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June 17th
On this day in history in ....
1934 - Mario Nuez defeats Tony Canales in Mexico City, Mexico to
become the first holder of the Mexico National Welterweight Title.
1957 - Cyclone Anaya defeats Tor Yamata for the NWA Southern Junior
Heavyweight Title in Birmingham, Alabama.
1964 - Pat Patterson and Tony Borne defeat Nick Bockwinkel and Buddy
Mareno (Omar Atlas) for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Salem,
Oregon.
1965 - Bob Orton, Sr. wins a tournament for the vacant NWA Florida
Southern Heavyweight Title in Jacksonville, Florida. The title had been stripped
from Tarzan Tyler in April.
1966 - The Viking (Bob Morse) defeats Ron Reed in St. Joseph, Missouri to
win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title, ending Reed's second reign.
1966 - WWWF ran a TV Taping in Philadelphia, PA at the
Arena, featuring the following results:
Curtis Iaukea defeated Tomas Marin
Arnold Skaaland defeated Pete Sanchez
Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Angelo Savoldi
Bill Miller fought Johnny Valentine to a draw
1967 - WWWF ran Baltimore, MD at the Civic Center,
featuring:
Smasher Sloan defeated George McArthur
Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Ox Baker
WWWF U.S. Tag Team Champions Lou Albano & Tony Altimore defeated Miguel Perez &
Arman Hussian
U.S. Champion Bobo Brazil defeated Bull Ortega
WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino & Spiros Arion defeated Gorilla Monsoon &
Prof. Toru Tanaka
1970 - Dick Garza defeats Ricky Cortez for the Wolverine Wrestling
Michigan Heavyweight Title in Ypsilanti, Michigan, beginning his second reign.
1970 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino & Dominic DeNucci defeated George Steele & Prof. X in Munhall, PA.
1971 -WWWF ran Washington, DC with the following results:
Donna Christianello defeated Sharon Joy
Sandy Parker defeated the White Venus
Bill White defeated Juan CarusO
Luke Graham defeated Akim Manuka
Mike Pappas defeated Bull Pometti
The Black Demon defeated Miguel Feliciano
Chief Jay Strongbow fought Tarzan Tyler to a draw
1972 - Dutch Savage and Moondog Mayne defeat The Royal Kangaroos (Jonathan Boyd and Norman Frederick Charles) to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title, ending the Kangaroos' fourth reign.
1972 - WWWF ran Springfield, MA with the following results:
The Cisco Kid defeated Depaula
Joe Nova defeated Juan Caruso
Arnold Skaaland defeated Jimmy Valiant via disqualification
WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna
Lee Wong defeated Nikita Mulkovitch
The Blue Demon defeated Tony Contilles
1977 - Butcher Brannigan and Killer Karl Krupp defeat Larry O'Day and Ron
Miller for the NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Title in Sydney, Australia, ending
their fourth reign.
1977 - a live event in St. Louis, MO at The Kiel Auditorium
saw the following results:
Randy Tyler defeated Wolf Wiskoski at 11:12
Bob Sweetan defeated Ron Starr at 15:13
Pat O'Conner defeated Bobby Jaggers at 9:57
Bulldog Brown & Ivan Koloff fought Rufus R. Jones & Billy Robinson to a
30-minute time-limit draw
WWWF World Champion Superstar Billy Graham defeated Bob Slaughter at 11:23
AWA World Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell defeated Blackjack Lanza
& Bobby Duncum (w/ Bobby Heenan)
NWA World Champion Harley Race defeated Missouri Champion Jack Brisco
1982 - Don Kernodle and Jim Nelson defeat Porkchop Cash and Iceman
Parsons in Roanoke, Virginia, to win their second NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team
Title.
1978 - WWWF ran White Plains, NY at the Westchester County
Civic Center with the following results:
Johnny Rivera defeated Ted Adams
Mark Tendler defeated Jose Estrada via disqualification
Jim Ray defeated Jose Estrada
Mil Mascaras defeated Stan Stasiak
Dusty Rhodes fought Spiros Arion to a double count-out
The Yukon Lumberjacks defeated Peter Maivia & Johnny Rivera
1978 - WWWF ran Baltimore, MD at the Civic Center, featuring
the following results:
Nikolai Volkoff fought Larry Zbyszko to a draw
Johnny Rodz defeated Steve King
Tony Garea defeated Frank Williams
Gorilla Monsoon defeated Butcher Vachon
WWWF Tag Team Champions Dino Bravo & Dominic DeNucci fought Superstar Billy &
Luke Graham to a double disqualification
Haystacks Calhoun defeated Strong Kobayashi
George Steele defeated WWWF World Champion Bob Backlund via disqualification
1980 - WWF taped Championship Wrestling episodes in
Allentown, PA at Ag Hall, featuring the following results:
Johnny Rodz & Sylvano Sousa defeated Charlie Brown & Steve King
Ed Boulder (Brutus Beefcake) fought Jose Estrada to a draw
Rick McGraw defeated Sylvano Sousa
Dominic DeNucci & Rene Goulet defeated Marc Pole & Moose Monroe
The Hangman (w/ Freddie Blassie) defeated Angelo Gomez via submission at 2:47
with the Hangman Hold; after the bout, Vince McMahon interviewed Blassie &
Hangman at ringside (Hangman's debut)
Larry Zbyszko defeated Tony Colon
Pat Patterson defeated Lyndsey Lyle via submission at 7:02 with the stump puller
NWA World Champion Harley Race pinned Jose Estrada at 5:42 with a tombstone
Larry Zbyszko pinned Angelo Gomez at 6:54 with a suplex; prior to the bout,
Zbyszko demanded to be introduced as the "new living legend"
The Hangman (w/ Freddie Blassie) defeated Frank Williams via submission at 3:24
with the Hangman Hold
Ivan Putski pinned Moose Monroe at 2:56 swith the Polish Hammer
Pedro Morales defeated Sylvano Sousa
Larry Sharpe defeated Manny Siaca
NWA World Champion Harley Race defeated Tony Colon
Pat Patterson defeated Fred Marzino
Dominic DeNucci & Rene Goulet defeated Johnny Rodz & Jose Estrada
Hulk Hogan defeated Charlie Brown
Dark match after the taping: Hulk Hogan defeated Ivan Putski via count-out at
11:25
1982 - WWF ran three events in one day, with the following results:
Waterbury, CT at Kennedy High School:
Laurent Soucie defeated Steve King
Swede Hanson defeated Pete Sanchez
Rick McGraw & Steve Travis defeated Johnny Rodz & Jose Estrada
Tony Garea defeated the Black Demon
WWF IC Champion Pedro Morales fought Bob Orton Jr. to a double count-out
Oil City, PA at the High School Gym:
The Hangman pinned the Beast with a sunset flip and cradle at 18:00
Blackjack Mulligan pinned Bill Dixon at 16:30 with a boot to the face as Dixon
charged the corner
Jimmy Snuka pinned SD Jones at 27:05 when the momentum of a reverse flying
bodypress put Snuka on top
Ivan Putski defeated Greg Valentine via count-out at 11:30 after hitting the
Polish Hammer and sending Valentine to the floor; Valentine was able to return
to the ring before the bell rang but opted not to
Johnstown, PA at the Cambria County War Memorial:
Billy Berger defeated Pedro Torres
The Red Demon defeated Miguel Feliciano
Baron Mikel Scicluna fought Johnny DeFazio to a draw
WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Adrian Adonis
Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito
via disqualification
1983 - World Class Championship Wrestling holds one of many "Wrestling
Star Wars" events at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas before 21,000 fans. The
results:
- Genichiro Tenryu defeated Johnny Mantell.
- Vicki Carranza defeated Lola Gonzales to win the Mexican Women's Title.
- Al Madril, Jose Lothario and Sal Lothario defeated Bill Irwin, Fishman and The
Mongol (Gene Lewis).
- Iceman Parsons defeated Buddy Roberts in a Hair vs. Hair match.
- David Von Erich defeated Jimmy Garvin to win the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title.
As a result, Von Erich got Garvin and Sunshine as his valets for a day.
This led to a memorable TV vignette where David forced Garvin and Sunshine to
work on his farm, including washing his dog.
- Jumbo Tsuruta and Ted DiBiase fought to a draw. Tsuruta retained the NWA
United National Title, he vacated it following the match in order to challenge
for Bruiser Brody's NWA International Heavyweight Title.
- Giant Baba defeated King Kong Bundy to retain the PWF Heavyweight Title.
- Kimala defeated Armand Hussein, Tola Yatsu and Mike Bond in a Handicap Loser
Leaves Town match.
- Harley Race defeated Kerry Von Erich by disqualification. Race retained the
NWA World Heavyweight Title.
- Kerry Von Erich and Bruiser Brody defeated The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael
Hayes and Terry Gordy) to win the WCCW American Tag Team Title.
1983 - The Dynamite Girls (Jumbo Hori and Yukari Ohmori) defeat Devil
Masami and Talantula for the WWWA World Tag Team Title.
1983 - WWF ran New York City, NY at Madison Square Garden,
featuring the following results:
Iron Mike Sharpe pinned SD Jones at 10:39
Swede Hanson defeated Butcher Vachon at 8:33
Salvatore Bellomo defeated Mr. Fuji via disqualification at 11:30
Ivan Koloff (substituing for Iron Mike Sharpe) pinned Tony Garea at 11:41
George Steele defeated Chief Jay Strongbow at 7:13 when the match was stopped
due to blood
Ivan Putski & Jimmy Snuka,& Rocky Johnson defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion
Don Muraco & the Wild Samoans in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match
Andre the Giant defeated Big John Studd at 8:21 following a bodyslam
Sgt. Slaughter defeated WWF World Champion Bob Backlund via countout at 19:46
The scheduled contest between Ray Stevens and Eddie Gilbert was cancelled.
1984 - Jake Roberts defeats Ron Garvin to win the NWA World Television Title in Atlanta, Georgia, however the title was immediately held up upon the discovery that Roberts used a foreign object.
1984 - WWF ran Lancaster, PA with the following results:
George Steele defeated Jose Luis Rivera
Greg Valentine defeated Chief Jay Strongbow
Terry Daniels fought SD Jones to a draw
Sgt. Slaughter defeated Bob Orton Jr.
Bob Backlund defeated the Iron Sheik via count-out
1984 - WWF ran Minneapolis, MN at the Met Center, featuring the following
results:
B. Brian Blair pinned Jerry Valiant with an abdominal stretch into an inside
cradle
Mad Dog Vachon pinned Bobby Colt at 3:26 with the piledriver; after the bout,
Vachon threw Colt to the floor and attacked him with a chair
Big John Studd won a $50,000 18-man battle royal by last eliminating WWF
Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana at 9:17; other participants included
Andre the Giant, Rene Goulet, Mr. Fuji, WWF Tag Team Champions Dick Murdoch &
Adrian Adonis, B. Brian Blair, Tiger Chung Lee, Jerry Valiant, Chris Curtis, Mil
Mascaras, Alexis Smirnoff, Rocky Johnson, Paul Orndorff, Tony Garea, Jesse
Ventura, and Ivan Putski; order of elimination: Curtis by Adonis (1:14); Tiger
by Andre (1:25); Murdoch by Putski (1:48); Mascaras & Valiant eliminated each
other (1:55); Putski by Smirnoff (2:39); Smirnoff by Johnson (2:51); Andre,
Fuji, & Goulet were eliminated by Studd (3:23); Orndorff by Santana & Blair
(4:38); Garea by Adonis & Ventura (4:51); Adonis by Johnson (7:02); Blair by
Studd (7:20); Johnson by Ventura (8:45); Ventura by Santana (9:09).
Mil Mascaras pinned Tiger Chung Lee at 5:30 with a crossbody off the top
Paul Orndorff defeated Tony Garea
Ivan Putski defeated Alexis Smirnoff via count-out at 3:27 after knocking
Smirnoff to the floor with the Polish Hammer
WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana & Rocky Johnson defeated WWF Tag Team
Champions Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch
Jesse Ventura defeated Chris Curtis via submission with the backbreaker at 4:18
WWF champion Hulk Hogan pinned David Schultz with a clothesline
1985 - Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo, the U.S. Express, defeat The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Poughkeepsie, New York. This marked Windham & Rotundo's second and final WWF Tag Title reign. They had lost the belts to Sheik & Volkoff at the first Wrestlemania. The finish of the match saw Rotundo grab Sheik in a small package. Volkoff ran in and turned them over so Sheik was on top, but as the referee got Volkoff out of the ring, Windham ran in and turned them back over, so Rotundo was on top, and got the pinfall.
The remainder of the taping saw the following results:
WWF Jr. Heavyweight Champion Les Thornton pinned Gino Carabello at 2:43 with
a backbreaker
The Junkyard Dog & Tito Santana defeated Rick Hunter & AJ Petrucci at 3:49 when
JYD pinned Petruzzi with the powerslam
Terry Funk, in his WWF debut, defeated Aldo Marino via submission to the
spinning toe hold at 3:07; before the bout, ring attendant Mel Phillips put
Funk's hat on his head since his arms were full of Funk's ring gear; Funk then
attacked Phillips, with Phillips having to be helped backstage
In their debut as The Killer Bees tag team, B. Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell
defeated Steve Lombardi & Dave Barbie at 3:52 when Barbie submitted to
Brunzell's sleeper
Don Muraco (w/ Mr. Fuji) pinned Rick McGraw with the tombstone at 2:42
Ricky Steamboat pinned the Axe at 3:08 with the flying bodypress
Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) defeated Rene Goulet & Terry
Gibbs at 4:36 when Rotundo pinned Gibbs with an airplane spin
The British Bulldogs, Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid defeated Barry O & Dave
Barbie when Dynamite pinned Barbie with a diving headbutt after being thrown by
Smith at 4:27
King Kong Bundy (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Sal Gee at 2:34 with an elbow drop
following the Avalanche
Uncle Elmer (w/ Hillbilly Jim) pinned AJ Petruzzi with a legdrop at 1:46
(Elmer's in-ring debut)
WWF Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine (w/ Jimmy Hart) & Brutus Beefcake
(w/ Johnny V) defeated Paul Roma & Jose Luis Rivera at 2:51 when Beefcake pinned
Rivera following the running kneelift
Randy Savage, in his WWF debut, pinned Aldo Marino following two flying
elbowsmashes at 2:45; Bobby Heenan, Mr. Fuji, Freddie Blassie, Jimmy Hart, &
Johnny V were at ringside for the match trying to scout Savage and congratulated
him after the bout; moments later, Savage again attacked his opponent,
impressing the managers even more
Ricky Steamboat defeated Don Muraco (w/ Mr. Fuji) via count-out at 4:58 after
giving the atomic drop to Muraco on the floor, knocking him into Fuji
Paul Orndorff pinned Mr. X at 2:33 with the piledriver; during the bout, Bobby
Heenan watched the match from the aisle; after the match, Orndorff slammed X on
the floor
Pedro Morales & Lanny Poffo, in his WWF debut, defeated JA Rizzo & Barry O at
3:34 when Rizzo submitted to Morales' Boston Crab
The Missing Link (w/ Bobby Heenan) pinned Jim Young at 1:51 with a diving
headbutt from the middle turnbuckle
George Steele (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) defeated Jerry Adams at 2:57 via submission
with the flying hammerlock
Terry Funk defeated Mario Mancini via submission with the spinning toe hold at
3:38
Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) defeated WWF Tag Team
Champions Nikolai Volkoff & the Iron Sheik (w/ Freddie Blassie) to win the
titles at 3:13 when Rotundo pinned Sheik after both Volkoff and Windham reversed
the pin position behind the referee's back (Tag Team Champions)
1985 - The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane) defeat Ron Sexton
and Billy Travis in a tournament final in Memphis, Tennessee to win the AWA
Southern Tag Team Title for the 11th time.
1986 - WWF ran Buffalo, NY at the Memorial Auditorium with the following
results:
Tony Parisi pinned Paul Christy with the cannonball
Tony Atlas defeated Johnny K-9
WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage defeated George Steele via
disqualification
David Sammartino pinned Steve Lombardi with a backslide
Jimmy Jack Funk pinned Cousin Luke after hitting him with Jimmy Hart's megaphone
Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The Brotish
Bulldogs via countout
The Junkyard Dog defeated Dory "Hoss" Funk Jr.
1986 - WWF ran Tacoma, WA at the Tacoma Dome, featuring the
following results:
The New U.S. Express, Mike Rotundo & Danny Spivey defeated the Moondogs
Don Muraco fought Paul Orndorff to a double disqualification
Pedro Morales defeated Tiger Chung Lee
Hercules Hernandez defeated SD Jones
Jake Roberts fought Ricky Steamboat to a double disqualification
King Kong Bundy defeated George Wells
WWF champion Hulk Hogan defeated Big John Studd
1987 - Villano III defeats Perro Aguayo for the vacant WWF World Light
Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, beginning his third reign. The title
had been held up after a match between the two on May 3.
1987 - WWF ran Wichita Falls, Texas with the following results:
Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Jerry Allen
Tom Magee pinned Terry Gibbs
The Dingo Warrior (soon to be Ultimate Warrior) pinned Steve Lombardi
Sam Houston pinned Tiger Chung Lee
WWF Women's Champion the Fabulous Moolah pinned Debbie Combs
The One Man Gang pinned Ted Dibiase
Tito Santana pinned Killer Khan
The Junkyard Dog pinned Nikolai Volkoff
1988 - Chris Benoit defeats Johnny Smith in Calgary, Alberta, to win his
second Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title, ending Smith's
second reign.
1988 - WWF ran Indianapolis, Indiana at the Market Square
Arena featuring:
Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated The Killer Bees
WWF Women's Champion Sensational Sherri pinned Rockin Robin
Bad News Brown pinned Bret Hart
Tito Santana & Don Muraco (substituting for Rick Martel) defeated WWF Tag Team
Champions Demolition via disqualification when Mr. Fuji interfered
Andre the Giant defeated Jim Duggan via count-out after hitting him with his own
2x4 outside the ring
Danny Davis pinned Lanny Poffo
WWF World Champion Randy Savage pinned Ted Dibiase
1989 - TNT (Savio Vega) defeats Abudda Dein to win the vacant WWC
Television Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The title had been vacated on May 22
when Steve Strong injured then-champion Carlos Colon.
1989 - WWF ran Oakland, CA with the following results:
The Genius pinned Jim Powers
Jimmy Snuka pinned the Honkytonk Man
Tom Magee pinned Tim Horner
WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated the Big Bossman & Akeem via
disqualification
The Barbarian pinned Jim Neidhart
Rick Martel pinned Tito Santana
Bad News Brown pinned the Blue Blazer (Owen Hart)
WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan pinned Randy Savage
1994 - Mickey Doyle defeats Scott D'Amore for the Border City Wrestling
Can-Am Heavyweight Title in Wallaceburg, Ontario, ending and beginning both
men's second reigns.
1994 - NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling ran Montogeryville, PA at the Farmers Market, featuring the following results:
Mr. Hughes defeated Chad Austin
JT Smith defeated Hack Meyers
ECW Tag Team Champions the Public Enemy fought The Bad Breed, Ian & Axl Rotten
to a no contest
911 defeated Tommy Cairo
ECW TV Champion Mikey Whipwreck defeated the Pitbull via disqualification
The Tazmaniac pinned the Rockin Rebel
Tommy Dreamer defeated the Sandman
Sabu defeated 2 Cold Scorpio; the top rope broke during the match before an
attempted superplex
1994 - Smoky Mountaim Wrestling ran Knoxville, TN at the
Coliseum, featuring the following results:
The Thrillseekers, Chris Jericho & Lance Storm defeated Steven Dunn & Killer
Kyle
Bruiser Bedlam defeated Tracy Smothers in a coal miner's glove match
SMW Tag Team Champions Brian Lee & Chris Candido fought The Rock N' Roll Express
to a no contest in a piledriver match
SMW Heavyweight Champion Jake Roberts defeated the Dirty White Boy via
disqualification when the challenger hit the referee with Roberts' snake bag
after fighting off an interfering Kendo the Samurai
1995 - ECW holds "Barbed Wire, Hoodies and Chokeslams" before 1,150 at
the ECW Arena in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Broad Street Billy defeated The New Jersey Devil (Doug Gentry).
- Mikey Whipwreck pinned Val Puccio.
- Vampire Warrior pinned Hack Myers.
- Tommy Dreamer defeated Vampire Warrior.
- 911 pinned Jim Steele.
- Beulah McGillicutty pinned Luna Vachon.
- 2 Cold Scorpio and Taz defeated The Pitbulls and Raven in a Handicap match.
- ECW World Tag Team Champions The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge)
were scheduled to face Axl & Ian Rotten, the reunited Bad Breed. Bill Alfonso
would not allow the Bad Breed to team (they had lost a match to the Pitbulls
where the losing team had to split up forever). So, Axl and Ian instead brawled
out of the building. The Gangstas (New Jack and Mustafa Saed), making their ECW
debut, attacked the Public Enemy and were arrested.
- The Sandman defeated Cactus Jack by knockout in a Barbed Wire match to retain
the ECW World Heavyweight Title. This was the second of only five barbed
wire matches in ECW history. Cactus had the match won when Sandman
couldn't respond to a ten count, but referee Bill Alfonso (doing a heel referee
gimmick at the time, claiming he was sent by the State Athletic commission)
stated that a barbed wire match couldn't end on a ten count. Sandman then
grabbed Jack from behind and choked him out with barbed wire to get the win.
When the Arena realized Cactus didn't win the belt, they went ballistic.
911 and Paul Heyman, who had been trying to grab Alfonso to chokeslam him,
chased him around ringside. The audience surged, shoving the railing
against the ring apron in an attempt to trap Alfonso, who just barely jumped
into the ring and ran to the back. That night, fans with baseball bats
were waiting outside for Alfonso, who ended up having to be smuggled out of the
back of the building in the trunk of a car.
1995 - Smoky Mountain Wrestling ran Morristown, TN at East
High School, featuring the following results:
Boo Bradley defeated Killer Kyle
Tracy Smothers & the Dirty White Boy defeated the Headbangers
Steve Armstrong defeated SMW Heavyweight Champion Buddy Landel via
disqualification
Steve Armstrong defeated Jim Cornette via disqualification
The Rock N' Roll Express defeated SMW Tag Team Champions Al Snow & Unabom (the
future Kane)
1996 - The Monday Night War continued on, with WCW Monday Nitro winning
the night with a 3.4 rating, beating WWF Monday Night RAW's 2.3.
1996 - Flex Kavana (who would debut exactly five months later as Rocky
Maivia at WWF Survivor Series) and Bart Sawyer defeat Brickhouse Brown and
Reggie B. Fine in a tournament final for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis,
Tennessee.
1996 - Jushin Liger defeats Dick Togo for the Michinoku Pro Wrestling
British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan. Shinjiro Otani
defeated Kazushi Sakuraba for the UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Title as
well.
1997 - Kyoko Inoue defeats Kaoru Itoh for the vacant WWWA World Singles
Title in Sapporo, Japan. Inoue had vacated the title on May 11 after a match
between the two in Nagoya, Japan ended in a draw after 60 minutes.
1999 - Sherri Martel defeats Miss Manners (Adrian Lynch) in Fargo, North
Dakota to win the (revived) AWA World Women's Title for the fourth time.
1999 - The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) defeat The
Brotherhood (Knuckles Nelson and Rick Fuller) for the NWA World Tag Team Title
in Bolton, Massachusetts.
1999 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Villa Park, IL at
the Odeum, featuring the following results:
Chris Chetti & Nova defeated Danny Doring & Roadkill at 11:18 when Chetti pinned
Roadkill following the splash off the top / legdrop off the top double team
Little Guido (w/ Sal E. Graziano) defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri via submission with
a Boston Crab at 8:00 after a jumping DDT
Jerry Lynn pinned Justin Credible (w/ Jason & Jazz) at 7:48 with a roll up into
a bridge after twice reversing That's Incredible; pre-match stipulations stated
the winner would face ECW TV Champion Rob Van Dam later in the show; prior to
the bout, Lance Storm & Dawn Marie appeared, with Storm telling Lynn it was in
his best interest to lay down for Credible and join forces with Credible and
himself so that he too would have some stroke once ECW took over the industry;
Lynn responded by saying Credible & Storm had their chance to shine and he was
going to get there by himself; moments later, Tommy Dreamer & Francine appeared,
with Dreamer encouraging Lynn not to affiliate himself with Credible & Storm,
leading to officials having to break up a potential fight before Storm and Dawn
left ringside; after the bout, Storm returned to the ring and double teamed
Lynn, finishing with a spike cradle piledriver and then cutting a promo saying
he would take Lynn's spot against RVD later in the card
Christopher Daniels pinned El Mosco at 1:20 with a modified Roll of the Dice;
after the match, Daniels continued to attack his opponent before unmasking him;
moments later, he cut an in-ring promo until he was interrupted by Super Crazy
Christopher Daniels pinned Super Crazy in an impromptu match at 11:00 with a
Russian leg sweep followed by a leg roll up
Skull Von Krush fought Angel (w/ Jack Victory) to a no contest at around the
3-minute mark when ECW World Champion Taz appeared, laid out both men, and cut
an in-ring promo until he was interrupted by Steve Corino, Victory, & Rhino
ECW World Champion Taz defeated Rhino (w/ Steve Corino & Jack Victory) in an
impromptu match via submission with the Tazmission at 3:02; after the match, Taz
threw Rhino through a table set up in the corner
ECW World Tag Team Champions Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley (w/ Joel Gertner & Sign
Guy Dudley) defeated Spike Dudley & Balls Mahoney in a falls count anywhere
match at 12:35 when both champions pinned Mahoney following a spike powerbomb
through a flaming table set up in the ring.
ECWWorld TV Champion Rob Van Dam (w/ Bill Alfonso) pinned Lance Storm (w/ Dawn
Marie) (sub. for Jerry Lynn) at 17:38 with the Five Star Frog Splash after Lynn
interfered; late in the bout, Justin Credible attacked RVD, with Sabu then
appearing and eventually putting Credible through a table with a somersault
splash off the top to the floor; after the match, Sabu posed with the title belt
until RVD took it away, with Alfonso then holding Sabu back
2000 - Bad Attitude (Rick Michaels and David Young) defeat The Rock 'n'
Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) in Cornelia, Georgia to win the
NWA Wildside Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.
2000 - Club WWF (Andy Anderson and Steve Bradley) defeat Nueva Generacion
(Ricky Banderas and Apolo) for the IWA World Tag Team Title, just one day after
Nueva Generacion won the titles, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, ending and beginning
both's second reigns.
2000 - Powerhouse Hughes and Dale Price defeat Eric Love and Luscious
Lucas in Monessen, Pennsylvania to win the Championship Wrestling Federation Tag
Team Title.
2000 - ECW held an ECW on TNN TV taping in Danbury, CT at the O'Neill Center with the following results:
Scotty Anton beat Pitbull #1 via submission.
Mike Bell & HC Loc beat The Baldies, Devito & Angel.
Chilly Willy pinned The FBI's Tony Mamaluke.
Steve Corino pinned Yoshihiro Tajiri.
Simon Diamond pinned Danny Doring.
Johnny Swinger pinned Roadkill.
The Dangerous Alliance, CW Anderson & Bill Wiles beat Chris Chetti & Nova when
Anderson pinned Nova.
Kid Kash pinned Chris Hamrick.
Rob Van Dam beat ECW World TV Champ Rhino via DQ
2001 - Samu defeats Dylan Dean for the World Xtreme Wrestling Heavyweight
Title in Allentown, Pennsylvania, beginning his third reign. At the same event,
The Mad Russian ends the third reign of Lucifer Grimm as WXW Hardcore Champion.
2002 - Britain's highest court, the House of Lords, ruled that the World Wildlife Fund, not WWE, owns the rights to the "WWF" initials. The ruling came down today upholding the 2001 ruling from a British High Court that prevented the company now known as WWE from using the "WWF" initials after the Fund claimed sole ownership to them.
WWF changed their name to WWE in May 2002 after losing the earlier ruling. In that earlier decision, the High Court decided that WWE breached a January 1994 agreement that they had come to with the Fund as to how "WWF" would be used.
Ironically enough, it was the internet that caused the name change to WWE as the Fund asserted that WWF.com would create confusion among web surfers.
2002 - WWE Smackdown ran Fresno, CA. Louie filed the following live report:
Unlike the April 7th show, this show wasn't sold out, although the place was 80%
full. At times, the crowd was loud enough that it sounded like the place seemed
like it was packed.
I went to souvenir stand and wanted to buy a shirt for myself. After seeing all
the shirts going for $28, which costs more than the ticket that I bought for the
event, I didn't bother buying one. One interesting note here, they had the
Austin "WHAT?" shirts and foam exclamations on sale for full price.
After the intermission, there was an arm-wrestling contest between 2 DJs of a
local hip-hop station. Thank goodness it only lasted 3 minutes. It sucked so
much, it got little reaction for the crowd, and was the worst part of the show.
In most all of the matches, there was at least one rest hold. Now, I have
nothing against seeing rest holds, but when I see them in almost all of the
matches, it ticks me off.
On the program, it says "World Wrestling Entertainment" on top, yet on the
bottom of the program, in the fine print, it says "The wrestling exhibition is a
proprietary exhibition with all rights owned by World Wrestling Federation
Entertainment, Inc." Oops, they still need to "get the 'F' out"
Here are the matches and results of the Fresno show. I'll be brief and only
mention the interesting things that happened in each match.
The Hurricane (without his mask) defeated Tajiri and Jamie Noble (with Nidia) in
a triple-threat match for the Cruiserweight championship.
Tajiri received cheers from the crowd when he came out, even though he's
supposed to be heel. He was a fan favorite throughout the match, and was
actually booed when he lost in the match.
In a 6-man tag team match, the team of Christian, Test, and Lance Storm defeated
the team of Randy Orton, Hugh Morrus, and Sho Funaki.
Before the match started, Christian immediately got on the mike and said he was
pissed that "these raisin-fed jackasses" were chanting "Canada Sucks", since
everyone in Christian's team came from Canada. There was huge heat from the
crowd to Christian throughout the match because of the comment. (And just for
random trivia, raisins are mostly produced in the town of Selma, 20 miles south
of Fresno, though everyone still thinks that Fresno produces raisins.)
Faarooq defeated Reverend D-Von (with Deacon Batista)
I guess you can call it a normal match, with both guys pulling off all of their
signature moves.
Albert defeated Rob Conway
No one, including me, knew who Rob Conway was. Very dull match, with Albert
overpowering Conway throughout the match.
Rey Misterio Jr. (with mask) defeated Chavo Guerrero
I was shocked to hear so many people in the audience around me not know who Rey
Misterio was. I guess most fans of WWF/WWE have never watched WCW. I was also
surprised that he came out with his mask, since he was in WCW without his mask
for awhile. This was the best match of the night, with a ton of high-risk moves
from both guys. I hope that these two go against each other on television soon,
it was that good.
The team of Billy & Chuck (with Rico) defeated the team of Rikishi & Billy
Kidman for the Tag Team Championship
WOW is an understatement when I heard the deafening crowd boo and cheer each
team. The crowd was all over this match. Everyone wanted to see Rikishi rub his
big butt on all of the members, but only lucky Rico was the recipient of the
Stinkface after the match. Before Rikishi attempted to do it, Kidman stopped
him, then did a Stinkface of his own on Rico.
Torrie Wilson defeated Stacy Keibler in a Bra & Panties Match with special guest
referee, Ivory
Ivory, in her sexy referee top, grabbed the mike before the match and reminded
everyone that she was "the law of the land". Then she went on her spiel once
again about how women shouldn't degrade themselves like this and tried to give a
double disqualification to what she called "the dumb blondes". The blondes gave
her a double clothesline, tossing her out of the ring. A normal ref came in to
start the match. Even though Torrie lost her shirt first, she stripped Stacy out
of her clothes for the win. The crowd loved this match too.
Chris Jericho defeated The Big Valbowski
As usual, Jericho got on the mike and berated everyone for feeling that he was a
has-been, and once again reminds us that he's a living legend and was the very
first Undisputed Champion. Great match between the two men, going back and forth
before Jericho wins with a very low application of the Walls of Jericho.
Triple H defeated Kurt Angle
I thought the tag team match has the biggest pop from the crowd until this match
started. The whole place was shouting at Angle, letting him know that he sucked.
Then the crowd exploded when Triple H's music hit. It was literally deafening; I
had a hard time hearing after that explosion of sound from the crowd. It was
another back and forth match, with each man landing their signature moves
throughout the match. In the end, Triple H pulls down Angle's tights before
finally removing his "miracle-gro hair" and hitting the Pedigree for the win.
After the match, Triple H posed down for the electric crowd for a good 5 before
ending a very good night of wrestling.
As I said before, the 80% full arena sounded like a 150% full arena. Howard
Finkel told the crowd something along the lines of "In the world, there are good
crowds, there are great crowds, but you all in Fresno are the mejor, fantastic,
one of the best crowds that he have had and we thank you all for it." He could
be saying this in all of the shows, but he is right on. The people of Fresno
love wrestling, no matter if it's good times or bad times in the wrestling
business. They did not give a return date, but I hope they come back very very
soon, and hopefully, it will be a TV taping this time. We deserve one!
2002 - WWE broadcast Raw. Tim Whitehead filed the following live report:
The 6/17 episode of RAW IS REGROUPING aired live from Oakland. Like last week, they did a good job of making the best of a bad situation. The most controversial parts of the show were, of course, the repeated references to Stone Cold Steve Austin. Much attention was given to how Austin walked out on the promotion last week, and also after Wrestlemania, but no mention was made at all about the very disturbing incident involving Debra at the Austin home in San Antonio. It all came off early like an angle, and since most casual fans, who are the majority, probably didn't even know about the domestic abuse issue, they almost certainly thought it was all an angle to set up an Austin arrival later. The goal was to allow Rock to do the burial, if we can call it that, on Austin at the end of the show. Since the fans love Rock, and were elated with his arrival since it was unexpected, they accepted his message about professionalism and love for the business.
As a one-shot deal, this was an acceptable way to write Austin out of the promotion. Some might argue that they teased an Austin arrival in a way to draw ratings toward the end, but that's just they way Vince McMahon does business and always will. They should just drop the issue now that it's over. Let's hope they don't resurrect this issue as often as they do with the Montreal screwjob. Let's also hope that Stone Cold gets some much needed counseling because it's pretty obvious that he's got some major problems. Debra's decision not to press charges will only be a positive if Austin gets his act together and stops this unacceptable behavior.
By the way, the RAW opening video which features all the top stars no longer includes any footage of Austin.
They opened with highlights of the angle last week where Shawn Michaels gave Booker T the sweet chin music and he was booted out of the NWO.
Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler announced that they would have the real story of Austin's departure later in the show.
Rob Van Dam defeated X-Pac in 5:58 in a King of the Ring quarterfinal match. The crowd was ultra-hot for this match. There were big "X-Pac sucks" and "RVD" chants. X-Pac dominated early on the mat. RVD hit a kick, lariated X-Pac out to the floor, and hit a moonsault off the apron. RVD did his legdrop on X-Pac on the security rail. X-Pac hit a powerbomb. RVD bumped out, where X-Pac did a somersault plancha. X-Pac got crotched going for the bronco. RVD hit the rolling thunder. RVD went to the top but X-Pac kicked him and he bumped to the floor. The ref went out to check on him, allowing Booker T to sneak in and lay X-Pac out from behind. RVD recovered and won with the five star frog splash. Good opener!
Highlights aired of Vince and JR talking about Austin from Saturday's Confidential show. Essentially, they said Austin walked out on the company and the idea was conveyed that he's finished.
Backstage, X-Pac was outraged that Booker cost him his spot in the KOTR tournament. He kept screaming for a match against him. Shawn Michaels, who was wearing a white cowboy hat, kept trying to calm him down. So did Big Show. Neither seemed to take X-Pac's loss all that seriously. Kevin Nash then spoke up and told X-Pac he has a plan to get even with Booker.
Vince strutted down to the ring for a promo that much of the live crowd didn't understand. No doubt most of them didn't know about the police incident involving Austin & Debra in San Antonio, and probably most still thought the Austin walk-out was some elaborate angle. Vince said that for the past week the big question has been whether or not Stone Cold is really gone from the WWE. He said the answer is yes, he is gone. As for whether he'll ever be back, Vince said he sincerely hopes that someday he'll return but in reality doesn't know if he ever will. A "what" chant started, and it was pretty clear Vince didn't like it. He said Austin has a lot of explaining and apologizing to do, and noted that last week's walk-out wasn't the first time Austin had done that, noting that he also no-showed the RAW after Wrestlemania. In that incident, Austin claimed to be burned out, and Vince said he accepted that as an explanation, and after two weeks Austin returned and all was forgiven. Vince acted a little bit choked up at this point. He continued, saying Austin owes an apology to every WWE superstar, to the company, and to the fans. By now the fans were catching on that this was extraordinary, but still weren't sure how to react. A modest "Austin" chant started. A few people applauded Vince. Vince said that last week they all tried to call Austin, and finally JR got through to him and encouraged him to come to the arena, sit down, and discuss his problems with them like a man. But he didn't, and Vince said Austin must be held accountable for his actions, which he called uncharacteristic of the Austin we all knew. He said WWE will move on, and will develop new stars and new concepts, because that's what they must do. He added a new twist to the KOTR tournament, saying the winner will earn an Undisputed World Title shot at SummerSlam. Vince concluded by saying Austin is gone but will never be forgotten, and that he's sure that in his heart Austin wishes the best to the company, the wrestlers, and the fans. On behalf of everyone, Vince said "thank you for the memories". He took a swig from a can of Budweiser, and then placed the can on the mat in the middle of the ring before walking off. The camera focused on the can and faded out into a commercial break.
Jeff Hardy defeated Raven in 3:48. Footage aired beforehand of the "extreme" Jeff choking Raven on Heat. But this match didn't have much heat. Undertaker came out and watched from the ramp top, teasing a run-in though he didn't do one. They started off slapping each other. Jeff did his old run across the security barrier into a lariat. Jeff took a hard bump out and Raven dominated, getting some near falls. Jeff came back with kicks and won with the swanton.
Goldust visited Booker. This week, Goldust was dressed in Medieval British attire and was speaking in a British accent, calling himself the Duke of Gold, though he also had a fake beard that made him look like Fu Manchu. He warned Booker that in his upcoming KOTR match against Brock Lesnar, the NWO might interfere. However, Goldust noted that that could work to Booker's advantage because an NWO run-in might get Lesnar DQ'ed. That encouraged Booker to start calling himself a king, and he decreed that Lesnar will get his ass kicked by the five time WCW World Champion, sucka!
Jonathan Coachman walked into Molly Holly's locker room and found her working out on a thigh master, to her embarrassment. He asked her about Trish Stratus' allegation that she has a "fat ass" and has "extra junk in her trunk". She cut a promo on Trish, pledging to beat her for the women's title at the PPV. Coach said that if she wins the belt, maybe she'll no longer be.....drum roll, please....the BUTT of so many jokes. Molly slapped the hell out of him.
In the NWO locker room, X-Pac was still mad that no one seemed all that concerned that he was eliminated from the KOTR tournament. Paul Heyman walked in, backed up by the silent Lesnar. He was worried that the NWO would indeed run-in during the Lesnar vs. Booker match, causing his man to get DQ'ed just as Goldust predicted. He politely but firmly asked that they stay out of that match. X-Pac said that sounded like a threat. Heyman said he asked politely, but now was telling them outright that they had better not interfere in that match. The Heartbreak Kid got in Heyman's face, but Lesnar pushed Heyman aside and got in HBK's face. HBK backed away and Nash got in Lesnar's face, creating a visual of a considerably taller Nash. Heyman did his usual deal of leading Lesnar away, as Lesnar continued to stare Nash down.
Christopher Nowinski defeated Spike Dudley in 3:19. JR put over that Nowinski had a 4.0 GPA at Harvard and was All-American on the football team. That's actually a great gimmick. He came out wearing preppie clothes. Spike attacked him as he was removing his shirt. Nowinski dominated, including a killer looking lariat. Spike did the double foot stomp. You really haven't seen that move until you see one of the Japanese girls do that off a steel cage top. Spike hit a spear, but Nowinski came back with a full nelson bomb for the pin. Afterward, William Regal, who had accompanied Nowinski, went in and they doubled on Spike. Bradshaw made the save by nailing Regal. Nowinski fled at full speed up the ramp.
Several members of the Raiders were shown in the crowd.
Hour two began with Ric Flair coming out. JR wondered what will be next for Flair now that he's no longer co-owner. Flair got on the mic and said that a lot of people think he lost everything last week. His top star walked out, and then he lost his 50% of the company by losing the match to Vince. He said he went home and looked in the mirror, and decided that instead of losing everything, he really found himself. He said he wishes he was still an owner, but admitted that running the company turned him into an a**hole and said that life will go on for him without his 50% ownership. He said he won't be like Austin and quit and go home. He brought up Hulk Hogan's recent comeback, which led all the way to him winning the WWE Undisputed Title. He said there's no way he'll allow a loss to Vince be his final match. He admitted he's lost about half a step, but claimed to still be two steps ahead of most of the guys in the locker room, and thus announced that he's signed a RAW contract to be a wrestler. He insisted he's still got one good run left in him. My own personal belief is that Flair should stop wrestling on a regular basis, but I guess they feel they need him now more than ever and he will put guys over. Flair said he's been known as the dirtiest player in the game, and Lesnar, who caused him to lose last week, will soon learn about that. At this point, Austin's music began playing. That was scary. I guess the idea was to keep the tease alive that he might do a run-in later. But the Austin music then switched to Eddie Guerrero's music. Guerrero came out and said we just heard Austin's theme for the last time. He was mad about Austin leaving, since he had a match scheduled against Austin at the PPV. He acted like that was a match opportunity of a lifetime that meant a lot to him and his entire family. He said it took a lot of audacity for Flair to come out and talk about finding himself and making a comeback. Guerrero kept doing mock "whoooos" and throwing in his Latino catch phrases. He blamed Flair for Austin's walk-out, saying it happened on his watch. He was furious that Flair cost him his chance to kick Austin's ass and held him personally responsible for costing him the match opportunity of a lifetime. He called Flair a worthless piece of crap. Chris Benoit then came out. He teased siding with Flair, saying Guerrero shouldn't talk like that to a 30 year veteran who held the world title 16 times. He held up four fingers and asked Guerrero if he knows what that stands for. He said Flair has dedicated his life to the wrestling business. Guerrero replied that his entire family has dedicated their lives to the business and called Flair a loser. Flair finally spoke up, saying he'll take Austin's spot at the PPV against Guerrero, and sarcastically said "comprende?" to Guerrero. This caused Guerrero to go off on a tirade in Spanish, which included the word "madre" so I assume he said something bad about Flair's mother. Benoit then turned on Flair. He said he sat at home for a year recovering from a broken neck at the hands of Austin, but now, thanks to Flair, Austin is gone and he can't get the revenge he wanted so badly. He got in Flair's face and Flair punched him. Guerrero attacked Flair from behind and they doubled on him. Guerrero put Flair in the figure four and kept it on him for a long time as Benoit taunted him and took shots at him. They finally left Flair laying. JR said he was disappointed with Benoit & Guerrero's conduct.
Vince was on the phone with Tony Garea when Nowinski walked in to introduce himself. He suggested that he's the first wrestler ever in the WWE to have graduated from Harvard. Vince agreed that was probably true. Nowinski then said that a man like Vince must surely have gone to Harvard or some other school of similar status, but Vince somewhat sheepishly said he attended East Carolina State. Hey, it ain't East Tennessee State, but I guess it'll do. Nowinski then began citing all his academic and athletic honors, but Vince returned to his phone conversation. Garea was at the airport, on lookout for Austin. He told Vince that "the man" had arrived there and was on his way to the arena. Vince immediately assumed it must be Austin and ended the conversation without getting anymore info.
Vince called Sgt. Slaughter and a bunch of security guys to his office. He told them he doesn't want any confrontation, but if Austin shows up, to allow him into the building so they can talk things over. He acted like he expected Austin to apologize. He sent Sarge to get another camera crew so that whatever happened with Austin would be documented. That was hilarious since the whole thing was being filmed already by a camera crew, not to mention that at WWE TV tapings there seem to be camera crews even in closets.
Trish Stratus & D-Lo Brown beat Molly Holly & Crash Holly in 2:47. After seeing a close-up shot of Trish's implants, Lawler said he'd like to get a "bust in the mouth" from her. Given the nature of the allegations against Austin, they were careful in this match not to do any spots where a guy took a shot at a girl. Molly did a spot where she took a big bump on her ass to play up that angle. D-Lo had Crash down for a pin but Molly broke it up. Trish tackled Molly. D-Lo then hit a powerbomb on Crash and scored the three count. Afterward, Molly attacked Trish and bumped her off the apron onto the announcer's desk.
Lita appeared at WWE The World. She had on a neck brace. She said she was concerned about Matt Hardy having a match against Undertaker and wondered if it was worth the risk he was taking.
The camera crew filmed the camera crew setting up their cameras for Austin's arrival. Jackie from Tough Enough 2 walked in. She said she wants to be a RAW girl. Vince noted that they're airing a Divas' lingerie showdown special next week and said if she shows up on RAW in lingerie he'll consider signing her to a RAW contract. Jackie said she'll show how RAW she can get. Vince is a dirty old man. He's also a smart old man.
Undertaker beat Matt Hardy in a non-title match in 2:11. Footage aired before the match of some of the UT vs. Triple H stuff from Smackdown. Matt attacked but UT nailed him with a lariat. He legdropped Matt on the apron. Matt blocked the Last Ride and hit a DDT. UT hit the chokeslam but Jeff arrived and pulled the ref out to stop the pin. There was no DQ for Jeff's interference. Nothing like an inconsistent policy on these things to keep fans buying tickets! Jeff went to the top but Raven ran out and shoved Jeff off to the floor. UT then hit the Last Ride on Matt for the three count. Raven handcuffed Jeff to the ropes. UT stomped the hell out of the defenseless Jeff as Raven held Matt in a submission hold and forced him to watch. Jeff got beaten into oblivion. That was pretty much inevitable, and probably necessary since UT is the champ and has to be strong going into the PPV. UT held up the belt before leaving.
Terri interviewed UT backstage. He said what happened to Jeff shows what awaits anyone who tries to make a name at his expense. As for HHH, he said he can destroy all the monitors and equipment he wants, noting that they don't fight back, but he (UT) certainly does fight back.
Vince tried to call Garea again. He kept having cell phone problems but did hear that "the man" is on his way.
Heyman went to see Earl Hebner. He said he doesn't want any interference in the Lesnar vs. Booker match and if any occurs, it's without his authorization, so he requested that Hebner not DQ Lesnar for run-ins that aren't his fault. Hebner told Heyman not to tell him how to do his job, and walked off. Heyman was frustrated. Booker then walked up and told Heyman that the next big thing is about to get his ass handed to him. He got a pop for calling Heyman a "sucka".
Lesnar beat Booker in 3:22 in the KOTR quarterfinals. All four NWO guys came out. HBK did color commentary and was obnoxious as hell. He called Booker a showboat and a dancer and said there's no place for that kind of guy in the NWO. That was designed to get "irony heat". Lesnar suplexed Booker and then lariated him over. Heyman was already worried about the NWO presence when Goldust came out. Heyman went ballistic when he saw Goldust. Booker made a comeback and scored a two count with a powerslam. Goldust distracted Lesnar, allowing Booker to hit a series of kicks. He got a big pop for the spinaroonie. X-Pac got up on the apron, followed by Big Show. Booker bumped both of them off. This allowed Lesnar to recover and he hit the F5, which was finally called that by JR, for the pin. By the way, numerous readers alerted me last week that F5 is the magnitude scale for tornadoes, not hurricanes, so thanks for the correction. After Lesnar & Heyman left, the NWO attacked Goldust & Booker. Show chokeslammed both. HBK was the dictionary definition of obnoxious (which was the idea) dancing around in his cowboy hat taunting everyone. Booker & Goldust were left laying.
Sarge told Vince that Garea had pulled into the parking lot. Since "the man" was reportedly right behind Garea, Vince headed out to the ring. He told Sarge to send Austin out there when he arrives. So the extra camera crew wasn't needed after all.
Vince came out to the ring. He got a can of beer, planning to offer it to Austin on arrival. He got on the mic and told Austin to come out and say whatever he wants. Instead, Garea came out and told Vince "the man" he had been talking about wasn't Austin. Vince demanded to know who the hell he is. He didn't have to wait long to find out, as the Rock's music played immediately. Rock came out to a huge ovation and a massive "Rocky" chant. Rock did his "finally the Rock has come back to Oakland" promo. He asked Vince if he really thought it was Austin who was going to show up, and cut him off with an "it doesn't matter what you think" when Vince started to respond. Rock put himself over. He got a little mixed up on the "jabronie beatin', pie eatin'" part (actually he got it backwards) but it didn't matter because the crowd was hanging on his every word. Rock said he was there to address the people and gave Vince 15 seconds to get the hell out of the ring. He started counting and it was hilarious watching Vince get out of there. Rock threw the beer can at him as he was leaving up the ramp. Rock did an excellent promo to sort of softly write Austin out. He said he wasn't scheduled to return until next month but after what happened last week (Austin's walk-out) he returned ahead of schedule. He said that five years ago he came to the WWE to become the best there is. He put over all the talent and fire he sees in the guys backstage. He said they're back there because they want to be in the WWE, and they bust their asses in the ring every night because it's what they love to do. Rock added that anyone who doesn't want to be with the company should do like the slogan says and get the F out. He promised to be at the KOTR PPV this weekend, and said he has WWE in his blood. He vowed that 50 years from now an 80 year old Rock will put his dentures in and hobble down to the ring using a walker, and will then shout "Just bring it!" He put over his father, Rocky Johnson, and late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia. He said Austin can take his ball and go home if he wants, but for himself, the WWE is home. He ended with his "smell what the Rock is cookin'" catch phrase. It was just what the promotion needed, and if business holds up you can damn well credit Rock for it because the promo was a subtle but firm way to handle the situation. Lawler delivered the final word on Austin, saying who needs him as long as they have the Rock. It's going to be an interesting summer.
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS:
Was there some symbolism when Rock threw the beer can from the ring?
Does Vince think, "it's good to be king", when he does angles with the likes of Jackie, Stacy, and Dawn Marie?
Now that Jackie is on RAW, doesn't she or the other Jackie need a new name?
Wasn't it weird seeing UT and Raven working together?
What happened to the Regal and Molly relationship?
Doesn't the angle blaming Flair for Austin's departure contradict the real story as presented on Confidential?
2004 - Shinya Hashimoto and Yoshiaki Fujiwara defeat Takao Omori and Shiro Koshinaka in Miyagi, Japan to win the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Title.2007 - TNA held their Slammiversary event in Nashville, Tennessee. Here is Mike Johnson's original report from the show:
Pre-Game Show Notes: They aired the Road to Slammiversary PPV, right down to advertising the Steiners vs. Team 3D. There's something really really sleazy about continuing to advertise that match, especially when it could cost nothing to run a crawl across the bottom of the screen. Of course, when compared to what WWE is pulling this week, TNA are saints in comparison, but that shouldn't prevent the company from doing the right thing. You can't win back street credibility with hardcore fans (who make up the bulk of your paying customers) when you screw them. It's understandable there was an injury; it's inconceivable to act like that injury doesn't exist until after you have the customers' money....Leticia Cline needs work on her on-air personality. Lord knows she's pleasing to look at, but she doesn't come across as someone who knows or is passionate about the product, especially when compared to Christy Hemme, who was perfect in the same role...James Storm's promo building the match with Frank Wycheck were really damn good. Storm has to be considered one of the most improved wrestlers of the year if this keeps up....It sure as hell looks like Jeff Jarrett's silhouette in the King of the Mountain preview.
Slammiversary PPV
TNA opened with their original NWA:TNA opening from the era of the Wednesday night PPVs followed by a music video meshing footage of Nashville with historic moments from that era. They aired a video of Jeff Jarrett clobbering a Tiger Woods lookalike with a guitar.
Mike Tenay welcomed us to the PPV as the band LoCash Cowboys. performed the TNA Slammiversary theme music live. The Nashville Municipal Auditorium looks damn full on TV.
LAX vs. Rhino & Senshi (with Hector Guerrero)
No Chris Harris, so I'm wondering if he's the mystery guy in the King of the Mountain. Senshi and Homicide against each other live on PPV sounds great to me. Rhino starts off with Homicide. The crowd chants Rhino's name so Homicide goes off them. Homicide ducks under a clothesline attempt but is caught with a press and slam. Homicide charges Rhino in the corner. Rhino caught him and went for a powerbomb but lost his grip and Homicide fell over the ropes to the floor, feetfirst. That could have been a disaster but thankfully he was OK. Senshi tagged in, but Homicide drilled him into the corner and tagged in Hernandez.
Senshi drilled Hernandez with a kick to the leg several times. He tries to shoulderblock Hernandez but is shoved off. Senshi attempts a second but fails. Hernandez clips Rhino in the corner, but is drilled by several trademark Senshi kicks to the head. Rhino clotheslines Hernandez, setting up a near fall. Senshi goes to work with a series of strikes but is caught and beeled across the entire distance of the ring. Hernandez does it again, then tags in Homicide.
Homicide drills Senshi with a back elbow as he rebounds off the ropes for a two count. Homicide catapults Senshi into Hernandez' waiting arms, where he's hit with a belly-to-belly suplex. Senshi kicks up at two. Hernandez locks in a bearhug but Senshi bites him to break it. Hernandez nails the Cracker Jack. He goes for a powerbomb but Senshi drilled him with a series of rights,. Hernandez falls backwards with Senshi on top. Senshi drills a double stomp then tags Rhino. Homicide and go back and forth. Rhino then nails Hernandez with a belly-to-belly. He hits a spinebuster on Homicide but Hernandez breaks it up. Hernandez and Senshi go at it. Senshi ducks under Hernandez and holds the ropes, so Hernandez goes to the floor. Senshi hits a great springboard flying forearm to the floor.
Konnan handed Homicide the slapjack but Hector Guerrero grabbed it and clotheslined Homicide's throat over the top rope. Rhino KILLED Homicide with a gore and scored the pin.
Your winners, Senshi and Rhino!
This was a really fun opener. The work was good all the way through and the crowd, which is super hot, made it even better. I've written it before but the TNA PPVs from Orlando and outside venues are like night and day from an atmosphere standpoint.
Mike Tenay and Don West noted that "as everyone knows, Scott Steiner suffered a freaky injury" in Puerto Rico and won't be appearing tonight. They said they will be following the story as the PPV goes on. They previewed the rest of the card.
They aired a King of the Mountain match preview package.
Jeremy Borash was outside Jim Cornette's office saying he was trying to get an update on the King of the Mountain and TNA Tag title situations. Eric Young showed up. Tracy Brooks showed up and tried to romance Young in order to get him to give up the match. Young started losing his mind over the idea. His delivery is awesome. Gail Kim showed up and told Young to focus on the biggest match of his life. She kissed him and told Brooks that was a kiss from a real woman, then sent Young on his way. Kim warned Brooks she was watching her and left. Brooks called her a bitch.
The announcers previewed the X-Division championship bout. Kevin Nash joined the announcers. Guru Sonjay Dutt, doing a Benny Hinn-like gimmick, came to ringside, dropping flower pedals in his wake. What he was doing at ringside was never explained. I'm not sure what to make of the gimmick yet, but at least TNA didn't make him Honkytonk Dutt or something. Nash said he felt like Jim Jones with several of his children out here. Don West quipped, "Hope there's a better ending." That was funny.
TNA X-Division champion Chris Sabin vs. Jay Lethal.
The crowd was chanting "Black Machismo" at the bell. Lethal opened up with a hiptoss and several punches. Sabin tried to scamper out of the ring but Lethal grabbed his leg. Sabin peppered Lethal with punches to the back but was caught with an elbow. Lethal nailed headscissors off the ropes, sending Sabin to the floor. Lethal charged with a suicide dive to the floor. Lethal went to the top and hit a double axehandle to Sabin's head for a near fall. Lethal really does a good job of meshing the Macho Man spots to his own signature moves. Sabin drilled a headbutt and knee to the face. Sabin 's improvement is evident too of late as he plays to the crowd at all the right times instead of going from move to move. Sabin rides Lethal in the ropes, choking him against the middle rope. He steps on Lethal's throat, mocking the Randy Savage twirling finger. The crowd starts chanting, "Let's go Lethal."
Sabin thumbs Lethal in the eye, then slaps him several times. He follows that up with several punches in the corner, toying with him. He chokes Lethal with his boot. The crowd tries to rally Lethal. Sabin hits a leaping elbow in the corner. Lethal comes back with a flying forearm of the ropes. Lethal suplexes Sabin for a two count.
Sabin comes back with a running boot in the corner to kill Lethal's momentum. Sabin goes for a top rope hurrancanrana but Lethal holds on. Lethal flips Sabin into a faceplant combination but Sabin gets his shoulder up at two. Lethal goes for the top but is caught with a mule kick to the chest, then an enziguiri to the head. Lethal kicks up at the last second.
Sabin goes for the Cradleshock but Lethal escaped. He attempted a full nelson suplex but Sabin backed him into the corner. Lethal kicked out of a pin attempt. Sabin went for Cradleshock but was superkicked. Lethal nailed the Lethal combination and the top rope elbow. Lethal scores the pin.
Your winner and new X-Division champion Jay Lethal!
Don West tells Kevin Nash, "Happy Father's day." Lethal and Nash hug. Lethal celebrates with the belt. Another good match.
They aired a video feature on the Slammiversary press conference that led to the James Storm-Frank Wycheck angle.
Leticia Cline interviewed James Storm and Jackie Moore. Storm said Wycheck better kiss his wife and kids goodbye. Jackie Moore asked Cline how much she paid for her implants, then told her to ask for a refund because they were a little lopsided. Not as funny as you might think reading this.
Ron Killings & James Storm vs. Frank Wycheck & Jerry Lynn (with Kyle Vanden Bosch)
They gave no explanation as to why Killings was a heel or teaming with Storm beyond the idea they were both TNA original roster members and offended by the attention Wycheck received at the press conference for the PPV. No mention of those TERRIBLE Killings "movie" vignettes so let's hope those have gone the way of the Dupp Cup. Wycheck and Lynn came out wearing Tennessee Titan jerseys accompanied by the Titan's Kyle Vanden Bosch.
Jerry Lynn and Ron Killings, making his return from knee surgery much earlier than expected, start off. Killings looked good early, showing no ring rust, right down to doing a handspring out of the corner and a split before nailing a kick to the face. Lynn hits a back elbow off the ropes, then a deep armdrag on Killings. James Storm tagged in, so Lynn tagged in Wycheck.
The crowd into Wycheck. Storm shoulderblocked Wycheck down to the mat. Storm put on a football helmet. Killings tossed him a football, which he fumbled to mock Wycheck. Crowd booed that. I thought that was a funny idea to get the crowd behind Wycheck. Storm headlocked Wycheck. Wycheck shoved him off into the ropes but was shoulderblocked down again. Lynn tried to give Wycheck advice.
Wycheck hits several shoulderblocks, then dropkicked Storm. Killings tried to kick Wycheck, who ducked. Killings crotched himself, then bumped to the floor. Wycheck press and tossed Lynn to the heels on the floor. Wycheck hit an atomic drop on Storm, then tossed him over the top. Storm tried to skin the cat but Lynn dropkicked him to the floor. Wycheck went after Storm on the floor but was clotheslined. The announcers played it off like Wycheck hit the back of his head on the concrete, playing off his concussions. They tossed him into the railing. Storm set up Wycheck, then kicked him in the face.
Killings handed Storm a chair but the referee took it away. This allowed Wycheck a chance to tag Lynn, who nailed some offense before being tossed to the floor. Killings took out Lynn on the floor then tossed him back in. Storm hit the Whirlybird on Lynn, then sipped from a bottle of beer. Storm spit the beer on Kyle Vanden Bosch, who tried to get in the ring but was held back. Killings tagged in and he and Lynn nailed each other mid-ring with high cross bodyblock attempts.
Storm and Wycheck tagged in. Wycheck slammed each and dropkicked Killings. He drilled their heads together. Storm ducked a clothesline and Killings took it. Storm superkicked Wycheck for the pin but Vanden Bosch pulled him out of the ring to break the cover and began beating on him. Jackie Moore jumped on Bosch's back but he flipped her over.
Inside the ring, Killings continued to work over Wycheck. Storm brandished the beer bottle. Killings held Wycheck but Lynn stopped Storm. It looked like Lynn was a step or two behind where he needed to be. The idea was that Storm ended up hitting Killings but I'm not sure if that was the case. Wycheck then hit Lynn's finisher, the cradle piledriver for the pin.
Your winners, Jerry Lynn and Frank Wycheck!
I thought this was another fun match. They booked the hell out of this to try and make it entertaining and put Wycheck in a position where he looked good but didn't embarrass the business either. It was obviously something that meant more to the live crowd then most of the audience at home, but it didn't feel forced once they were in the ring.
They aired a Bob Backlund vs. Alex Shelley video feature.
Bob Backlund vs. Alex Shelley
I expect this will be something silly but if they wanted, I bet these two could have a decent match. When I interviewed Samoa Joe a few months back, he noted that he'd love to wrestle Backlund or learn from Backlund's amateur background.
They pushed on the commentary that Backlund lost his mind after losing "the World title" to Kevin Nash in Madison Square Garden. Backlund and Shelley shook hands to open the bout. Backlund took down Shelley with several single leg takedowns. Shelley went to the floor to catch his breath, then returns to the ring. He chopped and punched Backlund, then hit a hiptoss. He cinched in a shortarm scissors. Backlund tried to escape but was caught again.
Backlund escaped and hit a butterfly suplex. He nailed an atomic drop, sending Shelley into the corner. Chris Sabin came to ringside and grabbed Backlund's leg. Backlund pulled him into the ring and hit a drop toehold on Shelley into Sabin's crotch.
Backlund did the Backlund bridge for the pin.
Backlund offered Shelley a handshake as Sabin snuck up from behind. Sabin went for a crossface chickenwing but Backlund reversed it. Backlund then locked it in on Shelley. Kevin Nash came to the ring to break it up. He and Backlund faced off. Jerry Lynn came to the ring, presumably to calm Backlund but Nash kicked him in the face. Sabin and Shelley began working over Backlund as Nash watched on. They tossed Backlund to the floor, then took worked over Lynn. Jay Lethal hit the ring for the save, nailing elbows. The elbows weren't over with the crowd. Nash walked off instead of facing off with Lethal, but stared at him from ringside. Sabin and Shelley beat on Backlund on the floor, sending him over the railing into the crowd. They played Lethal's music. They did too much going on at once here for me.
The lights went on out and Christopher Daniels began cutting a promo from somewhere in the audience. He said that he went to Sting, who told him to be true to himself and find something that satisfies his drive. He said that he used Sting's life and his relationship with "Our father" (God, who apparently left WWE for TNA). He said that he realized he's always been an angel sent from the heavens to do his bidding. He says the God he follows says take an eye for an eye and a life for a life. Daniels says that his God has no tolerance for those who wronged him. This should be a big career making promo but feels too scripted. Daniels says that his God has given him the talent to become the World champion. He says that his God has asked him to beat Sting in the ring and his will will be done. They started playing Daniels' music before he was finished. I got the idea behind this, but I think a pre-taped feature may have worked better to get this over.
They aired a Christy Hemme vs. VKM feud package.
Damaja & Basham (with Hemme) vs. Voodoo Kim Mafia
My Lord, Hemme looks great. Anyway, they brawl as soon as VKM hits the ring. Damaja and Basham are down, so Kip James charges Hemme into the ring. This lets Damaja and Basham jump VKM and they ring the bell. Basham nails a legdrop on BG James. The announcers were blaming the entire feud on Hemme. Damaja was taking several shots to the face so he raked BG's face and tagged in Basham. They tagged in and out working over BG.
Basham missed a diving headbutt. Kip James and Damaja tagged in. Kip nailed a tilt-o-whirl slam. Basham and Damaja went for a double suplex on Kip but BG speared one of them. The other was rolled up into a small package by Kip and pinned. Wow, talk about a nothing match.
Kip tossed Damaja over the ropes. VKM stalked Hemme, who headed up the ramp, She tried to run off but Lance Hoyt came from backstage to grab her. They carried her back to the ring. Kip James teased a chokeslam but Lance Hoyt hit a running boot on him. Basham and Damaja attacked BG James. Lance Hoyt slapped BG then hit a running boot to the face. Hoyt was screaming at VKM that it was his time and their time was over. Hemme and Hoyt began playing tongue hockey.
Backstage, Leticia Cline was in Jim Cornette's office with Rick Steiner. Cornette told him he was sorry about Scott Steiner's injury but they were going to have to forfeit the match because as tough as Rick was, he couldn't face Team 3D alone without a partner. Steiner said he had one and whispered a name into Cornette's ear. Cornette beamed like Steiner told him it was Jackie Fargo, Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey all at once. He asked Steiner if "he was here?" Steiner said he was. Cornette told him that he has himself a title match. Steiner ran off barking. Please, please, please don't let this be Lex Luger or Buff Bagwell. Please! Cline asked who it was and Cornette said that if Steiner wanted her to know, he would have told her.
Back in the building, LAX jumped Hector Guerrero at the Spanish Announce table. Konnnan was in Guerrero's face screaming. That's three angles in like 25 minutes!
We go to a video feature on the Eric Young vs. Robert Roode feud.
Eric Young vs. Robert Roode
Roode was browbreating Young as soon as he got into the ring. Young fought back but was taken down and nailed with a series of boots. Young tosses Roode to the floor. Young went to the top and Brooks tried to get him to stop. Young acted like he was listening, then when she turned her back, he hit a bodypress over her to the floor on Roode. Roode and Young battled on the floor. Young was dropped throat-first on the rail. Roode chokes Young against the ropes. Brooks slaps Young in the face. I'm waiting for Gail Kim to get involved. Roode scored a two count. Roode scored another near fall and began choking Young on the mat. He nails a snapmare and then snaps Young's neck forward as he leaps over him. Roode screamed at the crowd and began chopping away at Young. He charged Young in the corner but was nailed with an elbow.
Roode cut his offense off and hit a neckbreaker for a two count. He cinched in a rear chinlock. Young got to his feet and fell backwards with the electric chair. Young went on the offense, finally hitting an elbow and a clothesline for a near fall. Roode whipped Young into the corner and he did the Flair Flop. Young went to the floor, where he teased Brooks by dancing her in a circle, the pulling her pants down. She was hardly wearing the underwear you'd expect to get a pop from the crowd.
Young went to the top. Roode tried to stop him but was shoved off. Young hit a top rope elbow for a two count. Roode nailed a jawbreaker and a clothesline. Roode went to the middle rope for his signature kneedrop but Young caught him with a boot to the face. Brooks got into ring, so Young picked her up in a Fireman's carry and ran her head into Roode's crotch while Roode was on the corner. Young pulled Roode atop of her and hit a death valley driver on both. Young only got a two count. Young began having words with the referee. Roode rolled out of the ring and grabbed a chair. Young went to grab him, but Roode blasted him with the chair and pinned him.
Your winner, Robert Roode!
The ring announcer said that Young's TNA contract was now null and void and he's going to be fired. Roode took the mic the and told Young he was fired. Jim Cornette came to ringside. He tells Roode that he's going to open his ears and shut his mouth. Cornette told Roode he was warned he was going to keep an eye on the match because he wanted it settled fair and square. Cornette said that what he just saw wasn't fair and square and announced the match was to be re-started.
They rang the bell and Roode went right after him with punches. The crowd got behind Young, chanting his name. Gail Kim attacks Brooks from behind as Brooks was going to hand Roode a chair. They battled up the entranceway. Roode stalked over Young, who rolled him up for the pin. Young wins his freedom.
Your winner, Eric Young!
Backstage, Jeremy Borash was with TNA Tag Team champions 3D. Brother Ray said that tonight was a historic night for TNA was supposed to be a historic night for tag team wrestling. He said they and the Steiners were going to get it on but that's not going to happen. He says that's not going to happen because Scott Steiner isn't here. He says that some people claim Steiner has a throat problem, but the truth is Steiner talked a lot of crap and punked out on the fans, the business, and his brother Rick. He said that it hurts him to say that but a month ago they had nothing but respect for The Steiners. He said a month ago, the Steiners crapped on Team 3D's legacy. Ray said that Rick's been out of the business for years, so what kind of partner could he find. He said he hopes Scott gets well soon so they can finally kick his teeth in. Trademark good promo from Team 3D.
TNA Tag Team champions Team 3D vs. Rick Steiner & mystery partner
Team 3D came to the ring first. Rick Steiner came out first alone and in the big moment of truth, the mystery partner was Road Warrior Animal. Well, I didn't see that coming. To say this was (to me personally) a letdown would be a pretty damn accurate, but the live crowd popped due to the nostalgia factor. A big part of this match was going to be the aura of two top teams from different eras facing off, so they've lost part of that here, but not if the crowd treats this as special.
Devon and Rick Steiner started off. Devon nails a flying back elbow while coming off the ropes. He slams Steiner, then drops an elbow. Ray tags in. Steiner tags in Animal. The crowd popped for them facing off. Animal shoulderblocked Ray down. Ray returns the favor. He nails Animal with a piledriver but Animal no sells it. They go back and forth. Steiner and Devon tagged back in.
Ray and Devon worked over Steiner. The crowd chanted "3D sucks." It's probably time for a 3D heel turn anyway. Ray nails a neckbreaker on Steiner for a two count. He and Devon continued to work over Steiner, which is the smart thing to do, as they can leave Animal for the hot tag and ensuing offense. Steiner powerslams Devon and backdrops Ray. Animal nails a double clothesline.
Steiner and Animal nail stereo clotheslines. Animal calls for the Doomsday Device but Team 3D cuts him off. Steiner nails a double Steinerline off the top rope on 3D. Ray and Devon nail the Dudley Death Drop for the pin on Steiner.
Match was OK for what it was. I feared the worst seeing Animal and Steiner but it wasn't terrible and you could see everyone was trying to work to the best of their abilities.
They go right to a video package on Christopher Daniels vs. Sting. They must be rushing to catch up on time because the matches have gotten pretty short and they are going right from segment to segment without a chance to take the finishes in.
Christopher Daniels vs. Sting
The storyline here has been eh at best so far, but this should be a match designed to make Daniels a top-tier player in TNA as well as kicking this feud into something special. We'll have to see how it goes. Sting does the entrance from the ceiling from his WCW glory days. The building loved Sting. Useless trivia note: Sting defeated The Iron Sheik to retain the NWA TV title in this very arena in May 1989 at Wrestlewar: Music City Showdown.
Daniels and Sting faced off. With the crowd reaction and the flashing lights from Sting's entrance, this looked like a big deal. I can't state enough how much better TNA's PPVs appear in the bigger venues. Daniels began jawing with Sting. They rebounded off the ropes with neither selling a shoulderblock. Sting took him down with a second attempt. Daniels failed with a hiptoss attempt but Sting didn't. Sting dropkicked Daniels down and went right for the Scorpion Deathlock. Daniels scampered to the floor.
Sting clotheslined Daniels from the apron to the floor. They battled on the apron outside the ring. Sting was shoved off, nailing the railing on the floor chestfirst. Daniels whipped him into the railing. There was a "Fallen Angel" chant. Daniels went right to work on Sting's chest and ribs, so that's the story of the match.
Daniels hit a running knee to the chest of Sting in the corner. Sting began battling back with his trademark punches, but Daniels went right back to the ribs and chest. Daniels hit a corkscrew elbow on Sting, then stood over him. Daniels continued to stomp and kick Sting's chest. Sting began to fire back with offense out of the corner. Daniels and Sting each tried for hiptosses. Daniels poked Sting in the eye and locked on the abdominal stretch. Daniels and referee Earl Hebner had words.
Daniels threw Sting into the corner. Daniels hit a running splash in the corner but Sting miraculously no sold it. Sting began the superhuman comeback. He nailed an inverted atomic drop and several clotheslines. Sting nails a faceplant for a two count. Sting went for the Stinger Splash but Daniels caught Sting and hit the STO.
Daniels went for Angel's wings but Sting backdropped him. Sting went for the Stinger splash but Daniels put his knee in the chest. Daniels went for Last Rites, but Sting turned it into the Scorpion Deathlock and pinned him.
Your winner, Sting!
Match was OK but I didn't get a feeling this was anything beyond an appearance and showcase for Sting in a competitive match. It didn't bring Daniels to the next level, which is what it should have been designed to do in my opinion. It certainly didn't feel like a historic first-time meeting when it was over. They really need a post-match promo from Daniels to give us an idea of where his character's head is at, as well as preventing it from looking like a one and done program.
TNA (again!) went right to a video feature on Abyss vs. Tomko, preventing us from seeing Sting or Daniels' post-match reactions.
Backstage, Leticia Cline was with Christian Cage, AJ Styles and Tomko. Cage promised he was going to walk out as the new World champion. Styles reminded him that he's in the King of the Mountain match too so Cage tried to act like Styles was going to sacrifice himself for Cage's victory. Tomko was told to take Abyss out. He said he was on it, acting like he could care less for Cage.
Tomko vs. Abyss - No DQ, There Must Be A Winner
They faced off at the start and began laying big shots back and forth into each other, no selling it to get over that they are monsters. Tomko began working over Abyss against the ropes. Abyss was kicked in the face. Abyss came back with a clothesline over the top, sending Tomko to the floor. Tomko pulled Abyss out of the ring by his leg. Abyss drilled his head into the ringside barrier. Tomko was slammed into the ringsteps. Abyss whipped Tomko towards the rail but it was reversed and Abyss ate the steel. Tomko nailed a running boot to the face.
Tomko slammed Abyss' head into the ringsteps, although even Don West noted that Abyss' hands blocked most of the shot. Tomko worked over Abyss on the floor. They returned to the ring. Tomko went for a running boot but was caught by the throat. Tomko escaped the chokeslam but was kicked in the face. Abyss did his running charge into the corner. He went for a second but was elbowed as he ran in.
Abyss chokeslammed Tomko for a two count. Abyss went under the ring looking for something. Hillbilly Jim's magic horseshoe was under the ring. Abyss grabbed a bag and Mike Tenay wondered if it was thumbtacks or broken glass. It was the tacks. He began spreading them out across the ring. He teased a chokeslam on the tacks on Tomko. Given all the tattoo work on his back, that would have shocked the hell out of me if it happened.
Tomko escaped and hit a sit down slam into the tacks on Abyss. Abyss kicked out. He nailed a Black Hole Slam but Tomko kicked out. Abyss was bleeding from the arm as he went under the ring for another bag. It was a bag of marbles. No, it was broken glass. The crowd reacted to the glass. Abyss grinded the glass with his feet. Tomko clotheslined him down.
Tomko grabbed a piece of jagged glass and began digging into Abyss' head. Hello to Abdullah to Atlanta! Tomko stomped Abyss' face into the glass pile. He was bleeding heavily from the face now. Tomko wiped a bloody piece of glass across his own chest. He went under the ring and found a barbed wire bat.
Abyss was in the entranceway when Tomko caught up with him and drilled him several times with the bat. Tomko had this great evil devilish look on his face. Abyss disappeared and began climbing the scaffolding for the entranceway. Tomko climbed a ladder and met him. He went to hit Abyss with the bat, but missed,. Tomko was pulled from the scaffolding, taking a bump from the top to some crash padding below. Abyss then dove off the scaffolding atop of Tomko. The building chanted TNA. They showed several replays. As they emerged, you could see they landed in a pile of cardboard boxes covered by a sheet.
Tomko began crawling down the entrance ramp towards the ring as Abyss struggled to get back to his feet. Abyss was either really shaken up or did one hell of a job selling the spot off the scaffold. Tomko began kicking Abyss as he returned to the ring. Abyss hit the Black Hole Slam into the glass on Tomko. That shocked the hell out of me. Abyss scored the pin.
This was a good brawl. You got the feeling they were trying to do everything they could to make it memorable.
They went right backstage with Jeremy Borash backstage with Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe. Angle said tonight they need to agree to disagree, do the best they can, bloody each other and do what they have to do. Joe shook his hand and pulled Angle close. He quietly told Angle, "Tonight, I'm going to bring it." Angle did his "It's real" spiel to end the match.
Inside the ring, Mike Tenay asked the fans to watch the big screen for a big interview. He said that if you talk about pro wrestling in Nashville, you have to talk about Jeff Jarrett. They went to a video feature on Jarrett talking about the five years TNA is celebrating. Jarrett began crying while talking about his late wife Jill and her part in helping TNA establish itself and grow. He talked about her battle with breast cancer, how she beat it, then how it returned. He said that for two and a half years, there wasn't a day she lived without pain. Jarrett's comments were edited to feature photos of the couple over the years. Jarrett said she left the hospital on 5/1 and on 5/23, she ended her race to live. Jarrett said that he doesn't know when or where he'll wrestle again but being inside the ring is the worst place for him right now. He thanked the fans for their support for himself and on behalf of his wife. It was easily the most powerful thing the company has ever produced. It was a fitting tribute for someone who was a big part of the early days backstage. As long as TNA doesn't exploit their class here to turn this into some sort of storyline down the line, I commend the hell out of them for doing this. The crowd chanted Jill's name and "Thank you Jeff." Say what you will about Jarrett, but this was a special moment.
Jim Cornette came to the ring and said that there were only two choices for the fifth spot tonight, saying both men were with TNA from day one and are from Nashville. He said that the first choice was Jeff Jarrett, who insisted that Cornette instead give the chance to the second man. He announced Chris Harris would be the second competitor. I am sure fans were hoping for a big surprise, but when you think about match quality, Harris is a great choice. The crowd liked the idea since he's a hometown boy.
King of the Mountain Match to Crown TNA Champion: AJ Styles vs. Chris Harris vs. Christian Cage vs. Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe
All the entrances looked like major deals. They did in-ring introductions for everyone. The rules are to win, you have to climb a ladder to hang the belt above the ring. To qualify that you can do so, you have to score a pinfall or submission. The competitor losing a fall has to enter a penalty box for a time period. Yeah, it sounded confusing. I'm not a big fan of the match stips but they've got easily the most loaded collection of talent ever for one of these bouts, so we'll see how it goes.
Everyone brawled at the bell. As I noted a few weeks ago in my PWInsider.com Elite hotline, Angle is down a ton of weight as he's legitimately preparing for a potential MMA debut. He hasn't looked this lean since his early WWF run. Joe and Angle squared off. Cage and AJ went after Harris. Fans texting in picked Samoa Joe as the winner. You think TNA will listen to the audience?
Cage whipped Styles towards Harris in the corner, hitting a splash. Cage hit one of his own. Joe and Angle brawled on the floor. Styles laid down for Cage to pin him, winning moron of the year award. Angle broke up the pin. Styles hit a big dropkick on Harris. Styles asked Cage to lay down for him but Cage blew him off. Styles sunset flipped him for a two count. Joe tossed Angle into the penalty box. Styles kicked Harris in the head. He went for a springboard move but Joe pulled him by the legs, slamming his face into the apron. Joe tossed AJ into the railing.
Joe nailed an atomic drop, several kicks and big knee on Cage. Harris tossed Joe out of the ring to Angle on the floor. Harris went for the Catatonic but Cage escaped and went for the Unprettier. Harris hit a full nelson slam but Styles attacked him. Styles went for a tornado DDT but was caught. Harris swung Styles into Cage, then hit the Catatonic for the pin.
Harris qualified to hang the belt. Styles went into the penalty box for two minutes.
Cage and Harris brawled on the floor. Joe tossed a ladder out of the ring onto them. It became the Joe vs. Angle show. Joe hit a running knee in the corner. Joe went for the Facewash but Angle caught him and nailed a German suplex. Angle hit a second, then a third before Cage attacked both. Angle went for the Anklelock. Cage tried to escape but Joe locked on the Kokina Clutch. Angle cinched on an armlock at the same time on Joe. Styles was released from the cage as Harris returned to the ring and all five battled.
Cage bridged a ladder between the ring and the apron. Cage tried to suplex Harris out of the ring to the ladder. Harris battled him off. Cage ended up crotching himself on the ladder. Styles hit an inverted DDT on Harris but Joe broke up the pin attempt. Styles hit a Pele Kick on Joe. AJ called for the Styles Clash on Angle, who grabbed an Anklelock. That was a sweet counter. AJ kicked off Angle, sending him to the floor. Harris backdropped Styles, who landed on the ladder where Cage was laying in pain.
Harris, the only competitor qualified, pulled a ladder into the ring. Harris gets the TNA title from Jim Cornette and heads up the ladder. Kurt Angle grabs Harris and nails the Olympic Slam off the ladder for the pin.
Angle is now qualified while Harris goes to the penalty box.
Angle and Joe battled center ring. Joe nailed a snap powerslam. Joe grabs Cage and nails an uranage. Joe hits the muscle buster on AJ. Joe goes for a muscle buster again, nails a second and covers Styles. Angle breaks up the pinfall. Angle went to clothesline Joe but nailed the referee. Joe locked the choke in on Angle, who taps but there's no referee. Well, hell, Jim Cornette is at ringside, why can't he make a determination?
Cage nails Joe with a ladder, then drags the referee over, covering Angle for the pin, stealing it.
Christian Cage is now qualified while Angle goes to the penalty box.
Cage sets up the ladder and climbs the ladder. Joe follows him up and they battle. Joe hits an Ace Crusher off the ladder into the ring. Harris is released from the penalty box. Harris struggles to set up the ladder. He gets the belt and heads up, kicking Cage along the way. Harris makes his way to the top. Joe meets him at the top. Harris strikes him with the belt and Joe bumps down. He does the same to Cage. AJ Styles hit a springboard dropkick to the ladder, taking it and Harris down. Harris clotheslined himself chest-first across the top rope.
Styles went to the top rope then climbed to the top of the penalty cage. Joe followed and they battled atop of it. AJ teased a suplex off but Joe locked in the choke. Styles kicked him low. Joe pulled Styles off the box, sending him into a forward flip through the announcer's table at ringside.
Chris Harris knocked Joe off the box. He and Cage battled atop of the box. Harris suplexed Cage into the ring, then dove off the box with a flying clothesline. The crowd was loving every second of this chanting TNA and "This is Awesome." It is a damn entertaining main event.
Cage, Harris, and Angle are in the ring. Harris plays Ladder airplane spin, taking Cage and Angle out. Harris calls for the belt and ascends the ladder. Cage sends the ladder over, sending Harris into the corner. Cage drills the ladder into Harris.
Ever the opportunist. Cage sets up the ladder as everyone is out on the mat or the floor. Cage is on top of the ladder when Angle follows him from behind. He cinches the ankle lock on Cage as he's atop of the ladder. Cage kicks Angle in the head to break it. Angle and Cage battle atop the ladder. Cage went to hang the belt but Harris speared him off the ladder. Angle was left with the belt in his hand and hung it to win the match.
Your winner and new TNA champion Kurt Angle!
A really damn entertaining main event. The only thing I would have added was a sequence at the end with Joe and Angle to set off another series of matches between the two. After the match, Joe was pissed and faced off with Angle. They had a big staredown. Joe offered his hand. Angle teased shaking it, then his the Olympic Slam. OK, so TNA had an angle to set off those matches instead.
2009 - Dragon Gate USA announced they would be airing regular, taped PPV events with the following announcement:
INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING PHENOMENON DRAGON GATE USA INKS NORTH AMERICAN
TELEVISION DEALS WITH iN DEMAND, TVN, BELL AND VIEWER’S CHOICE
PPV/VOD Distribution Deals Bring DGUSA into 60 Million Households
New York, June 17, 2009 - Dragon Gate USA (DGUSA), in association with G-Funk Sports & Entertainment, has concluded programming and distribution deals for PPV and VOD wrestling programs with iN DEMAND Networks and TVN in the United States, and Bell and Viewer’s Choice in Canada making the critically-acclaimed DGUSA brand available for the first time ever to approximately 60 million North American households. Similar deals with additional pay-per-view providers are pending.
The agreement calls for a card from North America’s newest, most cutting-edge wrestling company approximately every 60 days from shows filmed in the United States, and will premier in September. A total of six cards are planned throughout ‘09/’10. DGUSA President Satoshi Oji and Vice President Gabe Sapolsky made the announcement today with G-Funk’s President Ken Gelman.
The debut event, entitled “Enter The Dragon,†will be taped July 25 in Philadelphia from The Arena (former New Alhambra Arena/ECW Arena), and will feature a spectacular array of talent from Japan, the U.S. and more.
Long revered by a loyal underground fan base, Dragon Gate has been one of the hottest wrestling promotions in Japan over the past few years. The company started out as a local promotion in 2004 and has quickly risen up the ranks, regularly packing houses in excess of 10,000 fans and producing more than 250 shows a year nationwide in Japan. Dragon Gate has been a staple on Gaora TV and produced pay-per-view events in its home country.
“Wrestling fans around the world know the Dragon Gate stars, “ Oji stated. “The next logical step was to launch Dragon Gate USA and showcase these athletes in North America. We are excited to partner with G-Funk Sports & Entertainment and look forward to bringing the next evolution of wrestling to pay-per-view throughout the United States and Canada.â€
DGUSA’s Sapolsky has enjoyed a celebrated 15-year†behind the scenes career in wrestling. Sapolsky started in the business with the original ECW, working directly for ECW executive producer Paul Heyman. Sapolsky studied his craft carefully under Heyman for seven years. A year after ECW ended its run, Sapolsky started cult-sensation Ring Of Honor and served as the creative head and producer of the critically acclaimed company for almost seven years. Sapolsky's service earned him four consecutive "Booker Of The Year" awards.
“I’m truly excited to be involved with such a progressive wrestling organization,“ said Sapolsky. “The North American wrestling scene has grown stale in recent years and many fans have jumped ship completely for MMA. Dragon Gate USA will swing the pendulum back and sound a resounding wake-up call for fans that crave athleticism, action and excitement. This powerful product will bring a cutting-edge wrestling style never before seen on these shores and present wrestling fans with an authentic reason to tune in and order DGUSA on pay-per-view.â€
G-Funk Sports and Entertainment represented DGUSA in its negotiations with the PPV companies and the company will also handle all affiliate relations for the wrestling programs moving forward. DGUSA PPV affiliates will have access to a newly created affiliate website, www.dgusa.tv/affiliates which will contain easy-to-implement marketing materials and all event information. Each show will also be supported by a range of targeted national consumer advertising and promotion.
According to Mr. Gelman, “Dragon Gate USA will offer wrestling fans
throughout North America a reason to celebrate. These distinctive programs will
present a showcase for the most talented and athletic wrestlers on the planet
and provide a popular new option for cable operators and satellite providers as
they expand their transactional offerings.â€
About Dragon Gate USA
Dragon Gate USA recently launched on April 15th of this year and received an
immediate following. The combination of Sapolsky and†a talent roster focused on
Japan's renowned Dragon Gate athletes saw the company's website (www.DGUSA.tv)
gain 20,000 unique visitors in just its first week and DGUSA's debut event,
scheduled for July 25th in Philadelphia, is already a near-sellout. Dragon Gate
USA is based on a motto of "Evolve, Progress and Appreciation."
Dragon Gate USA is the North American brand of Dragon Gate in Japan. Dragon
Gate is now Japan's hottest promotion with regular PPVs, 250-300 live events per
year and attendances that top 10,000 fans.
About G-Funk Sports & Entertainment
G-Funk Sports & Entertainment (www.g-funksports.com) is a full-service agency dedicated to brand activation, strategic integration and driving maximum return on investment for its clients, headed up by Award-winning NHL and WWE marketing and television veteran Ken Gelman. G-Funk's strengths center on three primary areas, Marketing Services (consumer promotion, affiliate activation and events), Partnership Alliances and Content Management (including distribution drives and launch strategies). Client partners include the National Football League, Ring Of Honor and Strikeforce.
2010 - TNA aired an episode of Impact. Stu Carapola filed the following TV Report:
Welcome to this week's TNA Impact Report here on PWInsider.com!
We open up with a video recap of this past weekend's Slammiversary PPV, and then went to a segment with Eric Bischoff discussing the TNA Championship Committee's decision to strip the Band of the TNA World Tag Team Title in light of Scott Hall's personal issues, and a tournament will begin tonight to determine who will face the Motor City Machine Guns for the title at Victory Road.
And with that in mind, let's go to the ring for our opening match...
Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Kevin Nash & Eric Young vs Ink, Inc
Nash and Young jump Ink Inc as they enter the ring, and a short brawl boils down to Young working over Jesse Neal. Young with a slam and a second rope elbowdrop for 2. Nash tags in and starts working Neal over in the corner and chokes him with his boot, and then Young gets a cheapshot from the outside. Young tags in and gets a clothesline for 2, and Neal tries a comeback but eats a double axhandle and Young gets 2. Young with another slam and then he goes up top and hits a flying elbowdrop for 2. Young charges Neal in the corner but runs into an elbow and then Neal takes Young out with a clothesline and makes the hot tag, and Moore comes in and cleans house on Young, hitting a leg lariat for 2. Moore whips Young into the corner and he does the Flair Flip, and Moore nails Nash off the apron then goes up top and hits a top rope Frankenstein for 2. Nash comes in and nails Moore, But Neal spears him and then Ink Inc hit a double team Samoan Drop for the win.
Winners: Ink Inc
We go to Taz and Mike, who again recap the events of Slammiversary, and then discuss how the Championship Committee couldn't agree on the placement of the top three contenders in the Top Ten Rankings, so tonight we're going to have a three way match between Mr Anderson, Jeff Hardy, and Abyss to decide the #1 Contender.
Ric Flair's music hits, and we go to the entranceway where Flair is joined by his entire team. He's about to make an announcement that will change the course of history in professional wrestling, and that announcement...is next!
We're back, and Chelsea is backstage pleading with Abyss, saying that she doesn't want to be with Desmond, she wants to be with him. Abyss says she knows the deal: it was 30 days and then she goes back to Desmond, and she's not going to want to be around him tonight.
We head back to the ring with Flair and company, who says that he is going to reform the Four Horsemen, only they're going to call the new group Fortune, and Fortune will change the destiny of TNA forever. He says the Horsemen were the best stable of all time because they were the best at whatever they did, whether it was wrestling or making love to the ladies. He compares each member of his group to a member of the Horsemen, including calling Desmond the Lex Luger of the group, then gets on AJ's case about losing to Jay Lethal. This brings Lethal out in his Ric Flair gimmick, and he says that the Horsemen were the greatest group of men to ever grace God's green earth, and it looks like the Horsemen were here, took a dump in the ring, and left. Lethal says he's run the road with the Horsemen, and the guys in the ring are no Horsemen. Flair gets so mad at Lethal's impression of him that he takes his coat off and throws his shoe at Lethal. Lethal responds by taking his own coat off and elbowdropping it. Flair and Lethal do their Ric Flair impersonations back and forth, right down to WOOOOing back and forth at each other. Flair seriously looks like he's going to have a heart attack. Finally Desmond tells Lethal to shut up, because he's not out here being a cheap imitation of the greatest wrestler to ever live, he's making a reputation for himself, and he challenges Lethal to a match tonight, and Lethal responds by telling Desmond that Chelsea called him the 60 minute man. Flair tells Desmond that if he wins tonight, he's the first member of Fortune, but if he loses, he's history.
We go backstage to Lacey Von Erich getting a massage in preparation of her match with Angelina Love later tonight.
Backstage, Mr Anderson is arriving at the building and some unseen person off camera asks him if we're going to see the real Mr Anderson tonight, and he says that depends on who we think the real Mr Anderson is.
Let's go back to the ring for our next match...
Hernandez vs Samoa Joe
Why give this away on free TV again? Hernandez takes Joe to the corner but breaks clean. Now Joe takes Hernandez to the corner and nails him on the break, then pounds him down in the corner. Joe with a running forearm and enziguiri in the corner, Hernandez fights back but Joe with a back elbow and then takes Hernandez back to the corner as the crowd starts a "Joe is gonna kill you" chant. Joe sends Hernandez to the corner, but Hernandez with a flying shoulderblock over the ropes and a big clothesline, Joe with a few shots but Hernandez with another running shoulderblock sends Joe to the floor, and while the ref is checking on him, Matt Morgan comes running in and low blows Hernandez from behind then bails to the floor. Joe comes back in and hits a T-bone suplex for the win.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Joe sees the replay on the screen as he heads to the back and realizes what happens, and goes back to the ring to go after Morgan. Morgan is surrounded so he bails out of the ring and hightails it to the back.
Backstage, Desmond Wolfe says that he's going to do what AJ couldn't and beat Jay Lethal tonight. AJ says he needs to get his life together because he treated Chelsea bad and she doesn't want to be with him anymore, and he better beat Lethal because Flair said if he doesn't, he's out.
Backstage, Jeff Hardy says he doesn't know whether he can trust Mr Anderson or not. Anderson pops his head in to say hello and Hardy calls him an asshole.
We go back to the ring with Douglas Williams, who is still the X-Division Champion, who says that Slammiversary was a time for celebration, but a time for mourning as well, as the X-Division as we knew it is dead because he killed it with one spectacular flying maneuver. From now on, the X-Division will become famous for the ground and pound style Williams is known for. He's going to give everyone a lesson in that style right here tonight, and that leads us right into out next match...
X-Division Champion Douglas Williams vs Max Buck
Williams chain wrestles Buck to start, but Buck sends Williams to the floor with a flying headscissors. Williams back in and gets a Samoan Drop, then we HIT THE CHINLOCK! Buck tries to fight his way out but instead finds himself in an abdominal stretch. Williams whips him into the corner, hits a running knee, then a snap suplex, gutwrench suplex, and belly to belly suplex for 2. Nice combo. Williams comes off the second rope, but Max dodges and hits a somersault Diamond Cutter for 2. Williams with a headbutt to the midsection and a tornado DDT for the win.
Winner: Douglas Williams
Williams tortures Buck after the match with a cravate, but Brian Kendrick comes running out to make the save and chokes Williams out with a rear naked choke and Williams taps out like crazy.
We now go to a video package detailing the history of the Sting-Jeff Jarrett feud, and later tonight, Jarrett's going to call Sting out!
We got back to the ring with Angelina Love, who says she's been sitting out with an injury for the last six weeks, and since injuries can end it at any time, she's not going to waste any more time. Tonight it's Lacey Von Erich, next week it's Velvet Sky, and then at Victory Road, she's going to take the Knockouts Title back from Madison Rayne.
Angelina Love vs Lacey Von Erich
Oh god, Lacey's going to wrestle a singles match. Angelina nails Lacey coming into the ring and rams her back and forth to the turnbuckles, rams a series of knees to the ribs, then sweeps her legs. Angelina with a series of kicks in the corner, but Lacey with a moonsault out of the corner and she blows a drop toehold, but Angelina goes down anyway. Angelina's pissed that she went down on her face and goes after Lacey, but Lacey with a hair yank and Angelina goes down. Lacey goes up for the ten punches in the corner, but Angelina powerbombs her out of the corner and then goes to the floor, grabs So Cal Val's chair, and DDT's Lacey on it to draw the DQ.
Winner: Lacey Von Erich by DQ
Backstage, Lethal is with Hulk Hogan saying how happy he is to be surrounded by so many famous names in TNA, and Hogan tells him that they weren't attracted to Lethal for the impressions, they liked his energy and raw talent, and they gave him a shot and he's come through. Lethal says he never dreamed of being in the same dressing room with guys like Hogan and Flair, but Hogan says that now that he's up there, he's got a target on his back so he'd better keep it up.
Christy is backstage with Jeff Hardy, who says that it's a three way dance tonight with the winner becoming the #1 contender, and Christy asks if he can trust Anderson, but Anderson comes strolling in to interrupt and make mention of the people trying to stir the pot. He asks how many times he got in fights with his brother as kids and then worked it all in the end, and Hardy said he did. Tonight they're going to have to do what they have to do as men, but no hard feelings. They do the fist pound and Hardy says it's all good.
Back to the ring for our next tournament match...
Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Team 3D vs Beer Money
Roode and Devon start and Devon gets a hiptoss, but misses a legdrop and Roode with the Mr Perfect necksnap. Devon comes back with a flying clothesline for 2, then tags in Brother Ray and they hit a double team legdrop/side suplex for 2. Ray with a slam but misses an elbowdrop and Storm tags in. Beer Money with a double backdrop on Ray and then Storm gouges the face. Ink Inc joins Mike and Taz on commentary as 3D comes back and hits a double diving headbutt on Storm. Now Beer Money with a double team Russian Legsweep/kneedrop on Devon for 2. Beer Money with a double suplex, but Ray comes in and lays them both out. 3D with a Doomsday Device for 2 then they go for 3D, but Ray leaves the ring in the middle of the move to go after Ink Inc, leaving Devon alone in the ring where Storm spits beer in Devon's eyes so Roode can roll him up for the win.
Winners: Beer Money
Backstage, Desmond Wolfe tells Chelsea he's a ticking time bomb, but tonight she's got a chance to redeem herself.
After commercial, we go back to the ring for our next match...
Desmond Wolfe vs Jay Lethal
Wolfe jumps Lethal before the bell and knocks him off the top rope to the floor. Desmond goes out and yells at Chelsea, then rolls Lethal back in the ring as Tommy Dreamer comes out into the crowd. Wolfe with an arm snap and then stops to yell at Chelsea some more, allowing Lethal the opportunity to get some shots in. Wolfe lays him out again and yells at Chelsea some more and she goes to leave, but she trips and falls down and Desmond goes out to stand over her and run her down some more. Again this opens up an opportunity for Lethal to nail him and toss him back in the ring. Lethal with a leg lariat and a handspring elbow, then a pop up neckbreaker gets the win for Lethal.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Lethal goes out into the crowd to celebrate with the fans as Tommy Dreamer applauds. Wolfe attacks Lethal from behind as he comes back to ringside and tosses him back in the ring, continuing to beat Lethal down. Ric Flair comes out to the ring and Wolfe holds Lethal as Flair beats him up and lowblows him. Hulk Hogan's music hits and out comes Hogan, and Flair and Wolfe bail out to the floor as Hogan gets in the ring. Hogan shakes his finger at Flair and raises Lethal's hand, then takes the mic and says that TNA is on fire right now because of guys like Jay Lethal. Who would have ever dreamed that a little Hulkamaniac would grow up in Elizabeth, New Jersey and then grow up to become a big time wrestler himself. Hogan has an announcement and calls Ric Flair back out, he tells him that he's been a thorn in Lethal's side for a long time now, and the little boy grew up to be a great big man, and now he's going to make a man's dream come true, because at Victory Road, it's going to be Ric Flair vs Jay Lethal.
Sting is backstage, and he's...WALKING! Up next, the Sting-Jarrett showdown!
First though, the new Top Ten Rankings are released, and they went by too quickly for me to transcribe them, but the top three will, of course, be decided in tonight's main event.
Jeff Jarrett is in the ring and he calls out Sting, who comes out to the ring. Jeff asks "Steve" to take his sunglasses off because he wants him to hear what Jarrett says tonight, and also look in his eyes and see that he can hear and feel what he's saying. Jarrett's not going to ask him why again, he called him out to remind him of one thing: that it was Jarrett who called Sting when he first started TNA. He wanted Sting's leadership and professionalism and his iconic status, and he didn't want Sting to work for him, he wanted Sting to work with him. For the last 8 years, they've given as much as they could for TNA, and even though they haven't always been on the same side of the fence, they've always treated each other with dignity, respect and honor, but that all ended at Sacrifice. Sting was hellbent on ending Jarrett's career and destroying his livelihood, but he wants to tell Steve Borden that he made one mistake: he left Jeff Jarrett standing. He asks Sting if he thinks this is funny, but next week it won't be a laughing matter when their rematch goes down. Jarrett knows what this is all about and Sting does too, and Sting is 100% wrong about both of them, because both of them (Hogan and Bischoff) have given their all for TNA since they got here, and next week Jarrett's not just going to be fighting for himself and his family, but he'll be fighting for Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan, and most importantly he's going to be fighting for the TNA fans. And with that, Jarrett walks off as Sting suddenly looks less confident than he did before.
It's main event time...
#1 Contender's Match: Mr Anderson vs Jeff Hardy vs Abyss
Anderson and Hardy double team Abyss to start, they whip him into the corner and Anderson drops down to do the Hardy Boyz springboard leg lariat in the corner and then hit a double back elbow, Abyss tries to chokeslam them both but they fight out and get a double suplex on Abyss and Hardy covers for 2 but Anderson breaks, then Anderson tries a cover but Hardy breaks it up and they go face to face. Abyss uses the opportunity to spear both men as we see another shot of Tommy Dreamer in the crowd. Abyss charges Anderson in one corner then tries on Hardy but Hardy gets an elbow up and then hits the Whisper In The Wind. Abyss rolls to the floor so Hardy gets him with a baseball slide, and Anderson stands behind Hardy like he's going to jump him, but instead baseball slides Abyss and then holds him for a Hardy dive. Anderson pounds on Abyss on the floor and the bell rings...and all three men have been counted out!
Triple Count Out
Anderson protests with the referee, but Abyss loses control and attacks both Anderson and Hardy, then chases the referee away from ringside. Abyss tosss both Hardy and Anderson into the ring, then lays out Hardy and hits the Shock Treatment on Anderson. Abyss ges under the ring and gets a kendo stick and lays Hardy out with it, then pulls out a bag and pours broken glass in the ring. He nails Anderson with the kendo stick over and over, then gives Anderson the Black Hole Slam in the glass. Abyss goes to leave, but thinks better of it and goes back after Hardy, ramming him with knees, tearing his shirt off, and then chokeslamming Hardy off the stage. Finally Hulk Hogan comes out and asks what this is all about, and Abyss points at him and goes "YOU!" as we go off the air.
2010 - TNA ran Dayton, Ohio at the Nutter Center with the following results:
Jay Lethal defeated Homicide.
TNA Knockout Tag Team champions Madison Rayne & Velvet Sky defeated Taylor Wilde
& Sarita.
Rob Terry defeated Orlando Jordan to retain the TNA Global Title.
Kurt Angle & Mr. Anderson defeated Eric Young & Matt Morgan.
Douglas Williams defeated Shannon Moore to retain the TNA X-Division Title.
Jeff Hardy defeated A.J. Styles.
The article noted that at one point, McMahon was considered one of the "successors" to Vince McMahon, but the problem was that Vince, "wasn't going anywhere", according to Shane.
"It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make," McMahon said of his decision to leave WWE. "I didn't want to wake up when I was 70 and say, 'I should have done that.'"
McMahon noted that telling his father that he wanted to leave was "brutal" and that tension still remains to this day between the two over his exit.
2011 - TNA released Nigel McGuinness aka Desmond Wolfe, who had not wrestled for them in some time due a medical issue.
2011 - TNA ran Toronto, Ontatio. Amyn Bhimani filed the following live report:
The pre-show Meet and Greet was sold out. Don West came outside to let
everyone know that we'd be escorted into the building in about 15 minutes but
first he wanted to sell us stuff. Brown Bag Special: $25 for new Impact
Wrestling Shirt + 4 DVDs - not a bad deal. There's also an Elite Pass to go
backstage at intermission to "party like a rock star."
True to his word, we were escorted in shortly after and Don went through the
sales pitch again.
Meet and Greet is everybody gathered around the railing and the wrestlers come
out and go around with their own Sharpies signing.
Stars that came out:
Eric Young
Orlando Jordan
British Invasion
Winter (no makeup and still gorgeous)
Matt Morgan
Abyss - DW advises us not to look him in the eye.
Kaz
AJ Styles
Alex Shelley
Pope - he would only sign if you said please and thank you but stayed longer
than anybody and really played to the fans. He even cut a promo into a guys
video camera. That guy almost got kicked out because Don West was pretty adamant
that there should be no video.
All the wrestlers were really cool about signing for everybody and taking
pictures.
At 6:30 they opened the door for the rest of the general public and Beer Money
came out to sign at a table. They would only sign TNA merchandise.
At 7:00 Don West hit the ring to sell more stuff - he's like a wind up toy. You
wind him up and he just starts selling stuff.
7:20 - they play Enter Sandman.
7:25 - lights go down and they play 1elcome to the Jungle. TNA chants and Whoos
ring out.
The ring looks really small compared to the WWE ring. I estimate 1000 fans max.
JB comes out promptly at 7:30 to warm up the crowd and does a great job.
.Match #1 - Pope vs. AJ Styles
:Great back and forth match. AJ was way over and won with the Styles clash in
about 14 minutes. Many of the people around me felt that Pope's tights were far
too short leaving little to the imagination.
JB out to introduce Earl Hebner and the expected chants ensue. Hebner loves it
but does a good job playing to the crowd at one point threatening to leave the
ring to beat up a fan. He then reveals a "Damn right I did" referee shirt and
mocks Bret.
Match 2: Mickie and Tara vs. Angelina and Winter.. Angelina looks like she needs
a facelift and a cheeseburger. Mickey is looking for a tag rope but there isn't
one. Nobody complaining about Mickey's short shorts. Tara is a great ring
general and leads the ladies to a decent match which her and Mickey win in about
9 minutes. Mickey and Tara look like they're having a blast. After the match
they kissed on the lips and played to the crowd - smiling and laughing the whole
time. Did I mention that Winter is gorgeous?
JB comes out to read a text message from Jeff Jarrett asking the fans not to
riot like our countrymen in Vancouver.
Match 3 - X Division Championship. Kaz vs. Abyss. Abyss does not belong in the X
Division. He was gassed in 5 minutes even with a couple of rest hold breaks. Kaz
hit some nice moves but ultimately lost to the blackhole slam in about 7
minutes. Mediocre match and the worst of the night so far.
JB is out looking for loud people - there are many as the crowd's been hot all
night.
JB pushes a cute kid aside to give a backstage pass to a louder fat guy. He did
it nicely though.
Match 4 - British Invasion vs. Storm and Shelley w/ Robert Roode. Doug Williams
live - my lucky day!
Wait! Magnus has something to say! He accuses Roode of feigning injury because,
notwithstanding he's in his hometown he's just a Canadian coward.
Roode has a rebuttal! He says that he is not 100% and the US doctors have not
cleared him to wrestle. But in Canada we have free healthcare and 45 minutes one
of those cheap bastard Canadian doctors told him he was cleared to kick some
British ass and good old Alex Shelley has volunteered to step aside. So off
comes the sling and here we go.
Roode is really protecting the shoulder and can barely move his arm. Decent
match which Beer Money wins in about 10 minutes. I want see Williams in one on
one match with Kurt Angle.
Intermission! They wind up Don West and off he goes with the sales pitch! Mickey
is signing TNA merchandise if you have it. She's really cute and seems to be
enjoying herself.
Hebner is signing too and Don West says he needs the money for 6 alimony
payments and 27 illegitimate kids. Sounds like Bret wasn't the only one getting
screwed!
Match 5: Jeff Jarrett vs.
Before announcing the opponent - JJ reiterates that he's like us to avoid
rioting and talks about how the Nashville Predators are better than the Maple
Leafs. JJ wipes his ass with a Canucks cap he takes from some poor sap at
ringside.
Match 5: Jeff Jarrett vs. Eric Young
Eric Young steals JJ's ring robe and puts it on then does his best warrior
impression (without getting gassed). Then he does laps around thge ring until JJ
gets bored and takes a nap in the ring.
EY is waaaaay over with his fellow Canadians. Some great comedy bits at the
beginning of the match. EY is one hell of an entertainer and JJ played off him
like the pro he is.
EY hulks up and pulls off his regular trunks to reveal Team Canada trunks. Ref
bump! JJ grabs a chair but Orlando comes in for the save but distracts the ref
allowing JJ to hit the Stroke for the win in 10 minutes. Fun comedy match. A
little MILF action from Karen Jarrett would have been a good addition.
Match 6 - Scott Steiner vs.
Oh wait - Steiner wants to figure out where his freaks are at. The lady behind
me wets her pants. Steiner with some good heel mic work but his physique is
disturbing.
Match 6 - Scott Steiner vs Matt Morgan
Morgan's body looks like it belongs on him. Steiner looks like a character in
the new WWE video game.
Pose off - Morgan wins based on crowd reaction.
Fans in my section debating whose older - Steiner or Hebner. Lady behind me has
dried off and decides Steiner is too lumpy for her to join the freak club.
Keener in my section has used Google to confirm Hebner is older than Steiner
(who is 48 btw).
Pretty slow and boring big man match with a lot of sloppy spots. Steiner wins. I
forgot to time this one but it felt like an hour although it was probably 10
minutes. Made bearable by my funny section mates.
JB wants to know if we're ready - you're asking now 2 1/2 hours in? Oh - he
meant for the Main Event which is next.
Match 7 - non-title. Anderson vs. Kurt Angle
Anderson looks for the drop down mic but this is a cheap building so none falls.
So he grabs the house mic to overuse the work a-hole. Does his usual intro while
sporting a shiner on his left eye.
Here comes Angle! Never seen him live either and can't wait.
Decent match - pretty standard stuff but well executed. Angle wins with the
Angle Slam in 10 minutes. Angle may have hurt his left arm but also could have
been selling.
After the show was over - for $20 you and your whole crew could get a picture
with Angle in the TNA ring. Pretty cool but I didn't stay.
Jeff Jarrett and Earl Hebner also signed at the end of the night.
All in all a nice night of wrestling. If their TV shows were this good I'd watch
them!
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