreeable and had carried the match through.
BOOKER T defeated JEFF JARRETT to retain the WCW World Title in 14:29. Schiavone mistakenly introduced this as a tag title match. Jarrett immediately went for Booker's bad knee, which Booker sold big time. They went to the floor and Jarrett got crotched. Booker went for a missile kick but with his bad knee couldn't get the right position and Jarrett deflected it. Jarrett wrapped the knee around the post and hit it with a chair. He hooked the sharpshooter but Booker made the ropes. Booker made a comeback and scored some surprise twos on Jarrett. Booker managed to hit an axe kick but the ref got bumped and Jarrett took the opportunity to bust a guitar on Booker. Jarrett locked on the figure four but Booker again made the ropes. Jarrett tried to hit Booker with the title belt but hit the ref instead. Booker rebounded yet again and put Jarrett through a table from off the ring apron as a substitute ref ran in. Booker could have won by count-out here, as Jarrett was selling it as a killer blow, but he wanted to win straight-up so he tossed Jarrett back in. Jarrett nailed the new ref with a chair and then gave Booker the Stroke on chair, but there was no ref for the count since (duh!) Jarrett had KO'ed him. A third ref arrived. Booker gave Jarrett a really messed up neckbreaker but came back with the Bookend (chokeslam) for the pin. Good main event.
2001 - Jeff Hardy defeats Rob Van Dam in Chicago, Illinois for the WWF Hardcore Title, starting his second reign with the belt.
2006 - TNA broadcast Hard Justice, which became the only PPV in history to feature the live crowd evacuated for a fire and then allowed to return to the venue, while the PPV remained on the air. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
Pre-Show
Jeremy Borash and Christy Hemme hosted the pre-show live from Orlando, Florida. Alex Shelley interrupted them at one point, and said he had some "disparaging news". He informed us that Kevin Nash was injured while working on a "840-degree splash" and couldn't wrestle tonight. Shelley said that he would face Chris Sabin in the X-Division Number One Contender's Match tonight.
Ron Killings vs. A-1
The history between the two men was recapped as they made their entrances. Killings and A-1 exchanged leg kicks at the start, then broke into a dance number. Seriously. The dancing ended with Killings punching A-1 and hitting a headscissors before clotheslining A-1 over the top rope and to the floor. Killings teased a dive, then hit a baseball slide kick. Killings tossed A-1 back into the ring, but A-1 took over by catching a leapfrog attempt and dropping Killings throat first across the top rope. A-1 hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Killings came back with a flying forearm and a faceplant. Killings hit a gourdbuster for a two count, but ran into an A-1 elbow. A-1 got a two count with his feet on the ropes. A-1 went for a suplex, but Killings floated over it, kicked A-1 in the gut, and delivered an ax kick for the pin at the four minute mark.
Winner: Ron Killings
Cassidy Riley & Sonjay Dutt vs. Jimmy Jacobs & El Diablo
Riley & Dutt were attacked as they came to the ring. Riley hit a standing moonsault on Diablo, but when he went for one off the top rope, Diablo got the knees up. Jimmy Jacobs tagged in and hit a top rope flying headbutt on Riley. Diablo and Jacobs worked over Riley, but Riley came back with a powerslam on Jacobs and made the hot tag to Dutt. Dutt hit Diablo with a springboard dropkick and a spinebuster for two when Jacobs broke up the cover. Riley tossed Jacobs out of the ring, and Dutt hit a standing moonsault on Diablo for the pin in about three minutes.
Winner: Cassidy Riley & Sonjay Dutt
The rest of the pre-show was made up of video packages hyping the Falls Count Anywhere three-way, the NWA World Tag Team Title match, and numerous packages chronicling the Sting-Jarrett feud.
TNA Hard Justice Opener:
A video package airs highlighting the concept of "good and bad" showing various TNA stars. The main focus is about Sting's shot at the NWA World Title tonight against Jeff Jarrett.
A graphic opening hits welcoming us to Hard Justice. We then go live to Orlando, FL at the Impact Zone at Universal Studios to see a shot of the crowd. A series of pyro goes off above the ring and in the entrance area.
Johnny Devine vs. Eric Young
They showed a clip of how Jim Cornette added this match last week, and told Young that he better not lose. Young entered from outside the building, leading a group of fans around ringside that were chanting "Don't Fire Eric". Young had his "Don't Fire Eric"shirt on and got a good pop. Devine got on the mic and wondered why Young was sucking up to the fans. Devine said Young always chokes, because he can't handle pressure. Devine said Cornette will fire Young tonight because Young won't win.
Devine poked Young in the eyes to start the match, but Young slid under his legs and poked him right back. Young tried to hug Devine and shake hands, but Devin slapped him and pounded him down in a corner. Devine hit a sitdown splash in the corner on Young for a two count. Devine applied a chinlock, and the fans chanted for Eric, who came back with a crucifix for a two count. Devine decked Young with a right hand, snap mared him and delivered a series of kneedrops to the head. Devine slapped Young, but Young came back with a slap of his own, only to be caught by a springboard DDT on Young.
Suddenly, the whole ring filled with smoke. It turns out, some pyro apparently caused a fire above the ring and there were two fire extinguishers being used to put it out up on the catwalks. The place was filled with the white smoke from the extinguishers. It was like watching wrestling in a fog.
Devine hit a suplex, and the fans chanted "You can't see us". At least they were good sports about it. Young came back with a powerbomb and went to the top rope. Devine tried to meet him up there, but Young shoved him back to the mat and hit a top rope elbow for a two count. Devine swept Young's legs out and tried to use the ropes for a two count. Young hit a sunset flip from the apron for a two count, then hit a neckbreaker variation for the win at the six minute mark.
Winner: Eric Young
The Aftermath:
Earl Hebner, looking disheveled, jumped over the guardrails and attacked referee Slick Johnson. Security pulled him off, with Hebner screaming that he had cost him his job. Larry Zbyszko came out to calm Hebner, and Earl screamed "I'm not taking the fall alone. If I go down, you go down, and so does Jeff!". Zbyszko rushed Hebner off, as Mike Tenay & Don West discussed the card for the rest of the show.
NOTE: Back live, they were still cleaning up from the fire extinguisher residue, and they replaced the ring mat. Don West & Mike Tenay gave credit to the fans for not letting the conditions dampen their enthusiasm or energy. West & Tenay then stretched for a while, discussing the tag match, then they went to a series of video packages on Sting.
Our own Joe Mistretta, live at the building, has informed us that the Fire Department is evacuating the building and have asked all fans to leave. Obviously, this is due to the earlier fire above the ring.
On the PPV broadcast, they temporarily put up a "Technical Difficulties, Please Stand By" graphic, followed by more video packages.
Back live, we were outside with Mike Tenay & Jeremy Borash standing next to a fire truck. They explained that the building had been evacuated by the Fire Department, and that once they were allowed to return to the ring, the show would continue. They showed footage of the fire in the rafters, and the fire extinguishers putting it out. Don West joined them, and announced that the fans were being allowed back into the building.
We saw a lot of shots of firefighters, as West and Tenay stretched for time. Tenay and West put over how well the fans behaved throughout all the problems. They showed a shot of the now-empty arena, and mentioned how fans were being allowed back in now. West pointed out that while some changes in the card would take place, he stressed that the title bouts and the Falls Count Anywhere match will take place tonight.
Eric Young came up to West and Tenay and said that Jim Cornette needed to know that the fire wasn't his fault. Young left, then Monty Brown showed up and cut a promo about "blazing" everyone tonight. Brown ripped on Samoa Joe and Rhino. Brown just kept stretching and stretching, with Tenay throwing in comments and questions to keep the promo going. They showed footage of fans filing back into the building.
Shane Douglas and the Naturals showed up with Tenay & West, and said that adversity and opposition like this is what makes champions. Douglas told the Naturals that tonight they had the chance to "rise up" to the challenge before them. The Naturals said they were ready.
They went backstage, where Jeremy Borash interviewed Alex Shelley. Shelley had a "Kev" armband, and said that Kevin Nash would be risking paralysis if he wrestled tonight. Johnny Devine wheeled in Kevin Nash in a wheelchair, wearing a neckbrace. A somber Nash said it was the darkest day of his life. Nash took off his dog tags and gave them to Shelley, and told him to "go to war".
Chris Sabin vs. Alex Shelley, winner to receive an X-Division Title match
Nash was wheeled to ringside for the match. Shelley and Sabin exchanged some holds to start. There were audio problems, as the commentary faded in and out. They traded armdrags and counters, with neither man gaining an advantage. Devine handed Shelley a water bottle for a drink. Shelley rammed Sabin into a corner, then ran into a Sabin boot. Sabin was backdropped to the ring apron, but he came back with a springboard dropkick for a two count. Sabin hit a kick to the back and a running enzugiri for a two count. Sabin set up for a powerbomb, and mocked Nash, but then dropkicked Shelley instead. Sabin mocked Nash for having a neck injury.
Shelley flipped over a Sabin back suplex attempt, but was hit by a forearm. Shelley grabbed a bulldog and hit a moonsault for a two count. Sabin hit a jawbreaker, but Shelley tripped him. Sabin hiptossed Shelley to the floor, then hit him with a tope, landing at the feet of Nash. Back in the ring, Sabin used a testicular claw and a dropkick on Shelley, but couldn't put him away. Sabin hit a running high kick in the corner, but Shelley came back with an armbar/crossface combo. Sabin made the ropes to force a break. Shelley slammed Sabin and went to the top rope, but Sabin crotched him and hung him in the Tree of Woe. Sabin hit a dropkick, then pulled Shelley off the ropes into a DDT for a two count. Sabin put Shelley on the top rope, but Shelley bit his head to break free. Shelley got behind Sabin and hit a backcracker. Shelley hit an Air Raid Crash while Devine distracted the referee. The referee then came over and made a two count. Devine then distracted the referee again (obviously, Devine had done it too soon the first time) and Nash slid a chair to Shelley. Shelley went to use it, but Sabin avoided it and gave Shelley the Cradle Shock for the win at the eight minute mark.
Winner: Chris Sabin
Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed Jim Mitchell & Abyss. Mitchell said Brother Runt should have listened to his brothers and stayed out of trouble. Mitchell said he has heard rumors that Runt has been listening to Raven, and that Raven has convinced him that he has a chance against Abyss.
A video package on Abyss vs. Brother Runt was shown.
Abyss vs. Brother Runt
Runt is now sporting a Mohawk and a tie-dye shirt. Runt slapped Abyss at the bell, ducked a clothesline and hit a series of forearms. Abyss blocked a whip and went for a press slam, but Runt floated over and hit two headbutts to the gut. Runt went for a bodyblock, and bounced off of Abyss. Abyss press slammed Runt out of the ring and into the crowd. The fans caught him.
The fight continued on the outside, with Runt hitting an Acid Drop off the ring steps onto the guardrail and a top rope dive onto a standing Abyss on the floor. Raven was watching from an entranceway. Runt went for some chairs, throwing one in the ring. Referee Slick Johnson forced him to throw away the other chair he had, while Abyss wedged the first one in a corner. When the action continued, Abyss threw Runt head first into the wedged chair. Abyss hit some forearms to the back, then hit an avalanche. Abyss put Runt up on the turnbuckles, in the same corner where he had hung his chain earlier. Runt grabbed the chain and hit Abyss with it, then delivered a double stomp off the top rope for a two count.
Abyss grabbed Runt by the throat, but Runt kicked him low and hit an Acid Drop. Abyss kicked out. Abyss went to charge Runt, and collided with the referee, knocking him down. Abyss gave Runt the backbreaker drop, laying him out. Mitchell tossed Abyss a bag, and Abyss spread thumbtacks across the mat. Abyss rubbed Runt's head into the tumbtacks, then stomped him in the back of the head. Runt screamed and hulked up, then started headbutting Abyss. Runt charged Abyss, and Abyss gave him a press slam, dropping him gut first into the tacks. Abyss gave Runt a Black Hole Slam into the tacks. Abyss covered Runt, and after a few seconds, the referee crawled back in to make the three count at the seven minute mark.
Winner: Abyss
Raven stared at Abyss, and did his crucifix pose. The showed some replays, then went back live where Runt walked out of the ring under his own power.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Rhino. Rhino said when everyone went crazy earlier, he wasn't one of them because he is already crazy. He said he didn't come to see a building burn down, he came there to destroy a building. He promised to take out Samoa Joe and Rhino in their Falls Count Anywhere match.
A video package on the Three Way Falls Count Anywhere match was shown.
Falls Count Anywhere
Rhino vs. Samoa Joe vs. Monty Brown
Rhino came out first, then Brown, who stayed on the floor. Joe rushed the ring when he came out and started brawling with Rhino, then Brown joined in. Rhino threw Brown to the floor, and then gave him a pescado. Joe then dove out with a tope on Rhino. Joe and Rhino brawled at ringside. Brown hit both men with a trash can. Joe got control of the can and kicked it in Brown's face. Joe sat Brown in a chair at ringside and hit the Ole kick. Rhino exploded with punches on Joe and threw him over the railing. Rhino hit Joe with a cookie tray, then took a kendo stick and followed Joe into the crowd. Rhino hit Joe with the stick and choked him with it. Joe got control of it and hit Rhino with it. Joe then gave Rhino a running kick, ramming Rhino's head into a wall, cracking it. The fans chanted "Holy S***".
Monty Brown, from the floor, dove over the guardrail onto both men and got a two count on Joe. Rhino rammed Joe and Brown into a wall. Rhino charged Joe, but Joe sidestepped him and rammed him into the rapidly breaking down wooden wall. Brown ripped off a section of the wall and hit Joe with it. Brown went after Rhino, and Joe hit him with the wall. Rhino poked Brown in the eyes and dragged him into the bleachers. Brown and Rhino fought amongst the fans, but Joe showed up with a metal crutch and beat Brown down with it. Rhino poked Joe in the eyes, but Joe came back with a chairshot to the back. Brown ambushed Joe inthe bleachers and set up for a powerbomb, but Joe hit a lowblow and a savate kick on Brown. Joe headbutted Rhino and hit him with an umbrella as they made their way to the ramp.
Rhino hit Joe with a trashcan lid. Brown threw a chair from the crowd and hit Rhino. Rhino hit Brown with a trashcan lid and suplexed him on the ramp. Rhino fought Joe on the stage and gave him a belly to belly suplex. Rhino went for a gore on Joe, but Joe kicked him. Brown gave Rhino a double underhook suplex on the stage for a two count. Brown dropkicked a charging Joe on the ramp for a two count. Rhino hit Brown with a trashcan lid and the fight went back to the ring with Brown and Rhino going at it. Brown hit a clothesline and went for a cover, but Joe came in and hit Brown with a trashcan lid. Joe gave Brown a reverse atomic drop, a running kick, and a backsplash with a trashcan lid. Brown rolled out of the ring. Rhino hit Joe with a chair to the gut, and gave him a spinebuster on the chair for a two count. Rhino put Joe on the top turnbuckle for a suplexplex onto a chair. Joe fought it, and gave Rhino a sunset flip powerbomb off the ropes onto the chair for a two count. Brown tripped Joe from the floor and yanked him outside. Brown rammed Joe into the announcers table and hit him with a trash can.
Brown went under the ring and pulled out a table, which he set up next to the ramp. Joe hit Brown with a tray, but Brown hit some knees to the gut. Brown went for a suplex off the ramp through the table, but Joe blocked it and hit some chops. Joe dragged Brown to the stage, and they exchanged shots. Brown gave Joe a neckbreaker on the stage. Brown set up for the pounce, but Rhino ran up and hit both men with repeated trashcan lid shots. Rhino propped two tables against the side of the bleachers, a few feet away from the stage. Rhino went up to Gore Brown off the stage into the propped up tables, but Brown moved and Rhino went off the stage and headfirst through the tables. Brown, realizing Rhino was out, went to go down the ramp, but Joe grabbed him, and delivered an STO off the ramp and through the table that Brown had set up earlier. Joe pinned Brown in the table wreckage for the win at the fifteen minute mark.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Joe grabbed the mic and said he didn't care if the building burned down, he was there for a fight, and he got one. Joe said they could do it again as he walked off triumphant.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash and referee Slick Johnson were questioning Larry Zbyszko about what Earl Hebner was doing here earlier, bringing up their past association together. Zbyszko said he had removed Hebner from the building. Zbyszko got flustered at all the questions, and said he would call Jim Cornette and try to get Slick Johnson fired.
Gail Kim vs. Sirelda
Kim attacked Sirelda with a jumping knee as she entered the ring, but Sirelda quickly tossed Kim in a corner and hit a clothesline. Sirelda dropped Kim with a press slam and dropped an elbow for a two count. There was a "She's A Man" chant. Kim battled back and yanked Sirelda throat first across the top rope. It took Sirelda a second to remember to sell it. Kim shook her rear end at the crowd. Kim hit a kneedrop for a two count, then choked Sirelda against the middle rope. Kim kicked her in the gut, then yanked her to the mat by her hair. Kim hit Sirelda with some punches. Sirelda battled back with some shots, but Kim put her in a Tarantula. Kim went to the top rope, but missed. Sirelda hit some clotheslines and a powerslam for a two count. Kim tried a leapfrog, but Sirelda caught her and went for a powerslam, but Kim floated into a sleeper type move. Sirelda backed into a corner, and Kim got onto the second rope, then jumped off in a variation of the Blockbuster for the pin at the five minute mark.
Winner: Gail Kim
During this match, it was announced that the Four Way Tag Team match would not be taking place tonight due to the earlier fire.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Scott Steiner. Steiner said he and Jeff Jarrett thought Sting would pick someone to watch his back from his past like Ultimate Warrior, Lex Luger or Goldberg. Instead, he picked Christian, who Steiner said doesn't understand him. Steiner said he is from a place of higher education, and he already dumbs down his language for the fans. Scott Steiner noted that "Canadian White Trash" is lower than "American White Trash" and wondered how Christian felt being the "lowest form of homosapien in the world".
A video package on the X-Division Title match was shown.
X-Division Championship
Senshi vs. Jay Lethal vs. Petey Williams
Williams has new ring gear, no longer wearing his Team Canada stuff. All three men exchanged punches, chops and forearms at the start. Lethal hit Williams with a leg lariat. Senshi threw Lethal to the floor. Williams hit Senshi with a spinkick, then gave Lethal a slingshot rana on the floor. Senshi gave Williams and Lethal a Space Flying Tiger Drop. Lethal battled back on the floor, throwing Senshi in, but getting legdropped across the chest on the ring apron when trying to powerbomb Williams. Senshi kicked Williams back to the floor and squared off with Lethal in the ring. Senshi hit a running elbow on Lethal.
Williams ran back in, but Senshi caught him with a rolling kick. Senshi charged Williams, but Williams dropkicked his leg out from under him. Lethal went for a moonsault on Williams, but Williams moved and hit a suplex, then applied a modified camel clutch on Lethal. Senshi broke it up with three kicks to the chest. Lethal went after Senshi, but he caught him with a flapjack into a double kick in the chest. Lethal dodged a senshi suplex, but ran into a boot by Williams. Senshi chopped Lethal, then invited Williams to do it. Williams chopped Lethal and hung him in a Three Of Woe. Williams stood on Lethal's groin and sang "Oh Canada". When he got down, Senshi chopped him.
Senshi caught Williams with a kick to the gut, then one to the back of the head. Senshi went to the top rope, but Lethal stopped him. Lethal set up for a superplex, but Senshi stopped it. Senshi dove at Williams, but missed. Williams went for a suplex, but Senshi kneed out of it. Lethal came off the top rope, dropkicking both opponents. Lethal battled both opponents, hitting chops and elbows. Lethal hiptossed Senshi, slammed Williams, and dropkicked both men. Lethal hit Williams with a kick off the middle rope, then gave Senshi a bridging vertical suplex for a two count. Williams came back with a Russian legsweep on Lethal, then set up for the Canadian Destroyer. Lethal reversed out of it and hit a German suplex for a two count. Lethal chopped Senshi, then we went into a long segment of everyone grabbing rollups and small packages for two counts.
Senshi double stomped Williams for a two count, but Lethal broke it up and suplexed Senshi. Williams grabbed Lethal and applied a Sharpshooter. Senshi went for a Shining Wizard, Williams ducked, and Senshi caught him with a back kick instead. Senshi did the Kobashi Chops in the corner on Lethal, but Lethal sidestepped a charge and hit a released Dragon suplex. Williams broke up the cover. Lethal gave Williams a buzzsaw kick and went to the top rope. Lethal missed the diving headbutt, and Williams gave Lethal the Canadian Destroyer. Senshi dropkicked Williams, and covered Lethal for the pin at the eleven minute mark.
Winner: Senshi
Williams, angry over Senshi getting the pin, argued with the champion as he left.
Backstage, LAX cut a promo (well actually, Konnan did all the talking) about Daniels & Styles being hand picked champions and being "afforded luxuries" that they weren't. Konnan said this was a revolution, and can't be stopped. Tonight, he said they would take what they want. A video package on the tag title match was then shown.
NWA World Tag Team Championship
Christopher Daniels & AJ Styles vs. LAX (Homicide & Hernandez, with Konnan)
Moody Jack Melendez did the introductions for LAX. Daniels started off with Hernandez, with Hernandez shoving Daniels to the mat repeatedly. Daniels tried a headlock, but Hernandez shoved him off and hit a shoulderblock. Hernandez slammed Daniels and went for a vertical suplex. Daniels floated out and dropkicked his leg, then hit a headscissors and a leg lariat, knocking him to the floor. Daniels spat at Homicide on the apron. Styles and Homicide tagged in. They wrestled on the mat, then Homicide went for some punches and Styles armdragged him. The two men then exchanged punches, with Styles getting the better of it. Styles leapfrogged Homicide, but Homicide came back with a rana.
Styles did an off the mat rana, and Homicide rolled to the floor. Styles gave Hernandez a rana, and Daniels went for a top rope rana on him, but it fell apart and Hernandez rolled to the floor. Styles and Daniels gave Homicide a back suplex/clothesline combo. There was a "Let's Go Gringos" chant. Daniels and Styles gave Homicide a double powerbomb, then Styles dropped a knee on him for a two count. Homicide yanked Styles to the apron by the trunks and gave him a neckbreaker between the ropes for a two count.
Hernandez tagged in and whipped Homicide into a clothesline on Styles. Hernandez followed with an avalanche for a two count, then applied a head vice. Styles battled back, but missed a kick and Hernandez hit a released overhead suplex. Homicide tagged in and put Styles in a reverse chinlock. Styles went to the ring apron and got a break from the hold, but Hernandez grabbed his leg, allowing Homicide to shove Styles off hte apron and to the floor. Homicide hit a tope con hilo through the ropes on Styles. Konnan and Homicide stomped Styles while Hernandez distracted the referee. Homicide rolled Styles in for a two count, then tagged in Hernandez, who put Styles back in the head vice. Homicide tagged in and went for a suplex, but Styles reversed it and hung Homicide on the top rope.
Hernandez tagged in, but Styles kicked him and made the hot tag to Daniels. Daniels cleaned house on both opponents, then slammed Homicide and hit a springboard moonsault for a two count. Hernandez grabbed Daniels from behind, but Daniels drove him throat first into the top rope, then hit a springboard moonsault onto Homicide on the floor. As he got on the apron, Hernandez shoulderblocked him to the floor. Hernandez then dove over the top rope onto Homicide and Daniels, hitting his own partner as much as he did Daniels. AJ Styles then hit a springboard Shooting Star Press onto all three men on the floor. The fans chanted "This is awesome".
Back in the ring, Styles gave Homicide a face plant for a two count. Daniels & Styles hit the Rockerplex on Homicide for two, but Hernandez broke it up. Styles was tossed out of the ring, and LAX hit the Steiner Bulldog on Daniels. Styles broke up the cover. All four men were in the ring. Styles went for a superplex on Homicide, but Hernandez got under Styles and powerbombed him to the mat as the superplex was taking place. Hernandez gave Daniels the overhead throat throw. Styles gave Hernandez the moonsault into a DDT. Homicide gave Styles a stunner. Daniels gave Homicide a spinning Powerbomb. Styles gave Hernandez a Pepe kick, and Daniels kneed him out of the ring. Homicide knocked Styles to the apron. Daniels powerbombed Homicide. Styles went to the top rope, but Konnan hit him with a low blow. Daniels went after Konnan, and Hernandez hit him from behind. Homicide and Hernandez set up Daniels and Styles for their finishers, but they were both countered and Homicide was thrown to the floor. Daniels and Styles hit Hernandez with a legsweep/clothesline combination for the pin at the fifteen minute mark.
Winners: AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels
Homicide ran back in the ring with a bottle, but Styles and Daniels had already exited the ring.
Backstage, Christian speculated that Jeff Jarrett tried to set the building on fire to avoid having to defend the title against Sting. Christian then made fun of Scott Steiner, saying if Steiner wants to impress him, he should try winning a fight. Christian said he was going to ensure that Sting wins the World Title, saying he deserves it for all that he has done for the business. Christian said Jeff Jarrett was a cancer, and that he is in wrestling for selfish reasons, while he and Sting are in it for the future of TNA. Christian said it was "Showtime".
A video package on the main event was shown.
NWA World Championship
Jeff Jarrett, with Scott Steiner, vs. Sting, with Christian Cage
They had three referees in the ring to keep the men apart while the ring introductions took place. There was a "Steroids" chant. Sting yelled to the crowd before locking up with Jarrett. Sting hit a shoulderblock and went for a Scorpion right away. Jarrett scurried away. Jarrett slapped Sting, and Sting shoved him down and went for the Scorpion again. Jarrett made the ropes and crawled to the floor. Sting went after him and tossed him over the announcers table. Sting grabbed a fan (as he pointed out to the announcers, an electrical one, not a wrestling fan) and hit Jarrett with it. Sting took Jarrett into the crowd and rammed him into a wall. Sting punched Jarrett around the building and up the bleachers. Sting crotched Jarrett on a railing and dragged him all the way to the top of the bleachers, then punched him back down it.
Sting rammed Jarrett into another wall, then took him back to ringside. Throughout all this, Steiner and Christian followed them, but never got physically involved. Sting tossed Jarrett back into the ring. Sting went to the top rope, and Steiner hit him in the leg with a chair. The referee was trying to get Christian back in his corner at the time. Christian rushed Steiner on the floor, but Steiner gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex on the floor, then did some pushups. In the ring, Jarrett kicked Sting's leg out and stomped it, then dropped all his weight on it twice. Jarrett rammed Sting's knee into the mat, then dropped some elbows on it. Jarrett applied the figure four leglock. Jarrett slapped Sting while in the hold, and Sting hulked up and reversed the hold.
Both men got up, and Sting was limping. Sting blocked some Jarrett punches and hit some of his own. Sting hit a pair of clotheslines, but missed a Stinger Splash. Jarrett went for the Stroke, but Sting reversed it into a Scorpion Death Drop. Steiner pulled the referee from the ring. Christian attacked Steiner, raking his eyes. Christian grabbed a chair, but the referee stopped him from using it. Meanwhile, in the ring, Jarrett hit Sting with a low blow. The referee was trying to get Christian back to his corner, so Scott Steiner tossed in the title belt. Jarrett went to use it, but missed, and Christian tripped him. The referee was now arguing with Steiner. Sting hit Jarrett with the belt and went for a cover, but Steiner kept the referee from getting back in the ring. When the referee did get back in, Jarrett got his foot on the ropes to break up the cover. Steiner hit Sting with a chair from ringside, but Sting fell forward and headbutted Jarrett in the groin. Christian came into the ring and hit Jarrett with a chair. The referee caught Christian with a chair, and ordered him to leave ringside. The referee then ordered Scott Steiner, who had gotten into the ring at this point, to leave ringside. This segment took a long time. The fans sang "Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye".
Jarrett put Sting in a Scorpion Deathlock. Sting powered out of it, hulked up, and put Jarrett in a Scorpion. Jarrett made the ropes, and we had a ref bump. Scott Steiner came back in, carrying Jarrett's guitar. Steiner held Sting, and Jarrett went to the top rope with the guitar. Christian ran in with a baseball bat and attacked Steiner and Jarrett. Christian knocked Steiner out of the ring. Sting gave Jarrett a back suplex. Christian picked up the guitar. Sting went to the top rope, with Christian encouraging him to do so.... while holding the guitar. Sting dove off the top rope, and Christian hit him in the head with the guitar. Jarrett covered Sting for the pin at the fifteen minute mark, while Christian smirked on the rampway.
Winner: Jeff Jarrett
Jarrett looked dumbfounded first, then smiled and celebrated with Steiner in the ring, while Christian slowly walked out, smirking. Mike Tenay noted that Christian has screwed Sting out of the NWA World Title as the show ended.
2007 - WWE taped Monday Night Raw and Saturday Night's Main Event at Madison Square Garden. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Dark Match:
D'Lo Brown defeated Ryan O'Reilly.
Raw (yes, Raw is being taped first):
Wrestlers are surrounding the ring, and Vince McMahon comes out. Vince McMahon says he was shocked last week and said he doesn't remember who this woman was or what she looked like. He says that he won't be intimidated. Crowd chants "Who's Your Daddy". He says he takes solace that all the WWE superstars are supportive of him as are his family. He asks for the fans' support and they booed. He demands they support him in his time of need.
Stephanie comes out and says she's glad nothing bothers him, and she would have said what she's supposed to say in private, but last week he accused her of being duplicitous. She went to the plaintiff's lawyer today and found out the illegitimate child is standing around the ring right now. She tells him his bastard is a WWE Superstar and leaves the ring.
Vince looks around the ring dumbfounded then walks out. As he leaves he stops and stares in Ken Kennedy's face. Big pop. He then stares at Mark Henry before finally exiting.
They air a video feature on Lashley's surgery.
Sandman vs. Ken Kennedy. Kennedy mocked the crowd and bragged about taking out their hero Lashley on the mic. Crowd chanted "Let's go Sandman". Kennedy hits a facewash then his rolling Samoan Drop for the clean pin.
Backstage, Vince is upset that his child is someone on the roster. Jonathan Coachman suggests they go through the roster and all their ages. He asks what age Vince was sexually active at. It turns out to be 12. Coach says that means it could be anyone. Behind them, Ric Flair "woooos" at them.
Randy Orton video feature.
Later tonight...William Regal's WWE Idol.
Backstage, Regal dressed as Simon from Idol. Michael Cole and JBL are dressed as Hall and Oates and sing "Private Eyes" ...badly.
Maria and Ron Simmons show up. Regal says Maria will be a judge and next week she and Ron go on their date. Santino shows up and says tonight he will sing a song so romantic Maria won't go out with Simmons. He leaves and Maria follows. JBL and Cole start singing "Rich Girl" and Simmons stares at them. JBL tells him that the 80's are retro and that's back in.
Simmons stares at them and says....Wham!
Cryme Time come out and are over like crazy because they are from Brooklyn. They say tonight they are going to sell Lillian's Garcia's seat. They start the bidding and come up to rapper Bow Wow in the crowd. They eventually sell the seat for $1000 to a fan.
Cryme Time vs. Cade and Murdoch. Cade and Murdoch by DQ. They hit the high low on Shad, then JTG nails Trevor over the back with a chair (the one they sold to a fan earlier) while making the cover.
HHH return video.
After a clip of Snitsky squashing one Highlander last week, it's Snitsky vs. the other Highlander. Snitsky wins in 30 seconds.
Backstage, Vince is trying to go over all of his past experiences. Coachman says to give him the list of his past indiscretions and Coach can have an answer by SNME. Cody Rhodes shows up. He says not to worry because he knows who his father is. He says he has something Vince needs more than him. It's a condom. Vince tells Coach to remind him to sue Trojan. Vince wonders who it could be. Boogeyman comes up from behind singing "Cat's in the Cradle". Coach says "He does have your eyes"
WWE Idol. Todd Grisham is host. Judges are Regal, Maria and Mick Foley. Big pop for Mick. Maria judged Grisham's intro of her.
First contestant is Jillian Hall. She sings a screeching version of "Memory" from Cats with WWE-specific lyrics.
Second is Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff with Howard Finkel. Finkel asks everyone to rise for the Russian National Anthem. He sings.
The third was Lillian Garcia, who sang "New York, New York". She was stopped by Santino Marella. He says Lillian's outfit makes him think Times Square is missing a prostitute. He sings "That's Amore" to Maria. Foley says the singing is almost as painful as watching him wrestle. Marella tells Maria they are going to Little Italy now. She refuses because she's a judge and he demands she goes now. Ron Simmons comes out and Marella tells him "what are you going to do, rhyme like Sesame Street"? He calls Ron "Cookie Monster". Simmons lays out Marella. Regal says that's music to his ears and declares Ron the winner.
Cody Rhodes vs. Charlie Haas. Crowd is down for this. Lots of boring chants. Haas on offense a lot early. Haas gets a 2 count reversing a flying bodypress. Cody gets the pin with a small package.
Coronation segment. King Booker and Sharmell come out. Sharmell says the true King will be crowned tonight. Booker thanks all his loyal subjects and says that in the history of Kings, there has never been one so majestic and loved. He says last week he proved that King Booker is the one true King. He demands Jerome Lawler to humble himself and place the crown upon his head. Lawler picks up the crown. He doesn't want to do it and Booker demands he do it now, losing the accent in the process. Crowd chants for HHH.
Lawler says Booker claims to be the only King but that's not true. He says that before he got in the ring he was given a note and Booker will have a match at Summerslam against "this man." They play HHH's music but he doesn't come out. An enraged Booker attacks Lawler and begins screaming and ranting at Jim Ross. Crowd was deflated with no HHH appearance. Crowd chants "Booker sucks". Lawler is walked out by officials.
Randy Orton comes out and says Cena is one of the longest reigning champion in almost 2 decades but that will end in two weeks. Orton says he ends careers and Cena is going to get a small glimpse of what will happen to him at Summerslam. Orton says he's going to be the hero to those who hate Cena whether they like it or not. Orton says he's going to be the worst nightmare for Cena's fans and that nothing can stop him from becoming WWE champion.
Main Event: John Cena & Umaga vs. Randy Orton & Carlito. Cena and Umaga win. Cena played Ricky Morton. Umaga got the hot tag and the place went nuts for his offense. Cena pinned Carlito with the FU. Really really strong match live. Crowd was 50/50 love-hate for Cena.
Backstage, Vince McMahon says he's so glad tonight is over. Coachman asks Vince if he's given him the complete listing of all his discretions. Vince starts telling a story about being with two flight attendants when Linda McMahon shows up behind them. He tries to explain but she insults him and walks off. Raw ends.
SNME opens with Vince backstage with Coach. Coach says with all the info he was given he will match up the dates and locations of Vince's trysts to the Superstars. Vince says he forgot about one with a black woman in Kansas City in the 70's. Coachman says he's adopted and from Kansas City. Vince stares at him and says it's going to be a long night.
It's announced that MVP has pulled out of his boxing match. It's Matt Hardy vs. Evander Holyfield.
Batista and Kane vs. Finlay and Great Khali. The announcers are JBL, Michael Cole and Jim Ross. Kane's ribs are taped Batista hits the Batista bomb on Finlay for pin.
Cena vs. Carlito later, billed as the Big Apple Showdown.
Backstage, MVP says the doctor won't let him box so he got the next best thing. Evander Holyfield asks him how his ticker is. MVP says he was scared for a minute but he's better than anyone else so he's already bounced back. He pals around with Holyfield.
John Cena vs. Carlito. The crowd chanted "Let's go Mets/Let's go Yankees".. Cena wins via submission with the STFU. Randy Orton attacked him immediately and threw him outside, then into the stairs. Crowd chanted "Randy." Orton got a chair from under the ring. He hit an RKO on the floor into the chair on Cena. Cena sold it like he was dead. Crowd chanted for Orton while women chanted "sucks" in response. The Match was whatever. The Angle was very good. They showed a young boy looking sad over Cena but once he realized the camera was on him, he started mugging for it. Cena took a long time leaving, holding his jaw.
Michael Buffer comes out for the boxing match. Divas are the ring girls.
Backstage, Todd Grisham asks Orton what he was doing. Orton said he sent a loud and clear message to Cena as to what he's going to get at Summerslam. He promises to win the title.
Hardy has 2 cornermen with him. MVP comes out with an entourage, including former ECW personality Lou E. Dangerously. Evander has his own Titantron video. MVP makes Buffer introduce him first, right down to "straight up ballin'" The crowd did the "What" chant during the referee's instructions!
Hardy is wearing a boxing helmet..Holyield isn't. MVP keeps getting on the apron to give him instructions. Holyfield knocks Hardy down in round one. End of round
MVP argues with Holyfield's trainer between rounds. Round two starts and Hardy's acting half out of it. Holyfield tells the ref to check him. MVP gets in the ring and tells him to keep beating up Hardy. Holyfield turns his back and MVP grabs him. Holyfield knocks out MVP. The ref rings the bell. Holyfield left immediately. Hardy left. MVP was left on the mat being checked on by his entourage. No announced decision.
CM Punk & Boogeyman vs. John Morrison & Big Daddy V. Tazz joined the announcers for the match. Punk got a big reaction. Good when Punk and Morrison were in. Punk surprised Morrison with a small package for another clean win.
Vince McMahon comes to the ring with Jonathan Coachman. Coach gives a long monologue about Vince who cuts him off and tells him to get on with it. Coachman says he's going to help Vince with the child. He says Vince once had a tryst in Kentucky so he is certain this could be his child...and out comes Eugene.
Eugene says that he became a wrestling fan because his Mom told him she met Vince. He says his Uncle Eric told him he nailed his Mom and that's why he tried to put Vince out of business. He tells Vince, "I love you Dad". Vince said he used protection and tells Eugene to get out of the ring.
Coachman then tells of a story of Vince in a Port Authority bathroom so his son could be...Balls Mahoney. Vince says Balls is not his son. Mahoney tells him to think about it and to embrace it He says Vince has balls. Vince says "I have no balls". The crowd chants "Vince has no balls". He yells at Balls to leave.
Coachman tells Vince of the Wrestlemania 2 afterparty in LA and that this person could be his daughter. Out comes Melina. Vince says that Melina isn't her daughter and cannot be. Coachman asks why not and Vince whispers something. Coach says that's disgusting. Vince tells Melina that the meeting that they had on July 4th was totally harmless. She says that Vince better hope so because if she's his daughter, she will take him for everything she owns. She walks out.
Vince demands to know who his child is. Long dramatic pause. Glass breaks and out comes Steve Austin.
Austin says Vince could be his dad and Vince says there's no chance in hell. Austin says they missed out on so many good things in life...playing catch, water skiing, building a go-cart, the birds and the bees, drinking beer. Crowd is going "what, what, what".
Austin says it would be easy to stun Vince but the big problem is Vince's "overactive grapefruits" so he wants to help him out. He kicks Vince low and low blows him. Austin stuns Coachman and has a beer bash.
After they go off the air, Austin asks the crowd if they want to see him drink a beer with Vince. He says it is his first time in the Garden in years. Vince takes it and Austin hits the stunner. Austin does a long celebration. He gives Jim Ross a beer and takes his cowboy hat.
Vince and Coach get up. Austin says the only way he's not going to kick their ass is if they sing, Vince asks Coach if he can sing harmony. They badly sing "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". Austin knocked their heads together. He helps Coach up then hits another stunner.
2008 - NCSoft issued the following press release late yesterday:
American Gladiator And Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling Star Matt Morgan to Send DNA to Space
NCsoft’s Operation Immortality and world-renowned pro wrestler team up to send genetic fingerprint to International Space Station
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 13, 2008—Matt Morgan, known as “Beast” on television’s American Gladiators and a professional wrestling star for Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling, has signed on to have his DNA sequenced and digitized and sent to the International Space Station (ISS) with gaming legend Richard Garriott in October. Garriott will take DNA samples from select individuals on the “Immortality Drive,” a storage device that he’ll leave on the ISS as part of NCsoft’s® Operation Immortality™ and Garriott’s latest game, Tabula Rasa®.
Morgan, who stands seven feet tall and weighs 320 pounds, has been described as “the most genetically-jacked, athletically stacked giant in the world.” Early in his career and still today, Matt Morgan was given the name of “The Blue Print.” He earned this name because some believe that Morgan is not just considered the “Blue Print” for how big men will be portrayed in wrestling in the future, but also because he is a “Blue Print” for the paradigm of human genetics and physical potential.
“I think the concept of Operation Immortality is incredibly exciting,” said Morgan. “I’ve done a lot of interesting things in my life, but this certainly ranks up there as the most unique. I’m honored to be included on the Immortality Drive and look forward to being part of Richard Garriott’s fascinating trip to the ISS.”
“The Immortality Drive wouldn’t be complete without the DNA from a human physical specimen and who better to fit that bill than The Blue Print himself, Matt Morgan,” said Garriott. “I’m thrilled that Matt is on board and that an American Gladiator will be making the trip with me to space.”
In addition to DNA samples, people can visit the OperationImmortality.com website and provide other materials that will be included on the Immortality Drive. Visitors can participate in weekly polls on humanity’s greatest achievements, which will be included on the drive. Current Tabula Rasa players, or those who download and play the free trial, will also be able to enter a personal message for inclusion on the Drive. All Tabula Rasa players will have their character information included. And there are weekly drawings on the site for a limited number of participants to have their own DNA included on the drive.
No purchase is necessary to participate in Operation Immortality, with free trials of Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa available at http://www.rgtr.com/trial. The game is currently available at most major retailers and at the PlayNC® store. The retail box includes the first month of online game play. After the first month, players will be charged a monthly subscription fee of US$14.99. The game is rated Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
For information about Operation Immortality, including full terms and conditions, go to http://www.OperationImmortality.com. For information on Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa go to http://www.rgtr.com.
About NCsoft Corporation
NCsoft North America is headquartered in Austin, Texas and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation. NCsoft, with its own development and publishing offices in Texas and California, also works with other NCsoft subsidiaries and third party developers throughout North America to develop and publish innovative online entertainment software products. The company has successfully launched multiple online titles in the last three years and continues to support its franchises, which include Lineage®/Lineage II, City of Heroes®/City of Villains®, Guild Wars®/Guild Wars Factions®/Guild Wars Nightfall®/Guild Wars: Eye of the North™, Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa, Dungeon Runners™ and Exteel™. More information about NCsoft can be found at www.PlayNC.com.
2008 - AWA Superstars promoter Dale Gagner suffered a heart attack, according to a statement emailed by his sister, Christy Larson, to a number of people involved in the wrestling industry. The email statement, which was posted on the www.AWAStars.com website, reads: "my brother Dale Gagne was taken to the hospital just after 11 last night. he was having a heart attack. there are 13 of us at the hospital so he knows we care but we haven't seen him most of the day. he's fighting this thing. Anyone flying or traveling to Minnesota to see my brother (he's going to be very upset with me for doing this) can stay will me at his house in Burnsville (Mpls). We have 5 bedrooms for everyone to sleep in. please let me know and I can help with rides. I guess s couple of wrestlers are on their way tonight. dale's going to be pissed off but too bad he needs to know people really care."
At the time, Gagner was being sued by World Wrestling Entertainment over his usage of the American Wrestling Association name and trademarks. WWE filed their lawsuit in April 2007, alleging, among other charges, that Gagner's "AWA Wrestling Entertainment" misrepresents itself as the successor to Verne Gagne's promotion, which shut down operations in 1990. The complaint singled out Gagner, listed as the owner of "AWA Wrestling Entertainment" as a "serial offender", noting that in April 1990, The Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club (which then owned the AWA trademarks) filed a similar claim against Gagner. The courts ruled against Gagner in June 1990, enjoining he and his company from creating any claims that represented him as part of the original AWA promotion. WWE also alleges that Gagner has gone as far as to change the spelling of his name professionally to "Gagne" in an attempt to play off Verne Gagne's name when there is no relation between the two. Gagner, despite several grandiose statements at the time, he ignored numerous court orders and the case was eventually ruled in WWE's favor.
2009 - Karl Lauer of the Cauliflower Alley Club announced that pioneering female star Gladys "Kill 'em" Gillem passed away yesterday. Gillem, who wowed audiences with her blunt language and opinions in the great documentary "Lipstick and Dynamite" was 88 according to my records.
Lauer wrote, "To those of you attended any of the CAC banquets in Studio City in the 70.s 80,s or 90,s will remember the rough and tough lady known as Killem Gillem, or to her friends Gladys Gillem, one of the pioneer lady wrestlers from the 40's and 50's who could whip 90% of the men in a shoot, has died. Gladys passed away yesterday in her late 80.s not sure how old but one of the most colorful characters in the business ever."
2009 - TNA broadcast Impact on SpikeTV. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off tonight’s show with a look back at the brawl that ended the first hour of Impact last week.
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike ‘Happy Hard Justice’ Tenay and Don ‘Remember Bound for Glory is coming in the Los Angeles area’ West.
Match Number One: Christy Hemme versus Sojournor Bolt
They lock up and Hemme with a side head lock. Bolt pulls Christy by the hair and applies a side head lock. Christy does the same thing to Bolt and hits a side head lock take down. Bolt with a head scissors but Hemme escapes. Hemme with a kick to the back followed by a near fall. Bolt throws Hemme down by the hair. Bolt with a back breaker and gets a near fall. Bolt chokes Hemme and then Bolt goes to the apron and she hits a slingshot elbow drop. Bolt tries for a piledriver but Hemme with a back body drop to counter. Hemme takes Bolt down by the hair and then she hits a cross body but Bolt rolls through and she slams Hemme to the mat. Bolt with shoulders in the corner and then she puts Hemme on the top turnbuckles. Bolt tries for a superplex but Hemme fights Bolt off and Hemme hits the leg drop for the three count.
Winner: Christy Hemme
Don and Mike talk about the lineup for tonight’s episode of Impact.
A.J. Styles walks in the back while Matt Morgan has arrived in a large vehicle. We go to commercial.
We are back and Lauren is with Taz to ask about Joe’s loss to Hernandez. Lauren wants to know how he is doing. Taz says two weeks ago, Joe failed. There was a point where Joe had Hernandez, but he showed remorse. Taz says that Hernandez did not beat Joe, Joe beat Joe. Taz says that he is going to motivate Joe and Homicide will be the one who suffers. Taz guarantees victory.
We see footage of Hernandez’s victory over Joe from two weeks ago.
Match Number Two: Doug Williams with Rob Terry and Brutus Magnus versus Hernandez
Hernandez with a shoulder tackle and chop but Williams with a European uppercut. Hernandez blocks a suplex attempt and Hernandez with a delayed vertical suplex to Williams. Hernandez with an Irish whip and a drop down back breaker for a near fall. Magnus gets on the apron and that allows Williams to hit a flying back elbow followed by punches. Williams chokes Hernandez in the ropes. Williams with a snap mare and knee drop for a near fall. Williams with a rear chin lock. Williams with a European uppercut followed by a running knee into the corner. Williams misses senton from the turnbuckles and Hernandez with clotheslines and a back body drop. Hernandez with a spinebuster for a near fall. Magnus gets on the apron again and Hernandez knocks him off. Hernandez charges into a boot and Williams tries for a cross body but Hernandez with a sit out power bomb for the three count.
Winner: Hernandez
After the match, Magnus attacks Hernandez but Hernandez with a Pounce and biel. Terry has the briefcase and he hits Hernandez with it.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Hernandez is with Lauren and he takes the mic. Hernandez starts to speak in Spanish and then he leaves.
We go to an interview that Mike Tenay had with Bobby Lashley. Mike points out that Bobby became a World Champion in WWE. He asks about the transition to MMA. Bobby says that he wanted to get back into ‘fighting’ after leaving amateur wrestling. Bobby says that he has always been training while in pro wrestling. He said it was an easy transition. Mike points out that Bobby signed a TNA contract while an active MMA fighter. Bobby says that he loves wrestling and he wants to continue it. Bobby says that he thinks he can be successful in both. Mike asks Lashley about a match between Angle and the greatest MMA fighter. Lashley says the fans will win with that match. Lashley says that he is going to fight Angle.
Jeremy is with Daffney and Dr. Stevie and Jeremy asks if anyone has taken him up on the bounty. Stevie says that a lot of people have wanted to take the bounty. He says that it is not about beating Abyss/Chris. It is about hurting and maiming him. It is about making him drown in a pool of his own vomit, blood, and sweat. Abyss enters and he tells Stevie to do his own dirty work. Abyss is attacked by Jethro Holliday with a steel chair.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Lauren is with Tara and reminds Tara about her meteoric rise to the top. Tara says that she got run off the road by a two ton Mack Truck. Tara says that she came here to beat the best. Lauren talks about the four way match later tonight. Tara says that she wants to beat each of the people in the match tonight. Tara asks Lauren if she knows if Kong is afraid of Tarantulas.
Match Number Three: Rhino and Jesse Neal versus Eric Young and Sheik Abdul Bashir with Kiyoshi
Neal and Young start things off and they lock up. Neal with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Neal gets tripped by Young and Young with a side head lock. Neal with an arm bar and then Rhino tags in. Rhino punches Young and he puts Young in a side head lock followed by a shoulder tackle and near fall. Rhino with an Irish whip and shoulder. Neal is tagged back in and he punches Rhino and then he puts Young in a side head lock. Neal with another shoulder tackle but Young with an elbow. Bashir is tagged in and he punches Neal. Bashir with a snap mare and drop kick to the back for a near fall. Young kicks Neal after tagging back in. Young with a clothesline and he gets a near fall. Bashir tags back in and he punches Neal. Neal with a sunset flip but Young attacks Neal after making a tag. Young with a forearm to Neal for a near fall. Bashir tags in and he connects with a double sledge followed by a punch. Bashir draws Rhino into the match to allow Young and Bashir to double team Neal. Young ‘tags’ in and he slams Neal followed by elbow drops. Young goes to the turnbuckles and he hits Neal’s boot and Young goes down. Neal knocks Bashir off the apron but Young with a rollup for the three count as Young pulls Neal’s tights.
Winners: Eric Young and Sheik Abdul Bashir
After the match, Rhino yells at his student. Jesse tries to apologize but Rhino tells him he should have made the tag. Rhino slaps Jesse and then he hits a GORE.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago look at Rhino teaching his student a different lesson.
Rhino is in the back and Lauren wants to know why Rhino did what he did in the ring. Rhino says that Jesse’s good wasn’t good enough. Rhino says that Jesse has made too many mistakes in the ring. Rhino tells Lauren to look at the scars on his body and then he offers to teach Jesse, but Jesse has made a joke of his career. Rhino asks Lauren if she has been in the ring or suffered like him. Rhino says that he respects what Jesse did for this country, but will he fight in the ring.
We see footage of the kiss heard round the Impact Zone between Cody Deaner and Angelina Love.
Match Number Four: ODB with Cody Deaner versus Awesome Kong with Raisha Saeed versus Tara versus Angelina Love with Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne
Tara goes after Kong while ODB goes after Angelina. Tara and ODB with the advantages. Kong with kicks to Tara and she chokes her. ODB with a fallaway slam to Angelina. Tara and Kong exchange punches. ODB and Tara both work over Kong. Kong with a double clothesline and then Angelina is helped on the floor by Velvet and Madison. Kong charges at Tara and ODB, but they move and Kong goes to the floor. ODB takes a drink and then she gives it to Tara for a sip. ODB and Tara go up top and they hit cross bodies onto the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Kong with an Irish whip and running clothesline into the corner. Kong with a running butt splash into the corner. Kong misses a second running splash and then Tara pulls Kong out of the ring. Love and ODB are now in the ring while Kong punches Tara and kicks her. Angelina with a bicycle kick for a near fall. Kong with a knee and then ODB with a running power slam for a near fall but Kong breaks up the cover. Kong throws Angelina out of the ring. ODB chops Kong and then she tries to slam Kong but she can’t get Kong up. Kong with a slam to ODB followed by a leg drop for a two count. Kong kicks ODB while Tara and Angelina are on the floor. Kong sets for a choke slam and she hits it. Cody gets on the apron and he yells at Kong. Now there is trouble because the hat is turned around. Cody kisses Kong and then Kong pulls Cody into the ring and the referee allows the match to continue. Kong hits the Awesome Bomb on Cody and then Tara gets the three count with a rollup.
Winner: Tara
Sting and A.J. Styles are in the back with Lauren and Lauren reminds A.J. of what is on the line tonight. Styles says that this business is about working under pressure. It is the difference between midcarders and main eventers. A.J. says that he has let a lot of people down. A.J. says that he is either going to be a winner or a loser. We go to commercial.
We are back and remember to check out the TNA Text Hotline with Mean Jeremy.
Jeremy is with Team 3D to talk about their match against Booker T and Scott Steiner. Devon says that the Steiners and Harlem Heat are two of the best tag teams and paved the way for teams like Team 3D. Devon says that they are the greatest tag team in the business. They are 22 time tag team champions. They have run their mouths and they have been able to back it up. It will be no different tonight. They are just another tag team trying to knock off the greatest tag team in history. Ray says that he could not agree with Devon any more. Team 3D are a great tag team because they fans say they are a great tag team.
Match Number Five: Scott Steiner with Booker T and Sharmell versus Brother Ray with Brother Devon in a No Disqualification Match
Before the match starts, Steiner gets on the mic and he says that he heard how Ray thought that the Steiners and Harlem Heat were the greatest tag teams. Steiner says that he does not care what people have to say about them. Ray says that they respect Steiner and Booker because they back up what they say. He calls Steiner and Booker garbage because they stink.
Steiner punches Ray but Ray responds with a series of punches. Steiner with a rake of the eyes. Steiner spits on Devon before continuing the attack. Steiner with a T-Bone suplex to Ray for a near fall. Steiner with an Irish whip but Ray with a boot to a charging Steiner. Ray with punches followed by a chop and elbow. Ray with an Irish whip and a charge into the corner. Ray with a BubbaBomb for a near fall. Ray with a splash to Steiner and then Sharmell gets on referee distraction point number two. Booker rolls into the ring to interfere but Devon stops Booker. Ray with a slam and then Devon goes up top for the Wassup head butt. Ray puts on the chain mail and it is table times. They set up the table and the British Invasion come to the ring. Booker and Steiner attack Ray and Devon from behind. Booker with a back heel kick to Devon and then Booker and Steiner send Ray through the table for the three count.
Winner: Scott Steiner
We go to commercial.
We are back and the big red contract signing table is in the ring with Mike Tenay, Mick Foley, and Kevin Nash. Mick signs the contract first while Nash reviews his contract and signs it. Foley speaks first and he talks about how Nash said it was all about the money. Foley says that he has never had a conversation with Nash that did not involve money. Mick says that his kids have asked him when he is going to be a champion again and he has been able to say that he is a champion. Foley asks if that means anything to him. Nash tells Mick that the win was so tainted in the first place, but he probably could have made $20,000 at his last autograph session because he did not have the belt. Nash points out that Foley could write a best seller, has a beautiful wife and family; but why does Foley not write and set himself on fire wrapped in barbed wire instead of doing it the easy way. Foley points out that Nash was talking about an autograph convention at WizardWorld. Foley and Nash talk about ‘The Con’. Foley says that he would have done it for nothing. Foley says that Nash cares more about the autograph signing instead of Hard Justice. Nash takes off his jacket and shirt and he says that he is an athlete and a business man while Foley is a pathetic wrestler. Foley asks Nash if he just got called a wrestler and Foley says that he is proud of it. They shake hands and then Foley wishes Nash luck on Sunday. Nash tells Foley that he is the one who needs the luck on Sunday. Foley tells Nash to wait a second. They are wrestlers on a wrestling show and there is a contract signing with a table and nobody is going through the table? Nash says that he isn’t going to get paid any more if someone goes through the table, he doesn’t care about the table. Foley says that must be the difference between them because Foley says he would put Nash through the table for free and he would go through the table for free. Foley says that he will go through the table for free. Foley dives onto the table and the table breaks.
We go to commercial.
We are back and D’Angelo Dinero is coming at Hard Justice.
It is time for the final announced card.
We see a video package for the Steel Asylum Match.
Lauren is with Matt Morgan and she reminds Matt that if he wins, he is in his first title match. Matt says that there is no pressure. He tells Lauren to look at A.J. if she wants to see pressure. Matt guarantees victory tonight.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Six: Matt Morgan with Kurt Angle versus A.J. Styles with Sting in Match Three of the Best of Three Who Wants to Be in a TNA Title Match Match
Styles attacks Morgan as he enters the ring and then Styles with a flip dive onto Morgan. Styles kicks Morgan in the back and then he punches him. Styles with a punch and then he tries to Irish whip Morgan into the crowd by Morgan reverses it and Styles goes into the crowd. Styles with a punch followed by a phenomenal forearm from the guardrail. Styles with punches and then he puts Morgan in the ring and the match starts.
Styles works on Morgan’s leg and he tries for a figure four leg lock. Morgan gets to the ropes and the hold is released. Styles with shoulders in the corner but Morgan with a knee and punch. Morgan with an Irish whip and he hobbles into the corner to put Styles on the turnbuckles. Styles punches Morgan and then Styles is sent to the apron. Styles with a phenomenal drop kick for a near fall. Styles punches Morgan and slams his head into the turnbuckles. Styles with a running clothesline into the corner. Styles tries for a second one but Morgan with a boot to the chest and Styles goes down hard. Morgan with the elbow pad throw at the referee followed by elbows in the corner. Morgan with a splash into the corner. Morgan sets for the side slam but he drops Styles to the mat and gets a near fall. Morgan throws Styles out of the ring and then Morgan wants the referee to start the count. Sting gives A.J. some advice as he returns to the ring. Morgan chokes Styles. Morgan with a splash onto A.J. against the ropes and he gets a near fall. Morgan with a fallaway slam for a near fall. Morgan yells at the referee while Sting gives Styles some encouragement. Morgan with punches and a head butt followed by kicks. Morgan misses the running boot into the turnbuckles and then he misses the Stinger splash. Styles punches Morgan followed by an enzuigiri that sends Morgan to his knees. Styles with a missile drop kick for a near fall. Morgan with a side slam for a near fall. Morgan goes to the turnbuckles but Styles crotches Morgan. Styles with a punch and he tries for a superplex but Morgan with a head butt. Morgan tries to choke Styles but Styles with a Pele for a two count. Morgan with the bicycle kick for the three count.
Winner: Matt Morgan
After the match, Kurt Angle comes into the ring to celebrate with Matt Morgan. The other members of the Main Event Mafia come to the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back and Kurt Angle congratulates Matt Morgan and he says that Matt will be in his first main event on Sunday. Kurt says that he knew the Mafia would recruit him. Matt says that he was trying to sell himself to the Mafia. Kurt says that it doesn’t matter. Angle says that it will be Matt Morgan versus Kurt Angle versus Sting. Kurt tells Matt that there is one more favor to get into the Mafia. Matt wonders if Kurt is asking him to help him retain the title on Sunday. Kurt tells Matt that he is not suggesting, he is demanding. Matt tells the ‘little man’ that nobody demands anything out of him and that includes Kurt Angle. Matt says that he is not going to pass up this opportunity since he does not know when it might happen again. Matt says that he will walk out of the ring the new TNA Champion.
2009 - WWE broadcast WWE Superstars on WGN. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Tonight’s show starts off with a match from the Smackdown brand.
Match Number One: John Morrison versus David Hart Smith with Natalya
They lock up and Smith pushes Morrison away. They lock up again and Morrison with a waist lock but Smith with a hammer lock. Morrison with a reversal but Smith with an elbow and he returns to the arm and takes Morrison down and puts Morrison into an arm bar. Morrison reverses and then he takes Smith down and gets a near fall. Smith goes to the apron and gets some advice from Natalya. Smith with a kick and elbow to Morrison. Smith with a punch but Morrison with forearms. Morrison with a kick and then he hits a series of arm drags into an arm bar. Smith with a punch instead of a clean break and then he kicks Morrison. Smith with a European uppercut followed by an elbow to the head and he gets a near fall. Morrison with a back elbow and a punch followed by a drop kick and Smith goes to the floor. Morrison poses and then he goes up top but Natalya stands between Morrison and his opponent. We go to commercial.
We are back and Smith with an Irish whip but he charges into an elbow. Morrison tries for a cross body but Smith catches him. Smith tries for a suplex but Morrison escapes the hold. Smith with an elbow for a near fall and then he puts Morrison in a reverse chin lock. Morrison moves to the apron and then he goes up top but Smith with a punch. Smith with a superplex and both men are down. Smith recovers first and gets a near fall. Morrison with a kick and punch but Smith with a forearm. Smith and Morrison exchange forearms and then Morrison with a kick and flying clothesline and leg lariat. Morrison poses and then hits the standing shooting star press. Morrison tries to float over but Smith catches him and tries for a running power slam but Morrison escapes and gets a near fall with a rollup. Smith with a jackknife cover but Morrison bridges and tries for a back slide. Smith with a power slam for a near fall. Smith punches Morrison but misses a leg drop. Morrison misses the Shining Wizard but Smith with a rollup for a near fall. Morrison with the Pele kick and then it is time for the corkscrew split legged moonsault, but Smith is able to stop him before he hits the move. Smith with a German suplex but Morrison lands on his feet. Smith misses a charge into the corner and then Morrison with the springboard spin kick. Morrison with the corkscrew split legged moonsault for the three count.
Winner: John Morrison
It is time for Ask the Divas.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that a lot of people go to WWE.com?
It is now time for the ECW match.
Match Number Two: Goldust versus Sheamus
They lock up and neither can gain the advantage. Goldust with a side head lock but Sheamus pushes him away. They lock up again and Sheamus pushes Goldust but Goldust pushes back. Then they exchange punches until Sheamus with a kick and forearm to the back. Sheamus with forearms to the back but Goldust punches Sheamus in the corner until the referee has to pull him off. Sheamus goes to the floor to regroup and then he goes into the crowd. We go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus is back in the ring and he has Goldust in a head lock. We see highlights from during the commercial when Goldust was sent into the ring steps. We are back to live on tape action and Sheamus with a knee and Irish whip followed by a forearm. Sheamus gets a near fall. Sheamus with a forearm to the midsection followed by a gutbuster. Sheamus with an Irish whip but he charges into a boot. Goldust goes up top but Sheamus knocks Goldust off the turnbuckles to the floor. Sheamus hot shots Goldust on the ringside barrier. Sheamus sends Goldust back into the ring and gets a near fall. Sheamus with a series of elbow drops for a near fall. Sheamus with a version of a cravate on Goldust. Goldust returns to his feet and he punches Sheamus. Goldust with a reverse atomic drop and boot to the head but he tries for a splash and lands on Sheamus’ knees. Sheamus gets a two count. Sheamus kicks Goldust and punches him. Goldust with a bulldog and punches. Goldust with a series of clotheslines followed by the drop down uppercut. Goldust with a clothesline into the corner. Goldust with a power slam for a near fall. Goldust goes to the turnbuckles and he hits a cross body but Sheamus rolls through but Goldust kicks out of the hold. Sheamus with a forearm to the back and then each hit a big boot and both go down. Sheamus is the first to his feet but Goldust with an inside cradle for the three count.
Winner: Goldust
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Kane video package.
We have the Raw Rebound featuring the set up for ‘Hey, they are wrestling each other at the pay per view so we will make them a tag team’ moment of the night.
It is time for our final match of the evening and it comes from the Raw brand.
Match Number Three: Carlito and Rosa Mendes versus Kofi Kingston and Mickie James
Rosa has some words for Mickie before the match and Mickie slaps some sense into Rosa. The men have to separate them. Now the match officially starts with the men in the ring. They lock up and Carlito works on the arm. Kofi with a leg scissors rollup followed by a few more rollups for near falls and Carlito backs into the corner. Carlito with a kick and then he punches and kicks Kofi in the corner but the referee tries to separate them. Carlito with a back elbow and a near fall. Kofi with a unique set up for a back slide after flipping over Carlito on a back body attempt. Carlito with a kick to the head for a near fall. Carlito with a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Carlito tries to throw Kofi out of the ring but he bounces off the ropes. Kofi with a leaping elbow followed by a side Russian leg sweep. Kofi does a few laps around the ring and then he tries for the Boom Boom leg drop but Carlito tags in Rosa. Mickie comes in and brings Rosa into the ring the hard way. Mickie with a clothesline but Rosa with a kick. Mickie with a snap mare and drop kick for a near fall. Rosa with a double sledge and elbow. Rosa sends Mickie into the turnbuckles and then she follows it with forearms. Rosa with a reverse chin lock. Mickie and Rosa collide in the ring but Rosa is able to make the tag. Kofi with a springboard clothesline three quarters of the way across the ring. Kofi with chops and a drop kick. Kofi with the Boom Boom leg drop for a two count. Kofi with a kick in the corner and Rosa distracts the referee and Carlito crotches Kofi. Kofi punches Carlito off the turnbuckles and then he hits a cross body for a near fall. Rosa tries to interfere but Mickie stops her and they go to the floor. Kofi misses the leap into the turnbuckles and Carlito with a lungblower for the three count.
Winners: Carlito and Rosa Mendes
2010 - Lance McNaught, who was one of Shawn Michaels' first wrestling students and worked for WWE under the ring name Lance Cade, passed away at the age of only 29 years old.
2010 - WWE Diva Tiffany (Taryn Terrell) was suspended by World Wrestling Entertainment earlier this week after an incident in San Jose, California at the hotel WWE had booked talents into, according to numerous sources within the company. The incident, which WWE sources claim was a domestic issue between Terrell and husband Drew McIntryre, led to police being called to the scene. We have conflicting reports over whether Terrell was arrested by the San Jose PD. PWInsider.com is awaiting a return call from the San Jose Police Department's Public Affairs office. Terrell, who was scheduled to wrestle this Sunday at the Summerslam PPV, was sent home by WWE management after the incident, according to two separate sources. WWE did not publicly acknowledge the suspension or any potential change to the PPV, but Terrell was removed from the match and later released by the company.
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