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November 21st
On this day in history in ....
1978 - Tony Garea & Larry Zbyszko defeat The Yukon Lumberjacks for the WWWF World Tag Team Title in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
1999 - WCW Mayhem, a new PPV replacing the
"World War 3" concept, was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Air Canada
Center. Here are the results:
- In a WCW World Title tournament semifinal
match, Chris Benoit defeated Jeff Jarrett when Benoit hit Jarrett with his own
guitar after interference by Dustin Rhodes and Creative Control.
- Evan
Karagias defeated Disco Inferno to win the WCW Cruiserweight Title with a flying
bodypress after Disco accidentally hit Tony Marinara with a chair as he was
holding Karagias for the shot. If Disco had won, he would have gotten $25,000 of
Karagias' money.
- Norman Smiley defeated Brian Knobs to become the first WCW
Hardcore Champion when Jimmy Hart mistakenly hit Knobs with a garbage can as an
elevator the two wrestlers were fighting in opened.
- Perry Saturn, Dean
Malenko & Asya defeated Eddie Guerrero, Billy Kidman & Torrie Wilson in an
Elimination match. Perry Saturn was the sole survivor.
* Malenko pinned
Kidman with a rollup.
* Guerrero pinned Malenko with a rana.
* Guerrero
pinned Asya with a frog splash.
* Saturn forced Guerrero to submit to the
Rings Of Saturn.
* Saturn pinned Wilson with a low blow as Shane Douglas
distracted the referee.
- Buff Bagwell defeated Curt Hennig in a Retirement
match with a Buff Blockbuster.
- In a WCW World Title tournament semifinal
match, Bret Hart defeated Sting via submission with a sharpshooter. During the
match, while the referee was down, Lex Luger attacked Sting, hitting him in the
leg with a baseball bat. Hart started fighting with Luger, and the referee awoke
to see this, and disqualified Sting for outside interference. However, Hart
demanded the match continue, and beat Sting via submission.
- Vampiro
defeated Berlyn via submission in a Chain match with a camel clutch using the
chain. Post-match, Steve Williams, who was at ringside with Oklahoma, ran in and
beat up Vampiro and Jerry Only of the band The Misfits.
- Meng defeated Lex
Luger with the Tongan Death Grip after Elizabeth accidentally sprayed mace in
his eyes.
- WCW United States & Television Champion Scott Hall defeated
Booker T with a Razor's Edge as Booker was arguing with Jeff Jarrett, who was on
the floor. After the match, Jeff Jarrett and Creative Control beat on Booker
until Midnight made her debut and ran them off.
- David Flair vs. Kimberly
Page ended in a no contest. Page and Flair had a brief brawl (and some stupid
spots involving Flair wearing a cup for the match) until Dallas Page, Kanyon and
Arn Anderson interfered. Page & Kanyon helped Kimberly, while Arn came out to
help Flair. After the match, Flair hit Arn with his crowbar anyway.
- Bill
Goldberg defeated Sid Vicious in an I Quit match when Sid was rendered
unconscious in a cobra clutch variation.
- In a 32-person tournament final,
Bret Hart defeated Chris Benoit to win WCW World Heavyweight Title with the
Sharpshooter. Early in the match, Dean Malenko attacked Benoit, but was run off
by Hart. Later in the match, the Outsiders interfered, but were run off by Bill
Goldberg. This marked Hart's first WCW World Title reign, two years after the
infamous "Montreal Screwjob" cost him with WWF World Title.
2000 - Billy Gunn defeats Eddie Guerrero for the WWF Intercontinental Title in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This begins Gunn's only Intercontinental Championship reign.2005 - World Wrestling Entertainment announced on their website that details of a new drug policy being instituted by Vince McMahon would be announced later that day. WWE's website later announced that Vince McMahon met with both the Raw and Smackdown rosters at the Raw taping in Sheffield, Great Britain to announce details of the company's new drug policy. McMahon announced that a new testing policy would be implemented in the next few weeks, which will see the banning of "performance enhancing drugs, such as steroids, etc., recreational drugs, as well as the abuse of prescription drugs." The company also announced there will be a new emphasis on cardiovascular examinations in light of the passing of Eddie Guerrero several days earlier.
In a video posted on WWE.com later that day, they showed a clip from the the meeting that Vince had earlier today with his wrestlers, telling them about the company's new drug policy. He said he wanted them to hear it from him first, before it leaked out elsewhere. He said that the policy would be implemented over the next few weeks. He said that they will be testing for "drugs of abuse" and abuse of prescription drugs, as well as growth enhancers and steroids. He said it will be a strict policy that will be handled by a third party agency, not done in-house by WWE. He added that it will cover all individuals under full time contracts with WWE.
He asked for comments from the wrestlers and no one said a word. He said that there must be a million things going through their heads and there was laughter. He then said he doesn't have all the answers yet. He said that WWE was looking into implementing the program and wanted to tell the talent before word got out and they heard about it elsewhere. He said he doesn't have the policy with him but will have it in a few weeks. He asked the wrestlers for their input in it since it will be their policy.
Someone (it sounded like Ric Flair) asked about the prescription drug usage. Vince said that the doctor would be able to check what prescriptions the wrestler is taking and by testing, would be able to tell if they were being abused. He said it was easy to see when too much of a drug has been taken. He added that the first step, if someone is caught abusing prescription drugs, would be to try and get the worker help. He said if there were not prescriptions involved in a failed test, he thought that would bring on "another set of ramifications". He added that the policy will be fair and "across the board for everybody". He added there would be no exceptions to it.
He was asked if the testing would be random and Vince said yes. He said it would be "relatively frequent". He talked about the last testing they had (back in the early 90s) and said that the difference this time is that he will be the second person to know. The first people will be the tester and the performer. Vince added that people won't be able to say "Yeah Vince but...." if they are caught. Everything will be spelled out in black and white in the policy as to what will happen if someone tests positive. Someone then thanked Vince for telling them personally.
2006 - Jim Ross announces on his website that he has signed a new one-year contract with WWE the previous night. His earlier deal had expired on October 29th and Ross worked on an extension of that deal for several weeks while a new deal was worked out.
2007 - Former WCW wrestler Hardbody Harrison was found guilty of sex trafficking and prostitution charges. The Associated Press issued the following:
Ex-Wrestler Convicted of Sex Trafficking
ATLANTA (AP) A federal jury on Wednesday convicted a former pro wrestler known as "Hardbody Harrison" of charges that he kept eight women as sex slaves in his two north Georgia homes.
Harrison Norris Jr. was convicted of charges including aggravated sexual abuse, forced labor, sex trafficking, conspiracy and witness tampering. He was acquitted of all charges involving a ninth woman, but still could get life in prison at sentencing, set for Feb. 28.
Norris, 41, wrestled for the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling organization in the 1990s.
Serving as his own lawyer, he contended that the women willingly lived at his Cartersville homes because they wanted to train as pro wrestlers. He says many of them arrived on drugs and left in the best shape of their lives.
During a two-week trial, prosecutors portrayed Norris as a predator who used his wrestling business to lure poor and vulnerable women into prostitution and forced labor.
"I think the jury's verdict vindicates the rights of the victims who were brave enough to come forward and confront this man who abused them," prosecutor Susan Coppedge said.
Witnesses testified that Norris, a former Army sergeant and veteran of the Persian Gulf War, imposed a strict military structure, with each of the women assigned to a squad overseen by an "enforcer."
One witness testified that Norris beat or threatened them to keep control and that he threatened to throw one through a hotel window when she would not engage in sex with two customers.
In addition to forcing the victims to work as prostitutes, Norris made them work in and around his houses, requiring them to haul trees, lay sod and paint, according to testimony.
2008 - In one of those "only in wrestling" stories,it was announced that independent female star Lexxus, who wrestles regularly for Sheldon Goldberg's New England Championship Wrestling and World Women’s Wrestling would be undergoing a name change at next weekend's events promoted by the two respective companies at the National Guard Armory in Quincy, MA.This was the first of the Hulkamania tour events at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Australia. The crowd was a little disappointing with around 7000 people in attendance with the arena probably 50 – 60% full.
Credit that understatement to Reno Riggins. Showtime All-Star Wrestling outdid themselves last night. The sequel to “SAW: The Next Level†succeeded beyond the company’s wildest expectations, drawing over 1000 fans to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds Sports Arena.
Beginning to end, it was as good as any event I’ve attended over a 14 year span at the Fairgrounds (that excludes the TNA era. I somehow never made it to the Nashville for one of their PPVs). None of them had a crowd as large or as hot. I thought the NWA Charlotte debut was damn impressive, but last night blew that show off the map.
It was fairly astonishing that SAW was able to draw a substantially larger house than their first event, and do so on the solely on the strength of their talent roster. They’re building their own stars. Fans are coming out to see the SAW product. They’ve got prime time Saturday night TV (on CW58), but very little TV time was spent specifically on building up this show. Only the Last Man Standing between Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas and the Hammerjack/Anthony angle got any TV time at all.
Who would have thought it possible? It’s 2009. The economy still stinks. The Fairgrounds Arena is a building burned out and killed dead beyond all hope. Pro wrestling is getting pounded by MMA. And yet, a local product gets hot, and for two months running, the Nashville fans have turned out in droves. You know you’ve got something special when a packed house is chanting “S-A-W†(like they do on the TV show) in anticipation of the opening match.
Ring announcer Dan Masters opened the show by introducing WSMW sports reporter Brad Hopkins (a former pro bowl tackle for the Tennessee Titans) and smoking hot Natalie Van Eron (who worked briefly for SAW as a ringside interviewer). They were pumping up the Make-A-Wish fund raising aspect of the event. Couldn’t understand a word they were saying. The sound system sucked. It was the weak link of the evening. Masters was struggling to make himself heard all night long, and it rendered the mic work by the talent pretty useless.
(1) Arrick Andrews beat Chris Michaels in 8:55. Great pop for Andrews. And he’s barely been on TV lately. Crowd was unbelievably hot. A flurry of offense by Andrews built to a clothesline over the top. Michaels gave Andews a hotshot and took over with a power drive side slam. Andrews did a nice up and over reverse roll up, but Michaels cut him off. Michaels worked on Arrick’s back. There was a weird looking spot where Andrews had problems with his footing on a plancha. Michaels hit the double shot for a close near fall. Andrews nailed him with the Dragon’s Curse (tornado kick) for the pin. Good opener.
(2) Rick Santel (with Paul Adams) beat Jamie Dundee in 3:46. Adams got a ton of heat on the mic, but again, it was impossible to make out what he was saying. Reno Riggins came to the ring to explain that Dundee was subbing for Wolfie D, and TV footage would be forthcoming to explain this. Santel was bumping lie mad for Dundee, who looked a might rusty. Santel got sent into the rail right in front of the Make-A-Wish kids. Dundee started after Adams, and Santel got him from behind. Dundee made Santel miss with his Nature’s Greatest Elbow. As Dundee was making his comeback, Kurt Herron stepped in to block him from using a closed fist. Adams tossed a stick to Santel, and he popped Dundee with it for the three.
Crowd popped when Dundee said he was coming back to SAW. Could a PG13 reunion be in the offing?
(3) Drew Haskins (with Derrick King & JT Stahr & Sista O’Feelyah) beat “Boogie Woogie Boy†Gary Valiant (with Miss Boogie) in 4:41. Haskins has quite the commanding presence for such a tender age. You would think he’d been working in front of crowds like this for years. The pop for Valiant was mind blowing. He boogied it up with the crowd before entering ring. Haskins jumped him for an instant “Go, Boogie, Go†chant. Boogie rallied with Haskins taking major bumps. While Stahr distracted the ref, King pulled the ropes down to dump Boogie. Miss Boogie got upset. O’Feelyah got physically involved, and for the first time showed a streak of viciousness. Boogie hit a nasty looking neckbreaker. One by one, DKE got up on the apron to cause trouble. Boogie decked Stahr and King. Miss Boogie pulled Sista down. But Haskins capitalized on the shenanigans with a jumping DDT, and pinned Boogie as King held his feet over the rope. Finish was well executed. Match was just what it needed to be. Boogie clocked ref Joe Williams in frustration.
(4) Kevin White (with Su Yung) beat Jesse Emerson in 6:30. White was pure chickenshit. He cowered behind Yung. Emerson got a good pop for smacked the crap out of his face. Emerson hit a spinning slam for a near fall. Yung distracted the ref, allowing White to gain the upper hand. That made three consecutive matches with ref distraction from ringside. White missed a swanton bomb. Emerson started blocking White’s punches and tagging him with big right hands. Emerson powerbombed White but crashed and burned on a top rope elbow. White hit a high knee and pinned Emerson clean with a folding press. I couldn’t fathom Emerson losing here. On TV, Emerson has been involved in a long running program with Jon Michael Worthington, who beat him at the Fairgrounds the last time. White hasn’t been on TV at all. Presumably, there will be something on TV to explain this.
(5) “Maniac†Marc Anthony vs. Hammerjack was ruled a no contest at 8:09. A super heated brawl. Best stuff I’ve seen from either one of these guys in SAW. Hammerjack caught Anthony by surprise, and the action spilled out of the ring with Hammer in charge. They briefly brawled out of view into the dressing room. Anthony was channeling Bruiser Brody. Hammer was pounding him. Anthony bled but it didn’t faze him. He dumped Hammer and hit a psychotic suicide dive ala Hotstuff Hernandez. Anthony fired Hammer into the rail. Kid were shrieking. The whole thing had that wild, out of control feeling like back in the day. Anthony took a backdrop on the concrete floor. Hammerjack was beating the hell out of Anthony. Just drilling his forehead with punch after punch. Hammer decked the ref, and Senior Official Mark Herron waved off the match.
What followed was the best pull apart brawl I’ve seen in years. Like a real freaking fight. It took six guys to separate them the first time. Anthony staggered to the back with the crowd chanting like crazy for Hammerjack. Just when things were settling down, Anthony came back out. They went at it again. Various SAW wrestlers and such entered the fray. This got wilder than the first time. Hammerjack was pushed back into the dressing room. Meanwhile, Anthony was living up to his name. He proceeded to decimate three guys. Hammerjack came back out and they went at it AGAIN. More security came out. It was hotter than ever – the peak heat of the show. Huge chants of “let them fightâ€. This segment ruled.
(6) Derrick King Enterprises (Derrick King & JT Stahr with Sista O’Feelyah) defeated Scarboni Brothers (Handsome Vinny & Southpaw Sonny) to retain the SAW Tag Team Championship in 9:18. Scarbonis don’t do much for me. They look green compared to most of the SAW roster. If DKE coudn’t quite make them look like gold, it wasn’t for lack of trying. I’m thinking DKE can get an entertaining match out of just about anybody at this point. It was comedy of errors for DKE in the early going. There was one mishap where King gave Stahr a diving headbutt to the baby factory. Stahr’s nursing of his “wound†was hilarious. Stahr started kicking the bejeezus out of Sonny. He cut off a tag with a spear to the back, and King followed with a superplex. Off the hot tag, Scarbonis got DKE in stereo figure four leglocks. O’Feelyah jumped up. Scarbonis confronted her. In the ensuing confusion, King superkicked Sonny, who was pinned by Stahr.
People started leaving at this point (2 hours), so neither of the last two matches had the benefit of the insane heat like the rest of the card.
(7) Kid Kash (with Melody) beat Vordell Walker to retain the SAW International Championship in 14:52. Kash did long mic work insulting the crowd. Up in the balcony where I was sitting, it was unintelligible. They went nose to nose. Crowd broke out the “Kash sucks†chant. Lots of Kash’s usual stalling tactics. In the only MMAish sequence of the match, Kash shot for a single leg. Walker fought it and tried for a submission. Kash reversed and pounded Walker from the mount. I expected them to do more MMA style, because if Kash wanted to push the shootfighting gimmick, there was no better opponent to do it with than Walker. When Walker took over, Kash bumped bigger than he has for any of his previous SAW opponents. Kash bailed. Walker followed and took a flip bump into the rail for his troubles. Back inside, Kash used a standing suplex and a series of kneedrops for a near fall. Walker hit a back suplex and it was both men down. Walker tried to climb. Kash kicked the ropes to crotch him, but Walker recovered to hit a superplex. Walker blitzed Kash with high impact offense. An STO got messed up, but the crowd reacted because it looked painful for Kash. Kash busted out the double jump moonsault for the first time in SAW, but Walker kicked out of it. Kash tried to pull something out of Melody’s purse. She wasn’t down with it. Walker got suckered into the mess, and. Kash rolled him up using the tights while fully exposing the crack of his ass (same as he did to Snow last month).
(8) Chase Stevens beat Andy Douglas (with Paul Adams & Rick Santel) in a Last Man Standing Match (27:49). I thought this was every bit as good and dramatic as the table match, but it didn’t feel like it because the crowd was past peak. And of course, there was no way top that finish. Stevens had done a great promo on the go home TV show (episode 114) that tied directly into the match story – he was still suffering from the bump off the balcony and could barely stand to begin with, but he was going to keep standing up no matter what Douglas did. Adams and Douglas also did a classic gloating heel promo where they dropped a watermelon off an overpass and watched it splat on the parking lot below. Douglas jumped Stevens and destroyed his injured back. Stevens rallied but his back was killing him. Santel tossed a chain to Douglas, who clocked Stevens for the first pinfall of the match. Referee Marcus Pastorious caught Santel red handed and banished him to the dressing room. Masters announced the rules as a 15 second rest period and then the count would start, but Marcus Pastorious started to count immediately. It didn’t matter, because few heard what Masters said anyway. Stevens was bleeding from the forehead. Stevens took a sick thudding bump to the floor. Douglas slammed Stevens on the concrete. Back in the ring, ate a kick to the face and collapsed. Stevens caught Douglas flush with a wild lucky punch. Douglas got major color. Blood was streaming down his face. Douglas hit the Harley Race knee but was in no shape to follow up. He was covered in blood down to his belly. Douglas pinned Stevens with a bulldog. Stevens got up. Douglas leveled Stevens with a lariat, then accidentally leveled Pastorious. Stevens hit the fisherman suplex. Adams entered the ring and stomped him. Stevens punched Adams. Santel tried to interfere and got speared by Stevens. Douglas capitalized with the Natural Selection for the three count. Stevens got up. Douglas gave Stevens a DDT onto a chair. Stevens was up at the count of 13. Douglas blasted Stevens with an unprotected chair shot. The crowd went silent. Stevens again got up at 13. Douglas wedged a chair in between the turnbuckles. Stevens reversed and Douglas went in head first. Stevens pinned Douglas with the TKO. Stevens got to his feet just before the 15 count, and Douglas couldn’t make it. Another epic match in this epic feud.
Santel came back out and attacked Stevens until the Scarbonis made the save.
Masters announced a return date at the Fairgrounds for February 13.
NOTES: Jerry Jarrett was not in attendance and reportedly was out of town for the weekend…Michael Shane was backstage…Among the random SAW officials were Jason James and Hot Rod Biggs,…NWA Main Event TV editor Andrew Becker was among those sent out to break up the fight between Hammerjack and Anthony…Brian Tramel reported on rronews.com concerning Wolfie D’s relapse (as posted by Wolfie’s girlfriend, Lizzie). Wolfie is not in rehab, but he is on hiatus from SAW…Mike Porter’s NWA Main Event ran a free show just 3 miles away from the Fairgrounds. That show reportedly drew 200 with Matt Boyce vs. the returning Shawn Shultz in the main event. Mike Posey vs. Steve-O opened as Posey had to make the second half of his double shot for the NWA Top Rope show in Lebanon.
The 2010 Survivor Series opened with a video looking at the history and tradition of the PPV before focusing on John Cena's role in the main event.
WWE United States champion Daniel Bryan vs. Ted DiBiase (with Marsye)
They started out with DiBiase trying to work on Bryan's arm but the champion slipped out and nailed a dropkick. Bryan locked in an armbar as the ring lights died, then returned. DiBiase came back to suplex Bryan off the apron to the floor, then followed. DiBiase slammed Bryan into the apron, then drilled him with several elbows.
DiBiase went to the center rope on the outside, then drilled Bryan with an axehandle. He tossed Bryan back into the ring and covered him for a two count. Bryan fired back with several uppercuts but was cut off and DiBiase railed away on him with punches. DiBiase locked in a side chinlock to wear down Bryan.
Bryan elbowed his way out but missed a clothesline and was caught with a backbreaker for a two count, then nailed with a dropkick. DiBiase went back to a side chinlock as fans chanted for Bryan. Bryan escaped a charge in the corner, then dropkicked DiBiase into the turnbuckles.
Bryan drilled DiBiase with several kicks and a rebound clothesline. He tossed DiBiase over the top to the floor, then nailed a tope suicida to the outside. Bryan began grabbing at his shoulder after a nasty landing. He tossed DiBiase back into the ring and nailed a missile dropkick.
He began drilling DiBiase with kicks to the chest. DiBiase caught Danielson's leg but Bryan rolled him into a small package for a near fall. Bryan went for the LeBell Lock but DiBiase slipped out and drilled the champion with a clothesline for a two count.
DiBiase began psyching himself up, then went for Dream Street. Bryan pushed himself off the corner to flip over DiBiase for a two count. DiBiase escaped and nailed a spinebuster for a two count. He began working over Bryan with punches to the head, then drilled Bryan into the corner. He climbed the ropes but Bryan slipped out underneath and crotched DiBiase. Bryan hit a top rope belly to back superplex, wiping out both men. Bryan recovered first and covered DiBiase for a two count.
Bryan went for the LeBell Lock but DiBiase again escaped and catapulted Bryan into the buckles. He rolled up Bryan, who kicked up and caught DiBiase in the LeBell Lock. DiBiase tapped.
Your winner and still United States champion, Daniel Bryan!
Very good back and forth opener.
As Bryan made his way to the entrance stage, Miz attacked him with the Money in the Bank briefcase and made his way to the ring with Alex Riley.
Miz mockingly apologized, noting that we all know how much he respects Bryan. The lights went out again. Miz said that he was a proud citizen of Cleveland and ripped apart The Miami Heat and the Nexus for both being mediocre. He compared LeBron James to Wade Barrett because they both feel they are entitled to a championship. He said that Wade might become champion but James will never become a champion. Miz said that James has a commercial asking, "What should I do?" Miz said he should go back to Cleveland and apologize for what he did, calling him a traitor. Miz said that he doesn't care what happens to John Cena tonight but Orton and Barrett both need to know that he's tired of carrying the briefcase. He warned them that it's not a matter of if, but when he cashes in. He closed out with his catchphrase.
Josh Mathews interviewed Sheamus., who said that the entire issue is that he’s been WWE champion and Morrison never will be. He said that for all the talks of bullies, he’s not going to shove Morrison into a locker or a toilet, but he’s going to break Morrison’s body and spirit.
John Morrison vs. Sheamus
They began fighting immediately. Sheamus was tossed from the ring, where Morrison hit a corkscrew dive. Sheamus cut Morrison off and began working him over. He locked in a side chinlock. Morrison began fighting his way out but Sheamus clobbered him down to the mat and continued working over him.
Sheamus worked over Morrison’s chest with a series of brutal shots but Morrison kicked out. Morrison fought to regain his footing but was taken out again. Sheamus deposited him on the top turnbuckle but Morrison began nailing a series of rights. Sheamus absorbed them and began beating Morrison across the back. He went for a superplex but Morrison came back and nailed several forearms to take Sheamus out.
Morrison came off the top with a flying bodypress but Sheamus caught him and nailed a Fall Away Slam for a two count. Sheamus, with some awesome facial expressions, set up for the Brouge Kick but Morison ducked and drilled Sheamus with a step-up enziguiri,
Both men recovered and began exchanging back and forth blows. Morrison nailed a series of clotheslines and a leg lariat for a two count. Sheamus caught Morrison during a clothesline attempt and snapped him into the Irish Curse backbreaker. Morrison kicked up at the last second. Fans tried to rally Morrison as Sheamus called for the High Cross. Sheamus went for the move but Morrison countered and sent Sheamus into the buckles. Morrison covered him for a two count.
Sheamus looked glassy-eyed as Morrison worked him over in the corner. He went to the ropes but Sheamus took his legs out from under him while he was leaping up. Sheamus grabbed Morrison by his injured leg and snapped him over, covering him for a two count.
Sheamus locked on a single leg Boston Crab but Morrison made it to the ropes to force a break. Morrison slipped under Sheamus for a sunset flip style rollup but Sheamus escaped and went right back to the hurt knee. He held Morrison by the leg and slapped him several times. Morrison nailed another enziguiri, sending Sheamus into the buckles.
Morrison went for Starship Pain but Sheamus nailed him. He went for the Brouge Kick but missed. He got caught up in the ropes. Morrison hit a springboard kick to the face, then a running knee strike and pinned Sheamus clean.
Your winner, John Morrison!
Another good match. Sheamus came off well as a brute while Morrison did a great job as the come from behind aerialist. Really fun.
Backstage, R Truth approached John Cena. He told John Cena that he may have a way out of all this for Cena. He told John that Nexus is banned from ringside but he’s not. He offered to come out and “accidentally†make something happen to Orton, so Cena could be free and be guilt free. Cena said that if that happened, he couldn’t live with himself and half the people in WWE can hardly look him in the face now. He said he was going to call it down the middle and that’s the truth. Killings said the truth was that he would believe it when he sees it and walks off. The entire Cena-Killings deal reminds me of Kerry Von Erich and Michael Hayes from the famous Flair vs. Kerry match that ended up sparking the Von Erichs vs. The Fabulous Freebirds when Kerry refused Hayes’ help in cheating to win the NWA World title. Not the same scenario but similar undertones. We’ll see.
WWE Intercontinental champion Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero) vs. Kaval
Striker, on behalf of Kaval, dedicated the match to a unit from Brooklyn now in the Middle East. He said that Kaval’s family and friends were watching and gave a shout out to Kaval’s cousin Steve (Monster Mack of JAPW) and Nelson (former TNA star Homicide).
Ziggler took control of Kaval early, working over Kaval’s neck, including a rolling neck snap. Ziggler used a Fireman’s Carry Throw, then whipped Kaval into the corner. Kaval went up and over but was caught. Ziggler continued to work over Kaval, who came back with a bodypress off the ropes and chopped Ziggler.
Kaval worked over Ziggler with a series of punches, He missed a charge in the corner and Dolph locked in a rear naked choke to wear him down. Kaval made his way back to his feet but Ziggler snapped him over and covered him for a two count. He tried up Kaval, who fought back.
Kaval kicked off a Ziggler charge in the corner, then nailed a series of leaping elbow strikes. Ziggler missed a strike and Kaval nailed a series of kicks. Kaval nailed a springboard moonsault press for a rwo count. Ziggler’s nose was bleeding. No stoppage. Kaval hit a handspring into a kick to the head for a two count.
Kaval went to the top for Warrior’s Way but Ziggler took his legs out. Ziggler locked in a sleeper hold as both were standing on the ropes. Kaval headbutt his way out of the move. He went to the top and for a twisting Phoenix Splash but Ziggler moved. Kaval landed on his feet and used a backslide for a two count. Ziggler nailed the Zig Zag but Kaval kicked up.
Ziggler locked on the sleeper but Kaval blocked it. He charged Ziggler, who elevated Kaval to the top rope. Kaval came off the top with an enziguiri for a two count. Fans began chanting, “Let’s go Kaval.†Kaval drilled Ziggler in the legs with a kick. He grabbed Ziggler, who nailed him in the gut, then in the back of the head.
Kaval ducked a charge in the corner and rolled up Ziggler for a two count. Ziggler small packaged him for a two count. Kaval attempted a forward roll pinfall but Ziggler rolled through to reverse it and held onto Kaval’s tights to help hold him down for a three count.
Your winner and still WWE Intercontinental champion, Dolph Ziggler!
Another very good athletic match. Good show so far. I think Ziggler may have taken a hard shot to the head from a Kaval kick as he seemed to be off a step towards the end.
Todd Grisham interviewed Jack Swagger. He said that he should be the captain because he’s the only former World champion. He ripped on Miami, saying they were in Little Cuba, not Miami. Cod Rhodes cut in saying that Swagger was mad he couldn’t get into any hot clubs last night. Alberto Del Rio cut them off and said what they were doing was boring and that wasn’t why they were here. He said they were here to destroy Rey Mysterio, Del Rio said he wanted to see little kids cry because their hero was destroyed. He said that when they were done, he would buy them the beers. He said that they had nothing to fear because Alberto Del Rio was their captain. He walked off, leaving Cody and Swagger last to leave. Rhodes said that he hates to admit it but Del Rio is good.
Team Mysterio (Rey Mysterio, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, MVP & Chris Masters) vs. Team Del Rio (Alberto Del Rio, Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger & Tyler Reks) in a Survivor Series elimination match
The crowd is into MVP, big-time, since it’s his hometown. Rey and Del Rio start but Del Rio begs off to mess with his head and tags in to Rhodes. Rhodes caught Mysterio with a kick off the ropes, which they called the Disaster Kick. Del Rio then tagged in since Rey was down. He begaqn kicking and stomping the hell out of Rey.
Del Rio whipped Rey into the corner but Rey came out with a Lucha headscissors takedown. He snapped Del Rio into the corner with a drop toehold and dropkicked him. MVP tagged in to a big pop and worked over Del Rio. MVP ducked a kick to the head and drilled him into the buckles.
Kofi Kingston tagged in and came off with an elbow. Masters tagged in but Del Rio got the better of him. Reks and Drew each took turns working over Masters. Drew nailed him with a clothesline. Fans began chanting for Big Show. Masters made the tag to MVP who cleaned house on Drew. He nailed the Ballin’ elbow but Del Rio distracted him so MVP nailed him. MVP suplexed Drew from the outside into the ring but Del Rio hooked him leg and held it.
Drew pinned MVP, who is eliminated.
It’s not 5 vs. 4 with Team Del Rio getting the advantage.
MVP got a big chant on the way out.
Masters and Del Rio went back and forth. Masters went for the Masterlock but Del Rio escaped and nailed the rolling armbreaker. Masters tapped.
Masters is eliminated. It’s 5 vs. 3 with Del Rio having the advantage.
Show hits the ring , so Del Rio tagged out to Swagger. Swagger was able to take Show down and tagged back out to Del Rio. Del Rio slapped Show in the head, which only pissed Show off. Del Riop tagged out to Drew and mocked Show, saying he couldn’t get him because now he wasn’t the legal man. Show nailed him with the KO Punch anyway.
Show grabbed Drew and slammed him into the ring. Trainers rolled Del Rio off the apron. Show clotheslined Drew. He tagged in Kofi and slammed Kofi onto Drew for a two count. Trainers carried a dazed Del Rio from ringside. McIntyre tagged Rhodes. Kofi slapped him twice and Rhodes had a conniption fit over being hit in the face, kicking the stairs and the barricade before checking his face in a mirror.
Back in the ring, Kofi slapped him again, then tagged in Show, who KO’d Cody and pinned him. Entertaining as hell so far.
Rhodes is eliminated. 4 vs. 3 with Del Rio having the technical advantage, although Del Rio has left the scene.
Reks and Swagger worked on isolating Show from his partners. Swagger worked on Show’s leg. Swagger went for a forward rollthrough pin and came up locking Show in an anklelock. Show was able to tag in Rey, who nailed a Thesz Press off the ropes for a two count. Swagger came back with a big boot for a two count. Rey went for the 619 but Swagger was playing dead, catching Rey’s legs and locking in an ankle lock. Mysterio spun himself out. Swagger tagged Reks while Rey tagged Kofi.
Kofi went nuts with a ton of hot offense and drilled Reks with a kick. He nailed a flying bodypress but Reks kicks up. Kingston nailed a dropkick but Reks tied him to the tree of woe. He charged Kofi, who nailed him and rolled up Reks for a pinfall.
It’s 3 vs. 3.
Swagger and Kofi went back and forth. Swagger missed the Doctor Bomb. Kofi went for the Trouble in Paradise kick but was caught and turned into the anklelock. Kofi tapped.
Kingston is eliminated, so it’s 3 vs. 2 with Del Rio having the technical advantage.
Show and Mysterio took out Swagger. Rey went to Show’s shoulders to dive off of but Drew kicked Show’s leg out from under him and Rey crashed and burned. Swagger worked over Rey, getting near falls, but Rey came back for the 619. Rey went back to Show’s shoulders and dove off of them for a splash, pinning Swagger.
It’s 2 vs. 2, although no sign of Del Rio.
Drew went for Future Shock on Rey but Show was the legal man. He goozled and chokeslammed Drew, scoring the pin.
They announced Show and Mysterio as the sole survivors.
Your winners, Team Mysterio.
Really fun match. This is a great show so far.
Backstage, Josh Mathews asked WWE champion Randy Orton about John Cena. Orton cut him off, saying he is sick of talking about John Cena. He said that he feels for Cena, but he did all of this to himself. Orton said that he’s not thinking about Cena, but Wade Barrett. He said that John knows Orton and also knows that being fired would be the best thing that could happen to him, because if he tries to pull something on Orton, Orton is going to take him out. He said tonight isn’t about Cena, Barrett or even The Miz. He said it’s about what Barrett’s going to get – an RKO or a kick to the skull.
WWE Divas champions LayCool vs. Natalya
McCool and Natalya started out, locking up and rolling around the mat. Natalya out-wrestled her early but McCool caught her in a near pinfall. LayCool began double teaming. Layla nailed a spinkick to the gut, sending Natalya to the outside. Layla argued with the official, allowing McCool to nail the challenger on the outside.
McCool worked over Natalya on the floor. She charged her for a kick but missed and ended up crotched on the barricade. Natalya dumped her into the crowd. She went after McCool but Layla attacked her. Layla ended up tossed atop of McCool on the floor.
Back inside the railing, McCool whipped Natalya, who was already selling her back, into the barricade. She tossed Natalya into the ring but was tricked into butting heads with her partner. Natalya covered her for a two count, then locked in the Sharpshooter for the submission.
Your winner and new Divas champion, Natalya!
Natalya was crying as she was awarded the belt.
LayCool attacked Natalya. Before they could nail her with a title belt, Beth Phoenix’s music hit and she attacked both. She knocked McCool out of the ring and nailed Layla with the Implant Buster. She and Natalya faced off, then she handed Natalya the belts and paraded around the ring with Natalya on her shoulders.
Short match but they got the absolute most they could have out of it. Layla’s facial expressions during Beth’s return were awesome. Good to see Natalya get the nod here and Phoenix’s return was a welcome event. Short but sweet.
World champion Kane vs. Edge
Kane was alone. Edge came out alone, then teased he was going to get Paul Bearer, only to return with an empty wheelchair. They acted as if Edge had figured Kane out by getting into his head. Edge cleaned house early.
Kane came back with some right hands but Edge left the ring and played with the chair to psych out Kane. Edge cut off Kane as he chased Edge back into the ring, then tossed him into the barricade on the floor. Edge nailed a series of rights. He ducked a kick and clotheslined Kane, then began punching and stomping him.
Edge tried to pull Kane over to the ringpost and finally slammed his leg into it. He continued kicking at the leg and dropping an elbow. Kane came back with several heel kicks to the chest. Edge went for a DDT but Kane powered him up and dropped Edge across the ropes, then kicked him to the floor.
Kane brought Edge back to the ropes and whipped him into the turnbuckles. He whipped Edge into the opposite corner. Kane began demanding to know where Paul Bearer is. He drove Edge backwards into the buckles again and beat him down to the mat. He covered Edge for a two count.
Kane locked in a cravate on Edge, screaming at him to tell Kane where his father is. He kicked Edge down to the mat for a two count. Edge snapped Kane’s throat over the ropes and came off the top with a bodypress for a two count.
They exchanged punches in the middle of the ring until Kane clobbered Edge in the corner. Edge went down and Kane went to the top for a clothesline. Edge dropkicked Kane as he was in the air. He mounted a comeback with several clotheslines but Kane wouldn’t go off his feet. Kane reversed an Irish whip but was caught with a boot to the jaw. Kane came back with a big right hand for a two count. Slow match so far.
Edge was caught with a sideslam for a two count. Kane went back to the top rope but Edge met him with a series of punches. Edge went for a superplex but Kane shoved him off and Edge ended up crotched in the middle of the ropes. Kane clotheslined him off the top rope.
Kane went for a chokeslam but Edge kicked him off and nailed the DDT. Both men were down and the referee began his count. Edge realized he could set up for the spear. He charged but was kicked in the head. Kane chokeslammed Edge but Edge got his shoulder up at the last second. Kane began screaming it was a three count.
Kane called for the tombstone but Edge slipped out and speared Kane. Both men went down and their arms were atop of each other. Edge’s music played the ring announcer proclaimed Edge was the new champion. The referee waved him off and corrected him. They then announced that both men’s shoulders were down, thus it was a tie and Kane retained the belt.
Kane attacked Edge immediately, demanding to know where Paul Bearer was. He attacked Edge but Edge sent him into the stairs. Edge positioned Kane into the wheelchair, then ran him into and through a piece of the barricade.
Match never really seemed to get out of first gear and the crowd was nowhere as much into this as they were the other matches on the card. Finish was a creative way to get out of the match while setting up rematches.
Backstage, John Cena was holding a referee’s shirt. Wade Barrett asked him if he remembered the building and pointed out that it was the same Arena where the Nexus first attacked Cena, leaving him a broken, battered man. Barrett asked him if Cena ever thought he’d be part of Nexus or be the man giving Barrett the championship. He said the only reason he didn’t fire Cena after Raw is because he chose not to, because Cena will have to deliver him the championship. He told Cena to do the right thing and he’ll be done with Nexus forever. Cena said he remembered everything about the first night he was attacked and said that Barrett needed to remember that tonight, one way or another, he was done with Nexus and then, he knows exactly what he’s going to do. He walked off.
WWE Tag Team champions Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater (with Nexus) vs. Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov
They said Kozlov was teaching Marella Sambo. Marella used several throws on Slater and Gabriel early. Kozlov tagged in and kicked Gabriel in the chest. Gabriel went for a leaping attack but was shot down to the mat by Kozlov.
Gabriel came back with a legsweep and tagged in Slater who covered him for a two count. The Nexus took turns tagging in and out as they worked over Kozlov in the corner. Gabriel took down Kozlov with a front facelock. Santino made the tag but the referee didn’t see it. He forced Santino back out, allowing the Nexus to work over Kozlov even more.
Slater tagged in and drove Kozlov into the corner. He broke free of Slater and made the hot tag. Santino cleaned house on Slater but Gabriel broke up a pinfall attempt. Kozlov ended up on the outside. Santino went for the Cobra but the other members of Nexus jumped on the apron and he went after them. That allowed Slater to drill Santino backwards into the mat with a neckbreaker and Slater scored the pin.
Your winners and still WWE Tag Team champions, The Nexus.
Nexus began working over Marella and Kozlov. They took over the ring. The Raw GM emailed in and Cole reminded everyone that Nexus is banned from ringside for the WWE title match and if they interfere, the entire group will be indefinitely suspended. He then ordered them out of the ring, immediately.
Not much of a match here.
WWE champion Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett with John Cena as the special referee
Fans chanted for RKO early. Orton muscled Barrett into the corner and gave him a clean break. Orton shoulderblocked Barrett down. He grabbed Barrett in a headlock but Barrett scissored his head. They got back to their feet where Orton shoulderblocked Barrett back down. Barrett muscled Orton into the corner and nailed a series of kicks. Orton reversed and came out of the corner with a stiff clothesline.
Orton worked over Barrett with a series of back elbows, which caused Cena to step in and ask him to stop. That allowed Barrett to nail Orton and then pepper him with punches on the mat. Barrett smothered Orton’s throat into the ropes but broke when Cena admonished him. Barrett had words with Cena, allowing Orton to drill him in the face with a dropkick. Orton nailed him with a series of punches.
Barrett came back to work over Orton on the floor, then tossed him into the ring to score a two count. Barrett continued working over Orton, whipping him hard into the turnbuckles. Barrett cinched in a sidechinlock. Orton fought his way free but was caught coming off the ropes with a kick to the gut.
Barrett covered Orton for a two count and went right back to the rear chinlock. Orton pulled him up into a back suplex. Orton and Barrett began exchanging strikes in the middle of the ring. Orton got the better of the exchange and caught Barrett in the face with a kick, then a clothesline. Orton nailed a scoopslam, then clotheslined Barrett over the top to the floor.
Orton followed him but was caught and driven backwards into the ring post. Orton kicked Barrett in the face as he returned to the ring. Barrett caught Orton near the eye to stun him but Orton caught Barrett and drilled him into the mat. Orton is caught with a kick as he charged Barrett in the corner.
Barrett came off the middle turnbuckle with an elbowdrop, but Orton kicked out at two. Barrett and Cena had words over the count. Barrett locked in an abdominal stretch, then slammed Orton for a two count. Barrett was getting more and more angry at Cena. Barrett went for Wasteland but Orton slipped out. He rebounded off the ropes but was caught in a Black Hole Slam. Orton kicked up and Barrett began berating Cena over the count.
The fans began dueling chants for Cena. Orton made a comeback but Barrett rolled out of the ring when Randy went for the RKO. Orton followed him to the floor but was nailed. Barrett returned to the ring and kicked Orton in the temple as Orton returned to the ring. Barrett nailed Orton with Wasteland but Orton grabbed the ropes at two so Cena broke the count. Barrett began telling Cena that he was a member of Nexus. Cena told him he warned Wade he was going to call it down the middle.
Wade nailed Cena. Cena nailed him back. Orton drilled Barrett with the RKO. Cena counted one, two, hesitated, then counted three.
Your winner and still WWE champion, Randy Orton!
Cena looked sad as he knew what was coming, then ripped off his referee’s shirt and Nexus armband. Nexus hit the ring and brawled with Orton and Cena. They grabbed Barrett and walked him off. Cena grabbed the WWE title belt and looked at it for a long time, then handed it to Orton. They hugged. Orton celebrated on the corner.
Orton walked out, but stopped to look at Cena, “knowing what John sacrificed.†They followed Orton up the aisle and he raised his belt in victory, then went to the back.
Cena remained in the ring, looking forlorn, as if he knew it was over for him. He took his wristbands off and left them in the ring. Fans chanted for Cena and he quietly circled, looking out to the audience. He saluted the fans and hugged Michael Cole at ringside. Cena hugged some fans as he walked out. He looked into the cameras, pointed, and thanked the fans. He stood on the stage, looking at the audience, made the “Wordlife†symbol and walked off.
He teased walking off, then said, “Not going out like that†and ran into the crowed, hugging fans and high fiving hem as he walked from one end of the arena to the other, through the audience for a long time before finally returning to the stage. No music played during any of this and they treated it like Cena had just signed the death sentence on his career.
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