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January 9th
On this day in history in ....
1931 - Former World Heavyweight Champion Wayne Munn dies from kidney problems at age 35. Munn held the title for three months in 1925.
1945 - Gus Wisbar defeats Yaqui Joe for the Tennessee World Middleweight Title in Nashville, Tennessee, beginning his second reign.
1953 - Harold Sakata and Toi Yamamoto defeat John Cretorian and Kurt Von Poppenheim to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.
1957 - Al Kashey defeats Lord James Blears for the vacant NWA Beat the Champ International Television Title in Los Angeles, California.
1958 - Ben and Mike Sharpe defeat Ciclon Anaya and Ramon Torres in Stockton, California to win the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title for the 16th time.
1959 - Pat O'Connor defeats Dick Hutton in St. Louis, Missouri to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title. O'Connor was also recognized as the first AWA World Heavyweight Champion in May 1960, but was stripped of that title in August of that year for not defending against Verne Gagne.
1962 - Mister M (Bill Miller) defeats Verne Gagne to win the AWA World Heavyweight Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ending Gagne's second reign. As a result, Mister M's AWA United States Heavyweight Title was vacated. He was the last to hold the title, which had began as the Chicago and Minneapolis versions of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title before the AWA was founded. It was held by Wilbur Snyder four times, twice by Gene Kiniski and Verne Gagne, and once each by Hans Schmidt, Dick the Bruiser, Hard Boiled Haggerty and Mister M.
1965 - Don Leo Jonathan and Whipper Billy Watson defeat The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Roy Heffernan) for the Winnipeg NWA International Tag Team Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1968 - Butcher Vachon and Stan Vachon (Stan Pulaski) defeat Enrique and Ramon Torres for the Georgia NWA World Tag Team Title in Macon, Georgia, ending the Torres' third reign.
1969 - Danny Hodge and Wilbur Snyder defeat Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki to win the NWA International Tag Team Title in Hiroshima, Japan, ending Baba and Inoki's second reign.
1969 - Buddy Colt defeats Ricky Romero for the Amarillo NWA North American Heavyweight Title.
1970 - Dave Ruhl wins his fifth Calgary NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta, defeating Danny Lynch.
1971 - Curtis Iaukea defeats Bill Robinson for the Hawaii NWA North American Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.
1971 - Jerry Jarrett and Tojo Yamamoto defeat The Heavenly Bodies (Al and Don Greene) to win the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This ended the The Heavenly Bodies' fifth reign and began Jarrett and Yamamoto's second.
1973 - Mark Lewin defeats Buddy Colt for the Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida, ending Colt's third reign.
1974 - Billy Graham defeats Ed Francis to win the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii, ending Francis' third reign.
1978 - Norvell Austin and Bill Dundee defeat Dennis Condrey and Phil Hickerson for the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Austin and Dundee's sixth reign.
1979 - Jimmy Garvin defeats Dick Slater to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida.
1982 - Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk defeat Jack and Jerry Brisco for the Florida NWA North American Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida.
1983 - Luis Arizona defeats Centurion Negro to win the UWA World Middleweight Title in Reynosa, Mexico.
1984 - Super Destroyer (Scott Irwin) wins his second World Class Television Title in Fort Worth, Texas, ending the second reign for Brian Adias.
1984 - Charlie Cook defeats Jerry Stubbs for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title in Birmingham, Alabama, ending Stubbs' third reign.
1987 - Larry Hamilton defeats Tom Prichard in Birmingham, Alabama to win the Southeast NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Title. This began Hamilton's second reign and ended Prichard's fourth.
1989 - Wendell Cooley defeats Sid Vicious in Memphis, Tennessee for the Championship (formerly Continental) Wrestling Association Heavyweight Title. The title would be awarded to Dutch Mantel later in the month when Cooley left the promotion.
1993 - The WWF holds an afternoon event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The results were:
- Crush defeated Skinner.
- Terry Taylor defeated Jason Knight (subbing for Lance Cassidy).
- WWF Tag Team Champions Money, Inc. (Ted DiBiase and IRS) defeated The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) to retain the title, when IRS pinned Sags after hitting him with hier briefcase. The Nastys won the match originally after DiBiase collided with Sags and Knobbs pinned DiBiase, but the match was restarted due to Knobbs not being the legal man in the ring.
- The Undertaker pinned Papa Shango after a chokeslam.
- Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Typhoon after a diving headbutt.
- WWF Champion Bret Hart defeated Ric Flair in a 60-minute Iron Man Match, three falls to two, to retain the title. Hart pinned Flair with a roll up, Flair then made Hart submit twice with the Figure-Four Leglock while holding a rope for leverage, first the top then the bottom rope. Hart won the fourth fall by submission with the Sharpshooter, and won the fifth fall with 18 seconds remaining, reversing the Figure-Four into an inside cradle.
1993 - Bart Sawyer defeated John Rambo in Portland, Oregon to win the Championship Wrestling USA Television Title, ending Rambo's second reign and beginning Sawyer's second.
1994 - The WWF held an event at Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The results:
- Men on a Mission (Mo and Mabel) defeated The Headshrinkers by disqualification.
- Marty Jannetty defeated Rick Martel by disqualification.
- Doink the Clown defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.
- Crush defeated Randy Savage in a two out of three falls, falls count anywhere match.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Quebecers (Jacques and Pierre) defeated The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart Gunn).
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon defeated Shawn Michaels in a ladder match.
- Lex Luger and Tatanka defeated WWF Champion Yokozuna and Ludvig Borga.
1995 - The USWA Tag Team Title changes hands twice in Memphis, Tennessee. Doug Gilbert and Tommy Rich defeat PG-13 (JC Ice and Wolfie D) for the title, ending their fourth reign. Immediately afterwards, PG-13 won them back, to begin their fifth reign. At the same show, Sweet Georgia Brown wins her second USWA Women's Title, defeating Miss Texas (Jackie Moore), ending her eighth reign.
1997 - Flash Flanagan and Steven Dunn defeat Mike Samples and Sir Mo to win the held up USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee. The title was held up after a match between the teams of Flanagan & Dunn and Samples & Vic the Bruiser on December 27 in Memphis.
1998 - Wolf Hawkfield and Johnny Smith defeat Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori for the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Title in Kagoshima, Japan.
1999 - Ray Gonzalez is awarded the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title, beginning his seventh reign. This was due to Carlos Colón using a foreign object on the referee and Gonzalez to win a match for the title three days earlier in Caguas, Puerto Rico. This ended Colón's short-lived 23rd reign.
1999 - Mike Rapada defeats Chris Michaels in Nashville, Tennessee to win the NWA North American Heavyweight Title for the second time.
1999 - Two Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance titles change hands in Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Joey Matthews defeats Christian York to win the IPWA Light Heavyweight Title. Big Slam and Chris Stephenson win the IPWA Tag Team Title from Cueball Carmichael and Jimmy Cicero, and Tom Brandi defeats Corporal Punishment for the vacant IPWA Heavyweight Title, beginning his third reign. Buddy Landel was stripped of the title for no-showing.
1999 - Magic defeats Chino Martinez to become the first Bloody Rage Wrestling League American Heavyweight Champion in Edison, New Jersey.
1999 - Bam Bam and Danny Christian win their fourth Southern States Wrestling Tag Team Title in Mountain City, Tennessee, defeating The Brooklyn Bad Boys.
2000 - ECW holds the second-annual "Guilty as Charged" pay-per-view at the Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama. The results:
- Bill Whiles defeated Tom Marquez in a dark match.
- C.W. Anderson pinned Mikey Whipwreck after an Anderson Spinebuster.
- Simon Diamond, Danny Doring and Roadkill defeated Jazz, Kid Kash and Nova, when Roadkill pinned Chris Chetti after an Amish Splash. Chetti had come out to help Nova after Jazz, Diamond and Kash fought out of the arena.
- Super Crazy and Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Little Guido and Jerry Lynn, after Tajiri pinned Lynn after a Brainbuster.
- Angel pinned New Jack after hitting him with a shovel.
- ECW World Television Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Sabu after a Five-Star Frog Splash to retain the title.
- The Impact Players (Justin Credible and Lance Storm) defeated ECW World Tag Team Champions Tommy Dreamer and Raven, after Credible pinned Raven after That's Incredible, to win the title.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion Mike Awesome pinned Spike Dudley to retain the title, after a top-rope Awesome Bomb through a table.
2000 - Black Dragon defeats Ultimo Vampiro for the IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Title in Naucalpan, Mexico.
2001 - World Xtreme Wrestling sees four titles switch in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Low Ki ended Mason Cage's third reign as WXW Cruiserweight Champion, Afa, Jr. won the WXW Television Title from Shane Black, The Latin Hit Squad (Nuisance and Puerto Rican Chile) win their fifth WXW Tag Team Title from Moondogs 2000 (Wenzel and Molsonn) and Samu defeats Salvatore Bellomo to win his second WXW Heavyweight Title.
2002 - At a Heartland Wrestling Association show in Dayton, Ohio, Charlie Haas and The Island Boyz (Ekmo and Kimo) defeat HWA Heavyweight Champion EZ Money and HWA Tag Team Champions Steve Bradley and Val Venis, when Haas pinned Venis, in a match with both titles on the line. As a result, Haas won the Heavyweight title, as he was a singles wrestler. Also, Shannon Moore defeated Jamie Knoble for the HWA Cruiserweight Title.
2004 - Christie Ricci defeats Craziness to win the United States Wrestling Organization Television Title in Madison, Tennessee.
2005 - WWE holds the first-annual "New Year's Revolution" pay-per-view at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the company's first pay-per-view held outside North America since 1992's "SummerSlam", which was held in London, England. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
WWE NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTION
by Mike Johnson
New Year's Revolution opened with a cool video of the Elimination Chamber and a dragon flying out of it. Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross welcomed everyone to the sold out PPV. They talked about the Chamber with Ross calling it "Satan's Structure."Â They introduced it to the spanish announce team.
WWE World Tag Team champions Eugene & William Regal vs. Christian & Tyson Tomko
Interesting to note that Lillian Garcia did the ring announcements in English, which surprised me. Eugene came out dressed like Hulk Hogan, with a red and yellow T-shirt and headband. Jim Ross said that the Hulkster was one of Eugene's favorites and he was paying homage him.
The match started with Regal and Tyson. The crowd was really hot, chanting, "Christian sucks."Â Christian controlled Regal with several takeovers, but Regal came back with a quick cover. Regal worked him over with a headlock, but Christian rolled it over to a near fall. Regal tagged in Eugene who gave Christian a wedgie. He did Hogan's poses, followed by the Honkytonk Man's dance. Eugene did the Lady of the Lake and when Christian tried to drop an elbow, he moved. Christian hit the mat and Eugene hit several JYD-style headbutts on all fours.
Tyson Tomko tagged in and took over with his power, choking Eugene down. Eugene went outside to slap the fan's hands. The heels followed him and he scampered under the ring. They jumped in the ring to wait for him on the other side but he snuck in from behind and rolled up Christian for a near fall. He hit the airplane spin on Christian, but Tomko hit a chokeslam.
Christian and Tomko began working over Eugene, with tags in and out. Eugene began hulking up, which the crowd got into bigtime. Eugene made the hot tag to Regal, who cleaned house on Tomko, then tossed Christian into the ring. Tomko took Regal down and mounted him, hitting a series of rights. Regal's nose began bleeding. Christian locked a chinlock, but Regal tried to bridge out. Regal fought back but before he could make the tag, Christian took him out of the corner. They continued to work over Regal.
Regal finally made the tag to Eugene, who despite hurting his leg on a legdrop, was able to roll up Tomko for the pin. Your winners and still WWE World Tag Team champions, William Regal and Eugene!
The doctor and trainer were checking on Eugene's knee after the match.
They showed footage from earlier today with Christy Hemme looking hot in a bikini at a pool.
Backstage, Christian and Tyson Tomko were backstage upset when they came across Edge. Edge said that he had an idea, but Christian said the last time they were together, Edge jumped him from behind. He ordered Tomko to take out Edge, but Edge said that if he did that, he'd never hear Edge's idea and know how he could be World champion. They walked off together.
They aired a video feature on WWE Women's champion Lita vs. Trish Stratus.
WWE Women's champion Lita vs. Trish Stratus
The crowd chanted Lita's name at the bell. The crowd, as expected, is really into everything. They tied up, with Trish forcing Lita into the corner, until referee Jack Doan separated the two. Lita took down Trish with a heel trip, but Trish grabbed the ropes. Trish kicked Lita in the gut and tried to manhandle her but Lita tossed her to the floor. Lita came off with a Lou Thesz Press-esque move from the apron the floor, clutching at her knee. With Lita hurt, Lita jumped on her and began peppering her with rights. Trish went for the cover, but Lita kicked up at two. Lita tried to get to her feet, but fell into Stratus. Stratus began working over Lita's knee with kicks. She got to her feet but Stratus kicked right at the knee, and Lita went down again. They showed several replays of the Thesz Press. Stratus evaded a DDT and hit the Chick Kick for the clean pin.
Your winner and new WWE Women's champion Trish Stratus!
After the match, trainers looked over Lita as Trish gloated and rubbed her championship. The referees helped her walked out of the ring.
They showed Chris Jericho preparing for the main event.
They showed Maria at the pool "earlier today."Â
Edge was in Eric Bischoff's office. Bischoff said that he was confused by the fact that Edge didn't want a shot at the World championship. Edge said that he doesn't want to give up a shot at the belt, but with Shawn Michaels as the referee, he will screw Edge the first chance that he has. He says that he doesn't want to put his body on the line in the most dangerous match in WWE when he doesn't have a shot at the belt. He suggests putting Christian in and whoever wins the belt will defend it against him at Raw. Bischoff says that the show has started and he has sponsors and the fans to answer to, so he's not changing the match. Edge said that he doesn't care about them, but himself, but Bischoff won't hear it.
As Edge left the office, he ran into Shawn Michaels. Michaels promised that he only had two things to do in the Chamber “call for submissions and count a three count. He said that he gives Edge his word that he will call it down the middle. He said that he won't get involved unless he gets physically provoked, but should the moment come, it will be his pleasure to count Edge out for a three count.
WWE Intercontinental champion Shelton Benjamin vs. Maven
They showed a clip of Maven pinning Benjamin in a six man a few weeks back on Raw. Maven is out second, after the champion, for some weird reason. They announced that Eugene has a dislocated kneecap.
Maven and Benjamin locked up, with Maven stalling like his last name was Zbyszko. The crowd was really on Maven. Maven played off the fans and grabbed the ring mic. He told the crowd that he didn't know what they were saying. Maven said that he didn't know how many of them spoke English, so he was going to speak really slow. He told the fans that he can't concentrate while they were making so much gibberish. He told the fans to shut their mouths in Spanish then tried to walk out, saying he'll wrestle Shelton in the United States of America. Maven finally charged back to the ring where Benjamin took him down and scored the three count.
Your winner and still WWE Intercontinental champion, Shelton Benjamin!
After the match, Maven got back on the ring mic and told Benjamin to return to the ring as "that didn't count."Â He said that he wanted a rematch right now. He said that it appears that the WWE now has two Women's champions, since he wouldn't return to the ring. The crowd chanted, "Hey hey hey, Goodbye" to Maven. He said that both he and Trish have two things in common- both have a title and neither have any B****s.
Shelton jumped back in the ring and they rang the bell. Shelton hit the T-Bone suplex and scored the pin.
Your winner and still WWE Intercontinental champion (yet again) Shelton Benjamin!
They showed Chris Benoit preparing for the Elimination Chamber.
They showed footage of a topless Christy Hemme, on her stomach, getting rubbed down.
Jim Ross said that Jerry Lawler was getting ready for his match with Muhammed Hussan and they went to video footage of the attack on Lawler and Jim Ross on this past week's Monday Night Raw.
Todd Grisham interviewed Muhammad Hussan and Khosorov Daivari backstage. Hussan said that the footage they just showed was biased and one part of the story. He said that they didn't show the Lawler insulting them and Ross telling them to leave their own country. He said that last week, Ross and Lawler got what they deserved. Grisham asked if he was nervous about his first PPV, but Hussan said that he was excited to be wrestling in Puerto Rico because if anyone could relate to being treated as second class citizens, it's the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He said that he was very let down to see that they were treated the same way they are treated like everyone else, as they were detained at the airport for three hours when they arrived, their hotel reservations weren't there when they arrived and Daivari's wallet was stolen. Hussan said that his personal Revolution will have just begun tonight. Daivari closed the interview speaking in Farsi.
Jerry Lawler (with Jim Ross) vs. Muhammad Hussan (with Khosorov Daivari)
The crowd chanted for Lawler at the bell. There was no commentary for the match. The crowd chanted "Puerto Rico" in defense of Hassan's comments earlier. They locked up and Hassan tossed Lawler back. They locked up again and Hassan slammed Lawler. He hit several more slams on Lawler, who rolled out of the ring. Lawler came back with a clothesline, but Hassan retreated to the floor. They menaced Jim Ross, who wouldn't back down. Lawler jumped out of the ring behind Hassan and clocked him. Back in the ring, Hassan took down Lawler. Lawler rolled up Hassan but the referee was distracted by Daivari. Hassan dropped a knee on the back of Lawler's head. Hassan locked on a Camel Clutch. Well, the rest of the show seems like its a 1980s throwback, why not this one too? Lawler began fighting back with punches to the stomach, but Hassan overpowered him and locked in on once again. Daivari called Ross an "Oklahoma slob."Â
Lawler broke free but Hassan locked on a Cobra Clutch. Daivari was working really hard at ringside. The crowd started chanting "Boring" as Hassan continued to beat Lawler in the corner. The strap came down and Lawler made his comeback with a few punches and a dropkick. Lawler came off the ropes with a fistdrop, but only got a two count. Lawler covered again but Daivari put Hassan's foot on the ropes. Jim Ross cashed Daivari around the ring. He scampered through, with Lawler going after him. The distraction allowed Hassan to hit a one armed DDT for the pin and the win.
Your winner, Muhammed Hassan!
They aired a commercial for the ECW PPV on Fanatix.
Todd Grisham asked Batista about his chances in the Elimination Chamber. As he was about to answer, Randy Orton jumped in and said he was going to ask the questions and put Batista on the spot he asked if Batista was going to go on his own or help Triple H's cause. He said that Triple H doesn't care about anyone but himself and the World title and that's why he formed Evolution in the first place. He repeated his question to Batista. Batista said that he should stop worrying about what he's going to do to Triple H and more about what's Batista is going to do to Orton. He said that if he gets his chance to win the World title tonight, he's taking it.
They aired a Wrestlemania recall on Shawn Michaels winning the WWF championship at Wrestlemania XII from Bret Hart.
Jim Ross said that tonight they didn't get the job done and he hoped that Jerry Lawler would be back with them shortly. Coach instead joined him at the announcer's table. Coachman congratulated him on his loss.
They aired a video feature on Kane vs. Gene Snitsky.
Kane vs. Gene Snitsky
Snitsky and Kane began brawling at the bell. Kane backed him into a corner, hitting several uppercuts and a slam. Kane choked Snitsky. He tried to ram him into the turnbuckles, but Snitsky fought back. Kane powerslammed Kane. Snitsky removed the mats and tried to slam Kane but was backdropped on them. Kane came off the top but Snitsky kicked him in the gut as he came off the top. Snitsky began battering Kane. Snitsky worked over Kane's arm at the ringpost, then slammed him in the center of the ring. Snitsky locked in a bearhug. Kane finally came back with a series of rights and a chokeslam, but Snitsky threw it off and slammed him. Kane sat up but Snitsky kicked him down. Kane kept sitting up but was kicked down. Snitsky went outside and chased away Lillian Garcia to grab a steel chair. He charged Kane with it, but Kane hit the big boot. Kane tossed Snitsky back in the ring. Snitsky was tossed into the corner and peppered with punches and elbows. He whipped Snitsky into a corner and hit a running clothesline, followed by a sidewalk slam. Kane measured Snitsky and hit a big boot. Kane came off the top rope with a clothesline. Snitsky fought back with elbows and hit the worst Hot Shot in history. I think Eddie Gilbert just rolled his eyes in the heavens. Kane and Snitsky both went for the chokeslam and each tried to overpower the other. Snitsky kicked Kane in the gut then bit him on the ear. I kid you not. Kane finally hit the tombstone for the three count.
Your winner, Kane!
Jerry Lawler returned to the commentary table.
We went back to the pool where the Divas all undressed and jumped in the pool. Simon Dean pushed a chubby guy into a pool. All the divas had a chicken fight, sitting on top of the WWE stars' shoulders like Val Venis and Hurricane, including Rosey who was swimming in his gear and mask. I don’t know why but this reminded me of some demented Muppet Show sketch. Christy and Rosey won the chicken fight.
They aired a video feature on the Elimination chamber match.
The Chamber lowered to the ring.
Backstage, Triple H confronted Batista and asked if he heard Batista right because they had gone over it again and again. Batista said that Ric Flair and Hunter taught him never to let his opponents know what he is thinking, and he wasn't going to give Randy Orton his strategy. He said that he would have Triple H's back, unless Triple H was eliminated before he got into the match. He said if that happens, nothing will keep him from winning the World championship.
Eric Bischoff came to the ring and said that he wanted to introduce one of his greatest inventions, the Elimination Chamber. Yeah, this is right up there with the NWO and Nitro. He said that one of the next six superstars would become the new WWE World champion and welcome everyone to New Year's Revolution. Hey Eric, the show started almost two hours ago!
The Rules of the Match - Two competitors start and at the end of every five minutes, a new competitor is added. You can be eliminated via pinfall or submission at any point until they are down to the new WWE World champion.
Shawn Michaels was introduced first, coming out in his referee's garb.
Everyone made their entrance and we began with Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho. Jericho rode Benoit to the mat, but Benoit reversed it into a hammerlock. Benoit rode Jericho to the mat, but Jericho escaped. They locked up again, with Benoit getting the better of Jericho with chops, running him into the turnbuckles. Jericho fired back with chops of his own. Jericho charged Benoit, who put his boot up. Benoit went for the Sharpshooter, but was rolled up by Jericho. He turned that into a Walls of Jericho attempt. Benoit hit a German suplex and went for the Crippler Crossface. Benoit began nailing Jericho with punches. Benoit came off the ropes for a clothesline but was hit with one instead. Jericho hit a back suplex for a two count. Benoit hit a superplex off the top, with Benoit landing on his head.
The fans counted down...and Triple H joined the match.
Triple H joined the match and cleaned house on both men as they were recovering from the superplex. Triple H tossed Benoit into the steel cage several times. He tossed Jericho into the chains as well. Benoit was busted open bigtime. Triple H tossed a bloodied Benoit into the chamber. Triple H went for the Pedigree, but Jericho attacked him. Triple H went for the Pedigree on Jericho, who backdropped him outside of the ring into the steel. The crowd chanted, “Y2J.â€Â Jericho suplexed Triple H into the ring. Benoit came back and began chopping Jericho. Benoit charged and dropped and elbow on Jericho. Benoit hit a swinging neckbreaker.
The fans chanted down and Edge joined the match.
Edge began hitting spears on everyone, nearly getting the pin on Triple H. Shawn Michaels didn't change his count because Edge was involved. Edge began beating down everyone. Edge backdropped Triple H, but Jericho kicked Edge. Jericho scored a two count on Triple H. Edge was tossed out of the ring to the steel. Jericho turned to Edge, who raked his eyes. Jericho was catapulted into the Chains of the chamber. Triple H hit a running knee on Edge. He went for a Pedigree on Edge, but Edge escaped and catapulted Triple H into a beam on the chamber. Edge came off the top rope with a clothesline on Benoit, getting a two count. Jericho got to his feet, all bloody. Benoit went for the Crippler Crossface, but Edge worked on his cut forehead. Edge hit a baseball slide kick on Benoit. Jericho hit a running enziguiri on Edge for a two count.
Triple H got to his feet and was nailed by Jericho. Triple H hit a spinebuster. Triple H was busted open from the nose. He went for the pin but Jericho kicked up at two. Triple H hit a pedigree on Jericho but everyone was down and out.
The fans chanted down and Randy Orton joined the match.
Orton slammed Edge's head into the chamber and came off the top with a cross bodyblock on Triple H. Orton began kicking and beating down Triple H and Edge, but not Benoit and Jericho, which Jerry Lawler pointed out. Orton tossed Triple H back into the ring. He hit the RKO on Jericho, and went to hit it on Benoit. Benoit countered it and locked in the Crippler Crossface. Triple H stood in front of Orton, taunting him to tap out. Benoit realized it and clubbed Triple H, locking on the Sharpshooter. Orton recovered and hit the RKO on Benoit. Great exchange.
Edge went to spear Orton, who ducked and Shawn Michaels was hit instead. Edge speared Orton, but there was no Michaels to make the cover. Edge slapped Michaels out of anger but he hit Sweet Chin Music on Edge in return. Jericho hit the Lionsault for the pinfall.
Edge has been eliminated.
Benoit hit German suplexes on Jericho, Orton, and Triple H. Benoit went to the top rope, then to the top of one of the chambers, hitting a flying headbutt off the top. Jericho locked on the Walls of Jericho at the same time Benoit locked on the Crippler Crossface.
The fans chanted down and Batista joined the match.
Batista joined the match, after a goof with the chamber door, and rescued Triple H. He ended up face to face with Triple H but before we got to see whether they would get physical or not, Benoit and Jericho attacked them. Batista press slammed Jericho and tossed him out of thje ring, where they destroyed a camera man who was shooting inside the chamber. Batista choked Orton in the air, until Benoit clipped his knee from behind. Benoit and Orton worked over Batista. Jericho tried to roll up Orton for a two count. The referees helped the cameraman out. Triple H nailed a knee to the head of Orton. Jericho bulldogged Triple H into the chamber. Benoit shoved Batista facefirst into the Chamber. Triple H was now bleeding a gusher. Batista began choking down Benoit with his boot. Benoit began firing back with chops. Batista hit a spinebuster on Benoit. Batista powerbombed Jericho on Benoit, then covered Benoit for the pin.
Chris Benoit has been eliminated.
Orton and Triple H battled outside the ring on the steel. Jericho chopped away at Batista. Batista caught Jericho and slammed him down, then went for the powerbomb. He powerbombed Jericho bigtime with a sitdown bomb and scored the pin.
Chris Jericho has been eliminated.
Triple H catapulted Randy Orton into the chamber, busting him open. Triple H gave Batista the thumbs up and clotheslined Orton back into the ring. Batista held Orton for Triple H to slap him. Batista watched as Triple H beat on Orton. Batista hits a powerslam on Orton, who kicked up at two. Triple H hit the spinebuster for a two count. Triple H picked up Orton, then measured and hit a running clothesline for yet another two count.
Batista continued to work over Orton. Orton blocked a shot from each and tried to battle back against both Triple H and Batista. He went for the RKO but Triple H kicked him off into Batista. Batista went for the powerbomb, but Orton hit him low then hit an RKO for the pin.
Batista has been eliminated.
The crowd booed the elimination. Triple H and Orton continued to go back and forth. Orton hit an RKO. Ric Flair tried to hit the ring but was stopped by Shawn Michaels. While Michaels was distracted, Batista clotheslined Orton and left him laying. The crowd chanted Batista's name as he exited the Arena. Triple H picked up Orton and hit the Pedigree.
Triple H scored the pin.
Randy Orton has been eliminated.
Your winner and new WWE World champion Triple H. Batista put Triple H on his shoulders after the match and Evolution celebrated.
2007 - WWE broadcast ECW on Sci Fi. Mike Johnson filed the following TV report:
ECW on Sci Fi opened with Joey Styles, Tazz, and Brad Armstrong welcoming everyone to the show.
Hardcore Holly vs. CM Punk
They started off fast with a lot of fast counter wrestling. Punk went for the Anaconda Vice early, but Holly got to the ropes. Punk snapmared Holly, then dropkicked him in the back of the head, getting a two count. Punk charged Holly in the corner but Holly kicked him in the face. Punk came back with a powerslam and went back for the Vice. Punk clotheslined Holly over the top to the floor, then went for a tope suicida. Holly moved and Punk crashed to the floor, getting caught in the ropes on the way down. Tazz noted that Punk's winning streak in ECW was on the line, which probably means Punk's streak is about to end. Wait didn't it end at December to Dismember?
Holly worked over Punk with a side chinlock. Punk fought his way back up but Holly cut him off with a back elbow as Punk rebounded off the ropes. Holly used the ropes to tie up Punk and work him over with clubbing shots across the chest. He choked Punk on the ropes, who was now bleeding from the mouth. Holly went to the center turnbuckle and hit a legdrop for a near fall. Punk came back with a series of knee strikes, then springboarded off the ropes into a high crossbodyblock for another near fall. Holly cut off Punk with a dropkick, scoring a two count. Good, solid match thus far.
Punk came charging for a high knee in the corner but Holly cut him off and clotheslined him across the ropes. He slammed Punk into the cornerpost, then nailed the Alabama Slam for the pinfall. Not how I would have ended Punk's winning streak, but the match was solid.
Your winner, Hardcore Holly!
Backstage, referee Mickie Henson told Test his match was next. Test said that he shouldn't have to wrestle tonight because he should be the one in the ECW World championship. He said that he was better than Bobby Lashley and Rob Van Dam. He said he wasn't going to go out to the ring tonight because he shouldn't have to wrestle. The promo came off way too scripted and flat to be effective in my opinion.
Joey Styles promo'd that Tommy Dreamer vs. The Great Khali would be an Extreme Rules match tonight.
Elijah Burke was in the ring and said that last week, he prophesized that Sylvester Turkay would beat someone and that's exactly what happened. He said that he told Turkay to stay in the back because this week, Burke promised, he was going to knock someone out. He challenged anyone from the building to come to the ring.
Cue Sandman's grand entrance. Burke had a big smile on his face. Sandman, who busted himself up during his entrance, entered the ring and had words center ring with Burke. Burke went to punch him but Sandman used his cane to block it. Burke landed a few lefts but Sandman began caning him. Burke left the ring and told Sandman to put the cane back. Burke finally backed off and left ringside. They began playing Sandman's music. Segment just seemed to end without any real conclusion. A different first chapter for this storyline.
They aired a video feature on The Great Khali. I guess we know who's winning tonight on the road to Wrestlemania.
They aired a New Year's Revolution PPV replay commercial.
Extreme Rules: Great Khali vs. Tommy Dreamer
Daivari was with Khali. Dreamer came out wielding a street sign, but Khali stepped on the sign as Dreamer entered the ring, rending it useless. He began destroying Dreamer with headbutt and clotheslines. Dreamer pulled himself back to his feet using the ropes. Khali forced him back down and choked Dreamer with his boot. He nailed Dreamer with an elbow, then smothered Dreamer's face. Dreamer finally came back with street sign shots but was cut off when Khali punched the sign into Dreamer's face. Khali picked up Dreamer by the throat and slammed him down. He stepped on Dreamer's chest and pinned him. Wow, that Dreamer pushed lasted a whole, um, beats me.
Backstage Rob Van Dam was interviewed. He said that everyone backstage says RVD is too cool to care about anything. He said that wasn't true because he cares about ECW and cares about being the ECW World champion. He said that it capped the ten year journey that started the night he first stepped into an ECW ring (January 1996 to be exact) and he cared about the night in July the belt was taken from him in Philadelphia. He said that tonight, the title goes back home to RVD.
The Wrestlemania Recall was Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam Bam Bigelow. I wonder if they will mention Bigelow is a former ECW World champion? My guess is no.
They showed replays of Dreamer getting destroyed by Khali. They showed Dreamer fighting back to his feet during commercial. Joey Styles said that no matter what happens to Dreamer the spirit of ECW keeps him going.
Kevin Thorn vs. Shannon Moore
Ariel was dressed like a gothic Catholic school girl. I never saw anyone like her when I attended St. Mel's Elementary in Queens, NY. Thorn cut off Moore as he slid between Thorn's legs and clotheslined him. He clobbered Moore with a series of punches. Thorn slammed Moore backwards off the ropes into the ring. Thorn put Moore on the ropes, stared into Moore's face, then drilled him with an Ace Cutter. They called it the "Dark Kiss."
They showed ECW World champion Bobby Lashley warming up backstage. ECW on SciFi
They aired a video feature on Kelly Kelly, announcing she would return to ECW next week.
ECW World champion Bobby Lashley vs. Rob Van Dam
Lashley and RVD locked up. Van Dam was shoved into the ropes and shoulderblocked down. Van Dam and Lashley went back and forth with a series of offensive moves and faced off as ECW went to commercial. As they came back, Lashley slammed RVD. They showed clips of some good physical action from during the commercial break. Lashley hit a beel out of the corner. He charged RVD for a tackle but Dreamer dropped down into a drop toehold, sending Lashley into the turnbuckles. Van Dam nailed his split legged moonsault for a two count. Van Dam nailed Lashley with a Ryder Kick off the top rope. he cinched in head scissors on Lashley. Van Dam nailed a thrust kick for another near fall. Lashley pulled RVD into a Torture Race but RVD escaped and hit the windmill reverse kick. RVD nailed Rolling Thunder on Lashley.
Lashley drilled RVD with a belly-to-belly suplex. He charged for a spear but RVD evaded and Lashley landed on the floor. Van Dam dropped Lashley on the table and went for a corkscrew legdrop on the table, but Lashley moved. RVD went down screaming and holding the leg. Lashley tossed RVD back into the ring and went to work. He nearly scored a pin after a backdrop. RVD was drilled with a series of spears in the corner. Lashley hit a snap suplex, then hit a delayed vertical suplex.
Lashley measured RVD and speared him. Lashley prepared for his finisher but was hit from behind with a steel chair by Test. Test ran off the referee then sent RVD out of the ring. Test glared down at the beaten Lashley, then stalked off.
Match was good until the finish. The story was that Test screwed ECW and the fans out of the rematch. They can only do so many matches without a finish before fans give up, so it'll be interesting to see where it goes.
2009 - WWE continued with layoffs of their staff, even firing Vince McMahohon's two limo drivers. WWE also officially announced they were laying off 10% of their staff.
2009 - As part of WWE cutbacks, WWE released Kevin Thorne, Bam Beeley, Referee Jimmy Korderas, D'Lo Brown, Val Venis, and Producer Tim White.
2009 - Steve Austin was announced as leading the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame class.
2009 - Koch Records releases an official soundtrack for "The Wrestler."
2010 - Richie Steamboat, son of former NWA World champion Ricky Steamboat, was signed to a WWE developmental deal.
2010 - WWE released the following developmental talent:
WWE developmental talents who were released yesterday:
*Dino Carter (real name Rashad Goff)
*Chris the Bambikiller (Christoph Herzog)
*Lennox McEnroe (Bryan Wilcott)
*Leroy Morgan (Max McGuirk, son of former WWF announcer Mike McGuirk, grandson of legendary promoter Leroy McGuirk)
*Lift Swayner (Aaron Reed)
*Johnny Riggs (Dylan Klein), who actually gave notice several weeks back that he was leaving and was granted his release. He was not dropped by the company.
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