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THEY WENT TOO FAR

Arena Recap 10/28

By Dave Scherer 

In issue 14, I wrote about how I told Paul Heyman how I had to thank him for making my job easy.  Well, this issue the shoe is on the other foot.  As, I would assume, most of you know, I am a big ECW fan.  I have enjoyed the promotion, the workers, the building, and the people that are associated with it for over 2 years now.  This was a column that I neither wanted to write or am happy I wrote, but if I am to be honest and objective, I have to tell it like it is.

There has been a lot of discussion lately about the gimmicks being done in ECW and the severity and extreme nature of them.  People have questioned the use of large numbers of tables for bumps by the workers, and most recently the use of fire.  I have wondered, given the psychotic nature of the bumps these guys are taking, when they would reach the end of the line.  When would they go too far?  How much can a man take, and what do you do when there is nothing crazy left to do?  Wherever you personally weigh in on the use of these gimmicks in the realm of a wrestling match, I  don’t think that any rationally thinking person could justify what happened in the ECW Arena last night. 

In the main event, Tommy Dreamer, who was seconded by the Living Legend and my Hardcore Hero, Terry Funk, took on Cactus Jack, who was seconded by Raven.  This match has been set up by the feud where Cactus has repeatedly scolded Dreamer for “not taking WCW’s money when they offered it” and for “stupidly putting his body on the line for the scumbag ECW fans.”  Cactus has vowed to stop doing that very thing and has recently been working his matches with restholds and weak in ring work. 

Cactus initially appears without Raven.  He chastises the fans for ruining his moment earlier in the night, when he came out to congratulate Mikey Whipwreck after he beat the Sandman for the ECW Title, and was pulled away by the other wrestlers.  He tells us we can all go straight to hell.  He talks about how he should be home with his TV tuned to TBS watching “Movies for guys who love movies.”  He says “Tommy Dreamer, my instinct is to come here and slap the shit out of you, but that would make you all (the fans)  too (happy).  So sit down, grab a bag of popcorn, and get ready for the most boring match you’ve ever seen.”  He talks about how “Raven is the best friend, and looking around probably the only friend, I’ve ever had, but I don’t need anybody in my corner to teach Tommy Dreamer a lesson.”  He says Tommy, “You may be a hardcore hero, but I am a man who stands on his own two feet.” 

Dreamer comes out with Funk.  The crowd chants to Funk, and he acknowledges it but acts like he’s no big deal.  The match starts out slow, dull, and boring.  When the crowd chants “boring” Dreamer joins in.  Dreamer tries to do moves, but Cactus keeps working the headlock.  Even when a good spot was hit by Tommy, the crowd did not really pop because of what was, or wasn’t actually, going on with Cactus.  Finally, the Bleacher Bums started the wave, just like last show.  Raven comes out and hits Dreamer with a  chair, and things start to pick up.  Cactus starts a “WCW” chant, complete with forming the letters with his arms. 

He takes the mic and says “I made a vow to never put my body on the line again for you scumbags.”  He holds his hand and says “Can’t you see that I am badly injured?”  He asks that the match be declared a no contest.  He tells the fans “Thank you for coming and drive home safe.”  And walks off.  Looking back in hindsight, that is exactly where they should have ended the show, but they didn’t. 

Referee Jim Molineaux tells him they don’t have no contests in ECW and Cactus tells him to count him out then and walks off.  Molineaux says “Cactus you have a lot of fans in this building, but I just want to know why you are being such a pussy tonight?”  He says he won’t count him out and then Bill Alfonso hits the ring and says he has to count him out, and starts to do so.  He gets to seven and Funk comes in the ring.  Funk calls him a son of a bitch and tells him “If you count him out, I’m going to knock your d**k in the dirt.”  Huge crowd pop.  Funk says how he wants Cactus back in the ring for Dreamer.  Fonzie says he’s not scared of ECW, Dreamer, or Funk and starts counting again where he left off.  He hits nine and Funk lays him out. 

Funk takes the mic and starts dogging Cactus.  “You puke, you idiot.  Come on back in here.  Don’t you have the guts?  C’mon Cactus, you’re mother’s a whore.  Your old lady’s a whore.  Dewey (Cactus’ son) is a whore.  C’mon Cactus you gutless piece of sh**.  You scummy ass pig.”  And of course, back comes Cactus.  They start brawling, using chairs. 

Dreamer wraps a chair on his foot and does an enziguiri (kick to the back of the head) on Cactus.  Eventually, they all get into it.  Dreamer juices while Cactus is laying Funk out.  Cactus tells  a ringside fan “It’s time to stop believing in your heroes, give me your crutch.”  Funk gets the metal crutch instead and hits Cactus flush in the face with it and they brawl outside while Raven and Dreamer fight in the ring.  Steve Richards comes out but Funk trashes him. 

Beulah, who earlier in the evening had appeared to turn face (if there is such a thing in ECW), brings out brass knuckles which Raven uses on Dreamer.  Raven wants Cactus to use them, but he won’t.  So he has Raven tape them to his boot and he uses them by kicking Funk in the nuts.  Ouch.  Raven tells Cactus to finish off Dreamer with a chair, but Cactus won’t use it.  Finally Raven convinces him to do it, and as he winds up, Dreamer makes the comeback, uses a chair of his own and toasts Cactus in the face and Dreamer gets the pin.  Raven comes in and trashes Dreamer and Molineaux.

This is where Cactus became a prophet because everything was about to go straight to hell.  Funk went to the backstage and emerged with his patented flaming branding iron.  At this point, I got an eerie, sickly ominous feeling in my stomach.  I personally am no fan of fire in wrestling matches.  I don’t think it has any place at all and puts the workers at a ridiculously senseless risk.  And if fire is going to be used, it should only be done in an outdoor venue, certainly not a building like the ECW Arena with only 3 accessible exits.  And while I will admit that watching guys take bumps in something that is burning is visually numbing, it still has no place in a wrestling match.  All of that said, I am not one to dictate what guys should or shouldn’t do.  If they, the promoter and the wrestlers, choose to do a match using fire as a gimmick, that is their choice but they sure as hell had better make sure they don’t put any of the fans at risk. 

On this night, ECW totally dropped the ball.

Funk cleans house hitting both heels with the burning branding iron in the stomach.  Alfonso comes out and as Funk turns, Raven hits him from behind and gets the flaming rod.  Cactus hits Funk with a nasty chair shot in the back, which is not best of shape to begin with and shocked me to see. 

At this point, the singularly most stupid series of events in wrestling history occurred.  Raven and Cactus pulled out a chair that had towels affixed to it somehow.   These towels were soaked in lighter fluid or some other flammable liquid and they used the branding iron to ignite the whole mess.  As the flames rose off of the chair, the sickening feeling in my stomach worsened.  Cactus winds up and hits Dreamer with the chair, and he catches on fire.  The fans were stunned, and did not even pop.  I said into my recorder, “Death must be the next bump.” 

Cactus tries to pick up the chair, but it is flaming almost uncontrollably.  He somehow picks it up and as he winds up, the towels that are burning are coming loose, which someone should have thought of as it is pretty hard for something that is burning to stay attached to a chair.  He throws the chair at Funk, who is now laying on the floor near the ring barricade, and fire goes everywhere. 

Funk is literally a man ablaze and at least one fan is also aflame.  As Funk is running around ringside, fans are trying to put him out.  The towels are laying on the floor burning and the crowd starts to go nuts.  A few people came over with the fire extinguishers and as the shoot the towels, they actually go into the crowd making matters worse.  If one person, as I was told was the plan, had suffocated the fire, it would have gone out, instead it was shot across the Arena floor.

I was told that the whole fire gimmick was thought up by Funk and Cactus, and was not known to Paul Heyman beforehand.  In any event, the buck stops with Heyman and it is ultimately his responsibility.

All of this was bad enough.  People were scared and nervous, and undoubtedly some of the world’s true sick sons of bitches were actually enjoying all of this.  And then the stupidest of all things happened.  Off went the house lights.  The big finale of this was to be an angle where Raven took Dreamer up to the crows nest and hung him up there and “crucified him.”  To get him up there and set it up, they needed the lights out.  For about 2 minutes. 

But for the love of God, at this point in the show, given the fire was going astray, had just been extinguished, and that  people were startled to run for, turning off the lights for the purpose of doing a f**king angle is ludicrous and should never have happened.  The lights going off caused people to head for the doors,  When the lights came back on, there was Raven licking and biting the blood of the crucified Dreamer. 

What Paul Heyman was thinking while all of this was going on is a mystery to me, but this was the worst judgment he could have possibly shown.  A major mistake was made.

At this point, I went outside and watched the people come out, helping anyone I could.  People were coughing from getting sprayed with the fire extinguishers, people were bleeding from getting hurt in the melee (one guy broke his nose and I was told another broke a leg), and some people were actually burned. 

Terry Funk and his wife came out and he was taken to the hospital with second degree burns on his right arm, from his bicep to his elbow.  He returned later to the hotel in pretty good spirits and was said to be doing well.  Before leaving, Funk went ballistic backstage and was throwing chairs, (one of the which that went through the wall) yelling at people, and even knocked over an enormous industrial fan as the guys were running from him.  He was upset about now he would miss out on work because, as one witness put it “his arm looked like raw meat.”  He had just spent 3 three months applying salve from burns he received in Japan and now the process will start all over again. 

Tommy Dreamer also suffered a broken nose during the match.  Cactus Jack was distraught backstage, and felt very bad for what had happened. 

A lot of fans were saying they were done with ECW.  People said they felt that ECW had violated their safety and were pissed off.  And, in the interest of fairness, there were a group of people who were chanting “ECW” and the show ended.  It was a truly unnerving experience for me that crossed the line.

 Oh yeah, there was a show too.

As for the rest of the show, it was actually pretty good until the debacle.  The card opened with ring announcer Rocco, who allowed us to pay tribute to beloved former Ring Announcer Bob Artese again, threw out candy to the crowd. 

In the opener, the returning Axl Rotten beat Dudley Dudley.  Newest Dudley B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-ubba Ray Dudley took the mic and did his stammering gimmick.  He is already over with the crowd because he’s pretty funny.  Axl got a huge pop, and the fans remember his efforts.  All of the Dudleys are at ringside.  They all work over Axl.  Dudley goes for a move off the top rope, falls off, and is pinned by Axl.  The rest of the Dudleys trash Axl thereafter.  Bubba could very well be doing the Rick Steiner gimmick from the Varsity Club, as was pointed out by Brudder Sam Siegel.

Don E. Allen and Tony Stetson were utterly destroyed by the Pit Bulls, managed by Francine who was absolutely dressed to kill.  Pit One was back from his tendon surgery and did pretty well, wrestling without a brace.  Pit 2 continues to work his balls off whenever he hits the ring.   Finish came when Pit 2 superbombed Allen from the top rope.  After the match, Jason comes out and tries to get the Pit Bulls back.  He says he should not have let them go and he could take them back to the top.  He calls Francine a prostitute, and while the Pit Bulls are holding her back, Jason superkicks her.  As the Pits go after Jason, the Eliminators hit the ring.  Saturn nails Pit 2 with an incredibly stiff chairshot.  They do the highlow on Pit Two after laying out Pit One with a chair across the back. 

Rick Steiner makes the save.  Rick says Scott is not there because they were late getting back from Japan.  Plus, Scott has the flu and “has sh**t running down his leg.”  Rick says there has to be someone “Paul E. Dangerously can match us up with.”  His interview was incoherent.  Whatever.  To be honest, the Steiners don’t add one penny to the gate and are really, at this point, an unneeded expense for ECW. 

The Eliminators come back.  Taz lays down quickly because his neck is still hurting.  They work over Rick until the Pit’s music plays, and back they come.  They do a little brawling, but most people ain’t sure what is going on.  I assume they are setting up a match between these guys, which makes more sense than bringing the Steiners in as all four of these guys are all willing to work hard and sell.

 Then, the match I couldn’t wait to see:  La Parka and Psicosis vs. Rey Misterio Jr. and Konnan.  Right off the bat, Konnan worked far harder than he did at the last show, and being in with his style of workers surely helped him.  He did lots of high flying stuff, which is cool for a guy his size.  Rey was Rey and Psicosis was Psicosis.  Words can’t really describe how good these two are.  La Parka was great too.  It was a ball giving him static as he is a great heel.  A drunken fool in the bleachers picks a fight with another guy and they fall over the top.  I remember thinking if maybe the combination of violence and alcohol does have a bad effect on some people. 

Some of the hot moves include: Springboard frankensteiner by Rey, frankensteiner off of the top rope by Rey, Psicosis taking a clothesline over the top and breaking a table by accident, Konnan doing a Razor’s edge into a powerbomb, Konnan sits on the top rope and suplexes Parka over his head, Parka and Psicosis using chairs in the ring to do high spots, and then finally, the faces do a double tope (running dive where the guys go headfirst through the ropes to the floor on the other guy) which led to their double count out win.  There was more, but you get the idea.  Great stuff.  After the match, the technico’s raised the hands of the rudos.  Somehow, Rey busted  open his fingers while Psicosis busted open his mouth hardway.

Then we had the in ring debut of Beulah’s Box and the first guest was Tod Gordon, who was to announce the stips for a match on 1118 with Bill Alfonso.  While Tod’s talking to Beulah, to which his Bums said “Tod’s got a woody,”  Fonzie comes out and lays him out with a chair in the back.  Tod tries to come back, but is dazed.  Beulah tries to stop him, Fonzie calls her a slut.  As Tod tries comeback, Fonzie stops it.  Beulah and Fonzie got into it again.  She appeared to turn face, but her actions in the main event maybe just mean she’s confused. 

Next up, Johnny Grunge beat Steve Richards in a “Raggedy Ass Ho” match where the loser had to wear a dress.  The match was OK, but was mostly brawling.  Johnny bladed, and as Arizona John said, “Who’d of guessed that would happen?”  A girl in the front row had a large, 3 foot blow up penis that somehow, Johnny used to stick in Stevie’s read end.  Johnny put a jack-o-lantern on Stevie’s head and he smashed it with a chair.  Johnny attacks Stevie’s new groupie putz, (indie wrestler Brian Rollins) who was at ringside and hugged Stevie before the match.  Johnny gets the pin with his reverse DDT. 

On TV this week, Jason had volunteered to wear a dress if Richards lost, and when he did, Jason decked out in a tight number.  He put on a wig, and lipstick, and then 911 came out and chokeslammed him.  Jason says “Which of you perverts looked up my dress?  And if you did, do you like what you saw?”  Jason is fantastic, he really is.  Someone threw a rubber in the ring so Jason opens it, and says it is not big enough for him. 

In the ECW title match, Mikey Whipwreck became the first wrestler to run the ECW triple crown when he won the heavyweight title in a great match where a ladder is legal.  Steve Austin, who I did an interview last night and will be printed in future Lariats, came out and ran down both guys.  He said he has been crapped on for 4 years and he deserves a break.  He will be the ECW champion because when he looks around the ring, all he sees are two jabronies.  He calls Woman a 5 dollar piece of ass.  Austin says to Woman “you married a midget” in reference to her husband, WCW Booking Committee member Kevin Sullivan.  As he leaves, he puts Woman over his shoulder and carts her off. 

Both guys took fabulous bumps and used the ladder to do things that sane human beings just don’t do.  They did so many incredible spots and worked so hard, I could write for a page about how cool this match was.  Finish came when Mikey does a flying body press on Sandman, who had the ladder across his chest. 

Sandman did a fantastic job in getting Mikey over and after he won the title, Sandman disappeared and let Mikey enjoy his moment.  Cactus Jack comes out and congratulates Mikey, but is soon pulled away from him by other ECW wrestlers who feel Cactus is anti-ECW.  Tons of other wrestlers parade the new champ around the ring.  This feud has been fantastic, and I look forward to seeing Austin and Whipwreck.

El Puerto Ricano, who also wrestles as Ubas, lost to J. T. Smith in a match where Smith kept up his “bumbling” gimmick.  Ricano is  announced from Ecuador.  Uh, OK.  Ricano did some hot highspots and Smith worked pretty hard as well.   Smith gets the pin with inverted slingshot powerbomb.  Sandman came out, with dried blood all over his head, and cleared the ring of both guys with the cane.  He says “Now I’m pissed off.”

Hack Myers beats DW Dudley with a double knee drop to the head from the top rope.  OK match.  Afterwards, Sandman comes out and wastes both of these guys with the cane too.  Sandman yells “Shah” when he hits Hack, “shit” when he hits DW.  He is deranged.  Gotta love it.

2 Cold Scorpio beat Rocco Rock in a match where Rock was putting the Tag belts against the TV Title.  Sandman came out in the beginning, but Johnny Grunge and he brawled to the back before the match started. The match was good and Rocco got to do a lots of wrestling moves for a change.  Scorpio hits a nice spinning press from the top rope.  They brawl into the crowd and go up to the back stage, where Scorpio puts Rocco through two tables from the top stage with a moonsault.  Back in the ring, Rocco goes to drop double knees on Scorpio on the table on the floor, and Scorpio moves, sending Rocco through the tables.  Scorpio works the bad leg.  Scorpio does a lot of one counts, only to pull Rocco up.  He does the 360 degree legdrop from the top.  Scorpio messes up a superplex, and Rocco gets a table and Rocco does a moonsault on Scorpio. 

Rocco gets another table, squirts lighter fluid, and lights the table, but Scorpio moved before he can senton him through it.  Rocco does go through it though and his shorts catch on fire.  Scorpio puts him out, and then presents him his title.  As Rocco raises their hands, Scorpio hits him with a clothesline and rolls him up, winning the match.  Out comes the Sandman, and Scorpio hands him the belt because “Now I got all the gold, and it’s kind of heavy.”  He announces that Sandman is his partner and they are the tag champs.

AAgain, it would have been a good show had things not gotten so crazily out of hand.  I honestly do not know where ECW goes from here, but they have some big decisions to make.  Guys can only inflict and take so much abuse before someone gets killed.  That is the last thing I want to see as a fan or as a friend.  Given the climate of the business today, Extreme can simply mean guys that work hard.  Guys don’t need to die for me to have a good time. 

ECW already offers an alternative product in the fact that the workers actually break their asses in the ring.  They need to save the barbed wire, numerous destruction of tables, and heavy doses of blood for when they have an effect, as now they have become commonplace and expected.  As of 10/30, it appears that ECW will escape from this debacle relatively unscathed.  They need to learn from this.  I have before called on ECW to tone down their act and look ahead to the big picture.  After this past weekend, I hope they listen to me.

2000 - Genichiro Tenryu defeated Toshiaki Kawada in the final of a tournament to win the vacant All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown championship.

2003 - Ring of Honor and Low Ki part ways for the first time over creative and financial issues.  Ki had been the central star of the company from its founding in 2002.

2003- Ring of Honor announces that The Great Muta would lead a group of stars from All Japan Pro Wrestling to ROH's Final Battle in Philadelphia, paving the way for what, at the time, would be the biggest show in company history that December.

2003 - Court Bauer promotion Major League Wrestling's Underground TV, which aired on The Sunshine Network, went on hiatus as the promotion shuttered operations.  The series would return for a short-lived revival  year later before going dormant again.  Bauer would go on to have a run with the WWE Creative team.

2004 - WWE broadcast Smackdown.  Buck Woodward filed the following TV report:

2005 - TNA minority owner Jerry Jarrett visits WWE Headquarters in Stamford, CT to introduce the company to Oleg Prudius, who they sign without ever having seen work in the ring.  Prudius goes on to have a run as Vladimir Kozlov.  Jarrett gets extreme heat from TNA over the decision to visit with the company and is bought out as minority owner.  Jarrett later writes in his autobiography "The Best of Times" that he and his son Jeff Jarrett have not spoken since.  Jerry also notes that he used his visit as a way to exit TNA and relieve himself of the personal stress and aggravation that had come with founding and being involving with the company once the Carter family purchased majority ownership.

2006 - WWE makes the decision to suspend ECW house shows and combine them instead with Smackdown events.  The ECW house shows never return.  The final main event of the ECW house shows featured Rob Van Dam vs. Paul Heyman, who was substituting for an injured ECW champion Big Show. 

The final event in Racine, Wisconsin, was covered by Andrew Vrchota:

I got there at around 6:00 and a few wrestlers were showing up themselves.  Tommy Dreamer and Balls Mahoney were just finishing autographs when I got there. Doors opened at 6:30. I bought my Taz shirt right away. Got situated. Sat around for an hour watching people walk in and stuff. 7:30 the show started. Justin Roberts welcomes use to ECW. He didnt give him hell like we did in Green Bay, we left him alone, except when I started a bring back Gertner chant.

Match 1: CM Punk vs Mike Knox - Knox came out first with Kelly Kelly. Man I thought she was hot from sitting in the third row in Green Bay, she is hotter when your standing right by the barricade! CM Punk's music hits and the crowd goes nuts. Soon as his music stops, the loudest CM Punk chant I've ever heard in my life. He is very over in the Racine/Chicago area cause its where he grew up etc. This was a great to start off with. During the match, one of the security guards bumped into a fire alarm so the was a loud buzz for like a minute. Yeah, and we treated him to a You F**ked Up chant. Back and forth action, Knox was making sure Kelly didnt make any kind of contact with Punk. Knox has improved on his wrestling ability. But, he still sucks. CM Punk wins with his Anaconda Vice at about 12 minutes.

Match 2: Little Guido vs Rodney Mack. Jesus Rodney Mack is buff and he looks like Konnan. FBI chant. Rodney Mack has improved his wrestling abilities in my opinion. Nothing really special about this match. Guido wins with a roll up. 

Match 3: Eric Perez vs Balls Mahoney. Eric Perez reminds me of someone from LAX. But he isn't Latino from what I know. This was an OK match, not the worst but not the best either. I have now seen every wrestling move now because of Perez. For the first time, I've see someone pinch an opponents shoulder to cause damage to them. Started a F**k John Cena chant cause everyone thought it was cool. Balls Mahoney wins with the Nutcracker Suite.

Paul Heyman comes out with a nice reception. He was trying so hard to make us hate him, but we wouldn't let him. He pointed to a group that was chanting Paul E. and said Oh, look the gay pride group is here. And look, there's their leader who wants to go home with Sabu tonight. (Guy was dressed like Sabu for Halloween) Finally we turned on him when he called us miserable b*****s that don't know whether they want to be in Chicago or Milwaukee, so we call this piece of crap town home. I didn't care, I live in Milwaukee. He announced he had good news and bad news. Bad news was Big Show was hurt and couldn't wrestle. Everyone popped for that. Good news was, he found a replacement for him to go against RVD in the Main Event. New Jack chant started. Heyman said New Jack hated white people and he would stab all of you just like how I, Paul Heyman stabbed your mom last night. Now I think every person in the building hated Heyman. Heyman announces that he will replace Big Show to face RVD.

Match 4: Stevie Richards vs. Brad Armstrong. This was the most boring match I have ever seen in my entire life. TNA Chant, Lets Go Packers chant. Good God. This wasn't even worth showing on Velocity. I don't even remember who won. But I think it was Stevie Richards with a roll up.

Match 5: Diva Vixen Best Body Contest. Matt Striker comes out to host this great event. First Amy comes out, Diva Search contestant. She is actually better looking then Kelly Kelly. Then Trinity comes out. She's hot too. Then Kelly Kelly. Big pop for her. They all strutted there stuff and Kelly was wearing the least amount of cloths. Trinity had on Caution tape. Amy was dressed like any Diva on SD or RAW. Striker announced that......Rene Dupree's music hit. Dupree has the best body blah blah blah. He rips the hell out of Trinity. That brings out Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman. 

Match 6: Tommy Dreamer and Sandman vs Matt Striker and Rene Dupree. Again, Dreamer cuts the coolest promo ever. He said he was sick of the new ECW guys guys coming in here and calling themselves hardcore. Dreamer then asked if anyone in the audience was Hardcore enough to announce Dreamers and Sandman's names. The guy that came in did an awesome job. He had ever nickname down. Then Dreamer did Strikers and Dupree's introductions. Funniest stuff ever. 

Dreamer- "Introducing first, from Paris, France..weighing in at....well depending on the Wellness program..I'd say 238 pounds..Reene Dupree. Introducing his partner, from..from..from..where in NY do you live?" Striker said the East side of Queens. Dreamer said, "Oh yeah, the gay part of town, Matt Striker." 

Match was awesome. I counted at least 10 ECW chant throughout this whole segment. Sandman was incredible. He's still got it. They did there usual. end was Sandman hitting the Rolling Rock and Dreamer hitting the DDT. After the match Sandman caned Striker.
Post match - Dreamer said he heard that people in Wisconsin love to drink beer. They had 10 random fans come to the ring to have a beer bash with Dreamer and Sandman. about 6 guys, 4 women. 1 woman was old.  Fans started a Hardcore Grandma chant. After that, Dreamer thanked us for our support and said we are the reason ECW has come back. We started a thank you Dreamer/thank you Sandman chant. One half of the arena would say Thank You Sandman, other side would say thank you Dreamer. That's probably the coolest moment I've ever been apart of.

INTERMISSION - I just talked to an indy guy that was sitting behind me that works for Brew City Wrestling and Insane Championship Wrestling.

Match 7: Test vs Hardcore Holly - Test was hated. Holly was cheered. 3 minute match. Holly wins with a roll up out of nowhere. Holly flips off Test and gets his first ECW chant.

Match 8: Sabu vs Kevin Thorn - Kevin Thorn is awesome. Even though he is a heel, he is a great wrestler and character. Ariel is great too. I really like them as a team. Ok, you've probably heard this before, but Ariel's, well, friends are giant in person. She is hot!!! Sabu made his entrance and as he was gonna go up the steps a kid accidentally got his hand hooked on his turban as the kid was trying to touch his shoulder. Security got all on the kid and made him cry. He couldn't have been more then 7 years old. We started an ******* chant at the security guard. He was to uptight on his job. Great Sabu spots. Springboard DDT, Springboard lariat legdrop thing. Thorn hit that sweet stunner off the ropes move. Ariel was slipping out of her "attire". Sabu made Thorn tap to the Camel Clutch.

Post match - Heyman and the Basham Brothers came out and attacked Sabu.  Heyman said, "That's the last time you'll see Sabu for a while."

Match 9: Extreme Rules - RVD vs Heyman - This was really cool. First 5 minutes they kept raising there arms. Every time Heyman raised, he got booed to hell. Every time RVD raised, place went nuts. RVD chants, the Whole F'n Show chants, You Sold Out chants. Match finally started and every time RVD got near the Heyman, the Bashams would attack RVD. Great dropkicks, side kicks and flying attacks from RVD on the Basham Brothers. Finally RVD got a chair. He did a monkey flip on a Basham Brother and the BB landed back first on the chair...awesome. Rolling Thunder on both Bashams. Then he did the surf board with the chair on the other BB. Then it was Heyman and RVD in the ring. But again the BB's attacked RVD. RVD hard Irish whipped the Bashams to the apron and did a flyng cross body to the outside. RVD's knee got caught in the ropes on accident....looked painful. Then out of no where Sabu hits the ring and throws a chair at Heyman's back. Arabian Face Buster. Sabu gets a table and sets Heyman on it. RVD hits the 5 Star Frog Splash on Heyman
through the table. 1..2..3!! RVD wins. The crowd is electric.

After the show I waited around for about 40 minutes for autographs. I got Trinitys and RVD's. They both signed my CM Punk sign. Got great picture.

Overall, a great show. Every ECW guy won, unlike Green Bay.

2006 - Ring of Honor ran Chicago Ridge, IL.  Justin Karling filed the following live report:

Ring of Honor was back at the Frontier Fieldhouse Saturday, and I thought I would send in my thoughts

1.  Adam Pearce & Shane Hagadorn defeated Irish Airborne.   Good opener.  Everytime I see Irish Airborne, they seem to pull something  out of their hats that make you pop and it was no different on Saturday.   Pearce hit one of  the Crist brothers with a foreign object and Pearce hit his  piledriver for the finish.  Jim Cornette came out after the match and  basically said it pays to be loyal to Jim Cornette.

2. Shingo defeated Roderick Strong in another good match  Shingo hit  what looked to be a DDT from the apron thru a table, then hit what I believe he calls the Blood Drop for the win

3.Colt Cabana & Jimmy Jacobs defeated Jimmy Rave & Sal Rinauro in a  pretty good match.  A lot of comedy in this one.  It was particularly  funny when Cabana drug Rinauro back to his corner by the tassels that hang off  of Rinauro's tights.  After the match, Lacey tried to get Colt to officially sign with Lacey's Angels.  Colt said what they had was personal,  not business, and eventually went on to call Lacey a b**ch.  This whole  angle seemed to drag on a bit, so my mind is a little fuzzy on exact details.  Cabana tries to talk Jimmy into seeing Lacey treats him like garbage and doesn't love him.  Jacobs didn't know what to do, and he said  all he wanted was a sign: for Lacey to hug him.  Well, she didn't, Jimmy  went with Colt like he was gonna leave the ring with him, Colt went through the ropes, and bam, low blow.  Jacobs attacked Cabana and went after Cabana's ankle until BJ Whitmer came out and made the save

4. Steve Corino defeated Delirious.  Solid match, more comedy in this one. Entertaining match though, and Corino won it after Pearce  and Hagadorn  interfered and Pearce nailed Delirious with Hagadorn's Top of  the Class Trophy.  Referee Todd Sinclair reversed the decision  and gave the match to Delirious, but Cornette came out and forced him to go  back to his original decision as Cornette threatened to fire him.  This was a really good angle with I didn't think drug on like the  Cabana/Lacey/Jacobs/Whitmer angle.

5.  Christopher Daniels defeated Austin Aries after Angel's  Wings.  This is when the ass kicking began on the show.   Really good match.  Best match of the first half.

6.  Brent Albright defeated Trik Davis.  This was  basically a Brent Albright showcase.  He beat the crap out  of Trik.  And Albright is built like a mack truck.  I was  amazed.  Albright looked really good in the match.

7. Matt Sydal defeated Jay Briscoe in a tremendous match.  This match was sick.  Both men were dead on.  And again, Matt Sydal seems to impress me more every time I see him.

8.  Davey Richards defeated Mark Briscoe in another excellent  match. Mark is one tough SOB.  You could tell he was laboring in there, but he didn't hold anything back.  I figured Davey Richards' wasn't  the guy you wanted to be in the ring with when you have a busted mouth, but they held nothing back. There were a couple rough spots in the match, but they  made up for it with some sick, stiff action, which included an awesome top rope  German Suplex by Richards which flipped Mark completely and it looked like he  landed right on his head.  Again, big ups to Mark Briscoe.

9.  Samoa Joe defeated ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson in a  Non-Title, No DQ Match.  Of course, this was excellent.  But this was a wild brawl/wrestling match between Joe and Danielson.  They brawled all over the building for part of the match.  Danielson eventually got a hold of  Todd Sinclair's belt, and starting whipping Joe with it, until Joe eventually  got his hands on it, and beat Danielson with the choke with help from the belt.  After the match, Joe challenged Danielson to a title match next time in Chicago in a steel cage match.

Ring of Honor returns to Chicago Ridge on December 8 and 9, for the  "Chicago Spectacular" Matches announced are: Homicide  vs  Adam Pearce, Austin Aries  & Roderick Strong  vs  Matt Sydal & Christopher Daniels, and I  would assume Samoa Joe  vs. Bryan Danielson in a Steel Cage Match for  the ROH World Title.

That's all from me, until next time. 

2007 - WWE held their Cyber Sunday PPV.  Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:

Cyber Sunday opened with a video playing up the "election style" aspect of the event and the various matches on the show, with a great deal of focus on the WWE and World Title matches. Michael Cole & JBL welcomed us to the show, live in Washington, D.C. 

Rey Mysterio vs. Finlay in the fan's choice of a Stretcher Match, a Shillelagh On A Pole Match or a No Disqualification Match.

Finlay and Mysterio made their entrances, and the ring was set up for whatever stipulation was chosen.  Todd Grisham reviewed the match options and revealed the winning stipulation.  The results of the polling was:
Stretcher:  40%
Shillelagh On A Pole: 36%
No Disqualification: 24%

They locked up and Finlay shoved off Mysterio on a break in the corner.  Finlay pointed at the stretcher and slapped Mysterio, but Mysterio responded with kicks to the leg and punches. Finlay grabbed a single leg takedown and started smothering Rey on the mat.  Finlay threw Mysterio shoulder first into the ringpost, then hit a short arm clothesline.  Finlay slid Rey out of the ring and right onto the stretcher.  Finlay started to wheel it, but Mysterio rolled off and dropkicked Finlay's leg on the floor.  Finlay responded by ramming the stretcher into Rey's midsection.  Finlay lifted Rey in a suplex, then dropped Rey gut first across the stretcher.  Finlay put Rey on the stretcher, but Rey rolled off before he could cross the finish line. 

Finlay took Rey to ringside and rammed him into the ring apron.  Finlay took the stretcher back to ringside and Rey rolled into the ring.  Finlay hit an uppercut, and rammed Mysterio chest first into the ring apron from the floor.  Back in the ring, Finlay missed a clothesline and Rey hit a flying headscissors.  JBL had to tell Michael Cole it wasn't a hurricanrana.  Rey hit a dropkick and took Finlay to the floor.  Rey hit a kick to the head, and put Finlay on the stretcher.  Mysterio tried to roll the stretcher, but Finlay fell off. Finlay punched Rey and took it back into the ring.  Finlay realized the shillelagh was on the pole and thought about going for it, but Mysterio stopped him and hit a low dropkick.  Mysterio then went to climb the pole, but Finlay knocked him down.  Finlay went up and Rey joined him on the ropes.  Mysterio ended up sunset flipping Finlay off the top rope and powerbombing him to the mat. 

Rey climbed up and got the shillelagh, but Finlay crotched him on the top rope and grabbed the shillelagh.  Rey fell to the floor, and Finlay went outside and blasted him in the leg twice with the shillelagh.  Finlay went for the stretcher.  Mysterio went for a springboard, but Finlay moved, so Rey landed on the apron.  However, Finlay knocked Rey off the apron onto the stretcher.  Finlay started to wheel him, but Rey kicked Finlay while lying on the stretcher and rolled off.  Finlay rammed the stretcher into Rey twice, then rammed him back first into the ring apron and hit some forearms and kicks.  Finlay missed a ramming attempt with the stretcher and Rey rammed Finlay in the groin with it.  Mysterio hit a 619 using the bottom rope, knocking Finlay onto the stretcher.  Mysterio the hit a springboard senton onto Finlay on the stretcher. 

Rey went to wheel Finlay, but the stretcher got caught on a television camera cord.  They got untangled, and Finlay rolled off and rammed Rey into the metal part of the stretcher.  Finlay went for the shillelagh, but Mysterio grabbed Finlay into a flapjack onto the stretcher and rolled Finlay across the finish line for the win at the twelve minute mark. 

Winner: Rey Mysterio.

They showed still shots of Matt Hardy being stitched up last week.  We then saw footage taped "earlier today" where a bruised and bandaged Matt Hardy was in the locker room. MVP came in and said that he agrees with the medical professionals not allowing Matt Hardy to wrestle tonight.  MVP played up that he was concerned about his tag team partner, but he was "ready to go" tonight.  Matt said that Vickie Guerrero had decided that MVP would be defending the U.S. Title tonight, possibly against Mark Henry, Great Khali or Kane. MVP got worried, and said he has to go talk to Vickie Guerrero. 

JBL was already wearing a ref's shirt at ringside, playing up that there was still time to vote.  Then they talked about how we were now having a new poll, once to select MVP's opponent: Kane, Khali and Henry. 

We then had a segment on the Divas Halloween Costume Contest, with Maria (pussycat) and Victoria (sumo wrestler, with Kenny Dykstra as Mr. Fuji) asking for votes.  Ron Simmons came in on Victoria's segment and said "Damn". 

ECW Champion CM Punk vs. the fan's choice of John Morrison, Big Daddy V or The Miz.

Joey Styles and Tazz call their match of the night.  CM Punk made his entrance, then Todd Grisham reviewed the match options and revealed the winning stipulation.  The three challengers were shown standing together in the back.  The results of the polling was:
The Miz: 39%
John Morrison: 33%
Big Daddy V:  28%

They locked up at the bell, and Miz took Punk down with a waistlock, but Punk turned it right into a front facelock.  Miz reversed into a side headlock, but Punk got out with a top wristlock.  Punk took Miz down with a side mare.  Miz got out of the headlock, but Punk took him down with a side mare again.  Miz kept escaping, using a headscissors, but Punk would burst out and grab another side mare.  They started trading verbal barbs, then Punk hit some forearms and hit the old Tully Blanchard slingshot suplex for two.  Punk hit some knees to the chest, but Miz returned fire with a knee and a snap mare, then hit a legdrop.  Miz went to the top rope, but Punk hit some chops and set up for a superplex.  Miz tripped out of it and Punk fell to the mat. 

Crowd is not enjoying the match.  Miz worked over Punk in a corner and hit his jumping through the ropes clothesline. Miz scored a two count and applied a cravate.  Punk escaped and went for a cross bodyblock but landed on Miz' leg (he was on one knee) in a nasty looking spot.  Miz straddled Punk on the middle rope and got a two count, then applied a chinlock.  The fans chanted "Y2J".  Miz went to the top rope, but Punk jumped onto the second rope and hiptossed him off.  There was a chant for Punk now. Punk hit a pair of back elbows, then a kick to the gut.  Punk hit a series of kicks to the forehead, then Punk hit a jumping knee in the corner and a bulldog.  Punk hit a springboard clothesline for a two count.  Punk went for the GTS, but Miz floated over and rolled up Punk, grabbing the tights for a two count, but Punk reversed it and got a two of his own.  Miz hit a shot to the gut and went for the Reality Check, but Punk avoided it and grabbed the GTS, to a pop, for the pin at the ten minute mark.

Winner: CM Punk

Another Diva Costume contest segment.  Mickie James as an Indian Warrior Princess, Torrie Wilson as a Washington Redskin.  Probably not the best choice of custom for Torrie, even if they are in Washington!

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler discussed the WWE Championship match, and a video package on the Cyber Sunday match was shown.  Live in the arena, Todd Grisham and William Regal announced that the two men who were not selected to face Randy Orton would have a singles match right now.  The three challengers were shown standing together in the back.  The results were:
Shawn Michaels: 59%
Jeff Hardy: 31%
Ken Kennedy: 10%

Ken Kennedy vs. Jeff Hardy.

The Intercontinental Title is not on the line.  They locked up at the bell and there was a loud "Hardy" chant.  Hardy took Kennedy down with a side headlock, but Kennedy got to his feet and backed Hardy into a corner for the break.  Kennedy grabbed a hammerlock, but Hardy reversed it.  Kennedy grabbed a waistlock, but Hardy broke out with a side headlock, then walked off the ropes to take Kennedy down with a side mare. Hardy tried to walk the ropes again, but Kennedy turned it into a back suplex for a two count.  Kennedy grabbed a side headlock, but Hardy reversed it.  Kennedy hit Hardy with some shots to the gut to break free.  Kennedy whipped Hardy into the corner, then Hardy backdropped Kennedy to the apron.  Hardy dropkicked Kennedy to the floor, then hit a top rope dive onto Kennedy on the floor.  

Back in the ring, Hardy worked over Kennedy in a corner with punches, but Kennedy hooked Hardy's pants and yanked him through the ropes and to the floor.  As Hardy got back into the ring, Kennedy hit a running kick to the head.  Kennedy scored a two count, then applied a cravate.  Hardy broke out and went for a backdrop, but Kennedy caught him with a DDT for a two count.  Kennedy applied a chinlock on the mat.  Hardy got to his feet and punched out of it, but Kennedy nailed a clothesline for a two count.  Kennedy went to the second rope, but Hardy stopped him and hit some punches, then took him off the ropes with a top rope rana. 

Kennedy and Hardy exchanged punches, then Kennedy kicked Hardy in the gut, but Hardy came back with a pair of clotheslines and a back elbow.  Hardy hit a slingblade clothesline for a two count, then called for the Twist Of Fate.  Kennedy shoved off the Twist Of Fate, but Hardy went right up the ropes and hit Whisper In The Wind for a two count.  Kennedy hit Hardy with a kick, but Hardy nailed a mule kick.  Kennedy slumped down in the corner.  Hardy charged and went for his elevated kick off the ropes in the corner.  Kennedy moved and Hardy crashed to the mat and Kennedy got the clean pin at the ten minute mark. 

Winner: Ken Kennedy.

Michael Cole and JBL talked about MVP's opponents for the night, and Michael Cole voted for Kane.

Another Diva Halloween Costume segment.  Michelle McCool (Eve from the Garden Of Eden, although she had way too much clothing on), Melina (Vegas Showgirl). 

Mick Foley was about to be interviewed backstage by Anastasia, but JBL interrupted from ringside and had them play his "Vote For JBL" video.  They went back to Mick Foley, who called JBL a "fathead" (he was standing between Undertaker and Batista "fathead" hangings).  Foley put himself over to be voted in as referee. 

U.S. Champion MVP vs. Kane, Mark Henry or Great Khali.

MVP made his entrance, as JBL commented how this was "wrong" and unfair to MVP. Todd Grisham was with Vickie Guerrero, and they put over the choices for the U.S. Title match.  The three challengers were shown in the back.  The winner was then revealed: 
Kane: 67%
Great Khali: 24%
Mark Henry: 9%

MVP rolled to the floor at the bell, as he still had his T-Shirt on and needed time to take it off.  MVP returned to the ring, avoided a Kane punch and hit a series of rights.  Kane reversed a whip and hit a big boot to the face.  Kane delivered a clothesline in the corner, then a second.  Kane followed with a side slam for a two count. Kane went to the top rope, but MVP knocked his legs out and Kane fell gut first across the ropes.  MVP kicked the midsection, as the announcers talked about Kane's recent rib injury.  MVP pounded on the ribs, then drove his knee into them.  MVP hit a running kick to the face for a two count.  MVP applied an abdominal stretch and hit hammerfists on the ribs.  Kane got his arm free and elbowed out.  MVP hit some kicks to the ribs, but Kane grabbed an ankle pick and hit a series of punches and knees to MVP's kidneys. 

Kane lifted up MVP and hit some knees to the midsection, then kicks.  Kane stood on MVP's stomach and continued to kick him.  Kane gave MVP a backbreaker, then applied his own abdominal stretch and pounded his midsection.  Kane lifted MVP and rammed him in a corner.  Kane hit a shoulderblock to the midsection, then another.  Kane placed MVP on the ropes in the corner and punted him in the gut. Kane went to the floor and pulled MVP by his arm and leg so his ribs would be pulled against the ringpost.  Kane broke the hold and MVP rolled to the floor as Kane got back in.  MVP started to get back in the ring at a seven count, but then as the referee reached nine, MVP slumped back to the floor, taking the countout loss at the seven minute mark. 

Winner via countout: Kane.

A Save Us 222 video aired. 

A commercial for Survivor Series aired, and it did mention "team" matches. Of course, it also mentioned individual matches.  Edge appeared in the commercial, noting he was "just a little bitter". 

Another Diva Halloween Custom segment.  Layla (cop), Kelly Kelly (she said "gangster" but was more dressed like a pimp).

A video package on the history between Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels aired.  Wow, good thing Michaels won the voting. Randy Orton did an interview, saying that the fans made their choice, and now everyone "including Shawn Michaels, has to live with that choice".  

WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels.

Orton entered first, then Michaels.  They locked up and Michaels backed Orton into a corner for the clean break.  They locked up again, and Orton hit a knee to the gut and some punches to the head.  Michaels came back with a knee to the gut and some chops.  Michaels went for a superkick, but Orton slid to the floor.  Michaels hit a slingshot somersault senton onto Orton on the floor.  Michaels rolled Orton back into the ring for a two count.  Orton hit a forearm, but Michaels threw a chop.  Orton grabbed a drop toe hold and then applied a front facelock.  Michaels broke out and threw Orton shoulder first into the ringpost.  Michaels then rammed the bad shoulder into the turnbuckles and hit some short-arm shoulderblocks.  Michaels hit a drop down wristlock to wrench the arm, then yanked it several times with cross armbreakers.  Michaels hit a hammerlock slam on the bad arm, then applied an overhead wristlock on the mat. 

Orton managed to get to his feet in the hold and stomp Michaels in the head to break free.  Orton hit some punches, but Michaels kicked him in the head, then delivered a hard kick to the bad arm of Orton.  Michaels hit a back suplex, trapping the bad arm of Orton underneath.  Michaels applied a side headlock while trapping the bad arm between his legs.  Orton used a headscissors to break out, then hit some right hands.  Michaels sidestepped a charging Orton and sent him over the top rope and to the floor.  Michaels went outside and went for a punch, but Orton ducked it and hit a back suplex on Michaels, dropping him back first across the security wall at ringside.  Orton rolled Michaels into the ring for a two count, then whipped Michaels hard into the corner. Orton stomped Michaels, but Michaels fought up with punches.  Orton landed a standing dropkick for a two count.

Orton applied a rear chinlock with a body scissors.  Michaels broke out, and Orton went for the dropkick again, but Michaels avoided it and Orton crashed to the mat.  Michaels rolled up Orton for a two count.  Michaels floated over a slam attempt, and tried for a German suplex, but Orton kept blocking it.  Orton reversed into a back suplex, but Michaels shifted his weight and fell onto Orton for a two count.  Orton caught a kick by Michaels, spun him around and hit a side backbreaker for a two count. Orton put Michaels on the top rope and hit some punches.  Orton went for a superplex, but Michaels was fighting him.  They jockeyed for position, and Michaels punched Orton to the mat.  Michaels went for the top rope elbow, but Orton rolled out of the way.  Orton began measuring Michaels for the RKO. 

Michaels got to his feet and Orton went for the RKO, but Michaels countered it into a backslide for a two count.  Michaels and Orton traded shots standing, and Michaels landed a flying forearm.  Both men were down, and Michaels kipped up to a pop.  Michaels hit a reverse atomic drop and decked Orton with punches.  Michaels slammed Orton and went to the top rope, this time hitting the top rope elbow.  Michaels set up for Sweet Chin Music.  Michaels went for the superkick, and Orton dropped to his knees and punched Michaels in the groin, getting disqualified at the seventeen minute mark.

Winner via DQ: Shawn Michaels.

The announcers put over that Orton had intentionally got disqualified to save his title.  Orton measured Michaels for a kick to the head, but as he went for it, Michaels moved and nailed Orton with a superkick, knocking him out.

A commercial for Wrestlemania was shown, pointing out that tickets go on sale this Saturday. 

Another WWE Diva Halloween costume contest segment.  Brooke (jungle girl Jane, with a snake) and Jillian Hall (Britney Spears, complete with dropping baby dolls).  Jim Ross said this is the worst costume contest ever. 

A video package on the Triple H-Vince McMahon feud (and Umaga's involvement) was shown. 

Triple H vs. Umaga in the fan's choice of a Street Fight, a First Blood Match or a Steel Cage Match.

Todd Grisham explained the stipulations for the Triple H vs. Umaga match, then revealed the results before the entrances.  The results were:
Street Fight: 57%
Steel Cage: 26%
First Blood: 17%

Fans live in the arena booed the results.  I guess they were hoping for the cage (which is hung above the ring, and now won't be used).  Triple H then made his entrance, followed by Umaga (who entered alone).  Triple H charged down the aisle as Umaga made his entrance and they began brawling near the stage set.  Umaga started to get the better of it, headbutting Triple H and throwing him down.  Triple H teased a Pedigree and Umaga teased a Samoan drop, but neither man hit their move.  They fought behind a piece of the set (which is like a giant computer), then then busted through it back into the view of the fans as Triple H hit a shoulderblock on Umaga. They battled into the crowd on the floor, trading punches.  They fought back to ringside, with Triple H ducking a charging Umaga.  Umaga flipped over the security wall and back to ringside.  

They made their way back into the ring, and Umaga missed an avalanche in the corner.  Triple H hit a series of punches, then went under the ring and pulled out a trash can.  Triple H blasted Umaga with the can to knock him down for a two count.  Triple H went for another can shot, but Umaga grabbed Triple H and hit a Samoan Drop.  Umaga hit a headbutt to the gut, then put Triple H in a corner and continued to work over his midsection.  Triple H fell to the mat, and Umaga hit a second rope sitdown splash on him.  Umaga hit a traditional splash for a two count, then the two made their way to the floor again. 

Umaga rammed Triple H into the apron, then threw him shoulder first into the ringsteps.  Back in the ring, Umaga continued to work over Triple H's ribs, but Triple H battled back with punches.  Umaga applied a side bear hug.  Triple H punched out of it, but Umaga planted him with a belly to belly suplex.  Umaga hit some punches in the corner, and set up for the running posterior smash, which he hit.  Triple H kicked out at two.  Umaga covered again, and Triple H kicked out.  Umaga went to the floor and got a chair.  Umaga went to use it, but Triple H hit him with a low blow.  Triple H then crotched Umaga with the chair.  Triple H hit a DDT on the chair for a two count.  Triple H hit a facebuster on his knee, then set up for a Pedigree, but Umaga lifted him and rammed him in a corner.  Umaga then ran into a Triple H boot to the face.  Triple H charged Umaga and Umaga caught him and planted him with a sidewalk slam. 

Triple H rolled to the floor and went to look under the ring, but Umaga came out and kicked him in the head.  Umaga took the lids off of all the announce tables. Umaga picked up a chair and swung at Triple H, but Triple H ducked and Umaga hit the ringpost.  Triple H tackled Umaga and they fell over the Smackdown announce table.  They two brawled behind all the announce tables, sending the announcers everywhere.  Umaga laid Triple H on the ECW announce table.  Umaga then got up on the Smackdown announce table, ran across it, ran across the Raw announce table, and then dove, putting Triple H through the ECW table with a splash. 

For some reason, referees were telling Umaga to "calm down", while Triple H was crawling back into the ring.  Umaga went to the top rope and tried for a splash, but Triple H rolled out of the way and Umaga crashed to the mat.  Triple H crawled back to the floor, went under the ring and pulled out the sledgehammer, to a pop.  Umaga was getting to his feet.  Triple H went for the sledgehammer shot, but Umaga hit Triple H in the gut.  Umaga set up for the Samoan Spike, but Triple H ducked it, picked up the sledgehammer and hit Umaga in the head with it.  Triple H hit the Pedigree for the pin at the seventeen minute mark. 

Winner: Triple H.

The Divas were gathered together in the back, and Todd Grisham, revealed that Mickie James won with 21% of the vote.  Kelly Kelly was second with 17%.  The heel Divas booed, the face Divas cheered, and the Divas never actually appeared in the arena. 

They announced that over 13 million votes were cast for tonight's show. 

They were about to announce the winner of the balloting for the special referee for the main event, when JBL interrupted, getting into the ring.  JBL said he was sure the fans had voted him in.  He was about to call himself the "wrestling god" when Mick Foley's music hit.  Foley came out, and he and JBL argued in the ring, off mic.  The results of the poll were then shown: 
Steve Austin: 79%
Mick Foley: 11%
JBL: 10%

An angry JBL started punching Mick Foley, and Foley returned fire.  JBL was knocked down as Steve Austin's music hit.  Austin hit the ring and gave Foley a stunner.  JBL gave Austin a clothesline and rammed him into a corner.  JBL hit some punches, and kicked Austin in the head.  JBL went for an Irish whip, but Austin reversed it.  Austin ran into a boot to the face by JBL.  JBL set up for a Clothesline From Hell, but Austin kicked JBL in the gut and hit a stunner.  Austin threw in a stomp to the head for good measure.  

World Champion Batista vs. The Undertaker with Steve Austin as special referee.

Jerry Lawler joined Michael Cole on commentary for the main event.   Batista charged Undertaker at the bell for a spear, but Undertaker sidestepped it and hit a boot to the face.  They locked up and jockeyed for position.  Batista ducked a punch and applied a side headlock.  Undertaker shoved it off and hit a boot to the face for a one count.  Taker kicked Batista in the head and threw Batista shoulder first into a corner.  Undertaker punched Batista's arm and wrapped it around the top rope. Batista fired off some punches and backed Taker into a corner for some shoulderblocks.  Batista rammed Taker into the turnbuckles and hit some punches and kicks.  Batista hit some body shots, but Taker hit a back elbow on Batista as he charged in for a two count. 

Undertaker applied a variation of a triangle choke on the mat, but Batista grabbed the ropes.  Undertaker broke the hold at four, rolled to the floor and hit Batista in the back of the head with a forearm, then kicked him in the head from the floor.  Undertaker got back into the ring and scored a two count.  Undertaker wrapped Batista's arm around the top rope, then headbutted it. Undertaker went for a jumping knee in the corner, but Batista moved out of the way and Taker smashed into the turnbuckles.  Batista kicked Undertaker through the ropes and to the floor.  Batista rammed Undertaker into the ring steps, and back first into the ring apron.  Back in the ring, Batista missed a clothesline and Undertaker hit the flying clothesline for a two count.  

Undertaker set up for Old School, but Batista crotched Undertaker on the top rope and set up for a superplex, but Undertaker knocked Batista back into the ring.  Undertaker missed a running kick in the corner, going all the way over the top rope and to the floor.  Batista took Undertaker back into the ring and worked over his back by dropping all his weight on it.  Taker grabbed Batista by the trunks and yanked him through the ropes and to the floor.  Undertaker put Batista on the apron and hit the legdrop.  Back in the ring, Undertaker scored a two count.  Undertaker put Batista in the corner and hit two avalanches.  Undertaker hit Snake Eyes, but Batista came right back with a running clothesline as Taker went for the boot to the face.  Batista scored a two count.  

Batista set up for a Batista Bomb, but Undertaker rammed him into a corner.  Batista reversed a whip, but Undertaker moved and Batista ran shoulder first into the ringpost.  Undertaker went for the Old School ropewalk.  Undertaker jumped off for the forearm, but Batista caught him and gave Undertaker a spinebuster.  Batista went for the cover, but Undertaker trapped him in a triangle choke.  Batista rolled the choke so Undertaker's shoulders were on the mat.  Austin began to count, so Undertaker had to release the hold.  Undertaker went for a chokeslam, but Batista punched out of it.  Batista missed a clothesline and Undertaker nailed Batista with the chokeslam for a two count.  

Undertaker lifted Batista for a tombstone, but Batista floated over it and hit a spear for a two count.  Batista set up for the Batista Bomb, but Undertaker backdropped out of it.  Undertaker charged Batista, but Batista gave him a drop toe hold and Undertaker went face first into the middle turnbuckle.  Batista went for some punches in the corner, but Undertaker walked out of the corner with Batista and hit the Last Ride powerbomb.  Undertaker was slow to cover, and Batista got his shoulder up before the three count.  Undertaker called for the tombstone.  Undertaker lifted Batista for the tombstone, but Batista floated over and hit the spinebuster.  Undertaker kicked out before the three count. 

Undertaker sat up, and Batista's eyes bugged out.  Batista kicked Undertaker in the gut and hit the Batista Bomb.  Batista covered and Undertaker kicked out at 2.999999.  Batista looked stunned.  Batista screamed for Undertaker to get up.  Batista gave Undertaker a second Batista Bomb and got the three count at the seventeen minute mark. 

Winner: Batista. 

They showed replays of the finish, then we saw Undertaker slumped against the bottom rope, staring at Batista, who was holding the belt up on the rampway, to end the show.