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September 21st
On this day in history in ....
1964 - Fred Blassie and Bobo Brazil took their famous feud to Madison Square Garden in New York City, where the two battled to a draw. In the main event, WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Waldo Von Erich via countout.
1986 - Carlos Colon defeats Terry Funk in a tournament final for the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The belt had been vacated on April 30th when Colon was injured. This began Colon's fifth reign with the belt. On the same card, The Rock N' Roll RPM's (Mike Davia & Tommy Lane) defeatThe Pastores (Luke Williams & Butch Miller) to win the WWC World Tag Team Title, starting their second reign.
1981 - WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeats Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco in a Texas Death Match at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1987 - Ted DiBiase made his return to Madison Square Garden after almost eight years after his last Garden match (where he lost to a debuting Hulk Hogan). In his Million Dollar Man persona, DiBiase offered Junkyard Dog $500 to not wrestle him. JYD instead headbutted DiBiase, then gave out the money to the crowd.
1989 - WWE taped Saturday Night's Main Event at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here are the results, which aired on October 14, 1989 on NBC:
- Randy Savage defeated Jimmy Snuka with a rollup after hitting him with Sensational Sherri's loaded purse.
- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Ted DiBiase with a small package. After the match, DiBiase and Zeus attacked Hogan, but Jake Roberts made the save, using Damien to run them off.
- Roddy Piper defeated Haku with a belly to belly suplex.
- Tito Santana vs. Rick Martel ended in a double disqualification when their upcoming Survivor Series partners (Dusty Rhodes, Red Rooster, Brutus Beefcake, Big Bossman, Akeem, Honky Tonk Man) all interfered and a huge brawl broke out.
- The Buskwackers defeated The Rougeau Brothers when Butch Miller pinned Jacques after a double gutbuster.
1990 - Dustin Rhodes made his Madison Square Garden debut, defeating Paul Diamond with an elbowdrop.
1992 - Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes defeat Terry Gordy & Steve Williams to win the WCW & NWA World Tag Team Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.
1992 - Brian Christopher defeats Reno Riggins in Memphis, Tennessee to win the vacant USWA Southern Heavyweight Title. The belt had been vacated after a match between then-champion Riggins and Christopher on September 14th. With this win, Christopher became the champion for the fifth time. On the same card, Junkyard Dog defeated Eddie Gilbert for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title, ending Gilbert's second reign, and Moondog Fifi defeated Miss Texas for the USWA Women's Title.
1994 - After just over three years of operations, the Global Wrestling Federation closed down. The group, which had a television show on ESPN, had attempted to fill the wrestling void left when Fritz Von Erich left the business and Jerry Jarrett stopped promoting in Texas. This would pretty much mark the end of any Dallas-based company as a national force on the wrestling scene. The company is credited for helping to launch the careers of The Patriot, Jerry Lynn, and Lightning Kid (Sean Waltman).
1994 - WWF ran Sayreville High School in Sayreville, NJ with the following results: Nikolai Volkoff pinned PJ Walker (ECW's Justin Credible), WWF Ladies champion Alundra Blayze (Madusa) pinned Bull Nakano, Kwang (Savio Vega under a mask) pinned Jim Powers, Doink (Ray Apollo) pinned Jeff Jarrett, Thurman "Sparky" Plugg (Bob Holly) pinned Abe"Knuckleball" Schwartz (Brooklyn Brawler Steve Lombardi), The Heavenly Bodies defeated Well Dunn, Mabel pinned Bam Bam Bigelow.
1998 - Masahiro Chono vacates the IWGP Heavyweight Title due to a severe neck injury.
1999 - During a Smackdown taping in Dallas, Texas, Triple H wrestles five times in order to earn a spot in the Six-Pack Challenge at Unforgiven. He loses to Big Show in a Chokeslam match, defeats Kane in an Inferno match, loses to Mideon & Viscera in a Casket Match, defeats Mankind in a Boiler Room Brawl, and defeats the Rock in a Brahma Bullrope Match. Also on the show, Road Dogg & Billy Gunn defeat The Rock & Mankind to win the WWF Tag Team Championship and Ken Shamrock wrestles his final WWF match, losing to Chris Jericho in a First Blood match when Jericho hits Shamrock with a hockey stick and Shamrock "spits up" blood.
2002 - Xavier defeats Low Ki in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to become the second ever Ring Of Honor champion. Mike Johnson filed the following report:
RF Video's Ring of Honor returned to the Murphy Recreation Center last night, drawing 400+ for an event which saw the promotion "throw the script out the window" as they stated prior to the show in press releases, as Spanky and Steve Corino, who were set to be integral parts of the show, were needed to stay in Japan for Zero-One's PPV.
To make up for the card changes, the promotion promised a different slant on the ROH concept, offered the first two bouts of the evening for free, and organized a Fan Fest prior to the event with meet and greets with the roster. The FanFest included an angle where Michael Modest was approached about joining Christopher Daniels' Prophecy but refused.
Complete results of the show:
*In the first round of the ROH Tag Team championship tournament, Christopher Daniels and Donovan Morgan defeated Jose and Joel Maximo in 7:21. During the bout, a woman who got into it with Simply Luscious hopped the rail and hit a moonsault off the top on Daniels and Luscious.
*In the first round of the ROH Tag Team championship tournament, Dick Togo and Ikuto Hidaka defeated James Maritato and Tony Mamaluke. Gary Michael Cappeta came out to interview the former FBI about their issues. This led to an immediate match between Maritato and Mamaluke, with Mamaluke scoring the pin in about 3:30.
*In the first round of the ROH Tag Team championship tournament, American Dragon and the debuting Michael Modest defeated Chris Divine and Quiet Storm in 6:23.
*Da Hit Squad came out for their match with Natural Born Sinners but were jumped and laid out by the Carnage Crew. The Crew stated they had also laid out the Sinners in the back (Sinners were not at the show), giving Modest and Dragon a Bye to the Finals of the tournament.
*In the semi-finals of the ROH Tag Team championship tournament, Christopher Daniels and Donovan Morgan defeated Dick Togo and Ikuto Hidaka in 14:24. This was said to have been a tremendous bout.
*Alex Arion from New England Championship Wrestling made his PA debut for the promotion, defeating Dunn in 1:36. The bout was supposed to be a tag match with Dunn & Marcos against Arion and Prince Nana, but Nana came out wearing protective gear on his head, saying his head hurt, playing off Low Ki "knocking out" Nana at the promotion's 6/22 event. The Christopher Street Connection, complete with ECWA's The Japanese Pool Boy, came out and did a promo, only to be jumped by Alexis Laree.
*CM Punk did a promo in the ring to build to his debut for the promotion in November, only to have long-time rival Colt Cabana come out as well.
*Xavier defeated Low Ki to win the Ring of Honor championship, becoming the second competitor to hold the belt after Christopher Daniels became involved. Xavier joined Daniels' Prophecy. This was said to have been another tremendous bout.
*Pro Wrestling NOAH's Takao Omori debuted, defeating NWA TNA's Sonny Siaki, also making his debut for the promotion, in 7:28.
*In a rematch from the initial Ring of Honor event in February 2002, Jay Briscoe defeated The Amazing Red with the J-Driller in 7:47. Another strong match.
*In a Streetfight, Paul London defeated Michael Shane in a bout that included Tables and Chairs. The finish of the bout saw London do an amazing Shooting Star Press off the top of a 12 foot ladder in the middle of the ring onto Shane for the pin. London had pulled out of the ROH Tag Team championship earlier in the night when London confronted him (since his partner Spanky was in Japan, London was going to team with American Dragon but Shane came out) to get a shot at Shane, who he has been feuding with. This was said to have been an out of this world bout with tremendous spot after spot.
*In the Ring of Honor Tag Team championship finals, Christopher Daniels and Donovan Morgan captured the promotion's championship, defeating American Dragon and Michael Modest in 26:40. This was said to have been a tremendous tag match.
Notes: Gary Michael Cappetta was used as an interviewer in the ring and backstage....The mysterious large African American male who attacked and chokeslammed several wrestlers at the last ROH event in PA resurfaced, with ref Hanson the object of his destruction this time....Ring of Honor returns to The Murphy Recreation Center on 10/5 with "Glory By Honor" an event designed to be one of their showcase events. Scheduled for the show is Low Ki vs. Samoa Joe, Steve Corino vs. Rudy Boy Gonzales in a Texas Death Match, Doug Williams, Ikuto Hidaka, Dick Togo, and more.
2003 - WWE held their Unforgiven Pay-per-view in Hershey, Pennsylvania at the Giant Center, headlined by Bill Goldberg defeating Triple H for the World Heavyweight Title. This would be the final championship, to date, that Goldberg would win. Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:
WWE's Unforgiven, a RAW brand PPV, aired live from Hershey, PA. I'm giving the show a thumbs up, mainly for HHH finally dropping the world title and the fact that everyone worked hard. Overall it was a somewhat mixed show, hot in spots, cold in others.
THE DUDLEYS defeated LA RESISTANCE & ROB CONWAY in a handicap tables match to capture the RAW World Tag Titles in 10:17. Earlier on HEAT it was announced that Spike Dudley couldn't compete due to injury. Eric Bischoff made the match into a handicap bout (it was originally a six man). Steve Austin then upped the ante and declared that La Resistance's tag belts would be on the line. D-Von got doubled on early. He fought back, and joined Bubba Ray in destroying Conway. Bubba cleared the ring of all three heels to a good pop. D-Von tagged back in and cleared the ring again with a ton of flying lariats. Bubba called for the tables after a wazzup spot, and before you know it several tables materialized in and around the ring. D-Von got sent through a table first (the rules were that to win you had to put all of the opposing team through a table). Bubba pounded Sylvan Grenier and put him through a table. D-Von moved a table to keep Bubba from being smashed through it. The Dudleys then powerbombed Conway from the ring through a table on the floor, and his head hit a second table next to it in a manner similar to what happened to Spike two weeks ago. Finally they 3D'ed Rene Dupre through a table for the win. Decent opener, and the crowd was into it.
TEST defeated SCOTT STEINER in 6:56. Jim Ross kept talking about how sweet Stacy Keibler is, how she has a nice personality, etc., leading Jerry Lawler to say JR probably goes to Hooter's and orders carry-out. Stacy kissed Steiner, infuriating Test. Steiner hit a suplex, some chops, and an elbow. Test tried to use Stacy as a shield and she slapped him. Test sent Steiner into the stairs and then full nelson slammed him. Test came off the top but got caught and suplexed. Test got powerbombed but didn't seem to go up right for it. Test tried to use the ropes for a pin after a low blow on Steiner, but Stacy broke the pin up. Test reached over the ropes to grab her, but she snapped his neck on the ropes and Steiner almost scored the pin. Test hit the pump handle slam, but got distracted by Stacy and chased her rather than going for the pin. There was a badly mistimed spot where Stacy accidentally bumped into Steiner, leading to Test booting him in the face. Test got a chair. Stacy took it from him and swung it at him, but Test ducked and Steiner took the blow. Stacy looked like she was about to cry. Steiner staggered back up, but caught the boot to the face and was pinned. This was the usual cluster-type match we've been seeing on RAW. Test dragged Stacy to the back afterward, as it was reported that Steiner, by losing, now becomes Test's "property". We'll see the results of this tonight on RAW.
RANDY ORTON defeated SHAWN MICHAELS in 19:20. Ric Flair came out with Orton. Heartbreak Kid outwrestled Orton on the mat. Orton tried to match HBK move for move but HBK kept outwitting him. Orton looked frustrated. HBK hurled Orton over but he skinned the cat and nailed HBK with a dropkick. Orton put the boots to HBK. Orton came off the top but caught a knee to the groin. HBK lariated Orton over and skinned the cat himself. HBK nailed Orton on the floor with a flying crossbody off the top. HBK dominated for a while, scoring some twos after standard suplex and sunset flip moves. They traded fists and chops. HBK charged at Orton, and ended up hitting the post when Orton sidestepped. Flair posted the wounded HBK and gave him a low blow. Orton began working on HBK's shoulder, which was sold as injured from the post shot. Orton scored several two counts here. HBK came back with fists and chops, hitting a flying forearm. HBK did a kip-up to show he was still in the game. He backdropped Orton and slugged Flair off the apron. HBK hurled Orton over the top and sent him into the ring barrier. Back in the ring, Orton recoverd and sent HBK crashing upside down into the corner. Orton blocked the sweet chin music and hit the RKO, but only scored a two. Orton came off the top with a crossbody. HBK sidestepped and Orton crashed to the mat. HBK slugged Flair again. He hit an elbow off the top on Orton, but hurt his own shoulder (still sore from the earlier posting) and couldn't follow up with a pin. He kipped-up again. HBK hit the chin music and Orton went down and was pinned, but Flair put Orton's foot on the rope right after the three count. The ref saw it there and assumed it had been there during the count, so he voided his count and the match continued. Flair got back on the apron, and HBK nailed him with the chin music, but this gave Orton the opening to pull out some brass knux. He KO'ed HBK with them and scored the pin. Very good match, easily the best on the show.
Chris Jericho visited La Resistance & Conway. All three were nursing their wounds from the tables match. Jericho said they were the latest victims of Austin's abuses of power as general manager. He noted that their match wasn't supposed to be for the tag titles but that Austin changed the rules just minutes before the match. He vowed that he would stand up and fight Austin's tyranny.
TRISH STRATUS & LITA defeated MOLLY HOLLY & GAIL KIM in 6:45. Trish & Lita cleaned house early. Lita nailed Gail with armdrags, backdrops, and suplexes. Trish chopped the hell out of Gail. Molly enabled Gail to gain command but Trish fought back and escaped Gail's choke-type hold. Trish got trapped in the heel corner and beaten down. She escaped and tagged but the ref didn't see it and disallowed it. As Gail stomped Trish, Molly caused Lita to bump off the apron. It looked like Lita hit pretty hard and she split her lip open. Lita was a little rusty here from being out of action for a year. Lita finally hot tagged and threw lariats and fists like crazy. She hit a spinning headscissors on Molly and Litabombed Gail. Trish gave Molly a huracanrana and Lita then hit her with a twist of fate and moonsault for the pin. All action, and a solid match.
KANE defeated SHANE McMAHON in the Last Man Standing match in 19:52. Shane hit Kane with a chair from behind during the intros. He nailed Kane with several chairshots, including some to the knee. He wrapped Kane's knee around the ringpost. He rammed Kane into the stairs. Kane juiced from the back, apparently from a chairshot. Shane came off the ring barrier but Kane caught him and slammed him on the floor. The ref counted but Shane got back up. Kane beat Shane down and hit him with the stairs. Shane made it back up at the count of eight. In the ring, Kane chokeslammed Shane, but Shane again got back up before the ten count. The ref got bumped. Kane went for a tombstone piledriver, but decided to do it on the stairs, so he dropped Shane and brought the stairs into the ring. Shane recovered and bulldogged Kane on the stairs. Shane did a Van Terminator, kicking the stairs into Kane's face. The ref was still out, and in fact he was out for a ridiculously long time with no substitute ref coming in. He finally revived just as both Kane and Shane went down after some brawling with the stairs. Both beat the ten count. They left the ring and brawled up the aisle, with Shane holding his own as he slugged it out with the alleged monster. Kane rammed Shane over and over into the steel Unforgiven sign. Kane smashed Shane into the Spanish announcers' desk, which was on an elevated platform, and then tried to turn the desk over on Shane, but Shane rolled clear. Shane hit Kane with a piece of metal and a boom camera (breaking the camera lens). Kane got back up at the nine count. Shane used a cable to choke Kane and to drag him up on a platform. He beat Kane down with a monitor and gave him a DDT. Shane then went to the top of the big Unforgiven sign and came off, attempting to give Kane an elbow smash. But Kane rolled clear and Shane crashed through the wooden platform in a daredevil spot. JR & Lawler sold it like Shane was destroyed and likely broke his neck. Shane stayed down and was ten counted, with Kane winning. Shane did a full neck brace and stretcher job, and it was later reported that he was hospitalized. I have mixed feelings about this match. On the one hand, it's totally bizarre to push Shane as competitive with a guy they're trying to promote as an unstoppable monster. On the other hand, they were both good here and the crowd seemed to love it, and Shane clearly got over doing that daredevil spot.
Jericho confronted Austin backstage. He blamed him for making Kane into a monster and for screwing La Resistance out of their tag belts. Austin dared him to take his best shot. But Jericho said he was too smart for that, and would force Austin to crack by getting to him psychologically and avoiding any physical provocation.
CHRISTIAN defeated CHRIS JERICHO and ROB VAN DAM in a three way match to retain the IC Title in 19:02. The crowd was dead here after the Last Man Standing spectacle and the earlier HBK vs. Orton bout. In addition, most of the match didn't click. I've never been a fan of three way matches, which always have too many broken up pin attempts. Most of the match was Jericho & Christian doubling on RVD, but then being unable to pin him because neither wanted the other to win. RVD rallied a few times but obviously couldn't score the pin either. A lot of this was really sloppy and they seemed to not be on the same page. Some early highlights were RVD moonsaulting both foes on the floor, RVD hitting a somersault plancha on Christian, and Jericho hitting a springboard dropkick on RVD. Jericho blocked an RVD huracanrana attempt and hooked the walls hold, but Christian broke it up. Jericho and Christian went at it for a while. RVD started a comeback and the crowd finally got into the match the last four minutes or so. They did one great spot where RVD was setting Jericho up for a move off the top, but Christian got underneath both and superplexed them. RVD hit a frog splash on both foes at the same time. Christian brought the title belt in. RVD sent Jericho from the ring and laid Christian out. He went up for the frog splash but Christian got his knees up, with the title belt on his knees, and RVD landed on the belt. Christian pinned RVD to retain the title. JR said the match wasn't pretty, which was his way of saying it was disappointing, which it was. But the last four minutes or so were good.
Triple H did a promo comparing Goldberg to a dragon-slaying knight in a fairy tale who suddenly finds himself in the real world and gets his ass kicked. HHH said he doesn't believe the hype.
AL SNOW & JONATHAN COACHMAN defeated JIM ROSS & JERRY LAWLER in 8:16. No one did commentary here, since apparently no one realized it was necessary. Actually, it wasn't. JR wore an Oklahoma jersey. Lawler and Snow started off, doing some routine brawling and occasional pin attempts. Snow backdropped Lawler. Coach, from the ring apron, told Snow to do another backdrop, but this time Lawler blocked it and gave Snow a piledriver. Snow draped his leg across the ropes to break the three count. Snow rallied and beat Lawler down. Coach tagged himself in, against Snow's wishes. Coach stomped Lawler and went for the bronco ride but got crotched when Lawler moved. Lawler bodyslammed Coach as the crowd chanted for tables. Lawler hit Coach with a fistdrop. Snow broke up Lawler's attempted pin. JR tagged in to a big pop. Snow confronted him like a bully, and JR kicked him in the balls. JR then put the boots to Coach as if he were nothing but a government mule. JR was pounding the hell out of Coach, and seemed primed for victory. But, out of sight of the ref, Jericho ran in, dropkicked JR, and rolled Coach on top of him. Lawler tried for the save but Snow held him. JR was pinned. Jericho did a promo from ringside boasting that this was the first stage in his plan to mentally break Austin, namely by costing his boy JR his job, since the stips were that Snow & Coach would replace JR & Lawler on RAW if victorious. The match itself was about what you'd expect, but JR was great during the post-match, looking heartbroken at the loss, and telling Lawler he let him down. He did a nice promo talking about how he'd wanted to be in the wrestling business since he was a kid and said Lawler was like a brother to him. He and Lawler vowed to go out on top like professionals and to call their final match together (the main event) doing the best job of the careers.
GOLDBERG defeated TRIPLE H to capture the RAW World Title in 14:57. The rules were that the title could change hands on a DQ or count-out, and that Goldberg would have to retire if he lost. The crowd was hot at first but soon cooled, though they popped at the finish. Goldberg press slammed HHH early and HHH bailed out. They slugged it out, followed by a backdrop from Goldberg, and HHH bailed again. HHH snapped Goldberg's throat on the ropes. HHH got back in the ring, but Goldberg caught him with a suplex. Goldberg went for a spear. However, HHH nailed Goldberg with a knee to the head, so the spear move backfired. HHH lariated Goldberg out and posted him. HHH hit a chop block and wrapped Goldberg's leg around the post. He kept working over Goldberg's leg, including hooking the figure four. Goldberg reversed it, but HHH escaped. HHH hit a knee drop. He went for another one but Goldberg blocked it and hit a powerslam. HHH bumped out, where Goldberg rammed him into the stairs. HHH juiced. Back in the ring, there was the mandatory ref bump. HHH hit Goldberg with a low blow and a DDT. Goldberg shook it off and backdropped HHH from the ring. HHH got the sledgehammer he always has hidden under the ring (why don't they search for it earlier?) and hit Goldberg with it. Goldberg went down, but this time came back up like Superman, or more likely Hulk Hogan, and speared the shocked HHH. Goldberg jackhammered HHH for the pin as the ref revived. The match was only average, and to get Goldberg's win over it needed to be quick and lighting-like, which wasn't going to be allowed for political reasons. But Goldberg is now the champ and we'll see how they handle it.
2004 - At a Smackdown taping in Phoenix, Arizona, The Fabulous Moolah & Mae Young (combined age of 162) defeat Torrie Wilson & Dawn Marie (combined age 62) when Moolah rolled up Dawn for the pin in under four minutes.
2004 - Vince Russo responded to comments made about him in Jerry Jarrett's book about the creation of TNA, specifically on Russo's writing ability in a post made on his website's message board.
Russo's comments were made to a fan on the board defending him in a thread about Jarrett's comments that were featured in an excerpt on PWInsider.com. In the excerpt, Jarrett wrote to his son Jeff via email that reading Russo's writing was, "Like reading a book by someone on LSD."
Russo wrote:
"Dear Marty,
I am completely taken back by your effort to defend me concerning Jerry Jarrett's e-mail. What an honor to have somebody spend that kind of time in your favor.
I thank Jerry Jarrett for making it crystal clear why I have come to despise the wrestling business over the past 12 years. Jerry's e-mail to Jeff clearly and matter-of-factly shows you first hand what kind of situations and individuals I have had to deal with throughout my career.
Let me just say it right now--I hate the wrestling business. The only thing that keeps me involved is all the young men and women in TNA who I truly care for. My interest is to counsel them and school them in a business that will just chew them up and spit them out . . . if they let it. My greatest joys come in this business today when I get to spend some quality time with the talent. This past Sunday AJ Styles and his wife invited me, my wife Amy and my daughter Annie to his church. It was the best time I had in the "wrestling business" in the past two years. To me--that's what it's all about.
I'm just sitting here stunned--trying to figure out what makes one individual discredit another. What? To me there is only one answer--again--tear others down=build yourself up.
I pray foir (sic) Jerry Jarrett and I mean that. I hope one day he will be able to find the peace, love, happiness, contentment and joy in his heart that I have discovered in mine.
Please let Jerry's e-mail be a lesson to you all. If you can't share love . . . it's not worth sharing.
I thank you so much for remaining loyal. I appreciate the fact that you can see through it all and realize--WE WERE ENTERTAINED AT THE TIME AND THAT'S ALL WE EVER ASKED FOR.
Your will always be family.
Vince"
2005 - WWE.com announced that Mark "Muhammad Hassan" Copani was no longer with the company. As they wrote on the site, "According to John Laurinaitis, Vice President of Talent Relations for World Wrestling Entertainment, Mark Copani, a.k.a. Muhammad Hassan, and WWE have decided to go their separate ways."
According to the story, Copani had no ill will towards WWE and is heading to Hollywood to try and become an actor. When asked if he would ever wrestle again he said, “Wrestling is in my back pocket for now. Luckily, the door was left open for a return if that is what I wish to do in the future. And if that’s something I wish to do, I know who to call.”
There had been rumblings among WWE wrestlers over the weekend that the release was coming or had happened. Since being removed from WWE TV, Copani had moved to Los Angeles to try and break into acting. According to one source, Copani felt that it was just a matter of time before he was dropped since there was nothing that WWE could really do to bring him back given the uproar over the Hassan character. Copani, wanting to put his energies into acting, had privately discussed requesting a release in recent weeks.
One WWE source noted that Copani wasn't the most well liked person among some in the WWE locker room. There was a feeling among some of the wrestlers that he was using the business as a stepping stone and didn't have a particular passion for it. There was also unhappiness towards him by WWE management towards the end of his run since (if you can believe this) he had turned down ideas that would have pushed his character even farther across the line. Management was also unhappy that Copani had turned down their request to head to Ohio Valley Wrestling to brush up on his in-ring skills after the Hassan character was written off following a PPV match at the Great American Bash PPV.
To date, Copani never wrestled again, although he did make at least one wrestling convention appearance years later.
2005- Chyna began filming a season of VH-1's The Surreal Life.
2006 - WWE signs 2 Cold Scorpio to a three year contract. He would go back to his old WWF name of Flash Funk (because he would not sign the rights to the Scorpio name over to WWE) and be used on a few overseas shows, but would never appear on WWE TV, and would be released less than a year after being signed.
2006 - Word came out that Vince Russo had officially joined the TNA Creative team, while Mike Tenay and Scott D'Amore were off the team. This meant the new creative team would be Vince Russo, Dutch Mantel and Jeff Jarrett. They would remain the creative team until 2009, when Mantel would be released and Jarrett would voluntarily remove himself from the team.
2007 - Steve Austin appeared on the Dr. Drew radio show. the Dr. Drew show, which broadcasts in late night radio because of sexual content. A caller asked him if he would ever wrestle Hulk Hogan. Steve articulated his answer to this ever popular question. Austin said that while he respected Hogan's career and his fans, Hogan was "moving around slow, and takes forever to fall down". He said that if the match took place, it would "suck". Austin doesn't think to much of Hogan personally. He also added that Hogan liked to "stir the pot" and was manipulative. He did again say that he did respect Hogan's career and fans, but that the match would never happen.
2007 - Hermie Sadler's UWF presented Capital Punishment II in Virginia. Joseph White filed the following live report:
Joey Matthews/Mercury over AJ Styles after illegally holding the ropes. I have no idea why, but they played with the crowd getting cheap heat for almost 20 mins. Most matches in the mid-Atlantic area tend to be like this, as it was back in the 70's-80's and to me seems outdated. However the kids ate it up, so stick with what works i guess.
JBL then came out and recruited LAX for his team and Slaughter got Team Macktion to join his team. Macktion is nothing special in my opinion they are a cross between the Hardys and London and Kendrick. JBL cut one hell of a promo here.
Special 8-Man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal - Winner faces Joey Matthews tomorrow night. Damien Wayne was the only familiar face, the rest I never heard of. AJ Styles came in the back door as the 8th entry and missile drop kicked Wayne and someone else out of the ring. AJ Styles won and will face Joey Matthews tomorrow night in a rematch
David Young & Daffney over Jake Manning *Doing a boyscout gimmick of all stupid things* & Gail Kim after Young gave Manning a spinebuster
Hermie along with Ron Simmons and Ricky Steamboat presented a check for $20,000 to the Commonwealth Autism Fund. When they announced the check amount Ron Simmons said his favorite quote "DAMN!!!" The crowd chanted one more time so he said it again! "DAMN" It never gets old to me.
Senshi over Ruckus with the Warriors Way Double Stomp. WWE or TNA should keep their eye on Ruckus. The guy who managed Senshi did a damn good job he actually got into the ring afterwards and raised Senshi's hand.
D-Lo Brown over Abyss via DQ, after Abyss hit D-Lo with a chair. Awesome Back and forth match, my favorite of the night. The same guy who managed Senshi Managed D-Lo and got into the ring yet again afterward. However this time show promoter Hermie Sadler pulled him aside and it looked like he kind of chewed the guy out. I don't know how they are able to work this guest manager thing out with the VA state commission, but I assume as long as you don't actually get in the ring. This guy did so twice, and my guest is Hermie got pissed about it.
Intermission to set up the cage - it took about 30 minutes
Un Civil War 10-Man Cage Match - Team Slaughter over Team JBL
-Team Slaughter = Kirby Mack, TJ Mack, Dustin Rhodes, Rick Steiner, and Scott Steiner
-Team JBL = Elix Skipper, CW Anderson, Steve Corino, Homicide, and Hernandez
-The Rules were the captain was able to get involved if they wanted to and you can only win via tap out or surrender.
-JBL came in to the cage (in his suit minus the cowboy hat) and gave everyone a Clothesline From Hell, Slaughter came in behind him and locked on the cobra clutch. JBL tapped out. Team Slaughter was victorious
Afterward JBL said he would be there after the show for everybody in Richmond to line up and kiss his ass.
Overall an OK show. I guess the only reason WWE let JBL, Steamboat, and Slaughter do the show is because it was for a good cause. I hope they do a Capital Punishment 3.
2007 - TNA broadcast Impact, featuring the in-ring debut of Judas Mesias. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
As Impact moves closer to their biggest pay per view of the year, Bound for Glory as well as the two hour debut of Impact in two weeks, it is time for the company to move towards that pay per view. Last week, we saw Judas Mesias make his first appearance in the Impact Zone as he attacked Abyss during his match with Kurt Angle. We also saw Black Reign attack someone besides Chris Harris. Another new wrestler made his Impact Zone debut as Junior Fatu showed up as the man who will face Christian Cage in the Samoan Challenge. Will we see a smackdown between Fatu and Cage or will there be some raw hatred over what Christian has done to Joe? What will happen when a member of the two teams that will be battling for the TNA Tag Team Titles at Bound for Glory meet in singles action, and which former NWA World Champion will win as Ron Killings meets A.J. Styles? What new things will happen between Kurt Angle and Sting? What about between Karen Angle and Sting? Will we find out any more matches for the pay per view?
We start off tonight's show with a look back at last week's episode of Impact. We see Black Reign attack Shark Boy after their match and Eric Young saving Shark Boy from any further injury. While we see footage from No Surrender of Samoa Joe choking Christian Cage, we hear Christian berating Matt Morgan. Samoa Joe spears Joe and we find out that Matt Morgan will be the special enforcer for Christian's match against Joe. We also find out that Christian will be wrestling Junior Fatu tonight. We see the Angle further humiliate Sting. We see highlights from the Six Sides of Steel Match that is interrupted by the first look at Judas Mesias.
We go to Kurt Angle's locker room where Kurt is with his wife Karen and Kevin Nash. Angle says that he brought the cameras in to publicly apologize to him. He says that he did not mean what he said to Nash at No Surrender and that he was under a lot of pressure because he had three matches. He says that he is sorry. Angle says that he knows that Nash was not at Impact last week because he was angry at Kurt. Nash accepts the apology and then Kurt hugs Kevin. Nash says that the hug is a little creepy. Kurt says that last week was awesome with the beat down they gave Sting. Kurt says that he has not felt that good in years. Karen says that you don't mess with the Angles. Nash says that the Angles don't know Sting like he does. Nash says that there are two Stings. There is the nice Sting; and the real creepy, dark, evil Sting. Karen tells Kevin that he is completely overreacting. Nash asks Kurt and Karen if they remember a little group that he was in called the nWo. Nash says that they decided to punk Sting by knocking him around and spray painting him. Nash says that for the next two years their lives were a living hell. Nash says that Sting was a demon. Nash says that they kicked a sleeping dog. Kevin wants to know whose idea this was and Karen points at Kurt while Kurt points at Karen.
Someone enters the locker room and asks Karen if she is Karen Angle and then when she identifies herself, he hands her a letter. Karen wants to know why he is walking into her dressing room as she accepts the letter. Karen says that this is a great time for fan mail. Kurt tells Kevin that Karen slapped Sting four times and Kevin is incredulous. Karen says that Kurt told her to slap him. Karen says that after she slapped Sting, Kurt beat the hell out of him. Karen and Kurt argue until Karen reminds Kurt that Sting hit her at the pay per view. Kevin does the air quotes and says allegedly. Karen wants to know what Kevin's problem is as she gets up and says that Kevin wasn't even there and did not see what happened. Kurt wants to know what they need to do. Kevin says that they need to make things right and do some damage control. Kurt tells Karen that she is going to apologize. Karen says that she will do it but she is not happy about it. Karen leaves the locker room and Kevin says that Kurt better pray that Sting buys this. Kurt gets up and asks Kevin to join him in prayer.
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike Tenay and Don West.
Match Number One: Judas Mesias versus Eric Young
Eric is very hesitant to get into the ring with Mesias but he gets a pep talk from some of the fans at ringside. Mesias tosses Young into the corner and punches and chops Young. Young with punches to Mesias and then he floats over on an Irish whip. Mesias grabs Young by the throat and then he tosses Young over the top rope to the floor. Mesias goes outside the ring after Young and he throws Young into the ring post three times. Mesias picks up Young and he punches Young in the head before throwing Young into the ring steps. Mesias with a running boot to the head against the ring steps and we see that Young is bleeding from the forehead. Young is rolled back into the ring. Mesias with a leaping Flatliner for the three count.
Winner: Judas Mesias
After the match, Mesias kicks Young in the head and then he punches Young. Shark Boy comes out and then he comes to the ring to try to save Young. Mesias stops the attack as Shark Boy checks on Young. Mesias with a kick to Shark Boy and then he punches Shark Boy followed by the leaping Flatliner. Mesias returns to Young and then he bites Young's forehead. Mesias goes outside the ring and he gets a steel chair. The referees try to stop Mesias from doing any more damage to Young or Shark Boy but the referees flee the ring. Rhino comes to the ring and he has a chair as well. Mesias leaves the ring.
We go to the back where Crystal is with A.J. Styles and Tomko and there is a tropical feel to the backstage area. A.J. says that it took him all day to set this up and he is wearing a straw hat. He has a grass skirt for Crystal to wear for Christian's arrival. Christian enters and A.J. says that he is early. A.J. says that it is a celebration because Christian is wrestling one of the biggest and baddest Samoans ever so he is keeping the theme going with a luau. A.J. says that he has some bananas and suggests that they peel them with their toes like the Samoans do. Tomko reminds A.J. that tonight he is facing one half of the tag team champions who they will be facing at Bound for Glory. Tomko wants them to win the TNA Tag Team Titles and wonders if A.J. wants to win them too. A.J. says that he wants to win those titles. Tomko tells A.J. to get the bananas out of his hand and the hat off his head and come on.
Christian is left with Crystal and he says that last week he told Jim Cornette to find the biggest and baddest Samoan that he could find and he says mission accomplished because Cornette found Fatu. Christian says that he knows how good and talented Fatu is, but unfortunately Fatu caught him at a bad time. Christian says that when he looks at Fatu, all he sees is Samoa Joe. Christian says that Fatu has found himself in the wrong place and that is in the ring with the best, with the champ. He tells Samoa Joe to watch closely because he is going to do to Joe at Bound for Glory what he is going to do to Fatu tonight. He points out that he has never been pinned and has never submitted and it will continue at Bound for Glory. We go to commercial.
We are back with Mike talking about how Team 3D is going to take care of each tag team, one by one. We go to a video package for Team 3D and the Steiners. We see the promos between the Steiners and Team 3D after Slammiversary when Scott showed everyone the scar from his surgery. We also see the Steiners being attacked by Team 3D. We hear from Team 3D where Brother Ray says that he cannot believe that they showed the Steiners any respect. He says that the Steiners are on their death beds with IVs hooked up with a little old nurse trying to feed them strained prunes. He calls them an old decrepit, washed up tag team. The video ends with Scott making a challenge.
Match Number Two: A.J. Styles with Tomko versus Ron Killings with Pacman Jones
Styles gets distracted by talking to Jones before the match and that allows Killings to hit Styles from behind. Killings with punches to Styles followed by kicks. Killings with an Irish whip and running clothesline followed by a bulldog. Killings hits a running clothesline on Styles. Killings punches Styles but Styles responds with a phenomenal drop kick. Styles with a back breaker to Killings and then he starts yelling at Jones on the floor. Jones takes off his shirt and then he jumps onto the apron and spits at Styles, hitting him in the face. Styles chases Jones around the ring and Jones slides into the ring. While Tomko tries to stop Styles when he returns to the ring, Killings hits a flying forearm. We go to commercial.
We are back and Styles is choking Killings. Styles with an Irish whip but Killings with a float over followed by a cartwheel into a split when Styles tries for a clothesline. Killings with a jumping leg lariat followed by a kip up into a split. Killings with a punch to Styles followed by a gourdbuster driver. Killings kicks Styles in the back and then he punches A.J. in the head. Killings kicks Styles but Styles punches Killings. Killings with a knee to the midsection but Styles hits a double thrust to the throat to stagger Killings. Tomko with a knee to Killings' back from the apron on an Irish whip and that allows Styles to hit a discus clothesline. Styles with a rake of the eyes and then he hits a spin kick. Killings with a poke to the eyes but he is unable to hit the rollup because Styles holds on to the ropes. Styles with a moonsault into an inverted DDT but he can only get a two count. Styles goes up top but Jones distracts A.J. from the apron. Tomko is also on the apron but he is taken off the apron after a drop kick from Killings. Styles comes off the top turnbuckle and goes over Killings. Styles misses a spin kick while Killings misses a jumping leg lariat. Styles does not miss with the Pele kick. Tomko gets on the apron and that distracts the referee. Styles sets up for the Styles Clash, but Jones comes in the ring and he sprays A.J. in the face with the spray paint. Killings hits the axe kick for the three count.
Winner: Ron Killings
We go to the back where Jeremy Borash is with Karen Angle. Jeremy says that Karen has requested airtime to address Sting. Karen says that she is making an open public statement to Sting. She says that she has done some terrible things to Sting over the last few weeks. She says that she has done some horrible things to Sting over the past few weeks. She asks Sting for the opportunity to make things up to him. She says that if Sting is the true true gentleman that he says that he is, then he will meet this lady in the ring tonight to hear what she has to say. We go to commercial.
We are back and Karen Angle comes to the ring. Karen addresses Sting and she says that she is deeply, deeply sorry for the things that she did to him this past week. He says that she has done some things that she is deeply, deeply ashamed of. She never meant Sting nor his family any harm. From the bottom of her heart, she is sorry. Being the amazing performer that she is and being married to the great Olympic champion and eleven time world champion, she got caught up in the moment. It was just one slap, maybe three or four but she cannot remember. The fans in the Impact Zone are not buying what Karen is saying and they let her know their feelings about it, but Karen tells everyone that she is trying to apologize. Karen says that all she wants is for Sting and Kurt to go out at Bound for Glory and have a great match. She wants to see two amazing competitors going at it in the ring.
Sting says that if she thinks that he is going to get caught up in another Angle plot, she is wrong. Sting appears from the Chute of Facial Impact and says that Karen is right about one thing. It will be just Kurt Angle and just Sting at Bound for Glory for the TNA Heavyweight Title. There will be no tricks and no Karen Angle. Karen wants to know who is going to stop her and wonders if Cornette will be able to do anything. Sting asks Karen if she read the letter. Karen pulls out the letter and is shocked to see that it is a restraining order. Sting says that Karen cannot come within fifty feet of him between now and Bound for Glory or she will be arrested, handcuffed, and carted away to jail. Karen wants to know if Sting is kidding and Sting says that he is not kidding. He also points out that he is closer than fifty feet from Karen. Karen backs up, but Sting moves closer to the ring and to Karen. Karen crawls up the Ramp of Heelish Impact and the "Police" come up behind her and they handcuff her.
Kurt Angle comes out and he wants to know what is going on while Karen is screaming and kicking. Kurt yells at Sting and then we see Karen get taken down the Chute of Heelish Impact by the "Police". Karen is taken out of the Impact Zone and into a police car. Kurt tries to tell the "Police" that she did nothing wrong, but they take her away.
Match Number Three: Christian Cage versus Junior Fatu
They lock up and Christian is pushed out of the ring by Fatu. Christian re-enters the ring and he gets Fatu in a side head lock. Fatu with a shoulder block and then he stands over Christian but Christian moves out of the way. Fatu blocks a punch from Christian and he responds with a forearm to Cage. Christian avoids a clothesline from Fatu but then Fatu bends over and Christian stops short of Fatu's rear end. Fatu with a back body drop to Christian and Fatu gets a near fall. Fatu with a chop to Christian followed by a series of Irish whips and then he charges into the corner for a running butt splash but Christian moves out of the way. Christian goes up top and he is caught by Fatu who hits an uranage for a two count. Christian punches and chops Fatu but Fatu shakes them off. Fatu with a head butt to Christian and Christian goes to the apron. Fatu with a running shoulder block that knocks Christian off the apron and into the guardrails. We go to commercial.
We are back and Christian is choking Fatu in the ropes. We see that Christian hit a missile drop kick during the commercial break to gain the advantage. We return to live on tape action and Christian is on the top turnbuckle, but he misses a frog splash when Fatu rolls out of the way. Fatu with uppercuts to Christian. Christian tries for a sunset flip but Fatu will not go over. Fatu tries to drop down but Christian rolls out of the way. Christian covers but Fatu with a powerful kick out. Christian tries to Irish whip Fatu, but Fatu will not budge. Fatu with an Irish whip and punches to the head. Fatu with an Irish whip followed by a belly-to-belly suplex for a two count. Fatu hits a super kick on Christian. Christian backs into the corner and Fatu with a running butt splash. Christian falls into the turnbuckles and Fatu sets up for the Stinkface but Christian goes to the apron. Christian goes up top but Fatu with a press slam. Fatu pulls Christian into the corner and sets for the Bonzai Drop but Christian gets his knees up. Christian exposes the turnbuckle and that gets the referee's attention but it backfires when Fatu hits a Samoan drop but Fatu can only get a two count. Fatu sets for a power slam but A.J. Styles has appeared at ringside to distract Fatu. Fatu with a super kick to Christian and then he gets Christian up for another slam, but Styles grabs the legs. Christian with a rollup for the three count.
Winner: Christian Cage
After the match, Fatu pulls A.J. Styles into the ring while Styles celebrates Christian's victory. Fatu with punches to Styles and Christian followed by a double noggin knocker. Fatu with running butt splashes into the corner on Styles and Christian. They both go down and it is stinkface time. Styles is the first one to suffer the consequences. Fatu does it to Christian. Tomko comes out to attack Fatu and he makes it a three-on-one situation. Samoa Joe comes out and he goes after Styles, Cage, and Tomko. Joe with a running back elbow to Christian and Christian gets out of the ring. Joe and Fatu exchange head butts on Tomko and Tomko joins Styles and Christian on the floor.
We go to the back where Sting is being attacked by Judas Mesias and Mesias is choking Sting as we go to credits.
2009 - Lacey Von Erich, the daughter of Kerry Von Erich, signed a deal with TNA.
2009 - Ring Announcer Lilian Garcia makes her WWE departure after calling Raw, wanting to concentrate on her musical career and other projects. She would return to work a Raw broadcast several months later when the majority of the WWE crew were trapped in Europe due to a volcanic eruption. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report for that unique episode:
We are live from Little Rock, Arkansas and your announcers are Jerry ‘Land of my favorite Governor’ Lawler and Todd ‘Vintage Goodbye Lillian’ Grisham.
We see a limo arrive and it isn’t the Undertaker coming out of the driver’s seat. Cedric The Entertainer is joined by the Bellas and his associates. Cedric has some people in football uniforms come out of the limo as well as a friend of the ‘Suck It Granny’. We even have a mohel and a farmer with a goat.
Degeneration X come out and they have something to say before our first match. Hunter asks if we are ready and then he yells at everyone to be ready. Hunter brings up Hell in a Cell in two weeks and he asks Shawn about the first Hell in a Cell match involving Shawn Michaels. Shawn asks Hunter who has won more Hell in a Cell matches than anyone and Hunter reminds us it was him. He says that he is a five time winner. Then they point out that Cody and Ted have never been in a Hell in a Cell match and then they talk about how they don’t know what to expect. Hunter talks about their opponents the last time and how they were beaten and battered. Shawn says Vince was in the match and they like him. However, they don’t like Cody and Ted. Hunter says that they will get the beating of their lives at Hell in a Cell and on that night, it ends.
Match Number One: Triple H with Shawn Michaels versus Cody Rhodes with Ted DiBiase
Ted gets on the apron and that distracts Hunter and Cody punches and kicks Hunter. The referee pulls Cody away and that allows Hunter to send Cody into the corner. Cody with a punch and kicks. Hunter charges into a boot from Cody and Cody with a double sledge to the back followed by punches and a choke in the corner. Cody is sent into the ring post and then Hunter does it again. Hunter with a third attempt and then he puts Cody in the Crippler Crossface. Cody makes it to the ropes and the referee tells Hunter to release the hold. Cody rolls to the floor and Ted checks on Cody but Hunter with a baseball slide to Cody and he sends Ted into the ringside barrier.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Cody with a rear chin lock on Hunter. Hunter punches Cody but Cody with a neck breaker and a near fall. Cody with a forearm to the head. Cody with a punch and then he chokes Hunter in the ropes. Ted punches Hunter while the referee was with Cody and Cody gets a near fall. Cody with a side Russian leg sweep for a near fall. Cody with a cravate and kick. Cody goes up top and hits a moonsault for a near fall. Cody stares at Shawn and that allows Hunter to recover and punch Cody. Cody with a kick but Hunter sends Cody over the top rope to the floor. Shawn stands next to Cody and Cody slaps Hunter. Shawn chases Cody and he avoids Ted but he punches Ted. Ted with a flap jack to Shawn onto the announce table and then Cody and Ted with a high low to Shawn. Hunter sets for a pedigree but Ted gets a chair and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Triple H by disqualification
After the match, Ted hits Hunter in the head with the steel chair. Rhodes gives Hunter CrossRhodes and then Ted gives Hunter Dream Street. Cody and Ted aren’t done and they put the chair on Hunter’s head but Shawn gets the GameHammer and Cody and Ted leave the ring.
We go to commercial and we have a contract signing coming up.
We are back and it is time to bring out Cedric the Entertainer. Cedric says that tonight is going to be off the chain. Cedric says that everyone asked him why he would be a good guest host and he says that he is the real deal and he is a WWE fan. Cedric jokes that Big Show drives a Prius. Cedric talks about the second and third generation superstars. We see some comparisons, even Mark Henry and the Kool Aid Man.
Santino comes out and he talks about how honored he is to be with Frederick the Entertainer. Santino has Frederick’s new DVD and he wants to do stand up comedy. Santino bombs on his first joke and Cedric pulls a Kanye.
Chavo Guerrero comes out and Cedric says that Chavo is funny because anyone who lets a leprechaun beat him up every week is hilarious. Santino tells Cedric that Chavo didn’t let Hornswoggle win. Chavo says that Hornswoggle isn’t the problem. The problem is that punk guest hosts put him in a no win situation. He says that he is sick and tired of the celebrity host junk. Cedric says that Chavo being karate chopped by Bob Barker was pathetic. Chavo asks Cedric if he is a tough guy now. Chavo says that he is out here to make a challenge to Cedric. He challenges Cedric to a match tonight. Cedric talks about a battle he has with his movie star. Santino tells Chavo that Fredrick the Entertainment accepts the challenge of Chavo the Leprechaun Loser.
We see footage from last week when Miz took the US Title while Jack Swagger pinned Kofi.
Josh Mathews is with The Miz and The Miz has Kofi’s title belt. Miz says that he took what is going to be his. He says that he shocks audiences all over the world and he is the reason why people watch. Miz says that the United States Champion should be from the United States. Kofi attacks Miz from behind and takes back his belt after asking Josh what’s up.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that more people watched Raw than the major networks (of course we don’t want to mention Monday Night Football).
Match Number Two: Evan Bourne versus The Miz
Bourne asks Miz where his belt is and then they lock up. Miz with a clean break and then they lock up again. Bourne sends Miz into the corner but Miz sends Bourne into the turnbuckles followed by punches. Bourne with a drop kick and kick to the leg. Miz drops Bourne on the top rope. Miz with a kick to the head followed by a camel clutch. Bourne with kicks to the leg but Miz with a knee and kicks to the back. Miz with an Irish whip but he misses a clothesline and Bourne with a rollup for a near fall. Miz with a neck breaker for a near fall. Miz chokes Bourne in the ropes and kicks him in the head. Miz with a suplex for a near fall. Miz returns to a modified camel clutch. Miz pulls Bourne to the apron and he connects with forearms to the back of the head followed by a running knee lift. Miz returns to a Tiger Clutch but Bourne sends Miz into the turnbuckles and then he follows with kicks. Miz with the running clothesline into the corner. Miz goes up top but Bourne crotches Miz and Bourne with a rana from the turnbuckles and then it is time for Bourne to go up top and he misses the Shooting Star Press when Miz moves. Bourne lands on his feet but Miz hits his version of The Stroke for the three count.
Winner: The Miz
Cody and Ted are in the locker room and Randy Orton enters and he wants to talk about tonight. Randy says that he wanted Cody and Ted at ringside for the contract signing, but after what they did to DX, he wants them to rest for their match at the pay per view. Randy says that he has everything taken care of because it is only a contract signing.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the Official Contract Signing Table is in the ring and Jerry Lawler brings out the participants in the Raw main event on Hell in a Cell. Out first is Randy Orton. We see footage from last week when Batista defeated Randy Orton. Out next is John Cena. Jerry tells John and Randy that there is a No Physicality Order in effect. Jerry tells Randy he can accept the match or give up his rematch clause. Randy signs the contract. Orton tells Lawler to get out of the ring.
Orton tells Cena that he thinks he has him all figured out and at his lowest point and his weakest. Randy stands up and he says that he is more dangerous than he has ever been. He will do whatever it takes to get his title back. Randy points out that Cena has never been in a Hell in a Cell match, but he has been in one. Randy says that he knows what it takes to win. Orton tells Cena that he will never be the same.
Cena stands up and throws his hat into the crowd and then he asks Orton if he was saying something. Cena goes to the video tape of Orton saying ‘I Quit’ at Breaking Point. Orton asks Cena if he wants to turn it into a joke. Cena says that he already said what Orton would do and Randy has done that. Cena says that Orton has punished him more than any other Superstar. Cena says that he made it through that. Cena says that Orton has scared him into surrendering the title after what Orton said about Hell in a Cell, but then Cena laughs and says that was ridiculous. Cena signs the contract and says that is the funny part because the match is now official. Cena says that if Orton does not win, he is done with title matches. Cena says that he has looked in Orton’s eyes and he knows what Randy is capable of. He says that Randy should be worried because Randy does not know what Cena is capable of. Cena says that when they lock the door at Hell in a Cell, he will DESTROY Randy Orton.
Orton says that he would love to RKO Cena through the table, but legally he cannot do that. Orton says that Cena’s arrogance has caused people to despise him. Hell in a Cell might be coming in a few weeks, but he has no problem getting a few people to put Cena through hell, right now.
It isn’t LackeyMania coming out, it is the Undisputed Tag Champions, Big Show and Chris Jericho. Randy watches from the announce table.
Show gets rid of the table and Show and Jericho attack Cena. Mark Henry and Montel Vontavious Porter come out to make the save.
Cedric appears on the TitanTron and he has an idea. Cedric decides that there will be a six man tag match with Big Show, Chris Jericho, and Randy Orton facing Mark Henry, Montel Vontavious Porter, and John Cena.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Alicia Fox defeating Gail Kim last week.
Alicia Fox is at ringside to watch the next match.
Match Number Three: Mickie James versus Beth Phoenix
They lock up and Beth sends Mickie to the mat. Beth tries for a slingshot suplex but Mickie avoids it and then Mickie with a neck breaker and a drop kick that sends Beth to the floor. Mickie with a Thesz Press and then she gets in Alicia’s face. Beth sends Mickie into the ring post. Beth with the Implant Buster for the three count.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
After the match, Alicia takes the title belt and brings it into the ring. Alicia with a scissors kick.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Kofi Kingston versus Jack Swagger for the United States Title
Swagger with a kick and forearms to the back. Swagger with a key lock but Kofi with an arm drag to escape. Kofi with chops but Swagger catches Kingston and puts him on the turnbuckles. Swagger throws Kofi away on a tornado DDT attempt but Swagger with a big boot.
Miz comes to the ring and he takes the title belt. Swagger goes after Miz and hits a Northern Lariat on Miz and Swagger leaves with the title belt and Swagger gets counted out.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that a lot of homes can get WWE?
Match Number Five: Chavo Guerrero versus Cedric the Entertainer with The Bellas with Guest Referee Santino Marella
Cedric puts on his mask before the match, but he keeps his cape on. They lock up to a stalemate. Chavo takes Cedric’s hat and stomps on it. Cedric is furious and leaves the ring. Cedric goes under the ring and Chavo knows that Hornswoggle is under there. Chavo goes to the other side to wait for Cedric to come out. Suddenly Cedric is bigger and Chavo chuckles. Chavo slaps new Cedric and then new Cedric chases him. New Cedric slams Chavo back into the ring. Chavo tells Santino that it is not Cedric. New Cedric with a clothesline. New Cedric with a splash in the corner and then he goes under the ring one more time. Now Cedric III is short and white. Cedric III with a frog splash. Cedric Classic returns to get the three count.
Winner: The Cedric Trilogy
We go to commercial.
We are back and The Reverend Al Sharpton is the guest host next week.
It is time to run through the card for Hell in a Cell and it is Rawcentric.
Cedric is with Kelly Kelly in the locker room and Cedric is hitting on her. Chris Jericho is in the office behind Cedric and Chris stares at Cedric before telling him that they need to talk. Cedric says that he is busy with Kelly and comments on Chris’ breath. Big Show emerges and says that they need to talk and apparently size matters.
Jerry Lawler is at the announce table and he points out that tonight is the final night for one of the Divas. Jerry thanks Lillian for more than ten years of service in the WWE. Lillian gets on the mic and she says that when she signed up for this ten years ago and she never expected this type of adventure. She says that she has been all over the world and she talks about performing the National Anthem, especially in front of the troops. She says that it has been amazing working for this company. She talks about the people she has worked with. She says that she will miss the fans, but her heart will always be in the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Chris Jericho is in the ring with a mic and he says that they dislike John Cena as much as him. That is why they went to Cedric the Entertainer to have them up the ante for the match. Chris says that if they lose the match, then next week, Randy has to face Mark Henry, John Cena, and Montel Vontavious Porter in a gauntlet match. Show says that he needs to trust them. If they win then John Cena will be in a gauntlet against the three of them.
Match Number Six: Randy Orton, Big Show, and Chris Jericho versus John Cena, Mark Henry, and Montel Vontavious Porter
Cena and Jericho start things off and they lock up and Cena with a clean break but Jericho with a punch and forearm. Orton makes a blind tag and Cena with a shoulder to Jericho but Orton comes in and Cena gets Orton on his shoulders. Orton leaves the ring and Cena chases after him and Show gets in the way. Jericho with a vintage sneak attack. Orton works over Cena in the ring. Orton with a punch but Cena punches back. Orton with a power slam followed by a leaping knee drop. Show tags in and he connects with a head butt. Show with a punch to the midsection and Jericho is tagged in. Jericho punches Cena followed by a back elbow. Orton tags in while Jericho stands on Cena’s neck. Cena with a belly-to-belly suplex. Porter and Jericho tag in and Porter with a belly-to-belly throw and thrusts to Jericho followed by a flying clothesline. Porter with a facebuster and it is time for some Ballin’ and Show and Orton stand on the apron watching the move. Show stops the Playmaker and head butts Porter in the back of the head. Show tags in and slams Porter. Show with a head butt followed by a clothesline. Orton slithers into the ring and he has Porter in a reverse chin lock. Porter with elbows and punches but Orton with a drop toe hold and knee to the back. Jericho tags in and chokes Porter in the ropes and misses a splash into the ropes and both men are down. Orton tags in and he stops Porter from making the save. Orton with the Garvin Stomp. Porter blocks punches from Orton and hits a few of his own. Porter with a punch and then Henry makes the tag as Porter goes by him. Henry with a head butt to Orton and then he knocks Show off the apron and brings Jericho into the ring. Henry with a body block to Orton. Cena sends Show over the top rope to the floor. Jericho clips Henry and then Orton hits the RKO on Henry for the three count.
Winners: Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, and Big Show
2010 - TNA President Dixie Carter announced that Ken Anderson had signed a new "long term" contract with the company.
2010 - WWE presented NXT. Richard Truonfo filed the following TV report:
We start off with a look back at the problems between Kaitlyn and Vickie Guerrero. We also see Vickie Guerrero run the obstacle course before the Divas. Then we see the other Diva storm off the set after getting frustrated with the show.
We are live on tape from Bloomington, Illinois and your announcers are Josh ‘I get to interview people on Raw’ Mathews and CM ‘Major Straight Edge Upgrade’ Punk. Your host is Matt ‘If I could do the pay per view commentary alone . . . wait, I already do that’ Striker.
CM Punk makes his way to the ring wearing a lovely blazer that is straight edge. Punk is given a present from Josh, an 8x10 photo and Punk rips it. Punk calls the show a car crash and he is looking forward to watching it.
The Divas come out to the ring. Matt says that if they thought they were scrutinized before, it gets worse. In two weeks, we will get the first elimination. Matt says that last week was huge for Jamie since she won her first match and the Joke Off. Matt points out that Kaitlyn won the Obstacle Course.
Vickie interrupts Matt and gives a few Excuse Mes. Vickie says that what Kaitlyn did last week was impressive but she showed Kaitlyn how to run the obstacle course. Vickie says that it is her leadership skills that made her win. Kaitlyn is in a match this week against Jamie. Vickie says that she invited some of her close friends to coach her this week.
We see the only Divas Champions come to the ring and they are wearing matching outfits. Michelle says that Kaitlyn should be thankful that Vickie Guerrero is her pro and that she can trust in the two of them. Layla points out that they are the undisputed Diva’s Champions. Michelle says that she is the sole reason why Kaval won Season Two. Layla says that if Jamie’s pros were here, it wouldn’t matter because her pros are the Bella Twins. Michelle says that they are beautiful because the sky is the limit, but they don’t really mean it. Michelle and Layla insult the rookies.
Kelly interrupts and tells Michelle and Layla that they can’t run things. Kelly says that even though Jamie’s pros aren’t here, she is here and so is Naomi. Kelly suggests a six person tag match.
Layla and Michelle accept the match.
There is some tension in the ring and Matt plays peacekeeper because we will have a competition, but first a commercial, and it will be Legendary.
We are back and it is time for the next challenge. Matt says that the most important thing for Divas is their timing. That is why we are going to play Musical Chairs. Matt reminds us that the Diva with the most wins gets immunity. Matt reminds us that Naomi has two wins while Kaitlyn and Jamie have one win each. Punk talks about how he was at the Steel Domain Wrestling School and they played musical chairs. Kaitlyn is the first one eliminated. We lose a rookie and a chair. The next rookie to go is Jamie. Maxine is the next one to go but she wants a piece of Aksana before she leaves the ring. We are down to three and there is some stutter stepping and Aksana is eliminated. They circle the chair and AJ wins but Punk suggests that there is some controversy with the win.
Punk and Josh look at the replay and they talk about AJ was able to pull off the upset.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Josh comments on Punk’s wardrobe.
We go to a video package for Aksana. She talks about how she is from Lithuania and she came to the US in 2001. She wanted to be a professional figure athlete. In 2009, she won Ms. International Figure and she was interviewed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Competing in fitness and figure, it is like the WWE. She talks about how she is usually shy and quiet, but in the ring, she is different. Aksana says that she never stops believing in herself. She says that if you are smart, you know how to be sexy and powerful.
Aksana is in the back and Goldust asks her if she saw the video. Goldust says that it was awesome. Aksana says that she got a letter from Immigration and she has problems with her visa. Aksana says that she could be deported. Aksana doesn’t want to have her dreams taken away. Goldust says that they will fix it. He tells Aksana to be focused. He tells Aksana that she needs to win some matches and she can still win NXT. They do some breathing techniques and then Goldust says that he wants Aksana to show her aggression.
Punk talks about how he could have used some subtitles with Aksana. Josh then asks Punk if he ever talked to his rookie like Goldust did with Aksana. Punk says that he never talked to his rookie.
Speaking of deportation, Josh segues into what happened on Raw and how Nexus could be deported. Who wants a Raw Rebound.
It is time to run through the two matches announced for Hell in a Cell and Punk adds his thoughts.
We see footage from last week’s Joke Off and Maxine’s comments to AJ.
Match Number One: Maxine with Alicia Fox versus AJ with Primo
They lock up and Maxine with a knee and she sends AJ to the mat. AJ with punches and a shoulder tackle. AJ with a cartwheel and arm drag followed by a spin kick. AJ with a kick but Maxine with a drop toe hold and then she chokes AJ in the ropes. Maxine with a reverse chin lock. AJ gets to her feet but Maxine sends AJ back to the mat in what is described by Punk as ‘vintage’ moves. Maxine with a suplex for a near fall. Maxine with an Irish whip followed by a kick and clotheslines. AJ with a drop kick but Maxine with a brainbuster but AJ floats over and gets the three count.
Winner: AJ
We are interrupted by Michael ‘I never said I quit NXT even though I said it last week’ Cole. He wants our attention and he wants everyone to boo him. Cole says that the fans booing him are in the minority because Cole says that he knows there is a silent majority telling him to please return to NXT. Cole says that he had an epiphany. NXT without Michael Cole is unwatchable. NXT without Michael Cole is like Braylon Edwards driving through Manhattan or Bristol Palin trying to dance. NXT without Michael Cole is just bad. Cole wants his loyal fans, the Cole Minors. Punk tells Cole the show is bad with or without him. Cole says that he is bringing back journalistic integrity and he is coming back to NXT. Punk hugs Cole as we go to commercial.
We are back and Did you Know that WWE provides tickets for members of the military.
Punk mentions that he wishes he had a Chihuahua with him.
Matt Striker is in the ring and it is time for the second challenge of the night. It is time for the Talk the Talk Challenge and they will have sixty seconds to speak on their topics. Jamie goes first and her topic is ‘teeth’. Jamie says the WWE Universe doesn’t want to hear her talk about teeth. They want to hear about how Jamie is going to rock their world. She will bring her sex appeal, dedication and devotion more than anyone in the locker room. It is about a strong athletic woman who strives to better herself and not some weak girls who think they can fight. Jamie is going to prove what sexy, smart, and powerful means.
Matt reminds the WWE Universe the rookies have to stay on topic.
Naomi’s topic is ‘toupee’. Naomi thinks about it while the crowd boos. She can’t think about anything to say about a toupee right now. She wonders if we are here to wrestle. She is here to show us how good she is in the ring.
Matt says that Naomi has been disqualified for being off topic. Jamie has been disqualified as well.
AJ is next and she is hoping for a good topic. It is ‘caffeine’. She says that if anyone knows about caffeine it is her. She does not need caffeine because she has a natural high. She has this business and this ring. She has her passion for everything that she does in the ring. She says that she has been trying to do this for years, and did not need a check put in her face like the others.
Aksana’s topic is ‘llama’. Punk asks for subtitles. Aksana says that she loves blue eyes and likes Matt’s eyes. Aksana asks for an explanation. Aksana asks what a llama is. Aksana wants Matt to show please. Matt asks Aksana to talk about a camel. Aksana runs out of time.
Maxine’s topic is ‘foot’. Maxine says that she is the woman who belongs on top in WWE. It is because she can use her foot to squash AJ if she gets another match. She will use her foot to squash her until she taps out. She says that the only position for her is on top.
Kaitlyn is the last one and her topic is ‘ignition’. Kaitlyn says that she got some advice in the back and she was told to picture everyone in their underwear. Kaitlyn talks about the different people’s underwear and she says that she has gotten her ignition going.
Punk comments that he is not wearing pants and that is how he usually watches NXT.
The audience gives the competition to AJ.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Punk talks about how great a time he has had tonight on NXT.
Match Number Two: Layla, Michelle McCool, and Kaitlyn with Vickie Guerrero versus Naomi, Kelly Kelly, and Jamie
Layla and Kelly start things off and Kelly with a slap and Thesz Press. Kelly with an arm bar and Jamie is tagged in. Layla wants a time out and she takes the flower out of Jamie’s hair. Layla makes fun of Jamie and Layla throws the flower at Jamie before locking up. Layla pushes Jamie and Jamie pushes back. Jamie with a kick to the leg followed by a slam. Kaitlyn tags in and Jamie with a kick followed by a side head lock. Kaitlyn tries to get out of the hold and connects with forearms. Kaitlyn with a spear but she misses an elbow drop. Jamie works on the arm and Naomi tags in and Kaitlyn takes Naomi down and brings her into the corner. Michelle tags in and she kicks Naomi in the corner. Michelle is sent into the ropes and Naomi with a rollup for a near fall. Naomi with a drop kick and forearms. Naomi with an Irish whip and a spinning heel kick to the apron. Naomi knocks Layla off the apron and Michelle kicks Naomi. Layla hits Naomi and Naomi hits Layla but Michelle with a belly-to-belly suplex. Kaitlyn tags in but Naomi gets the three count.
Winners: Naomi, Jamie, and Kelly Kelly
After the match, Kaitlyn pushes Michelle. Layla grabs Kaitlyn’s leg and Michelle with a kick. Vickie yells at Kaitlyn.
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