October 26th
On this day in history in ....
1897 - Dan McLeod defeats Martin Burns in Chicago, Illinois, to win the American Heavyweight Title.
1942 - Ed Virag defeats John Grandovich to win the NWA (not current NWA) World Heavyweight Title in Wichita, Kansas, beginning his second reign.
1959 - Don and Luke Fields defeat Don and Al Greene for the Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Title in Birmingham, Alabama, beginning their second reign.
1960 - Al Hobman defeats John DaSilva for the vacant New Zealand Heavyweight Title in Wellington, New Zealand.
1962 - El Medico II defeats Art Thomas in Houston, Texas to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title.
1964 - Pepper Martin and Luther Lindsay win their second NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title, by defeating Pat Patterson and The Hangman.
1964 - Tony Borne defeats Killer Karl Kox for the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title in Fort Worth, Texas, ending Kox's second reign and beginning his own third.
1968 - Mitsu Arakawa and Dr. Moto (Tor Kamata) defeat Wilbur Snyder and Pat O'Connor for the WWA Tag Team Title in Elkhart, Indiana, beginning their second reign.
1971 - The Wrestling Pro defeats Ken Lucas for the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama, ending Lucas' fourth reign and beginning his own third.
1973 - Enrique Vera defeats Angel Blanco in Mexico City, Mexico for the Mexican National Heavyweight Title.
1976 - Mr. Wrestling II defeats Dick Slater to win his sixth NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Georgia.
1976 - The Executioners (Killer Kowalski & John Studd) were stripped of the WWWF World Tag Team title when they had a third member (Nikolai Volkoff) participate in a title defense against Chief Jay Strongbow & Billy White Wolf in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Strongbow & White Wolf would go on to win the belts in a three team tournament with the Executioners and, ironically, Volkoff & Tor Kamata.
1979 - Chavo Guerrero, Sr. and Al Madril defeat Allen Coage and Victor Rivera for the NWA Americas Tag Team Title.
1979 - Sweet Brown Sugar defeats Ernie Ladd to win the Florida version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Lafayette, Louisiana.
1979 - Tommy Rich defeats Killer Karl Kox for the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia.
1980 - Dusty Rhodes defeats Bobby Jaggers for the Florida State Heavyweight Title in Ft. Lauderdale. This was the start of Rhodes' tenth, and final, reign with the belt.
1981 - Dutch Mantel defeats Dream Machine for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1982 - Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow defeat Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Hamburg, Pennsylvania, ending Fuji & Saito's second reign, and starting the second reign for the Strongbows.
1982 - Harley Race defeats Giant Baba for the PWF Heavyweight Title in Obihiro, Japan, ending Baba's second reign.
1983 - The Junkyard Dog defeats Butch Reed for the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title in Shreveport, Louisiana. This ended Reed's third reign and began JYD's fourth.
1986 - John Tatum and Jack Victory defeat The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) to win the UWF Tag Team Title in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1987 - Two title changes take place on an AWA card in Memphis, Tennessee. Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee win their second AWA World Tag Team Title, defeating Hector Guerrero and "Dr. D" David Schultz. Lawler & Dundee had lost the belts only a week earlier.. Also, The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels) defeat The RPM's (Mike Davis and Tommy Lane) for the AWA Southern Tag Team Title, ending the RPM's fifth reign.
1987 - Tom Prichard ends Tony Anthony's third NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title reign in Birmingham, Alabama.
1995 - Robby Royce defeats Vance Nevada for the Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
1997 - WCW Halloween Havoc was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here are the results:
- Yuji Nagata defeated Ultimo Dragon via submission with a Fujiwara armbar.
- Chris Jericho defeated Gedo via submission with a Liontamer.
- Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Eddie Guerrero to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title in a Mask vs. Title match when he reversed a powerbomb into a rana. To read a detailed report on this match, which many consider to be one of the best of the 90's, go to Page 2!
- Alex Wright defeated Steve McMichael when Bill Goldberg came in and laid out McMichael with a jackhammer, then threw Wright on top for the pin.
- Jacqueline defeated Disco Inferno with a cradle.
- United States Champion Curt Hennig defeated Ric Flair via disqualification when Flair hit Hennig with the title belt.
- Lex Luger defeated Scott Hall via submission with the Torture Rack. Larry Zbyszko was the special referee and was attacked by Syxx and Eric Bischoff at the end of the bout.
- Randy Savage defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Death match when Hulk Hogan, in a Sting mask, hit Page with a bat.
- Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan in a non-title steel cage match with a sleeper. After the match, Randy Savage and Hogan beat down Piper.
The Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero match from Halloween Havoc 1997, Mask vs. Cruiserweight Title, is regularly held up (alongside the Bret Hart-Chris Benoit Owen Hart tribute match) as one of the best bouts to be produced by latter-day WCW. In what is a common irony when it comes to truly great matches, it was far from being the focus of the promotion at the time and was not expected to become the most remembered bout of the evening. It was the third bout on a nine match card, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 26, 1997. The feud of the day was NWO vs. WCW, and dominated all the headline bouts (Piper vs. Hogan, Page vs. Savage, Flair vs. Hennig, Luger vs. Hall). Hell, even the horrid Jacquelyn vs. Disco Inferno feud was given more attention in the weeks preceding Havoc than Rey vs. Guerrero. Still, there was a storyline behind the match, and when given the chance, it stole the show out from under everyone else.
History
Eddie Guerrero was a babyface in WCW, floating in the mid-card/semi main event slots, until he lost the WCW United States Title to Dean Malenko. Guerrero then began a slow heel turn, eventually feuding with nephew Chavo to cement his position by "alienating his family". WCW even brought in Hector Guerrero for an angle where he had to pull Eddie off of Chavo as he beat him unmercifully. During this time, Eddie was moved into the Cruiserweight division, and defeated Chris Jericho for the title at Fall Brawl on September 14, 1997. With Eddie as heel champion, it was only logical that Rey Mysterio Jr., the darling of the division, would challenge him.
The night after Guerrero won the title, he successfully defended it against Ultimo Dragon with a frog splash. Earlier on the same show, Mysterio defeated longtime rival Juventud Guerrera with a hurricanrana. The following week, on the September 22nd edition of Nitro, the Mysterio-Guerrero feud would officially begin, as Eddie Guerrero came to ringside as Mysterio was facing Silver King (presumably to "scout" future challengers). Mysterio won the match, and also knocked Guerrero off the ring apron when he tried to sneak attack Rey. The following week, Mysterio was again featured on Nitro, against a new masked opponent ... El Caliente.
Caliente, of course, was Guerrero in disguise, which was obvious to everyone but the announcers, as the crowd chanted "Eddie Sucks" at him. Mysterio scored the win with a springboard into a hurricanrana (later to be called the "West Coast Pop") and then unmasked Caliente, revealing that Mysterio had just pinned the Cruiserweight Champion. Guerrero was enraged and embarrassed, and now had to defend the title against someone who had proven he could beat him in the ring. On the October 6th edition of Nitro, Guerrero would get another win over Ultimo Dragon with the frog splash, while WCW would begin a series of segments that would end up adding emphasis to the Halloween Havoc match.
WCW produced a series of vignettes, hosted by Mike Tenay, to explain Lucha Libre and the tradition of the mask in Mexican wrestling to the Nitro audience. These vignettes would tell WCW fans how important the mask was, and help in creating the stipulation of Mysterio-Guerrero. On the October 13th Nitro, Eddie Guerrero defeated Psychosis after a frog splash, then tried to pull off his mask, showing disrespect to the tradition of the mask. Later that night, as Mysterio was wrestling Dean Malenko and was set to pin him following a hurricanrana, when Guerrero interfered, pulling the mask off of Mysterio. As Rey tried to cover his face, Malenko put Rey in the Texas Cloverleaf, forcing him to tap out. As Guerrero walked out, he held the mask up to the camera and mocked Rey, asking "Did you lose this?"
October 20, 1997 was the final Nitro before Halloween Havoc, with Eddie Guerrero pinning Chris Benoit with a frog splash to retain the WCW World Cruiserweight title. Another piece on Lucha Libre and the importance of the mask was shown, this time concentrating on Rey Mysterio Jr. and how the mask had been handed down to him from his uncle. Rey wrestled Disco Inferno for the Television title, but Guerrero ran in and attacked Mysterio, giving him the disqualification win, but not the title. The two slugged it out, as the stage was now set for their Pay-per-view match. WCW Cruiserweight Champion Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio Jr., with the added stipulation that if Rey were to lose, he would have to unmask in the ring.
The Match
Halloween Havoc announcers Tony Schiavone, Dusty Rhodes and Bobby Heenan were joined for this match by Mike Tenay, who tossed out tons of relevant biographical information, like the fact that Rey had wrestled eight times in matches with his mask on the line, and had won them all. He also mentioned that Guerrero had voluntarily unmasked when he was Mascara Magica, showing no respect for the "tradition" of the mask. Mysterio came to the ring wearing a full body outfit with his mask attached to it that was styled after comic character The Phantom. He also had the mask Guerrero had ripped off him on October 13th hanging around his neck.
The crowd chanted "Eddie sucks" at the bell. Guerrero began trash talking Mysterio in center ring, saying he was going to rip the mask "right off his head". Eddie went for a slap, but Mysterio ducked it, hit a punch, and grabbed a side headlock, which Guerrero immediately shoved off. Rey rebounded off the ropes, went over Guerrero and went for a Quebrada moonsault. Eddie caught the move, but Rey flipped out of Guerrero's grasp. Guerrero charged, and Rey leapfrogged him. Mysterio hit a monkey flip, then launched into a cross bodyblock, sending Guerrero over the top rope to the floor, while Mysterio landed on the apron and rolled back into the ring. Mysterio teased a dive, but instead flipped over the top rope to the apron. Guerrero was a step ahead of him, and grabbed Mysterio by the legs and yanked him off the apron to the floor. Guerrero tossed Mysterio head first into the ringsteps, then back into the ring, so he could hit him with a slingshot senton to the back. Guerrero incited the crowd, bragging about what he had done to Rey.
Guerrero delivered a chop and slugged Rey to the mat, but Mysterio reversed a whip and delivered a perfect dropkick. Rey built up a head of steam and went for a handspring, but Guerrero caught him and delivered a high back suplex. Guerrero hit a brain buster for a two count, then immediately hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for another two. Guerrero began pulling at one of the eye holes on Rey's mask, then applied an abdominal stretch. Guerrero occasionally pulled on the mask while maintaining the hold, but the referee would make Guerrero release the mask. Guerrero turned the stretch into a pumphandle backbreaker. Eddie covered Rey, who got his shoulder up at two. Eddie forced Rey's shoulders back down twice more while in a test of strength, but Rey kept bridging up. After a fourth two count, Eddie went to drop his weight on Rey, but Mysterio kicked Guerrero to his feet and in one fluid motion, maintaining the test of strength, Rey also jumped to his feet, then to the middle of the top rope, releasing one of Guerrero's hands. Mysterio sprung off the top rope into a backflip and drove Guerrero down to the mat with a DDT.
Both men struggled to their feet, and Rey dropkicked Guerrero from the ring. Rey attempted to springboard from the middle rope inside the ring to the floor. Guerrero though, had slid back into the ring, so Rey caught himself and landed on the ring apron. Guerrero dropkicked Mysterio off the apron to the floor. Eddie went to the outside and whipped Rey chest first into the guardrail, then tossed him back into the ring. Guerrero applied a camel clutch, and again ripped at the mask. Guerrero added a crossface to his camel clutch, eventually releasing the hold and applying the Gory Special. Rey broke free and took Eddie down with a reverse armdrag as he came down off Guerrero's back. Rey went for a dropkick, but Eddie sidestepped it, and dropkicked a seated Mysterio right in the back of the head. Guerrero put Rey in an over the shoulder backbreaker, then dropped to his knees, bouncing Rey back first over his shoulder. Guerrero applied a variation of a bow and arrow on the mat, driving his knee into Rey's back while locking up the right arm and leg. Eddie sent Rey into motion, and hit a side bodyblock as Rey rebounded off the ropes. Eddie went for a cover, but his foot was on the ropes, and Rey also reached out and grabbed the ropes to stop the count.
Pushing Rey into the turnbuckles, Eddie went for forearms and chops in the corner, but Rey responded with forearms. Rey chopped Guerrero, and went for a whip, but Eddie stopped it and kneed Mysterio in the midsection. Guerrero tossed Rey into the opposite corner, flipping him, and Mysterio ended up hung in the Tree of Woe. Eddie dropkicked Rey in the chest, then backed up, smirking, for another kick. This time, Rey sat up, and Guerrero slid across the mat and crotched himself on the ringpost. Eddie regrouped on the floor, and Mysterio dove off the top rope over the ringpost to hit Guerrero with a cross bodyblock, sending Guerrero crashing into the guardrails. Mysterio tossed Eddie into the ring and went for a whip, but Eddie reversed it. Eddie went for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, but Rey flipped out of it, and from a standing position, Rey hit a hurricanrana and hooked Guerrero's legs for a two count. Eddie charged Rey and decked him with a lariat.
Guerrero whipped Rey across the ring, and Mysterio springboarded into a backflip off the middle rope, over Guerrero. Rey charged and Eddie sidestepped him, and Mysterio spun inbetween the top and middle rope (what would later be part of the 619) and grabbed Eddie in a headscissors, doing a complete revolution before pulling Guerrero over the top rope and to the floor. Mysterio landed on the apron and launched himself into a somersault flip over the top rope, then grabbed Guerrero into a rana on the floor. Rey tossed Guerrero back in, and went to the top rope. Rey went into a corkscrew moonsault, hitting a standing Guerrero with his back. Rey got a two count, then slammed Eddie to the mat. Mysterio went for an Arabian Press, but Guerrero got his knees up. Guerrero then delivered a powerbomb, but Rey kicked out at two. Guerrero grabbed Rey in a Fireman's carry, then rammed him back first into the corner. Eddie charged Rey, who moved, sending Guerrero into the buckles, and Rey hit a back kick. Rey set up for the springboard rana, but Eddie caught it and sent Mysterio crashing to the mat with a backbreaker.
Eddie went to the top rope for a frog splash, but Rey moved as Eddie was in mid-dive. Eddie turned into a somersault on the mat to avoid crashing. Rey went for a rana, Eddie pushed him over the top of his head, and Rey landed on the top rope behind Eddie. Guerrero turned around and shoved Mysterio's legs, crotching him on the top. Eddie went for a back superplex, with Rey punching to avoid it. Rey finally elbowed Guerrero, who was standing on the middle rope, and got him to release his waistlock. However, Guerrero stayed on the ropes and elbowed Rey back down into a seated position on the connecting cable between the turnbuckle and the ringpost. Eddie then positioned Rey for a second rope crucifix powerbomb, but Rey turned it into a rana in mid move, and hooked Guerrero's legs to win the Cruiserweight Title and keep his mask.
The Aftermath
The night after Halloween Havoc, Mysterio successfully defended the Cruiserweight Title by pinning Dean Malenko with a small package as Malenko went for the Texas Cloverleaf, avenging his loss to Malenko that Guerrero had caused on October 13th. Guerrero also scored a victory, beating Chris Jericho with a frog splash. The next week, on the November 3rd edition of Nitro, an unusual tag match was held, as Guerrero was paired up with Malenko to face Mysterio and Steven (William) Regal. After a bout that saw little trust and a lot of "tagging yourself in while your partner doesn't know", Malenko forced Mysterio to tap out to the Texas Cloverleaf.
You would think that Malenko's victory would line him up for a title shot, but the following week WCW gave Guerrero a rematch with Mysterio, and on that November 10th Nitro. Eddie regained the WCW World Cruiserweight title, ending Mysterio's reign after only two weeks. Guerrero would then start a feud with Malenko, who felt he should have had the title shot that night. Mysterio would go back to floating around, having great matches and waiting to be pushed again.
1998 - Diamond Dallas Page defeats Bret Hart for the WCW United States Heavyweight Title in Phoenix, Arizona, ending Hart's second run with the belt and beginning Page's own second reign.
1999 - Davey Boy Smith defeats D'Lo Brown for the WWF European Heavyweight Title in Springfield, Massachusetts, ending Brown's fourth reign with the belt, and starting Smith's second reign (he was the first European champion ever in 1997).
2001 - World Wrestling All-Stars "Inception" Pay-per-view was held at the Superdome in Sydney, Australia, drawing a crowd of 8,500 fans. It was aired live on Australian Pay-per-view, and was shown in the United States on PPV on January 6, 2002. The feature attraction of the show was a tournament to determine the first WWA heavyweight champion, in which each match had a different stipulation. Here are the results:
- WWA Title Tournament, Round One: Juventud Guerrera defeated Psicosis in a Ladder match to win the WWA Cruiserweight Title.
- WWA Title Tournament, Round One: Road Dogg defeated Konnan in a Dog Collar match.
- Norman Smiley defeated Devon Storm in a Hardcore match.
- WWA Title Tournament, Round One: Buff Bagwell won a battle royal.
- WWA Title Tournament, Round One: Jeff Jarrett defeated Nathan Jones in a Guitar On A Pole match.
- WWA Title Tournament, Round Two: Road Dogg defeated Lenny Lane and Lodi (subbing for Guerrera) in a Triangle match.
- WWA Title Tournament, Round Two: Jeff Jarrett defeated Buff Bagwell in a Whip Match.
- Vampire Warrior defeated Luna Vachon.
- Aldera James defeated Queen Bee, Violet Terriso, and Shawon Awad (male wrestler Danny Dominion) in a Strip match.
- WWA Title Tournament Final: Jeff Jarrett defeated Road Dogg in a steel cage to become the first World Wrestling All-Stars Heavyweight Champion.
2002 - WWE held their UK-only Pay-per-view, Rebellion, at the Evening News Arena in Manchester, England. Here are the results:
- In a dark match, Bill DeMott defeated Shannon Moore.
- Booker T defeated Matt Hardy.
- Billy Kidman & Torrie Wilson defeated John Cena & Dawn Marie when Kidman pinned Cena.
- Sho Funaki defeated Crash Holly.
- WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble defeated Rey Mysterio and Yoshihiro Tajiri in an Elimination match. Noble eliminated Tajiri first, and Mysterio second.
- D-Von Dudley & Ron Simmons defeated Val Venis & Chuck Palumbo when Simmons pinned Palumbo.
- Rikishi defeated Albert.
- WWE World Tag Team Champions Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit defeated Eddie & Chavo Guerrero when Angle pinned Eddie.
- WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman defeated Edge in a handicap match (with the title on the line) when Lesnar pinned Edge.
2002 - The NWA 54th Anniversary Show was held in Corpus Christi, Texas. Here are the results:
- Jacey North defeated Brother Love.
- Ryan Pisiak defeated Damon Biggs in a Hair vs. Hair match.
- The East Coast Connection defeated Ricky Murdoch and Magnum.
- NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion Spyder defeated Paul Tracy.
- NWA Jersey Champion Biggie Biggs defeated Preston Quinn.
- NWA New England Junior Heavyweight Champion Jason Rumble defeated NWA Tri-States Junior Heavyweight Champion Rocky Reynolds.
- NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion Steve DeMarco defeated JP Black in a Texas Death Match.
- NWA United Kingdom Heavyweight Champion Johnny Moss defeated Danny Garnell.
- Char Starr defeated Madison to win the NWA World Women's Title match.
- Jorge Estrada defeated Paul Atlas to win the NWA North American Title.
- Konnan defeated NWA Midwest Champion Danny Dominion in a non-title match.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions Chris Harris & James Storm defeated AJ Styles & Rocky Reynolds.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ron Killings defeated NWA National Champion Hotstuff Hernandez. Only Killings' belt was on the line.
2002 - CM Punk defeats MDogg20 to win his third IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Clarksville, Indiana.
2009 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off with a look back at the final match for Bragging Rights and Team Smackdown showed that if everyone wears the same shirt they are going to win. What will Raw do now that Big Show turned his back on his brand?
We are live from Buffalo, New York and your announcers are Michael ‘Vintage Left Turn’ Cole and Jerry ‘Raw is just like the Bills in the Super Bowl’ Lawler.
The Unified Tag Team Champions come out and Chris Jericho has his big trophy with him. Cole talks about the party that Smackdown had after their victory and he says that it was huge.
Show says that whatever happened last night, he is still a proud member of the Raw roster. Show says that everything he did was . . . Jericho stops him and says that Show does not have to explain himself. Jericho says that the loyalty to the tag team is greater than his loyalty to Raw. Show says that he needs to tell Jericho something. Jericho thanks Show for stopping the tyranny of DX. There is no jocularity or hocking of cheap merchandise because Show stood up for himself and he punched Triple H in his face to earn Smackdown bragging rights and he gives Show kudos. Jericho stops Show again and says that they would have won because Jericho was the captain, mastermind and genius who put everything together. Show tells Jericho that what he did was for himself. There is one thing that is more important than the show or the tag team. Show says that his career is bigger. Show says that he struck a deal with Teddy Long. Show says that he is the next opponent for the Undertaker’s World Title. Jericho wants to know what about him and if he approved it with him.
Show and Jericho are interrupted by Kyle Busch and Joey Lagano buring donuts in the parking lot and then they drive into the arena.
Logano and Busch come to the ring with permanent arm candy for the guest hosts, the Bellas. Busch says that is how you make an entrance. He says that they are huge WWE fans and are proud to be hosts tonight. Busch says that what Big Show did last night is not popular with the fans, but Kyle says that he is with Show on this. He says that things happen for a reason and he congratulates Show. Logano refuses to shake Show’s hand and he says that it was weak to leave his team like that. Show tells Kyle to teach his little friend about respect. Kyle says that Joey is young and dumb and doesn’t know much about championships. Kyle says that they are here to win a championship. Kyle points out that they are in Buffalo, a town that hasn’t made it to the playoffs since Hulkamania. Kyle points out that they have brought in TO and that hasn’t worked. Kyle says that they will soon be singing O Canada. Logano says that Show will be facing Triple H tonight. Jericho tells Show that is pretty tough. Jericho asks Joey and Kyle if they have ever seen a trophy like that or won something like that. Jericho wants to go to the office to talk about that. Kyle says that he has seen 58 of them and he can make matches too. Jericho will be wrestling in a match against Kofi Kingston.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Kofi ‘Johnson’ Kingston versus Chris Jericho
They lock up and Kofi backs Jericho into the corner and Jericho goes to the floor. Jericho tries to get into Kofi’s head and takes his time getting back into the ring. Jericho pushes Kofi away and Kofi pushes Jericho back. Jericho with a kick and punch. Jericho with an Irish whip but he runs into boots and Kofi with punches. Kofi with a drop kick for a near fall. Kofi with an arm bar. Jericho chokes Kofi in the ropes and stands on his back. Jericho with a kick to Kofi but Kofi with a rollup for a near fall. Jericho with a kick to the ribs and to the head. Jericho with a side head lock. Jericho with a side head lock but Kofi with a leaping back elbow and Jericho goes to the floor again with some vintage mind games. Kofi with a suicide dive. Kofi leaps into the corner and punches Jericho but Jericho with a power bomb. Jericho hits the springboard drop kick that sends Kofi to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Jericho catapults Kofi’s throat into the rope and then he puts Kofi in a chin lock. We see footage during the commercial when Jericho sent Kofi into the ring post. We are back to live action and Kofi punches Jericho and Kofi with a rollup for a near fall. Jericho takes Kofi down one more time and gets a near fall. Jericho slaps Kofi in the head but Kofi punches back. Jericho with an Irish whip but Kofi blocks the bulldog attempt and sends Jericho into the turnbuckles. Kofi with a drop kick and leaping clothesline. Kofi sets up for the Boom Boom leg drop and hits it. Jericho trips Kofi and tries to put Kofi into the Walls of Jericho but Kofi powers out. Jericho with an enzuigiri but Kofi kicks out. Jericho with an Irish whip but Kofi goes into the ropes and kicks Jericho. Jericho stops Kofi on the top turnbuckle and then Jericho tries for a superplex but Kofi blocks it and then Kofi hits a cross body but Jericho rolls through and gets a two count. Kofi with a side Russian leg sweep and Kofi tries for Trouble in Paradise, but Jericho blocks it and Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho but Kofi with an inside cradle for a near fall. Jericho with a Codebreaker but Jericho takes too long to cover Kofi and Kofi gets his foot on the rope. Jericho thinks that he won. Jericho turns around into Trouble in Paradise and Kofi ges the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
After the match, Randy Orton attacks Kofi on the ramp and sends Kofi to the floor. Orton stares at Kofi on the floor while referees come out to protect Kofi.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Randy Orton is walking in the back and Josh Mathews wants to know why he attacked Kofi. Randy says that Kofi had no right to interfere in his match. Orton blames Kofi for the loss. Randy says that he has only just BEGUN on Kofi Kingston. Cody stops by and tells Josh to leave. Ted is with him. Cody and Ted agree that Randy was robbed last night. They have a gift for Randy as a token of their gratitude. It is a Randy Orton race car. Orton looks at the hood of the car and he says that it is incredible. Orton asks if they bought it for him. Ted says that he knows they have had issues recently, but Randy is their leader. Cody and Ted say that they have another surprise for John Cena and say that the title will be coming back to Legacy.
Eve is with Joey and Kyle and they talk about the race in Texas. Jack Swagger enters and he is impressed. Jack says that he is WWE’s finest talking to NASCAR’s finest. They are proven winners who have no problem talking about how good they are. Jack says that he wants to face John Cena for the WWE Title. Kyle doesn’t know if they can put Cena in a match since he wrestled for an hour last night. Joey says that they will be picking Cena’s next opponent tonight. Jack introduces himself to Eve and says that he will be the future WWE Champion. Miz enters and he is impressed that Jack thinks he is going to be the WWE Champion. Miz says that he is the only one who won last night from Raw so he deserves his title match. Eve apologizes for Miz.
Santino and Melina are walking in the back and the flashes are going crazy. We go to commercial.
We are back with a Sheamus video package and he debuts on Raw tonight.
Cole says that he is excited to see Sheamus debut as a big free agent signing.
Match Number Two: Melina and Santino Marella versus Chavo Guerrero and Jillian Hall
The men start off and Chavo slaps Santino in slow motion but Santino with a belly laugh and a punch. Santino with a back body drop and back elbow. Santino with a diving salute head butt that misses. Chavo with kicks and then he sends Santino into the turnbuckles. Jillian kicks Santino in the back while Chavo spends some quality time with the referee. Chavo with a Latino uppercut for a near fall. Chavo punches and kicks Santino. Santino with a cartwheel and split to avoid Chavo followed by a hip toss and punches. Jillian makes the tag and she slaps Santino. Melina with forearms to Jillian and a short arm clothesline. Hornswoggle comes out and he crotch chops for the fans. Melina with a rollup but in the ropes. Melina with the Banshee Shriek of Doom Leg Drop for the three count.
Winners: Santino Marella and Melina
After the match, Hornswoggle comes into the ring and crotch chops for the fans. Hornswoggle is handed an envelope and it is a cease and desist order. He shows it to Lawler and Lawler explains it to Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle is dejected.
John Cena walks in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Photos of the 59 Minute 55 Second One Hour Iron Man Match.
John Cena is introduced, but Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes come out. Cody says that the champ IS not here. Cody says that it would be a perfect time to parade out here to talk about his ‘epic’ victory. John Cena will have to wait because The Legacy is here. Ted says that just because Randy cannot fight John Cena for the title, that is why they are bringing back the WWE Championship to the Legacy where it belongs. Ted tells Cena that they didn’t ask the guest hosts for permission because they don’t have to. They are making a challenge to Cena and tells him to man up and accept it. Ted challenges Cena to face one of them or both of them in an Epsenhart Special match.
John Cena comes out and he has something to say. John tells Ted and Cody that he doesn’t have to brag about what happened last night. Last night was exactly what it needed to be. It was the best competing in one final showdown. When that clock stuck zero, both of them were exhausted. Cena says that he did it for each other, they did it for the title belt, and they did it for the fans. They did it because they knew the John Cena/Randy Orton rivalry needed to end and it did. Now we are on Raw to find out who the next challenger will be and then he seems bummed out in his hard sell to be in the ring with Randy Orton’s legacy.
Cody says that they are not Randy and Cena agrees with him. Cena says that neither of them are Randy Orton but it is close enough. Cena says that he is going to hit Ted and Cody with the truth. Cena says that he won last night and has the right to say ‘no more’. Ted and Cody come out and can make all the empty challenges they want about bringing the title back to Legacy, but if they want a shot at the title, they need to earn it. John says that they haven’t earned it yet. Cena says that he was in the back with Joey and Kyle about Ted and Cody having a match tonight and it will happen now.
Match Number Three: Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase versus Montel Vontavious Porter and Mark Henry
We join the match in progress and DiBiase with a near fall on Porter. Rhodes tags in and they double team Porter. Rhodes with elbows to the head. Rhodes punches Porter and snap mares him and puts Porter in an arm bar with a cross face.
We see Kyle and Joey enjoying the match from their office.
Porter with a short arm clothesline and Henry tags in and he clotheslines Rhodes and hits a back elbow followed by a head butt. Henry with a vertical choke and Porter distracts the referee long enough for DiBiase to clip Henry and Rhodes gets a near fall. DiBiase tags in and he kicks Henry and hits double sledges. DiBiase is tagged back in after Rhodes gets in a few kicks. DiBiase chokes Henry and he tags in Cody they double team Henry and Rhodes with a front face lock but he cannot stop Henry from making his way across the ring. Porter punches Rhodes but the referee does not see a double drop kick on Henry and Cody gets a near fall. Rhodes with a front face lock. Henry with a back body drop and Porter and DiBiase tag in. Porter with an overhead belly-to-belly throw followed by a back elbow and a face buster. Time for the Ballin Elbow and it connects but Rhodes breaks up the cover. Henry takes Rhodes down. Porter with a sunset flip thanks to help from Henry and Porter gets the three count.
Winners: Mark Henry and Montel Vontavious Porter
After the match, Rhodes and DiBiase protest their loss.
Randy Orton’s music plays and he comes out to the ring. Randy finally gets to the ring and he has something to say. Apparently the guest hosts are trying to find the next opponent for John Cena. Randy says that it officially looks like Cena’s next opponent will not be him. Randy says that he understands the terms of his match last night because he is a former champion. He is entitled to a rematch and he is willing to take it all the way to the board of directors.
Kofi Kingston appears on the TitanTron and he tells Randy that he lost and nobody cares what he has to say. Randy tells Kofi to come to say it to his face. Kofi says that he is already doing it and we see Kofi standing on the Vipermobile. Randy tells Kofi not to touch Orton’s car or he will make Kofi’s life a living hell. Kofi likes how durable NASCAR cars are. He sends a case into the door and there isn’t a scratch. Kofi takes some keys and he decides to key Orton’s car. Kofi tries to get a bug off the hood but he keeps missing it. Now it is on the window. Kofi says that he will fix this and he puts some orange paint on the hood. Kofi says that he doesn’t think Orton has ever looked better.
We go to commercial.
We are back and there are members of the Buffalo Bills in the crowd and they finally hit something.
We have a moments ago moment of Kofi’s Auto Detail Service.
We have a guest ring announcer and it is Eve Torres.
Match Number Four: Evan Bourne versus The Miz
They lock up and Miz with a knee and kick to Bourne. Miz trips Bourne and gets a near fall. Miz with a kick to Bourne but Bourne kicks back. Miz chokes Bourne against the ropes. Miz with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Miz works on the back with a modified camel clutch. Bourne with a back body drop but Miz tries to turn it into a sunset flip but Bourne rolls through. Bourne with kicks to the leg and a head scissors take down and a clothesline for a near fall. Miz runs Bourne into the turnbuckles and connects with forearms. Miz with a knee to the head and Jack Swagger comes to the ring.
Miz sends Bourne into the turnbuckles while Swagger gets on the mic and says that nobody is watching his match. Swagger says that everyone is watching Eve. He says that Eve is watching her. Miz with a clothesline into the corner to interrupt Swagger’s comments. Miz and Swagger stare each other down while the referee loudly makes the count. Bourne with a pescado onto Swagger and Miz. Bourne rolls back in and the ref makes the ten count.
Winner: Evan Bourne by count out
We go to commercial.
We are back with an Earlier Tonight Moment of Joey Logano and Kyle Busch.
Next week’s Guest Hosts are Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.
Joey and Kyle say that they want to see how tough Jamie Noble can be against Raw’s newest acquisition.
Sheamus is on the mic and he says that it is his first night on Raw and he is here to make an impression.
Match Number Five: Jamie Noble versus Sheamus
Noble with a kick to the leg but Sheamus with a shoulder tackle that sends Noble to the floor. Sheamus sends Noble into the ring steps and then brings Noble back into the ring. Sheamus with elbow drops and gets a near fall. Sheamus with a back breaker but Noble with elbows to the head and more kicks to the leg. Sheamus sends Noble into the turnbuckles. Sheamus misses a charge and Noble tries for a rollup but Sheamus does not go down. Sheamus with knees in the corner followed by an elbow and knee drop. Sheamus with back breakers followed by a bicycle kick for the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
Shawn and Hunter are walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Big Show punching Triple H at Bragging Rights.
Cole and Lawler talk about the World Title match and he mentions Batista and Rey’s issues as well as the other things that happened at the pay per view.
Match Number Six: Big Show with Chris Jericho and the Bragging Rights Trophy versus Triple H with Shawn Michaels
Hunter wants the mic before Show does anything. Hunter says that he had a meeting with Kyle and Joey and this is a lumberjack match and the lumberjacks are the members of Raw that Show screwed over. Jericho leaves through the crowd with his trophy of awesome.
Shawn has something to say. He tells Hunter that he forgot that not only is it a lumberjack match, it is a no disqualification lumberjack match. Shawn says that they have a guest referee for the match and it is John Cena.
Show charges at Hunter but Hunter moves and Show goes to the floor as we go to commercial.
We are back and Hunter punches Show. Show with an Irish whip but Hutner with a boot and a sleeper. We see footage of Show fighting back during the commercial on the floor with the lumberjacks. Back to live action and Show with a snap mare to escape. Show misses a charge into the corner and Hunter tries for a slam but he cannot keep Show up and Hunter kicks out at two. Show with an Irish whip but Hunter with a kick but Show responds with a spear. Show stands on Hunter while talking to Shawn Michaels. Show with a chop to Hunter. Hunter punches Show but Show with a side slam. Show works on the neck with a nerve hold. Show with head butts to Hunter. Hunter tries to bounce back up and he gives Show a crotch chop. Show with more head butts and a slam. Masters grabs Show by the leg and Show brings Masters into the ring and hits a clothesline followed by a punch to the temple.
This allows Hunter to recover and he punches Show and hits the face buster. Hunter with body blocks but Show stays on his feet. Show grabs Hunter by the throat but Hunter counters a choke slam with a DDT but Show kicks out. Show misses a charge into the corner and Hunter sets for the Pedigree but Show with a back body drop. Show with a Vader Splash but Cena stops his count at two. Show yells at Cena. Primo and Chavo with a double drop kick and then Swagger with a running clothesline into the corner. MIz with a clothesline of his own. Henry with a splash into the corner and Porter with a running boot to the head. Bourne with a shooting star press. Santino waits for Show to get up and Show choke slams Santino. Kofi with Trouble in Paradise and Show is woozy. Cena with an Attitude Adjustment. Hunter gets a blue shirt and he puts it on Show and Shawn with Sweet Chin Music and Hunter with a pedigree for the three count.
Winner: Raw
After the match, Kyle and Joey come out and they have agreed on the number one contender for the WWE Title. It was hard to agree and Hornswoggle comes out with Joey and Kyle. John Cena will face Shawn Michaels and Triple H. All three men are in the ring and they look at each other a little differently than a few seconds ago. We go to credits.
2010 - WWE issued the following:
CONNECTICUT SECRETARY OF STATE SUED FOR CENSORSHIP AND DISCRIMINATION
STAMFORD, Conn., October 26, 2010 – “On behalf of myself, my company, WWE® fans and any Connecticut citizen who wants to exercise their constitutional right to vote, I have filed a lawsuit today asserting that Susan Bysiewicz’s directive that allows poll workers to refuse registered voters wearing WWE merchandise the right to vote is a flagrant act of censorship and discrimination,” said Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, World Wrestling Entertainment.
2010 - WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following Tv report:
We are live on tape on the internet from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and your announcers are Michael ‘Stand up for SAP’ Cole and Todd ‘Will I be allowed to wear a number 4 Packers jersey to vote next Tuesday’ Grisham. Your host is Matt ‘This week, I get the Grey Cup for Bragging Rights’ Striker.
The show starts off with Michael Cole showing how much he is enjoying being on tonight’s broadcast.
Matt Striker is in the ring and he brings out the rookies in their Halloween costumes. AJ is dressed like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Namoi is dressed like Hamburger Helper. Kaitlyn is dressed like Vickie Guerrero. Maxine is dressed like an ice queen. Aksana is dressed like a devil.
Matt says that there is going to be some Halloween fun this week, but they need to remember that the voting starts tomorrow because the next elimination takes place next week. Matt reminds us that the way to avoid elimination is to have the most wins. Matt points out that Naomi is in the lead because she swept both events last week.
The first challenge is the Halloween costume challenge. Each rookie will have fifteen seconds to impress because the audience will make the final decision.
Aksana say she is devil tonight and she shows how evil she can be. The next contestant is Maxine and she is an Ice Queen. Maxine asks Striker what cold water can do to a man. She is going to take her time to say that there is only one spot for this queen and it is on top.
Kaitlyn is next and she throws out an excuse me or two. She says that she is the official consultant of Smackdown and then she falls down and gets frustrated. Naomi has a joke before she tells us about her costume. She asks what the glove says to the face. It says Smack. She says that she is the hamburger helper hand.
AJ is the final contestant and she says that she is a ninja turtle. Matt mentions that the costume is giving him a splinter.
The winner of this challenge is Kaitlyn.
Matt sends it to Todd Pettengill and Sean Mooney at the announce table.
Ted DiBiase and Maryse are walking in the back and Maryse says that she doesn’t want to be here. We go to an e-mercial.
Match Number One: Naomi with Kelly Kelly versus Maxine with Alicia Fox
They lock up in their costumes and Maxine sends Naomi to the mat. Maxine with shoulders in the corner but Naomi with an Irish whip. Maxine with a drop toe hold that sends Naomi into the turnbuckles. Maxine with a rear chin lock. Maxine throws Naomi over the top rope to the floor and then into the announce table. Maxine kicks Naomi as they fight by Cole and Mathews and they pay attention to the match. They continue to fight on the floor and Maxine kicks Naomi.
They return to the ring and Maxine gets a near fall. Maxine with shoulders followed by a kick. Maxine with a snap mare and a near fall. Maxine with knees to the back and then she puts Naomi in an arm bar. Naomi punches Maxine and follows it with a jawbreaker. Naomi with a back elbow for a near fall. Maxine with a punch to the midsection but Naomi punches Maxine with her costume. Maxine with a kick but Naomi with a punch and then she gets the three count.
Winner: Naomi
Goldust tells Aksana that they are in the house to get the belt but Aksana is happy for their wedding. Aksana asks about the flowers.
The immigration officer arrives and he tells Goldust that if the papers aren’t in order and they aren’t married by next week, he will take Aksana into custody.
Goldust tells his little devil that she looks beautiful and to take a deep breath.
We go to e-mercial.
We are back with a look back at last week’s NXT when Nikki went rogue during their tag match.
Match Number Two: Brie Bella with Nikki Bella versus AJ with Primo
Brie offers her hand and AJ shakes it. They lock up and AJ with an arm drag. AJ with a waist lock and rollup for a near fall. They lock up and Brie with a knee on the break followed by a hip toss and kick. Brie with a slam and leap frog neck snap followed by a drop kick for a near fall. Brie with a reverse chin lock. AJ with an elbow when she gets to her feet. Brie with a clothesline while Nikki shouts out some encouragement for her sister. Brie gets a near fall. AJ with more elbows but Brie with a forearm to the back. Brie with an Irish whip but AJ with boots when Brie charges.
Brie goes to the floor and they argue but Primo knows that they are going to switch. Brie returns to the ring and AJ with a series of kicks for a near fall. AJ slams Brie’s face into the mat and then she kicks Brie. AJ with a reverse chin lock and she turns it into a choke with a body scissors. Brie backs AJ into the turnbuckles. AJ with a bulldog for a near fall. AJ with a back elbow and she gets a near fall. AJ with forearms to Brie. Nikki pulls Brie out of the ring and she kicks AJ and hits an X Factor for the three count.
Winner: Brie Bella kind of
After the match, Primo discusses things with the referee while Brie is not happy with what Nikki did.
Ted DiBiase is in the back and Maryse wants to know why they had to be here because it disgusting and smell like vomit. She starts to talk in French and Ted says that they are here to get back his million dollar title. Maryse tells him to buy another one. Ted says that it is the principle. The title has been in his family for twenty years and this freak and his mail order bride have it. Ted says that Maryse is going to help him get it back. Maryse mumbles in French as she leaves and we go to a WWE promotional video for some merchandise.
We are back and it is time for Michael Cole to tell us that people don’t like the WWE. That is why we have Stand Up for WWE.
Josh talks about how he has been part of WWE for ten years and how he enjoys working for WWE.
It is time for the second rookie competition and it is a tribute to Stand By Me since there is an eating contest. Matt says that you need to have heart and desire as well as being hungry. It is a Halloween Candy Eating Contest. They will have one minute to eat as much candy as possible and the rookie who eats the most has won. Matt says that he needs some help and Hornswoggle comes out and he is dressed like Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future III.
The contest starts and after a minute our winner is Maxine despite the objections from some of the pros.
Maxine goes after Hornswoggle but AJ fights for the honor of Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle gets behind Maxine and AJ pushes her over Hornswoggle. Kaitlyn is feeling a little sick and she spits out the candy on Vickie. Hornswoggle gets a laugh out of it and Vickie starts to freak out as the crowd chants for Darren Drozdov.
We go to a Wrestlemania video package.
We are back and Michael Cole mentions the funeral of Undertaker. Cole figures that they should bury this show next week.
Since Josh loves talking about this show, he tells us where else you can watch past episodes.
Kaitlyn is outside Vickie’s office and Dolph tells Kailtyn not to come in and he tells Kaitlyn that she is a shoo in to win. Dolph says that Kailtyn looks good in the outfit.
We go to an ad for Knucklehead on DVD.
We are back and Josh and Michael try to hold back the giggles as they talk about the greatest wedding next week in the beautiful city of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Match Number Three: Ted DiBiase and Maryse versus Aksana and Goldust
The women start off and Maryse is not impressed with Aksana’s costume. Maryse call her crazy and then Maryse has to pose because we are in the middle of a wrestling match. Maryse slaps Aksana and follows it with a forearm and then she grabs Aksana by the head and slaps her. Maryse kicks Aksana in the corner and then throws her to the mat. Maryse chokes Aksana in the ropes and then his a running knee to the back. Maryse gets a near fall. Maryse removes Aksana’s horns and tail and gets a near fall. Aksana also breaks a heel and Maryse with a rear chin lock.
Ted tags in so it is time for the men to wrestle. Goldust with a side head lock and shoulder tackle or two followed by an arm drag and knee to the arm. Goldust with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot from Ted and Ted with a clothesline. Ted chokes Goldust with his forearm and then he punches Goldust. The referee warns Ted but Goldust with punches. Ted with a kick and punches. Goldust with the drop down uppercut followed by a reverse atomic drop but Ted pushes Goldust away on the bulldog attempt.
They fight to the floor and Ted sends Goldust into the announce table, but the popcorn does not get affected. Maryse kicks Goldust on the floor. Ted with a running boot to the head and then he punches Goldust. Ted with a drop kick to Goldust. Ted with a chin lock and key lock on Goldust. Ted with knees and punches but Goldust with a back body drop and Aksana tags in.
Aksana with flying clotheslines and a kick. Aksana with a drop down forearm and she gets a near fall. Ted breaks up the cover and Goldust sends Ted to the floor. Maryse has things under control but she gets too cocky and Aksana with inside cradle for three count.
Winners: Goldust and Aksana
After the match, Ted gets the belt and he gives it to Maryse. Aksana takes it from Maryse and Ted is unable to get it from Aksana. Goldust sends Ted over the top rope to the floor and then the happy couple leaves with their stolen bounty.
We go to credits. Remember to Stand up for NXT Rookies starting at noon Eastern Wednesday.
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