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May 20th
On this day in history in ....
1963 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Magnificent Maurice in the main event of a WWWF event in Providence, Rhode Island.
1964 - The WWWF ran Baltimore, Maryland at the Arena with the following results:
-Miguel Perez defeated Boris Malenko.
-Arnold Skaaland defeated Matt Gilmore.
-Luke Graham fought Don McClarity to a draw.
-Bobo Brazil defeated Gorilla Monsoon via disqualification.
-Killer Kowalski defeated Bill Watts via disqualification.
-Red Berry, Hans & Max Mortier defeated the Scufflin Hillbillies & Pedro Morales.
1965 -WWWF ran Washington DC at the Capital Arena headlined by Bill Miller defeated WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino via disqualification. According to newspaper reports, Miller petitioned the WWWF for the title but the organization stated that it was non-title and Sammartino competed in an 'outlaw' contest
1966 - Curtis Iaukea defeated WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino via disqualification in Pittsburgh, PA.
1967 -WWWF ran Baltimore, MD with the following results:
1983 - NWA World champion Ric Flair defeated Dewey Robertson in St. Joseph, Missouri.
1983 -WWF ran Struthers, OH at The Fieldhouse, drawing 3,800 with the following results:
1984 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Charlotte, NC at the Coliseum, featuring:
-Vinnie Valentino defeated Jeff Sword.
-Johnny Weaver defeated Bob Bass.
-Rufus R. Jones & Mark Youngblood defeated Ernie Ladd & Jesse Barr.
-Assassin #1 defeated Angelo Mosca Sr..
-Jimmy Valiant defeated Adrian Street.
-NWA U.S. Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Dick Slater.
-Dusty Rhodes & Wahoo McDaniel defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions Ivan Koloff & Don Kernodle via disqualification.
1995 - ECW ran the second and third shows of the "Malenko-Guerrero" Classic weekend with the idea being that the better man and World TV champion would be determined after the three match series held over two days. Results from the event:
1999 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Lansing, MI at the Lansing Center with the following results:
2001 - WWF held their Judgment Day Pay-per-view in Sacramento, California. Here are the results of matches that aired on Sunday Night Heat:
- Raven defeated Val Venis.
- Hardcore & Crash Holly defeated TAKA Michinoku & Sho Funaki.
Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the PPV:
WWF desperately needed a good PPV as they entered Sacramento for Judgment Day. The last couple of weeks of TV have seen ratings deteriorate along with show quality. Much of this PPV looked to be the same old same old. But the bottom line is, it delivered. It wasn't spectacular as some of the shows were earlier this year. But it was a darn solid show even if some of the match-ups were hardly original. Commentary from Jim Ross & Paul Heyman was solid. Crowd heat was very good for most of the show, which helped a lot. The successful show should help WWF morale, and hopefully when the WCW feud starts up things will start to rebound overall.
WILLIAM REGAL beat RIKISHI in 3:56. They kept this one real short since Rikishi is injured. Rikishi went for the stink face early but Regal hit him with a low blow. Rikishi missed an ass drop but came back with a lariat and put Regal down in the corner for a successful stink face. Regal bailed out and acted like he was about to throw up. Rikishi rammed him into the stairs and he juiced. Back in the ring, Rikishi missed a charge and his injured shoulder hit the post, allowing Regal to score an abrupt pin with his neckbreaker move. Not much to the match, but nothing bad about it either.
Edge & Christian were discussing their upcoming Tag Team Turmoil match, noting that the winner earns a WWF Tag Title shot which would give them a chance to become eight time champions. Kurt Angle arrived, wanting pointers for how to handle a ladder match. The only advice they had was not to fall off the ladder without at least getting his medals first.
Vince McMahon greeted the arriving Hunter Hearst Helmsley & Stephanie. Vince was concerned that HHH & Steve Austin might have provoked Undertaker too much by involving his wife in that TV angle last week.
KURT ANGLE defeated CHRIS BENOIT in two-out-of-three falls to regain his Olympic gold medals in a total match time of 23:57. Each fall was under different rules. The first fall could only be won via pinfall. Angle attacked Benoit and tried Benoit's own moves on him. He hit the multiple German suplexes, but when he went for the diving headbutt Benoit rolled clear. Benoit then nailed Angle with Angle's own Olympic Slam for a surprise quick pin at 1:02. Fall two, which could only be won via submission, started immediately with Benoit going for the crossface but Angle escaped to the floor. Benoit pounded Angle on the outside. Returning to the ring, they did a great job trading submission attempts and escapes. The pace slowed a little for a while before they again began brawling. Benoit hooked a figure four. Angle made the ropes but Benoit kept working on the leg. Benoit hit a DDT and Angle got up a little too fast from it. Angle then surprised Benoit with the Angle (Olympic) Slam and hooked the ankle lock for the submission. Time of the second fall was 12:22. The third fall was the ladder match. Angle attacked Benoit as the medals were being hung above the ring. Angle got a ladder and tried to climb but was knocked off. Angle really isn't the type of wrestler for this style of match but he did fine. Benoit tried to climb but got pulled down. Angle tried to hit Benoit with the ladder but Benoit sidestepped and the ladder sailed into the aisle and Angle bumped over. Benoit used the ladder on Angle on the floor. They did a few standard ladder spots in the ring, including one that sort of got messed up when Angle tried to run up the ladder in the corner. Angle suplexed Benoit on the ladder. They did a great teeter-totter spot with the ladder striking Angle. Benoit pinned Angle under the ladder and tried to climb but Angle tipped the ladder over. Benoit rebounded and hooked the crossface, attempting to put Angle out so that he could then climb. But Edge & Christian attacked Benoit (this was legal since the ladder rules were no DQ). As Benoit fought Edge & Christian, Angle simply climbed up and got the medals to win the third fall in 10:33. Benoit tipped the ladder over but Angle had already won. The ending was lame but overall the match was very good.
Undertaker went to Commissioner Regal and demanded that his match against Austin be made into a no holds barred bout. Regal at first refused but changed his mind quickly when UT threatened to destroy him.
Jerry Lynn did a promo from WWF New York and complained that he should be defending the Light Heavyweight Title on the PPV. He was absolutely right.
RHYNO defeated TEST and BIG SHOW in a three-way match to retain the Hardcore Title in 9:13. Rhyno has been a really great addition to the WWF roster. But this match wasn't quite up to the level of his match against Raven on the last PPV. Mostly, Rhyno and Test kept joining forces to put Show down, and then would fight each other. They brawled through the crowd and to the back, without a whole lot of heat. They did the standard brawling with assorted weapons. Back in the ring, Rhyno and Test fought with the garbage cans and lids. Show chokeslammed the hell out of Rhyno. Test used a fire extinguisher on Show. Rhyno flattened Test with a can shot and then tossed the can at Show. Show caught it, and in a Van Daminator-type spot Rhyno gored the can into Show for the pin.
Eddie Guerrero offered to help Lita in her match against Chyna, but Lita preferred to do it on her own.
Regal nervously informed Austin that he had made the main event match a no holds barred bout. Luckily for Regal, Austin liked the new rules. Regal then acted tough and said he had only agreed to UT's demand because he knew Austin would also like those rules.
CHYNA beat LITA in 6:30 to retain the WWF Women's Title. Chyna has a new outfit with peacock feathers. It didn't quite fit her, as her boobs kept almost falling out throughout the match. Both worked hard but the match wasn't all that fluid. Lita really needs to go train with the Gaea Girls. I know it's rough, but it would really make her career. Chyna teased a heel turn, using clubbing blows that were technically legal. Once, when she had Lita down, she lifted her head up at the two count. Lita turned a powerbomb attempt into a huracanrana. Chyna blocked a Twist of Fate and won with a powerbomb that hit the mark. Afterwards, they hugged. Guerrero came out during the match and watched from the ramp top, not making his intentions clear.
Kurt Angle thanked Edge & Christian for coming out and "cheering him on to victory", though he denied they interfered.
KANE defeated HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY in a chain match in 12:27 to capture the IC Title. HHH attacked before the bell and used a chair on Kane's bad arm. He then hooked the chain to Kane's bad wrist so it would hurt him throughout the match. Kane used the chain to whip HHH. On the floor, HHH sent Kane into the stairs and used the chain on the bad arm. HHH got a chair, but in a really cool spot Kane jerked the chain and HHH's face got smashed into the chair against the ring post. HHH juiced big. Kane went to work on HHH with the chain, including hanging him over the ropes by his neck. They brawled around the ring barrier and HHH got slammed off of it. Kane blocked a Pedigree and lariated HHH with the chain. The match had great heat. Kane chokeslammed HHH and was going for the pin when Austin ran in. Kane disposed of him but HHH got Kane with a low blow. HHH was setting Kane up when Austin tried to help with a chairshot. But Kane ducked and HHH took the blow and was pinned for the title change. The ending came suddenly enough that it really popped the crowd. The match was really hot!
Backstage, HHH was furious over Austin's screw-up and kept screaming at Vince about it, wondering why Vince hadn't been out there during the match.
CHRIS JERICHO & CHRIS BENOIT won a Tag Team Turmoil match series to earn a shot at the WWF World Tag Titles. This was a series of separate matches with participants determined by "random draw". The first match saw THE ACOLYTES defeat PERRY SATURN & DEAN MALENKO in 1:30. It went pretty quickly, with Faarooq pinning Saturn with a spinebuster to advance to the next challengers. THE ACOLYTES beat THE DUDLEYS in 4:56. The place went nuts for the Dudleys. There were lots of near falls and the match was non-stop. Faarooq took the wazzup. D-Von got a table but was attacked by the Holly Cousins, who put D-Von through it. This distracted Bubba, who was lariated for the pin by Bradshaw.
Match three saw X-PAC & JUSTIN CREDIBLE down THE ACOLYTES in 3:43. Solid brawling with Albert constantly interfering. Bradshaw had X-Pac up for a slam but Albert tripped him and held his leg from outside as X-Pac fell on top for the pin. Match four was X-PAC & CREDIBLE over THE HARDYS in 3:10. Albert again interfered. X-Pac did the Bronco on Jeff Hardy. Jeff came back and did a swanton on X-Pac but Albert stopped the pin, being a one-man interference machine. Jeff did a high plancha over onto Albert. Credible superkicked Matt and X-Pac pinned him. Match five was JERICHO & BENOIT over X-PAC & CREDIBLE in 5:16. Benoit was Jericho's mystery partner. Albert did his thing again by attacking Jericho and dropping him on the security barrier. Jericho juiced from the mouth. X-Pac laid in some chops and kicks on Benoit but crotched himself attempting a Bronco. Jericho hit a great missile kick on X-Pac. The ref took a bump (a real good one, too) so a substitute ref went in. Albert attacked Benoit and X-Pac & Credible doubled on Jericho, but the babyface comeback took place and all three heels got laid out. Benoit hooked the crossface on Credible while Jericho put the walls on X-Pac for a double submission. The final match had JERICHO & BENOIT beating EDGE & CHRISTIAN in 7:09. E & C drew the coveted final entry position. The opened with some real good brawling. Jericho did a lionsault but landed on Edge's upturned knees. Benoit suplexed the hell out of Christian. Benoit dropkicked Christian off Jericho's shoulders. E & C got chairs but Jericho & Benoit did baseball slides and kicked them into their faces. They did several chair spots with each being blocked before finally Benoit forced Christian to tap out to the crossface. This whole six match series was non-stop action. Really good stuff!
STEVE AUSTIN defeated UNDERTAKER in 23:04 to retain the WWF World Title. Vince did color commentary. Undertaker immediately attacked Austin and pounded him on the floor. The crowd popped big and stayed hot through the entire match. UT continued to dominate until Austin surprised him with a neckbreaker. Austin went to work on UT's bad knee. Austin got a chair but UT blocked the shot. They did a terrific criss-cross sequence leading to Austin getting lariated. UT blocked a stunner and laid Austin out with a boot to the face. UT stalked Vince on the floor. Austin attacked UT from behind and agan went after the knee. There was actually an "Austin sucks" chant, if you can believe it. UT came back and hurled Austin from the ring. He then chokeslammed Austin through the announcers' desk. Austin juiced from a couple of cuts on his back, apparently hardway cuts from some sharp object on the desk. When Austin recovered he hit UT with a monitor and UT juiced big. Austin worked UT over and scored several near falls to huge heat. Austin used a chair on UT, who went down but defiantly flipped Austin off. Austin hit the stunner but only scored two, which drew an enormous pop. Austin hit UT with more chairshots but UT stopped him with a low blow. All this was legal, by the way, under the no holds barred rules. UT did the big comeback and chokeslammed Austin, mauling him with a chair afterward. HHH ran in with a sledgehammer, evidently having calmed down from his earlier anger at Austin, but UT met him with a chairshot. Vince went in and UT went after him. Austin recovered and swung a chair but accidentally hit Vince. UT made a move toward Austin but was nailed from behind with the hammer by HHH. Austin then got the pin as the blow KO'ed UT. Believe it or not, the camera missed the pin as it was focused on the ramp, since Kane had started in for the save. Is it not scary how many match finishes have been missed by WWF cameras since they bought WCW? It's like they inherited a curse or something. Anyway, it was a great main event! Kane kept Austin & HHH from inflicting more harm on UT as the show left the air.
2002 - NWA: TNA announced that they had signed AJ Styles to a one year deal. The company also signed hardcore midgets Puppet and Teo to deals and announced Ed Ferrara and Don West would be working on the announcing team for their weekly Wednesday night PPV events.
2002 - WWE taped TV in Memphis, TN with the following results before 8,000:
Dark Matches:
-Ron Waterman defeated Crash Holly
-Bull Buchanon defeated Spike Dudley
Sunday Night Heat:
-D-Lo Brown defeated Justin Credible
-Tommy Dreamer defeated the Big Bossman
-Spike Dudley defeated Shawn Stasiak
-WWE Hardcore Champion Steven Richards defeated Crash Holly
During the live broadcast of Taw Rob Van Dam apparently beat the Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title, pinning him after hitting Rolling Thunder. However, Raw owner Ric Flair ordered the match to continue, since the referee had missed that Undertaker's foot was on the ropes during the cover. Van Dam hit Flair, only to be powerbombed and pinned by the Undertaker. Tim Whitehead filed the following Raw report:
The 5/20 edition of RAW IS WCW & CROCKETT aired live from the Pyramid in Memphis. I was hoping, after a good PPV, that RAW would rebound, but it didn't. The only positive was that they did seemingly plant some seeds for future storylines which might, if followed through upon, change directions.
They opened with a very nice tribute to the late Davey Boy Smith. Rest in Peace, Bulldog.
Rob Van Dam headed down toward the ring, presumably for a match against someone. It never began. Instead, Undertaker attacked RVD from behind on the ramp. He gave RVD a beating and posted him. RVD juiced big from above the eye. UT got in the ring, but when he saw that RVD wasn't totally beaten into unconsciousness, he left the ring and finished the job, delivering additional blows and using the stairs on him. UT returned to the ring and asked the crowd if he had gotten their attention. The crowd showed their concern for the fallen RVD by ignoring his plight and starting a "what" chant. I know it would be hard to do this on a live RAW, but at least on taped Smackdowns they should use that technical magic of theirs to edit those "whats" out of existence. UT introduced himself as the new WWE Undisputed World Champion. He didn't know what was wrong with RVD for daring to come down to the ring at the beginning of the show. He said he (UT) has the right to come out to open the broadcast and RVD should have known that. He added that he'll come out whenever he feels like it, and anyone else out there should just move aside, or they'll get their ass kicked. A bunch of refs came down and were attending to RVD, who was still out. UT said RVD just got acquainted with the #1 rule, which is that you will respect the Undertaker. And, in case you don't agree, UT recommended checking with Hulk Hogan down at the bus station. If he'd been thinking about product placement, he would have said Greyhound station. RVD revived enough to try to crawl into the ring, but UT put the boots to him and he fell back out. Jim Ross called UT repulsive and repugnant. UT boasted about beating the Hulkster for the title at Judgment Day and taking his pride. A "Hogan" chant started, but UT said Hogan won't be coming out. In fact, he claimed to have heard it on good authority that Hulk will announce his retirement on Smackdown. JR admitted that he had also heard that rumor going around. Didn't WCW do that same angle? UT said he killed off Hulkamania, and may it rest in peace. He said Hogan should thank him for not beating him up even worse. He continued bragging, saying that anyone who crosses him will pay the price, whether he's a legend like Hogan or a punk like RVD. By this point, RVD had revived again and staggered into the ring. UT said some people are thick between the ears and told RVD that he asked for this. He went after RVD with a roundhouse punch, but RVD ducked and went at UT with fists and kicks. He had UT down and was pounding him when the refs pulled him off. There was a good pop for this from the otherwise lukewarm crowd. The refs led RVD, who was bleeding heavily, from the ring. But RVD broke free and went back in. UT got some blows in on him, but once again RVD got the upper hand. He flattened UT with a kick and hit the five star frog splash on him. The refs seized RVD again and this time UT fled, staggering up the ramp to escape. Other than the "whats" this was a good idea to get someone started on the path to elevation. It did plant a seed, but the show's ending left it flat, at least for this week.
UT barged into Flair's office and screamed that that punk RVD disrespected him. He compared it to how Steve Austin has been disrespecting Flair. He tried to get on Flair's good side by noting that Flair has been seeing the light recently. Flair agreed, and said he no longer has differences with UT. UT asked for a match against RVD. So Flair booked a UT vs. RVD match for the title as the TV main event. UT acted a little disturbed over the title being on the line, noting that he only asked for a match. But Flair said if UT wants RVD in the ring, a title defense is his opportunity. UT accepted, but kept saying "damn" over and over about the title part. After UT left, Flair turned to Arn Anderson and bragged that he now knows how to control Austin and plans to throw him a curve ball he'll never see coming.
The Hardys beat Big Show & X-Pac in 4:22. Booker T came out with his NWO cohorts. X-Pac got in some moves on Jeff. Jeff came back with a spinning headscissors. Matt tagged in but Booker tripped him. Show powerslammed Matt. X-Pac kicked Matt and gave him the bronco ride. The Hardys came back with the poetry in motion. Show went back in and manhandled both Hardys. Booker tried to interfere again but accidentally kicked Show. X-Pac hit the X-Factor on Jeff and went for the pin. But the ref was distracted because Goldust, dressed as Elvis, got in the ring. This allowed Jeff to recover and cradle X-Pac for the pin as the ref returned his attention to the match. Both Show & X-Pac were furious at Goldust, and also at Booker since he's Goldust's (supposed) friend.
Trish Stratus was doing her warm-up exercises. Her breasts were shown in sufficient quantity to warm up things quite well. Paul Heyman arrived, doing the leering pervert routine he did with Lita several weeks ago. Heyman started talking about how hot Trish looked when she was in her bra & panties on Smackdown last week. He said she looked like such a woman at Judgment Day when she retained the women's title. He said he felt like such a man when he pinned Jeff Hardy to win the tag match for his team the same night. He recommended that they get together and relieve their sexual tension. Trish, instead of slapping him, just calmly walked off, saying it was time for her match. After she left, Heyman noted that she didn't say no.
They aired a promo for the new WWE Velocity show.
Backstage, Show & X-Pac were still ragging on Booker & Goldust. They blamed Booker's freak of a friend for their loss to the Hardys. Booker said he and Goldust aren't friends. Goldust, who was still dressed as Elvis, said Booker is his "personal companion". Show said he was going to have to take over as NWO leader and that from now on everyone should follow his instructions. I thought Flair was now NWO leader, but Flair had nothing to do with the NWO on this entire show. Not that I'm complaining, but wasn't that the storyline last week, and even last night? Anyway, X-Pac spoke up and said he's been NWO longer than Show or Booker so he should be the leader. Goldust then said that if they let him join, he can be leader but all three of the others shouted "No"! Booker said he'll be the leader and will earn the spot by doing something Show & X-Pac failed to do, namely, by kicking the Hardys' asses with the gold freak as his partner. Goldust, in an Elvis voice, said, "Thank you very much!" Booker told him to take all that gold crap off. It was later reported that Flair agreed to the Hardys vs. Booker & Goldust match.
Trish beat Jackie in 2:29 to retain the women's title. Trish wore a black cowboy hat, leading Jerry Lawler to note that that doesn't make her horizontally accessible to JR. He also said if Jackie's bra size had any more D's in it she wouldn't have graduated. The match was pretty stiff as they really went at it. Trish is willing to take some punishment in there. She won with the bulldog to retain the belt. They shook hands afterward. But then, Heyman and Brock Lesnar came out. Heyman said Trish failed to give him a direct answer earlier, and that Lesnar doesn't like it when that happens. He demanded a yes or no from Trish on the issue of whether or not she'll make herself available to him. He said if she says yes, Lesnar will be nice, but if she says no, Lesnar will be rough. Trish looked Heyman straight in the eye and said no. So Heyman sent Lesnar in the ring to be rough. Trish acted terrified and tried to escape but Lesnar cornered her. But before Lesnar could touch her, Bubba Ray Dudley arrived. He glared at Lesnar and they were about to go at it, but Heyman grabbed Lesnar and wanted to leave. They kept staring menacingly at one another, but Heyman finally got Lesnar to back off. Bubba stared them down as they left. Trish was overacting in her fear, going so far as to physically tremble over the Lesnar threat.
A Judgment Day video montage aired. JR & Lawler put over the Undisputed Title change and the rumored Hogan retirement on Smackdown.
Another "Day in the Life of Tommy Dreamer" segment aired. This time, Tommy visited the barber shop. As his hair was being cut, he announced that if you eat your hair trimmings, your hair grows back faster. So he started eating wads of his own hair. He also drank hair tonic and ate hair gel. Everyone in the barber shop watched this. I hope they aren't impressionable. On his way out, he saw a guy sweeping up the day's trimmings from the floor, so he ate some of that, too, making a point of downing a hair wad that had some toilet paper stuck to it.
The doctor was stitching RVD up. He recommended that RVD not go back out for his match. But RVD said UT messed with the wrong guy and that he would be there for the match.
Bubba Ray Dudley beat William Regal by DQ in a European Title match in 2:44. Molly Holly came out with Regal. She tried to trip Bubba but failed, and he chased her. The match had no crowd heat but they were doing okay. Bubba laid Regal out with a sideslam and told himself to get the table. But as he was doing so, Lesnar attacked from behind as Heyman cheered him on. Lesnar left Bubba laying with the Brockbuster. I guess this meant Regal was DQ'ed, but of course he retained the belt. After all this, Molly gave Regal the brass knux and, when Bubba came to after the Brockbuster, Regal KO'ed him. So it'll be Bubba vs. Brock for the near term, rather than Bubba vs. D-Von, which will be saved for future PPV angles.
Hour two began with Flair & Arn coming out. Yet another "what" chant erupted. Flair said that he wasn't the legal man in the ring at Judgment Day when Austin pinned him in the handicap match. Therefore, Austin did not legally win that match, and Flair said he had exercised his power as owner to eradicate Austin's win from the record book. Flair quoted a line from Sinatra's "My Way" in admitting that he's made a few mistakes in dealing with Austin. But he said he now has a new plan, called Plan B, to deal with the rattlesnake. He thus called Austin out to hear Plan B face to face. Austin came out and glared intimidatingly at Flair. Arn stepped in front of Flair and said he's Flair's permanent back-up, so Austin had better back off. Huh? Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that we were supposed to have sympathy for Arn because he can no longer fight due to his injuries? And now he's a guy Austin is supposed to back off from? Anyway, Flair said he has been repeating Vince's mistake of trying to stack the deck against Austin by putting him in matches where the odds are against him. He admitted that doesn't work. So Plan B would take away the thing that makes Austin tick. Namely, Flair said he would banish Austin from any matches on TV. The crowd chanted "a**hole". As RAW owner, Flair told Austin to get out of his sight and hit the bricks. Austin beat up both Flair and Arn and gave stunners to both. He started to leave, but went back long enough to flip Arn off and pour beer on Flair. Flair should have tried a different plan, one which puts Austin back on track with serious matches and credible promos without all the "whats", but I think that's Plan Z-167 in the WWE planning book.
The Hardys beat Booker & Goldust in 1:05. The main focus here was Raven, who came out and joined JR & Lawler uninvited on commentary. Raven said he was sick of Lawler's lecherous comments and said he acts as if he doesn't know anything about wrestling anymore. He said all Lawler talks about are puppies and other female traits, adding that if Austin really knew anything about women his wife (Kat) wouldn't have left him. Raven said he'd show Lawler how to commentate correctly. Before the match began, they showed the Booker hotel room skit from Judgment Day, thankfully covering up his naked ass for free TV. The match amounted to nothing, as Show & X-Pac came out and interfered, deliberately causing Goldust to be pinned.
They cut to Mug's Pub, which is a famous club in Memphis that does karaoke. Austin & Debra arrived there and ordered a couple of beers. The place was miked poorly so you couldn't hear them all that well.
They cut back to the arena where Booker was angry at Show & X-Pac for causing his team's loss. X-Pac demanded to know where Booker was last night at Judgment Day, saying they could have used him there during the handicap match against Austin. Booker brought up X-Pac's mistimed interference in that match, where he accidentally kicked Show. X-Pac said Booker spent the evening in some hotel room trying to get laid by some Halle Barry looking chick. Booker said that at least he can get laid. He added that they're all jealous of him for being a five time former WCW World Champion. Show said he never asked Booker to join the NWO, and if Booker wants out, he'll take him out permanently. Booker and Show were about to fight when Kevin Nash showed up. Nash glared at Goldust, who acted intimidated and crawled from the ring. Nash then told Booker that it was Flair who brought him into the NWO, but he added that while Flair may run RAW, he (Nash) runs the NWO. So I guess Nash is NWO boss, and Flair is just the RAW promoter who somehow used his corporate power to add a guy to the NWO roster. At least that's the story this week. Sort of the WCW management system from its dying days in microcosm. Nash then told Show & X-Pac that for the past two weeks they've made the NWO look pathetic. He said the NWO was once the most feared logo in wrestling and it can be again. This came off like one of those angles the NWO used to do in WCW when the concept had run its course, but they couldn't let it go so they kept adding and dropping members and regrouping in an effort to revive it. Nash said that he and Show are the two biggest guys in the WWE and together they'd be unstoppable. Nash & Show as a team? And to think some people have been saying the WWE tag division is dead! That was also a great way to remind everyone that the potentially upwardly mobile Brock Lesnar isn't the biggest guy, or even the second biggest. Nash then said he and X-Pac go back 12 years together. Nash, Show, and X-Pac did the "all for one" Three Stooges handshake. Nash then told Booker that the NWO has room for a five time world champion. Booker accepted the invitation and they all four shook hands and hugged. A really lame segment.
Back at Mug's, a waitress brought Debra a teddy bear. She said a gentleman across the room had sent it to her. The camera panned over and it was none other than Eddie Guerrero. Austin demanded to know why Guerrero was sending her a teddy bear and she swore she didn't know. She tried to calm Austin down by recommending he go up on stage for karaoke.
JR reported that they have sold 43,000 tickets for the upcoming stadium show in Melbourne, Australia. Lawler suggested that Raven should go there and not come back. Raven got in the ring and said he was sick of Lawler's wisecracks and comments about puppies. He called Lawler a has-been who no longer knows anything about wrestling. Raven said he was going backstage to dress out, and challenged Lawler to a fight, promising to humiliate Lawler via the Raven Effect. Lawler accepted the challenge. This was all being done since Memphis is Lawler's hometown.
Austin started up onto the stage, but Guerrero was there already. Both acted like they were drunk. They got in each other's face but Debra begged Austin not to start anything. So Austin deferred and let Guerrero go first. Guerrero sang (using the term "sang" loosely, or perhaps as an antonym) "Shameless". This was awful, though it was deliberately awful as that was the idea. Back at the arena, JR went off on how awful it was, and yelled for someone to give Guerrero the hook.
Lawler beat Raven by count-out in 3:10. Not that much heat until Lawler did his trademark spots. Lawler sold at first, including a big bump over the top. Lawler then dropped his strap. He hit a dropkick and used the fists from the top position. He rammed Raven into the turnbuckles in all four corners. Lawler went up for the fistdrop but Raven bailed out and fled for the count-out. Since they went this far, I'm not sure why they didn't let Lawler score a pin, but he did get a hometown victory.
A drunken Austin staggered up on the stage and wanted to sing "Margaritaville". He "sang" a few lines and then wanted to switch to "The Chair", but instead ended up doing Hank Jr.'s "Family Tradition". It was pretty bad, though not as bad as Guerrero. I guess the difference between a drunken babyface and a drunken heel doing karaoke is that the babyface is horrible, but the heel is ultra-horrible. Austin left the stage to confront Guerrero, who was sitting with two babes. He got in Guerrero's face and threatened him, but Guerrero wouldn't look him in the eye. As Austin turned to leave, Guerrero broke a beer bottle over his head and Austin was left laying. This whole Mug's segment was really bad, though an Austin vs. Guerrero feud has potential, and is one of the positive seeds they planted in an otherwise bad show. Maybe they will give Austin a serious program after all.
Undertaker beat Rob Van Dam to retain the WWE Undisputed World Title in a total match time of 6:07. RVD hit a plancha on UT right at the start. He laid in the kicks and sent UT out to the floor. RVD did the legdrop on UT across the security rail. UT came back with a lariat. He pounded on RVD's cut, reopening it. RVD rallied and hit some more kicks. UT went down and RVD hit the rolling thunder on him. It had been a pretty good match up to this point. But after the rolling thunder, RVD went for the pin. UT put his foot on the ropes but the ref didn't see it. He counted the pin and RVD was announced as the new champion at 5:55. JR went totally overboard on the mic, screaming "Vam Dam wins! Van Dam wins!" And then Flair arrived. He said UT's foot was on the ropes and ordered the match re-started. RVD decked Flair but UT surprised RVD with the Last Ride and got the pin at 0:12 of the re-start period. It was a totally lame variation on the old Dusty Finish. So now WWE is not only copying the stuff that put WCW out of business, they're also copying the stuff that put WCW's predecessor, Jim Crockett Promotions, out of business.
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS:
Why doesn't the IC champ ever get a world title shot?
Why is Hogan back on Smackdown? What, exactly, are the rules governing which division the former champ goes to?
Why does Heyman always fear letting Lesnar fight impromptu challengers, when he wins all his matches?
Wouldn't you love to see an actual record book? Wouldn't the footnotes explaining the screwjobs take up more space than the records themselves?
Why can't someone like RVD simply win the title in a dramatic upset?
Has the NWO not become a complete joke?
2002 - WWE Smackdown drew 4,800 fans to Birmingham, AL at the Jefferson Civic Center with the following results:
-Lance Storm & Hardcore Holly defeated Randy Orton & Val Venis when a high crossbody from Orton put Storm on top who used the tights for leverage in order to get the win.
-Jamie Noble pinned Shannon Moore by reversing a victory roll and holding onto the ropes for leverage.
-Maven & Mark Henry defeated Christian & Albert when Henry pinned Christian with a running powerslam.
-WWE Cruiserweight Champion the Hurricane defeated Tajiri, Chavo Guerrero Jr., and Billy Kidman by pinning Chavo with the chokeslam.
-Rev. D-Von Deacon Batista defeated Farooq & Hugh Morrus.
-Hulk Hogan pinned Chris Jericho with the legdrop.
-WWE Tag Team Champions Rikishi & Rico defeated Billy Gunn & Chuck Palumbo when Rikishi kicked his partner in the face, falling on Palumbo for the pin.
-Edge pinned Test with the DDT.
-Torrie Wilson defeated Ivory, Victoria, and Stacy Keibler in a swimsuit contest.
-Triple H pinned Kurt Angle with the Pedigree.
2004 - TNA presented their weekly Wednesday night PPV from Nashville, TN, featuring the 2004 World X Cup. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
NWA:TNA's PPV featuring the WORLD-X Cup opened up with Team Japan's Nosawa, flanked by his partners, asking everyone not to steal the PPV broadcast....in Japanese. That was cute but Team Canada's was the funniest so far. They then aired a video feature on tonight's World X-Cup tournament.
The first bout of the World X-Cup was a 16 man Gauntlet (Royal Rumble with the final two wrestling) bout. The first competitor to make his way to the ring was Team NWA's Christopher Daniels. Johnny Devine from Team Canada was the second man out. They battled back and forth for the first 60 seconds. Team Japan's Nosawa was #3. Nosawa took down Daniels with a dropkick and an enziguiri. He locked Daniels in a Camel Clutch to set him up for a Devine dropkick to the face. Team Japan's Ishikari Taichi was #4 and went right to work on Daniels. He hit a tornado DDT on Daniels. All three began working over Daniels. Chris Sabin from Team NWA was #5 and hit the ring for the save. Sabin backdrops Taichi over the ropes. He landed on the apron but was hit with a springboard dropkick and was sent sailing to the floor and was eliminated. Next out was Team Mexico's Aguila. He and Devine began battling back and forth. Team Canada's Petey William was #7 and went right after Chris Sabin. Team Japan's Ryuji Hijikata was #8 and applied a cross arm breaker on Daniels. Williams is able to eliminate Sabin with a hurrancanrana over the ropes while Williams landed on the apron. #9 was Team NWA's Jerry Lynn and is jumped by Team Japan, but is able to toss Nosawa over to the floor. Team Mexico's Heavy Metal was out next and joined Aguila on working over Petey Williams. Aguila dropkicked him over the top onto the apron. Williams was hit with a baseball slide dropkick by Metal and slammed to the floor, eliminated. Mitsu Hirai Jr. and Bobby Rude were out. Rude quickly eliminated Christopher Daniels. Abismo Negro from Team Mexico drew #13. Team Mexico tosses over Johnny Devine but he skins the cat. He turns around is doubleclotheslined over the ropes. Hirai Jr. and Metal were both eliminated as they battled. #14 was Elix Skipper from Team NWA and he hit the ring. Jerry Lynn was tossed over the top, and clutched his knee. Aguila missed a kick on Skipper and sailed over the ropes. Eric Young drew #15 and went right after Abismo Negro. Team Canada worked over Negro as Hijikata and Skipper battled in the corner. The sixteenth and final competitor was Hector Garza who quickly eliminated Bobby Rude. Negro held Young for a tombstone, but Garza dropkicked him in the face while he was held upside down. Negro and Hijikata both went over the top. We're down to Garza, Skipper, and Young. Skipper and Hijikata hit a flapjack on Young, then tossed him to the floor.
Hector Garza and Elix Skipper then began wrestling. Garza missed a dropkick. Skipper then missed one as well. Garza hit a crossbody block for a two count, and then got another with a small package. Garza slammed Skipper and went to the top. He went for a moonsault, but Skipper moved. Garza landed on his feet and battled Skipper, hitting a facebuster for the pin. Garza scored the pin and the win for Team Mexico. Your winner, Hector Garza!
Team Mexico now leads the World X Cup with 3 points, while Team NWA received 1 point for going to the finals of the Gauntlet.
They aired a video feature on the Deadly Draw bout where Ron Killings won the NWA championship.
Jeff Jarrett came to the ring and told Mike Tenay to get in the ring. Jarrett said he wanted Vince Russo to come to the ring because he wanted confirmation that he would be challenging Ron Killings next week, 6/2 for the NWA championship. Jarett said that he was the last person Russo expected to see last week. Russo said that although he despises Jarrett, he wouldn't have denied Jarrett his rematch. Jarrett said Russo was riding his back Russo's entire career and next week he was exercising his right to a rematch. He said that Russo can then line up Raven, AJ Styles, America's Most Wanted and everyone else. Russo told Tenay that he's going to be a witness (what about all the fans?) And asked Jarrett to shake his hand, saying he's going to get his rematch on a handshake. They shook. Russo said they are going to do things Jarrett's way because it will be a rematch with Killings, Styles, Harris, and Raven in one night. He said that Jarrett claims to be the king of the mountain. Russo said next week will be the first King of the Mountain match. Russo said that 5 men will be in the ring and if someone is pinned, they are put in a penalty box for 2 minutes before returning to the match. The person who gets the pinfall is then given the NWA title and has the right to try to climb a ladder and hang it above the ring. The person who does so will be the new NWA champion. Jarrett tried to argue but Russo said that if he has a problem, they can just rip up the contract for Jarrett's rematch. Jarrett said that Russo has underestimated him for the last time.
Backstage, Scott Hudson interviewed Team NWA. Lynn said that everyone is second guessing Team NWA but it will be a different story at the end of the night.
Next up is a tag team match with Team NWA's Elix Skipper & Christopher Daniels vs. Team Canada's Johnny Devine & Bobby Rude. Rude tossed Skipper to the floor as they doubled on Daniels. Daniels clotheslines Devine over the top. Team NWA worked over Rude. Daniels gets a two count on Devine and then hit a back suplex. He set up Skipper who came in with a springboard legdrop on Devine as he was draped over the top rope. Devine hit a DDT and tagged in Rude. Rude hit a neckbreaker on Skipper. Rude tags in Devine who snapmares Skipper and hits a running dropkick off the ropes. They continue to beat on Skipper, who is trapped in their corner. Devine went for the pin but Daniels came in and broke it up. Devine goes for a shooting star press but Skipper moves. Skipper tags in Daniels who cleans house on Team Canada, hitting enzugiris. He covers Rude but Rude gets his shoulder up. Daniels hits an uranage but only received a two count. Daniels went for a Best Moonsault Ever but was cut off. Rude hit a TKO on Skipper, but Skipper gets his shoulder up. Devine hit a missile dropkick on Daniels for a two count but Skipper makes the save. Rude takes out Skipper. Rude hits a sit down powerbomb and Devine came off the top with a moonsault, but Daniels cuts off the pinfall. Devine went to come off the top but Skipper shoves him into the ropes and he crotched himself. Skipper walked the ropes and then hit a hurrancanrana into the ring on Devine who was sitting on the ropes. Daniels and Skipper hit a powerbomb/neckbreaker combo for the pin. The winners, Team NWA's Elix Skipper & Christopher Daniels.
The points are now:
Team Mexico - 3 Points
Team NWA - 3 Points
Team Canada - 0 Points
Team Japan - 0 Points
They aired a video feature on the Kid Kash & Dallas vs. James Storm & Dusty Rhodes feud. Kash cut a promo saying that he's been everywhere Rhodes has been and he's done it better and prettier. He said that they have a title match on 6/2, and they are gonna shove the title belts down Storm and Harris' throats.
Scott Hudson interviewed Dusty Rhodes and James Storm. Storm said it is amazing to have a good friend like Dusty Rhodes at his side. Rhodes said he looked at a book of great tag teams (Hey, Greg Oliver is working on that one!) And couldn't find anything about Kid Kash, but it said America's Most Wanted is a tremendous team. He said that Kash and Dallas can see their doom coming on 6/2. Rhodes said he can't wait to wear the belt in downtown El Paso, Texas and they are coming next week.
The next bout in the World X Cup features Team Japan's Ryuji Hijikata & Nobukazu Hirai vs. Team Mexico's Abismo Negro & Heavy Metal. Team Japan doubled on Negro in the early minutes of the bout. Mike Tenay discussed the history of All Japan and noted that Giant Baba and The Great Muta were both former NWA champions. Negro hit a dive on Hirai as Metal hit a cross body block over him on Hijikata. Hirai missed an elbow. Negro hit a frog splash off the top on Hirai for a two count. Hirai locked on a crossarmbreaker on Negro but Metal came in to break it up. Hijikata began stomping on Negro's arm. Mike Tenay made an analogy to Ronnie Garvin. Hirai locked in an arm submission but Metal broke it up. Team Japan continued to beat down Negro. Metal came off the top on Hirai. He hits a bridging suplex for a two count. Metal locked in a cradle but Hirai's shoulder was up. Hijikata jumped in the ring and kicked Metal in the head. Hirai hit a sit out powerbomb. Metal is hit with a hurrancanrana off the top on Hirai. Negro comes off the top with a frog splash. Hirai hits the ring and hits and exploder on Metal for the pin. Your winners, Team Japan's Ryuji Hijikata & Nobukazu Hirai!
The points are now:
Team Mexico - 3 Points
Team NWA - 3 Points
Team Canada - 0 Points
Team Japan - 2 Points
Backstage, Scott Hudson interviewed Team Canada, who are scoreless already. Scott D'Amore noted they are on the verge of elimination. He said that if Eric Young doesn't win, they are leaving 26 million people empty handed and letting down their corporate sponsors. He said this quietly and then began screaming to pep up his team.
The next bout is good for 4 points and features Team NWA Jerry Lynn vs. Team Mexico's Mr. Aguila vs. Team Japan's Ishikari Taichi vs. Team Canada Eric Young in a ladder match. Young hits Taichi outside the ring with a ladder. Lynn hit a back elbow on Taichi, who comes back with a running enzigiuri in the corner on Lynn. Aguila began working over Young. He set up a ladder in the corner. He whips Young into the ladder and charges. Young moves out of the way and Aguila flies into the ladder. Young hits Taichi with the ladder and sends him to the floor. Young hits a moonsault off the top rope on Lynn. Young works over Lynn's back. He retreats out of the ring, but Lynn planchas to the floor. Back in the ring, Taichi and Aguila battled. Taichi hits a head scissors on Aguila. Aguila went to the top but was crotched by Lynn. Lynn standing on a ladder perched across the turnbuckles, tried to superplex Aguila but Aguila reversed it and sent Lynn down into the ladder. Aguila set up the ladder in the center of the ring. Young dropkicked it into Aguila, but it bounced back and landed on Young. Lynn began stomping Young. Lynn slammed Young's face into the ladder. Taichi began using the ladder as an airplane spin weapon, like Terry Funk. Lynn sends Young into the ladder facefirst. Lynn hits a corkscrew legdrop on the apron on Young, who was laying on a ladder. Aguila legdropped Taichi. Lynn bridged a ladder across the guard rail and the railing. Lynn and Young battle on the turnbuckles outside the ring. Lynn went for a tornado DDT into the ladder but Young escapes. Lynn pulls his legs out from under him and Young falls facefirst on the ladder outside. Aguila locks Taichi's leg inside a ladder and began stomping. Lynn hits a legdrop on Aguila. Lynn went for headscissors on Young, but he spun around and dropped him facefirst on a ladder. Young sends Taichi into a ladder. Young charges but was backdropped into a ladder perched in the corner. All four men were down. Lynn goes for a running powerbomb but Taichi reverses it into a hurrancanrana into a ladder. Lynn hiptosses Young into a ladder. Aguila hit a springboard moonsault onto Young, who was draped on the ladder but hurt himself as well. Lynn goes for a rocker dropper but is caught with a powerbomb by Aguila. Taichi goes for a tornado DDT off the apron but Lynn reversed it into a Northern Lights suplex into the ladder. Young and Lynn battled on the ladder but Aguila pushed it over. Taichi sent Young into the ladder. They catapulted the ladder over the ropes, sending Young flying to the aisle. Taichi and Aguila climbed the ladder but Aguila powerbombed him off the ladder. Lynn tries to climb the ladder but Aguila pulls him off. Aguila hit a legdrop off the ladder but misses. Young climbs up the ladder but Lynn battles him and snapmares him to the floor. Lynn climbed the ladder but Taichi dropkicked him off. Taichi and Aguila climbed to the top but Young slammed the ladder over, sending them flying into the ropes. Young sets up the ladder. He nearly reaches the big X above the ring but Lynn climbs up. He sets up Young for a cradle piledriver off the ladder but Scott D'Amore hit the ring and broke a hockey stick over Lynn's back. Young grabbed the X and gained the victory. Your winner, Team Canada's Eric Young, who puts Team Canada in the lead.
The points are now:
Team Mexico - 3 Points
Team NWA - 3 Points
Team Canada - 4 Points
Team Japan - 2 Points
Team Japan is mathematically eliminated.
The final bout in the World-X Cup is Team Mexico's Hector Garza vs. Team Canada's Petey Williams vs. Team NWA's Chris Sabin in an Ultimate X match
Scott Hudson interviewed NWA champion Ron Killings. Killings said he is going to be the champion for a long time. Konnan said 3 Live Kru has Killings' back. BG Jammes said he doesn't like the fact that Killings has to defend against 4 men in his first title match but they have his back and they haven't forgotten about Vince Russo.
Don West did a hard sell for the NWATNA website, Impact, and the TNA wrestling school.
Team Mexico was interviewed in Spanish. Garza said that he already defeated 15 men in the Gauntlet and the X Cup is going back to Mexico.
The final match for the World X Cup is an Ultimate X Match featuring Team Mexico's Hector Garza vs. Team Canada's Petey Williams vs. Team NWA's Chris Sabin. Garza and Sabin double on Williams with stereo kicks to the ribs. They toss Williams out of the ring. Sabin hits a spinkick. Garza and Williams hit reversals on armdrags. Garza hit a dropkick on Williams. He hits a faceplant on Williams. Garza tried to climb the cables but Sabin dropkicked him and he fell and rolled out of the ring. Williams hit a dropkick to Sabin's face. Sabin hits a spinkick off the ropes. Williams tries to scale the cables and reaches the middle but doesn't get to grab the X. He instead grabs Garza from above and comes down with a DDT. All three men are laid out. Sabin goes for a German Suplex but Garza grabs Sabin and German Suplexes both men at once. Garza climbs to the top and begins making his way across the cables but Williams grabs his legs. Sabin springboards off the ropes and dropkicks Garza, knocking his grip from the cables. Sabin grasped at his knee. Williams floats over Sabin and hits a Russian Leg Sweep. Williams is sent over the top and crashes down on Garza. Sabin hits a springboard dive to the floor on Garza and Williams. Williams whips Garza into the guard rail. Williams grabs the cables and uses them to swing into a hurrancanrana on Garza. Sabin hits a shoulderbreaker off the ropes on Williams. Garza drills him with a kick. Garza hits a tiltowhirl slam on Sabin and goes for the cables. Garza tries to hit a German suplex on Garza but Sabin hits an enziguiri. Williams hits the Canadian Destroyer piledriver on Sabin. All three men began climbing towards the center cables. They all kicked each other down. Sabin hits a brainbuster on Garza. Williams hits a Michinoku Driver on Sabin. Sabin climbs the cables. Williams tries to scissor his body but is fought off. Garza tries to dropkick him off but Sabin evades him. Sabin grabs the X and Team NWA captures the World X Cup. Team NWA came out with American flags to celebrate while Daniels carried the flag of the NWA. The referees brought out the World Cup to present it to Team NWA. Garza shook Team NWA's hands as he left the ring.
Final points:
Team Mexico - 3 Points
Team NWA - 7 Points
Team Canada - 4 Points
Team Japan - 2 Points
They aired a video on the King of the Mountain match to close the show.
2005 - Roddy Piper wrestled what was only his second match since 2003, facing then-0WWE star Carlito at the WWC "Friday Madness" show on 5/20 in Bayamon, PR. Jess McGrath penned the following:
Before what would very likely be considered a disappointing crowd of 2,000, Piper beat Carlito, the son of WWC legend Carlos Colon. They did a bit before the match where Carlito tricked Piper into saying nonsensical phrases in Spanish, such as "I am gay" and "I am trash". Piper caught on by the third attempt, hurled an insult at Carlito, and then the match began in earnest. Eric Alexander attempted to interfere but was stopped by security.
Piper's last match before this one was a six-man at Wrestlereunion in Tampa in January, where he teamed with Jimmy Snuka and Jimmy Valiant to beat Buddy Rose, Col. DeBeers, and Bob Orton. His last match on a major forum was a tag match at a Smackdown taping at Madison Square Garden on June 24, 2003, where he and Sean O'Haire lost to WWE tag team champions Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri.
They also did a Carlito's Cabana segment at the show, where Carlito put over new lead heel Rico Suave. The Wizard came out and begged Carlito to put the heel group back together (they had a split where El Bronco went babyface), to which Carlito responded by spitting the apple into his face.
Dory Funk Jr. made his first appearance for WWC in at least seventeen years, wrestling Carlos Colon. The two had a big-time feud over the Universal title in the mid-80s. Funk won the belt from Colon at an ICW (Savoldi) taping in Maine, with Colon regaining it on the island a few months later. They even had a mixed tag match at one point where Funk teamed with wife Marti against Carlos and Fabulous Moolah.
For this match, Marti was again in Funk's corner, while Carlos had recently married daughter Stacey with him. The match, unlike most Carlos matches these days, stayed inside the ring and consisted of a lot of actual wrestling. Marti and Stacey ended up fighting. Dory got the win. Seems like they are headed to a mixed tag match down the line.
Also of note:
Recently turned babyface El Bronco beat Rico Suave by DQ. Brian and Eric Alexander attacked Bronco, but he held them off. Eli Rodriguez and Carmen grabbed Black Rose and threatened to attack her. Bronco called their bluff, but they hit her with a kendo stick anyway. Bronco returned to the ring to make the save, but was destroyed by the Supreme Power (the name for the new heel group that's been getting a big push). Victor Jovica called out security to break it up.
Eddie Colon kept the Universal title over Alexander in a chain match.
El Diamante beat Chicky Starr in a match where a loaded glove and baseball bat (the two gimmicks of the guys in this match) were placed on a pole. Starr brought his bat down, but Eli gave Diamante powder, which he used to blind Starr and set up the fall.
Chris Joel won the Puerto Rican title from Brian in a title vs. hair match. Supreme Power jumped Joel afterward (Joel bladed in this attack) and cut off some of his hair until Bronco made the save.
2005 - WWE Raw ran a live event in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Tingley Coliseum. The show was marred with travel issues as Chris Jericho, Rob Conway, Viscera, Christy Hemme, and Matt Cappotelli all missed the event due to travel issues with their flights. The card was reshuffled, featuring:
WWE Judgment Day
The PPV opened with a video package focusing on the three major title (WWE, World, ECW) matches tonight, with a big hunk of time spent on the Great Khali. The three announce teams, all stationed at ringside, then welcomed us to the show and put over their respective main events.
Ric Flair vs. Carlito.
Carlito threw his apple at Flair as he came to the ring. Flair hit some chops at the bell, with Carlito trying to respond with punches. Carlito went for a sunset flip, but Flair dropped down on him and hit a series of punches. Flair continued the assault of punches and chops, then backdropped Carlito, who went to the floor to regroup. Carlito suckered Flair into reaching over the top rope to grab at him, and yanked Flair's arm down across the top rope as he jumped from the apron go the floor. Carlito went to work on the arm, stomping it and applied an overhead wristlock. Carlito used a hammerlock on the arm, but Flair backed Carlito into a corner to break out. Carlito threw punches at Flair's arm, then drove some elbows into it from the floor while stretching the arm over the ring apron.
Carlito threw Flair shoulder first into the turnbuckles, then hit a series of rights, and did it again before scoring a two count. Carlito hit a kneedrop on the arm. Carlito wrapped Flair's arm around the bottom rope and yanked on it, then whipped it into the steel ringpost from the floor. Carlito did it a second time, and then dropkicked the arm against the ringpost. Back in the ring, Carlito dropped an elbow on the arm, then slammed Flair. Flair rallied with some chops, but Carlito went after the arm again, then dropkicked Flair in the face as he was slumped in the corner. Carlito scored a two count, then applied an armbar. Flair rallied again with some chops, but Carlito threw a series of rights and wrapped the arm around the top rope and yanked on it. Carlito snapmared Flair and applied the armbar again. Flair armdragged out of it, but Carlito hit him with a clothesline for a two count, then stomped the arm and dropped an elbow on it.
Carlito elbowed Flair's shoulder repeatedly, then sunk in the armbar again. Flair armdragged out, and clutched his left arm. Carlito nailed him with a dropkick for a two count. Carlito threw Flair into a corner, but Flair threw a chop at him. Flair rallied with more chops, finally knocking Carlito to the mat, to a pop from the crowd. Flair chopped him down again, but Carlito backdropped Flair for a two count, which Flair escaped by yanking Carlito off by the hair. Carlito went back to the armbar, pulling Flair's hair at one point, so the referee made him break the hold. Carlito then sunk it back in, and raked Flair's face, so he had to break it again. Carlito then reapplied, then switched to an overhead wristlock. Flair yelled in pain from the armbar, but armdragged out and chopped Carlito down. Flair hit a kick to the gut, chopped him, then punched Carlito to the mat. Flair snapmared Carlito and kicked him in the side of the head.
Flair chopped Carlito against the ropes, then hit a reverse elbow and let out a "Whoo!". Flair backdropped Carlito, then chopblocked his knee, to a pop. Flair chopped and punched Carlito in a corner, but Carlito poked him in the eyes. Carlito went for a Backcracker, but Flair held onto the top rope and Carlito crashed down on his back. Flair started stomping Carlito's knee, then hit a kneedrop to the leg. Flair kicked the legs, then applied the figure four leglock to a pop. The crowd was really into the figure four, which was applied in the center of the ring. Carlito struggled, then tapped out at the 16-minute mark.
Winner: Ric Flair.
The crowd gave Flair a big ovation following the match.
Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed Shawn Michaels. They recapped what happened on Raw last week before Michaels could comment. Michaels talked about the "rumor" that he wouldn't be here. Before he could continue, Randy Orton jumped Michaels from behind and rammed him face first into the metal grid that made up the interview set. Michaels fell to the ground, clutching his face, and WWE Official Tony Garea ran in as Orton just walked off. Michaels kept clutching his face as they went to a video package on the Lashley-McMahon feud.
ECW World Champion Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon & Umaga vs. Bobby Lashley.
Yep, Vince actually put himself second on the show. Tazz and Joey Styles got the call for this one (which makes sense, being that the Raw team has three matches of their own to call tonight and it is for the ECW Title). All three members of Team McMahon had their own entrances again.
Lashley knocked Umaga over the top rope and then decked Shane as the bell rang. Lashley started pounding Vince, but Shane hit him from behind. Lashley tossed him away, knocked Umaga off the apron, then went after Vince again as he tried to crawl out of the ring, but Shane hit Lashley from behind and delivered some punches. Lashley tossed Shane in the corner and pounded him. Umaga went to avalanche Lashley from behind, but Lashley moved and Umaga squashed Shane in the corner. Lashley hit Umaga with a spear, then powerslammed Shane for the pin at about the one minute mark. Vince was on the floor, stunned.
Winner: Bobby Lashley.
Vince, who lost his do-rag and has very short hair now, stared at Lashley from the aisle. Umaga got back in the ring and attacked Lashley, laying him out with the Samoan Spike. Vince grabbed the ECW Title belt, and said that while Lashley won the handicap match, he isn't getting the title until he beats him. Vince announced that he is still the ECW World Champion, and left with the belt. As Joey Styles noted, because he owns the place, Vince is still the champion.
Backstage, the doctor was telling a woozy Shawn Michaels that he cannot go out and wrestle tonight. Michaels was too dazed to even respond.
CM Punk vs. Elijah Burke.
Punk had his ribs heavily taped. Burke came to the ring alone. There was a chant for CM Punk at the start. Punk applied a waistlock at the start, but Burke reversed and went for the ribs, but Punk hit a forearm and a kick. Punk applied a headlock, but Burke hit him in the ribs. Punk delivered a leg kick, and they struggled into a corner, with neither man getting an advantage. They locked up and Burke hit some punches to the ribs in the corner, then decked him with a shot to the face. Burke kicked at the ribs, but Punk reversed a whip and hit a kick to the gut, then snapmared Burke and kicked him in the back. Punk slammed Burke for a one count, then applied a reverse chinlock. Burke armdragged out of it and hit some shots to the ribs, then a knee to the gut.
Burke went for a slam, but Punk floated over and hit a pair of kicks to the body, then threw Burke with an exploder for a two count. Punk hit a pair of forearms in the corner, then a kick to the chest. Punk hit a running clothesline in the corner, then gave Burke a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Punk went back to the chinlock, but Burke hit some elbows to the gut, then delivered a series of punches to the ribs before tagging him with one to the face again. Punk reversed a whip and hit some shots of his own. Burke leapfrogged Punk after a whip, but Punk jumped onto the second rope and hit a reverse bodypress. Burke kicked out at two, then went after the ribs again, hitting a shoulderblock. Punk kneed a charging Burke, then went for a jumping knee in the corner, but Burke dumped him over the top rope and to the floor. When Punk was getting back into the ring, he slid under Burke and pulled him down into a sunset flip for a two count.
Punk applied a side headlock to Burke, but Burke shoved it off. Punk hit a shoulderblock, then the two traded hiptoss reversals until Punk scooped up Burke into a fireman's carry. Burke grabbed the top rope to avoid the Go To Sleep, so Punk tossed Burke over the top rope. Burke landed on the apron, and Punk hit the old Chris Jericho second rope springboard dropkick, knocking Burke to the floor. Punk then dove between the ropes to hit Burke with the elbow suicida. Back in the ring, Burke poked Punk in the eyes, but ran into a Punk boot. Punk went to the top rope, but Burke pulled him down hard into the ring and then drove a knee into the ribs for a two count. Burke started ripping the tape off of Punk's ribs. Burke hung Punk on the top rope and kicked him right in the rings, then got a two count. Burke applied a bodyscissors on Punk. Punk got out with some elbows, but Burke hit a vertical suplex and a back suplex, then scored a two count. For some reason, ringside fans were yelling at JBL, chanting at him.
Burke went back to the bodyscissors, but Punk fought out of it. They both went for kicks, then Punk grabbed a suplex attempt, but Burke turned it into an inside cradle for a two count. Punk ran into a Burke boot, and Burke went to the top rope. Punk stopped Burke, and the two battled on the rope. Punk hit a top rope superplex, which got the crowd back into the match. Both men were slow to get up, then started trading shots, Punk hit a pair of clotheslines, slid under Burke after he reversed a whip, and hit an enzugiri for two count. Punk hit a jumping knee in the corner, but as he went for a bulldog, Burke shoved him gut first into the corner. Burke went for the Elijah Express, but Punk moved out of the way and he smashed in the corner. Punk went for the Go To Sleep, but Burke hit him in the ribs and got out of it. Elijah Experience (STO) for a two count. Burke sat Punk on the top rope, facing away from the ring, and hit the Elijah Express (double jumping knee) to the back. Punk fell backwards into the tree of woe, and Burke charged in again. Burke covered, but Punk got his hand on the ropes. Burke lifted up Punk for another Elijah Experience, but Punk blocked it and hit the Go To Sleep (fireman's carry into a knee to the face) for the pin at the sixteen minute mark.
Kristal interviewed Edge backstage. Edge bragged about his recent accomplishments, and said that Batista would not be taking the World Title tonight. Edge said the "Rated-R Era" has begun.
Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton.
Randy Orton came to the ring and told the ring announcer to declare him the winner via forfeit, since the doctor won't let him compete. As the announcer was about to announce him as the winner, Michaels' music hit. An obviously discombobulated Michaels staggered towards the ring. Michaels took off his T-shirt and got onto the apron, then stepped into the ring as the referee reasoned with him. Michaels wanted him to ring the bell. The referee did it, and Orton punched Michaels right to the mat. Michaels rolled to the apron, and struggled up. Orton grabbed Michaels and pulled him back into the ring. Michaels' feet were hooked on the second rope, so Orton gave him an elevated DDT. Michaels got his shoulder up at two, so Orton covered again, and got another two count. Orton stomped Michaels in the head and pulled him to his feet for an RKO, but Orton apparently had second thoughts about it and just dropped him to the mat. The referee asked Michaels if he wanted to give up, but he wouldn't. Orton lifted Michaels and sat him on the top rope for an RKO, but Michsels raked his eyes. Orton ran at Michaels again, standing up on the second rope, but Michaels raked his face again and Orton fell to the mat. Michaels managed to stand up on the top rope and hit a flying elbowdrop. Michaels stood up in the corner and began to stomp, holding the ropes to support himself. Michaels collapsed on the mat before he could deliver a superkick. Orton recovered, and some fans were calling for an RKO. Michaels used the ropes to try and pull himself up, but the referee refused to let the match go on. The referee told the ring announcer that Michaels couldn't continue, and stopped the match at the five minute mark.
Winner: Randy Orton.
Post-match, the referee helped Michaels up, but Orton grabbed Michaels and laid him out with an RKO. Randy Orton left, and Michaels' real-life wife rushed to the ring, along with the WWE doctor, to check on him. She started to get hysterical, as EMTs put Michaels on a stretcher and wheeled him out. After Michaels was wheeled out, the announcers reviewed the attack earlier tonight, and the events that had just unfolded during the match.
Backstage, the Great Khali, still in possession of the WWE Title belt, cut a promo. The fans gave it the "What" treatment. The translator said that John Cena stands no chance tonight, and that Khali has destroyed Cena several times. The translator said if Cena wants some, he can come get some. Khali the shoved the translator away and said "Cena" and "Judgment Day". At least, I think that is what he said.
World Tag Team Champions Matt & Jeff Hardy vs. Trevor Murdoch & Lance Cade.
For some reason, JBL and Michaels Cole were calling this match, even though it has three Raw stars (only Matt is on Smackdown), and the Raw tag belts are on the line. Matt started out with Cade, the two locking up and Cade broke clean in the corner. They traded headlock takedowns and headscissor reversals, then Matt hit an armdrag. Cade grabbed a headlock and they traded hammerlock reversals. Cade leapfrogged Matt and hit a hiptoss, then tagged in Murdoch, who grabbed an armwringer on Matt. He hit a short-arm shoulderblock, then tagged Cade back in, who did the same. Matt used a forearm to the head to break free, then hit a back elbow and dropped an elbow. Jeff tagged in, hitting a slingshot kick for a two count. Cade backed Jeff into his corner, and tagged Murdoch. Murdoch didn't hit Jeff in the corner, saying he was "playing by the rules".
Jeff and Murdoch traded hammerlocks, and Murdoch hit a back elbow and a hiptoss out of a reversal. Murdoch missed a back elbow and Jeff hit a pair of armdrags. Matt came in and Jeff hit Air Hardy off his back, followed by Matt clotheslining Murdoch for a two count. Matt worked on Murdoch's arm, then hit a back elbow. Matt hit a second rope elbow to the back for a two count. Cade tagged in and hit a clothesline as Murdoch kicked away a backdrop attempt by Matt. Cade hit a standing dropkick on Matt for a two count. Murdoch and Cade kept Matt in their corner, giving him a double whip backwards into the turnbuckles. Murdoch went for a V-Bomb out of the corner, but Matt got his knees up. Jeff tagged in and hit Murdoch with a flying forearm, then pounded him with punches in the corner, followed by a dropkick off the second rope as Murdoch dropped down in the corner. Jeff hit Whisper In The Wind, but Cade broke up the cover. Matt slammed Cade and clothesline him over the top rope, while Jeff knocked Murdoch to the floor. Crowd was going nuts for the Hardys.
Murdoch and Cade regrouped in the aisle, then returned to the match. Jeff grabbed a headlock on Murdoch. Jeff backdropped Murdoch to the apron, then kicked him to the floor. Jeff went for a slingshot senton to the floor, but Murdoch stepped out of the way and Jeff hit the floor hard. Murdoch threw Jeff back into the ring and covered him, but Murdoch's foot was under the bottom rope. Cade tagged in and hit a shoulderblock, then a kneedrop to the back. Cade hit two more kneedrops to the back, then tagged in Murdoch. Cade lifted Murdoch up and dropped him into a legdrop on Jeff for a two count. Jeff floated over a Murdoch slam attempt and went for a jaw breaker, but Murdock blocked it and kicked Jeff in the face for a two count. Murdoch whipped Cade into Hardy, with Cade hitting a forearm to the head for a two count. Cade stomped Jeff and tagged Murdoch, who hit a shot to the back. Murdoch hit the Canadian Destroyer/Code Red on Jeff, but Matt broke up the cover. Murdoch complained to Matt about following the rules. Jeff hit Murdoch with a jawbreaker. Cade tagged in, but missed an elbowdrop and Jeff tagged Matt.
Matt Hardy cleaned house, bulldogging Cade and clotheslined Murdoch at the same time. Matt hit Cade with the Side Effect, but Murdoch broke up the cover. Matt threw Murdoch out of the ring, but this allowed Cade to catch him with a uranage-style spinebuster for a two count. Cade picked Matt up off the mat, but Matt scored with a kick to the gut and hit Cade with a Twist of Fate. Matt tagged Jeff, then knocked Murdoch off the apron while Jeff hit Cade with the Swanton Bomb for the pin at the fifteen minute mark.
Winners: Matt & Jeff Hardy.
Post-match, Matt & Jeff offered handshakes to Cade & Murdoch. They accepted them, and the fans applauded the handshake.
A commercial for One Night Stand, which takes place in two weeks, was shown. Apparently, all of the matches on that show will be held under "Extreme Rules". At least, that's what the commercial seemed to state.
WWE showed the results of a text messaging poll that was held, asking fans who they felt would win a championship tonight. Batista had the most votes.
A video package on Edge and his Money In The Bank and World Title wins was shown.
World Champion Edge vs. Batista.
Batista still had his right thigh taped up, and came out second, after the champion. They had the referee give them instructions pre-match, like a boxing match. Batista tried to grab the belt off of Edge's shoulder during the instructions. Edge played coward at the start, refusing to lock up. When they did, Batista shoved him to the mat. Batista went for a waistlock, but Edge grabbed the ropes to force a break. They locked up again, and Batista picked up Edge and put him on the top rope. Batista just smiled at Edge and backed away. Batista tossed Edge into the ropes and hit a shoulderblock, then rammed him into all four of the top turnbuckles headfirst. Batista hit a back elbow in the corner, then pounded him down. Batista hit a back elbow again for a two count. Edge raked Batista's eyes, but Batista sidestepped his charge and threw him over the top rope and to the floor.
Batista went to the outside and rammed Edge into the ring apron, then scooped him up for a slam. Edge floated over and shoved Batista into the ring steps. Batista fought back with some punches, then rammed Edge back first into the apron. They got back into the ring, and Edge dropkicked Batista's leg out from under him. Edge then chopblocked the leg from behind and applied a spinning toehold, but Batista kicked him off. Batista charged Edge, who moved and Batista went shoulder first into the ringpost. Edge wrapped the now hurt arm around the middle rope and yanked on it. Edge then kicked the shoulder and applied an armwringer. Batista punched Edge away, but Edge kicked his bad arm to stop the assault. Edge applied a Fujiwara armbar, then switched to a hammerlock.
Batista fought to his feet and armdragged Edge, then whipped him across the ring. Batista ran into a boot by Edge, sort of, but went right back on offense, ramming Edge into the corner and putting him on the top rope. Batista went for a superplex, but Edge headbutted Batista to the mat. Edge jumped off the middle rope, and Batista decked him with a clothesline. Both men were down, and slow to get up. They traded punches, then Batista hit a backdrop and powerslammed Edge for a two count. Batista charged into an Edge boot, but grabbed a charging Edge with a sidewalk slam for a two count. Batista went for a powerslam, but Edge floated over and drove Batista into the mat with a reverse headdriver for a two count. Edge went for a spear, but Batista beat him to the punch, hitting his own spear (which got the crowd back into the match) for a two count.
Batista whipped Edge across the ring. Edge went for a leapfrog, but Batista caught it and powerslammed Edge. Batista called for the Batista Bomb, but Edge got out and went for a clothesline. Batista ducked it and hit a spinebuster. However, Batista hurt his leg on the spinebuster, and Edge cradled him and pulled the trunks (actually letting go after the one count) for the pin at the eleven minute mark.
Winner: Edge.
Edge held up his title belt on the stage, while a dejected Batista watched from the ring.
Kristal asked all the Divas who would win between John Cena and the Great Khali. Maria picked Batista. That's about the only interesting thing to come out of this segment.
United States Champion Chris Benoit vs. MVP, two out of three falls.
Benoit and MVP locked up at the bell, and they rolled to the floor, maintaining the lock up. They got back in the ring and MVP slapped Benoit. Benoit slapped him back, then grabbed the legs for the Sharpshooter. MVP rolled onto his stomach and Benoti went for a Crossface, but MVP got up quick. Benoit hit two armdrags and a drop toe hold, then went for a Crossface, but MVP blocked it and got back to his feet. MVP kicked at Benoit's leg, then they locked up and MVP took Benoit down with a side mare. MVP maintained the side headlock, and Benoit hit a back suplex to escape. MVP dove for a leg, but Benoit grabbed at the arm while MVP tried to lock in a waistlock before the got in the ropes. MVP missed a punch, and Benoit hit some chops and forearms. MVP sent Benoit into the ropes and clipped the leg for a two count, then dropped two elbows onto the leg. MVP kicked at the leg and pulled at it, then drove his knee into it. MVP slammed Benoit's leg down on the mat, then wrapped it on the second rope and yanked at it. Benoit chopped MVP, then went for a German suplex, but MVP blocked it. Benoit hit some forearms to the back, then uncorked three consecutive German suplexes, with Benoit's leg buckling on the third. MVP went for a clothesline, but Benoit grabbed it and took MVP to the mat with the Crippler Crossface. MVP got his foot on the bottom rope to break it.
MVP kicked at Benoit's leg, knocking him to the mat. MVP missed a running kick in the corner, and Benoit hit a forearm to the back of the head. Benoit grabbed MVP's legs and applied the Sharpshooter, but MVP made the ropes quickly. Benoit hit a kick as MVP went after his bad leg, then gave him an enzugiri. MVP chopblocked the leg and kicked at it. MVP got on the second rope, but Benoit grabbed him for an Electric Chair. However, Benoit's leg buckled under him, and he fell to one knee, allowing MVP to hit the Playmaker for the pin at the eight minute mark.
First fall, MVP.
The referee checked Benoit's leg during the rest period. Benoit hit some forearms, but his leg was bothering him, and MVP slid to the floor, tripping Benoit, and pulled his leg across the ring apron and pounded it. MVP dropped an elbow on the leg on the apron, then covered Benoit twice for two counts. MVP dropped a knee on the leg, then kicked it. MVP tied Benoit to the Tree of Woe. Benoit tried to grab MVP from the Tree to keep him from backing up, but MVP did and charged in on him. MVP applied a leglace, but Benoit tried to counter it with an ankle lock, unsuccessfully. MVP pounded on Benoit's knee, but Benoit came back with some chops. Benoit went for a cross face, but MVP blocked it and applied a torture rack to the leg. Benoit struggled, but eventually made the ropes. MVP applied a cravate and hit some knees to the chest. MVP went for the Playmaker, but Benoit dropped down and tried to hook MVP's legs. MVP tried to punch Benoit away, but Benoit tripped him and went for a Crossface, but MVP rolled through it and small packaged him for a two count. Benoit went for the legs, but MVP kicked him into the ropes and then kicked out his bad leg. MVP hooked Benoit's legs and pulled him into a small package for the pin at the fourteen minute mark.
Second fall, MVP.
Winner and new United States Champion: MVP.
The aired a video package on Cena vs. Khali, basically playing up that Cena has no chance.
WWE Champion John Cena vs. The Great Khali.
John Cena came out first, without his belt, and there was a long pause before Khali, who had the strap, came out. They did the ring introductions after both men were in the ring. They went face to chest at the bell, and Cena delivered some body blows, but Khali just shoved him down. Cena ran into a clothesline, and Khali hit an elbow in the corner. Khali hit a headbutt, then punched him to the mat. Cena rolled to the floor. Khali went to the floor and threw Cena into the steps. Khali tossed Cena back into the ring. Khali stood on Cena's chest for a two count. Khali slammed Cena, then hit a legdrop, but Cena got to the ropes to avoid the pin. Khali whipped Cena hard into the turnbuckles, then did it again and followed with a clothesline. Khali missed an elbowdrop, and Cena hit a Throwback on Khali while he was on his knees. Khali kicked out easily. Cena threw some punches, put Khali kicked Cena and Cena rolled to the floor.
Khali threw Cena into the table, then brought him back into the ring and applied a nervehold. Cena struggled up, and broke out of the hold. Cena hit a pair of shoulderblocks, and Khali did the old Andre The Giant "fall back and get tied in the ropes" spot. Khali got out after one flurry of punches though, and hit a boot to the face of a charging Cena. Khali went for the big chop, but Cena blocked it, so Khali tossed him to the floor. Khali went to the floor to grab the ring steps, but Cena dropkicked them into Khali's legs. Cena rolled Khali into the ring, then as Khali was getting up, Cena hit a top rope legdrop to the back of Khali's head. Cena applied the STFU. It looked for a while like Khali's leg was going to go under the bottom rope, but Khali then tapped out at the eight minute mark.
Winner: John Cena.
Khali rolled out of the ring, and Cena was given back his title belt. Cena celebrated in the ring to end the PPV at 10:38pm.
2008 - William Regal, the reigning King of the Ring, was suspended for 60 days for his second infraction under the WWE Wellness Policy. The suspension would also mark the last truly sustained push Regal received from the company.
2008 - WWE broadcast ECW on Sci Fi. Mike Johnson filed the following TV Report:
ECW on Sci Fi for May 20th opened with CM Punk, Tommy Dreamer, Chavo Guerrero, John Morrison and General Manager Armando Estrada in the ring. Estrada said One Night Stand was the only night of the year where ever match is held under Extreme Rules. Armando said all the wrestlers in the ring were former (and active) ECW Champions. Armando said at One Night Stand there would be a Fatal Four Way Singapore Cane match with the four of them to determine a number one contender for the ECW Title. He also announced a tag match for tonight's show, with Morrison & Chavo teaming up against Dreamer & Punk.
The show opening aired, and Tazz & Mike Adamle welcomed us to the show.
The Miz entered the ring as he and John Morrison's successful title defense against Kane & Punk at Judgment Day was recapped. The Miz got on the mic and said he had a concussion, bad back, stiff neck and "constant headaches" from Kane's chokeslam on the floor at Judgment Day. Miz said despite his condition, he was going to do the same thing John Morrison was going to do after being victorious at One Night Stand ... beat Kane. Kane then made his entrance.
Kane vs. The Miz.
Kane immediately decked Miz, gave him a short arm clothesline, and dropkicked him as he sat up on the mat. Miz fought back with punches, but Kane pounded him down in a corner. Kane put Miz in a Hangman, then dropped him to the mat. Kane ran into a Miz boot, and Miz tried to mount some offense before Kane flung him over the top rope. Kane went outside with him, but Miz rammed Kane back first into the ringpost. Kane rolled back into the ring and Miz kicked at his head, then jumped off Kane's back to go over the ropes and yank Kane down throat first on the second rope. Miz hit his between the ropes clothesline, then applied a cravate. Kane battled up and slammed Miz to break the hold. Kane blasted Miz with a boot to the face, then hit a running clothesline in the corner. Kane hit a second clothesline, then a side slam for a two count. Kane went to the top rope and nailed Miz with the clothesline. Kane called for the chokeslam, but Miz elbowed out of it. Kane blasted Miz with a punch, then pounded Miz in a corner. Kane hung Miz in the Tree Of Woe, then went out of the ring to yank at Miz' chin, bending back his neck. The referee disqualified Kane for refusing to break his illegal hold from outside the ring while Miz was in the ropes at the four minute mark.
Winner via disqualification: The Miz.
After the bell, Kane chokeslammed Miz. He then went for a chair and put it around Miz' head. Kane went to the top rope, but John Morrison ran out and pulled his partner from the ring. Morrison helped Miz down the aisle while Kane watched from the ring.
Kofi Kingston vs. Shelton Benjamin
As Shelton entered the ring, they reviewed Kingston's previous two wins over Benjamin. Kofi threw a leg kick at the start, but Shelton backed Kofi into a corner for a break. Shelton hit some knees to the gut and began pounding Kingston. There was a chant for Kofi, who kicked away a backdrop attempt and took Benjamin down with a headscissors variation. Kofi went for his mount punches in a corner, but Benjamin pulled Kofi out of the corner and threw him into the turnbuckles, catching his leg on the top rope. Benjamin took Kingston down and rammed his leg into a ringpost, then in the ring hit a shinbreaker and applied a leglace. Kofi got out and threw a few kicks, but Benjamin caught one, and Kofi turned it into a headscissors takedown. Kofi hit a dropkick, but was favoring his knee as he crawled for the cover and got a two count. Kofi hit a legsweep, then went for a double legdrop, but Benjamin blocked it and turned it into a cradle for a two count. Benjamin applied a single leg crab on the bad leg, but Kofi made the ropes for a break. Benjamin kicked at the leg, but missed a splash in the corner. Kofi went for his Trouble In Paradise kick, but Shelton ducked it and Kofi landed on his bad leg. Benjamin hit the jumping faceplant, almost losing the handle on the move but managing to grab him, for the pin at the five minute mark.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin.
Shelton smiled from the aisle while Kofi looked angry in the ring that his undefeated streak is over.
Colin Delaney & Kelly Kelly vs. Mike Knox & Layla.
They recapped how Colin Delaney earned his ECW contract two weeks ago by beating Armando Estrada. Layla and Kelly trash talked as soon as Layla hit the ring. The ladies started the match, with Layla kicking Kelly in the gut and throwing her over the top rope. Kelly skinned the cat and grabbed Layla in a headscissors and took her to the floor. Kelly and Layla got back in the ring and Kelly hit a second rope bodypress, but Knox broke up the cover. Colin ran in, but Mike Knox grabbed him and flung him over the top rope and to the floor. Knox exited the ring and Kelly dodged a charging Layla, who smashed into the corner. Kelly hit a Rocker Dropper on Layla (called a "K2" now) for the win in less than a minute. No tags were made in this match.
Winners: Colin Delaney & Kelly Kelly.
Mike Knox grabbed Colin and gave him a twisting face plant. Armando Estrada came out in his wrestling gear and ordered the referee to start an "official match".
Armando Estrada vs. Colin Delaney.
Armando gave Colin a reverse gourdbuster and pinned him.
Winner: Armando Estrada.
Armando walked off, still trash talking Colin, while Kelly checked on her unconscious partner.
The Raw Rebound was a recap of the William Regal-Ken Kennedy angle and match, resulting in Regal losing last night on Raw and being "fired".
Tazz & Mike Adamle (who in all honesty, wasn't being goofy or screwing things up as much this week) reviewed the One Night Stand lineup. They clarified that the winner of the Singapore Cane match with Tommy Dreamer, John Morrison, CM Punk and Chavo Guerrero will get an ECW Championship match at the Night Of Champions PPV.
Here's the lineup:
- WWE Champion Triple H vs. Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing Match.
- John Cena vs. JBL in a First Blood Match.
- Shawn Michaels vs. Batista in a Stretcher Match.
- Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga in a Falls Count Anywhere Match.
- CM Punk vs. John Morrison vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. Tommy Dreamer in a Singapore Cane Match. The winner will receive an ECW Championship match at Night Of Champions.
CM Punk & Tommy Dreamer vs. Chavo Guerrero & John Morrison.
I spoke too soon. Adamle called Punk, "CW Punk". All four men made separate entrances. Dreamer started off with Morrison, hitting a shoulderblock and a facebuster, then armdragging Morrison and applying an armbar. There was a chant for Dreamer. Morriosn tagged in Chavo, but there was miscommunication and Dreamer got the partners to collide. Dreamer armdragged Chavo, then slammed him after tagging Punk. Punk hit a slingshot somersault splash on Chavo and then hit a delayed vertical suplex. Chavo hit a forearm, but ran into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Punk put Chavo in a double underhook, but Chavo backed him into his corner and tagged Morrison. Morrison threw some shots, but Punk slammed him. Morrison responded with an uppercut, then Chavo tagged in and kicked Punk in the gut. Chavo worked over Punk in a corner, but Punk battled back, elbowing Morrison off the apron and throwing Chavo to the floor. Punk went for a pescado and Morrison moved out of the way, while Chavo got hit with the move. Punk got on the apron, but Morrison grabbed him and gave Punk an Electric Chair on the floor. Punk was down on the outside as they went to commercial.
Back from break, Morrison worked on Punk with a surfboard, then hit a Russian legsweep. Chavo tagged in and hit a slingshot kneedrop on Punk's leg. Chavo kicked at Punk and put him in an armbar. Chavo and Morrison kept Punk in their corner and worked him over. Morrison hit a kick to the back, and Punk kicked Morrison in the leg, from his back, hard. Morrison responded with stomps, but Punk cradled him for a two count when Morrison stopped to yell at Dreamer. Punk went for a tag, but Morrison hooked his leg and tagged in Chavo who dropkicked Punk in the face. Chavo hit a backdrop driver, then called for the Three Amigos. Punk blocked it and hit an enzugiri. Morrison tagged in and cut off Punk from making the tag again. Punk flipped out of a suplex attempt and hit a jumping knee and bulldog on Morrison. Punk made the hot tag to Dreamer, who decked Morrison with punches and knocked Chavo off the apron. Dreamer gave Morrison a clothesline and a pumphandle suplex. Dreamer missed a charge in the corner and Morrison went for a springboard kick. Dreamer ducked it and Morrison rolled through it rather than crashing on the mat. Morrison kicked Dreamer and set up for the Moonlight Drive, but Dreamer reversed it and hit a DDT. Dreamer covered, but Chavo broke it up. Punk attacked Chavo and they flipped over the top rope and to the floor. In the ring, Dreamer hung Morrison in the Tree Of Woe. Dreamer went for a dropkick, but Morrison sat up in the corner and Dreamer crashed to the mat. Chavo got on the apron and tagged in, then gave Dreamer a frog splash for the pin at the twelve minute mark.
Winners: Chavo Guerrero & John Morrison.
Big Show's music hit. Big Show came out and chokeslammed Guerrero, while Punk started fighting Morrison. Show then grabbed Punk and chokeslammed him. Show picked up John Morrison, put him in a cobra clutch, and flung him across the ring. Show got on the mic, and "reminded" us that he was a former ECW Champion. Big Show said that he was putting himself in the Singapore Cane match at One Night Stand, and that he would go on to be ECW Champion again. Big Show then helped up Tommy Dreamer, then chokeslammed him as well. Big Show walked off, as they replayed him laying out all four men. Big Show stood on the stage smiling while the other four former champions were down in the ring and on the floor as the show ended.
2009 - With the ongoing issues regarding the NBA Playoffs in Denver forcing them out of their booked venue, WWE moved that week's TV Tapings to the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Vince McMahon appeared on ESPN's Sportcenter to discuss the Denver Raw situation. Highlights of the interview:
*When told that Kroenke Sports told ESPN that they were working "amicably" with WWE to come to a resolution, Vince asked what that meant. He said that they were the "worst business people in the world". He said that they wouldn't discuss a deal with WWE unless they would issue a joint press release where Vince would "basically be kissing Kroenke's behind."
*Vince announced WWE would hold a press conference tomorrow at 1 PM in New York City at the Hard Rock Cafe to detail the issues with Kroenke Sports and show the requests that were made to WWE. McMahon said it was the most ridiculous proposal "maybe in sports-entertainment history."
*Vince said they were forced out of Denver and would be going to Raw in Los Angeles.
*Vince said he "envisioned" that this Monday's Raw in Los Angeles will feature "WWE's form of the Lakers vs. WWE's form of the Nuggets". He said it would be 5 on 5 and "Mr. McMahon would be there to compete or at least confront Mr. Stan Kronenke" and said they would have "a lot of fun" Monday.
*When asked why WWE didn't just enforce their contract, Vince said they tried to enforce it, but Kroenke's organization "just basically told us, 'Absolutely not, we're going to have a basketball game' and they just threw us out on our ear." McMahon said that you wouldn't believe the way WWE was treated.
*When asked what would settle the situation, Vince said he didn't know as they had to move Raw and pointed out that Raw was now competing with ESPN for ratings on Monday. The anchor wished Vince "good luck" and Vince just responded, "No."
Sportscenter also featured a quote from the Lakers' organization regarding McMahon wanting to give Stan Kroenke a Lakers jersey that read, "The Lakers thought it was kind of cool that Vince McMahon is now supposedly a Lakers fan and we'll welcome him as a fan."
2009 - JAKKS Pacific Inc. issued the following press statement, announcing that the Court Of Appeals supported the U.S. District Court's decision to dismiss the WWE-JAKKS lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought about years before by WWE, accusing JAKKS of being involved in collusion and acts of bribery with WWE's licensing agent at the time. WWE would leave Jakks for Mattel while Jakks would sign UFC and TNA as replacement lines:
Here is the statement:
Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of WWE Lawsuit Against JAKKS Pacific
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK) announced that the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit unanimously affirmed the judgment of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Karas, J.), dismissing in its entirety WWE’s federal action against JAKKS and certain of its officers.
Jack Friedman, the Company’s Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We are pleased that both the Federal District Court and the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit have dismissed WWE’s federal claims.”
About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
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2010 - Wrestling-themed drama "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" will officially opened Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theater in New York City.Tonight's episode begins with a video package recapping the events of Sacrifice, and then we're off to the Impact Zone where tonight, we're going to find out who the top 10 contenders to Rob Van Dam's TNA World Title are! Plus, Kurt Angle returns to TNA and Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff will have a big announcement regarding tonight's main event! But right now, let's go to the ring for our weekly powwow with Eric Bischoff...
Bischoff comes out with Miss Tessmacher, and he knows that everyone's been waiting to hear the top 10 rankings, and he explains what the criteria that the Championship Committee of himself, Hulk Hogan, and Dixie Carter were working with, and then it's time to announce the rankings, with each man coming out well dressed and accompanied by a short video package: 10)Samoa Joe, 9)Rob Terry, 8)Desmond Wolfe, 7)The Pope, 6)Abyss (the only one coming out in his regular wrestling gear), 5)Mr Anderson, 4)Jeff Hardy, 3)AJ Styles (who points to the camera and says he should be number one), 2)Kurt Angle...ah, but wait, Angle doesn't come out when his music hits. But whatever, Bischoff moves on and reveals that the #1 contender, and RVD's challenger at Slammiversary is...Sting. Oh wait, Sting is in his wrestling gear as well, and instead of standing at the top of the rampyway like the other contenders, comes into the ring to stand face-to-face with Bischoff, who says that on behalf of TNA and the fans, he wants to congratulate Sting on being the #1 contender to the TNA World Title. He'll face RVD at Slammiversary, but tonight he's going to prove that he's a fighting #1 contender, so in tonight's main event, he'll face Jeff Hardy! Sting says he's going to do the same thing to Jeff Hardy that he did to Jeff Jarrett at Sacrifice, then smashes up Bischoff's set, and says that if he and Dixie want change, then he's going to have to change the way he walks, and attacks Bischoff with the bat and hits him in the leg. While this is going on, we see a shot of Dixie Carter and Hulk Hogan backstage, and Hogan stands there watching what's going on on a monitor before finally stepping out, presumably to intervene in the incident unfolding in the ring. Abyss tries to make the save, but Sting beats him up and knocks him to the floor, too. Hardy runs in and grabs the bat away from Sting and they go face-to-face. Hardy slaps Sting, so Sting kicks him in the nuts and grabs the bat, but before he can do any damage, RVD's music hits and he comes out to face Sting, and while Sting is distracted by RVD, Hardy attacks Sting and clips his knee from behind, then goes up for the Swanton, but Sting slips out of the ring and heads to the back as RVD and Hardy high five in the ring as we go to commercial.
We're back, and that means it's time to take a look at what happened before the commercial break, so we do and then we go backstage to Hogan and Bischoff, and Morgan says that they want to know when they're going to get their rematch for the tag title, and Hogan says it's a bad time but he's going to get his rematch and wishes him luck finding a partner.
Let's go to the ring for our first match...
Roxxi vs Madison Rayne
Before the match, we take a look back to New Year's Eve when Roxxi suffered a broken ankle against Hamada. This bout is non-title. Mike brings up the history between Roxxi and the Beautiful People as Roxxi gets a series of rollups for 2 counts, then whips Madison into the corner and follows in with a charge. Roxxi misses a second charge, so Madison nails her from behind and hits a running kick to the midsection of Roxxi for 2. Madison HITS THE CHINLOCK, but turns it into a face gouge, then does it again. Madison covers Roxxi for 2, then chokes her on the ropes, kicks her, then chokes her on the ropes again. Madison with...that's right, another kick, and that only gets 2. Roxxi suddenly gets the Voodoo Crush out of nowhere and scores the upset pin.
Winner: Roxxi
We go backstage to Desmond Wolfe and Chelsea, who is freaking out because she doesn't want to spend 30 days with Abyss because he's gross. Desmond says not to worry because whatever Abyss does, he's going to have to answer to Desmond for whatever he does, then says to worry about the real problem: Desmond's going to be flying solo for the next 30 days! What a man.
We see Kurt Angle backstage, and the cameraman asks Kurt why he didn't come out when he was announced as the number two contender. Angle stares at him incredulously for a moment, then stalks off.
Speaking of Angle, let's go to a video package detailing his history as an amateur wrestler and his rise in TNA. He discusses his addiction to performing in front of the fans, and we look back at his remarks from before leaving, as he said that when he got back, his goal would be to regain the TNA World Title.
And if you didn't get enough Kurt already, let's go back to the ring for some comments from our returning hero. He says that he's noticed a lot of changes in TNA since he first came here almost four years ago. When he came to TNA, he was one of the elite, one of the best. Crowd chants You Still Are. Angle says that with the arrivals of RVD, Jeff Hardy, and Mr Anderson to name a few, and also some of the TNA homegrown talents who have stepped up their game, Kurt Angle is now no longer one of the elite, he's just another name on the TNA roster. But that said, let him explain something about himself: he'll wrestle for free because it was never about ego or anything like that, it was always about standing in the ring, looking his opponent in the eye, and either winning or losing. Kurt Angle was bred to be a winner and will be one for the rest of his life. He's going through a tough time right now because he's done everything you can accomplish in every form of wrestling, amateur, professional, and otherwise, and he asks what he needs to do to do something new. He says he's taking himself completely out of the top 10 rankings, and he's going to wrestle all the other top ten, starting with the #10 guy, and working his way back to the top. We're going to see some of the best matches of all time, and that is DAMN REAL.
We go to the back to Christy Hemme with Ric Flair and Beer Money, and she asks Flair who he thinks is going to be Jay Lethal's partner against Beer Money tonight. Flair says that imitation is not a form of flattery, he overstepped his bounds when he got involved in AJ Styles' match at Sacrifice and he's going to pay tonight. Frankie Kazarian comes in and wants a word with Ric Flair, and as Christy cuts off the interview after some unflattering comment from Flair that I didn't catch, we're at commercial.
We're back and are getting some comments backstage from Rob Terry, who says that his knee is severely injured in four places, but he's going to go out tonight and fight Orlando Jordan because he needs to maintain his ranking in TNA. So with that, let's go back to the ring for our next match...
Orlando Jordan vs Rob Terry
Orlando makes the Lady Gaga entrance, and Rob Terry, with a very heavily taped up knee, badly limps to the ring from the usual entranceway. Orlando jumps him the second he gets in the ring and tries a single leg takedown, but Terry tosses him away. Orlando goes back to the single leg and Terry beats him off then opens up with a series of clotheslines. Orlando fires one off at Terry and goes back to the single leg, but Terry manhandles him to the corner and the ref gets sandwiched between them. Terry backs off and backdrops Orlando, then lays him out with a short clothesline for 2. Orlando backs off and kicks Terry in the knee, then starts putting the boots to Terry's injured leg. Orlando pulls the kneepad off of Rob Terry and then DDTs his leg twice and puts him in a leg submission and referee Earl Hebner stops the match.
Winner: Orlando Jordan
Orlando won't release the hold, so the cavalcade of referees comes out and pulls Orlando off. Orlando goes to leave, but ocmes back and starts stomping on Terry again and puts him back in the leglock. The referees yank and yank and finally are able to pull Orlando off again.
We go backstage to Jay Lethal who talks about what a great moment it was when he was doing the Ric Flair impression, but it all went wrong when Flair took it the wrong way. RVD comes in and says since Lethal is looking for a partner, he's going to volunteer to hook Lethal up for having his back at Sacrifice.
We go to Jeff Hardy, who is in the back drawing on himself and talking about how when he was a backyard wrestler, he idolized Sting and made him want to paint his face.
Speaking of people who like to draw on themselves, Ink Inc bust into Team 3D's locker room and Jesse Neal asks him what he was doing getting involved in their match at Sacrifice. Brother Ray says what he did on Sunday was an attitude adjustment, and Neal accuses him of being jealous. Ray says he has nothing to be jealous of because he's one half of the greatest tag team of all time, who are 23-time tag champs. Neal says to keep his distance, which Ray responds to by taking a shot at Neal and going "Here's my distance!" and then, as Moore herds Neal out of the ring and Ray complains to Devon that he knew this would happen from the beginning. Let's go back to the ring...
Beer Money vs Jay Lethal & TNA World Champion Rob Van Dam
Lethal is out as himself this week instead of Macho Man or whoever. Roode attacks Lethal to start, but Lethal fires back and hiptosses Roode and follows up with a dropkick. Lethal gets backdropped to the apron, but hits a shoulderblock to the gut and goes up top, but Storm shoves him off and Roode makes the hot tag. Beer Money puts the boots to Lethal and Storm starts working over the knees then turns him inside out with a lariat for 2. Roode tags back in and Beer Money hits a HUGE double backdrop on Lethal as I notice that RVD is still wearing a t-shirt. How professional. Storm tags back in, but Lethal hits a handspring elbow and makes the hot tag to RVD, who comes in and cleans house on Beer Money. RVD with a jumpkick off the top on Roode for 2, then tags in Lethal for a missile dropkick on Roode, the Lethal Combination, and RVD with Rolling Thunder. Lethal finishes with a figure four on Roode and Roode taps.
Winners: Jay Lethal & Rob Van Dam
Ric Flair comes out after the match and he is irate, and gets into a brawl with Lethal on the rampway. Lethal beats Flair up and keeps beating him up all the way to the back as RVD stands triumphantly on the ramp, then goes around ringside high fiving the fans. Suddenly, a guy in a Sting mask cracks RVD in the face with a chair and then takes off the mask to reveal...that it really is Sting! Sting nails RVD with the chair a second time, but thankfully leaves after the second chairshot instead of continuing to beat him up for another fifteen minutes like last time.
We're back from commercial, and Jeff Hardy is in the ring saying that he's made a living walking to the beat of his own drum, and he grew up idolizing Sting and now he's here in TNA with the guy. He says that he and the Creatures Of The Night are going to take Sting beyond his wildest imagination.
We go to the back and security knocks on Desmond Wolfe's door and tells him...it's time. Chelsea reluctantly grabs her bag and leaves with security as Desmond tells them they must really enjoy this, and if they so much as lay a hand on her they'll have to answer to him.
We go to the ring as Abyss makes his entrance and grabs a mic, telling Desmond Wolfe that he has something...or actually someone...that Abyss wants, and tells Desmond to bring her to him. Security brings a very reluctant Chelsea out, and Abyss tells Desmond this is ironic since at Sacrifice, he made Desmond his bitch, and tonight, he's taking his. Desmond takes the mic and tells Abyss he has a sense of false security, because if Abyss really believes that he's letting Abyss take her, he's sorely mistaken, because he's going to take Chelsea over his dead body. He kicks Abyss in the nuts, then kicks both security guys in the nuts, then dips into Chelsea's bag and grabs an empty glass bottle, which he breaks on the ringpost and slashes Desmond with it. Chelsea tries to stop Desmond as Abyss stands there bleeding and holding his nuts, and the distraction proves fatal, as he turns around and takes a Black Hole Slam from Abyss, then grabs his new property and heads to the back.
We're back from another commercial and we're in the ring with Eric Young and the Outsiders. He understands the boos because the fans are jealous of them because they have everything and the fans have nothing. Young says Hall and Nash are the only men in the business that he has anything in common with. Nash is an ass kicker who says what he's going to do to your face and does it, and he gets criticized for that. The three of them are the Band, and they're not there to play some music for the fans, they're there to take everything and leave nothing on the table. Because they're such classy dudes, they'll say what they're going to do before they do it because there's nothing anyone can do about it. This leads us right into our next match...
Shannon Moore vs Eric Young
Young pounds away on Moore to start and whips him across the ring, but Moore with a leapfrog and a series of armdrags, an inverted atomic drop, and a shot lays Young out. Moore with a double legdrop for 2 and a crossbody out of the corner for another 2. Young with a running elbow and an elbowdrop gets 2 on Moore, then the Bret Hart second rope elbow for another 2. Young chokes Moore on the ropes, then snapmares Moore and goes to an armbar. Moore fights his way out and hits a pair of dropkicks and a leg lariat followed by a twisting senton off the top for 2. Brother Ray makes his way out from the back and brawls with Jesse Neal on the ramp, and as that's going on Hall nails Moore from the outside with the tag title belt, allowing Young to hit the piledriver for the win.
Winner: Eric Young
Jesse Neal checks on his partner after the match, and Brother Ray comes running into the ring and lays Neal out again, as Devon yells at Ray to leave the guy alone. They argue it out as we go to commercial.
We come back from commercial and Taz gives his thoughts on the Team 3D friction we just saw, and he thinks Brother Ray feels disrespected and Devon's always been the cool head, and that's what led to this argument between the two of them.
X-Division Battle Royal
Okay, so we've got 8 flippy dippy guys going at it, and the idea is that with Angle giving up his top 10 spot, everybody else moves up a spot and the winner of this gets the #10 spot. The first guy out is Amazing Red. Generation Me sends Chris Sabin to the rampyway, but it was through the ropes so he's not eliminated, and he comes back in and he and Shelley eliminate Max, buy Jeremy comes back to backdrop Shelley to the apron and dropkick him to the floor, and then Sabin tosses Jeremy to the floor. We're down to Sabin, Kazarian, and Homicide. Sabin and Kazarian do a sequence and Kazarian eliminates Sabin, then goes at it with Homicide, and at this moment Brian Kendrick, who has spent the whole match hiding out on the floor, comes back in and dumps Homicide from behind and tries to toss Kazarian, but Kazarian with a springboard elbow on Kendrick and then tosses Kendrick to pick up the win.
Winner: Frankie Kazarian
In my furious attempt to recap this match before it ended, I failed to mention that Ric Flair came down to ringside halfway through the match to cheer Kazarian on, and then applauded him after he won the match. Looks like we might have a new alliance on our hands! We're at commercial.
It's main event time!
Sting vs Jeff Hardy
Very wise of TNA to give this first time match away on live TV. Then again, with this match starting at 10:55, I doubt we're going to get much of a match here. Sting, apparently trying to match his Slammiversary opponent, is also wearing a t-shirt. They lock up and Sting takes Hardy to the corner and Sting breaks clean...nope, nevermind, he suckerpunches Jeff. Jeff fires back and gets a spinning back kick and Sting rolls to the floor. That makes sense, since we have a ton of time to kill. Hardy baseball slides Sting and goes for a dive over the top rope, but Sting moves and Hardy wipes out on the floor. Sting rolls Hardy onto the rampway and rams his knee into the ramp a couple of times, then tosses Hardy back in the ring. Sting stomps on Hardy and gouges him in the eyes, then kicks away at Hardy's knee. Sting with a Stinger Splash and goes for a second one, but Hardy moves and comes back with a couple of clotheslines, an inverted atomic drop, and a double legdrop for 2. Hardy goes up for Whisper In The Wind, but Sting moves and Hardy crashes. Sting with the Scorpion Deathlock, but Hardy makes the ropes. Sting pulls hardy back out to the middle of the ring, but accidentally knocks the referee out of the ring. Sting goes for the Scorpion Deathdrop, but Ken Anderson runs in and hits a Scorpion Deathdrop of his own on Sting and bails to the floor. The referee revives as Hardy covers Sting and counts the 3.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Anderson celebrates with Hardy and Hardy shoves him, but as Anderson signals for the microphone to drop, Sting comes in the ring with his bat and lays both Anderson and Hardy out as we fade to black.
2010 - WWE broadcast an episode of WWE Superstars on WGN. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV Report:
We begin this week’s show with the Raw brand and your announcers are Jerry Lawler and Michael ‘Ali’ Cole.
Match Number One: Vladimir Kozlov versus Santino Marella
Before the match, Santino has something to say to his adoring fans in Toronto. Santino thanks everyone for the reaction to his entrance. Santino says that he has a few things to say to Vladimir. He says that he has seen a few changes in Vladimir since he wanted to be his partner . . . his tag team partner. He says that Kozlov was under the thumb of William Regal. If Ivan Drago and Rocky Balboa can work together, they can be the greatest tag team of all the times. Kozlov has training in Sambo while Santino says that he has read a book on Ninji-tsu three times. He talks about the Cobra and leg sweep. Santino says that he is so fast that you can hear his strikes. Santino says that it is not just about martial arts, speed, and power. Santino says that they both came from a far away country for a better life. Santino starts a USA chant but he realizes his in Canadia. He starts a North America chant but he realizes it is too long. Santino says that if he can change, and if Vladimir can change, we can all change. Santino says that they can do one of two things. They can fight or they can leave the ring together and mark the beginning of the greatest tag team in the universe. Just like Chris Bosh is going to leave the Raptors. Santino says that he might stay. It is the time to decide.
Santino thinks he has won Kozlov’s heart but he puts his hand on Kozlov and Kozlov with the head butts to the chest and Santino screams like a girl. Kozlov with a spinebuster for the three count.
Winner: Vladimir Kozlov
Match Number Two: Goldust versus William Regal
Regal with a side head lock but Goldust with a leaping butt bump and then he sends Regal into the turnbuckles. Goldust with a leg drop to the arm and then Regal backs into the corner. Regal with a knee and European uppercuts. Regal with a kick to the chest and then he chokes Goldust in the ropes. Goldust with punches but Regal with a kick and then he avoids Goldust’s punches. Regal with a drop toe hold into an arm bar. Regal with a knee to the arm and the referee checks on the arm. Regal returns to the arm and Goldust writhes in pain as the referee puts on his gloves. The medical staff checks on Goldust and he checks on Goldust’s bloody ear. Regal gets on his knees to wait for Goldust to get ready to continue the match. Regal with a kick to the arm but Goldust with punches but Regal stops Goldust with a kick. Goldust with the uppercut and then he punches Regal and hits a power slam for a near fall. Goldust with a bulldog for a near fall. Regal with an exploder suplex and then he misses the running knee. Goldust hits the Final Cut for the three count.
Winner: Goldust
It is time for an NXT Recap and Michael Cole’s favorite eliminated rookie.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Smackdown portion of the show with your announcers Todd Grisham and Matt ‘I have to cut you off’ Striker.
Match Number Three: Cody Rhodes versus Chris Masters
They lock up and Rhodes works on the arm and puts Masters in a top wrist lock but Masters powers out of it and then he does the pectacular. Rhodes tries for a kick but Masters blocks it and he pushes Rhodes to the mat. Masters works on the arm and puts Rhodes in an arm bar. Rhodes rolls through and tries to reverse the hold but Masters takes Rhodes to the mat. Rhodes backs Masters into the ropes and he kicks and punches Masters. Masters with a back body drop and then Rhodes goes to the floor to take a break. Masters grabs Rhodes but Rhodes pulls Masters into the ring post. Rhodes returns to the ring and we go to commercial.
We are back and Rhodes with an arm bar and Masters with punches. Rhodes with a side Russian leg sweep. We see footage from the commercial break when Rhodes worked on the shoulder by sending Masters to the ring post. Rhodes with a gourdbuster followed by a knee drop and gets a near fall. Rhodes returns to the arm bar and Masters tries to get to the ropes but Rhodes moves Masters into the center of the ring. Masters with a rollup for a near fall but Rhodes returns to the arm. Masters with punches but Rhodes with the drop down uppercut. Masters with a clothesline followed by a kick and clothesline. Masters with a Samoan drop for a near fall. Masters tries for the Master Lock but Rhodes gets to the ropes and then Rhodes with a divorce court followed by Cross Rhodes for the three count.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
We run through the card for Over the Limit.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Dolph Ziggler versus Christian
They lock up and Christian with a waist lock but Ziggler with a reversal and take down into a near fall. They lock up and Christian with a side head lock but Christian with a shoulder tackle and near fall. Ziggler with punches and kicks to Christian followed by more punches. Christian with a drop kick and Ziggler goes to the apron. Ziggler with a shoulder but Christian pulls Ziggler off the apron and then Christian hits the hesitation drop kick. Ziggler with a knee to Christian and he gets a near fall. The referee pulls Ziggler off Christian as Ziggler works on the ribs. Christian with punches but Ziggler sends Christian over the top rope to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler with a body scissors but Christian escapes the hold and punches Ziggler. Ziggler with a kick followed by a leaping leg lariat and he gets a near fall. Ziggler chokes Christian in the ropes and then he kicks him in the corner. The referee pulls Ziggler off Christian again and then Christian moves when Ziggler charges into the corner and Christian with a pendulum kick followed by punches. Christian with the running forearm followed by a flapjack and then he goes to the turnbuckles for a missile drop kick. Christian gets a near fall on Ziggler. Ziggler with a kick and then he tries to suplex Christian over the top rope but Christian lands on the apron and he drops Ziggler on the top rope. Christian goes up top and hits a cross body but the momentum puts Ziggler on top for a near fall. Ziggler with a sleeper but Christian backs Ziggler into the turnbuckles. Christian escapes and hits the inverted DDT and gets a near fall. Ziggler with a kick and after a few reversals Christian with a sunset flip from the turnbuckles but Ziggler drops down and gets a near fall. Ziggler sends Christian into the turnbuckles and tries for the Zig Zag but Christian holds the ropes. Christian with the back elbow from the turnbuckles followed by the Killswitch for the three count.
Winner: Christian
2011 - WWF and WCW World champion Randy Savage passed away after suffering a heart attack while driving in Florida, where he lived. The heart attack led to Savage losing control of his vehicle. Mike Johnson penned the following look back at his life and career....
That voice. That twirling finger in the air. The sequined robes. The flying elbow drop. The sunglasses. The manic interview style. The threatening physicality. The Macho Man.
Randy Savage, one of the most colorful personalities in the history of pro wrestling, was a second generation star, the son of Angelo Poffo, who had been a notable star in the Chicago and Maritmes area before becoming a promoter.
Savage, who had tried his hand at a baseball career in the minor leagues, began wrestling as the Spider, a masked man, before morphing into "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Alongside his father and his brother, Lanny Poffo, Savage was a big part of ICW, the promotion his father ran in the Memphis area.
I don't need to tell anyone reading this that Memphis Wrestling means Jerry Lawler and ICW was a direct competitor to Lawler and Jerry Jarrett's promotion. ICW played up their outlaw status to the hilt, with Savage often issuing grandstand challenges to Lawler and other babyfaces to fight him, anytime, anywhere. It was as heated as you could imagine.
In the end, ICW closed and the Poffos came to Memphis. All the legitimate animosity was a huge box office attraction as Savage and Lawler had a hell of a feud.
Savage made the jump to the WWF in 1985 as a heel. The storyline was that every major manager was vying for his attention and Savage teased with signing with a number of them. In the end, however, he revealed his new manager, Elizabeth, who was already his real life wife and a former announcer for ICW.
It was beauty and the beast and their on screen coupling set the standard for all couples that came to follow in professional wrestling. With his rough voice and sequined robes, Savage was a huge contrast to the quiet, demure lady that walked him to the ring and stood in his corner. While he was an out and out scoundrel heel, Elizabeth was a pure babyface, making Savage even more hated when he pulled antics like hiding behind her during matches to prevent the heroes from getting to him.
Although Savage had done house show loops challenging Hulk Hogan for the WWF title, it was the Intercontinental belt that truly made him a star. It seems like a joke today when this is said, but in 1985, the IC belt literally meant you were the number two star behind the WWF champion as well as the "working" champion on the roster.
Savage defeated Tito Santana for the belt in Boston. During a time period where title changes never aired for free on television, Savage clocked Santana with a foreign object and threw it out of the ring as the referee counted three. The match was replayed a number of times and ended up becoming one of those immortal moments where you always remembered where you were when you saw it. It was iconic in that "star is born" sort of way.
Savage defended the belt against every babyface the WWF threw at him, from George Steele (who had "fallen in love" with Elizabeth and hated the way Savage roughly treated her) to Santana to even Bruno Sammartino. But it was Ricky Steamboat who was Savage's greatest opponent for the IC title.
In an angle that was played over and over and over on TV, Steamboat challenged Savage for the belt on WWF TV. There was a ref bump and Steamboat clearly had Savage beaten with no one to count the fall. Savage ended up draping Steamboat's throat over the guard rail and came off the top with one of his patented double axe-handles. Steamboat began choking but Savage wasn't done yet. He grabbed the ring bell and in one of the most repeated moments on WWF television that year, came off the top with it onto Steamboat's throat.
The angle was sold as if Steamboat might never speak again, much less wrestle. Announcer Bruno Sammartino attacked Savage while interviewing him afterward, upset with Savage gloating over the incident. In the end, the showdown was set as Steamboat and Savage faced off at Wrestlemania III in Pontiac, Michigan.
While it was Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant who sold the tickets that day, it was Savage and Steamboat who stole the show. The pair planned out a meticulous back and forth match that still stand up to the test of time today, memorizing their plans and numbering their sequences. In the weeks leading up to what would turn out to be one of the defining moments of the then-World Wrestling Federation, the pair would test each other by throwing out a number. They would then need to run the sequences from that point on.
When they entered the ring, it was epic. Steamboat won the belt and they had stolen the show. More than that, they had changed wrestling history. While Wrestlemania had always been a spectacle, it had never been about great wrestling matches. Savage and Steamboat changed that perception and in the decades that followed, as the kids who grew up mesmerized by the match became wrestlers themselves, they approached the biggest show of the year with the same pride and determination that Savage and Steamboat had - they wanted to steal the show. It can all be traced back to that match in March 1987.
Steamboat, taking time off to care for the impending arrival of his son (current WWE developmental talent Richie Steamboat), dropped the IC belt to the Honkytonk Man. With his coveted belt now in the hands of another heel, Savage was soon turning babyface to pursue it and did so during an incredible angle that aired on NBC's Saturday Night's Main Event. Savage found himself on the wrong side of a three on one beating from Honky and The Hart Foundation. Elizabeth entered the ring, trying to prevent Honky from nailing Savage with his guitar. Honky shoved her down and then drilled Savage with the instrument.
The beating continued as Elizabeth ran to the locker room. She re-emerged, pulling a confused Hulk Hogan out to the Arena. When Hogan saw what was going down, he made the save, setting the stage for one of the most famous handshakes in WWF history. The Mega-Powers were born and Savage was now a top babyface.
Savage's pursuit of the IC belt continued as the company headed into Wrestlemania IV. He was scheduled to win it back during a live special on NBC but Honky balked at dropping the belt. To soothe Savage, Vince McMahon changed plans and booked Savage to instead win a tournament for the vacant WWF championship at Wrestlemania originally earmarked for Ted DiBiase. Savage worked four matches over the course of that four hour PPV, naturally coming out in four different outfits (as did Elizabeth). Hogan and Savage celebrated together that night and anyone with half a brain could predict what was coming the following year - Hogan vs. Savage at Mania 5.
There was a long year before we would get there. With Hulk Hogan off filming his first movie, No Holds Barred, Savage was firmly entrenched as the top babyface in the company, having runs with Ted DiBiase, Bad News Brown and others as WWF champion. Savage showed the fans and WWF that there was indeed, life after Hogan, as the entire company had been built around the Hogan machine.
The inevitable issues began to heat up in the Fall of 1988. By the time WWF had their next live special in 1989, they ran an angle where Hogan and Savage were facing The Big Bossman and Akeem. Savage wiped out Elizabeth when being tossed from the ring. Hogan carried her to the back and cried over her, leaving Savage to take a beating in the ring. He returned to the ring but the damage was done and in a memorable performance, Savage turned heel and laid out Hogan backstage. For the first time ever, the reigning WWF champion had changed sides.
Savage claimed that Hogan had coveted Elizabeth and was jealous of him. With Elizabeth in a neutral corner, Hogan won the belt back at Mania 5. There were rematches. Sherri Martel was brought in as Savage's new heel manager while Elizabeth slipped into the night, quietly. Savage had memorable feuds with Dusty Rhodes and The Ultimate Warrior, among others, for the next several years before leading into a showdown with Warrior at Mania 7.
With the storyline being that the loser must retire, Savage and Warrior pulled out what was to date and probably always will be the best match Warrior was ever involved in. In the end, Savage fell to Warrior and was forced to retire. When Sherri turned on Savage for losing, Elizabeth, who was shown watching the bout concerned from the crowd over its duration, hit the ring and physically threw Martel out of the ring.
Savage and Elizabeth reunited in what was the pro wrestling equivalent of a soap wedding (but not an actual wedding, we'd get there later), celebrating in the crowd as Savage and Liz recreated their iconic pose of Liz on his shoulder after winning the belt at Mania IV. Without exaggeration, there were fans crying in the crowd that night.
Savage slid into an announcing position, building to his proposal and marriage to Elizabeth at Summerslam '91, which actually main evented the PPV. WWF ran an angle after the PPV where The Undertaker and Jake Roberts crashed the reception, releasing a cobra that was hidden in a gift box. Savage, who had been forced to retire, was soon petitioning to be allowed to return to the ring.
WWF did an extremely heavy angle where Roberts attacked Savage and actually had a cobra bite him on the arm, to set up that return in late November 1991 on PPV. Savage was back wrestling full-time, which would put him up against Ric Flair for the first time. With Flair delivering the immortal line, "She was mine before she was yours", alongside some doctored pictures, Savage was now going to defend his wife's honor en route to defeating Flair for the WWF title at Wrestlemania 8.
Savage held the belt for several months before dropping it back to Flair in September 1992 in Hershey, PA. It would prove to be the last time he held the title. Savage moved into more of a veteran's role, helping out backstage and announcing for the company. It looked like he would have a job for life.
Then the unthinkable happened. A year removed from his last WWF run, Hulk Hogan signed with WCW in the summer of 1994. He began acquiring other former WWF stars to join him as World Championship Wrestling, under the direction of Eric Bichoff, began to change shape and form into something more akin to the early days of the WWF than the promotion that was considered home to Sting and Lex Luger.
While stars from the 80s, including Brutus Beefcake and Honkytonk Man, had ended up in WCW, they were considered names that had completed their run on top and while WWF was hurting, primarily due to a steroid distribution indictment brought against Vince McMahon, it didn't seem that WCW was their primary concern.
Then Vince McMahon announced live on Monday Night Raw that Randy Savage had left for WCW. While Savage had been portrayed as an announcer in recent years (he did return to the ring for an angle against Crush, who he defeated in what would be his final Wrestlemania appearance at Mania X), the reality was that there was juice left in his battery as a performer. Whether Vince McMahon didn't see it or WCW was willing to pay WAY more than WWF, Savage was gone and was back main eventing, once again, against the likes of Hogan, Flair, Roddy Piper and the NWO.
Savage recreated himself somewhat in WCW to reflect the times. The frilly outfits and cowboy hats were replaced with t-shirts and a black leather jacket. Elizabeth, who was now estranged from her former husband, was there, but working against him as Flair's valet. Savage soon brought in a beautiful blonde named Gorgeous George, who worked as his own second.
During his run in WCW, Savage helped bring up a number of names to main event stardom, including Diamond Dallas Page, who owed that placement entirely to his feud with Savage. When Hulk Hogan turned heel and helped form the NWO, it was Savage who helped lead the charge, although down the line, like every other major star, he ended up a member of the heel group.
As WCW began to fall apart under regime changes, booking changes and plain bad booking decisions, Savage maintained his position as one of the top names in the company...until one day he was gone. Savage's deal expired in 1999 and he was just gone. He returned as a surprise during a Thunder taping but that was all it was, just a surprise.
Savage was done with pro wrestling. He made a hip hop album, challenging Hulk Hogan to a real fight. He did voiceover work, including Disney's "Bolt" animated film. He made charity appearances but when it came to wrestling, save for a few appearances for TNA where he showed up well beyond his peak condition and was extremely wary of everyone there, Savage was done with wrestling.
When WCW went under in early 2001, Savage disappeared from the business, starting a long cold war with WWE management. Whether it was the fact that Savage had been so close to Vince McMahon and left with no notice or one of the more salacious rumors that bounced around the Internet in recent years, WWE had no interest in bringing him back to the fold and vice versa. It wasn't until last year where relations began to thaw as WWE released a Best of Savage DVD set and Mattel unveiled a promo from Savage announcing his first action figure in over a decade.
Fans had their hopes for a Macho return to WWE, at least in the WWE Hall of Fame, but sadly, it will never come to pass.
Randy Savage was only 58.
2011 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Corpus Christi, Texas and your announcers are Michael ‘I don’t like Texas even though I live in the state’ Cole, Booker ‘I like Texas and I live in the state’ T, and Josh ‘I’m just happy to be here’ Mathews.While Sheamus comes to the ring, we hear some pre-recorded comments from Sheamus. He points out that it took Christian seventeen years to win the World Title while Sheamus points out that it only took two months for him to win the World Title. The writing is on the wall that Christian is on the way down, while the Celtic Warrior is on the way up.
Match Number One: Christian versus Sheamus
They lock up and Sheamus backs Christian into the corner but Sheamus misses with a punch. Sheamus does not miss with his next punch and then he connects with a knee followed by a series of punches. Christian slides through Sheamus’ legs and connects with an uppercut. Christian with a drop toe hold that sends Sheamus into the ropes and then Christian with a slingshot to the floor followed by an uppercut. Sheamus brings Christian back into the ring with a biel and he follows that with a boot to the head and he gets a near fall.
Sheamus with a punch to the midsection followed by a back elbow. Sheamus chokes Christian in the ropes but he misses a charge and he goes over the top rope to the floor. Sheamus with a shoulder to Christian from the apron and then he tries to suplex Christian to the floor, but Christian stops him and he punches Sheamus and then pulls Sheamus off the apron to the floor.
Christian goes up top but Sheamus stops him and he knocks Christian off the top rope to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus with a slam and he gets a near fall. Sheamus puts Christian in the ropes and he connects with a series of forearms. Sheamus with a knee drop and he gets a near fall. Sheamus with an elbow to the head and then he applies a rear chin lock with his knee in Christian’s back. Sheamus turns it into a reverse chin lock. Christian punches Sheamus in the midsection. Christian avoids a slam and hits an inverted DDT for a near fall.
Sheamus misses a charge into the corner and Christian hits a pendulum kick followed by a cross body for a near fall. Sheamus with an elbow followed by a knee lift. Sheamus misses a short arm clothesline and Christian with a kick followed by a sunset flip off the second turnbuckle for a near fall. Sheamus with a clothesline and he regains control of the match.
Sheamus signals that it is over but Christian with a back body drop and then he goes to the turnbuckles for a back elbow. Christian tries for the Killswitch but Sheamus counters and tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Christian lands on his feet. Sheamus with a uranage back breaker for a near fall. Sheamus with a kick to the midsection and then he puts Christian on the top turnbuckle. Sheamus punches Christian but Christian fights back and hits a tornado DDT and he gets a near fall.
Sheamus rolls to the apron and he punches Christian and hits another knee lift followed by a slingshot shoulder tackle but Sheamus can only get a two count. Sheamus gets set for the Celtic Cross but Christian escapes and gets the three count with an inside cradle.
Winner: Christian
After the match, Mark Henry runs to the ring and he attacks Christian. Sheamus joins in the attack. Sheamus with shoulders in the corner and then Randy Orton walks out onto the stage and he watches what is going on in the ring. Sheamus chokes Christian and then Orton decides to run to the ring and Orton punches Sheamus and hits him with a clothesline. Mark Henry charges at Orton but Orton moves out of the way and he sends Henry to the floor. Orton checks on Christian and helps him up.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at the I Quit Match between John Cena and Miz.
We run through the card for Over the Limit.
We have a new match for the pay per view with Brie Bella defending the Divas Title against Kelly Kelly.
Todd Grisham is in the interview area with Brie and Nikki Bella. Todd shows them the footage from Monday night when they made the mistake of attacking Kharma on Raw.
Todd asks Brie why she left her sister in the ring to be attacked. Brie says that she attacked Kharma. Nikki says that Brie wouldn’t have attacked Kharma if she didn’t know that Nikki was going to attack her too. Nikki then points out that when the going got rough, Brie got going out of the ring. Brie asks Nikki if she wouldn’t have done the same thing and Nikki says that Brie is right. Brie is frustrated that she has to defend her title on Sunday against Kelly Kelly and that she has to face that wench Natalya tonight. Brie asks Nikki if they can be on the same page again and Nikki says that they were never off. They leave the interview area together.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Brie Bella with Nikki Bella versus Natalya in a Non Title Match
They lock up and Natalya tries for a slam but Brie gets out of the hold. Natalya with a snap mare but Brie with a head scissors and Natalya escapes. Natalya with a waist lock but Brie gets to the ropes. Natalya with a take down and gets a near fall. Natalya sets for the Sharpshooter but Brie gets to the ropes. Brie drops Natalya on the middle rope and then she slams Natalya’s arm into the mat. Brie with an arm wringer on Natalya and then she applies an arm bar. Natalya gets Brie on her back and falls back to the mat. Natalya with a slap and clothesline. Natalya with a kick and a discus clothesline for a near fall. Natalya with a delayed vertical suplex followed by a snap mare and a drop kick to the back.
Natalya gets a near fall on Brie. Brie goes into the ropes and the referee pulls Natalya out of the way. Brie with a kick to the knee and then she sends Natalya shoulder first into the turnbuckles and Brie gets the three count after an X Factor.
Josh asks Booker about Ezekiel Jackson and what happened last week when the Corre attacked Jackson after being kicked out of the Corre. Booker says that Jackson is a man who can dish it out as well as he can take it. Booker says that Jackson is here to make a play on Smackdown.
We go to commercial.
Ezekiel Jackson comes to the ring and he said that when he first came to Smackdown, his goal was to write a new chapter in the Book of Ezekiel. It would be an epic tale of total domination. He promised himself that he would make an impact and that is why he joined The Corre. They took the show by force and took over. On that first night, he hoisted a five hundred pound giant and slammed him. Jackson says that he wondered if he needed the Corre or if they needed him. Jackson wanted to leave the Corre, but they wouldn’t let him walk away. Jackson says that he has taken a beating the last two weeks and he is man enough to admit it. Jackson says that they cannot break him. He is not a man who can be broken. They have unleashed a force that cannot and will not be stopped. He will not rest or sleep until they have all suffered. Jackson says that Wade will be the first to suffer. It is written in the Book of Ezekiel that his reign as champion will end. Jackson says that he is the personification of domination.
The Corre make their way to the ring and they look like they are ready for the next round of beatings on Jackson.
Before they can enter the ring, Teddy Long’s music plays and he says that this is not the way it is going to go down tonight, playas. He tells the Corre that if they want action, they will be in a six man tag match. Teddy lets the music tell us who Zeke’s tag team partners are and it is the Tag Team Champions.
Match Number Three: Big Show, Ezekiel Jackson, and Kane versus Heath Slater, Wade Barrett, and Justin Gabriel in a ‘You knew this was going to happen sooner rather than later Match’
Show and Gabriel start things off and Show tosses Gabriel around the ring and then he punches him in the corner and gives Gabriel a head butt followed by a chop. Kane is tagged in and he kicks Gabriel in the ribs followed by an uppercut. Kane with a back elbow followed by an elbow drop for a near fall. Gabriel with a back kick and Slater tags in but he runs into an uppercut. Kane sends Slater into the turnbuckles and then he punches Slater.
Kane with an Irish whip and Slater tries to float over but Kane catches him. Slater gets free and he tags in Barrett. Jackson wants to be tagged in and Kane obliges. Barrett with a kick and punch followed by a head butt and more punches. Barrett tries for a suplex but Jackson blocks it and he clotheslines Barrett over the top rope to the floor. Slater and Gabriel tease interference but they see Show and Kane get in the ring too and they think twice about doing anything as we go to commercial.
We are back and Jackson with a shoulder tackle to Gabriel and Show is tagged in and he punches Gabriel followed by a step over leg lariat for a near fall. Gabriel with punches and kicks to Show but Show with a kick of his own that does a little more damage than Gabriel’s kicks. Show with a chop and Jackson is tagged in. He connects with a forearm to the back but Gabriel with a kick and Barrett tags in.
Barrett punches Jackson but Jackson pushes Barrett away and Slater tags in. Jackson with a shoulder tackle and Kane tags in and hits the clothesline from the top. Kane with a running clothesline into the corner followed by a side slam for a near fall. Kane with a snap mare and he tries for the drop kick but Barrett pulls the ropes down and Kane falls to the floor.
Gabriel tag in and he hits a baseball slide followed by a pescado. Barrett tags in and he runs Kane into the apron before they return to the ring and Barrett gets a near fall. Slater tags in and he kicks Kane and connects with an elbow drop while Barrett has Kane immobilized. Slater with a side head lock but Kane with a belly-to-back suplex to get out of the hold. Barrett tags in and he kicks Kane in the head. Kane and Barrett exchange punches and then they each hit big boots and they go down.
Slater tags in and he gets between Kane and his corner. Kane pushes Slater out of the corner and Kane grabs Slater by the throat but Slater with a punch. Kane with a huge vintage uppercut and he is able to tag in Jackson. Jackson with a clothesline to Gabriel who just tagged in and then he knocks Slater off the apron. Jackson with a slam to Gabriel and he gives him another one for luck. Jackson decides to give Justin a third slam.
He gives Gabriel a fourth slam and then he tries to get Gabriel on his shoulders for a torture rack but Slater interferes. Kane takes care of Barrett with an uppercut while Show gives Gabriel a choke slam. Jackson slams Gabriel one more time and then he puts Gabriel in the torture rack and Gabriel taps out.
Winners: Ezekiel Jackson, Big Show, and Kane
Christian is in the back with Matt Striker and Matt asks Christian about what Randy Orton did earlier tonight. Christian says that he appreciated what Orton did, but he took his sweet time to get to the ring. We see the footage from earlier tonight.
Christian says that winning the World Title was the greatest moment of his life and that it took him seventeen years to do it, but in five days Randy Orton took it from him. Christian says that he is not mad at Orton and he hopes that Orton is not mad at him when he gets his title back on Sunday.
Christian mentions that Orton said that he wants Christian at 100 percent, but he has a funny way of showing it. Christian says that regardless of what happened tonight, he will be at 100 percent.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Chavo Guerrero says that Sin Cara embarrassed him last week. Chavo says that he brought Sin Cara to Smackdown and he taught him everything he knows. Then Sin Cara pays him back by disrespecting him. Chavo says that Sin Cara couldn’t beat Daniel Bryan without his help. Chavo says that what Sin Cara needed fifteen minutes to do last week, he will do it in less than five. Chavo says that he will beat Daniel Bryan in under five minutes. That is a lot less time than what he will need to beat Sin Cara on Sunday at Over the Limit.
Match Number Four: Chavo Guerrero versus Daniel Bryan in an ‘I Can Beat Daniel Bryan in Less than Five Minutes Match
Chavo points to the clock on the TitanTron and then they lock up and Chavo with a take down. They lock up again and Chavo backs Bryan into the corner but he misses a punch. Chavo goes for the leg but Bryan stops him and he puts Chavo in a hammer lock. Chavo with elbows to Bryan but Bryan with a drop kick and a drop toe hold.
Bryan with an Irish whip but he runs into boots from Chavo and Chavo with a near fall. Chavo with a Latino uppercut followed by a Saito suplex for a near fall. Chavo kicks Bryan and then he puts him in a rear chin lock and then he puts Bryan in a camel clutch with Bryan looking at the time on the clock. Bryan with elbows followed by a sunset flip but Chavo rolls through. We get a series of near falls from each man. Bryan with forearms but Chavo with a knee and Irish whip but Bryan flips out of the corner and hits a flying clothesline. Bryan with a series of kicks to the chest and then one to the head and Bryan gets a near fall.
Chavo sends Bryan into the turnbuckles and then Chavo tries for a power bomb but Bryan escapes and he tries to put Chavo in the LeBell Lock but Chavo gets his foot on the rope. Chavo rolls to the floor but Bryan with a baseball slide followed by a suicide dive.
Bryan goes up top but he misses a missile drop kick when Chavo moves out of the way. Chavo gets a near fall. Chavo with the Three Amigos and then he goes up top for the Frog Splash and he hits it but Bryan is able to kick out. The time runs out.
Draw
After the match, Chavo sends Bryan shoulder first into the ring post and then Sin Cara makes his way to the ring and he springs into the ring. Cara with a rana to Chavo that sends him to the floor. Cara points at Chavo.
We go to commercial.
Cody Rhodes comes out with Ted DiBiase for his match and Cody tells everyone to stop gawking at him. He wants everyone to put the bags over their heads. As a service to everyone and at great expense to him, he has provided the paper bags so he and the world wide audience can be spared the burden of seeing the foulness of their facades. Cody asks for one of his bags. He says that the bag in his hand is for Ted DiBiase. He tells Ted to put the bag over his head. Ted puts the bag over his head. Cody says that for the pleasure of the viewing audience, he asks him what his name is. He says that his name is ‘Corpus Christi’. Cody asks him what it is that he is hiding. He says that he is hideous. Cody asks where he wears the bag. He says that he wears it to school because the teachers are hideous. He wears it at home because his parents are hideous. Cody says that he is sorry that he feels that way. Cody says that he is offering some levity to the evening. The only real reason that someone would wear a paper bag in this ring is because what once was a blooming flower is now a wilted shrub. Cody asks ‘Corpus’ if he would like to add something and he asks for his opponent to be brought out.
Match Number Five: Ted DiBiase with Cody Rhodes and the Cody Rhodes Bag Men versus Trent Barreta
They lock up and Ted backs Trent into the corner and he kicks and punches him as the referee warns him. Trent with punches but Ted with the rebound clothesline and he gets a near fall. Ted punches Trent but he misses a shoulder and Trent kicks DiBiase. Trent goes up top and hits a version of Whisper in the Wind for a near fall. Trent with an enzuigiri and Trent tries for a tornado DDT but DiBiase counters with a sit out spinebuster and then he hits Dream Street for the three count.
Winner: Ted DiBiase
After the match, Ted puts a bag over Trent’s head.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Matt Striker is outside Randy Orton’s locker room and we will hear from Randy after our next match.
We see footage from last week when Jinder Mahal came out after the Khali Kiss Kam to slap Khali twice.
Match Number Six: Great Khali versus Jey Uso with Jimmy Uso
Uso with a kick to the leg followed by forearms to the back. Khali sends Jey into the corner and then he connects with an elbow. Jey with a drop kick that staggers Khali.
Jinder Mahal comes out and he yells at Khali in Hindi. Khali leaves the ring and Mahal gets face to face with Khali and then he slaps Khali while the referee counts Khali.
Khali returns to the ring and he chops Jey in the head and then he hits the vertical choke slam for the three count.
Winner: Great Khali
After the match, Khali brings Jimmy Uso into the ring and he chops Jimmy.
We go to the back where Matt Striker is with Randy Orton. Matt asks Randy about Christian’s comments from earlier tonight when he said that he would be 100 percent on Sunday and that he will win the title. Randy says that he has to face the World’s Strongest Man. A man with fifteen years of experience and a man who can snap your neck in a matter of seconds. Orton says that it is a lie that Christian will be at 100 percent. He may be at 99 percent, but that won’t be enough to win on Sunday.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Seven: Randy Orton versus Mark Henry in a Non Title Match
They lock up and Henry backs Orton into the corner. Orton with punches but Henry with a body block and then he stands on Orton’s chest. Henry with a forearm to the back and then he throws Orton to the floor. Henry goes to the floor and he connects with a forearm to Orton’s back and then he sends Orton back into the ring. Orton with a kick and a drop kick that sends Henry to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Orton with another drop kick that knocks Henry off the apron. Orton pushes Henry back into the ring but Henry with a head butt to the midsection. Henry gets Orton up and hits a power slam and gets a near fall. Orton punches Henry but Henry with head butts to Orton.
Henry tells Orton that he owns him as he kicks Orton. Henry continues to work on Orton with a forearm to the back. Henry works on the arm and he applies a nerve hold. Orton knocks Henry down with a shoulder tackle and then Orton with a series of knee drops. Orton with the Orton Stomp to Henry and then Orton looks around as he finishes it of with a boot to the head. Orton drops down for the RKO push ups but Henry sees the look in Orton’s eyes and he goes to the floor.
Orton tries to bring Henry back into the ring but from out of the shadows, Sheamus comes to the ring and he hits Orton with a running double axe handle and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Randy Orton by disqualification
After the match, Sheamus with a series of knee drops to Orton’s head and then Henry wants Sheamus to hold him for a punch to the midsection.
Christian comes out and he surveys the situation while Henry chokes Orton. Christian stretches a little while Sheamus kicks Orton in the corner.
Christian makes his way to the ring and he goes after Sheamus and Henry. Christian punches Sheamus out of the ring and then Orton with a drop toe hold to Henry that sends him into the turnbuckles.
Christian and Orton are alone in the ring and the fans want an RKO. Orton and Christian look at each other and Sheamus attacks Christian while Henry takes care of Orton.
Christian back body drops Sheamus to the floor and Henry presses Orton over his head but Christian kicks Henry in the midsection and Orton gets to his feet and he hits Henry with an RKO.
Orton and Christian shake hands and we go to credits.
2011 - TNA ran Amsterdam, NY. Matt Carter filed the following live report:-They held a ten bell salute for Randy Savage before the show.
-Kazarian pinned Robbie E. with a top rope elbowdrop.
-TNA Knockouts champion Mickie James pinned Madison Rayne with a DDT.
-Matt Morgan pinned Pope Dinero with the Carbon Footprint.
-AJ Styles pinned Tommy Dreamer with a Pele Kick after slipping out of a Spicoli Driver. Dreamer cut a decent promo before the match saying the fans have forgotten all he did for them.
-They introduced some of the legends here in town for the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame induction ceremony, including Nick Bockwinkel, JJ Dillon, Dan Hodge, Billy Robinson, Road Warrior Animal and Paul Ellering, Destroyer Dick Beyer and more.
-Samoa Joe defeated Jeff Jarrett with a Tazmission. Jarrett was gold on the mic.
-Rob Van Dam pinned Mr. Anderson with a Froggy Splash. Anderson tried to go after Mick Foley afterward but was run off with Mr. Socko.
The only thing I didn't get is this - why was Joe a babyface and Anderson a heel tonight? They switch these guys back and forth so much, it's like they are all the modern day equivalent of Paul Orndorff back in the day where you just throw up your hands and don't care about them because they switch so often.
That said, a decent house show. They kept things simple and to the point and it was fun, which is all I want out of my pro wrestling.
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