1/4 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: WWE VS. TNA MONDAY NIGHT WAR BEGINS, FLAIR DEBUTS IN TNA, BRET FINALLY RETURNS TO WWE, LOTS OF TOKYO DOME EVENTS, HHH PAYS TRIBUTE TO ARNOLD SKAALAND AND MUCH, MUCH MORE

By Mike Johnson on 2012-01-04 08:00:00

January 4th

On this day in history in ....

1923 - Charlie Rentrop defeats Clarence Eklund for the World Light Heavyweight Title in Sheridan, Wyoming, ending Eklund's second reign.

1929 - Gus Sonnenberg defeats Ed "Strangler" Lewis to win the World Heavyweight Title in Boston, Massachusetts, ending Lewis' fifth reign. The National Wrestling Association would later withdraw its recognition of Sonnenberg in favor of Dick Shikat, based on Sonnenberg not facing "real contenders".

1945 - Frankie Talaber defeats The Great Mephisto for the Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio. This began Talaber's fourth reign and ended Mephisto's third.

1951 - Jackie Nichols ends Frankie Talaber's seventh MWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio.

1955 - Lee Fields and Herb Welch defeat Mario Galento and Red Roberts in a tournament final to become the first holders of the Gulf Coast version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Title.

1957 - Chief Big Heart defeats Jerry Graham in Atlanta, Georgia, to win the Georgia version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title.

1958 - James Manley, better known in the WWF and WCW as Jim Powers, is born in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

1961 - Nick Bockwinkel and Edouard Carpentier defeat Stan Holek and The Preacher for the World Wrestling Association International Television Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California, ending Holek and Preacher's second reign.

1962 - Chris and John Tolos win the Toronto version of the NWA International Tag Team Title for the second time, defeating Whipper Billy Watson and Yukon Eric.

1966 - Johnny Barend and Ripper Collins defeat Luther Lindsay and Bearcat Wright for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1970 - Chris Klucsaritis, better known as Mortis and Kanyon in the WCW and WWF, is born in Sunnyside, New York.

1971 - The Infernos defeat JosÃ© Lothario and Danny Miller to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Orlando, Florida.

1972 - Bobby Shane defeats Bob Roop for the NWA Florida Television Title in Tampa, Florida.

1974 - Dick Dunn defeats Duke Miller for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title in Dothan, Alabama, beginning his third reign.

1975 - Jackie Fargo defeats Don Kent to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

1980 - Rimi Yokota defeats Chino Sato to become the first AJW Junior Champion in Tokyo, Japan.

1981 - Former World Light Heavyweight Champion Clarence Eklund dies at age 93.

1981 - Tomoko Kitamura (Lioness Asuka) defeats Noriko Kawakami for the AJW Junior Title in Tokyo, Japan. Rimi Yokota vacated the title in August 1980.

1983 - Bryce Remsberg, one of the top referees on the independent scene in the Northeast for CHIKARA, ROH and many other promotions, is born.

1986 - Arn Anderson defeats Wahoo McDaniel in a tournament final to win the vacant NWA World Television Title in Greensboro, North Carolina. The title was stripped from Dusty Rhodes on October 19 due to Rhodes having his leg broken by Ric Flair and Ole and Arn Anderson on September 29.

1986 - Condor Saito defeats Kazue Nagahori to win the vacant AJW Junior Title in Tokyo, Japan. Yumi Ogura vacated the title on December 12.

1988 - In Dallas, Texas, The Freebirds (Terry Gordy, King Parsons and Buddy Roberts) defeat Chris Adams, Matt Borne (subbing for Kevin Von Erich) and Steve Simpson to win the World Class Six-Man Tag Team Title.

1989 - Eric Embry defeats Cactus Jack for the World Class Light Heavyweight Title for the fifth time. Embry would be the final champion. The title was vacated in May after he won the World Class Texas Heavyweight Title on April 7, and abandoned in August when World Class became the USWA.

1989 - Madusa Miceli wins the IWA Japan Women's Title from Chigusa Nagayo in Tokyo, Japan.

1990 - Bull Nakano defeats Mitsuko Nishiwaki in a tournament final for the vacant WWWA World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan. The title was vacated by Lioness Asuka on July 19, 1989 when she retired.

1992 - At New Japan Pro Wrestling's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Starrcade 1992 in Tokyo Dome", Riki ChÅshÅ« defeats Tatsumi Fujinami to retain his Greatest 18 Title and win the IWGP World Heavyweight Title. This ended Fujinami's fourth reign and began ChÅshÅ«'s third.

1993 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome", IWGP World Heavyweight Champion The Great Muta defeats Masahiro Chono to win Chono's NWA World Title. Also, Jushin Liger defeats Ultimo Dragon for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title, beginning Liger's sixth reign.

1994 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Battlefield", The Hell Raisers (Hawk Warrior (Road Warrior Hawk) and Power Warrior (Kensuke Sasaki)) defeat The Jurassic Powers (Hercules Hernandez and Scott Norton) to win the IWGP World Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.

1995 - Memphis promoter John Regus dies at age 78.

1995 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Battle 7", Antonio Inoki defeats Sting in the finals of the Final Countdown BVD Tournament.

1996 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 1996", Nobuhiko Takada defeats Keiji Muto to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Title, ending Muto's second reign. Also, Jushin Liger defeats Koji Kanemoto for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title. This began Liger's seventh reign and ended Kanemoto's second.

1997 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 1997", Tatsumi Fujinami and Kengo Kimura defeat Masahiro Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan to win the IWGP World Tag Team Title. This began Fujinami and Kimura's fourth reign and ended Chono and Tenzan's second. Also, Jushin Liger defeats Ultimo Dragon for the eight J-Crown titles.

1998 - Riki ChÅshÅ« wrestled what was then to be his final five career matches, consecutively, at New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Final Power Hall in Tokyo Dome". The series of matches was called the "Riki Road Final Message 5". ChÅshÅ« pinned Kazuyuki Fujita and Yutaka Yoshie after lariats, made Tatsuhito Takaiwa submit to the Sasori-Gatame (ChÅshÅ«'s own finishing move), and was defeated by Takashi Iizuka by submission with an ankle lock. In his final match, ChÅshÅ« pinned Jushin Liger after a lariat.

1999 - The Monday Night War continued, and featured two very infamous moments, both occurring on WCW Monday Nitro. WWF RAW is WAR's show, taped December 28 in Worcester, Massachusetts at the Centrum, won the night with a 5.7 rating. That rating was contributed to by Tony Schiavone's comment that Mankind would win the WWF World Title on RAW and "put a lot of butts in the seats", during Nitro. Nitro was live from WCW's homebase, Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome, and featured "The Fingerpoke of Doom", when Hollywood Hulk Hogan simply poked WCW World Champion Kevin Nash in the chest as the two faced off, causing him to fall to the mat. Hogan pinned Nash, won his fifth WCW World Title, and the nWo was reformed. The crowd at the Georgia Dome was stunned at the "main event" as it had been set up as Hogan and Nash having a grudge match. Nitro came in second with a 5.0 rating.

1999 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 1999", Keiji Muto defeats Scott Norton to win his third IWGP World Heavyweight Title. Also, Kendo Kashin and Dr. Wagner, Jr. defeat Shinjiro Otani and Tatsuhito Takaiwa for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title.

2000 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 2000", Kensuke Sasaki pinned Genichiro Tenryu for his second IWGP World Heavyweight Title.

2000 - In Osaka, Japan, Super Delfin defeats Dick Togo to become the first Osaka Pro Wrestling Singles Champion, and Kuishimbo Kamen defeats Ebessan to become the first Osaka Pro World's Best Attraction Champion.

2000 - Manami Toyota wins her third WWWA World Singles Title, ending the third reign of Yumiko Hotta in Tokyo, Japan. At the same event, Rumi Kazama, Carol Midori and Eagle Sawai defeat Keiko Aono, Noriyo Tateno and Harley Saito for the Ladies' Legend Pro Wrestling Six-Woman Tag Team Title.

2001 - JosÃ© de Jesus DÃaz Mendoza, better known as Villano I, dies at age 54.

2001 - New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 2001", featured a six-man tournament for the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Title, which was vacated on October 9 when then-champion Kensuke Sasaki lost a non-title match to Toshiaki Kawada. Kawada and Masahiro Chono received first-round byes in the tournament. 62,001 fans attended the event. The results:
- In a tournament quarterfinal match, Kensuke Sasaki defeated Satoshi Kojima by submission with a Boston crab.
- In a tournament quarterfinal match, IWGP World Tag Team Champion Hiroyoshi Tenzan pinned Yuji Nagata after a moonsault.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Koji Kanemoto and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Minoru Tanaka defeated Shinya Makabe and Tatsuhito Takaiwa, when Kanemoto made Makabe submit with an ankle lock.
- Takashi Iizuka defeated Kendo Kashin with a sleeper hold.
- In a tournament semifinal match, Kensuke Sasaki defeated Masahiro Chono by submission with the Strangle Hold γ.
- In a tournament semifinal match, Toshiaki Kawada pinned IWGP World Tag Team Champion Hiroyoshi Tenzan after a powerbomb.
- Keiji Muto and Shinjiro Otani defeated Jushin Liger and Manabu Nakanishi, when Otani made Liger submit with a cobra twist.
- Riki ChÅshÅ« and Shinya Hashimoto fought to a no contest.
- Kensuke Sasaki pinned Toshiaki Kawada after a Northern Lights bomb to win the tournament and the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Title, beginning his third reign.

2002 - Kayo Noumi defeats Kayoko Haruyama for the AJW World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan, beginning her second reign.

2002 - Brett Bonz defeats John Allen to win the NWA Southwest Television Title in North Richland Hills, Texas.

2003 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 2003", Yoshihiro Takayama defeats Tsuyoshi Kosaka to win the NWF Heavyweight Title, revived after 22 years of inactivity. Also, the Young Generation Cup four-man tournament took place, with Ryushi Yanagisawa defeating Yutaka Yoshie in the finals.

2003 - Mika Nishio defeats Kaori Yoneyama to win the AJW World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan.

2003 - Kevin Northcutt defeats Rip Steele for the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Magee, Mississippi.

2003 - Justin Idol defeats Scottie Gash in a tournament final to win the vacant NWA East Three Rivers Title in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.

2003 - Superstar Steve defeats Takao Omori in Neosho, Missouri for the World League Wrestling Heavyweight Title.

2004 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 2004", IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shinsuke Nakamura defeats NWF Heavyweight Champion Yoshihiro Takayama in Tokyo, Japan to unify the titles. The NWF title dates back to 1970 and Pedro Martinez's National Wrestling Federation, which was initially an NWA office, and was mainly defended in the Buffalo, New York, Cleveland, Ohio and Toronto, Ontario areas, until then-champion Johnny Powers took it with him on a tour of Japan. Powers lost the NWF title to Antonio Inoki in 1973, and the title remained a New Japan-promoted title until it was retired in 1981. In 2003, the title was revived by NJPW, but was again retired when Nakamura defeated Takayama. Also at the show, Jushin Liger defeats Takashi Sugiura for the Pro Wrestling NOAH GHC Junior Heavyweight Title.

2004 - Amazing Kong defeats Ayako Hamada to win the WWWA World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan. At the same show, Saki Maemura and Kaori Yoneyama defeat Hikaru and Haruka Matsuo for the vacant WWWA World Tag Team Title.

2004 - Caprice Coleman defeats Rainman for the NWA Wildside Television Title in Cornelia, Georgia, ending Rainman's second reign.

2005 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Toukon Festival: Wrestling World 2005", Tiger Mask defeated HEAT (Minoru Tanaka) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title, beginning Tiger Mask's second reign and ending Tanaka's third. Also, Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the IWGP U-30 Title, and Ron Waterman won an eight-man MMA-style (worked) tournament, defeating Yuji Nagata in the final match.

2005 - Brian Beech defeats Deuce to win the Heartland Wrestling Association Television Title in Cincinnati, Ohio.

2006 - Aaron Stevens defeats CM Punk for the OVW Television Title in Louisville, Kentucky.

2007 - WWE signed their first third generation Diva, Nattie Neidhart, who would debut on the main roster as Natalya. Neidhart is the granddaughter of Stu Hart.

2007 - Two-time NWA World Midgets' Champion Harold "Cowboy" Lang dies at age 56 in Portland, Oregon.

2007 - Kaio wins his third Italian Championship Wrestling Italian Heavyweight Title in Aosta, Italy, defeating Andres Diamond.

2008 - New Japan held their annual Tokyo Dome event. CJ sent the following results:

Thanks to CJ at www.thewrestlingarchive.net for sending along the following:

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom II (4th January 2008 - Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, JAPAN)

RISE (Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Prince Devitt) Vs. 'The Phenomenal' A.J. Styles, 'The Instant Classic' Christian Cage & Petey Williams

Winners: A.J. Styles, Christian Cage & Petey Williams (10:25)Â

NJPW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: Wataru Inoue (Champion) Vs. 'The Fallen Angel' Christopher Daniels
Winner: Wataru Inoue (10:17)Â

Abyss Vs. Manabu Nakanishi

Winner: Manabu Nakanishi (6:00)Â

Katsushi Takemura, Masato Tanaka, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Yutaka Yoshie Vs. Koji Kanemoto, Ryusuke Taguchi, Takashi Iizuka & Tiger Mask IV

Winners: Katsushi Takemura, Masato Tanaka, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Yutaka Yoshie (8:36)Â

Hardcore Match: Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Toru Yano) Vs. Team 3D (Brother Devon & Brother Ray)

Winners: Team 3D (13:12)Â

Legend (Jushin 'Thunder' Liger, Masahiro Chono, Riki Choshu & Tatsumi Fujinami) Vs. Voodoo Murders (Shuji Kondo, TARU & 'brother' YASSHI), Gedo & Jado

Winners: Legend (7:18)Â

Hirooki Goto Vs. The Great Muta

Winner: The Great Muta (13:04)Â

NJPW IWGP Tag Team Championship Match: Giant Bernard & Travis Tomko (Champions) Vs. The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner)

Winners: Giant Bernard & Travis Tomko (12:50)Â

IGF IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: Kurt Angle (Champion) Vs. Yuji Nagata

Winner: Kurt Angle (18:29)Â

NJPW IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (Champion) Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (New Champion) (23:08)

2008 - WWE's Raw brand ran the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Billy Krotchsen filed the following report:

*Brian Kendrick pinned Vladimir Kozlov.

*Ashley Massaro came out and told the crowd that she missed them while being away and was happy to be back.

*Atlas DaBone pinned Charlie Haas and left with Ashley.

*In a Royal Rumble Qualifying match, Snitsky pinned Drew McIntyre.

*Nick Nemeth (Nicky of Spirit Squad fame with longer hair) pinned Super Crazy.

*WWE Women's champion Beth Phoenix pinned Maria.

*WWE Tag Team champions Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly defeated Santino Marella & Trevor Murdoch.

*They announced Raw would be held at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ on 4/28 (Day after Backlash PPV) with tickets going on sale 1/19.

*Jillian Hall comes out and begins singing. Ricky Steamboat comes out and tells her to leave. He tells the crowd that he still works for WWE helping with younger talent. He calls out DH Smith and tells him that he has big shoes to fill, being the son of Davey Boy Smith. JBL comes out and rips on the crowd and Smith, leading to....

*JBL pinned DH Smith with the clothesline from hell.

*Triple H pinned Ken Kennedy. William Regal tried to interfere but failed. After the match, Triple H said he wanted to pay tribute to a legend from White Plains. He pointed out Betty Skaaland, the wife of the late WWE Hall of Famer Arnold Skaaland in the crowd and asked everyone to show respect for Skaaland, who promoted the venue for years.

*WWE champion Randy Orton pinned WWE Intercontinental champion Jeff Hardy.

2008 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

We begin tonight's show with a look back at two weeks ago when Edge gave his acceptance speech as the new champion. We see Batista and Edge meet in the ring in a three-on-one handicap match. We see Batista appear to win the title but he is told by Vickie that he needed to pin Edge to win the title.

We are live on tape from Richmond, Virginia and your announcers are Jonathan Coachman and Michael Cole.

Vickie Guerrero is wheeled out by Teddy Long and she welcomes everyone and wishes them a Happy New Year. She welcomes everyone to the first Smackdown of 2008. Vickie tells Taker and Batista that if they lay a finger on Edge, their chances of regaining the championship will go up in smoke. Vickie says that she has been consulting with the love of her life and in the spirit of competition, she has brought us the Beat the Clock Challenge. The winner of the challenge tonight will face Edge at the Royal Rumble. Participating tonight will be Finlay, Rey Mysterio, Batista, and the Undertaker. Vickie introduces a man of extraordinary credentials and a man of fairness and oratory skills par excellence. She brings out the newest color commentator, Jonathan Coachman.

We see footage from last week's Raw of William Regal getting ready to hit Hornswoggle with the brass knuckles only to chicken out. We see Vince slap and berate Regal for failing him.

Match Number One: Fit Finlay with Hornswoggle versus Montel Vontavious Porter in a Beat the Clock Challenge Match
Porter goes for Finlay's leg and Finlay gets out of the hold after a take down. Finlay with a take down but Porter escapes the hold. Finlay with a drop toe hold into a cover. Finlay with another leg take down into a cover but he cannot get a count. Finlay slaps Porter, but Porter slaps back. Porter and Finlay both with reversals. Porter with a kick to Finlay and then Finlay with a head butt that sends Porter out of the ring. Porter punches Finlay on the floor and then Hornswoggle distracts Porter but Porter keeps his eyes on the prize and hits a clothesline on Finlay. We go to commercial
We are back and Finlay is working on Porterâ€™s leg as Porter tries to escape the hold. Porter with forearms to get out of the hold and Finlay with a near fall. Finlay with a body scissors but Porter with a cover. Porter lifts Finlay up while Finlay still has the body scissors and he hits a slam for a near fall. Porter with a cravate on Finlay. Finlay gets Porter into the corner and Porter with a boot to Finlayâ€™s head and Porter gets a near fall. Porter returns to the cravate and then he connects with elbows to the head. Finlay with a hammer lock and arm bar with his knee on Porter's head. Finlay with a boot to Porterâ€™s head followed by an Irish whip and he misses a charge into the corner. Porter with the running boot into the corner but Finlay gets his foot on the rope to stop the count. Hornswoggle throws a shillelagh into the ring. Porter takes the shillelagh but the referee takes it away from Porter. Finlay hits Porter with another shillelagh and gets the three count.
Winner: Fit Finlay (in 9:46)

After the match, Vince McMahon comes to the ring and he celebrates with his son. We go to commercial.

We are back with the Smack of the Night: Jamie Noble's date with Michelle I never pause between words McCool.

Match Number Two: Chuck Pulambo Palumbo and Michelle Loving Life McCool versus Kenny Dykstra and Victoria
Kenny and Chuck start things off and Chuck with a side head lock take down for a near fall. Chuck with a shoulder in the corner and he tries to break but Dykstra punches Palumbo. Chuck with a back elbow and Kenny tags in Victoria. Victoria climbs on Chuckâ€™s back and Chuck with a snap mare followed by a drop kick from Michelle. Michelle with an arm wringer and arm bar. Victoria with a reversal. Michelle uses the ropes to escape and she connects with an arm drag. Victoria sends Michelle into the ring post and then pulls her into the ring for a near fall. Victoria with an arm wringer take down followed by a leg drop to the arm into an arm bar. Michelle with an arm drag followed by a belly-to-belly suplex and both women are down. Kenny and Chuck are in and Chuck punches Kenny followed by an Irish whip but he charges into an elbow. Palumbo with an overhead belly-to-belly followed by a Bossman slam for a two count. Palumbo misses a big boot in the corner and Dykstra with forearms to the back followed by a neck breaker for a two count. Dykstra goes to the turnbuckles but Palumbo with a punch followed by a superplex and both men are down. Victoria and Michelle tag in and Michelle hits a cross body from the top followed by a clothesline. Michelle hits a drop kick after avoiding a clothesline. Kenny grabs Michelle but Michelle kicks Kenny. That allows Victoria to hit the Widowâ€™s Peak for the three count.
Winner: Kenny Dykstra and Victoria

After the match, while Kenny and Victoria celebrate at ringside; Chuck attacks the turnbuckles. Michelle apologizes to Chuck but Chuck says that he is sick of her and she canâ€™t do nuttin right. Chuck tells Michelle to stay in the ring while he rides to the back.

Vickie tells Teddy Long that she wants more cream in her coffee and sends Teddy away. Chavo Guerrero enters the office and he wants to know if she is aware of what she is doing to the Guerrero family. The relationship is tearing the family apart. Vickie says that Chavo is just angry that he is not in the Beat the Clock Challenge. Chavo says that he wants to roll back the hands of time. He wants something that he cannot have. We go to commercial.

We are back and we are reminded of Finlayâ€™s time in the Beat the Clock Challenge.

Match Number Three: Chavo Guerrero versus Funaki in a Beat the Clock Challenge Match
They lock up and Funaki with a side head lock but Chavo with a boot and Latino uppercut for a near fall. Chavo with a snap mare and near fall. Chavo slams Funaki and gets a one count. Chavo with a hard Irish whip and inside cradle for a near fall. Chavo with another Latino uppercut for a two count. Chavo tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Funaki counters with a cross body. Funaki with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Chavo with a tilt-a-whirl slam for a near fall. Chavo with a forearm to the back followed by a Latino uppercut for another near fall. Funaki with an inside cradle for a near fall. Chavo with a near fall. Chavo with a Saito suplex to Funaki for a two count. Chavo with a kick to the back and a near fall. Funaki with a chop but he misses a drop kick and Chavo with a cover and bridge for a near fall. Chavo kicks Funaki around the ring and then he tries for a La Magistral for a two count. Funaki with a rollup for a two count but Chavo gets to the ropes. Chavo with kicks to Funakiâ€™s back. Chavo tries for another Latino uppercut but Funaki with a back slide. Funaki with an enzuigiri for a near fall. Funaki jumps around and then he is put on the top turnbuckle. Funaki with a slap followed by a cross body for a near fall. Funaki with a back kick but Chavo with an Irish whip. Funaki moves and tries for a rollup but Chavo holds on to the ropes. Chavo with the Gory Bomb for the three count.
Winner: Chavo Guerrero (in 6:02)

We see Batista walking in the back as we go to commercial.

Vickie Guerrero appears on the Fist-O-Tron and she says that Teddy Long has an announcement. Teddy says that Batista will also be facing Zack Ryder as well in a handicap match.

Match Number Four: Batista versus Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder in a Beat the Clock Challenge Match
Batista with a kick and punches to Zack and Curt. Batista runs Curt into the corner and connects with shoulders. Batista tries for a Batista Bomb on Curt but Zack charges at Batista and gets a back body drop. Batista catches Hawkins out of the corner and sets for the Batista Bomb but they low bridge Batista and get a few near falls. Hawkins and Ryder with kicks to Batistaâ€™s back. They connect with a hard Irish whip. They kick Batista out of the ring and then they go out after Batista. Batista punches Ryder and Hawkins on the floor. Ryder with a leg drop followed by a leap frog neck breaker by Hawkins for a near fall. Hawkins with a knee drop followed by a splash from Ryder for a near fall. Ryder and Hawkins try for a double Impact DDT and they hit it. They try for a second one and Batista with a back body drop. Batista with a double spear. Batista with an Irish whip and running clothesline into the corner. Batista with a power slam to Ryder and a spinebuster to Hawkins. Batista is unable to hit the Batista Bomb as time runs out.
No Contest

After the match, Batista punches the mat in frustration. We go to commercial.

We are back with the Raw Rebound and a look at Ric Flairâ€™s match with Triple H.

Montel Vontavious Porter is on the phone and he is angry at the loss of his match. He says that he is better than Finlay and the Beat the Clock Challenge. He says that he needs everyone to see how great he is. He is going to shatter the glass ceiling. He is going to make his mark on the industry. He is going to do what Triple H couldnâ€™t do and he is going to retire Ric Flair.

Cole and Coach talk about Porter's desire to beat Ric Flair.

Cole interviews Rey Mysterio and asks how he prepares for an opponent he does not know. Rey says that beating the clock is unlike any challenge. Rey says that he likes to study his opponent but he does not know who his opponent will be. In order to win his match, he needs to be fast and he needs to be furious. That is his style. Rey says that he has won the title once and he will not stop to win it again. We go to commercial.

We are back and we see footage of Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Mooreâ€™s success against WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and Mike Mizanin.

Match Number Five: Deuce and Domino with Cherry versus Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore
Deuce and Yang start things off and he connects with a forearm and knee to Yang. Deuce with a rollup for a near fall. Yang gets out of a hip toss and connects with a series of kicks and a drop kick. Yang is sent out of the ring and Cherry is knocked down. Yang helps Cherry up and Domino hits Yang. Deuce goes out after Yang and hot shots him on the apron. Deuce with a near fall. Deuce with a front face lock and then he puts Yang on the top rope before Domino with a forearm to the back. Domino kicks Yang and then he applies a Cobra Clutch. Yang with a jawbreaker to get out of the hold and then Domino knocks Moore down to prevent the tag by Yang. Yang with a rana and then he tags in Moore who hits a clothesline and spinning heel kick for a near fall. Domino sends Moore into the corner but Moore with an elbow and cross body. Deuce throws Yang over the top rope to the floor. Domino gets Moore up for the Rockerplex but Moore sends Domino into Deuce and then Moore with a rollup for the three count.
Winner: Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore

We are back and Matt Striker is introduced as the opponent for the Undertaker, but he comes out and says that Vickie Guerrero named him guest referee and says that Mark Henry is the opponent for Undertaker. We see footage from three weeks ago when Taker was attacked by Big Daddy V and Mark Henry after their match.

Match Number Six: Undertaker versus Mark Henry with guest referee Matt Striker in a Beat the Clock Challenge Match
Taker with a punch and side head lock to Henry. Henry with a shoulder tackle and Taker pops back up. Taker with punches to Henry and then he slams Henryâ€™s head into the turnbuckles. Henry punches back and he works over Taker in the corner. Henry with an Irish whip but Taker with a big boot. Henry with a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Henry punches Taker and Taker goes through the ropes to the floor. Henry goes out after Taker and Taker punches Henry on the floor. Taker Irish whips Henry into the ring steps. Taker hangs Henry over the apron and Taker with a boot to Henryâ€™s head. Taker gets on the apron and he connects with the leg drop to Henry. Taker with a head butt to Henry followed by punches. Taker works on Henryâ€™s shoulder and arm. Taker works on the arm and it is time to go Old School but Henry with a punch before Taker can enter the school house. Henry with an Irish whip and body block for a near fall. Taker kicks Henry but Henry kicks back. Taker with a DDT and both men are down. Taker goes Old School as time continues to run but Henry catches Taker in a bear hug. Taker gets out of the hold and he punches Henry. Henry punches back. Taker hits the choke slam on Henry but Matt Striker cannot make the three count. The time runs out as Taker chases Striker from the ring.
No Contest

After the match, Taker with a slam to Mark Henry and then he hits a leg drop of doom. We go to commercial.

We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Matt Striker getting a muscle spasm when Matt Striker was refereeing the match between the Undertaker and Mark Henry.

We are told that there is a new member of announce team and it is Diva Search contestant Lena. Lena is with Matt Striker and Matt says that the Undertaker failed to beat the clock. The Undertaker failed to beat Mark Henry in the time allotted. The Undertaker threatened to put his hands on Matt Striker and Matt says that he will single handedly beat him into oblivion. Matt says that Big Daddy V will do it as well.

We run through the card for the Royal Rumble.

We also see footage of Chavo Guerrero defeating Funaki to become the current leader in the Beat the Clock Challenge. We go to commercial.

Match Number Seven: Rey Mysterio versus Edge with the Edge Rmy in a Beat the Clock Challenge Match
Edge goes into the ropes as the bell rings to avoid Rey and Edge laughs at Rey. Edge goes out of the ring and Rey gets frustrated. Edge returns to the ring and then he goes back to the floor again. Rey with a rana to Edge and then he hits a drop kick that sends Edge into the corner. Rey with a head scissors that sends Edge into the turnbuckles. Rey with a springboard seated senton for a near fall. Edge with a big boot to Reyâ€™s face. Edge throws Rey out of the ring and the Rmy attacks Rey on the floor. Edge kicks Rey as he returns to the ring. Edge with a hard Irish whip to Rey. Batista comes to the ring and he clotheslines the Rmy and gets rid of them. Edge gets distracted and he is drop kicked into the ropes for the 619 but Edge ducks. Rey with a rollup for a near fall followed by a springboard crossbody for a near fall. Edge with a wheelbarrow into a hot shot in the corner. Edge with kicks to Rey. The Undertaker comes out and he stares at Edge and then he summons a bell and the lights go out.

The lights go back on and Edge is in the ropes. Rey hits the 619 and springboard splash for the three count.
Winner: Rey Mysterio

2009 - New Japan held their annual Tokyo Dome event. Lee Relph penned the following....The day came at last where the pupil finally surpassed the teacher, as Hiroshi Tanahashi today defeated Keiji Muto to bring home the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Tanahashi and Nakamura, the latter of whom defended the New Japan ring against Pro Wrestling NOAH, are in the lead going into the New Year, and it was Nakamura who Tanahashi nominated as his first defence opponent. New Japan Pro-Wrestling is a company with a history of massive inter-promotional warfare though, and the return of both its greatest prize as well as the junior title was soured by the outflow of both tag belts into the custody of TNA Wrestling. 2009 promises to be a fascinating year.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome
40,000 Fans

0. Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Taichi Ishikari beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa, Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi (6:24) when Milano used a super scrap kick on Yoshihashi.
1. Wrestle Kingdom Grand Opening VIENTO DORADO: Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Averno, Jado & Gedo (9:50) when Mistico used the La Mística on Averno.
2. Jushin Thunder Liger 20th Anniversary Match: Jushin Thunder Liger & Takuma Sano beat Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto (8:47) when Liger used an avalanche-style brainbuster on Kanemoto.
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Tread on!!~: Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin beat Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) (13:21) when Sabin used the Made in Detroit on Naito to become the 22nd champions.
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Ballistic interception~: Tiger Mask beat Low Ki (c) (8:48) with a modified Tiger suplex hold to become the 56th champion.
5. Fighting Holdings Competition: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle & Kevin Nash beat Giant Bernard, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson (7:09) when Angle used an ankle lock on Anderson.
6. World Heavyweight Title ~Crusade for Justice~: Yuji Nagata (c) beat Masato Tanaka (11:41) with a backdrop hold (3rd defense).
7. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the invasion~: Jun Akiyama Pro Wrestling NOAH beat Manabu Nakanishi (10:27) with a wrist-clutch Exploder.
8. IWGP Tag Team Title - Hardcore Rules: Team 3D beat Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (c) (15:34) when Ray pinned Makabe after the 3D to become the 52nd champions.
9. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the encounter~: Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto beat Mitsuharu Misawa & Takashi Sugiura (15:17) when Nakamura used a flying cross armbreaker on Sugiura.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Keiji Muto (c) (30:22) with the High Fly Flow to become the 50th champion.

2010 - Bret Hart returned to WWE, more than a decade after the infamous 1997 Montreal Screwjob, during an edition of Raw in Ohio. Hart appeared on Raw and buried the hatchet with Shawn Michaels. This was followed by an angle with Vince McMahon where McMahon kicked Hart in the groin, starting the build towards their Wrestlemania 26 match, which Hart would win.

Ed Sherriffs filed the following TV report:

Because even Richard Trionfo can't cover two shows at once, I am bringing you the live coverage of Monday Night Raw from Dayton, OH. TNA has already brought out Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman and Jeff Hardy while WWE *only* has Bret Hart lined up as a big debut tonight. Also set for Raw, Triple H and HBK take on JeriShow with Chris Jericho's future on Raw at stake and Randy Orton is set to wrestle Kofi Kingston. On TNA at 9PM, Hulk Hogan is in the ring. On Raw, we have a package for Bret Hart's history. Last week, Shawn Michaels was the one to convince Vince McMahon to allow Bret to return.

WWE gets right down to brass tacks as Justin Roberts introduces Bret Hart in front of a live WWE event for the first time in over twelve years. Hitman comes out to his old theme music, just a little jazzed up. It is as surreal as you thought it would be. Bret takes the mic and says hell froze over. He knows people are wondering why now. He's had a long time to think things over and it's an amazing feeling to be back. He says every time he tried to come back, Vince McMahon made it impossible. He's happy to be back and able to talk to the WWE Universe as the crowd gives him a hearty 'Welcome Back' chant. Bret thanks the fans for not letting him be forgotten. Bret reminisces about winning the King of the Ring in Dayton.

He's ready to get to the point, though. He asks Shawn Michaels to come out to the ring first. HBK obliges and comes down to the ring, the first time they've been together since November of 1997. Bret wants to call a truce. HBK says that before Bret gets his closure, he's been waiting 12 years to say something to the Hitman. He deserved what happened to him in Montreal, saying Bret disrespected Shawn and the business. The crowd starts a 'You Screwed Bret' chant. Shawn says a part of him doesn't regret a bit of it. Another part knows that a lot of things have changed. Shawn always respected Bret, but he never thought Bret respected him. They couldn't stand the sight of each other. But when Shawn thinks of Bret Hart, he thinks of the Iron Man Match at WrestleMania XII, not Montreal. He says Bret isn't the only one ready to move on or bury the hatchet. Shawn asks if Bret is sure and if he is ready.

Bret says Shawn wasn't the easiest one to love, but their careers shouldn't be tagged by Montreal. It's as good a time as any to take this moment and say they can be friends. Bret offers his hand and Shawn takes it. Shawn goes to leave, but before he does, he goes back to hug Bret. Bret says there is one more thing he wants to ask, one more person to come down. Bret wants Vince next. Vince doesn't come out, unfortunately. Commercial.

Back from the break, Vince is informed that Bret called him out. Vince says he was in a meeting, but he plans to call Bret out later on in the evening.

First Round Match for the WWE Diva's Championship: Maryse vs. Brie Bella w/ Nikki Bella

I guess Bret Hart doesn't need gratuitous escorts tonight? Both Bellas are in their gear tonight. Lock up goes to the ropes and is broken up. Maryse stalls on the apron. Brie pulls her back in the ring and throws her into the corner. Brie tosses Maryse to the mat. Snapmare by Brie, followed by a dropkick. Maryse bails, but Nikki throws her on the announcers' table. Back in the ring, Brie covers for two. Maryse ducks a clothesline and covers Brie for two. Maryse slams Brie's head to the mat. Nikki shoves Brie out and the pull the old switcheroo. Maryse kicks Nikki then plants her with a French Kiss for the win. Most incompetent switcheroo of all time.

Your winner, Maryse!

As Maryse goes to the back, Miz comes out and congratulates her. Maybe if Maryse wins, Miz will call her back. Miz says he's heard she is saying 2010 is the year of Maryse. Miz says the year, and the decade, belong to Miz. Al Franken wants his bit back. Miz is out to watch who will become the number one contender to his United States Championship.

Jack Swagger vs. MVP vs. Carlito vs. Mark Henry

Back from the break, Swagger and Carlito are in charge. Henry was pushed into the ringpost on the floor. Carlito with shots to Swagger and MVP. Swagger slams Carlito and pins him for two. Swagger with a belly to belly on MVP for two as Carlito breaks it up. Swagger throws MVP into Carlito and charges. MVP gets out of the way, but Carlito is hit. Henry back in the ring to attack Swagger. MVP goes after his partner Henry, but he is thrown out of the ring. MVP swings Carlito into Swagger and applies a bear hug on Carlito. Swagger hits Henry from behind. Henry lifts Swagger up, for what looks like a Torture Rack, but was really a Fireman's Carry. MVP kicks Henry and Henry is dumped from the ring. MVP knocks Carlito out, then hits the Playmaker on Swagger to become the number one contender for Miz's title.

Your winner, MVP!

In the back, Jericho has a plan and he has a deal for Bret Hart. Commercial.

Chris Jericho comes to Bret's office and reminisces. Jericho talks about training in the Dungeon and tapping Keith out. He knows Bret really despises Shawn Michaels and would like for Bret to be the special guest referee in the tag title match tonight. Bret's blunt and says he wants nothing to do with Montreal anymore. He's not a hypocrite and wants peace. He doesn't want to be like Jericho. If Jericho wants to stay on Raw, he'd better do it by himself. Oh, and Bret says that Jericho was the one who screamed louder than anyone and scared the cats.

Hornswoggle is with HHH looking at the new Mattel WWE action figures. Shawn wants to know why he talks to Horny like a child. HHH says he is a child. Shawn points out he has a beard, but Trips points out all leprechauns are born with facial hair. Shawn wants to know what this has to do with their title match and HHH brings out Santino doing a Jericho impersonation. Horny attacks the faux-Jericho. Commercial. During the break, their is actually a TNA commercial telling people that Hulk is back right now. Clever. When I briefly switch to TNA, Bubba the Love Sponge is on my screen. Pass.

WWE Unified Tag Team Championship Match: DeGeneration X (c) vs. Chris Jericho & Big Show

Hornswoggle goes under the ring. Show and Michaels start off. Michaels uses his quickness to avoid Show, but is caught with a head butt. HHH tags in, but Show is able to suplex both DX members at once. Commercial.

Back from the break, JeriShow is in charge. H with a facebuster, but he is caught in a sidewalk slam from Show. Leg Drop from Show on HHH for two. TBS punches HHH. Jericho tags in and showboats before kicking Trips. Chinlock to Triple H. Hunter fights out and catches Jericho with a Spinebuster. Both men are down.

Jericho makes the tag to Show and he prevents HHH from making the tag. Scoop slam by Show and he goes to the middle rope. HHH rolls out of the way of a splash. HHH makes his way to Michaels, who tags in. Shawn with chops to Show. Flying forearms to Show. Low dropkicks take Show down. Michaels goes to the top rope. Jericho crotches him. Horny gets in and jumps on Show. Shawn covers for two.

Shawn tunes up the band. Show catches him with a chokeslam, but he can't capitalize right away and Michaels kicks out at two. Jericho with a Lionsault. Michaels counters that and a Walls of Jericho. HHH tags in and gives Jericho a Pedigree for two when Big Show breaks the pin up. Show takes a Pedigree from HHH and HBK, but he rolls out of the ring. Jericho with a roll up to HHH for two. Codebreaker to HHH, but both men are down. Jericho finally covers, but Shawn breaks the pin up. Horny back in to tune up the band. Jericho kicks him. HHH goes for a Pedigree, but Jericho counters. HBK hits Sweet Chin Music on Jericho and HHH covers for the win.

Your winners, DeGeneration X!

After the match, DX reminds Jericho that he's done on Raw. Show walks off in disgust, as he remains on Raw. HHH tries to get the Hey Hey Hey chant going to give Jericho a goodbye, but it doesn't really catch on. Jericho meekly walks to the back.

In the back, Vince hears a knock at his door. It's Randy Orton. Orton says it's a business call. In the spirit of putting the past behind him, Orton has an offer. Mercifully, Vince remembers what Orton did to his family. Orton wants a chance at legend killing Bret Hart. Orton kicks Bret and he gets the thirtieth spot in the Rumble. Vince replies that he has his own security and tells Orton not to confront him again. Orton walks off. Legacy meet him and thank him for the threats last week. They inspired them and want to return the favor. They'll be sitting at ringside, and if Randy doesn't beat Kofi, Orton is kicked out of Legacy. Heh.

WWE announces what PWInsider already broke...Mike Tyson will be hosting Raw next week. We also get a replay of last week's lame finish for the WWE Championship match, where Sheamus got disqualified.

Sheamus comes to the ring and says the last image of 2009 was himself standing over Cena, still WWE Champion. At the Royal Rumble, he will not be defending the title against John Cena. He wants a new challenge. He says he is the best there is and the best there ever will be. Evan Bourne interrupts Sheamus' promo. He takes the mic from Sheamus and slides out of the ring. Sheamus has the title because he was given the opportunity. Bourne wants the same opportunity right now. Sheamus accepts.

Sheamus vs. Lil' Evan Bourne

This is a non title match. If Bourne wins, he gets a shot at the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. Bourne with kicks to Sheamus' legs. Kick to Sheamus' back and head. Bourne hits a Shooting Star Press, but it only gets two. Bourne back to the top, but Sheamus catches him and throws him. Club to Bourne's head. Knees to Bourne. Sheamus with the Celtic Cross for the win.

Your winner, Sheamus!

Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler take a moment to remember Dr. Death Steve Williams, who passed away last week at the age of 49. They mention that he was a close friend of JR. RIP Doc.

Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton

The two lock up. Kofi with a clothesline out of the corner. Orton knocks Kingston down to the mat with a shoulderblock. Back elbow from Kofi. Stinger Splash from Kofi. He clotheslines Randy out of the ring, then hits a baseball slide. He rolls Orton back in the ring, but Orton meets him and goes for a DDT. Kofi counters by dumping Orton out of the ring in front of Legacy, who don't budge from their seats. Commercial.

Back from the break, Orton has Kofi in the dreaded chinlock. He got the advantage by shoving Kofi off the top and to the floor during the commercials. Kofi tries to fight back, but he is clotheslined by Orton. Orton stomps Kofi in the gut. Orton shows off and is kicked by Kofi. Orton throws Kingston into the corner. Orton punches and kicks Kofi in the corner. Orton slingshots Kofi into the bottom rope for two.

Orton applies another chinlock. Kofi gets up to his feet and fights out. Kofi and Orton crash into each other and both men are down. Kofi with some punches to Orton. He kicks Orton into the corner and hits five punches, follwed by a European Uppercut. Boom Drop by Kofi and he gets ready for Thunder in Paradise. Orton bails, but Kofi dives after him. Orton is put back in the ring. Kofi with a crossbody off the top for two. Kofi blocks an RKO and hits the SOS for two. Kofi blocks an RKO, but Orton blocks Trouble in Paradise and hits an RKO for the win. Rhodes and DiBiase don't look too happy that he won.

Your winner, Randy Orton!

In the back, Vince is heading to the ring to confront Bret Hart. Commercial.

Vince makes his way to the ring. He wishes the crowd a happy New Year, then says he has no reason to call Bret Hart out since Bret has already hugged Shawn. Vince proclaims the Montreal incident over, thanking Hitman for his services before putting over Iron Mike Tyson.

Bret comes down to the ring anyways. Vince goes on and on before Bret says too much. Vince personally nominates Stu Hart for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Bret appreciates it. Vince thanks Bret for all his contributions to WWE. He thanks Bret for being Bret, and for being the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. Vince offers his hand and Bret takes it. Vince raises Bret's hand in the middle of the ring. They pose for the crowd and Vince kicks Bret in the nuts. Bret is left laying in the ring as Vince walks to the back. Bret recovers fairly quickly and stares at Vince to end the show.

2010 - TNA holds a live edition of Impact on SpikeTV opposite Raw, featuring the return of Jeff Hardy, who had left WWE several months earlier.

Richard Trionfo filed the following live report:

Tonight is the night that no man will forget if they are a fan of professional wrestling, until the next time that something is really hyped.

We begin with a video package from the first TNA pay per view in June 2002. Then we move ahead to Sting’s debut. We then see the cavalcade of former WWE and WCW stars who came into TNA and took care of the TNA stars. Tonight, Hulk Hogan makes his US debut on a TNA program.

We are live from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike ‘Brother’ Tenay and Taz.

Taz and Tenay are in the new position and they talk about the biggest night in TNA history because of Hulk Hogan. We see fans with their Hulkamania shirts in the crowd.

It is time to run through the card. There will be an eight man Steel Asylum match; ODB faces Tara for the Knockouts Title; Rhino faces Abyss in a Barbed Wire Massacre Match; British Invasion faces Beer Money in a Full Metal Mayhem Match.

We go to footage from yesterday at Margaritaville with Bubba the Love Sponge interviewing fans talking about what they wanted to see from Hogan.

Match Number One: Steel Asylum Match featuring Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, Homicide, Kiyoshi, Amazing Red, Suicide, Jay Lethal, and Consequences Creed

The match starts and they go after each other while Suicide tries to climb the cage to escape. Red fights with him on the ropes and Creed pulls Suicide off. Red and Lethal work over Sabin with some double team moves. Shelley climbs the cage while all that happens. Creed blocks for Lethal’s escape. Kiyoshi stops Lethal while Suicide hits a side Russian leg sweep variation. Shelley is on top of the cage while everyone continues to battle in the ring. Sabin with a tornado DDT on Kiyoshi. Lethal stops Shelley and they are down the cage and Lethal kicks Shelley in the back.

Homicide starts to climb the cage and then Shelley chops Lethal. Suicide hits the Suicide Solution on Red. Lethal with a sunset flip but Sabin with a kick after rolling through. Creed with a gut buster to Kiyoshi. Red with a tornado DDT to Homicide. Suicide climbs the cage and he is making the turn but Red stops him. Red comes off the cage and hits a rana on Sabin. Kiyoshi holds Red and Homicide hits Red with a baton. Homicide hits Kiyoshi with it and then he hits Lethal, Suicide, and Shelley.

No Contest

After the match, Homicide climbs to the top of the cage. Everyone else in the cage recovers while Homicide cannot get out of the cage. Homicide goes to the mat and he is attacked by Creed.

Music plays and it is Jeff Hardy coming through the crowd and he waits for the word to climb over the rail. Homicide attacks Hardy but Hardy sends Homicide into the cage and the guardrail. Hardy drills Homicide in the head with a chair and then hits a Twist of Fate on Homicide on the ramp. Hardy climbs to the top of the cage.

We go to commercial.

We are back and we have a Moments Ago Moment of Jeff Hardy’s return to TNA.

We see Hardy walking in the back and Shannon Moore applauds his performance. They walk away.

We go outside and there is a police escort for Hulk Hogan’s arrival at the Impact Zone.

Christy Hemme is with Hogan’s BFF Kevin Nash and Nash says that his demeanor has been different over the last few weeks. He says that it is a great and epic night for TNA. Nash says that he is looking forward to seeing an old friend. Nash shows that he is humble when he talks about being the smartest guy in wrestling. Nash mentions that Hulk was his mentor. He talks about how Hogan has always been with the number one company. Nash says that it will mean more money. Nash says that he talked to Hogan and Hogan is on his way and he is not alone.

Match Number Two: Tara versus ODB for the Knockouts Title

ODB kicks Tara and chokes her with Tara’s shirt. ODB with a chop and forearm but she runs into an elbow from Tara and then into Tara’s boots. Tara with a clothesline and ODB tries to get her bearing back. Tara and ODB exchange punches with Tara getting the advantage and then she adds some kicks and an enzuigiri. Tara with a slam and a standing moonsault for a near fall. ODB with an Irish whip and then Tara puts ODB in a tarantula before she has to release the hold. Tara with a slingshot leg drop for a near fall. ODB runs Tara into the turnbuckles and then gets her up for a TKO but Tara escapes and she gets ODB up for a Widow’s Peak but ODB rolls through and ODB gets the three count with a rollup and a handful of tights.
Winner: ODB

After the match, Tara attacks ODB and hits the Widow’s Peak. Tara gets Poison and she lets her get some air and relax on ODB.

We go to the back and there is a limo and James Storm is waiting outside. Ric Flair emerges and he shakes everyone’s hands. We go to commercial.

We are back and Taz talks about Ric Flair’s arrival and entry into A.J. Styles’ dressing room.

We go to footage from earlier today with Christy Hemme interviewing people about Hogan’s debut in TNA. We see Mick Foley trying to go into the Impact Zone. Christy asks Mick about the memo that says that he was banned from the Impact Zone. Mick has a response. He says that he understands why people wouldn’t want him on the show because he might be a disruptive influence. Mick says that he will be on his best behavior tonight.

Mick is stopped by TNA security so he is not being allowed in.

Bobby Lashley comes to the ring with his wife Kristal. Kristal says that tonight is the biggest night in TNA history. She says that Bobby has a personal message for Mr. Hulk Hogan. Kristal says that Bobby is a star in wrestling as well as mixed martial arts. Nobody in either sport can match his potential or strength. Wrestling is filled with a bunch of toothless inbred degenerates while good and honorable men like Bobby have to fight for things. Kristal says that Bobby wants his immediate release from his TNA contract because Bobby has better things to do. Kristal drops the mic and they leave the ring.

We see Velvet Sky in the back and she wants the camera man to follow her since we are going to get Beautiful People Poker. They talk about how poker is so popular, they are going to do one and it will be live . . . without a net. Since they don’t have chips, Lacey removes her jacket. Velvet says that they will be playing strip poker all night.

We go to commercial.

We are back and the motorcade continues as the Hogan limo continues to approach the Impact Zone.

We are back and Scott Hall and Sean Waltman are outside the Impact Zone. They are kept outside by security so Hall attacks one of them.

Hogan is in the home stretch as he approaches Universal Studios. Hogan will be here after this commercial break.

We are back and a car tries to pass the limo and the door opens. Someone enters the white limo and the black limo drives away. The white limo drives onto Universal property.

Sean Waltman and Scott Hall enter the Impact Zone.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Scott Hall and Sean Waltman are taking photos with a cell phone as they wait for Hogan to arrive since it is almost 9:00.

We are back and it is time for Hulk Hogan to almost arrive. Waltman and Hall have their seats in the Impact Zone.

The music plays for Hogan and Hulk Hogan comes out to his old nWo music. Hogan walks to the ring at an Orton-like pace. Hogan’s shirt is bedazzled while Hall and Waltman point like giddy school girls.

We see Brooke in the crowd along with Hogan’s fiancée.

Hogan waits for 9:00 to start his comments. Hogan says hello to the TNAManiacs. He says that TNA and the Maniacs are making history tonight in TNA’s ring. Hogan says that he has been in the back all day and he talks about the young talent. Hogan says that there are some old guys in the back as well. Hogan says that TNA is going to be the number one company in the world. Hogan says that he was listening to everyone in the back and walking to the ring, he was happy to feel the power. He talks about the new TNA faces and familiar faces.

Waltman and Hall try to go over the rail, but they are stopped by security. Hogan tells security to let them talk. Hall and Waltman re-enter the TNA ring and they do the nWo hand deal. Hall lets out a ‘Hey Yo’. Hogan says that he is about the party but if they have something to say, they should say it right now. Hall says that when they heard that Bischoff and Hogan were going to be here and that Nash was here already it is time for big paychecks, sold out arenas, and big parties. Hogan says that it isn’t like that here. Waltman says that it is the same people so it is the same thing and they are ready to party. Hogan says that it will be different this time. Hall wants to make sure he hears things right. He wants to know if Hogan is going to try to change the business. Hall says that things are changing at TNA. Hogan stops Hall and he says that it is time that they all grow up and do the right thing for the business. Hall says that Hogan paved the way and allowed him to make millions. Things have changed and Hall says that they will change with him or without him.

Kevin Nash comes to the ring and he tells Scott and Sean to let Hogan play his role tonight. Hogan says that this is not a role. Hogan says that he gave Dixie his word and they will change things for the better. Nash reminds Hogan about their conversations before and that wasn’t the tone of what they were talking about. Nash wants to know when Hogan became so corporate. Hogan says that it is not about turning corporate. He says that they are his brothers 4 life, but they need to do it 4 real.

Before things break down, Eric Bischoff comes to the ring. Eric says that it has been a while and it brings back some memories. Bischoff says that the people in the ring revolutionized the business. They changed the business forever. Eric says that he hopes they are a little smarter (and we see Dixie’s reaction in the crowd). Eric says that he learned it is all about communication. He says that there has been some serious miscommunication. Sean wants Eric to explain it to him. Eric says that everybody has to earn their position in this company. Nash says that he hears Eric loud and clear and they will see him later. Hall, Nash, and Waltman leave the ring.

Hogan says that everybody has to earn their spot in TNA. He doesn’t care about the past and who thinks they are on a roll. The game changes now. Eric says that the team of Hogan and Bischoff have done it before and they will do it in TNA. Eric says that there is a lot of talent in the back, but things will change. He doesn’t care who you are, everybody will be under a microscope. The change starts tonight. They started shuffling the deck and things will change until they are the number one sports entertainment company (Dixie shows some disdain and then she is shown applauding the announcement). Eric wants to see a producer and get the format sheet. Eric says that this was what they thought was going to happen tonight. Eric says they get an A for effort, but Eric rips things up and they are starting things over. Eric gives them the new format sheet. Eric says the company is being turned upside down right now.

Hogan says that for every TNAManiac, if you can’t talk or wrestle, it is time to go up north. Hogan says that they are checking everyone out.

We pan up to the rafters and Sting is in the rafters.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Dave Penzer welcomes us back but we probably weren’t supposed to hear that.

We go to a Moments Ago Moment of Sting in the rafters.

We are told by Mike Tenay that Kurt Angle will face A.J. Styles at Genesis, which is news unless you saw it reported on PWInsider.com or the TNA site.

Match Number Three: Awesome Kong and Hamada versus Taylor Wilde and Sarita for the Knockouts Tag Titles

Hamada and Sarita start off and they lock up. Hamada with an arm drag but Sarita with an arm drag of her own. Sarita with another arm drag and a bulldog. Wilde tags in and she goes up top and hits an arm drag. Taylor with a forearm but Hamada with a knee. Hamda with a double arm drag.

We go to the back and see Shelley and Sabin laid out.

Back to the ring and Kong with a Samoan drop to Sarita after a kick to Taylor. Taylor with a kick to Hamada followed by two drop kicks to Kong and she stays on her feet. Sarita and Taylor with a double drop kick and Kong goes to the floor. Taylor goes up top for a cross body while Sarita hits a suicide dive and we go to commercial.

We are back and Hamada with a drop kick to Taylor. We see highlights from the commercial break. Back to live action and Hamada gets a near fall. Taylor with forearms but Hamada with a kick and head butt. Hamada with another chop and head butt. Hamada with another chop as she keeps Taylor from making the tag. Kong tags in and she connects with a forearm to the back. Kong gets Taylor up but Taylor with a version of a codebreaker that staggers Kong and Sarita tags in and hits a springboard drop kick. Hamada with a kick to Sarita but Hamada is limping. Sarita tries for a cross body but Kong and Hamada catch her. Taylor with a rana to Hamada but Kong catches Sarita. Kong drops down on a sunset flip attempt and Kong gets a two count. Sarita with a near fall. Kong with a spinning back fist to the leg and then we see Hamada sending Taylor into the ring post. Kong gets Sarita up and Hamada goes up top for a missile drop kick as Kong hits a power bomb for the three count.
Winners: Hamada and Awesome Kong

We go from the new tag champions and we see the strip poker game continue and they are interrupted by Sean Morley because he can’t be called Val Venis. Sean says that he is here to bring them some ratings. He points out that if he loses one hand it is all over for them.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Mick Foley is trying to get in and he is stopped by security. Mick says that he was already escorted off once. Foley tries to plead his cause but he says that he has another plan.

We see The Nasty Boys trying to enter but they are stopped at the door. The TNA doormen tell Knobbs and Sags to go to the security gate. They decide to leave.

Match Number Four: Raven and Dr. Stevie with Daffney versus Matt Morgan and Hernandez

Raven and Hernandez start things off and Raven with a knee and elbow to the head but Hernandez with a shoulder tackle. Raven rolls to the apron and tags in Stevie. Morgan tags in and Stevie kicks Morgan. Morgan with the carbon footprint for the three count.
Winners: Matt Morgan and Hernandez

We go to the back with D’Angelo Dinero and Christy Hemme says that he is one of the wrestlers Hogan wants to see in the ring. She mentions that he will be facing Desmond Wolfe tonight. Dinero says that he is not surprised that Hogan wants to see him in the ring. He tells Desmond to bring his best tonight. He is interrupted by Orlando Jordan who says that he is a big fan of Christy’s. He says that he is a fan of The Pope as well. He asks where Hulk Hogan is because he was invited. Dinero tells Orlando to get stepping. Orlando wishes Pope luck and says that he is looking forward to seeing him tonight.

Match Number Five: Desmond Wolfe versus D’Angelo Dinero

Wolfe works on the arm and then he tries to send Dinero into the turnbuckles but Dinero blocks it and hits a kick followed by a flying shoulder tackle. Wolfe with a hammer lock divorce court and then he sends Dinero shoulder first into the turnbuckles. Dinero tries for a sunset flip but Wolfe avoids it and sends Dinero’s arm into the mat. Wolfe with a knee drop to the arm and then he continues to work on the arm. Wolfe with a kick to the arm when Dinero tries to escape. Dinero avoids a running elbow and then Dinero with a hesitation elbow drop in the corner. Wolfe returns to the arm and puts Dinero on the top turnbuckle but Dinero escapes the Tower of London. Dinero with an inside cradle for the three count.
Winner: D’Angelo Dinero

Jeff Jarrett is walking in the back and he gives a thumbs up as we go to commercial.

We are back and Jeff Jarrett is standing in the back by some electrical equipment. We go back to commercial.

We are back and Rhino is down and Jeremy Borash is interrupted by Bubba the Love Sponge. He says that he is going to get to the bottom of things before we go back to Taz and Tenay.

We have a Moments Ago Moment as we relive the debut of Hulk Hogan which took place about an hour ago.

Jeff Jarrett is still walking and we go to commercial.

We are back and Jeremy Borash is with A.J. Styles in his dressing room and Jeremy talks about the first night as well as tonight. A.J. says that he is excited to see what Hogan does next. Jeremy mentions A.J.’s match against Kurt Angle at Genesis. A.J. says that he cannot hold the belt with pride until he beats Kurt Angle. At Genesis, the world will find out who the best is. Eric applauds A.J.’s comments. Eric says that he has heard so much about A.J. and that he is the future of the company. Eric has some good news and bad news tonight. Eric says that A.J. will not be defending the title at Genesis. Eric says that they will find out tonight because A.J. Styles will meet Kurt Angle for the title in the main event.

Jeff Jarrett comes to the ring and he does not have the guitar that he hit Hogan with all those years ago in Japan.

Jarrett says that it feels great to be back home in the Impact Zone (but Dixie does not look too happy). Jeff reminds us that he founded TNA seven years ago after busting his butt in the ring for fifteen years. He used his own money to found this company. Jeff says that they wouldn’t last six weeks or six months, but he is standing in the six sided ring on a Monday night on the greatest night in company history. Jeff says that he is damn proud to be here. Jeff says that he has been trying to convince Hulk to be a part of TNA for years. Now the timing is right. Jeff said that he has done some good things and some not so good things. The most rewarding thing he did was to give young guys the opportunity and chance to stand in the ring. Guys like Beer Money, the Motor City Machine Guns, Daniels, Samoa Joe, and A.J. Styles. He says that you ain’t seen nothing yet because with Hulk Hogan partnering with Dixie Carter and him working side by side, anything can and will happen in T . . . N. . . A.

Hulk Hogan gets on the mic and he says that it is time to finish with the gaga. He says that if he hears ‘I’ one more time, he was going to have Jarrett escorted from the building by security. Hogan says that Jarrett founded the company, but Jarrett ran the company into the ground. Hogan says that it was Dixie Carter who saved Jarrett. Hogan tells Jarrett that they restructured the company and he is Dixie’s partner. Hogan says the young guys are going to get the chance and the push. Hogan says that nobody cares about Jarrett’s past. Hogan tells Jarrett that he has no stroke and he needs to prove himself.

Christy is in the back with Daniels but he says that he is not worried because he will show Hogan. Jeremy interrupts Christy and wants to try to get Mick Foley in. Foley enters the Impact Zone but Jeremy tries to stop him. He won’t hear it from Jeremy and he says that he will find Hogan.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Jeff Hardy is painting and Shannon Moore says he likes his work. It is time to meet with the big man.

Match Number Six: Abyss versus Samoa Joe in a Barbed Wire Massacre Match with 100% less barbed wire than expected

Joe punches Abyss as the bell rings and it is rapid fire punches. Abyss with an Irish whip but he misses a charge. Joe with an enzuigiri and it is time for the face wash but Abyss with a big boot and Joe goes to the floor. Abyss follows and Joe with a kick. Joe with a chair but he misses abyss. Abyss punches Joe and sends him into the ring steps. Abyss with punches to Joe’s head but Joe with a kick and chops. Joe with a reverse atomic drop and a running boot and a back senton for a near fall.

We see sting watching the action or standing somewhere in the back.

We go back to the action in the ring. Abyss with a clothesline and splash in the corner followed by a side slam for a near fall. Abyss sets for the Happy Run in the corner but Joe with an elbow and a boot to the head. Joe with a Yakuza kick from the turnbuckles for a near fall. Joe with a forearm but Abyss does not go down. Abyss poses and yells and that allows Joe to kick Abyss. Joe goes to the turnbuckles and he is caught by Abyss and hits a choke slam for a near fall. Joe goes to the floor and the referee pulls Abyss away. Joe gets the chair and hits Abyss in the head and the ref might have heard it but he didn’t see it so he doesn’t do anything about it. Joe chokes out Abyss and Abyss tries to get the ropes but he has to tap out.
Winner: Samoa Joe

Eric Bischoff tells a producer that they need to change the format. Kristal wants to know if Eric is going to give Bobby his release like he asked for earlier. Eric wants to know what it has to do with him. Kristal demands a meeting with Hulk Hogan. Eric tells Kristal to get a number and get in line to meet with Hogan. He tells Kristal to watch her attitude if she meets with Hogan. Kristal says that Bobby won’t like that.

We see James Storm and Robert Roode on the ground and Bubba the Love Sponge is there to check on them. He thinks he knows who is doing this and we go to commercial.

We are back and the Nasty Boys are still trying to get in. Bubba the Love Sponge stops by and says that they must be on the list. Bubba wants to know who is in charge and the doorman says that Hogan is in charge. Bubba talks about their past with Hogan and then Bubba sneaks them in.

Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle to talk about his title match tonight. Kurt says that since he lost his title in September, A.J. Styles won it. However, since there were two others in the match, A.J. never beat him. Kurt says that he knew he would get his match against A.J. A lot has happened since September but Angle says that A.J. cannot beat him. A.J. has had a good run as champion but it is his time to get his title back.

Jeff and Shannon are leaving the Impact Zone and he says that they got what they wanted. They are stopped by three girls and Jeff gives them his painting and they run away. Jeff and Shannon get into Jeff’s car and we go to commercial.

We are back and the Nasty Boys are walking in the back and they go into the Team 3D locker room. They mention that Team 3D is in Japan. They apologize for keeping The Nasty Boys out of the building so long and they try for a peace offering with a dozen donuts. They wreck Team 3D’s locker room.

Match Number Seven: Kurt Angle versus A.J. Styles for the TNA Heavyweight Title

They lock up and Styles with a side head lock and Angle with a Saito suplex but Styles holds on to the side head lock. Angle with a top wrist lock into a hammer lock and side head lock. Styles with a hesitation before hitting the Phenomenal drop kick. Styles avoids Angle on the floor and then he hit the flip plancha onto Angle. They return to the ring and the masked man attacks A.J. but Angle with a clothesline that sends him over the top rope. Security comes out.

Angle shakes A.J.’s hand and the referee lets the match continue. Styles with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner. Angle with a kick and then he hits a turnbuckle power bomb as we go to commercial.

We are back and Angle with a head lock and Styles with a head butt and Angle with a belly-to-belly suplex. Nice tease because we go back to commercial.

We are back and Angle with a reverse chin lock and A.J. with an arm drag followed by punches. Styles with running forearms and a punch. Styles with an Irish whip and Styles runs into a boot but Styles with a Death Valley neck breaker. Styles goes to the apron and Angle stops the phenomenal forearm and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Styles with a discus clothesline for a near fall. Styles sets for the Styles Clash but Angle counters and sends Styles into the turnbuckles. Angle gives Styles the Three Rivers German suplex combination. Styles avoids the Olympic Slam but Styles misses the pele kick and Angle with an ankle lock. Styles with a rollup for a near fall. Styles gets a two count after a pele kick. Angle with a back body drop but Styles with an Irish whip but he misses the forearm in the corner. Angle with an Olympic Slam and he gets a near fall. Angle with an uppercut. Angle sends Styles to the apron and then Styles hits the phenomenal forearm. Styles goes back to the apron and then he goes up top. Angle gets up and he hits a belly-to-belly suplex from the turnbuckles for a near fall. Angle goes up top for a frog splash but he misses when A.J. rolls out of the way. Styles sets for the Styles Clash and hits it but he takes too long to roll Angle over and Angle kicks out. Styles puts Angle on the turnbuckles but Angle pushes him off. Styles goes back to the turnbuckles for a superplex but Angle punches Styles off and Angle hits a frog splash for a two count. Angle tries for an Olympic Slam but Styles counters with a DDT for a two count. Styles tries for a Styles Clash but Angle with a back body drop and he puts Styles in the ankle lock. Styles rolls through to escape. Angle with a suplex for a near fall. Styles with an elbow to Angle and then he hits the moonsault into an inverted DDT for a near fall. Styles goes to the turnbuckles again but Angle trips Styles. Styles and Angle with punches and Angle tries for a superplex but Styles blocks it but Angle hits a super Olympic Slam for a two count. Angle returns to the ankle lock. Styles rolls through and sends Angle into the turnbuckles. Styles with an enzuigiri and then he gets Angle up for the Styles Clash and hits it again. Styles can only get a two count. Styles sets for another Styles Clash and Angle is able to counter into an ankle lock and the leg is grapevined. Styles is about to tap.

Ric Flair comes out to watch the match and Angle releases the hold. Styles moves and Angle goes into the turnbuckles. Styles with a belly-to-back suplex. Styles with a springboard 450 for a two count.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Flair is still watching the match. Angle has A.J. in a submission. Styles tries for another Styles Clash but Angle is back in the ankle lock. Styles kicks away. Flair leaves while we see Styles hit the Styles Clash one more time. Styles cannot roll Angle over so Styles goes to the apron. Styles with the springboard 450 for the three count.
Winner: A.J. Styles

Angle shakes A.J.’s hand after the match and Angle raises Styles’ hand.

Hulk Hogan comes out. Hogan says that those are the two greatest wrestlers in the business today. Hogan says that they have nothing but respect for Kurt Angle. He says that A.J. raised the TNA bar to another level. Hogan says that this situation will go on and on. Hogan says that the TNA fans made history tonight. Hogan says that this is the start of the greatest rise. Someone whispers something into Hogan’s ear and he goes to the back. Mick Foley is walking in the back and he walks in on the poker game. Not Val Venis wants to know where Hogan is and he tells Foley that he is not intimidated.

Foley leaves and he walks into Hogan’s office and Eric Bischoff is at the desk. Bischoff tells Foley that he has no influence, power, or control in the company. He tells Foley to get in line with everyone else. Foley says that he would never work for Eric Bischoff again and he says that he wants a reason to get fired again. Foley is stopped by Nash, Hall, and Waltman. Hogan stops in and he stares into the camera as we go to credits.

2010 - New Japan Pro Wrestling held their traditional Tokyo Dome Show event. For American fans, the most noteworthy events were Team 3D losing their IWGP Tag Team championships to Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito and Terry Funk, at 65 years old, returning to a Japanese ring after his knee replacement surgery last year in a Legends bout that also featured old nemesis Abdullah the Butcher. Former ECW regulars Yoshihiro Tajiri and Masato Tanaka teamed on the undercard as well.

Complete results, courtesy the great Japanese news website www.puroresufan.com, saw:

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM IV IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/10 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome
41,500 Fans
1. New Japan Pro-Wrestling 2010 Beginning: Super Strong Machine, Wataru Inoue & Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto & Kazuchika Okada (4:59) when Inoue used the Triangle Lancer on Okada.
2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Amistad combativa~: Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (c) beat Ultimo Guerrero & Averno (9:07) when Taguchi pinned Averno after the Black Hole Vacation (4th defense).
3. IWGP Tag Team Title - 3WAY Hardcore Rules Match ~Victim and Greed~: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) and Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (13:28) when Yujiro pinned Anderson after the Limitless Emotion to become the 55th champions.
4. Wrestle Kingdom Special Tag Match ~Blood Stream Blue~: TAJIRI & Masato Tanaka beat Yuji Nagata & Akebono (9:37) when TAJIRI used a Buzzsaw kick on Nagata.
5. Wrestle Kingdom Special 8 Man Tag Match ~The legend never rots~: Terry Funk, Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono & Manabu Nakanishi beat Abdullah The Butcher, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii (8:52) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Iizuka.
6. NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Effusions ~Wilderness~: Togi Makabe beat Mohammed Yone (5:39) with a top rope King Kong kneedrop.
7. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Highest sky~: Naomichi Marufuji beat Tiger Mask (c) (14:14) with the Tiger Frosion to become the 59th champion.
8. NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Effusions ~Radiance~: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Go Shiozaki (19:04) with the High Fly Flow.
9. GHC Heavyweight Title - NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Effusions ~Blast~: Takashi Sugiura (c) beat Hirooki Goto (20:54) with an ankle hold (1st defense).
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title - The newest, The strongest: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) beat Yoshihiro Takayama (15:51) with the Boma Ye (4th defense).

2011 - The Kings of Wrestling, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli, become the longest reigning ROH Tag Team champions, breaking the Briscoes' record, holding the belts for 275 days. The team would hold the belts until March 2011 with their record still standing.

2011 - Verne Langdon, who owned the Slammer's Wrestling Gym in California that spawned a number of careers, including WWF, WCW and TNA Creative team member Ed Ferrara, passed away at the age of 69. Langdon had an extremely colorful career in the entertainment industry as a musician and composer for a number of albums and shows that ran for Universal Studios Hollywood as well as a creator for the Don Post Costume company, which have become a sought after item by collectors in recent years.
Langdon did some wrestling but was more famous for owning the Slammer's Gym, which was well known during its time. A lot of the roots for the current West Coast scene can all be traced back to that school. I believe Langdon had been living in the Arizona area in recent years.

2011 - New Japan Pro Wrestling held their annual Tokyo Dome event with a number of TNA talents appearing on the show. Complete results, courtesy www.PuroresuFan.com saw:

*World Wrestling Interpromotional Match: Wataru Inoue, Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma & Tama Tonga beat Yujiro Takahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Jado & Gedo (7:33) when Inoue used the Spear of Justice on Gedo.

*Koji Kanemoto & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Kenny Omega & Taichi (8:04) when Taguchi pinned Taichi.

*IWGP Tag Team champions Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson beat James Storm & Robert Roode and Manabu Nakanishi & Strong Man (8:36) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Roode (4th defense).

*La Sombra & Mascara Dorada beat Jushin Thunder Liger & Hector Garza (7:42) when Sombra pinned Liger.

*Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Takashi Iizuka (11:13) with the Anaconda Cross.

*Rob Van Dam beat Toru Yano (11:28) with the Five Star frog splash.

*Yuji Nagata beat Minoru Suzuki (16:15) with a backdrop hold.

*IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion Prince Devitt beat Kota Ibushi (16:22) with an avalanche-style Bloody Sunday (

*Takashi Sugiura & Yoshihiro Takayama beat Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada (12:08) when Takayama used an Everest German on Okada.

*TNA champion Jeff Hardy beat Tetsuya Naito (11:04) with a Swanton bomb.

*Shinsuke Nakamura beat Go Shiozaki (14:17) with the Boma Ye.

*Togi Makabe beat Masato Tanaka (12:46) with a King Kong kneedrop.

*Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Satoshi Kojima (21:57) with the High Fly Flow to become the 56th IWGP champion.

2011 - WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

Tonight marks the first episode of NXT for the new year as well as the first elimination for this season’s rookies. Who will get immunity and will it be necessary to save their spot on the show? We start off with some highlights from the first few weeks of this season of NXT.

We are live on tape on the internet and your announcers are Josh ‘Happy Anniversary to the Greatest Night in Wrestling History’ Mathews and Todd ‘Who gets to go to Carousel tonight’ Grisham. Your host is Matt ‘Remember to vote in the PWInsider.com Year End Polls because they wait until the end of the year’ Striker.

Matt is on the stage with the rookies and pros. Matt reminds everyone that one rookie will be eliminated tonight. He says that the winner of NXT will wrestle for the WWE Tag Titles. The rookie will team with their pro in that match. The pros will have a challenge as well. It will be an over the top rope battle royal. The winner of the battle royal has the opportunity to trade their rookie away if they want.

Ricardo Rodriguez comes out and he wants to show Alberto how to do it and take his spot in the match. Alberto thinks about it and he agrees to let Ricardo participate in the match.

Match Number One: Pro Battle Royal Challenge

MO< The match starts and Bryan puts Rodriguez in an airplane spin for about a half minute while everyone else watches this take place. Truth punches Rodriguez and throws him over the top rope to eliminate him. Ziggler and Bryan battle while Truth helps Bryan. Masters tries to eliminate DiBiase. Bryan with a European uppercut to Masters and Masters chops back. Ted with a chop. Masters tries to eliminate DiBiase again while Bryan deals with Truth and Ziggler goes to a corner to rest.

DiBiase with a kick to Bryan and then he kicks him in the corner and tries to eliminate Bryan. Masters holds Ziggler and Truth punches Ziggler. Bryan kicks Ted to get back into he ring. Truth sends Ziggler over the top rope but he stays on the apron. Masters tries to eliminate Bryan but Daniel gets back to his feet. Bryan with a kick and then Ziggler eliminates Bryan.

Masters chops Ziggler after Ziggler says something to Bryan. Masters sends Ziggler into the turnbuckles. Truth kicks DiBiase while Masters continues to punch Ziggler. Ziggler with a rake of the eyes to stay in the match. Truth charges at DiBiase but Ted drops down and Truth is eliminated. DiBiase stops Masters from applying the Master Lock. Ziggler takes a powder while Masters tries to eliminate DiBiase. Ziggler comes from behind to eliminate both men and win the match.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

After the match, Ziggler gets on the mic and he says that he won it fair and square so he wants a round of applause from the fans. Ziggler tells Jacob that he never liked him. He says that Jacob is terrible, he doesn’t have it and is only a blazer from Express. Ziggler says that he wants to train a winner. He chooses Byron Saxton.

Novak goes to the ring but Striker stops Jacob to tell him that he will be facing Byron Saxton next.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Two: Jacob Novak with Chris Masters versus Byron Saxton with Dolph Ziggler

They lock up and Novak with a knee and forearm to the back. Novak with punches to Saxton and then he connects with an elbow in the corner. Saxton avoids a punch from Novak and he connects with punches in the corner. Novak with an Irish whip but Saxton with a float over. Novak with kicks to Saxton and he gets a near fall while Ziggler wonders where this was from Novak in the competition.

Novak with a slam and a leg drop for a near fall. Novak with a forearm to Saxton followed by an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Novak with a kick to the chest followed by an elbow drop and he gets another near fall. Novak with a reverse chin lock as Bryon gets to his feet. Saxton with punches to Novak followed by a back elbow and he gets a near fall.

Novak with a kick to the head and Saxton goes to the mat. Novak sends Saxton into the turnbuckles and connects with forearms to the back. Novak sends Saxton into the turnbuckles and he punches Saxton. Novak with an Irish whip and a side slam for a near fall. Novak returns to the chin lock and then he sends Byron to the mat. Novak misses an elbow drop. Saxton with punches and then he catapults Novak into the turnbuckles and then tries for a sunset flip.

Novak misses a charge and Saxton with a series of clotheslines. Saxton with a modified bulldog for a near fall. Novak gets his boot up when Saxton charges into the corner. Novak with a shoulder tackle and then he sets for a suplex but Saxton escapes and hits a modified Side Effect for the three count.

Winner: Byron Saxton

After the match, Ziggler celebrates with his new rookie.

Johnny Curtis says that he was upset last week when talking to R Truth. Truth says that he doesn’t want to hear it but he says that he was kidding. Truth says that Johnny will have to deal with a lot of people so he can find out who he is. They could be the new Tag Team Champions. Johnny talks about being a wolfpack through the deserts of Arizona and then they wonder what they are talking about.

We go to commercial.

We are back with the Raw Rebound.

Josh and Todd talk about how Randy Orton is going to the WWE Title Match at Royal Rumble while

Derrick Bateman was seen earlier today with Daniel Bryan trying to learn submission holds. Daniel was proud of Derrick. Derrick says that Daniel is the wind beneath his wing. Derrick says that he is willing to help out with the situation involving the Bellas. Derrick says that he was known as Doctor Love, but Bryan doubts it. Derrick then admits that he was home schooled. Derrick says that they should have a double date with the Bellas and Bryan likes that idea. Derrick says that they aren’t just about wrestling, they are about chicks and America.

Byron talks about his big win under his new pro. Saxton talks about the thought of being tag champions. Dolph says that he wouldn’t mind having more gold. Dolph tells Byron to stay away from his girlfriend. Byron says that they have a Battle of the Mic Competition and he will say something to Jacob.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Did You Know that WWE programming airs in a lot of countries in a lot of languages.

It is time for the Battle of the Mic Challenge and all of the rookies are in the ring. Matt reminds them about the immunity standings. Here are the current standings

Johnny Curtis: 5 Points
Derrick Bateman: 3 Points
Jacob Novak: 1 Point
Byron Saxton: 1 Point
Brodus Clay: 0 Points
Conor O’Brian: 0 Points

Johnny Curtis goes first and he will be ‘battling’ with Brodus Clay. Brodus tells Johnny that when he looks at him, all he can think of is the sounds that Johnny made when he got thrown through a table. Brodus says that was hilarious.

Johnny responds and says that he was thinking about how funny it was when he punched Brodus in the mouth and Johnny slugs Brodus in the mouth. Brodus has to be held back by the rookies.

The winner, according to the WWE Universe in the building is Johnny Curtis.

The next challenge is Derrick Bateman and Byron Saxton.

Bateman goes first and he introduces everyone to the voice that single handedly destroyed ECW. He talks about the love child of Carlton Banks and an uglier shorter Carlton Banks.

Byron Saxton says that the reality is that when you look in the mirror, he is always better than Derrick.

The winner of this round is Derrick Bateman.

Jacob Novak and Conor O’Brian are the final pairing.

Jacob says that Conor thinks he is a rat. He says that Conor is ugly, scares the girls, and stinks.

Conor responds by commenting on Jacob’s nose. He says that Novak will need two entrances, one for him and one for his nose.

The winner of this round is Conor O’Brian.

It is time for them to insult the other two finalists.

Johnny Curtis says that he likes Derrick but he disses himself by walking out with that haircut. He says that Derrick spends $250 per week on his perm. Johnny tells Conor that he has nothing bad to say about him because he likes rats.

Derrick Bateman is next and he tells Johnny that he likes his moves and style, but thinks that he is a mustache away from being on To Catch a Predator. He says that Conor has a lot in common with Conan O’Brien but he is not popular or funny.

Conor goes last and he tells Yo Mama jokes to Derrick. He tells Johnny that he is so stupid that he sits on the tv to watch the couch.

The winner of this challenge and four points is Conor O’Brian.

The current standings are: Johnny Curtis: 5 Points
Conor O’Brian: 4 Points
Derrick Bateman: 3 Points
Jacob Novak: 1 Point
Byron Saxton: 1 Point
Brodus Clay: 0 Points

That means that Johnny Curtis has immunity from elimination.

Match Number Three: Johnny Curtis with R Truth versus Brodus Clay with Ted DiBiase and Maryse

Curtis with a kick to Clay but Clay with a shoulder tackle but Curtis with punches and Clay is forced to the floor. Clay shows his frustration and Ted tries to calm him down while Maryse stands around and talks in French. Curtis with forearms to Clay and he tries for a cross body and Clay catches him and then hits a t-bone suplex. Clay with an elbow drop and he gets a near fall. Clay with shots to the shoulder and then he stomps on the chest.

Clay with punches to Curtis followed by a series of back fists. Clay with a snap mare and then he applies a nerve hold. Curtis gets back to his feet and connects with a series of European uppercuts. Curtis with a drop kick to the knee and he gets a near fall. Curtis goes to the turnbuckles and hits a clothesline and gets a near fall.

Curtis goes after DiBiase and that allows Clay to apply a nerve hold and choke slam for the three count.

Winner: Brodus Clay

Brodus is asked by Matt what motivates his aggression. He says that it is years of being held back and pushed aside. He says that he will go through all of these bums that he is going to win NXT.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time for Matt Striker to tell us which of the five rookies who do not have immunity will be eliminated.

Matt asks Johnny who should go home and Johnny says that the big bag of stink should go home. He asks Brodus how his jaw is.

We go to the random WWE NXT’limination Generator. The unlucky rookie is Jacob Novak.

Matt asks Jacob for his final thoughts. Jacob says that it is a crushing blow. This was an opportunity for him to change his own life. He says that he always wanted to stand in front of the WWE Universe because they share the same passion. He says that it has been the experience of his life.

Matt tells us that the next elimination will take place in two weeks.

Dolph tells Masters that his rookie is gone and Dolph says that he is a genius. Masters tries to give Ziggler a Master Lock and Dolph goes to the back.

Johnny wants to go after Brodus again but Derrick Bateman holds him back.

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1/4 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: WWE VS. TNA MONDAY NIGHT WAR BEGINS, FLAIR DEBUTS IN TNA, BRET FINALLY RETURNS TO WWE, LOTS OF TOKYO DOME EVENTS, HHH PAYS TRIBUTE TO ARNOLD SKAALAND AND MUCH, MUCH MORE