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September 27th
On this day in history in....
1963 - WWWF ran Pittsburgh, PA at the Civic Center with the following results:
-Duke Hoffman defeated Tony Simon at 17:12
-Johnny DeFazio defeated Chet Wallick via disqualification at 13:00
-The Shadow defeated Ace Freeman at 10:41
-Gorilla Monsoon defeated Arnold Skaaland at 3:21
-Bobo Brazil & Dory Dixon defeated the Fabulous Kangaroos
-Eduard Carpentier defeated Baron Gattoni at 10:39
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated the Crusher in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match; fall #1: Crusher pinned Sammartino following a bodyslam at 11:00; fall #2: Sammartino defeated the Crusher via submission with the backbreaker at 5:51; fall #3: Sammartino won via disqualification at 7:29 when the Crusher began choking the champion
1965 - Bruno Sammartino's WWWF title belt was stolen out of a locked car in New York City while Sammartino was eating in a restaurant following an event in Madison Square Garden. The belt is never recovered.
Results from the event that evening saw:
-Johnny Valentine fought Bill Miller to a draw
-Bobo Brazil fought Bill Watts to a draw
-Argentina Apollo & Miguel Perez defeated Waldo Von Erich & Smasher Sloan
-Chief Big Heart defeated Frank Martinez
-The Magnificent Maurice defetead Pete Sanchez
-Angelo Savoldi defeated Herbie Starr
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Tarzan Tyler
1966 - WWWF taped television in Philadelphia, PA with the following results:
-Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Arnold Skaaland
-Tony Pugliese defeated Tony Nero
-Bulldog Brower defeated Angelo Savoldi
-Johnny Valentine defeated Tomas Marin
1968 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino & Batman Tony Marino defeated Virgil the Kentucky Butcher & Bull Ramos in Johnstown, PA.
1971 - It was announced this day by Vince McMahon Sr. that the WWWF would no longer be holding weekly television tapings at the National Arena in DC and instead the company would move its TV to Hamburg, PA; the move was prompted by the fact that the National Arena was too big to hold weekly events and the turn out for the shows was declining.
1971 - WWWF ran Washington, DC at the National Arena with the following results:
-Ernie Lassiter defeated Chuck Richards
-Mike Conrad defeated Tomas Marin
-Manuel Soto fought Mike Pappas to a draw
-Bull Molino defeated Tito Torres
-WWWF Tag Team Champions Tarzan Tyler & Luke Graham fought Karl Gotch & Victor Rivera to a draw
-Ernie Ladd defeated Gorilla Monsoon via disqualification when Bobo Brazil interfered as Monsoon was trapped in the ring ropes
-U.S. Champion Bobo Brazil defeated Stan Stasiak via referee's decision when the match was stopped due to blood
1971 - WWWF ran Waterville, Maine with the following results:
-White Venus & Paula Kaye vs. Lilly Thomas & Jan Sheridan
-Jimmy Valiant defeated Pete Wingo
-Mike Monroe defeated Beautiful Bobby
-Rene Goulet defeated Gene Ross
-Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Black Demon in 12:22
1974 -WWWF ran Harrisburg, PA with the following results:
-Arnold Skaaland pinned Lou Torres at 7:59
-Tony Altimore fought Rubin Ayalla to a double disqualification
-Bill White pinned Sylvano Sousa at 12:10
-Jose Gonzalez fought Larry Zbyzsko to a draw
-Killer Kowalski defeated Chief Jay Strongbow via countout at 17:32
1975 - WWWF ran Johnstown, PA with the following results:
The Executioner defeated Jack Evans
Frank Holtz fought Johnny Rodz to a draw
Dominic DeNucci & Pat Barrett defeated Jim Grabmire & Baron Mikel Scicluna
Spiros Arion defeated Haystacks Calhoun via countout
1977 - On a WWWF Championship Wrestling taping in Philadelphia, PA, Prof. Toru Tanaka & Mr. Fuji (w/ Freddie Blassie) defeated Larry Zbyzsko & Tony Garea to win the titles in a Best 2 out of 3 fall
1978 - WWWF ran Flemington, NJ with the following results:
-Johnny Rodz defeated Steve King
-Frankie Williams defeated Jose Estrada
-Victor Rivera defeated SD Jones
-Chief Jay Strongbow & Peter Maivia fought WWWF Tag Team Champions the Yukon Lumberjacks to a double count-out
1980 - WWWF ran Baltimore, Maryland with the following results:
-Tony Garea pinned Johnny Rodz at 11:08
-Rick Martel pinned Jose Estrada at 1:28
-Pedro Morales pinned Baron Mikel Scicluna at 6:04
-Larry Zbyszko defeated Pat Patterson via count-out at 13:16
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Wild Somoans defeated Domenic DeNucci & Rene Goulet at 8:38
-Andre the Giant pinned Ernie Ladd at 7:44
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned the Hangman at 17:28
1984 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Hampton, VA with the following results:
-Manny Fernandez defeated Gary Royal
-The Zambouie Express defeated Brian Adidas & Keith Larsen
-Black Bart defeated Mark Youngblood
-The Ultimate Assassin defeated Assassin #1 via disqualification
-Wahoo McDaniel fought Barry Windham to a no contest
-Dusty Rhodes defeated NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard via disqualification
1984 - The WWF ran Rochester, NY with the following results:
-Brutus Beefcake defeated Chief Jay Strongbow
-Ken Patera defeated Rick McGraw
-Greg Valentine defeated Nick DeCarlo
-Andre the Giant defeated Roddy Piper via count-out
-WWF Women's Champion Wendi Richter defeated the Fabulous Moolah
-The Junkyard Dog & the Wild Samoans defeated Big John Studd & the Moondogs
1985 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Norfolk, Virginia at The Scope featuring the following results:
-Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey defeated Ron Garvin & Starship Eagle
-NWA U.S. Champion Tully Blanchard defeated Dusty Rhodes via disqualification
-Ivan & Nikita Koloff defeated NWA Tag Team Champions Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson in a non-title steel cage match
-NWA World Champion Ric Flair fought Magnum TA to a 60-minute time-limit draw
1986 - The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers) defeat Eddie Gilbert & Sting to win the UWF World Tag Team Championship for the second time in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1986 - WWF ran Milwaukee, Wisconsin with the following results:
-Jerry Allen fought Terry Gibbs to a draw
-Hercules pinned Jose Louis Rivera
-Iron Mike Sharpe pinned Paul Roma
-Sivi Afi pinned Tiger Chung Lee
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage defeated George Steele by disqualification
-Mike Rotundo & Dick Slater (substituting for Danny Spivey) defeated the Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff
-The Machines defeated Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy via disqualfication; the Crusher was the special guest ring annuncer for the match
1986 - WWF ran St. Louis, Missouri, featuring the following results:
-Ted Arcidi defeated Tony Garea
-Nick Kiniski defeated Steve Lombardi
-Billy Jack Haynes defeated Steve Regal
-The Islanders defeated the Moondogs
-WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Paul Orndorff via countout at around the 6-minute mark after Hogan knocked out Orndorff with a chair on the floor; prematch stipulations stated that if the champion were disqualified he would lose the title
-Sika defeated George Wells
-Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart
-Kamala pinned Lanny Poffo
-Harley Race pinned Tito Santana
1987 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Greensboro, NC with the following results:
-Kendall Windham & Lazortron defeated the MOD Squad
-Jimmy Garvin defeated Manny Fernandez
-Sting defeated Eddie Gilbert
-UWF World Champion Steve Williams defeated Black Bart
-NWA World Tag Team Champion Ricky Morton defeated NWA U.S. Tag Team Champion Bobby Eaton
-NWA World Tag Team Champion Robert Gibson defeated NWA U.S. Tag Team Champion Stan Lane via disqualification
-NWA World Champion Ron Garvin defeated Big Bubba Rogers
-Dusty Rhodes, NWA TV Champion Nikita Koloff, & the Road Warriors defeated Ric Flair, NWA U.S. Champion Lex Luger, Arn Anderson, & Tully Blanchard in a steel cage match
1989 - The NWA ran Worcester, MA with the following results:
-Eddie Gilbert defeated the Cuban Assassin
-Tom Zenk defeated Norman The Lunatic
-Steve Williams defeated Mike Rotunda
-The Skyscrapers, Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey defeated The Dynamic Dudes, Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace
-Tommy Rich defeated Jack Victory
-Bobby Eaton defeated NWA World Tag Team Champion Michael Hayes
-Road Warrior Animal defeated Rip Morgan
-Sting defeated NWA World TV Champion the Great Muta via disqualification
1990 - The NWA ran Hampton, VA with the following results:
-The Juicer (Art Barr) pinned Dutch Mantell
-The Iron Sheik defeated Allen Iron Eagle
-The Master Blasters defeated Tim Horner & Mike Rotunda
-NWA U.S. Champion Lex Luger defeated Sid Vicious via count-out
-Ric Flair, NWA World TV Champion Arn Anderson, & Harley Race defeated El Gigante, the Junkyard Dog, & Brian Pillman when Flair pinned Pillman
-NWA World Champion Sting pinned the Black Scorpion (Randy Culley aka Moondog Rex)
1991 - WCW star Tom Zenk Tom Zenk was arrested on misdemeanor battery, possession of marijuana, and felony possession of steroids in Ohio.
1991 - WWF ran Minneapolis with the following results:
-Kerry Von Erich defeated the Berzerker
-The Beverly Brothers defeated the Bushwhackers
-IRS defeated Jim Duggan
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart pinned the Warlord
-Ricky Steamboat pinned Skinner
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Legion of Doom defeated the Nasty Boys
-Ted Dibiase defeated Virgil via countout
-Sid Justice (substituting for the Ultimate Warrior) defeated the Undertaker in a casket match
1991 - Wcw ran Marion, Ohio with the following results:
Van Hammer pinned Terrence Taylor
Tom Zenk pinned Oz (Kevin Nash)
WCW World Tag Team Champions The Enforcers Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko defeated Rick Steiner & Bill Kazmaier
Brian Pillman pinned Johnny B. Badd
WCW U.S. Tag Team Champions The Patriots, Todd Champion & Firebreaker Chip defeated Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin
WCW World TV Champion Steve Austin fought Dustin Rhodes to a draw
WCW World Champion Lex Luger pinned Barry Windham
1992 - WCW ran Charleston, SC at The McAllister Fieldhouse with the following results:
-Marcus Alexander Bagwell, Van Hammer, & Erik Watts defeated Bobby Eaton, Diamond Dallas Page, & Vinnie Vegas
-Tom Zenk defeated Greg Valentine
-Dustin Rhodes defeated Dick Slater
-Brian Pillman defeated Brad Armstrong
-WCW World TV Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Steve Austin
-Barry Windham defeated the Barbarian via disqualification
-Scott Steiner defeated Arn Anderson
-WCW World Champion Ron Simmons & Nikita Koloff defeated Jake Roberts & Cactus Jack when Simmons pinned Cactus
1992 - WWF ran Kiel, Germany at Ostseehalle with the following results:
-Tito Santana defeated the Genius.
-Road Warrior Animal & Crush defeated Skinner & Kato.
-Randy Savage defeated Papa Shango.
-Ted Dibiase & IRS defeated the Bushwhackers.
-Rick Martel defeated Virgil.
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Natural Disasters defeated the Beverly Brothers.
-WWF World Champion Ric Flair defeated Bret Hart at 35:13.
1993 - The WWF announced on Raw that Shawn Michaels had been stripped of the Intercontinental championship. Michaels had walked from the company due to a dispute with management. The Raw taping, in Hartford, CT, filled the vacancy over two episodes taped. A live episode featured Rick Martel and Razor Ramon as the final combatants in a Battle Royal. In a match taped for the following week, Ramon won his first title in the company, capturing the Intercontinental belt by pinning Martel.
1994 - A tournament was held in Osaka, Japan for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title, which had been vacated several days earlier when champion Jushin Liger had suffered a broken ankle. Here are the results of the tournament:
First Round:
Norio Honoga defeated Gran Hamada.
Black Tiger (Eddie Guerrero) defeated El Samurai.
Shinjiro Ohtani and Wild Pegasus (Chris Benoit) received byes to the semifinals.
Semifinals:
- Norio Honaga defeated Shinjiro Ohtani.
- Wild Pegasus (Chris Benoit) defeated Eddie Guerrero.
Finals:
- Norio Honaga defeated Wild Pegasus (Chris Benoit) to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title.
1994 - The 1-2-3 defeated a young enhancement talent named Chris Kanyon during a WWF taping in Poughkeepsie, NY. Kanyon would go on to make a name for himself in WCW before returning to WWE after the company purchased the remnants of World Championship Wrestling in March 2001.
1995 - Harlem Heat defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Scotty Riggs to win the titles. The match was never acknowledged and WCW re-taped the bout on October 11th of that year with the same result.
1995 - The WWF ran Kalamazoo, Michigan with the following results:
-Goldust defeated Bob Holly
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Smoking Gunns defeated Jacob & Eli Blu
-WWF Women's Champion Bertha Faye defeated Alundra Blayze
-Razor Ramon defeated Psycho Sid via disqualification
-The Undertaker defeated King Mabel
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels fought Davey Boy Smith to a double count-out
-WWF World Champion Diesel defeated Yokozuna
1996 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Ag Hall in Allentown, PA with the following results:
-Taz defeated Jimmy Cicero
-Mikey Whipwreck defeated JT Smith
-Buh Buh Ray & Spike Dudley defeated the Erotic Experience when Spike scored the pin
-Terry Gordy defeated John Kronus
-Tommy Dreamer pinned Brian Lee
-ECW World Tag Team champion New Jack defeated Stevie Richards & the Blue Meanie in a handicap match by pinning both men
-ECW World TV Champion Shane Douglas pinned Pitbull #2
-Sabu pinned Perry Saturn
-ECW World champion, Raven pinned the Sandman in a steel cage match
1996 - WWF ran Detroit, Michigan with the following results:
-Bob Holly pinned the Brooklyn Brawler.
-Jake Roberts & Aldo Montoya defeated Justin Bradshaw & Zebakiah.
-Barry Windham pinned Hunter Hearst Helmsley
-Steve Austin pinned Savio Vega
-The Grimm Twins defeated the Smoking Gunns
-The Undertaker pinned Mankind
-WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & the British Bulldog defeated Henry & Phinneas Godwinn
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Marc Mero defeated Farooq via disqualification
-Psycho Sid pinned Vader
-WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels pinned Goldust
1997 - WWF held their "One Night Only" Pay-per-view, the first UK only PPV event. Live at the NEC Arena in Birmingham, England, the event was only available in Europe (and for some reason, parts of Canada). An edited version of the show was offered months later in the U.S. as a discounted PPV. Here are the results:
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Dude Love (Mick Foley) with a Pedigree.
- Tiger Ali Singh defeated Leif Cassidy (Al Snow) with a top rope bulldog.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) defeated Los Boriquas (Savio Vega & Miguel Perez Jr.) when Mosh pinned Perez with a top rope splash.
- The Patriot defeated Flash Funk (2 Cold Scorpio) with a full nelson slam.
- The Legion Of Doom defeated The Godwinns when Hawk pinned Phineas after the Doomsday Device.
- Vader defeated Owen Hart with a powerslam as Owen jumped off the top rope at him.
- WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart defeated The Undertaker via DQ after Undertaker hit the referee.
- Shawn Michaels defeated Davey Boy Smith to win the WWF European Heavyweight Title. This marked one of only two occasions where the European Title actually changed hands in Europe (three if you include the initial title tournament). After interference from Rick Rude, Hunter Hearst Helmsely, and Chyna (soon to be known as DX), Michaels worked on Davey Boy's injured leg with a figure four leglock until Davey Boy passed out, and the referee ruled that he couldn't continue. Allegedly, Smith was supposed to go over in this match, and had been doing press in England dedicating the win to his cousin, who was battling cancer, but Michaels pulled a power play the day of the show and changed the result to a win for him.
1997 - The same evening, WWF ran Champaign, IL with the following results:
-Jesse Jammes pinned Rockabilly
-Henry & Phinneas Godwinn defeated the New Blackjacks
-Goldust pinned Brian Pillman
-The Patriot pinned Owen Hart
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Headbangers defeated Savio Vega & Miguel Perez Jr.
-Mankind defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a falls count anywhere match
-Crush, Chainz, Skull, & 8-Ball defeated Farooq, Kama, Rocky Maivia, & D-Lo Brown
-The Undertaker defeated WWF World Champion Bret Hart via disqualification
1997 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Orlando, FL at the Fairground with the following results:
-Al Snow & Roadkill defeated Marty Jannetty & the Vampire Warrior (w/ Luna Vachon).
-Justin Credible (w/ Jason) defeated Chris Chetti.
-Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Spike Dudley.
-Jerry Lynn defeated Chris Candido.
-Rob Van Dam defeated Paul Diamond.
-Beulah McGillicutty defeated Bill Alfonso.
-Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon defeated Little Guido & Tommy Rich and Spike Dudley & Mikey Whipwreck in an elimination match.
-ECW World Champion Shane Douglas defeated Dory Funk Jr, who was a mystery opponent brought in by Rick Rude as part of a storyline where Rude was paid to keep testing Douglas.
-Sabu fought ECW World TV Champion Taz to a time-limit draw.
-ECW World Tag Team Champions John Kronus & New Jack defeated Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley and Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten in an elimination match.
1997 - WCW ran Baltimore, Maryland with the following results:
-The Ultimo Dragon defeated Alex Wright via submission with the Dragon Sleeper
-WCW Cruiserweight Champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Chris Jericho with the frog splash
-Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Scott Norton & Buff Bagwell when Scott pinned Bagwell
-Steve McMichael pinned Jeff Jarrett with the tombstone
-Randy Savage defeated Diamond Dallas Page via count-out; after the bout, Page dropped the referee with the Diamond Cutter
-Lex Luger & the Giant defeated WCW U.S. Champion Curt Hennig & Syxx via disqualification when WCW Tag Team Champion Scott Hall, on crutches, interfered; after the bout, Buff Bagwell and Scott Norton helped gang up on Luger & the Giant until Sting cleared the ring with a baseball bat
1998 - WWF broadcast the Breakdown '98 PPV with the following results:
-Owen Hart pinned Edge at 9:17 with a reverse sunset flip after Edge became distracted by someone (the debuting Christian). who came out of the crowd-Al Snow & Scorpio defeated Brian Christopher & Scott Taylor at 8:05 when Snow pinned Taylor with the Snow Plow
-Marc Mero (w/ WWF Women's Champion Jackie) pinned Droz at 5:12 with a bodyslam and the Shooting Star Press after Jackie came off the top behind the referee's back and hit Droz in the head with her high heel shoe
-Bradshaw pinned Vader in a no holds barred, falls count anywhere match at 7:55 with a neckbreaker after twice hitting the Clothesline from Hell
-D-Lo Brown pinned Gangrel with the Sky High at 7:50 after Mark Henry, who came ringside moments earlier, rammed Gangrel into the ringpost and rolled him back inside the ring; after the bout, Gangrel spat red fluid in Henry's face, back suplexed D-Lo off the top, and hit the DDT on him
-The Rock defeated Ken Shamrock and Mankind in a steel cage match at 18:46 by pinning Shamrock after Mankind hit Shamrock over the head with a steel chair and began climbing out of the cage; the bout could end via escaping the cage or by pinfall; due to pre-match stipulations, Rock became the #1 contender to the world title
-Val Venis (w/ Terri) pinned Dustin Runnels with the Money Shot at 9:08 after three consecutive elbow drops; after the bout, Terri and Val kissed inside the ring as Dustin went backstage
-WWF European Champion X-Pac, WWF Tag Team Champions Billy Gunn & the Road Dogg defeated Jeff Jarrett & Southern Justice at 11:14 when Gunn pinned Dennis Knight with the Fameasser, moments after Jarrett broke his guitar over X-Pac's head; after the bout, the New Age Outlaws helped X-Pac backstage
-The Undertaker and Kane defeated WWF World Champion Steve Austin at 22:03 when both men covered the champion following a double chokeslam; pre-match stipulations stated Taker could not defeat Kane and Kane could not defeat Taker; Sgt. Slaughter, Pat Patterson, and Gerald Brisco appeared at the entranceway mid-way through the contest; after the bout, Vince McMahon came ringside, stole Austin's personalized Smoking Skull belt, and taunted Austin with it in the parking lot before driving out of the arena
1999 - WCW broadcast Nitro from The Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA with the following results:
-WCW World TV Champion Chris Benoit defeated Ernest Miller
-Buff Bagwell defeated Vampiro
-Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Dean Malenko
-Bill Goldberg defeated Hugh Morrus
-Berlyn defeated Evan Karagias
-WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat defeated Barry & Kendall Windham
-Rick Steiner defeated Van Hammer
-Konnan fought Perry Saturn to a no contest
-Billy Kidman defeated Psychosis; stipulations stated Kidman would have his hair cut if he lost and Psychosis would have to unmask if he lost
-Bret Hart & Ric Flair defeated WCW World Champion Sting, Lex Luger, & Diamond Dallas Page via disqualification in a handicap match
2003 - WWE's Raw brand ran Bismark, North Dakota with the following results:
-Spike Dudley defeated Rico
-Test defeated Tommy Dreamer
-The Hurricane & Rosey defeated Rodney Mack & Mark Henry
-Randy Orton defeated Lance Storm
-Shane McMahon defeated Kane in a streetfight
-Trish Stratus & Lita defeated Victoria & Jackie; Val Venis was the guest referee for the match
-WWE Intercontinental Champion Christian defeated Rob Van Dam
-WWE Raw Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz defeated Rene Dupree & Rob Conway in a tables match
2004 - WWE broadcast Raw. Tim Whitehead filed the following TV report:
The 9/27 edition of RAW IS HOT, COLD, AND SWERVED aired live from Kansas City. It was a proverbial mixed bag show, with a couple of good matches, a really good promo that was spoiled by a swerve, and some seriously lame stuff.
They opened with a tribute to Ray Traylor. Rest in peace Big Bossman.
Eric Bischoff came down to the ring. He announced that Vince McMahon's interactive Taboo Tuesday PPV idea is now official. He still didn't like the concept, continuing to rant about how ludicrous it is to give mere fans the power to decide matches and stipulations. He insisted his opposition isn't because of his ego. But, he felt it would be deplorable to allow some snot nosed punk fan to decide the stips for his match against Eugene via an interactive vote. Of course, he hypocritically claimed to be worried about Eugene, saying his poor nephew had been through enough in recent weeks without being put through this. Having editorialized against the interactive concept, Bischoff declared that he had no choice but to promote Taboo Tuesday since Mr. McMahon had ordered it. So he announced the four nominees to face Triple H for the RAW World Title at that show. They were Shawn Michaels (big pop), Chris Benoit (pop), Edge (some cheers, some boos), and possibly Randy Orton (big pop after Bischoff placed negative emphasis on the name). In other words, just because they're letting us vote doesn't mean they won't try to lead us in a certain direction. To further this game, Bischoff declared that since Orton injured him a few weeks ago (the sledgehammer dropped on his foot) he would have to first win a no-DQ match against Batista to be included in the actual fan balloting. At this point, HHH arrived. Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler noted that he was scheduled to face Shelton Benjamin later on the show in a non-title match. HHH agreed with Bischoff that it was ridiculous to allow the fans to decide who his opponent will be. In fact, he called it a load of crap. He said the fans pay to see him because they want to be in the presence of his greatness, but that doesn't mean they should be allowed to decide the fate of such greatness. HHH said the fans would be interfering with his job if they are allowed to vote for his opponent. He said he doesn't go to the fans' places of employment and try to interfere with them. He pointed to a guy in the crowd and said he doesn't try to tell him when the fries are done, and pointed to a girl and said he doesn't tell her which street corner to work on. Funny! HHH accused the fans of thinking they now have some power over him, but he vowed that whoever they choose as his opponent (he emphasized Orton's name) will go down to defeat, and thus he will remain master of his own fate. HHH suggested that since the fans want to vote so much, he'd give them four suggestions to choose from. The first was that they could go screw themselves. The second was that they could rot in hell. The third was that they could try to find themselves a life. Before HHH could announce the fourth, he was interrupted by the arriving Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin forcibly took the mic from HHH and had four suggestions for him. The first three were to stop whining, stop complaining, and stop crying. On this latter point, Benjamin noted that there wasn't enough Kleenex in Kansas City to wipe a nose as big as HHH's. Benjamin's fourth suggestion was that they could start their already scheduled match right then and there. Bischoff, who had been standing around nodding approval during the entirety of HHH's rant, confronted Benjamin. This gave HHH the opening to sucker punch Benjamin. Bischoff called for the bell and called for a referee, officially starting the match. Like many opening monologues, this one was a little long, but I thought it was pretty entertaining.
Benjamin defeated HHH in the non-title match by DQ in 9:37. Benjamin fought back from the sucker punch and lariated HHH. HHH posted Benjamin as they went to a commercial break. Afterward, Benjamin was back in command. He gave HHH an arm drag off the top and hit a leg lariat. Lawler, ranting about the fans being able to vote, said long-time Kansas City promoter Bob Geigel must be rolling in his grave over such a stupid idea. JR noted that that would be difficult (since Geigel isn't deceased). Benjamin hit a powerslam, a Russian legsweep, and a lariat off the top. He pretty much dominated HHH here. HHH took a bump out to the floor, where he got his title belt and walloped Benjamin with it for the typically lame DQ ending to an otherwise good match. I guess they couldn't let the champ lose clean heading into a PPV, and couldn't let the guy returning from an injury lose clean, either. So they were caught between a rock and a hard place. Scylla on the one hand, Charibdes on the other. HHH pedigreed Benjamin on the floor afterward and left him laying.
They aired footage from last week of Christy winning the Diva search balloting.
A new, and funny, Simon Dean promo aired. It was infomercial style, like the earlier one. In this one, Dean came off even more heelish, ranting against all the disgusting fat slobs he sees all the time.
Hurricane & Rosey defeated Rhyno & Tajiri in 3:57. Tajiri threw kicks at huge Rosey, but he shook them off. Rosey and Rhyno traded shoulderblocks. Hurricane kicked Rhyno and hit him with a crossbody off the top. Tajiri put Hurricane in the tarantula. Rhyno tried to gore Hurricane, but he hit the post when Hurricane sidestepped. Tajiri kicked Hurricane. Rosey scored the clean pin after a sideslam on Tajiri. A solid, short bout. Hurricane was keeping his heel turn under wraps this week.
They recapped the sad story of Lita's miscarriage. Todd Grisham was scheduled to interview Lita, but Kane reported that she's still in shock. So he did the interview instead. By the way, it wasn't at the arena, but was elsewhere. Kane said Lita barely speaks, won't eat, and was deeply hurt over losing the baby. He reported that the baby had been a boy. Kane said that no matter how Lita felt about him, she loved the baby and that was the one thing they had in common. He again was very sympathetic in saying that no words can describe the loss they suffered. Well, at least they're treating a tragedy as a tragedy, to some degree, though I still don't like seeing such a scenario on a wrestling show. Kane blamed Gene Snitsky for the death of his son. He said Snitsky's a dead man.
Smackdown Rebound aired.
Chris Benoit and William Regal were talking backstage. Benoit liked the interactive Taboo Tuesday concept, and vowed to regain the world title from HHH if the fans vote for him to get the shot. He'll need a little more of a hint-hint promo effort for that to happen. Eugene walked in with garden clippers, pretending to be Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake. He was ready to chop Bischoff's hair, which seems to be the direction they're leading us for that match. Regal had to restrain the over-active Eugene from hurting someone, or himself, with those shears.
Snitsky did a promo. He very sarcastically said he was sorry that Lita miscarried, but then declared that it wasn't his fault. Jeez! Snitsky challenged Kane to confront him to his face next week on RAW.
Snitsky beat Val Venis in 2:30. Man, do they waste a talent like Venis or what? The crowd chanted "baby killer" at Snitsky, which is worse than "red rooster" on a variety of levels. Not that Snitsky is Terry Taylor, mind you. Other than a brief Venis rally, the green Snitsky just sort of stomped and clubbed Venis before pinning him after a powerslam.
JR reported that WrestleMania XXI sold out in less than one minute.
Hour two began with Ric Flair coming out for a promo. He got a mostly babyface reaction. Maybe if he gets babyface pops for another 20 years, some promoter will notice. JR mentioned that Flair won his very first world title in Kansas City. Flair got on the mic and said he had three issues he wanted to discuss, namely Randy Orton, the use of the word "great", and the use of the word "legend". He said Orton won the world belt and that qualifies him to be called "great". But he said he was sick of Orton being called a "legend killer", apparently forgetting that he (and HHH) had themselves been calling him that for months. He said Shawn Michaels is arguably the greatest in-ring performer ever, but is in no way a legend. That seemed kind of contradictory. He said Harley Race is a legend, but then claimed to have worn him out every time he came to Kansas City. That seemed contradictory to the claim that Orton isn't a legend killer. He said Bret Hart isn't a legend, but instead is just a guy sitting home looking at himself in a mirror. I suppose this comment was to build off the heat from Flair's book, but it seemed irrelevant since Bret wasn't one of the legends Orton has faced. He said Hulk Hogan isn't a legend since he just wants to make movies in Hollywood. When did Orton destroy him? And he added that Mick Foley is just a stuntman and not a legend. This built heat off Flair's book as well, and at least was relevant since Orton has claimed to have destroyed Foley. Okay, maybe this promo wasn't great up to this point, but it then became great as Flair declared himself to be a true legend. He cited his 16 (actually more) reigns as world champion and said no one can claim to be a legend killer until they beat the Nature Boy. Whoooo! Orton came down to the ring. He agreed with Flair, calling him a true legend. He said he idolized Flair growing up, and would often put on his dad's bathrobe and do the Flair strut, styling and profiling in imitation of the great Ric Flair. He said it was an honor to have been allied with Flair in Evolution, and credited Flair with helping him gain the skills to win the world belt from Benoit. Flair smiled, liking what he was hearing. Orton said Flair is indeed the man, but then added that that makes it all the more tragic that he's now just a lackey for HHH. He accused Flair of being nothing now but a lapdog and glorified cheerleader for The Game. He accused Flair of saying that HHH is the greatest wrestler alive today, while knowing full well that it isn't true. He told Flair that when HHH orders him around, he should stand up to him and say "I'm Ric Flair", and should refuse to obey. But Orton then added that Flair does obey, and thus will be remembered more for kissing HHH's ass than for his legendary exploits. Before leaving, Orton told him a true legend takes crap from nobody. Flair seemed to be taking all this to heart, as he made little effort to refute Orton and by the end of the segment had a somewhat sad look on his face, as if he recognized the truth of what Orton was telling him. This would have been a fantastic angle, but it later proved to be just a swerve.
Christian & Tyson Tomko defeated Shawn Michaels & Chris Jericho in 10:30. They brawled on the floor before the bell. Heartbreak Kid dominated Christian until a cheap shot from Tomko turned the tide. Christian put the boots to HBK. Jericho came in and springboard dropkicked Tomko. HBK & Jericho lariated Tomko out to the floor and then hurled Christian out onto him. After a commercial break, the heels were in command. Jericho took a pounding and got dropped across the security rail. The crowd chanted "Y2J". Christian scored some twos on Jericho with standard moves, such as a backbreaker. Tyson came in, but Jericho caught him with an enzuigiri and made the hot tag. HBK did a babyface house cleaning. He pounded both foes until Christian got the drop on him. Christian went to give HBK the unprettier, but before he could execute it he was bulldogged and lionsaulted by Jericho. Since he wasn't the legal man, Jericho couldn't go for the pin on Christian, who was able to recover. HBK caught Tomko with the sweet chin music, but Christian came from nowhere and cradled HBK, using the ropes to score the pin. Tomko's still green, but it was a good match, and a good ending to build future matches.
Backstage, Batista told HHH he was sick of hearing Orton run his mouth for the past two years. He was also angry because Orton was constantly billed as the future of Evolution. Well, then, he should be angry at HHH since it was HHH who billed him as that. Batista said he's the future of Evolution. He asked HHH what was up with Flair (in reference to the look on Flair's face during the Orton confrontation), but HHH dismissed it as nothing to worry about. Batista promised to defeat Orton, thus denying him a spot on the fan ballot to choose HHH's PPV opponent.
Regal & Eugene came to the ring, where there were three guys waiting for them. Regal said he wanted to preview the possible stipulations for the Bischoff vs. Eugene match. The first guy was holding a food serving plate, like a butler might carry. Regal said one possible stip would be a match where the loser must be the winner's servant. The second guy was wearing a dress, since another possible stip would be for the loser to don feminine attire. Regal made a few lame jokes about the guy looking like an old girlfriend from back in Blackpool, England. The third guy was sitting in a chair, and Regal gave Eugene an electric shaver to cut the guy's hair. This is the stip they pushed the hardest, though not well since Eugene didn't do a very good job of cutting much hair off. This whole segment was dying, as the crowd didn't react to any of it, and justifiably so since it was lame beyond belief. Bischoff came out, and warned Eugene that he'd have his work cut out for him when they get in the ring. He then gave the haircut guy a karate kick, and he went down. There was literally no reaction whatsoever to the kick, which was designed to remind us that Bischoff has a black belt, not that it's ever stopped him from getting his ass kicked in numerous matches and confrontations before. This segment was awful.
Footage aired of Vince McMahon, HHH, Orton, Jonathan Coachman, Stacy Keibler, and others at the press conference in Milwaukee to hype Taboo Tuesday as WWE's first interactive PPV.
JR & Lawler hyped the WWE fantasy wrestling league.
Trish Stratus, Molly Holly, and Gail Kim came out. Trish said they were there to initiate Christy as an official WWE Diva. Trish said a few insincere nice things about Christy, but also was peeved about Christy being voted in as a Diva without having to work for it. Christy came out and thanked the fans for voting for her, which she forgot to do last week. She promised to try hard and to make those who supported her proud. Trish suggested that Christy might have slept with a few people to have gotten as far as she did. Carmella then appeared on the TitanTron. She accused Christy of being the bitch who robbed her of $250,000. She said the balloting obviously wasn't based on beauty, talent, or personality, because otherwise she would have beaten Christy. She bragged about being Playmate of the Year and said the fans voted against her because they were bitter, knowing none of them would have a chance of scoring with a babe such as herself. Carmella said she'd like to see someone kick Christy's ass. At this point, Trish announced that it was time for Christy's first match, which would be a handicap bra & panties match in which Christy would face Trish & Molly & Gail, to start right now.....
Trish & Molly & Gail beat Christy in 0:25. The three established Divas simply jumped Christy and stripped her to her undies. That's all there was to it. Afterward, Christy acted modest about being in the ring with nothing on but her skimpy undies, but that was another swerve as she then paraded around to strut her stuff, bragging that she likes being out there in nothing but bra & panties. She did okay considering that this was her first real angle, but the angle itself was pretty lame.
Flair was backstage deep in thought. Batista wanted Flair to accompany him to the ring, but Flair said he answers to no one, including HHH. He said he'll go out to the ring when he's ready and not until then. Batista looked disturbed, and headed out alone.
Batista defeated Orton in a no-DQ match in 7:34. Orton quickly hit a Thesz press and pounded Batista. Batista came back with a spinebuster. Batista put the boots to Orton, who sold for Batista's greater strength. Orton came back with a dropkick. He had Batista reeling using his scientific arsenal. Orton hit a powerslam, but as he went for the pin HHH ran in and attacked him. As this was a no-DQ match, the ref could do nothing to stop this. Orton fought both guys off for a minute or so before being DDT'd by HHH. HHH retrieved a chair from ringside. Flair ran in and took the chair from HHH. Swerve time! Instead of turning babyface, Flair kicked Orton in the balls and hit him with the chair. HHH and Flair hugged. Batista powerbombed Orton and scored the pin, meaning Orton is out of the running for the title shot at HHH, though we can likely assume something will happen to put him back on the ballot in upcoming weeks. Just an average match, and disappointing for the Flair swerve, though we should be more than used to it by now. Flair gave Orton a low blow for good measure afterward. The show ended with HHH posing over the downed Orton with his title belt.
2004 - WWE Smackdown ran Joplin, Missouri with the following results:
-Eddie Guerrero pinned Luther Reigns with the Frog Splash
-Paul London fought Billy Kidman to a no contest when John Heidenreich came ringside, with him eventually attacking London while Kidman went backstage
-John Heidenreich pinned Hardcore Holly with a sidewalk slam in an impromptu match
-Mark Jindrak pinned Shannon Moore with a sambo suplex
-Chris Cage & Sho Funaki defeated Doug & Danny Basham when Funaki pinned Danny with a roll up
-WWE World Champion John Bradshaw Layfield pinned WWE US Champion Booker T by hitting him with the title belt after Booker fought off an interfering Orlando Jordan; earlier in the contest, JBL attempted to get himself counted-out until Smackdown! GM Teddy Long forced him back into the ring
-WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree defeated Rico & Charlie Haas when Dupree pinned Rico with a roll up after Suzuki threw powder into Rico's eyes as the challenger attempted a moonsault
-Nunzio defeated WWE Cruiserweight Champion Spike Dudley (w/ D-Von Dudley) via disqualification when D-Von interfered; after the bout, Johnny Stamboli made the save
-Nunzio & Johnny Stamboli defeated D-Von & WWE Cruiserweight Champion Spike Dudley in an impromptu match following the Sicilian Slice
-The Big Show pinned Kurt Angle with the chokeslam after fighting off an interfering Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak
2004 - WWE announced that Wrestlemania 21 in Los Angeles sold out "in less than a minute."
2005 - Cowboy Bob Orton wrestled his first WWE match in 18 years, losing to the Undertaker during a Smackdown taping.
2005 - Former WWF champion Ultimate Warrior responded publicly to WWE's recently released Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior DVD. Warrior, who admitted that he hasn't seen the DVD yet (but has heard the trailer for it) tore the project apart in a statement posted on his official website.
Highlights of the statement made by Warrior include:
On WWE's Invitation to Appear on Byte This: "Of course, I do NOT accept this brainless, disgraceful invitation. F*** NO, I do not. You can rescue yourself, Vince. Do your own damage control. I've no ear for your begging anymore. Only if you were on fire would I help you -- it'd just be too hard to resist pissing on you. Open mic? Then let it truly be open. Let your audience have some fresh air. Flush the toliet (sic) bowl once. Let them hear something intelligent, decent and truthful for once. Give them, Vince, what they want -- just like you are always bragging the WWE does. Let them be proud for just a few moments that the energetic, intense and colorful Ultimate Warrior perosna (sic) they loved when they were little kids didn't become a self-pitying, disapportinting (sic), broken-down has-been like all the other brittle-minded skeletons traipsing around your locker rooms or now buried in forgotten about graves. Order the queer and the cripple who host the show to read what I have written here and here, and while they do that have them hold up mirrors looking at themselves so they can know exactly the kind of people in your organization I'm writing about. No apologies -- I don't discriminate for the handicapped who sign on to behave degenerately."
Note from Mike Johnson: Warrior was referring to Darren Drosdov in the above passage.
On Vince McMahon's Claims That He Couldn't Wait To Fire Warrior: "What I think you meant to say, Vince, was “hire,” not “fire”: “I couldn’t wait to hire hs (sic) ass.” I worked for the WWF on three separate occasions and you fired me only once and that was in ‘92 using David Boy and I as scapegoats in an attempt to throw the feds off your own scandal-brewing steroid trail. And every time I left, you’d track me down and come begging to bring me back. Never once did I call you or anybody else from the WWF to come back -- you ALWAYS came to me. Even one time sending Ed Cohen to hunt me down in the backwoods of NM at 4:30 am -- this was after you suspended me in ‘91. When you found me, you would always show up with two things. One, your stupid, superficial question “Don’t you miss the celebrity and limelight?” and, two, a goodie bag carrying a fat check to assuage your guilt and fault for letting me get out the door to begin with. You were a spoiled little kid even back then. You always had to learn the truth about me the hard way: “Damn, that guy really does do what he says he will do.”
On Vince McMahon's claim that Warrior held WWF up for money: "...you got that wrong, too. Of course, it’s a fantasy you’ve created, so that makes it true in your twisted mind. There was an issue about a Wrestlemania 7 payoff, but the strong-arming being done was by you and your conniving financial thug at the time, Doug Sages, not me. Instead of being straightforward with me about what the payoff was going to be, you kept dragging out avoiding any discussion about it while Sages unethically concocted a counterfeit loan to me, which I knew nothing about till much later, say, around Summerslam time. How coincidental. When I called you on it, you duplicitously scribbled down and rushed me a letter praising me for my contributions to the company, my one-of-a-kind work ethic, and that you were proud to have me not just as a talent but know me as a friend -- and, then, Surprise! you pulled a 180 on me and courageously suspended me after the ‘91 Summerslam match by handing me a tough, condescending letter. You expected me to drop to my knees right then and lick one of the three b**** you claimed you had, begging you to take me back, right there in that MSG locker room, right there in front of your adulterous b*** licker at the time, Mrs. Emily Feinburg, (so you could show her, I guess, how big a man you were), but I told you that Emily was the one good at it and you wouldn’t be seeing me for quite some time. I didn’t lie. I got my bags, went to AZ, moved to NM and left you ill with worry about where I was. “Where’s MY Warrior?’ you boohooed for months. It is a flat-out Wizard of OZ fantasy that I ever held you or WWF up for money."
Responding to Triple H's comment that Warrior was the most unprofessional wrestler Triple H was ever in the ring with: "I’m the most unprofessional person you’ve ever stepped into the ring with? Well, now, ain’t that pretty. Because what I remember, Mr. Stephanie McMahon, is that you were only in the ring with me one time -- and for less than 5 minutes. Here all these years since leaving the ring and becoming interested in mentoring young people, I often wonder what kind of impact I am having because I take it seriously and it is important to me do it effectively. Well, it sure sounds like I taught you very well in the 5 minutes you had in the ring with me. Because from what I hear you are the biggest unprofessional a**** the business has ever seen. You are welcome."
More On Triple H: "Yes, Paul, sorrily (sic), your whole career has been a mission to outdo Ultimate Warrior. But guess what little, puffy man? You failed. Oh, how you failed. I set an iconic standard none of you could reach. And you are bitter about it. So bitter. You all are. Indeed, it is this bitterness that you most have in common with your father-in-law. In fact, he recognized the depth of it in you and knew if something ever happened to him you would continue the mission to fulfill HIS vendetta. To secure it, he gave you his daughter. But he must be a little concerned, because it seems the only masculinity you can drum up is while you are hanging onto her booking skirt. You know, think about it. If I hadn’t been smitten with my own honey at the time and Vince would have been more sensible, he might have hired me to become his son-in-law. You know, the Original Ultimate Warrior, not a dismal imitation. On second thought, I had strong self confidence and Vince never felt sorry for me as he evidently does for you."
On Bobby Heenan: "it’s just too difficult to keep a straight face talking about the pure two-faced bag of sh** you are (and have always been), what, with you also actually wearing one as a piece of body jewelry. You are dying, dis-eased (sic) on the inside, and no more time is left to get back any of the integrity that matters the most on death’s bed. Imagine what it will be like, lying there taking in your last breaths, knowing you whored yourself out your whole life, and had to, in your final years, be faced with emptying your own personal sh** bag affirming to you the true value of what you achieved in your life. Not even Vince could come up with a better finish than this. Kharma (sic) is just a beautiful thing to behold."
On Jim Ross: "Everyone is asking the same question: “Just when did Jim Ross get to know Warrior so well to have these endless opinions about him that he does?” All anyone can think of, largely because it is so apparent across the board throughout the entire DVD, is that, again, envy alone provides you (and everyone else for that matter) with the enlightenment and answers. You are obviously jealous of both the fact that I never let Vince have his way with me as he has with you and everyone else and, also, that you never had the chance to bend me over either since becoming the Mother Hen over the talent around about ‘96 when I was last there."
On Plans to Respond to the WWE's DVD Legally: "Of course, about whether or not there is any legitimate slander, I will hold off and legally find out. But it really is a great cultural illustration of how deviantly dumbed down mentoring and masculinity have become. And, interestingly enough, engaging these serious ideas is what propels me in the career interests I have today."
On WWE's Current Stars Ridiculing him on the DVD: "I am always conscious of giving you young guys a break whenever I express criticisms about the storylines and creative direction in the business. I figure you are dumb and naive and still figuring out your philosophy of life, so I am not as hard on you for your youthful behaviors. Maybe one day you'll come around. Maybe not and you’ll just turn out like all the other grown men who are letting you down. We will all see. But you’ll want to keep in mind, that I stand up and defend ny integrity in person just as seriously as I do when I write about it. It’s not a work. And it’d be to your misfortune if I was traveling through some airport in this country one day and happened to see you standing there surrounded by little sexpot groupies and adoring fans, and I just took it upon myself to approach you, not to pick a fight but to ask you to explain your ridicule of me, and suddenly you couldn’t speak and started to go to the bathroom all over yourself. Let me tell you from my own life experiences, there’s nothing so intimidating and embarrassing as another human being who can kick your ass with their mind. Take it from a guy who made quiet a success out of throwing his muscle around, and learned this lesson the hard way."
"Because, you see, I am sorta old-fashioned about many things. One of those things is that a person should never be afraid to defend their integrity, especially when they have it. I do. And another thing is that young people should have both manners and respect for their elders, especially when they are deserving of it. I am. So, when you disrespect me, you leave me with no other choice, being the grown, adult man I am, but to embarrass you like a childish fool if I was to cross paths with you. And if you thought Ultimate Warrior as a physical thing was so intense it made you an awe-struck, speechless kid, you’re not going to be any less awe-struck and speechless when I give you a piece of my mind with the same kind of intensity."
2005 - Texas Monthly featured an article titled "The Last Von Erich" featuring an in depth interview with Kevin Von Erich, along with comments from Gary Hart and Kevin's mother Doris Von Erich.
The chilling piece is one of the most honest portrayals of date of the rise and fall of World Class Championship Wrestling and the Von Erich dynasty in the mainstream media, looking into the success of the Dallas-based promotion and the issues and tragedies that came hand in hand with it's famous first family.
The deaths of all of the Von Erich brothers are discussed in shocking detail by Von Erich. While mentioning the passing of David Von Erich, the "official cause of death" floated by the family is noted, but so are the well known stories of drugs and alcohol being found in David's hotel room in Japan, so the author actually did some homework before penning the piece. When the David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions (where Kerry defeated Ric Flair for the NWA World title) is brought up, Kevin commented, “Kerry and I did not want to get in the ring. We were mourning David’s death. But it was a family business, and Dad was the business manager.”
In a chilling note, it was mentioned that when Mike Von Erich committed suicide with an overdose of pills, he left a note that Chris Von Erich inherit his scuba gear. In one of the swim fins, the article notes, a bag of Placidyl had been left for Chris "to take when he was ready to get out."
Kevin also recounts finding Chris after he had shot himself, stating, "I thought, ‘Oh, man, he’s taken a bunch of pills or something.’ So I put my hand behind him to lift him up and said, ‘Come on, Chris. Stand up, walk around.’ My thumb went into his head. You could’ve put a coffee cup in that hole. There was no doubt—”
Kerry Von Erich's health issues, including the loss of his foot are discussed with Gary Hart explaining that he tried in vain to have Fritz Von Erich announce that Kerry had his foot amputated after a motorcycle wreck. Hart explained, "We’ve got to come totally clean. The only credibility we have is to make Kerry an icon, someone who’s doing something that’s never been done before. Have him stand up and say, “Hey. I f—ed up. But I’ve paid the toll and I’m going to overcome it. I see little kids in wheelchairs and blind people that learn to travel with dogs, and I’m gonna do it too.” That will soften the hearts of the people who have backed away and make them give us one more chance." Hart claimed that Fritz felt it would show weakness for Kerry and the promotion and with WWF's constant growth into the Texas market, it couldn't be done.
When discussing Kerry's drug problems, Kevin said, "Kerry wasn’t addicted to any one drug. He liked drugs. It wasn’t that he liked coke or ice or meth. He just liked that life of parties and drugs.”
When discussing his brother's deaths and the article notes that a family friend believed pain pill addictions helped cause the problems, Kevin commented that pain pills are like fish hooks in that, "They look harmless, but they have little barbs, and it’s easy to get hooked.”
Kevin also noted that he doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for him or his family, “I wouldn’t want anyone to feel sorry for me. What am I doing today? I watch Ross play football; my kids call and tell me they love me; my investments do well. I have a good life, and I’m planning on having a lot more. When people say, ‘How do you do it?’ the answer is pretty simple, really. If you don’t have any choice, then it’s easy to deal with. What else are you going to do? Just drop dead and sink into the ground like rain?”
Other highlights of the interview include the revelation that when Fritz Von Erich passed away, he left a $3.5 inheritance to Kevin but nothing to Kerry Von Erich's daughters or ex-wife. Kevin also noted that he's been in discussions to sell the World Class Championship Wrestling library and that his son Ross wrestling for WWE one day has also been discussed. There is also a story claiming that Vince McMahon approached Fritz Von Erich in 1984 looking to merge the WWF and World Class but a deal couldn't be reached, in the article. McMahon did not respond for comment when contacted by the magazine.
2006 - Kid Kash, who had been working as one half of the Pitbulls with Jamie Noble, was released by WWE.
2006 - Wrestling Society X began booking talents and signing them to contracts for a first season that would be taped in October 2006.
2007 - Hulk Hogan became the frontrunner to host the returning American Gladiators series on NBC, which the network was looking into reviving due to an expected writer's strike. Hogan would eventually host two seasons of the show.
2007 - WWE Diva Ashley was the second person voted off of CBS' Survivor show. Massaro butted heads with the guy they chose to be the leader of her tribe, Dave. In a very wrestling-like moment, two of the women on her tribe put her over and gave Dave a ton of static, only to then turn on her and vote her out. She got all of the votes for banishment except her own, which went to Dave.
2007 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Dr. Phil Astin, Chris Benoit's doctor at the time of the Benoit murder/suicide, was expected to file for bankruptcy protection. Astin was interviewed by the newspaper, commenting, "That's all I can do now. I don't have any funds. [The case] has disrupted every aspect of my life." Astin had been confined to his home since being arrested for allegedly illegally dispensing medication in the wake of the Chris Benoit tragedy. Being unable to work, Astin had liens filed against several of his properties, including his home. The AJ-C reported that Astin had hoped to pay for his defense by selling several parcels of property, but tax liens filed by the federal government prevented that move. Astin would later go through with the bankruptcy and was later sentenced to prison for inappropriately dispending medication to a number of patients.
2007 - TNA aired their final one hour episode of Impact on SpikeTV. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
It is a special night for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling since it is the final one hour episode of the show before their debut as a regular two hour show. We still have a few weeks until Bound for Glory but there are a number of things that need to be resolved. What will happen as a result of the attack by Judas Mesias against Sting at the end of the show? Did Kurt Angle have anything to do with it? What will happen when five of the women in the Gauntlet Match to determine the first TNA Women's Champion meet in the ring? Will Team 3D continue to run roughshod through the tag team division as they seek a title match? What is next for Karen Angle as she has been served with a restraining order that requires her to be fifty feet from Sting until Bound for Glory? Which of the women in the company will be the final one to enter the Gauntlet Match to determine the first TNA Women’s Champion?
We start off tonight's show with a look back at Karen Angle's issues with Sting but Sting gets revenge by getting a restraining order to keep Karen away until the pay per view. We see highlights from Christian's match against Junior Fatu with Joe helping Fatu after a three-on-one attack. We then go to footage from the end of the show when Judas Mesias attacked Sting and choked him.
Jeremy Borash is walking with Judas Mesias and James Mitchell in the back. Mitchell says that he has heard that Sting is in the Impact Zone and he has heard that Sting wants their blood. Mitchell says that for every drop of blood that Sting extracts, they will extract a gallon from him and it will spray like a sprinkler. He tells Sting that if he wants a war, he has a war. It will be in the darkness, but they will do it on their terms. Right on the other side of the door. They will be waiting for Sting, if he dares.
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike Tenay and Don West
Match Number One: Team 3D versus Shark Boy and Sonjay Dutt
Devon and Shark Boy start things off and Devon with a kick to Shark Boy in the midsection followed by a forearm. Devon with a punch to Shark Boy's fin. Devon with an uppercut. Shark Boy avoids a clothesline and elbow from Devon and he responds with a bite to Devon's rear end. Ray gets a good laugh at what Shark Boy did to Devon and Shark Boy decides to try a little Team 3D white meat with a bite of Ray's rear end on the apron. Devon laughs at Ray while Ray says a few things that are bleeped out. Shark Boy with a kick to Devon and then Ray gets in the ring and he yells at Devon. Devon and Ray argue in the center of the ring while Shark Boy goes up top and hits a missile drop kick and gets a two count on Devon. Shark Boy with an enzuigiri to Ray and Ray does the Flair Flop. Dutt tags in and Sonjay offers his hand to Ray. Ray shakes his hand and then Dutt kisses Ray's hand. Ray likes what Dutt did but Devon yells at Ray. Ray tells Devon that it reminded him of prison and he returns the favor to Dutt and follows that with a clothesline. Dutt picks Sonjay up and hugs Dutt and backs him into the corner where Ray chops Dutt. Ray with an Irish whip but he misses a charge into the corner and Dutt with a kick to Ray followed by a slingshot leg drop and springboard seated senton to Ray. Dutt with a drop kick to Devon's legs and then Shark Boy comes in and hits Devon in the head with the tambourine. Dutt and Shark Boy with a double suplex to Ray and then they set up for the Wassup head butt from Shark Boy. Sonjay tells Shark Boy to get the tables but they turn into a double clothesline from Devon. Shark Boy receives a 3D for the three count.
Winners: Team 3D
After the match, Devon gets a few chairs from ringside and bring them in as they prepare to do to Shark Boy what they did to Scott Steiner's throat. Dutt pulls Shark Boy out of the ring to save him from the attack. Ray throws a chair at Dutt and Shark Boy as they head up the Ramp of Facial Impact.
Jeremy Borash is in the interview area and he says that the fans will get to choose if there will be a rematch clause in the contract for the TNA Title Match between Kurt Angle and Sting at Bound for Glory. Jeremy is joined by the Voodoo Kin Mafia and Kip and BG are not in a good mood. BG says that they are not here to answer questions and they have a statement to make. BG says that him and Kip are sick and tired of taking a back seat to every Tom, Dick, and Harry who happen to stroll through TNA. He says that because you can do a back flip does not mean that you are a professional wrestler. He says that he takes dumps bigger than some of the guys in the locker room. He directs his angers from the boys to the fans. He tells the wrestling fans around the world "screw you" while he shows that they are number one despite being slightly blurred.
He asks the fans if they think him and Kip need them. He says that they did not need the fans when they were on top of the world and they don't need them now. BG says that there is a reason why fans are called "Marks" and it is because they think they know something but they really don'tHe points out that the fans are the ones who stand on the other side of the curtain. BG also says that applies to half of the upper echelon of TNA. He tells the "marks" that they don't know what the Voodoo Kin Mafia is capable of. Kip says that he likes that BG is finally pissed off. He says that they are superstars while the others are not. All of the fun and games are over. One thing is for sure, he tells everyone to kiss his a**. We go to commercial.
We are back and Jeremy Borash is now in the rafters of the Impact Zone still looking for Sting to get a response to Judas Mesias and Jim Mitchell's challenge.
Match Number Two: Jimmy Rave and Lance Hoyt with Christy Hemme versus the Motor City Machine Guns of Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley
Shelley and Rave start things off and Shelley and Rave both work on the arm with Shelley hitting an arm drag and jumping back kick. Shelley with a running clothesline into the corner followed by a bulldog. Sabin is tagged in and Shelley and Sabin hit a double hip toss followed by a double fist drop and stereo kicks to Rave. Sabin gets a two count. Sabin with jabs to Rave and then he chops Rave to the mat. Sabin sends Rave's head into Shelley's feet. Shelley tags back in and he hits a double sledge on Rave. Shelley with forearms and chops to Rave. Shelley comes off the ropes but he is stopped by a knee from Hoyt on the apron and then Rave with a running knee to the midsection. Rave with a running Yakuza kick to Shelley for a two count. Hoyt is tagged in and he gets Shelley up for a wheelbarrow slam into Rave's boots. Hoyt with a kick to Shelley's back followed by a reverse chin lock. Shelley gets to his feet and he runs into a back elbow from Hoyt who gets a near fall. Hoyt with a kick to Shelley'¢s back followed by a punch. Hoyt knocks Sabin off the apron and then he tags in Rave. Hoyt Irish whips Rave into the corner but Shelley avoids the charge and sends Rave into the turnbuckles with a drop toe hold. Shelley sends Hoyt into Rave and then Shelley trips Hoyt and follows that with a DDT that sends Rave into Hoyt's groinal area. Sabin is tagged in and he hits a springboard drop kick to Hoyt's knee followed by a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Sabin hits a running butt splash into the corner on Rave. Sabin hits a springboard clothesline for a two count on Rave. Sabin with a spinning back kick and he tries for a Saito suplex, but Rave stops Sabin with an elbow. Rave is sent into the corner and Shelley with a kick to the back. Sabin with a fisherman's suplex for a two count. Shelley hits a frog splash but Hoyt breaks up the cover by Sabin. Hoyt with a flapjack to Sabin and then Rave hits a tilt-a-whirl into a Fujiwara arm bar. Shelley gets Rave to release the hold but Rave hits a Pedigree on Shelley right on top of Sabin. Rave with an STF on Sabin using a fish hook while getting Shelley in a crossface. Shelley gets Rave to release the hold but Rave sends Shelley out of the ring. Sabin is sent into the corner and Hoyt Irish whips Rave at Sabin but Sabin moves out of the way and Rave goes over the top rope to the floor. Christy holds Shelley's leg but Sabin is able to hit a spinning back heel kick while Shelley gets free. Shelley with a super kick to Hoyt and then Sabin and Shelley hit kicks to Hoyt' head and Sabin gets the three count.
Winners: Motor City Machine Guns of Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley
After the match, Sabin and Shelley celebrate in the ring while Hoyt yells at Hemme. The celebration for Sabin and Shelley is interrupted by Team 3D who attack Shelley and Sabin from behind. Devon with an inverted suplex to Sabin while Ray hits a piledriver on Shelley. They have the chairs in the ring and Devon goes for the table while we go to commercial.
We are back and Team 3D are still working over Shelley and Sabin and the table is now in the ring. Devon puts Sabin on the table and punches him. Shark Boy comes to the ring to help Shelley and Sabin but Ray hits Shark Boy before he can get into the ring. Ray chops Sabin on the table and then Ray gets on the turnbuckles. Ray his a power bomb of Shelley onto Sabin and they go through the table. Devon and Ray turn their attention to Shark Boy and Devon takes off Shark Boy's neck brace and they set up the chair on Shark Boy's throat and Devon hits the chair.
Jeremy Borash is in the back and he is still looking for Sting. Borash says that he is still waiting for an answer from Sting.
Don and Mike are at ringside and Mike reminds us that Impact expands to two hours next week. Don also mentions that Leticia is in the latest issue of Playboy's Sexy Girls Next Door. Mike talks about Bound for Glory in Atlanta.
Match Number Three: Traci Brooks with Robert Roode versus Jackie Moore with James Storm versus Christy Hemme with Lance Hoyt and Jimmy Rave versus Roxxi Laveaux with the Voodoo Kin Mafia versus Gail Kim with Chris Harris for the Final Entry Number in the Gauntlet Match at Bound for Glory for the TNA Women' Title
The match starts off with Traci and Jackie going after Gail. Gail avoids a double clothesline and hits a double drop kick on Traci and Jackie. Gail with a head scissors and side head lock take down on Traci and Jackie. Roode yells at Traci while Roxxi backs Christy towards the center of the ring. Christy turns around into a spear from Gail. Gail with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors to Roxxi followed by a flying clothesline and chops. Roxxi hits a spinebuster for a two count. Christy with an inverted DDT to Roxxi and then she goes to the second turnbuckle but she misses a split leg drop on Roxxi. Traci with a running boot to Christy. Jackie with a German suplex to Traci. Gail hits a missile drop kick on Jackie for a two count. Gail hits a tornado DDT on Jackie Moore and while she went around, Gail kicked Christy who was perched on the turnbuckles. Jackie tosses Gail to the mat. Jackie punches Christy on the turnbuckles and then she goes up for a superplex but she is stopped by Gail who joins in to help superplex Christy. Roxxi and Traci go under Gail and Jackie and hit power bombs on Gail and Jackie while they superplex Christy in a Tower of Doom move. Traci and Roxxi exchange chops but Traci with a kick followed by a knee to the face. Roxxi picks up Traci and throws her over the top rope to the floor and Traci hits the apron. Roode and Harris argue on the floor and Harris pushes Roode. Roode pushes Harris into Storm and Storm drops his beer. Harris and Storm exchange punches and it is time for a CATFIGHT as Hoyt and Rave join in.
We return to the action in the ring and Jackie with punches to Roxxi. Jackie avoids a clothesline and hits an enzuigiri. Gail with a chop to Jackie followed by an Irish whip. Jackie misses a charge into the corner when Gail moves. Gail hits a rana from the second turnbuckle on Roxxi. Kip James comes into the ring and Gail slaps him in the face. BG gets on the apron and he distracts the referee long enough to allow Kip to leave the ring. Roxxi with a kick and she hits the Dominator on Gail for the three count.
Winner: Roxxi Laveaux
We go to commercial.
We are back with a commercial for Bound for Glory that focuses on the returns of the participants in the TNA Heavyweight Title Match to Atlanta.
We go to a video package for the match between Samoa Joe and Christian Cage at Bound for Glory looking at what has developed between the two men and the involvement of Tomko, A.J. Styles, and Junior Fatu.
We go to a video package for Judas Mesias. It shows the carnage that he has already wrought on his victims in TNA.
We go outside where James Mitchell is with Judas Mesias. Jeremy Borash asks them about their search for Sting. Before Mitchell can answer Borash, he is knocked aside and Mesias goes down. Sting hits Mesias with a trash can and then he chokes Mesias and sends him into a wall and door. Mesias punches Sting and Mesias hits Sting with a chair. While the brawl continues, we go to commercial.
We are back and they continue to brawl outside the Impact Zone. Sting is in control and he hits Mesias with another trash can. Sting brings Mesias into the Impact Zone. Sting has a chair and he hits Mesias with it. Sting grabs a fire extinguisher and he uses it on Mesias. Mesias rolls into the ringside area. Mesias gets into the ring and Sting follows him into the ring. Sting puts Mesias in the Scorpion Death Lock.
Kurt Angle comes to the ring and he attacks Sting, getting Mesias out of the hold. Karen Angle comes out of the Chute of Heelish Impact to watch what Kurt is doing to Sting. Mesias helps Angle in his attack on Sting. Angle punches and kicks Sting. Rhino comes out to help Sting and he punches Angle and Mesias. Angle takes Rhino down and that allows Mesias to join in. Abyss' music plays and he comes to the ring. Abyss punches Angle and then he goes after Mesias. Angle rolls out of the ring. Abyss presses Mesias into the air and then he clotheslines Mesias over the top rope to the floor. We go to credits.
2008 - Highspots.com completed the Ric Flair shoot interview, the first extensive interview of the sort Flair ever took part in.
2008 - TNA ran in Miami, Florida. Eric Lauzlin filed the following report:
1) Consequences Creed pinned Petey Williams.
2) Taylor Wilde pinned Awesome Kong. Traci Brooks was the special referee.
3) A.J. Styles pinned Sheik Bashir (The X-Division Title was not on the line).
4) Christian Cage pinned Cute Kip. Line of the night, someone yells at Hebner "You Screwed Bret" and Kip yells "Wrong show, dumbass",
During intermission from what I could see in my seats it looked like Creed & Taylor Wilde were having a breakdancing contest.
5) Beer Money defeat the Motor City Machine Guns. James Storm rips the Florida crowd by saying the Hurricanes & Gators lost today, the joke here was that he said "We're winners. I'm from Tennessee (they lost earlier in the day) & Roode is from Wall St. (no need to explain that joke)."
6) Samoa Joe defeats Booker T by submission. Before the match Booker gets on the mic and says "Let it be known that I don't care for Internet smart marks, at which point he turns to a section in the crowd and says "I'm talking to you muthas right there, now sit your ass down" and "I don't like none of you sons of bitches in here".
2008 - WWE's Raw brand ran Paris, France with the following results:
-Jim Duggan defeated Charlie Haas
-Manu defeated D-Lo Brown
-WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase Jr. defeated Cryme Tyme
-Jamie Noble defeated William Regal
-Mickie James & Candice Michelle defeated WWE Women's Champion Beth Phoenix & Katie Lea
-WWE Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella defeated Kofi Kingston
-Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Kane in a No DQ match
-Shawn Michaels & CM Punk defeated World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho & Lance Cade
2008 - WWE's Smackdown & ECW brands ran Munich, Germany with the following results:
-Jeff Hardy pinned The Brian Kendrick with the Swanton
-WWE Divas Champion Michelle McCool & Maria defeated Maryse & Natalya Neidhart
-Festus defeated Jack Swagger
-WWE US Champion Shelton Benjamin defeated MVP, R Truth, and Jimmy Wang Yang
-Finlay & Hornswoggle defeated Curt Hawkins & Zach Ryder
-ECW World Champion Matt Hardy pinned Mark Henry in a No DQ match with the Twist of Fate
-The Undertaker defeated the Big Show via submission with the leglock choke
-WWE World Champion Triple H pinned Vladimir Kozlov with the Pedigree
2009 - Dwayne Johnson made an in-ring appearance at a WXW promoted by Afa in Mineola, Florida. Johnson was in attendance to support Sarona Snuka (the daughter of Jimmy Snuka), who wrestled her first match that night. Johnson came to the ring with her and made a short speech about how he came to support his family and the company. Johnson lives in the Miami area, so it was a case of him being available to attend so he and his family visited at the show. Snuka would eventually sign with WWE and is currently on the main roster as Tamina.
2010 - WWE officially retired their "World Tag Team Championship" following a unification of the WWE and World Tag Team belts. The "World" belts were formerly the WWE, WWF, and WWWF Tag straps dating back decades.
2010 - WWE's Jillian Hall was effectively retired as a wrestler by the company, with the plan being that she would move into a training role in WWE developmental. In the end, Hall departed the company.
2010 - Model and actress Lauren Jones, who was briefly under WWE contract with a few scant appearances before departing several years ago, wrote on her twitter account today that she was meeting "with talent development & Johny Ace 2 see what MIGHT b next..!" She did not return in any form to the company.
2010 - Chris Jericho made his final WWE exit as a wrestler (so far) in a taped edition of Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We begin with the Miz telling us that he did not tap out at Night of Champions and Daniel Bryan did not beat him. However, on Raw, Miz beat up Daniel Bryan thanks to his new manservant Alex Riley holding Bryan so he could not fight back.
We are live on tape from Indianapolis, Indiana and your announcers are Michael ‘Even on tape, I am the same’ Cole and Jerry ‘Is Smackdown moving to another network’ Lawler.
Miz comes out and he is accompanied by his boy wonder, Alex Riley. Miz says that Daniel Bryan has challenged him and Alex Riley to a tag team match tonight. Miz asks Daniel if he learned his lesson last week. He thought Daniel was the smart one. Bryan is the person who wins the lottery and then thinks he will win every time he plays. Miz says that it is Monday night and every Monday night, Daniel Bryan gets embarrassed by the Miz. On tonight’s episode, he brings a tag team partner with him. Miz says that He is the Miz . . . but he is interrupted by Daniel Bryan’s music.
Miz wants to know who Daniel’s tag team partner is. Miz tries to tell us how awesome he is a second time but he is interrupted by Daniel’s tag team partner.
Match Number One: The Miz and Alex Riley versus Daniel Bryan and John Morrison
Bryan goes after Miz on the apron and then he kicks Riley a few times. Bryan with a clothesline and then he goes for Miz again but Miz goes to the floor. Bryan with a kick to the chest and a near fall. Morrison tags in and Riley kicks and punches him. Morrison with a drop kick and he gets a near fall. Morrison sends Riley into the turnbuckles. Morrison with a kick but Riley with a hot shot to Morrison. Riley sends Morrison into the turnbuckles and then he tags in Miz. Miz kicks Morrison and chokes him in the corner. Riley chokes Morrison while Miz talks to the referee. Miz slingshots Morrison into the bottom rope and then he connects with a knee and he tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Morrison counters with a lateral press for a near fall.
Miz with kicks to Morrison and Riley is tagged back in. Riley sends Morrison into the turnbuckles and he kicks Morrison. Riley with a sit out Michinoku Driver for a near fall and then he knocks Bryan off the apron. Riley kicks Morrison and Miz tags back in. Miz stares at Bryan and then he hits the Miz Clothesline into the corner and gets a near fall. Miz with a knee to the back and then he puts Morrison in a surfboard. Morrison with a snap mare and then he tries to tag in Bryan but Miz holds Morrison off. Morrison tries again but Miz grabs the leg. Morrison with a drop kick and Bryan is tagged in.
Bryan with a drop kick to Riley followed by a kick to Miz. Bryan with a German suplex followed by a running drop kick into the corner but he can only get a two count. Bryan tries for the LeBell Lock but Miz stays on his feet. Miz sends Bryan into Morrison and then Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale as Bryan staggers back into the center of the ring after the collision to get the three count.
Winners: Miz and Alex Riley
After the match, Miz kicks Bryan in the ribs and Morrison makes the save. Morrison takes Miz to the floor and then Bryan with a suicide dive onto Morrison and Miz. Bryan attacks Miz and Morrison goes after Bryan. Bryan fights Morrison and sends him into the announcer cubicle. Morrison with a flying clothesline to Miz and Bryan and then . . .
Michael Cole’s pen pal emerges and he has decided that on Sunday at Hell in a Cell, Daniel Bryan will defend the United States Title for the first time. It will be against John Morrison and the Miz. It will be in a match that he just invented. It will be a Triple Threat Submissions Count Anywhere Match.
Divas are walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and before our Divas Battle Royal starts, the Divas Champions Michelle McCool and Layla come to the ring and join Cole and Lawler.
Match Number Two: Divas Battle Royal for the Number One Contender Spot
Tamina tries to eliminate Natalya but Melina makes the save. Gail and Eve go after Alicia. Tamina gets Melina up and she is eliminated. Tamina is sent to the apron but Maryse sends Gail to the apron as well. Gail returns to the ring and she goes after Maryse. Tamina kicks Gail but Gail tries for a rana but Tamina holds on and drops Gail on the top rope and eliminates her. Eve and Tamina battle while Maryse is close to being eliminated. Tamina is eliminated by Eve. Tamina tries to eliminate Eve but Maryse pulls her in and the referee pulls Tamina away.
The Bellas send Jillian into Alicia and then they send them to the apron. The Bellas try for a double baseball slide and go to the floor to eliminate themselves. Maryse is eliminated by Eve. Alicia kicks Eve to the apron and the floor. We are down to Alicia, Natalya, and Jillian. They hit a double suplex on Natalya. Natalya holds on to the ropes and she stays on the apron. Jillian kicks Alicia but Alicia eliminates her. Alicia kicks Natalya on the apron but Alicia cannot eliminate her. Natalya with a back body drop to eliminate Alicia.
Winner: Natalya
After the match, Michelle and Layla act afraid of Natalya in the ring.
We see all of the media that John Cena did for Legendary.
Tonight, the Cutting Edge will have a special guest, the computer that the General Messenger uses.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Last week’s mixed tag match and the message on the TitanTron for Ted DiBiase or Maryse.
Maryse is in the back and she talk about how Eve cost her the battle royal. Ted blames Maryse for the loss last week. Maryse and Ted argue and there is a knock on the door. Ted opens the door and nobody is there, but there is a note on the floor. Maryse open the envelope and she read it in French. Ted tells her to read it in English. Next week, you will be mine. Maryse leave in anger.
Sheamus comes to the ring and he has something to say fella. Sheamus say that there is a tale you might have heard called the Fiery Red Hand of Ireland. It is about two people who sought the crown of Ireland. The first to touch the crown won the race. The younger of the princes knew that he would lose so he cut off his hand and hurled the hand and he won the kingdom of Ireland. Sheamus says that he is willing to cut off his own hand to win back the WWE Title. Sheamus tells Orton that he has underestimated him so he better check with Triple H because he ended Hunter’s career with his bare hand. He tells Orton that he will have the time of his life fella. Sheamus makes a challenge to anyone. He says that he will prove why he is a future three time WWE Champion, and he will show why he is the fiery red hand of the WWE.
We go to commercial.
We are back and nobody has come out to challenge Sheamus. He says that there is no one to challenge him.
Maybe someone needed to translate the challenge because the Great Khali and he is joined by Runjin Singh.
While Khali comes to the ring, Cole and Lawler mention Mick Foley’s new book.
Match Number Three: Great Khali versus Sheamus
Sheamus pushes Khali and screams. Khali backs Sheamus into the corner and chops him. Sheamus takes Khali to the mat and he punches and kicks him. Sheamus with a kick to the head and Khali goes to the floor. Sheamus attacks and punches Khali on the floor and he follows that with kicks. Sheamus takes the cover off the announce table and he hits Khali with it. Sheamus grabs Cole’s chair and throws it at Khali and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Great Khali by disqualification
Sheamus throws another chair at Khali. Khali misses a chop and hits the ring post. Sheamus with a pump kick to Khali and then he hits a running boot to the head.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that a lot of people are probably going to participate in the Wrestlemania Reading Challenge.
It is time for the Cutting Edge and your host Edge makes his way to the ring and his guest is already in the ring waiting for Edge.
Edge says that we have a first tonight. His guest is the anonymous Raw General Manager. Edge says that despite their acrimonious relationship, he appreciates that the computer is here. Edge wants to know why is he such a spineless coward. The computer asks Edge why is he such a moron. He remains anonymous to protect his identity. If people knew it would change everything. Edge says the voice was horrible. He says that maybe the general manager was Steve Austin, the Rock, or Shawn Michaels. He suggests that maybe it is Lindsay Lohan after a bender because of the decisions he has made. The computer asks why he has to hate. He tried to make peace with him but Edge wants a confrontation. Edge wonders why he is arguing with a computer. Edge says that we have gone from Steve Austin giving Vince McMahon a stunner to. Edge says that he will ask Jericho. The General Manager says that Jericho is bluffing. He tells Edge that he knows his opponent. Edge says that he doesn’t have an opponent and he is sick of talking to an overgrown speak and spell. Edge has a match with John Cena.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Edge versus John Cena
We see Nexus watching from the locker room before Cena connects with a side head lock take down. Edge backs Cena into the corner and Edge with a punch. Edge kicks Cena in the corner and the referee has to pull him out. Cena with a drop toe hold but Edge sends Cena to the floor when Cena tries for the STF. Edge with a baseball slide to Cena. Edge Irish whips Cena into the ring steps and Edge stops the referee’s count by returning to the ring. Edge returns to the ring and gets a near fall. Edge blocks the Attitude Adjustment with an Edge-o-Matic and gets a near fall.
Edge punches Cena and the referee warns him again. Edge with a punch to the head but Cena punches back. Cena with two flying shoulder tackles, but Edge sees the second one coming and avoids it. Edge gets a near fall. Edge punches Cena in the corner followed by a hard Irish whip. Edge tries for a suplex and Cena blocks it. Cena with a suplex of his own. Cena gets Edge up for the Attitude Adjustment but Edge blocks it and hits the Impaler DDT but Cena kicks out. Edge kicks Cena and he gets to his feet. Cena punches Edge and kicks him.
Cena with a leap frog neck breaker. Cena puts Edge on the top turnbuckles and sets for a super Attitude Adjustment but Edge gets to the mat and regains control. Cena with an Irish whip and Cena misses a charge. Edge with a spear for the three count, but Cena’s foot is under the rope.
Winner: Edge
After the match, the General Messenger says that Edge needs to play by the rules. John Cena’s foot was under the ropes. We go to the video tape. The match continues.
Edge punches Cena before the referee restarts the match. Edge tries for a spear but Cena with a drop toe hold and he puts Edge in the STF. Cena pulls Edge into the center of the ring and Edge taps.
Winner: John Cena
After the match, Cena leaves the ring. Edge looks at the computer and he goes to the floor. The computer says that Edge lost fair and square. It tells Edge not to look at him like that. It tells Edge to walk away. Edge snarls at the computer as he gets closer. It says that Edge has the crazy eyes. Edge knocks over the computer. The computer tells Cole to stop him. Edge shows that he doesn’t have good computer repair skills as he breaks it and drops an elbow on it after hitting the computer with a chair. Edge rams the computer into his head and he almost bleeds.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to take a look back at the way that Edge deals with computer problems. He uses a chair.
Match Number Five: Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater with the rest of Nexus versus Mark Henry and Evan Bourne
Bourne and Slater start things off and they lock up. Slater with a knee and he sends Bourne into the turnbuckles. Gabriel tags in and he connects with a forearm and he gets a near fall. Gabriel tags Slater in and Gabriel with a slam followed by a knee drop from Slater for a near fall. Slater with a kick to the back and then he puts Bourne in a rear chin lock. Bourne with a kick to Slater’s leg. Slater with a punch. He misses a forearm into the corner and Bourne with a knee and he struggles to make the tag. Gabriel and Henry tag in. Henry with a clothesline and head butt followed by a punch. Henry sends Gabriel into the corner and then he hits Slater with a shoulder tackle. Henry presses Gabriel and then he tags in Bourne. Bourne goes up top but Slater hits Henry and Gabriel knocks Bourne off the turnbuckles. Gabriel goes up top but he misses the 450 but he does catch Bourne but it is not enough to stop Bourne from going up top for the Shooting Star Press and Bourne shows how it is done. Slater pushes Bourne over and Gabriel gets the three count.
Winners: Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater
After the match, they send Henry into the ring steps. Otunga hits the world’s most dangerous short arm clothesline on Bourne. Tarver gets ready for his attack and he connects with a punch to Bourne. Slater hits Sweetness on Bourne. Barrett gets Bourne up for Wasteland and hits it. Barrett tells Gabriel to go up top and hit the 450 Splash.
Barrett says that from the very beginning, you are either Nexus or Against Us. After Hell in a Cell, John Cena will no longer be against them. Barrett says that they don’t need him. John Cena will serve a purpose for them. He will take them to the upper echelon and he will help them demoralize the whole WWE. Barrett says that they are going take a little trip to show John that they aren’t that bad.
David Otunga says that on Friday they are going to invade Smackdown. Otunga says that they are giving them a fair warning and they are warned.
Michael Tarver says that the bad news is that they are the bad news. He says that no one can stop them.
We go to the back and we see Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre walking. Cody stops at a mirror to make sure that he is truly dashing. We go to commercial.
We are back and Johnny Knoxville will be back next week.
We see highlights from the tag match involving the two teams we are going to see next.
Match Number Six: David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd with Number One Contender Natalya versus Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes for the WWE Tag Titles
Kidd and Rhodes start things off and they lock up in a Greco Roman knuckle lock. Rhodes with punches to Kidd. Kidd gets sent to the apron but Kidd with a shoulder and then he gets a rollup for a near fall. Rhodes with a springboard spin kick and he tags in McIntyre. They send Kidd into the turnbuckles and Drew kicks Kidd in the head. Rhodes tags in and he kicks Kidd and McIntyre with a forearm. Drew tags back in and Drew with a clothesline after Rhodes Irish whipped him at him. Drew gets a near fall and he sets for a suplex but Kidd with a drop kick.
Smith and Rhodes tag in and Smith with punches and a high knee. Smith with a running clothesline into the corner and he tries for a power slam. Cody escapes the hold but Smith with a version of the Olympic slam for a near fall. Smith sends McIntyre to the floor and then Smith and Kidd try for the Springboard Hart Attack, but Drew pushes Kidd and he hits Smith. Rhodes with Cross Rhodes for the three count.
Winners: Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes
After the match, Smith wants to know why Tyson hit him instead of Rhodes. Smith walks away.
Chris Jericho and Randy Orton are walking in the back because they have a match and it is next.
We are back and John Cena is in the locker room and R Truth enters. They rap and Truth says that no matter what happens on Sunday, he has Cena’s back. Cena says that he is the guy to go to when things are on the line. Cena says that he is not going to be part of the Nexus. He said that he is going to take care of them one by one. Truth says that Cena is one of the most reckless, getting crunk people that he knows. Cena says that since Nexus is going to Smackdown, he might as well be there. If they run into each other, then Hell in a Cell starts early.
It is time to run through the card for Hell in a Cell.
Chris Jericho says that when he wins tonight, he will become the number one contender and he will win the WWE Title. Chris Jericho says that Randy Orton is a tremendous competitor. Randy has changed from when he first started to a demented lunatic in order to become the champion. He says that Orton moves, thinks, and strikes like a snake. Jericho says that much like Randy used to call himself the Legend Killer, Chris says that he will call himself the Viper Killer. Randy will join the list of legends and Hall of Famers he has beaten. Steve Austin, Rock, Triple H, Kane, Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, JBL, the Big Show, Edge, Undertaker . . . who he beat twice. The list goes on and on. MVP, CM Punk . . . we go to commercial.
We are back and the Man of 1004 Victims continues with Invaders, Villanos, Juventud Guerrera, Apollo Xantes, Ringo Mendoza Junior, The Great Muta, Masahiro Chono, Funaki, Fuyuki, Jado, Gedo, Yoshi Tatsu, Perry Saturn, Dean Malenko, Lex Luger, Sting, Ric Flair, Bill Goldberg, Booker T, Stevie Ray, Scott Norton, Buff Bagwell, Flash Flannigan, Flash Funk, Kevin Nash, Diesel, Oz, Scott Hall, Razor Ramon, American Starship Eagle.
Randy Orton interrupts the list because he apparently wants to wrestle his match.
Match Number Seven: Randy Orton versus Chris Jericho
Jericho with a kick and forearm to the head and then he sends Orton into the turnbuckles. Jericho with an Irish whip but Orton with a clothesline out of the corner. Orton punches Jericho and then he drapes Jericho on the apron and connects with a punch and uppercut. Orton with an uppercut but Jericho with a punch. Orton with punches to the back but Jericho with a thumb to the eye. Jericho with kicks and then he punches Orton. Jericho has something to say to Orton but that angers Orton and he punches Jericho. Orton clotheslines Jericho over the top rope to the floor. Jericho sends Orton into the ringside barrier as we go to commercial.
We are back and Orton with a clothesline and then he gives Jericho the Garvin Stomp.
Sheamus comes out to watch the match from the stage and Orton loses his focus on the match. Orton sees Jericho coming but Jericho with an enzuigiri. Jericho catapults Orton into the bottom rope as Sheamus watches . . . fella. Jericho chokes Orton in the ropes. Jericho misses the splash in the ropes and he crotches himself. Orton punches Jericho but Jericho with an Irish whip. Jericho misses a charge into the corner and he hits the ring post with his shoulder. Orton tries for the RKO but Jericho with a back slide for a near fall. Jericho with a drop kick and another near fall. Jericho with a reverse chin lock. Orton with a double sledge to escape the chin lock. Jericho with a drop kick for a near fall. Jericho pulls down the knee pad and then he connects with a knee drop. Jericho with a near fall. Jericho with a reverse chin lock and he puts his knee in Orton’s back. Orton with a belly-to-back suplex on Jericho and both men are down.
Orton with a clothesline or two and then he hits the power slam. Orton with an Irish whip but he charges into a boot and Jericho with a bulldog. Jericho tries for the Lionsault but Jericho lands on his feet when Orton moves. Orton wit ha back breaker and then he tries for the RKO but Jericho avoids the move. Jericho hits the Lionsault and gets a near fall. Jericho tries for the springboard drop kick but Orton moves out of the way. Orton tries for the IEDDT but Jericho escapes it and he puts Orton in the Walls of Jericho. Jericho pulls Orton into the center of the ring because Orton was getting too close to the ropes. Orton rolls through and kicks Jericho to the floor. Orton with the IEDDT to Jericho. Orton summons the power of the Viper with his rhythmic pounding on the mat.
Sheamus enters the ring and the referee calls for the bell. Orton gives Sheamus an IEDDT.
Winner: Randy Orton by disqualification
Orton sets for the field goal kick on Sheamus and Jericho hits the Codebreaker on Orton.
Jericho gets a chair and he waits for Orton to get up. Orton avoids the chair and he hits an RKO on Jericho. Jericho is down in the corner and Orton thinks about it and he lines up for a fifty five yard field goal and it is good.
Sheamus recovers in time to see the carnage in the ring. Sheamus realizes that Orton is crazy . . . fella.
The medical staff checks on Jericho and they get him stretchered out of the ring.
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