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August 19th
On this day in history in ....
1990 - Riki Choshu defeats Big Van Vader for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan. This ended Vader's second run with New Japan Pro Wrestling's top title, and started Choshu's second reign with the strap.
1999 - Lenny Lane defeats Rey Mysterio Jr. for the WCW Cruiserweight Title in Lubbock, Texas, ending Mysterio's fifth title reign. Two months later, Lane would be quietly stripped of the title due to WCW getting pressure from Time Warner over Lane's flamboyant gimmick, which was based around homosexual innuendo. WCW would create a "phantom" title switch and give the belt to Psicosis.
2001 - WWE held Summerslam in San Jose, California, at the Compaq Center. Here are the results:
- In a Heat match, Jacqueline, Molly Holly & Lita defeated Stacy Keibler, Torrie Wilson & Ivory when Jacqueline pinned Ivory.
- Edge defeated Lance Storm with the Downward Spiral to win the Intercontinental Title.
- Test & The Dudley Boyz defeated Spike Dudley & The APA when Shane McMahon interfered, allowing Test to pin Bradshaw.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion X-Pac defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri to win the WWF Light Heavyweight Title with an X-Factor.
- Chris Jericho defeated Rhyno with the Walls Of Jericho.
- Rob Van Dam defeated Jeff Hardy to win the WWF Hardcore Title in a Ladder Match.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions The Undertaker & Kane defeated Diamond Dallas Page & Kanyon in a steel cage match to win the WWF World Tag Team Championship when Undertaker pinned Page with the Last Ride powerbomb.
- Kurt Angle defeated WWF World Heavyweight Champion Steve Austin via disqualification when WCW referee Nick Patrick refused to count Angle's pin of Austin and instead disqualified Austin for intentionally hitting referees earlier. Patrick was intentionally making sure Austin wouldn't lose the title, and Angle snapped, putting Patrick in an ankle lock.
- The Rock defeated Booker T with the Rock Bottom to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title.
2008 - IATV, a cable network devoted to Asian Pop Culture, acquired the rights to air a number of different series from Tokyopop, including 22 one hour episodes of now-defunct Japanese wrestling promotion FMW.
2008 - WWE broadcast ECW on Sci Fi. Buck Woodward filed the following TV report:
ECW for August 19th opened with a recap of the "blink and you missed it" ECW World Title match from Summerslam. After the show opening, Todd Grisham and Matt Striker informed us that we would get the Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry rematch tonight.
The Miz, John Morrison & Chavo Guerrero vs. Super Crazy, Evan Bourne & Tommy Dreamer.
Morrison started out with Crazy, trading holds and counters. Super Crazy hit a standing moonsault after a drop toe hold for a two count. Bourne tagged in and tripped Morrison to the mat with a legsweep. Morrison hit a kick and tagged in Miz, but Bourne gave him a rana as he got on the second rope. Bourne knocked Chavo off the apron, but Bam Neely tripped him to give Chavo and Co. the advantage. They worked over Bourne in their corner, then Chavo hit a backdrop driver for a two count. Morrison tagged in and hit a backbreaker for a two count, then pounded Bourne with punches. Miz tagged in and choked Bourne on the middle rope, then applied an armbar. Bourne came back with an armdrag and made the tag to Tommy Dreamer. Dreamer cleaned house on all three opponents, knocking Chavo off the apron and clotheslining Miz and Morrison. Dreamer gave Mix a bulldog and a powerslam, but Morrison broke up the cover. Crazy ran in to counter Morrison and all the heels were sent to the floor. Crazy hit a dive over the top rope onto them, then Bourne hit a top rope moonsault onto the pile. There was an "ECW" chant. Dreamer went to pull Miz back in the ring, but Morrison hooked his foot and Miz gave Dreamer a neckbreaker for the win at the five minute mark.
Winners: The Miz, John Morrison & Chavo Guerrero.
Ricky Ortiz was shown in the back with his personalized rally towel.
Ricky Ortiz vs. Gavin Spears.
Spears was given an inset interview, saying he was the "Crown Jewel" in the new talent initiative, saying he didn't need a towel like Ortiz, because he has talent.
They locked up at the bell, and Ortiz backed Spears into the corner. Ortiz grabbed a headlock, then hit a shoulderblock when Spears shoved him off. Spears went after the arm, but Ortiz reversed an arm wringer into a backdrop. Spears pulled Ortiz into a corner by the pants, then hit a back elbow, a punch and a neckbreaker for a two count. Spears hit some knees to the head, then snapmared Ortiz and stomped him in the head. Spears applied a trapped arm chinlock, but Ortiz armdragged out of it. Ortiz hit some punches, a spinning elbow and a dropkick. Ortiz hit a side driver for a two count. Spears hit a shot to the gut, then leapfrogged Ortiz, only to get hit with a second rope shoulderblock. Ortiz then hit a splash for the win at the four minute mark. Ortiz is 4-0.
Winner: Ricky Ortiz.
Mark Henry was warming up with 50-pound dumbbell curls backstage.
Fit Finlay and Hornswoggle came to the ring. Finlay took the mic and addressed Mike Knox' comments that he had "gone soft". Finlay talked about how he invited Mike Knox to the ring last week, and he walked away. Finlay said he was inviting him out again, and noted he didn't even have a shillelagh with him. Finlay dared Knox to come down and prove that he was soft. Knox came out on the stage with a mic. Knox said Finlay calling him out proves that he is afraid of Knox, and can't handle the pressure of knowing he would beat him. Finlay cut off Knox' yapping and called him down. Knox started to come down, then said he would do it on his terms, and started to leave. Finlay said he gave Knox one week to make his move, so now he was making his. Finlay jumped out of the ring and started brawling with Knox. They did a big pull apart brawl, with agents coming out to break them up. They broke away from the agents a few times to slug it out again. Finally, Knox was taken to the back, and Finlay got an ovation.
Matt Hardy was shown warming up in the back.
The announcers reviewed the Shawn Michaels-Chris Jericho situation.
They announced Fit Finlay vs. Mike Knox for next week on Raw.
ECW Champion Mark Henry vs. Matt Hardy.
Henry hit Hardy with some punches at the start, and Hardy tried to hook on the Twist Of Fate, but Henry shoved it off and tossed Matt into the corner. Henry charged in, but Hardy ducked out of the ring, tripped Henry and yanked his leg across the apron twice. Back in the ring, Hardy dropped a kneedrop on the leg and continued to work on it. Henry came back with a slam, but missed an elbowdrop. Hardy hit some punches and an enzugiri for a two count. Henry shoved Hardy away, but Hardy hit a kick to the face and threw some shots. Hardy bounced off the ropes, but Henry hit him with a bodyblock. There was a loud "Hardy" chant. Henry slugged Hardy to the mat, then headbutted him for a two count. Henry stood on Hardy's chest, then whipped Hardy hard into the corner. Henry missed a charge, then Hardy went for the Twist Of Fate again, but Henry blocked it, then shoved Hardy over the top rope and to the floor as they went to break.
Henry had Hardy in a neck crank as they came back to the match. Hardy upkicked twice to escape it, but Henry put him down with a big boot, then limped on his bad leg, which Tony Atlas massaged from ringside. Henry decked Hardy with a right hand and went back to the neck crank. Hardy fought up, and tried for a Side Effect, but Henry elbowed it away and punched Hardy down. Hardy slumped on the ropes as Henry argued with the referee, and Atlas slugged him. Henry pounded Hardy with forearms to the back, then put him in a bearhug. Henry slammed Hardy in the corner as Hardy was trying to punch out of the move. Henry kicked Hardy in the ribs, then delivered a second for a two count. Henry went back to the neck crank, but Hardy elbowed Henry in the bad leg to escape it. Henry went for a half-nelson, then hooked the other arm around for a full nelson, but Hardy dropped out of it and hit an upkick.
Henry charged and floored Hardy with a clothesline, then went for a press slam, dropping Hardy gut first to the mat. Henry went for a splash, but Hardy rolled out of the way. Hardy got fired up and hit a series of punches and forearms, putting Henry in the corner. Hardy went for a bulldog, but Henry shoved him into a corner. Henry charged, but Hardy caught him with a kick. Hardy hit a second rope elbowsmash to the head, then a second rope bulldog for a two count. Hardy went to the top rope and hit Henry with a flying bodypress for another near fall. Hardy set up for a Twist Of Fate, but Henry shoved him into the ropes, caught him on the rebound and hoisted him for a slam. Hardy reversed out of the slam and hit the Twist Of Fate. Hardy covered Henry, but Tony Atlas, out of view of the referee, yanked Hardy's leg to pull him out of the ring. Hardy started to chase Atlas, then turned his attention back to Henry, who was starting to get up. Hardy kicked Henry between the ropes, then went to the top for a moonsault. Hardy jumped, but Henry got the knees up. Henry then gave Henry the World's Strongest Slam for the pin at the 15 minute mark.
Winner: Mark Henry.
Mark Henry limped off with the title belt, while Matt Hardy watched from the ring and the announcers wondered if this was the "end of the line" for his ECW Title quest.
2010 - Nightmare Ted Allen passed away. Allen was a star in the Mid-Atlantic area both under his name and under a mask as The Nightmare. Allen was also a renowned trainer, who trained Arn Anderson, Scotty Riggs, Ranger Ross and the late Big Bossman, among others. We have not heard a cause of death as of this writing. Allen, who was 54, was still active on the independent scene in Georgia in recent years and had attended the NWA Legends Fanfest several weeks ago.
2010 - Jim Kettner, the longtime promoter and creative mind behind the Delaware-based East Coast Wrestling Association quietly announced his retirement from the promotion he founded today.
Known as one of the smartest minds on the independent level in the modern era, Kettner was behind the creation of the annual ECWA Super 8 Tournament, which took on a life of its own over the last 14 years as an event where talents could make their name and springboard to the next level of their career. The tournament became the most copied concept on the independent level with dozens upon dozens of similar shows. While they may have featured great wrestling, they all lacked one common denominator - the mind of Jim Kettner.
2010 - WWE broadcast WWE Superstaers on WGN. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off tonight’s show with the Raw brand and your announcers are Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.
Match Number One: Yoshi Tatsu versus Primo
They lock up and Primo works on the wrist and Yoshi reverses and works on Primo’s wrist. Primo rolls through and takes Yoshi to the mat. They lock up and Primo with a side head lock but Yoshi with a take down to escape. They lock up and Yoshi with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Yoshi with chops but Primo blocks a hip toss. Yoshi with a Japanese arm drag followed by a standard arm drag into an arm bar. Primo with a kick followed by a forearm to the back. Primo with a chop to Yoshi. Yoshi tries for a sunset flip but Primo drops down. Yoshi with a back slide for a near fall. Yoshi follows that with a jackknife cover for a near fall. Yoshi with a back body drop and drop kick that sends Primo to the floor. Yoshi with a baseball slide and then he skins the cat and hits a pescado. We go to commercial.
We are back and Primo with a rear chin lock on Yoshi. Primo with a forearm to the back of the neck followed by a drop toe hold and Muta Lock. Primo add a rake of the face and he is forced to break the hold. Primo and Yoshi exchange chops and Primo with a punch. Primo chokes Yoshi in the ropes and then he hits a splash and goes through the ropes. He returns to the ring and gets a near fall. Primo returns to the reverse chin lock and Yoshi tries to get to the ropes. Yoshi with punches, kicks, and a chop.
He goes up top but misses a missile drop kick when Primo moves out of the way and Primo gets a near fall. Primo with a modified surfboard and then he drops an elbow to the ribs. Primo with an Irish whip followed by a drop kick for a near fall. Primo with an Irish whip and he misses a charge into the corner. Primo gets caught in the tree of woe and Yoshi with a drop kick. Yoshi with kicks and chops to Primo followed by another chop off an Irish whip. Yoshi with a Shining Wizard for a near fall. Yoshi with the running knees into the corner followed by the rolling mare but Primo ducks the round kick. Primo with a near fall. Primo with a jawbreaker and then he sends Yoshi to the apron. Yoshi with a kick and heel kick from the turnbuckles for the three count.
Winner: Yoshi Tatsu
We take a look back at NXT when Percy Watson and Husky Harris were eliminated.
We are back and did you know that WWE SummerSlam was still the number one search term on Google on Sunday.
It is time for the Smackdown portion of the show and your announcers are Matt Striker and Todd Grisham.
Match Number Two: Montel Vontavious Porter versus Vance Archer with Curt Hawkins
They lock up and Porter with a hammer lock but Archer gets to the ropes. They lock up again and Archer gets to the ropes to escape a top wrist lock. Archer with a kick and he works on the wrist. Porter with forearms and he reverses the wrist hold. Archer backs Porter into the corner and he has something to say to Porter. Porter slaps Archer and punches him. Archer with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Porter avoids Archer and Porter with a drop toe hold and kick to the back of the head for a near fall. Porter with an arm bar but Archer gets to his feet. Archer with shoulders in the corner and the referee warns him. Archer with a punch to the head and then he chokes Porter in the ropes. Archer distracts the referee and Hawkins hits Porter. Porter with shoulders in the corner followed by kicks and the referee warns Porter. Porter with a forearm to Archer and he gets a near fall. Porter misses the running boot into the corner and then Archer sends Porter to the floor. Archer distracts the referee and Hawkins attacks Porter.
JTG comes out and he goes after Hawkins. All four men brawl on the floor and Teddy Long comes out. He announces that we will have a tag match with JTG and MVP facing Hawkins and Archer.
We go to commercial.
Match Number 2.1: Montel Vontavious Porter and JTG versus Curt Hawkins and Vance Archer
The match is joined in progress and JTG with a sliding punch and leap frog leg lariat to Hawkins for a near fall. Porter tags in and they hit a double hip toss and Porter with a knee drop for a near fall. Hawkins with a jawbreaker and he tags in Archer. Porter with punches to Archer. Archer with a big boot when Porter was distracted by Hawkins. Archer with punches before he gets a near fall. Hawkins tags back in and he punches Porter. Hawkins with a snap mare and knees to the back. Hawkins with a rear chin lock Porter escapes and Hawkins responds with a clothesline for a near fall. Archer tags in and hits an elbow drop and follows that with a leg drop and gets a near fall. Archer with a reverse chin lock. Archer with a forearm to the back but he misses a short arm clothesline. Porter with a running boot into the corner and JTG is tagged in. JTG with punches followed by a drop kick. JTG with a flip shoulder tackle to Archer followed by a drop kick to Hawkins. JTG leaps into the corner and hits an X Factor for a near fall. Porter throws Hawkins to the floor. Hawkins drops Porter onto the apron. Archer catches JTG and they hit a modified spike power slam for the three count.
Winners: Vance Archer and Curt Hawkins
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look back at SummerSlam week in Los Angeles as well as the Raw Rebound.
Match Number Four: Jack Swagger versus Chris Masters
Swagger with a waist lock take down and Masters pushes Swagger when he gets back to his feet. They lock up again and Swagger with a front face lock into a side head lock. Masters powers out of the head lock. Masters with a forearm and running shoulder tackle. Masters with an Irish whip and Masters with a Stinger Splash. Swagger escapes a power slam attempt and hits a clothesline to the back of the head followed by sending Masters shoulder into the ring post. Swagger with a key lock on Masters. Swagger with a knee followed by a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Swagger with a hammer lock. Swagger locks his hands to work on the arms and then he hits a forearm to the back. Masters with a desperation side slam and both men are down.
Swagger runs into a boot from Masters and Masters with clotheslines and a spinebuster for a near fall. Masters goes to the turnbuckles and hits a flying shoulder tackle with his injured shoulder. Masters sets for the Master Lock but Swagger rolls to the mat. Masters gets Swagger back to his feet but Swagger backs Masters into the turnbuckles and then he puts Masters in the ankle lock. Masters reaches for the ropes but he cannot get there and the pain is too much so Masters taps out.
Winner: Jack Swagger
2010 - TNA broadcast Impact on SpikeTV. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the TNA Impact Report here on PWInsider.com!
We start off with footage from moments ago, as Jeff Hardy, after waiting all day for him to appear, in engaged in a backstage brawl with Abyss. Predictably, Abyss gets the upper hand, and they brawl through the back, out into the crowd, and down to ringside. They blur out Jeff Hardy's buttcrack, which was sticking out of the top of his jeans, as Abyss continues to batter him around ringside. We actually see the fans filing into the building as they fight, and Hardy turns things around with a chairshot as they brawl back through an unpopulated section of the crowd and backstage again, past where Orlando Jordan's couch used to be, and Abyss wraps electrical cables around Hardy's face and yanks back. Hardy gets free and they continue fighting through the backstage area as I continue to be distracted by Hardy's blurry buttcrack. They brawl out of the building to where the fans are waiting in line to get in, and Overzealous Security Inc run out and choke Hardy with their nightsticks and pull him away.
Right from there, we go back into the (now full) arena as Dave Scherer's favorite person, Eric Bischoff, makes his way into the ring. He says that never in his 20 years has he seen something as horrific as what we saw last week. He holds Ric Flair responsible for the attack on EV2.0, and he apologizes to Dixie Carter and swears that they will hold Ric Flair accountable. Words cannot describe what they did to RVD, and then he uses words like horrific and despicable to describe what they did to RVD. Before Bischoff goes, he wants to update us on RVD's condition: he went to the hospital and visited Rob, who is held together by staples, stitches, and pins, and his doctor fears that he has numerous punctured organs, and...get this...he may have had trauma. Eric promises that when RVD is able to crawl out of that hospital, everyone will welcome him back because he'll always have a home in TNA, but the fact is that the show must go on, and after meeting with RVD's doctors, Dixie Carter, and Hulk Hogan, they made the decision he knows the fans and RVD would want: they have decided to vacate the TNA World Title. There will be a tournament that will begin this week and will conclude at Bound For Glory, and his thoughts and prayers are with RVD, but the show must go on and it will...right after this commercial.
World Title Tournament, First Round: Rob Terry vs Jeff Hardy
Hardy attacks Terry before the bell and dropkicks Terry's legs out from under him, then tries a crossbody but gets caught and slammed. Hardy is wearing his street clothes and no makeup. Terry goozles Hardy and drives him up the ropes and then chokeslams him out into the middle of the ring. Terry puts Hardy in the corner and rams his shoulder to Hardy's ribs and then whips Hardy across the ring, but Hardy dodges the charge and hits a pair of springboard dropkicks in the corner, then drags Terry out to the middle and covers him for 2. Hardy up top and almost hits the Whisper In The Wind for 2, and then we see two replays of him missing the move. Hardy comes off the second rope right into a clothesline from Terry, and Terry almost hits his spinkick and then tries it again and...HOLY CRAP, HE ACTUALLY CONNECTS WITH IT! Terry goes for a running powerslam, but two properly executed moves in a row is too much to ask of Rob Terry, and Hardy slips out, hits the Twist of Fate, follows it up with the Swanton, and picks up the win.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Meanwhile, in the back, Ric Flair and Fortune are getting out of a limo...and with them is a suit-clad Douglas Williams. Ah, the plot thickens...
We go to a video package recapping the events of last week, as Fortune attacked EV2.0 at the end of the show and Tommy Dreamer tells Dixie Carter to make it right, because she doesn't want them making it right.
From there, we catch Hulk Hogan outside talking on his cell phone and teases us by saying he's thinking of quitting over the RVD situation. He's appalled that they want to replace RVD because it'd be like replacing the President. Hogan says he's going to sit outside and pout because he doesn't think he can go back inside.
Back to the ring as the tournament continues...
World Title Tournament, First Round: Jay Lethal vs Ken Anderson
They warily circle each other and tie up, Anderson takes a headlock, Lethal fires him off into the ropes, and Anderson takes him down with a shoulderblock. Anderson catches Lethal on a leapfrog, but Lethal escapes and gets an STO and they have a standoff. Now Lethal gets a headlock, Anderson tries to hiptoss out but Lethal reverses to a hiptoss of his own and dropkicks Anderson for 2. Lethal puts the boots to Anderson in the corner but gets whipped into the corner, he tries to leapfrog out but Anderson catches him and this time holds onto him long enough to hit a Regal Roll. Fans chant "asshole" at Anderson as he whips Lethal into the ropes and catches him coming off with a back elbow and covers for 2. Anderson with a front facelock, dangerously close to HITTING THE CHINLOCK!, but Lethal escapes and comes off the ropes right into a clothesline, and Anderson covers for another 2. Anderson with another whip, Lethal ducks the clothesline and hits the handspring elbow off the ropes. Lethal chops Anderson in the corner, whips him across the ring and gets backdropped to the apron, but nails Anderson and tries a springboard dropkick, but Anderson dodges, hits the Mic Check, and that's all she wrote.
Winner: Ken Anderson
Solid match. Anderson helps Lethal to his feet and they shake.
Backstage, Christy tells Angelina Love that Madison Rayne has invoked her rematch clause and she'll be challenging for the Knockouts Title tonight. Angelina says she never expects a fair fight from Madison, and she was able to whine and cry until she got her title handed back to her last night, but it's not going to happen tonight. She says to go ahead and bring Dumpy Ass, because Angelina has some backup of her own.
We go back to last week on TNA Reaction, as the Motor City Machine Guns were backstage saying they proved that they are the best team in the world, and then we see a clip of the finish of last week's Match 5 of the Best Of Five Series between the MCMG and Beer Money. The feeling of being out there in front of the people was greater than anything, and they've been teaming for four years and they are now at the top of the mountain. The other teams have a lot to live up to with the MCMG, and it won't be easy. We now go to a video package wondering what's next for the MCMG, and the champs will be in action next week! But right now, another title is on the line...
Knockoots Title Match: Angelina Love vs Madison Rayne
Get it? Angelina Love is the Knockoots Champion...you know, because she's Canadian. Ah, get outta here. Madison is driven to the ring by Dumpy Ass, who joins her at ringside for the match. Angelina, meanwhile, is joined by...Velvet Sky! Wow, didn't see that one coming. Angelina kicks Dumpy Ass's dumpy ass and rams her into the ring apron, but Madison lays out Velvet Sky and stops Angelina from taking Dumpy's helmet off and exposing the other mask underneath. They head into the ring and the bell sounds as we're reminded to follow Dixie Carter's Twitter. Madison does her head hump thing for 2, covers again and still gets 2. Madison with a series of knees to the midsection of Angelina, but Angelina reverses out and gets a Pittsburgh Plunge, then powerslams Madison. Angelina goes to the ropes and Dumpy Ass grabs Angelina's ankle, but Velvet takes Dumpy out and then grabs Madison's ankle, setting up Angelina to hit the Botox Injection for the win.
Winner: Angelina Love
Velvet joins Angelina in the ring and they have a short staredown, then raise each other's hands. Madison and Dumpy Ass jump them from behind and leave them laying.
Meanwhile, Ric Flair and Fortune are backstage, and they're...WALKING!
We watch the same video package recapping the EV2.0/Fortune/Abyss angle from last week, then we head back to the ring where Flair is in the ring with Fortune. He asks if someone used the word power, and he says this is what you call Impact with power. Kazarian, AJ, Beer Money, and now we add Doug Williams and Matt Morgan. Flair throws up the four fingers even though there's six of them, and he says you'd better love Fortune because they're not going anywhere anytime soon. He goes on to call EV2.0 a circus act and a bunch of undisciplined animals, and says they're not wrestlers and don't belong in the business. The marquee says pro wrestling, not garbage cans and kendo sticks. Flair tells EV2.0 to kiss his ass and Fortune's ass, and just smile and be glad about the fact that they're part of TNA. AJ takes the mic and says that EV2.0 couldn't leave well enough alone, they just had to come in and be on TV one last time. They wanted a hardcore finale, and that's exactly what they got. Nobody has wrestled in this ring more than AJ Styles, he is TNA and TNA is AJ Styles, this is the house that AJ STyles built. Dixie Carter comes out from the back and tells AJ that he helped build this house, but make no mistake, she owns it. It's her house, and if it's her house, it's their house...and here comes EV2.0, looking like they got beat up again before they walked out. Dixie says she's given Flair the benefit of the doubt since he came here and that's over. Before last Thursday, none of these guys had contracts, but now they all do. Flair asks what on his resume says he takes any crap from women, and Dreamer says that he is the living legend of this business, and if Dixie didn't tell them to stay back, they'd all come kick their asses right now. But what she did was acknowledged last night, and it's all about now, and it's time to leave Hogan and everything else in the past, because now it's TNA. Foley told Flair how great it was to be part of TNA and to forget what anyone else said about what to do, and to make the move that's right for him, so Flair came to TNA. Foley has a life full of regrets, but if he could change one thing, he would have never brought Flair to TNA. Flair challenges him to roll around in the thumbtacks with him one more time, but Foley says he doesn't take his orders from Ric Flair, he takes them from Dixie Carter. Flair said Flair is here for Flair, and tells Foley to go home and get soft in his chair. Dreamer says that RVD is their friend and they will get Abyss, then tells AJ that he did build this house and they had nothing but respect for him until last week. They may all be tired and beat up, but tonight it's going to be Dreamer vs Styles in his house, and they're definitely going to make it...EXTREME.
We go backstage to Kurt Angle, who said it's been a living hell to get through the first half of the Top Ten, but now it's a tournament and he's been through these before in high school, college, and on the Olympic level, and he's only three wins away from regaining the TNA World Title.
Back to the ring as the tournament continues...
World Title Tournament, First Round: X-Division Champion Douglas Williams vs Kurt Angle
This ought to be good. They tie up and Angle takes Williams to the corner and breaks clean. Angle takes Williams down with a headlock, but Williams gets to his feet and takes Angle to the corner and tries to suckerpunch him, but Angle blocks and nails him, but then Williams catches Angle's boot on a kick, kicks him in the thigh, and legwhips him. Angle recovers and fires back on Williams, but Williams headbutts him in the midsection and tosses Angle to the floor. Williams goes out after him and tosses him back in the ring, then slams Angle and hits some springboard kneedrops for 2. Angle tries firing back again but Williams with a European Uppercut and a snap gutwrench suplex for 2. Williams with a three quarter nelson, but Angle escapes and starts running over Williams with elbows and backdrops him. Angle whips him into the corner, eats boot on a charge, but catches Williams charging out with an overhead suplex. Williams counters another suplex by ramming Angle into the corner and following in with a high knee. Williams goes up top and hits a corkscrew elbow off the top for 2. Williams sets up for Chaos Theory but Angle with a switch and the Rolling Germans for 2. The straps come down and Angle goes for the Angle Slam, but Williams escapes and almost hits the Chaos Theory, but Angle rolls through and catches Williams with an anklelock and grapevines the leg for the tapout win.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle is now only two wins away from regaining the TNA World Title. Still to come tonight, AJ Styles vs Tommy Dreamer.
Sting and Kevin Nash are backstage, and they're...WALKING!
Backstage, Ken Anderson says that he's in the final four and he hopes RVD will be okay, but the show must go on and a win's a win.
Sting and Kevin Nash come out to the ring and I can guarantee you right now, before they even open their mouths, that we won't understand a damn thing that happens in this segment. Nash says he's known Sting for 20 years, and they've had their disagreements, but there's nobody in this business he respects more than Sting. Nash has been called a cancer and a lot of other things, but after 20 years and 20 operations, he's not out here for just the money, he's here because he loves to do what he does, and he'll be damned if somebody tells him it's his time to step aside. First, nobody tells him anything, they ask him, and if they want his spot, come take it. Nash says TNA is this close to turning the edge and making it happen, but the cancer isn't in this ring, it's in the back, and the whole magic act and smoke and mirrors, he says he's wasting his time and maybe he is, but he wants to tell us the truth...and here comes Jeff Jarrett, who asks if Nash really wants to tell the truth, because the guy who's really full of BS is Nash. A leopard never changes his spots, and it's always been about Big Sexy Kevin Nash, who never gave a damn about anybody and that's never going to change. And as far as Sting goes, Jarrett can open a closet door and talk about all his skeletons and tell the world what kind of man he really is, but he's not going to do that. What Jarrett will do, is that there's a locker room full of guys who are tired of the games they've been playing, and as far as Hogan and Bischoff go and all they've done for the company, the whole company has been better off since they got here. So what Jarrett will do tonight will be in honor of a 20 year wrestling executive in Eric Bischoff and the greatest box office attraction ever in Hulk Hogan, he's going to grab a chair and beat both their asses. Suddenly, Hulk Hogan comes out and says Jarrett's not going to do it by himself. Jarrett built this company up, and he and Eric came in to help him finish the job. Everyone knows what Nash and Sting are all about, and they're jealous because the spotlight's on the young guys right now and not them. So right now, they're going to come down to the ring and settle this, and challenges Sting to put the bat aside and do it like a man for a change. Sting tosses the bat out of the ring and Jarrett and Hogan come down to the ring and step inside...and the lights go out. When they come back up, Fortune is in the ring beating up Kevin Nash and Sting while Hogan and Jarrett are laid out on the other side of the ring. They finish beating up the old men and flash their new Fortune hand signal as we go to commercial.
Backstage, Raven is telling Tommy Dreamer that they should have killed Fortune, and Tommy says not to tell him anything, and to look at the bigger picture. They once again put over the opportunity Dixie Carter gave them as everyone tries to talk sense into Raven.
Back to the ring for the final first round match...
World Title Tournament, First Round: Matt Morgan vs The Pope
Pope sticks and moves on Morgan, and it looks like his strategy will be to stay out of Morgan's reach. Morgan grabs him and launches him into the corner, but Pope dodges the charge and beats Morgan down in the corner and puts the boots to him, then hits the springboard twisting senton for 2. Pope comes off the second rope and Morgan goozles him, Pope fights free and comes off the ropes but Morgan nails him with a discus clothesline. Morgan puts Pope in the corner and chokes him with his boot and then hits the machine gun elbows. Morgan follows that up with a running splash in the corner and goes for a side suplex, but just drops Pope instead of slamming him. Morgan kicks Pope into the corner as we see a Schrute Buck laying in the corner, and Morgan charges in but eats boot and Pope comes off the top with a sunset flip, but Morgan yanks him up by the neck and gets a choke bomb, but yells at him instead of going for the cover. Pope tries to fight back but Morgan beats him down and chokes him on the top rope and gets a Boss Man splash on the top rope! Nice. Morgan pulls Pope to the floor and rams him backfirst into the ring apron, and as Pope regains his footing, Morgan tries to Carbon Footprint him into the ringpost, but Pope moves and Morgan crotches himself on the ringpost. Pope follows him in with the DDE and pulls him into the ring and covers for the win.
Winner: The Pope
The semifinals are now set: Kurt Angle will take on Jeff Hardy, and the Pope will face Ken Anderson.
Backstage, Mick Foley says he watched what happened to EV2.0, and he was spared the worst of it because he got knocked out early, but he is part of EV2.0 and there will be revenge. His doctor said he won't be ready to get in there for another couple of weeks so he'll need to let the others lead the charge, but he'll eventually join his guys in their fight against Fortune.
Main event time...
AJ Styles vs Tommy Dreamer
AJ goes after Tommy's bad knee to start, but Tommy catches AJ's foot on a kick and shoves him down. AJ tries a charge but gets backdropped to the floor, and Tommy goes out after him and hits a rolling senton off the apron. Tommy rams AJ into the guardrail and slams him on the floor, and then rolls him back in the ring. AJ nails him coming back in and works him over in the corner, but Tommy catches AJ on a leapfrog attempt and hits a running powerslam for 2. Dreamer chops AJ in the corner and hits a pump handle suplex for 2. Tommy gets on top of AJ and starts raining down punches and then picks him up, but AJ surprises him with a shot to the throat and a Pelle kick. AJ starts firing rights into the skull of Dreamer, who is now busted open, then picks Tommy up, slams him, and hits the big kneedrop. AJ continues the assault on Tommy and chokes him on the second rope, yelling to the camera that he's going to kill him. Tommy with a sunset flip out of nowhere for 2, but AJ immediately recovers and hits a dropkick, then we finally HIT THE CHINLOCK! It doesn't last long, as Tommy back suplexes his way out of it, but AJ recovers with a shot to the gut and another Pelle kick. AJ goes out to the apron and goes for the springboard elbow, but Tommy catches him coming in with an inverted atomic drop and a DDT. Fortune begins to make their way out to ringside, but EV2.0 cuts them off and a brawl erupts in the aisleway. Suddenly, Abyss comes out of nowhere from under the ring and attacks Dreamer and gives him the Black Hole Slam, then bails to the floor. AJ Styles crawls over and covers Tommy and gets the win.
Winner: AJ Styles
The EV2.0-Fortune feud continues at ringside as Abyss escapes through the crowd, and we're off the air.
Under Kettner, the ECWA was something of a throwback to the days of your local promotion featuring good vs. evil. Long before WWE marketed the virtues of their PG brand, Kettner was doing that style, distilled for fans of any age but without coming down as insulting to anyone. To say this is going to leave a huge void on the independent scene and the future of a number of up and coming stars, is a gross understatement.
I have been extremely lucky to have attended a number of ECWA events promoted by Kettner over the years and I always walked away wishing every promotion ran the way Kettner did. The shows were professional, they were fun, and everyone involved in every aspect of the group - from the wrestlers to the staff - always went out of their way. Jim ran a tight ship and ran a great company. He loved telling stories and he loved creating characters. He is going to be missed as there has never been another promoter quite like him that I've ever come across.
Kettner had been involved in local promotions for WWE events in Delaware. I am not sure if he will be continuing those responsibilities. For the longest time, the fact Kettner wasn't tapped for a national promotion has been one of the great mysteries of pro wrestling for me.
On behalf of everyone involved with PWInsider.com, I wish Kettner and his family nothing but the best. I don't think even Jim will realize how many lives he changed over the course of his career, and that's the mark of a great man.
August 19, 2010
After 43 years of promoting pro wrestling under the East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA) banner in the state of Delaware, Jim Kettner has retired from the ECWA. Kettner promoted his first show in 1967 in his backyard and went on to run one of the most successful, consistent, longest running, reliable and recognized independent promotions in the United States.
Kettner was originally trained to wrestle by Victor Riviera, Joe Alfano and Bulldog Brower. Kettner wrestled for some local independent groups in the late 1970sâ€early 1980s, but spent most of his time since 1967 developing the ECWA. In the early days, Kettner did wrestle on his own ECWA shows and is a 2â€time ECWA Tag Team Champion. Kettner also has done some part time training, promoting and other jobs for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) over the years.
The ECWA is known for many quality talents that have come through the promotion over the years, where Kettner had a hand in training and honing their skills. Men like Charlie & Russ Haas, Low Ki, Christopher Daniels, Bryan Danielson, Billy Kidman, Steve Corino, Christian, Simon Diamond, and Test as well as hosting appearances by some of the bigger name talents.
The ECWA is best know for it's Super 8 tournament that was established in Feb 22, 1997 and recently hosted it's 14th annual event on July 10, 2010. The list of wrestlers that have competed in the Super 8 over its history is a who's who in wrestling, men like Jeff & Matt Hardy, Austin Aries, Bryan Danielson, Davey Richards, Ace Darling, Simon Diamond, Reckless Youth, Low Ki, Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles and many more. In fact, the original Ring of Honor (ROH) style of matches were patterned after the Super 8 styles of matches in the early 2000's and in fact many, many of the talents that Kettner brought to the East Coast for the first time went on to ROH and later Total Nonâ€Stop Action (TNA) Wrestling and the WWE.
Jim Kettner's last ECWA show was August 14, 2010. At his request and insistence, Kettner left quietly and with no fan fare, as he has never been one to put himself in the spotlight. Jim wanted to convey his thanks and gratitude to all the folks over the years that have been part of the ECWA family and havesupported it so faithfully, from the staff, to the ring crew, to family and friends, to the sponsors, to the wrestlers and most importantly the fans. Jim said that Jim Kettner is not the ECWA, that no one person is the ECWA, that the ECWA is the collective group of all the people who have been a part of it over the years.
The transfer of daily operations from Jim Kettner to Mike Tartaglia was arranged by Joe Zanolle. Zanolle, a former pro wrestling referee and currently a photographer for Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) magazine and booker for Mike Tartaglia's Triâ€State Wrestling
Alliance (TWA) at www.twaprowrestling.com, has been attending ECWA shows for over 10 years and has also served as a photographer for the ECWA. Thecurrent TWA mirrors the ECWA in many ways as both are family shows that showcase some of the best independent wrestling peformers on the East Coast.
Tartaglia and Zanolle plan to run the TWA and ECWA shows as separate events, retaining both names and changing as little as possible, using many of the same names and keeping the rosters separate for the foreseeable future while there will be some talents swithed from one promotion to another and some talents will appear in both promotions. Tartaglia and Zanolle will maintain many of the ECWA traditions, including it's most highly visible event, the Super 8 which will celebrate it 15th year this year.
The TWA will continue to be based out of the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey while the ECWA will continue to be based out of the Newark Boys & Girls Club in Newark, Delaware.
Mike Tartaglia was a wrestler (Mike Bruno) in the original TWA in the early 1990's and competes sporadically in the current TWA. Tartaglia resurrected the current TWA with a reunion show on October 24, 2009 and has run shows in South Jersey and Pennsylvania over the last year. The TWA has used WWE legends such as Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Ax & Smash "Demolition," Al Snow, the Kat/Stacy Carter and Kamala, TWA Originals like "Hitman" Tony Steston, "The Beast" Glen Osbourne and "The Living Legend" Larry Winters, kid's favorites such as Shockwave the Robot, Mr. Ooh La La, The Blue Meanie and Kid America and great local independent talent like TWA Champion Breaker Morant, TWA Tag Team Champions "The Best Around" TJ Cannon & Bruce Maxwell, the Logan Brothers, and "Mr. Wrestling" Steve Corino w/ Rob Dimension. The TWA has also raised awareness and funds for several charities and has appeared in Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) magazine, The NJ Gloucester County Times Newspaper, the NJ Courier Post Newspaper and on NBC Philly CW57 and NJ 95.7 BENâ€FM.
Tartaglia is also a local South Jersey business man and has owned several of his own businesses over the last decade.
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