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September 25th
On this day in history in ....
1953 - The legendary Blue Demon scores what is arguably the biggest win of his career, defeating the most popular wrestler in the history of Mexico, archrival El Santo, in two straight falls at the CMLL 20th Anniversary Show in Mexico.
1977 - El Canek defeats Lou Thesz in Mexico City, Mexico to win the UWA World Heavyweight Title.
1977 - Jimmy Valiant wins a tournament to become the first AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion in Louisville, Kentucky. However, there is some controversy over the title, as Lou Thesz was the defending NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion for Nick Gulas' promotion (which was a competitor of the Jerry Jarrett run Mid-Southern area). The controversy was settled when Thesz abandoned his title to go wrestle for Jarrett.
1983 - Brett Wayne Sawyer defeats Larry Zbyszko in Atlanta, Georgia to win the NWA National Heavyweight Title, ending Zbyszko's third reign.
1985 - Terry Taylor defeats Black Bart to win the NWA National Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia.
1990 - Katsuji Ueda defeats Jimmy Backlund to become the AWA World Light-Heavyweight Champion in Nagoya, Japan. The previous champion, Lee Gak-Soo, had left FMW, where the title was being defended. The AWA had Buck Zumhofe win the title after beating Johnnie Stewart, but then the AWA folded. FMW would keep the belt alive for a while longer on Ueda, then later change it to the WWA Martial Arts Junior Heavyweight Title.
1995 - Week four of the Monday Night Wars saw WCW Monday Nitro on TNT give a spanking to WWF Monday Night Raw on USA Network. Nitro did a 2.7 rating for a show featuring Meng defeating Lex Luger, Kevin Sullivan defeating Randy Savage via DQ, Kurasawa defeating Craig Pittman, and Alex Wright defeating Disco Inferno. Raw pulled a 1.9 for a show headlined by The Undertaker defeating Davey Boy Smith via DQ, The Smoking Gunns defeating Yokozuna & Owen Hart, and Marty Jannetty defeating Bodydonna Skip.
1999 - Steve Bradley defeats Vic Grimes in Memphis, Tennessee to win the Memphis Power Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title for the second time.
1999 - The NWA held their 51st Anniversary show in Charlotte, North Carolina, headlined by Gary Steele defeating Naoya Ogawa and Brian Anthony to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title and a "Legends Match" with Ronnie Garvin defeating Stan Lane.
2002 - NWA: Total Nonstop Action hold's their 13th Pay-per-view event, emanating from the TNA Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. The show is main evented by BG James defeating Jeff Jarrett via disqualification, X Division Champion Jerry Lynn pinning NWA World Champion Ron Killings in a lumberjack match (the NWA World Title was not on the line) and X-Pac & Scott Hall defeating Elix Skipper & Brian Lawler. However, a two out of three fall match between AJ Styles and Low Ki steals the show, with Ki winning the first fall via submission, before Styles took two falls straight via pinfall.
2004 - The Continental Wrestling Association ran Dothan, Alabama. Larry Goodman filed the following live report:
The Continental Wrestling Association returned to the Houston County Farm Center in Dothan, Alabama last night. A crowd of 800 saw an entertaining performance by "Roaddogg" Jesse James aka B. G. James, who appears to be at the top of his game.
Tim Dickinson opened the show with a 10 bell salute to "Big Bossman" Ray Traylor and Ken Timbs (who performed at the Farm Center on a number of occasions).
(1) Damien Levaye beat Suicide in 7:58. The opening match featured two workers associated with Tommy King's Lower Alabama Wrestling. Levaye got too cocky for his own good and bailed out claiming his tights were being pulled. The evil Levaye disrespected referee Larry Brock's authority. Suicide took a nasty bump off the apron to the concrete floor. Suicide ran wild on Levaye, hitting the RVD Rolling Thunder. Levaye did the first tope suicida in the brief history of the CWA. Suicide nailed a DDT but missed on a 450. Levaye won it with a head drop maneuver. Might have been an Emerald Frosien. Decent. Crowd wasn't in love with this match, but they didn't crap on it either.
(2) The Midnight Express (Randy Rose & Norvell Austin) beat Texas Roughrider & Luke Goldberg in 12:15. Roughrider and Goldberg received a warm reception. This was Goldberg's first appearance in CWA. Based on the crowd response, there is a crossover audience from the local indie promotions. Goldberg has the size and the big guns, but he had to wear a shirt to cover up the big belly. This was the first time Midnight Express have appeared in CWA as a team. Rose got strong heat with his prematch mic work. He called Roughrider a plastic cowboy. "You don't know nothin' but pig farming." Rose stomped on Roughrider's cowboy hat. Rose was in most of the way, which was a good thing for Austin. Rose heeled on Roughrider. Rose missed with a Vader bomb and Roughrider took over. Rose's selling was hilarious. He got tangled in the ropes and kept bouncing up to take more punishment. Austin took a bump on a hiptoss and begged Roughrider for mercy. Austin wanted no part of Goldberg. Express got heat on Goldberg. The crowd was going crazy when Express would switch without tagging behind the back of referee Brandon Brock. Brock didn't see the hot tag. Austin pinned Goldberg after a double team vertical suplex. Rose told the crowd that Express doesn't cheat and claimed they won the match fair and square.
(3) Scott Armstrong defeated Nightmare (Ted Allen) in 17:14. Best match of the night. It was similar to Scott's matches with Ken Wayne in that they were getting a huge crowd reaction by doing a lot of little things well, but not at that level because Wayne is a superior worker. Scott got the first big entrance pop of the night. Nightmare was reluctant to lock up. Scott started scoring takedowns. Nightmare complained that Scott was pulling his mask and tights. Nightmare tried to brawl. Scott came back with armdrags and Nightmare took a powder. Nightmare gave Scott a cheap shot on the break. Armstrong answered with an atomic drop. Nightmare played a great game of "hide the chain" with Larry Brock. The heat for this simple spot was crazy. Nightmare shielded his nefarious activities from the ref and punched Armstrong in the spleen. Nightmare used a choke to further incapacitate Scott whose selling was awesome here. They did a beautiful build of comeback spots to set up the finish. Scott got a sunset flip. Nightmare cut him off with a swinging neckbreaker, but Scott kicked out with authority. They traded punches on rubber legs. Nightmare went down. The only thing holding Scott up was the ropes. Scott decked Nightmare with a lariat. Nightmare blocked a rolling reverse cradle and tried to drop an elbow. It missed. Armstrong got the pin with a backslide. They fought over the chain. Scott ended up with it and Nightmare bailed. Nightmare demanded that Brock reverse the decision because Armstrong had the chain. Justice was served, as Brock would have none of it.
Scott announced that the Armstrongs, minus heel brother Steve, would be doing $5 Polariods during the intermission.
(4) Alabama Jaw Jacker beat Assassin #1 via DQ (5 minutes). Jacker's entrance got the usual great pop. They laid down on the mat for an arm wrestling contest. I had never seen it done that way before. Just as Armstrong was ready to put him down, Assassin raked the eyes. Assassin applied the dreaded Oriental nerve hold. Jacker stomped Assassin's foot to break the hold and made a comeback that sent Assassin tumbling to the floor. Assassin #2 ran down to take #1's place. Assassin #1 tried a sneak attack to throw the fire. It literally blew up in his face. Jacker improvised by waffling Assassin #2 with a chair. The ref saw both Assassins in the ring and called for the DQ. Assassins slowly made their way to the back with #1 selling that his eyes were burned.
(5) "Roaddogg" Jesse James (B. G. James) beat Steve Armstrong in 9:04. Steve came out in badass cowboy gear, which was a much better look for him. Fans treated Jesse like a star. Roaddogg busted out the Degeneration X Michael Buffer style introduction from his days in WWE. Fans were right on cue with the "suck it." Lots of barking in the crowd to start the match. Steve couldn't hang with Jesse and kept going to the outside. Jesse made the mistake of chasing and Steve cut Jesse off as he reentered the ring. Steve dished out the punishment. Jesse displayed perfect timing on his bumps. Steve went to the abdominal stretch. Steve cheated. Both down on a collision of headbutts. Jesse made the big comeback. Assassin #1 ran down and took a bump off Jesse's right fist. Assassin tripped up Jesse. Scott came down to take care of Asassin. Scott tripped up Steve and Jesse hit a shake rattle and roll kneedrop to get the three count. Mega pop for the finish.
Steve whined that Jesse needed help to beat him. Steve jumped Jesse with a DDT and ran away. "How do you like them apples?" Steve said his whole family was against him. "It's me against the world." Jesse asked Steve if he and Jimmy Golden had the cojones to put the tag titles on the line next Saturday against his two brothers. Steve thought about it and said OK, "but it won't be like tonight. Nobody beats me one on one." Jesse threatened to stick the mic up Steve's anus. Scott closed the show shouting Jesse's "you better call somebody" tag line.
When asked if he would bulk back up if and when he got into the ring, he said, "No. Not at all. I've done everything that I've wanted to do in wrestling, with the help of...I've had the chance to work with a lot of good guys. And I've still got a lot of good relationships there. But for me the most important thing is moviemaking and becoming really good at what I do."
2005 - The former Dudley Boyz trademark the terms "Team 3D", "Brother Ray" and "Brother Devon."
2005 - WWE signed Kristall Marshall and Elisabeth Rouffaer, who were eliminated from the first Diva Search competition, to a deal. Marshall would be the only one to make it to the main roster.
2006 - WWE released developmental talents Danny Inferno and Kevin Matthews, who had been working out of the Deep South Wrestling developmental territory.
2006 - The USA Network made the decision last week to pass on a pilot titled "Ebaum's World", which Chris Jericho had hosted.
2006 - The United States Marshals Service issued the following press release - really! -
U.S. Marshals Task Force Arrests Professional Wrestler for Civil Contempt
Pensacola, FL - The United States Marshals North Florida Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Solafa Fatu Jr., aka "Rakishi" at 12 noon today after a vehicle stop on Highway 98 near the Naval Hospital. The 41 year old, 6 foot 2 inch, 400 pound wrestler was taken into custody without any resistance. A Federal District Judge for the Northern District of Florida issued a warrant for his arrest on September 1st of this year, after Fatu failed to appear at a show cause hearing, carrying a charge of civil contempt. Originally, the U.S. Marshals Office in Pensacola repeatedly attempted to locate Fatu to serve him with a civil subpoena but was unable to find him. The Task Force's investigation eventually led them to discover he was in Italy during that period and touring with a newly formed Italian wrestling organization, the NU-WRESTLING Evolution (NWE). The investigation revealed that it appeared as though Fatu returned several weeks ago. Once the Task Force learned that, they started searching for him again locally.
“Despite his size and the persona that goes with his profession, he (Fatu) was a gentleman," said Marshals spokesman Dominic Guadagnoli.
Fatu, who has appeared under numerous other names throughout his career, first came to fame in the 1980s when he wrestled in the WWF as a part of the Samoan Swat Team. He has wrestled with all of the top names in the sport some such as Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Steve Austin and Triple H to name a few. Fatu claims to be related to other famous wrestles such as The Rock, The Tonga Kid, Jimmy Snuka and Okazuna.
Fatu was remanded to Escambia County Jail until his hearing in federal court.
2006 - Despite a power outage at the start of the show, Raw broadcasts from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Here is our original report on the show:
JR welcomes us to Oklahoma City for RAW IS BROWNOUT. The lights don't go on right away and he says it is technical difficulties. They are obviously stalling and they go to Lillian and her mic isn't working. Candice is sent out to stall some more, I think. This is a first round women's tournament match, which I doubt was the reason we couldn't miss the first ten minutes. I would hate to be around Vince right now.
Candice vs. Lita, First Round Match for the Women's Championship
Lita gets on the mic and says she gets to pick the referee. Edge comes out, natch. Edge spears Candice Michelle right away and Lita gets the win. That match was lights out!
Your winner, Lita!
John Cena runs out for the save. Commercial.
Back from the break, Cena is in the middle of a promo and the lights are on.
Cena blames Edge for the power outage to duck Cena. Edge comes out to tell Cena to shut up. Edge says his rematch clause is on his terms, not Cena's. Edge says he is going to celebrate with Lita. Cena says Lita has no D, to use a football analogy. She's had a lot of balls pounded in that endzone. She sounds a lot like the Giants defense! Cena puts over the Sooners. For ten dollars in bus fare, Lita can be yours. Just be prepared for the doctor's bills. The crowd is loving Cena. Lita calls Cena the joke. Edge is the better wrestler, the entire locker room is in fact, even herself. Cena rags on Lita some more. Edge accepts Lita's challenge to wrestle Cena with one hand behind his back. WWE in Mexico. Check out the pics of DX goofing off on the WWE website, it is well worth it.
Kane vs. Johnny Nitro for the Intercontinental Championship
Before the match, a replay of the Kane-Umaga match/confrontation is shown. This is Nitro's third defense in eight days. He's a fighting champion. Kane starts by throwing Nitro right out of the ring. Side slam by Kane after an Irish Whip into the corner. Nitro clips Kane while Melina distracts him. Nitro works over that leg in the corner. Kane throws him out of the ring again. Nitro recovers and goes to the top but Kane gives him a big boot as he comes down. Umaga, who was supposedly banned from ringside, comes down and attacks Kane with a steel chair. Whipsplash in the corner by Umaga. Umaga crushes Kane's skull with the steel steps. Estrada tells Kane never to touch him again.
Your winner by disqualification, Kane!
DX is in the back looking at WWE magazine, specifically HHH's piece. He talks about his wacky facial hair. HBK wonders why there is no ad for the DX merch, so they shill for shopzone. Maria comes up to get their thoughts on them being in the gauntlet. Maria is confused by the catchphrase. HHH offers a visual aid, but HBK puts the kibosh on that. Eugene comes up to Maria. He faints when she whispers the catchphrase into his ear.
This Week in Wrestling History, on September 23, 1977, Andre the Giant and Gorilla Monsoon...box? Andre put Monsoon out for the win. Shelton and Coach are talking. Coach wants to know if Shelton was trying to embarrass him last week with his racial comments. Coach claims Shelton never capitalized on his chances. Coach claims Vince's hero is MLK, Jr. He tells Benjamin he should have come to him. Shelton calls him a 'whitewash' and says Dick Cheney has more soul than him. Hardy comes up and speaks ebonics.
Coach makes a match between the two. Edge comes up and wants Coach to make the match official. Not only does he do that, he makes it a no holds barred match. However, Cena is not allowed to lay one finger on Cena, or he will lose his rematch.
Back from break, a promo for Cena on Smackdown is shown.
Spirit Squad is in the ring as Ric Flair comes to the ring.
Ric Flair vs. Mikey of the Spirit Squad
Mikey gets a headlock but Flair counters with an arm drag and a strut. Mikey hits some shots to Flair's head. He works on Flair in the corner. Flair reverses and hits some chops. Mikey hits a dropkick for two. Mikey chokes Flair in the corner. Scoop slam by Mikey and a forearm from the second rope. He kicks Flair some more in the corner. He slaps Flair, but Flair chops him. The trade punches. Reverse elbow to Flair as he comes off the ropes. Flair with more chops. Knee drop by Flair and a chop block. Flair goes for the figure four, but Nicky runs in. He is immediately thrown out. Flair rolls up Mikey with some help from the tights for the win.
Your winner, Ric Flair!
Post match, Kenny is seething. Commercial.
John Cena is shown on MadTV. The episode airs this Saturday.
DX is out for the Gauntlet match. They do their spiel before the match, and get a big ovation. They show a recap of the HIAC match to show why the McMahon's aren't there.
Degeneration X vs. The Highlanders
The Highlanders are a surprise first entrant. HHH distracts Robbie so HBK can nail Rory with Sweet Chin Music. Robbie gets a pedigree.
Your winners, Degeneration X
DX vs, Charlie Haas & Viscera
Haas and HHH start out. Haas hits some punches in the corner. HHH counters an irish whip with a clothesline. Haas is thrown into HBK's boot. Michaels tags in but Haas takes over in the corner with more punches and a charge to the stomach. Michaels hits a few chops in the corner. Thumb to the eye by Haas. Vis tags in. He gives Michaels the Boss Man Slam. Vis gyrates. Right hand by Viscera. Clothesline by Viscera gets two. Commercial.
Back from break, Michaels is fighting out of a Haas submission. Haas knocks him back down and punches Vis. Viscera accidentally splashes Haas. HHH tags in and hits some right hands. Vis misses a splash. Facebuster by HHH.
A double clothesline knocks him down. Haas gets a pedigree and Vis gets Sweet Chin Music. Vis falls on Haas. DX sits on them and gets the pin.
Your winners, Degeneration X!
DX vs. Cade & Murdoch
The immediately brawl. DX gets the better of it. Michaels hits a flying forearm and atomic drop on Cade. Cade hits a low blow and tags in Murdoch. Murdoch dumps Michaels from the ring as Cade distracts him. HHH comes over and joins in on the brawl. Michaels is thrown into the ring post. Murdoch and Cade double team HHH and throw him into the ring steps. Michaels hits a low blow to escape Murdoch holding him for a steel chair shot. Cade gets an inverted atomic drop and HHH nails him with a chair. The bell rings, but no winner is announced, so it is a no contest. Commercial.
It's Cryme Tyme! A man is making an ATM withdraw. Shad Gaspard gives the poor man a big boot as they train for intensity. White boy got straight up laid out.
Jeff Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin
Lock up to start, Shelton gets a headlock then shoulderblock. Another shoulderblock. Hardy hits an arm drag. Shelton punches Hardy. Hardy is backdropped onto the apron. Shelton uses the hair to get the advantage and punches his chest before knocking him off. Kick in the corner by Shelton. Scoop slam on Hardy and he chokes him with the boot. Chinlock by Shelton. Hardy fights out and hits some clotheslines. Whisper in the Wind gets two. Hardy goes to the top. Shelton leaps clear to the top of the rope to block him. Hardy pushes him off and hits the Swanton. Benjamin gets a foot on the rope to break the count. Shelton holds onto the ropes to block a Twist of Fate. Shelton gets cocky and falls prey to an inside cradle.
Your winner, Jeff Hardy!
Shill for the Marine and Brooke Hogan's CD.
Randy Orton & Chris Masters vs. Super Crazy & Carlito
Carlito and Masters start off. Carlito hits some chops in the corner. Masters gets a knee to the gut. Carlito gets a dropkick for a one count. Crazy tags in. Crazy hits a dropkick off the second rope. Masters powerbombs Crazy to counter the punches in the corner. Orton tags in. He pounces on Crazy and gets a headlock, really working it and wrenching the neck. Crazy hits a huracanrana. Masters and Carlito are tagged in. Masters catches a crossbody but Carlito gets out of it. Carlito hits a springboard back elbow on Masters, a Million Dollar Knee Lift on Orton and a flapjack on Masters. Crazy hits a dropkick on Orton, but misses a moonsault. Orton hits a backbreaker. Masters goes for the Masterlock on Carlito. He can't lock it in and Carlito flips over for a backcracker and the win.
Your winners, Carlito & Super Crazy!
Orton hits the ring after the match and nails Carlito with an RKO. Commercial.
Coach is in the ring and he brings out Eric Bischoff. He is holding his book, Controversy Creates Ca$h. He says the truth in his book is going to piss off McMahon. He says RAW exists like it does today because of Nitro. No DX without the nWo. No Mr. McMahon without Eric Bischoff. While he is ranting, Coach's music hits. Lita's music hits and she and Edge come out for her match. Commercial.
Lita vs. John Cena with one hand tied behind his back
It is Cena's right hand being tied behind his back. Lita pokes Cena in the eye and hits a low blow. She slaps Cena. He blocks another slap and hits a one armed FU.
Your winner, John Cena!
Finlay and Regal hit the ring with King Booker. Cena tries to attack, but he is fighting with one arm. He gets hit with the shillelagh. Cena goes for the Flair crotch claw, but is quickly overwhelmed again. Booker gets on the mic and berates Cena for thinking he can show up in the Smackdown kingdom. Booker wants Cena to kiss his royal feet. He again tries to fight out, but it is three on one. Booker hits the Axe Kick. Booker takes his boot off. Cena's face is shoved into it. Tune into Smackdown to see if Cena can get his revenge! Edge comes in the ring and wants to cash in his rematch clause next week...in a steel cage!
Next week on RAW, John Cena vs. Edge for the WWE Championship in a Steel Cage match!
Thoughts: Heaven help the poor people who had to deal with Vince tonight. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't run that building for awhile...The crowd was into everything Cena said and did...A lot of the segments were flowing into each other, which made the show a lot more fast paced. I don't know whose idea that was, but they should do it more often. It saves more time and we don't keep seeing the same people over again. The commercial breaks seemed shorter, too...I hope we aren't seeing another Shelton losing streak...It would have been hilarious if Bischoff had a banana peel on his shoulder when he came out...The show really dragged in the second hour.
2006 - WWE's ECW brand ran Fort Smith, Arkansas. C.L. filed the following live report:
The Fort Smith Convention Center had a looooong line inside the building of people waiting to sit in general admission. Those of us with ringside tickets who finally figured out we could sail right through got in quickly. The room was packed and everyone seemed to be up for a good night. I may forget a thing or two because it's late, but I remember the great majority of it.
Rene Dupree was not appreciated in Arkansas. My roommate turned to me and said, "His panties are whiter than mine." I'll never forget that. Stevie Richards got some "Stevie" chants and after Rene attempted a pin with his foot on the ropes, Stevie trapped him to win it.
The Ba....erm...Paul Heyman's Personal Enforcers...took on the FBI without Trinity. FBI was over and got several chants when Mamaluke was getting the crap beat out of him. The Enforcers won after one took advantage of the ref's distraction to use what looked from my vantage point to be a nightstick to allow the pin.
Matt Striker got a large portion of the crowd to believe that he was going to call out Steve Austin by saying his special guest was the toughest SOB in WWE and had come from Texas to be there, and that man is...Matt Striker. He got several quite negative chants before he announced the Extreme Vixen Body Contest, or whatever it was called. Trinity was having a fabulous time and looked amazing, and everyone showed Francine appreciation. Kelly (I refuse to type her name twice) won it of course. Afterwards, Striker asked Francine out, she told him she only dated country boys from Arkansas, he insulted her and blocked a slap, and out came The Sandman to a big reaction. He chased Striker around and finally got to nail him with the cane before celebrating in several places in the crowd with his usual beer smashing antics. Striker was so annoying, I even popped for Sandman, and I've never really been a fan.
Mike Knox took on CM Punk and Punk was over BIG TIME. In fact I'd say he got the pop of the night, and certainly got louder chants even than RVD. After a couple flurries of hiptosses, Punk said, "Wow that's a lot of hiptosses," and actually had a small group of fans chanting for another one. He won with the Anaconda Vice.
Tommy Dreamer came out and showed the crowd some appreciation, then asked for his match with Test to be Extreme Rules. Test said no, the ref said yes, and we saw some trash cans, a chair and, in one amusing moment, Dreamer took a cane from a fan and groined Test with it several times. He got a big pop for laying a stop sign over Test's groin and smashing a crutch down on it. He went for the DVD through a table but Test reversed with the TKO through it to win. The fans gave Tommy some love and Tommy handed out pieces of the table to several fans.
Hardcore Holly came out for the next tag match, followed by Big Show who got a pretty big positive reaction. I was a little surprised but Fort Smith apparently likes the big guy. RVD and Sabu then came out and Hardcore Holly did most of the work for his team. There was an RVD chant early on and a short Sabu chant, even a Big Show chant. RVD won with for his team with the five star. He and Sabu did some posing and got some good RVD chants, but they weren't as loud as Punk's.
All in all it was definitely worth the money. I'd say Punk got the loudest reaction, followed by RVD, Sandman, Dreamer and Kelly (*shudder*). Mike Knox facing Punk got loud boos, as did Striker. The fans were up for it and had plenty of interaction to make it memorable.
In related news, Cox Cable in northwest Arkansas finally got back to me to say they are "in negotiations" with CW. So alas, no Smackdown for now for anyone who wondered.
2007 - WWE broadcast ECW on Sci Fi. Buck Woodward filed the following report:
ECW on SciFi for September 25th opened with Joey Styles and Tazz plugging that ECW Champion CM Punk would be facing Matt Striker later tonight.
Triple Threat: Elijah Burke vs. Tommy Dreamer vs. Kevin Thorn.
The loser of this match will be out of contention for the ECW Title match with CM Punk at No Mercy. They reviewed last week's Fatal Four Way, where Stevie Richards was eliminated. Dreamer attacked Burke at the bell, but Thorn hit Dreamer with a back elbow, knocking him from the ring. Thorn hit Burke with a shoulderblock and slammed him for a two count. Burke slid under Thorn and hit a hiptoss. Burke and Thorn exchanged punches, and Dreamer watched from the floor. They stopped, and Burke convinced Thorn that they should go after Dreamer. Dreamer decked Thorn on the floor, out punches Burke in the ring, then gave Thorn a drop toe hold and Burke a hip toss. Thorn knocked Dreamer down with punches, but Burke rolled up Thorn for a two count, then hit him with a flying forearm. Burke ended up being knocked to the floor by Thorn, who then rammed Dreamer shoulder first into a ringpost and stomped him down for a two count. Burke got back in the ring and dropkicked Thorn from behind. Burke and Dreamer traded reversals on a sunset flip, then Thorn joined in. They all started exchanging rollups and small packages for two counts, then Dreamer and Burke did a double team backslide to Thorn for a two count. All three men retreated to corners as they went to commercial.
Back from break, Dreamer ducked a Burke bodypress and Burke fell to the floor. Thorn hit Dreamer with forearms, then ran into a Dreamer elbow. Dreamer hit a slew of punches, then decked Thorn and hit a bulldog for a two count. Dreamer pounded Thorn with punches in the corner, but Thorn walked out from under him and dropped Dreamer headfirst on the mat. Thorn got a two count, then stomped Dreamer. Thorn put Dreamer in a rear chinlock. Dreamer got out and hit a reverse DDT. Thorn went to the floor and Dreamer hit him with a baseball slide kick. Dreamer got on the apron to jump on Thorn, but Burke slammed him off and to the floor. Thorn then hit Burke with a forearm on the floor, rolled him into the ring and got a two count. Thorn hit Burke with a series of punches, then put him in an over-the-shoulder backbreaker, then dropped to his knees. Thorn got a two count on Burke. Thorn slapped Burke in the head, then went for a short arm clothesline. Burke ducked it and decked Thorn with a right hand, then hit an STO. Dreamer grabbed Burke and hung him in the corner, then hit a baseball slide kick while he was in the Tree Of Woe. Thorn gave Dreamer a jawbreaker, got a two count, then Burke decked Thorn with a punch. Burke climbed to the top rope, but Dreamer crotched him. Thorn grabbed Dreamer, but Dreamer gave him a neckbreaker. Burke got back on the top rope and went for a sunset flip on Dreamer, but Dreamer rolled through it and put Burke in a Texas Cloverleaf. Thorn kicked Dreamer in the head and got a two count. Thorn picked up Burke in a fireman's carry, but Dreamer kicked Thorn in the gut. Thorn dropped Burke, and Dreamer gave Thorn a DDT. Burke threw Dreamer from the ring and covered Thorn for the three count.
Winner: Elijah Burke.
Kevin Thorn is eliminated from contention for the ECW Title match at No Mercy. Next week, Tommy Dreamer vs. Elijah Burke for the title match.
Backstage, CM Punk was saying hello to people. Matt Striker, with Big Daddy V, approached him. Striker said Punk could improve himself by going back to school. Punk said he was very good at school, and never missed a day. Punk said he even taught a few of the teacher. Striker said he was Punk's teacher, and Big Daddy V was his star pupil. Big Daddy V growled. Punk said he'd see Striker "in school" and walked off.
They recap Raw, particularly the Vince McMahon-Triple H storyline.
Nunzio vs. Mike Knox.
Nunzio grabbed a headlock at the start, but Knox sent him from the ring with a shoulderblock. Nunzio went for a waistlock, and Knox threw it off, sending Nunzio to the floor again. As Nunzio got in the ring, Knox started blasting him with forearms to the back. Nunzio tried to battle back with punches, but Knox hit a backbreaker, pushing down on it. Nunzio hit some knees to escape the backbreaker, but got caught in another one. Knox scored a two count, then hit a kneedrop, an elbowdrop and a legdrop. Knox missed a charge in the corner, then Nunzio hit a series of kicks to Knox' legs, then dropkicked them out for a two count. Knox came right back with a knee to the gut and a running boot to the face for the win.
Winner: Mike Knox.
Extreme Expose were walking backstage, and were joined by The Miz. Kelly didn't seem happy to see The Miz.
That "SAVE_US.222" thing aired again. Time to start analyzing it!
The Miz vs. Silas Young.
Kelly was being given a hard time for still carrying the Teddy Bear that Balls Mahoney gave her. They reviewed Balls asking her out last week.
Silas grabbed a hammerlock on Miz, but Miz backed him in a corner and hit a back elbow. Miz dropped Young throat first across the top rope. Miz hit a back elbow on Young, then kicked him in the shoulder. Miz stomped Young's leg and punched him in the face. Miz hit a side legsweep, then hit his jump-through-the-ropes clothesline. Miz hit his kneelift into a neckbreaker (Reality Check) to get the win.
Winner: The Miz.
As Extreme Expose (not really Kelly) celebrated with The Miz, Balls Mahoney came out. Balls said he needed to talk to Kelly, and told Miz to "step back". Balls said Kelly didn't get to answer him last week. Balls asked Kelly if she would go out with him. The fans chanted "Yes". Before Kelly could say anything, Miz took the mic and hit Balls in the head with it, knocking him out. Miz left, and Brooke & Layla made Kelly leave with them.
Steve Austin's DVD signing at FYE was recapped.
The Triple Threat match from earlier was recapped. Dreamer vs. Burke next week for the title shot at No Mercy.
Backstage, Burke congratulated Dreamer on making it to the finals. Burke said it would be an epic battle, if it was ten years ago. Burke said he is younger, faster and stronger. Burke said Dreamer's quest to No Mercy ends next week. Burke said Dreamer didn't have anything that could help him win. Dreamer said he had heart, and that ECW was his life, and that all of Burke's attributes wouldn't be enough to beat him, since he doesn't have heart. Dreamer walked off, leaving Burke to contemplate his comments.
ECW Champion CM Punk vs. Matt Striker.
There was a chant for Punk at the bell. Punk hit a shoulderblock after the initial lockup. Punk hit a kick to the leg, then slammed Striker and dropped a leg for a two count. Striker hit some right hands, but Punk backdropped him to the floor, then hit a pescado. Punk was distracted on the floor by the presence of Big Daddy V, and Striker rammed Punk's wrist into the ring steps, then kicked them against the steps. Back in the ring, Striker worked on the hand and arm, stomping it and twisting it around the ropes. Punk came back with a sunset flip for a two count, then Striker decked Punk with a clothesline for a two count. Striker applied a wristlock on the bad hand. Striker hit a standing dropkick for a two count, then went back to the wristlock. Striker yelled that he was going to "break it". Punk started to fight up, but Striker kicked the hand and yanked it across the top rope. Punk battled back with chops and kicks, but Striker hit the arm and kicked it again, then hit a stiff running knee to the head for a two count. Striker went for the hand again, slamming it into the mat and applying an armbar. Striker pulled on the fingers, making them into a "V" and saying Punk was a Big Daddy V fan. Punk kicked back to offense again, knocking Striker down and hitting a kick to the chest. Punk hit a back elbow, a clothesline and an enzugiri. Punk hit a double underhook backbreaker, a jumping knee in the corner, and a bulldog. Punk hit a springboard clothesline, then the Go To Sleep for the clean win.
Winner: CM Punk.
Big Daddy V came in as the three count was being made and attacked Punk, hitting a Samoan Drop and standing over the downed champion as the show ended.
2008 - TNA broadcast Impact. Richard Trionfo filed the following live report:
We start off tonight’s show with a look back at last week when Jeff Jarrett addressed the Impact Zone only to be interrupted by Kurt Angle. Then we saw Mick Foley make his debut.
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike ‘ ’ Tenay and Don ‘Is Brother Ray part of the Tampa Bay Rays’ West.
We begin with Jeff Jarrett coming to the ring and he has a friend with him. Jeff says that as the founder of TNA Wrestling, it gives him great pride to announce that he has signed one of the most unique performers of all time. Next week, that person will be here in the Impact Zone. That man is the greatest acquisition in TNA, Mick Foley. We see the Mick Foley JarrettTron video.
Before Jarrett can continue, the greatest acquisition in the history of TNA, 2006 edition, Kurt Angle comes to the ring. Kurt comments on what Jeff said about Mick being the greatest acquisition in TNA history. Angle reminds Jarrett what happened over the last two years. Angle says that he carried this company on his back for the last two year. He turned this outhouse into a penthouse. It wasn’t Jarrett, Joe, or A.J., it was him. Foley and Jarrett are yesterday’s news. Jarrett says that he had all intentions of coming out and letting bygones be bygones. Jeff says that he said some things last week that he probably shouldn’t have said. Jeff says that he went back and forth about coming back, but he had no choice. Some things have not gone according to plan. He is not talking about Angle or Sting. He mentions A.J. Styles. Two weeks in a row, A.J. Styles left this building with Angle’s gold medal. Jeff says that he went to A.J. to get the medal back. Jarrett says that they might or may have their differences. Nothing will hide the fact that Angle won a gold medal in 1996.
Angle asks Jeff if he is going to hand him his gold medals back. Angle thinks that is swell and then he tells Jeff to get out of his ring, but then tells Jeff not to leave. Angle tells Jarrett that he does not need him to kiss his a**. Angle tells Jarrett not to walk away like a scared little b****. Angle calls Jeff a washed up failure, just like his dad. Angle tells Jeff to tell his children that their daddy is a quitter.
Jarrett returns to the ring and he gets in Angle’s face. Jeff tells Kurt that he has been a fighter, a warrior, and a competitor. He has survived every battle. Jeff tells Kurt that he does not understand what Jeff has gone through. No matter how low it got or how difficult it became, Jeff says that he will never quit. Jeff says that if Angle wants to goad him back into the ring for a match, he will give Angle his wish. Jeff tells Angle that he does not want any part of the pain that has pierced his body over the last two years. Jarrett gives Angle his match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Don and Mike talk about Bound for Glory and run through the card.
We see footage of Team 3D trying to break up the newest BFFs in the tag team division.
Match Number One: Jimmy Rave and Lance Rock with Christy Hemme versus Matt Morgan and Abyss
Rave and Abyss start things off and Rave with chops but Abyss does not feel anything. Rock tags in and he kicks and punches Abyss. Abyss with a big boot and the he hits a splash into the corner. Rave tries for a cross body and Rave goes down. Morgan is tagged in and he hits a cross body from the top and then he shakes the ropes for no reason. Morgan and Abyss toss Rave into the air. Morgan tosses Rave over the top rope to the floor and then he goes out after Rock. Christy Hemme with a back rake and then Lance hits Morgan from behind. Lance punches Morgan and then rolls him back into the ring. Rave with a kick to the head for a near fall. Morgan with a clothesline to Lance and a drop kick to Rave. Abyss tags in and he hits clotheslines on Rave and Rock. Abyss with a Black Hole Slam to Rock followed by Shock Treatment to Rave. Morgan is tagged in and Morgan signals for the Hellevator and he hits it for the three count.
Winners: Matt Morgan and Abyss
After the match, Team 3D come out and Devon is going to talk. He tells them that it was a fluke at No Surrender that they beat Team 3D. They don’t know who Team 3D is. They are the baddest tag team walking the planet. They don’t know the things that they have accomplished in the business. They are a 9 time WWE Tag Team Champion, 1 time WCW Tag Team Champion, 8 time ECW Tag Team Champions, All Japan Tag Team Champions, 1 time TNA Tag Team Champions. That makes twenty time champions. In Chicago, at Bound for Glory, it is time for Ray to talk.
Ray says that in Chicago, at Bound for Glory, they will be facing Matt Morgan and Abyss as well as any other tag team that wants to get involved and fall to the feet of the greatest tag team that has ever walked the face of the planet. It will be a Monster’s Ball Match, and Abyss freaks out like someone stole his ice cream truck.
We go to the Rough Cut featuring Roxxi Laveaux. She talks about how you don’t see hardcore matches in the women’s division. Traci talks about how it is hard to see the women bleeding in the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back with file footage before we go TO THE BACK. Lauren is with James Storm, Robert Roode, and Jackie Moore. Lauren goes through the unabridged version of Dune to explain what is going on tonight. James Storm mentions that Jackie Moore started in Memphis with Jeff Jarrett and she is not going anywhere. Storm says that they could get one of those pretty faces, but they wanted the baddest woman around. Storm says that Jackie completes the team and she was born to wrestle. Storm says that LAX is going to see how tough Jackie is tonight. Jackie walks away. Roode reminds Storm that if they lose, Jackie is gone forever. Storm takes his beer helmet and says that he is not going to lose on his watch.
Match Number Two: Awesome Kong versus Mercedes Steele
Kong pushes Steele away as they lock up. Steele with kicks and forearms and a drop kick but Kong shrugs them off. Kong with a running body block and then she throws Steele out of the ring. Saeed has a few chairs with her as she comes to the ring. Kong Irish whips Steele into the guardrail before returning to the ring. Kong with a splash in the corner. Kong with the Awesome Bomb for the three count.
Winner: Awesome Kong
After the match, Saeed brings the chairs into the ring, but that isn’t Raisha Saeed, it is Roxxi in the burka. Roxxi punches Kong while security comes to the ring and Kong escapes. We see the real Saeed tied up at the top of the ramp.
We go to commercial.
We are back with Karen’s Angle and her guest is Christian Cage. Karen asks about the division in the locker room with the veterans and the young guys. Christian says that he falls somewhere in between. Christian agrees with the concerns raised about A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe. Christian points out where TNA was before the ‘names’ arrived. Christian says that he has been on both sides. He says that every time you go to the ring, you have the chance to step up. Karen asks Christian about what he said to A.J. Christian says that A.J. knows that he does not like having decisions made for him. Christian says that they have made up. Karen asks Christian what side he is going to join, and Christian says that he feels like a free agent. Christian’s phone rings and he leaves.
TO THE BACK where Lauren is with LAX. Lauren goes through War and Peace before asking a question. Hector talks about how LAX are his familia. Hector told Homicide and Hernandez that he would never let them down. We go to commercial.
We are back in the BookCase with Jeremy Borash, Booker T, and Sharmell. Booker says that there are a lot of tings going on in TNA, first Jeff Jarrett and now Mick Foley. There is one thing that does not change and that is the king and queen. Booker wonders what the A.J. stands for. Booker points out that A.J. has been here for six years and has done nothing. Booker says that he did more in his first six minutes than A.J. did. Booker calls A.J. a small time player. Booker says that A.J. thinks he has allies, but he tells A.J. to keep his enemies close, but his friends closer. Jeremy asks what is in the briefcase and then Sharmell slaps him.
We see footage of Hector Guerrero being attacked by James Storm and Robert Roode last week.
Match Number Three: LAX and Hector Guerrero versus James Storm, Robert Roode and Jackie Moore in a Loser Loses their manager Match
Homicide and Storm start things off and Homicide with a kick and punch. Homicide with a shoulder tackle. Homicide with an overhead belly-to-belly throw for a near fall. Storm with a knee and then he tags in Roode. Roode sends Storm into the corner but Roode misses. Homicide with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Hector tags in and he punches Roode and Storm followed by a drop kick to Storm. Hector with punches to Roode. Hector kicks Storm out of the ring. Hector with the Three Amigos. Jackie hits Hector from behind and Jackie runs to the back and Hector goes after her as we go to commercial.
We are back and Storm punches Homicide and puts him on the top turnbuckle. We see footage from during the break when Homicide had the advantage, only to lose it. Storm tries for a superplex, but Homicide is able to counter. Hernandez is tagged in and he hits the slingshot shoulder on Roode and then he tosses Storm. Hernandez with a gutwrench into a modified Samoan drop for a two count. Hernandez runs into a boot. Storm with a lungblower but Roode only gets a two count. Hernandez with a double clothesline to Storm and Roode. Hernandez with a belly-to-back suplex and Homicide hits a frog splash but Hernandez only gets a two count. Homicide kicks Roode out of the ring. Storm and Roode clothesline each other when they try to clothesline Homicide on the floor. Hernandez gets Homicide up for the border toss onto Storm and Roode. Jackie returns to the ring and all six are in the ring. Roode with a kick to Hernandez but Hernandez with a shoulder tackle. Hernandez with the plancha onto Roode and Storm. Homicide hits the Ace Cutter but Homicide chases Jackie to the back. Roode hits Hernandez with the beer helmet for the three count.
Winners: James Storm, Robert Roode, and Jackie Moore
Sting is walking down stairs as we go to commercial.
We are back and Lauren is in bed with Sonjay Dutt and Val. Lauren says that they have been in bed for the last ten days. She asks Val how she could do that. Val says that she does not have to explain what she did. Val wants to know when they are going to meet his father.
Sting comes to the ring. He says that out of respect for his dad and himself, he listened to everything that Jeff said to him last week. Sting tells Jeff that Jeff might have some of the people swerved, but Jeff does not have him swerved. Sting tells Jeff that he knows all about Jeff. Sting tells Jeff that it was Jeff who called Sting to come out of retirement to wrestle for TNA. Sting says that Jeff told him to come to get on SpikeTV. Sting says that he got a call from another promoter named Vince McMahon. Sting says that it did not take long to choose, and he picked TNA. Vince told him that he would be losing millions of dollars. Sting tells Jeff that he chose to come to TNA not because of the money. Sting says that he liked what he saw until he saw them personally. Sting throws out a few dozen more Jeffs and wonders if Jeff needs him any more. Sting tells Jeff that he has bigger things to worry about. Sting says that he is going to try for a visual effect. We go to the JarrettTron. We see a photo of Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard. They taught him to have eyes in the back of his head. Next is Dusty Rhodes who taught him how to get wrestling fans into matches. We move on to Hulk Hogan. He says that Hogan would be the answer for who is the greatest because he transcended wrestling. Sting moves on to Ric Flair circa 1985. Sting mentions that it was twenty years ago that Ric Flair took a do nothing jabroni named Sting and he made his career. Flair knew that Sting had respect. We go to Samoa Joe and Sting says that he is somebody who does not know how to be a World Champion. He needs to learn respect. We move to Sting and he says that he is the guy who is going to get the job done. Sting says that Bound for Glory 2008 is his. Sting leaves and we go to commercial.
We are back and there is something going on with Abyss and Matt Morgan. We go to Lauren. Abyss says that he does not want any weapons. Morgan tries to convince Abyss to do this for the money. Morgan says that he will be Abyss’s therapist. Morgan tells Abyss to face his fears. Morgan talks about how he got over his fear of flying and fear of bears. Abyss asks Morgan if he will be okay. Morgan promises Abyss that he will be just fine.
We go to a video package for the Steel Asylum Match (you might remember this as the Terrordome Match) that was won by Frankie Kazarian, but he will not be able to win again because he is no longer in the company.
We go to Jeremy Borash with Samoa Joe and Jeremy was shocked that Joe did not confront Sting. Joe says that he has never been better. Joe says that he has come to a realization. He apologizes to Kevin and he says that he realizes that the line is to be calm, cool, and collected before the kill. Joe tells Sting that they are three weeks away from their match. Joe says that this has nothing to do with respect. It has to do with fear of being rendered obsolete. It is fear of losing your spot. Joe says that he is done yelling and screaming. He will do all of his talking in the ring.
Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed enter the locker room and Lethal thanks Joe for being there for them and they have his back. We go to commercial.
We are back with a Who Is Suicide video.
Match Number Four: Sheik Abdul Bashir versus Samoa Joe
Bashir with a kick and then he prays to Allah, but Joe tosses Bashir in the air. Joe with a chop and Irish whip followed by a running elbow and kick. Joe misses a knee in the corner and Bashir goes for the knee. Bashir works on the leg. Joe misses a knee and Bashir returns to the leg. Bashir calls to the heavens again and gets a near fall. Joe with a kick to Bashir followed by chops. Bashir with chops but Joe with an Irish whip. Bashir tries for a clothesline from the turnbuckles but Joe moves out of the way. Joe with clotheslines followed by a reverse atomic drop and Yakuza kick followed by a senton splash for a near fall. Bashir with a jawbreaker and then he returns to the knee and then he puts Joe in a single leg crab. Bashir works on Joe’s leg in the ropes. Bashir pushes the referee out of the way. Joe with an STO and then he puts Bashir in the corner for the muscle buster and Joe gets the three count.
Winner: Samoa Joe
After the match, Joe gets on the mic and he tells Sting that he is whining about respect and Joe says that he has his respect right here. Joe puts Bashir in the choke and the referee reverses the decision.
TO THE BACK and Jeremy Borash is with A.J. Styles. A.J. wonders if Jeremy wants to talk to a small town guy. A.J. says that he is proud to be from a small town. A.J. comments on Booker’s new accent. A.J. says that Booker is not going to put a wedge between him and Christian the way that Angle did.
We go to commercial.
Before our main event starts, Christian Cage comes out and he appears to be scouting to see what side he might take in the turf war between the Jets and the Sharks.
Match Number Five: Booker T with Sharmell and the briefcase with Booker’s normal accent versus A.J. Styles
Booker backs A.J. into the corner and Booker with a clean break. Booker with a knee followed by chops and a back heel kick. Booker with forearms but Styles blocks and he punches Booker. Styles with a chop followed by an Irish whip and phenomenal forearm in the corner. Styles with a snap mare and kick for a near fall. Booker with a thumb to the eyes and knees to the head. Booker misses the axe kick and Styles with a punch. Styles with a kick to the head for a near fall as we go to commercial.
We are back and Booker with knees to Styles followed by a super kick. Booker with a forearm to Styles followed by a side slam. We go to footage during the break when Styles hit the Phenomenal drop kick. Back to live on tape action and Booker with a knee drop. Booker with chops and punches in the corner and we go to the Cage Cam. Booker with a snap mare for a near fall. Booker with a key lock but Styles gets to his feet. Booker with a spinebuster for a near fall. Booker with a reverse chin lock. Styles with punches and clotheslines to Booker. Booker sends Styles to the apron and Styles hits the springboard forearm for a near fall. Styles hits the Pele kick for a two count. Booker with a knee to the midsection followed by a forearm. Booker and Styles collide and then Styles bumps into the referee and everyone is down. Sharmell comes into the ring with the briefcase, but Christian takes it from Sharmell. Styles sees Christian with the case and Styles argues with Cage. Booker sends Christian into Styles and then Booker hits Styles with the case and he gets the three count.
Winner: Booker T
A.J. yells at Christian after the match as we go to credits.
2009 - Newsday's Alfonso Castillo contacted Rev. Al Sharpton regarding his decision to guest host an edition of WWE Raw given World Wrestling Entertainment's past portrayal of minorities and received the following statement:
"In order to raise awareness and actually do something about the devastating achievement gap in education between kids of color and their white peers the viewership of WWE events is precisely the group of people who need to be reached and involved. Reverend Sharpton has stated repeatedly that all of us must take extraordinary steps to reverse the current trend in education and that unlikely alliances (like with Newt Gingrich) and forums like the WWE should be utilized if they help close the gap.
Reverend Sharpton has led --and will continue to lead-- the fight against the use of the N-word and bigotry of all types, but until we end disparity in education, such conduct will continue. Rev. Sharpton appeared on BET while fighting against the N-word in their videos and there is no difference.
As Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain did before him, Reverend Sharpton recognizes that WWE events provide an unfettered opportunity to raise important issues to a national audience of Americans.
Rev. Sharpton has talked to Vince McMahon who assured him that they have corrected and will discontinue any racial denigration."
2009 - Ring of Honor ran Boston, MA. Stu Carapola filed the following live report:
Boston, which had the biggest crowd I've seen there so far (I've later heard an estimate of 800-900) and some really good action. ROH has done a good job over the last few months of taking the Friday night shows, which had previously come off as secondary, every bit as good and important as the Saturday shows. Here's what went down in Boston:
-The Young Bucks defeated Cheech & Cloudy in a terrific opener that I would say was the second best match on the show after the main event. There were a lot of close falls on either side and the match was constructed to make it look as if Cheech & Cloudy (who are becoming sort of a modern version of Dunn & Marcos in that they're a job team with a cult following) actually could beat the Bucks. Bucks won with the Finlay Roll/450/Moonsault combo.
-Delirious defeated Sonjay Dutt in a match that was just there. Sonjay attacked Delirious after the match, then kissed Daizee Haze. She smacked him, so he shoved her down and put her in his one-armed version of the Camel Clutch. Delirious is so played out by this point, and he is made to look like an idiot for going back to Daizee and sticking up for her after he got shot down by her. But I guess we've all been there at one point or another.
-Claudio Castagnoli won a Four Corner Survival that also included Petey Williams, El Generico, and Chris Hero. I believe this was the first time Claudio and Hero have been in the same ring in ROH in at least a year, and they actually spent most of the match working together which I was really into, but the visions of a Kings Of Wrestling reunion were dashed when Claudio stole the fall on Petey after Hero knocked him out.
-Bret Hart came out to put over ROH and Boston and wave to the crowd and thank them for coming. I'm still waiting for the angle.
-Kevin Steen defeated Eddie Edwards in a Boston Street Fight. This was pretty rough, and even though I didn't realize the severity of the injury, it was clear that Eddie got banged up because Pearce and a couple of guys from backstage came out to walk Eddie to the back after the match was over. Steen got the win after hitting the Package Piledriver on four chairs which had been arranged in the middle of the ring to form a faux-platform. I found it interesting that Eddie and referee Todd Sinclair, both from Boston, were treated like the heels by the crowd.
INTERMISSION
-The Dark City Fight Club squashed Alex Payne & Bobby Dempsey, getting the fall on Payne after their pop-up double powerbomb which really needs a cool name. Total squash, and this is the first match I remember Bobby Dempsey losing in forever.
-Roderick Strong defeated Nigel McGuinness clean in the middle of the ring after two Gibson Drivers. He hit the first one and Nigel kicked out, but the second one put him away. Nigel grabbed the mic and put over ROH and the fans after the match. Fans were really into Nigel and showed him a lot of respect and gave him "thank you Nigel" chants. The match itself was not as good as any of their past matches, and I get the impression Nigel was trying not to get too crazy and risk hurting himself again before going to WWE, or at least saving the rough stuff for the following evening against Danielson.
-ROH World Champion Austin Aries & Rhett Titus defeated Colt Cabana & Kenny Omega. Pretty standard tag match that ended when Aries gave Cabana a low blow and a stiff kick to the head and Titus covered him for the win. Aries was classic in his prematch promo, busting on Boston for being "no New York" which, as you might imagine, didn't endear him to anyone on the crowd except the one guy there who was from New York, who also happens to be writing this report.
-Davey Richards defeated Bryan Danielson in far and away the match of the night. The end came when Danielson's arm locked up and as he held it out for the ref to pop it back out, Davey came off the top rope with a dropkick to the arm and put him in the Kimura Lock for the tapout win. Really classy stuff after the match as Davey took the mic and said that nobody would be doing what they were doing in ROH without Danielson, and then gave the mic to Danielson, who put Davey over as the best guy in the company now and said that he's been in all the best matches of the year. He thanked the fans and told them to keep supporting ROH.
2009 - TNA debuted in Nurmberg, Germany with the following results:
TNA First iMPACT! Tour 2009
25.09.2009
Nürnberg, Germany - Arena Nürnberger Versicherung
Attendance: approximately 1.000 fans
Try-Out Match
Absolute Andy defeated Murat Bosporus.
Singles Match
Jay Lethal defeated Sheik Abdul Bashir.
Singles Match. Awesome Kong defeated Taylor Wilde.
Singles Match
Hernandez defeated Rhino.
Tag Team Match
Beer Money Inc. (James Storm & Robert Roode) defeated The British Invasion (Brutus Magnus & Doug Williams).
TNA X-Division Title Match
Samoa Joe (c) defeated Suicide.
Six Man Tag Team Match
Abyss & Team 3D (Brother Devon & Brother Ray) defeated Main Event Mafia (Booker T, Kurt Angle & Scott Steiner).
2009 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off tonight’s show with a look back at last week’s episode of Smackdown when Teddy Long tried to avoid the Undertaker only to learn that Taker is now a limo driver.
We are live on tape from Tulsa, Oklahoma and your announcers are Jim ‘Home is where the Heart is . . . unless Vince McMahon is here to insult me’ Ross and Todd ‘I had Sam Bradford in my Heisman pool’ Grisham.
CM Punk comes to the ring and he addresses the people of Oklahoma. Punk says that he gets it. He says that they have destroyed billions of brain cells with their excess consumption of alcohol, prescription and over the counter medication, as well as other substances that they shove into their bodies. Punk says that he brings it up because he thinks that they have forgotten his accomplishments. Punk reminds us that he is the only three time Straight Edge World Champion in WWE history. He is the only man to win back to back Money in the Bank matches at Wrestlemania. He is the man who got rid of the Charismatic Enabler from this company forever. Punk says that runs a close number two to his crowning achievement. He used his Anaconda Vice to make the Undertaker tap out. Punk says that he did it and he did it without drugs, alcohol, or help from anyone else. Punk says that he wants anyone in a position of power to come out and treat him with the respect that he has earned both as the face of Smackdown and the poster boy for the entire company. He says that he deserves to know his opponent now that he defeated the Undertaker. Punk says that there isn’t anybody left.
There is a low droning noise and the lights go down and then the arena is drowned in a shade of blue as a casket is brought to the ring by some druids. Punk gets a chair as he prepares for the Undertaker to emerge. Punk hits the defenseless casket and then Punk opens the casket and he thinks it might be the Undertaker. Instead it is Teddy Long and he is bound and gagged.
Punk gets the mic back and he tells Teddy that he thought it was someone else. Punk says that Teddy looks like he has been on a bender. Punk helps Teddy into the ring and then he unties Teddy’s wrists.
Teddy takes the mic and he says that effective immediately the Hell’s Gate is no longer banned. CM Punk will defend his title next Sunday against the Undertaker at Hell in a Cell in a Hell in a Cell match. Punk cannot believe what he is hearing. Teddy is not done. He tells Punk that he will face the Undertaker tonight on Smackdown. Teddy rolls out of the ring and then staggers to the back.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that if you are older than 55, you probably watched something else than Smackdown last week.
We see footage from last week’s match between Finlay and Dolph Ziggler.
Match Number One: John Morrison and Finlay versus Mike Knox and Dolph Ziggler
Finlay and Ziggler start things off and they lock up with Finlay applying a side head lock followed by a shoulder tackle. Finlay with a slam but Knox tags in and Finlay does not realize it and Finlay with a reverse atomic drop and clothesline to Ziggler. Knox hits Finlay from behind with a boot and then he punches and kicks Finlay. Ziggler tags in and he punches Finlay followed by a splash into the corner. Ziggler gets a near fall. Ziggler with a reverse chin lock as we go to commercial.
We are back and Knox is now the one wearing down Finlay with a chin lock. Finlay with a jaw breaker but Knox with a clothesline that adjusts Finlay’s jaw. Ziggler tags in and Knox keeps Finlay from making the tag. Ziggler with a leaping elbow drop but Finlay with a double leg take down but Ziggler gets Finlay in a chin lock and Morrison tries to make the tag but falls inches short. Knox tags in and he hits a leg drop on Finlay and gets a near fall. Knox with a reverse chin lock and he works on Finlay’s back. Ziggler tags in and he kicks Finlay in the chest and punches him. Ziggler with a snap mare and near fall. Ziggler with a drop kick for a near fall. Ziggler keeps Finlay from making the tag and Ziggler with a body scissors to add to the reverse chin lock. Ziggler misses a splash in the corner and Knox and Morrison are tagged in. Morrison with forearms and a kick followed by more punches. Morrison with a boot to Knox and then Morrison goes up top for a rana. Morrison with a leg lariat followed by the standing shooting star press but he can only get a two count. Morrison with a forearm and then he punches Knox in the corner until Knox pushes him off and Knox with a bicycle kick and Morrison goes down. Knox sends Finlay to the floor with a forearm. Morrison with the springboard spin kick and gets a near fall. Ziggler breaks up the cover. Knox tries for the cross body on Morrison but Morrison moves and Knox wipes out Ziggler. Knox has Morrison in the corner and Finlay uses the illegal shillelagh on Knox and then Morrison with the corkscrew split legged moonsault for the three count.
Winners: Finlay and John Morrison
We go to the back where Cryme Tyme is with Eve and Slam Master J. J is told that in order to be down with Cryme Tyme and Eve, he has to prove himself. They give him some spray paint and they tell him to go into Teddy’s office with it. J says that ‘he got this’. J emerges and he has a few DVDs. Teddy Long walks into his office behind them and then Cryme Tyme and Eve leave.
Teddy asks J if he defaced his office. J admits to doing it and he asks Teddy what is he going to do about it. Teddy tells J that he has a match and J will find out who it is.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Slam Master J versus Kane
Kane with a kick and J responds with punches and a drop kick that have no effect. Kane with an Irish whip and running clothesline into the corner followed by a side slam and a choke slam for the three count.
Winner: Kane
After the match, we see Cryme Tyme and Eve watching on the monitor and they are speechless.
Vince McMahon is walking in the back and he is stopped by CM Punk. Punk asks if Vince is going to allow Teddy Long to do what he is doing to him. Vince tells Punk that him, Teddy, and that referee should have thought about the consequences of his conspiracy. Teddy wishes Punk luck tonight. We go to commercial.
We are back and Vince McMahon comes to the ring. Vince thanks everyone for the warm Oklahoma reception. Now it is time for Vince to insult the people of Oklahoma and then he focuses on the number one son of the state, Jim Ross. Vince invites everyone to next week’s celebration of a Decade of Smackdown. Vince mentions some of the people who have made their way through Smackdown and who are no longer in the company. Vince also mentions some current superstars. Vince says that next week Degeneration X and John Cena will be on Smackdown.
Vince introduces the man he personally signed to Smackdown. This person reminds him a lot of himself. He is an aggressive man and a handsome son of a gun. Vince says that this man will be a future WWE Champion. Vince brings out a man who likes Oklahoma as much as Vince and that is Drew McIntyre.
Drew gets the mic from Vince and he says that he would like to say that he is surprised but he is not. There is nobody on the roster who can match his unlimited potential and aggression. Since Teddy is too busy to pay attention to what has been transpiring on his show over the last few weeks, it has taken the Chairman of the Board to sign a real superstar to Smackdown. Next week is the Decade of Smackdown celebration and they will be celebrating the greats like The Rock and Steve Austin. Every week thereafter, it will be about Drew McIntyre. Drew says that there will be a big party in his honor and all of the members of the roster will be welcoming him to Smackdown. Drew says that the party has just begun.
R Truth comes out through the crowd and he asks ‘What’s Up’ to the people of Tulsa. Truth tells Drew that he wants to welcome him to Smackdown. Truth’s welcome means a double leg take down and punches as referees come to the ring to separate them.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Smack of the Night: Chris Jericho confronting Batista last week on Smackdown followed by their match.
Match Number Three: Batista versus Big Show with Chris Jericho
They lock up and Show pushes Batista away and then he yells at Batista. They lock up again and Show pushes Batista to the mat this time. Batista throws his elbow pad at Show and then Show punches Batista but Batista with punches and he tries for a shoulder tackle but Show knocks Batista down with a shoulder of his own. Show chokes Batista with his boot and then he punches Batista. Show with a chop and then he has some words for Show. Batista with punches but Show with a clothesline. Show with a punch to the midsection. Show tries for a big boot but Batista moves and Show is caught in the ropes. Batista with a flying shoulder that sends Show over the top rope to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Jericho has taken off his jacket at ringside. Show with a reverse chin lock. We see footage of Jericho interfering to allow Show to hit a spear. We return to live on tape action. Batista with a jaw breaker and then Batista is caught in a bear hug. Jericho provides Jim Ross with some suggestions for commentary. Batista tries to escape the hold but Show with a waist lock. Show with the step over leg lariat for a near fall. Show returns to the waist lock to work on the abdomen and ribs. Batista with elbows and punches. Show with an Irish whip but he charges into a boot. Show with a slam to Batista and then Show goes to the turnbuckles for an elbow drop from the second turnbuckle but he misses when Batista moves out of the way. Batista punches Show but Show with a knee and Irish whip. Batista moves on the charge and Batista hits a cross body. Batista tries for a Batista Bomb but Show is too big. Show has Batista for a choke slam but Batista with a take down and then he clips Show and applies an ankle lock. Jericho comes into the ring and Batista with a spinebuster and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Batista by disqualification
After the match, Jericho is put in the ankle lock and Jericho taps like it matters.
It is time to take a look back at the video package that started the show when Undertaker kidnapped another man.
Vince and Teddy are in the office and Vince asks Teddy about his appearance. Teddy says that he has been to hell and back. Vince wanted to know why they conspired and Teddy tries to explain his actions. Vince wants to know where ‘it’ is. Vince wants to know where his picture is. Teddy says that his picture is here but it is not finished and he did not want to put it up until it was finished. Teddy says that it didn’t have the right frame. Vince says that he wants to see his picture. Teddy shows Vince the vandalized picture and Vince tells Teddy that if he messes with him, he will make hell look like Sunday School. Vince leaves and Teddy looks like he is going to cry.
We go to commercial.
We are back with footage from John Morrison and the Miz’s appearances on Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader.
Match Number Four: JTG with Shad and Eve versus David Hart Smith with Tyson Kidd and Natalya
JTG with a few drop kicks and Smith goes into the corner. JTG with a version of an X Factor for a near fall. Smith with a kick and short arm clothesline. Smith kicks JTG and the referee tells Smith to get back. Smith with a power slam for a near fall. Smith drops JTG to the mat from a fireman’s carry position and then Smith with a bow and arrow. JTG with a punch to Smith but Smith sends JTG into the corner and hits a shoulder. JTG with a knee and kick followed by punches. JTG with the flip shoulder tackle followed by a clothesline and a block buster. Smith with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot. JTG with a leg lariat from the turnbuckles but Natalya puts Smith’s foot on the ropes. Eve attacks Natalya and Shad pulls her away. Kidd with a running drop kick to JTG on the apron. Smith with a Saito Suplex for the three count.
Winner: David Hart Smith
We go to footage from the match between Batista and Big Show that saw some interference by Chris Jericho.
We now go to Josh Mathews in the interview area and he is happy to have Batista with him, but first a commercial.
We are back and Todd and JR talk about next week’s Decade of Smackdown Celebration.
Josh is now ready to receive Batista. Josh says that Batista is going to challenge Jericho and Show for the tag titles. Show says that his partner is one of his best friends and a former World Champion. Batista says that Jericho and Show will not have the titles much longer because he has their number and his partner’s number is 619.
Match Number Five: CM Punk versus Undertaker
Punk is backed into the corner and he escapes Taker’s grasp. He isn’t so lucky the second time and Taker with punches to Punk followed by an Irish whip but he runs into boots from Punk. Punk with kicks to Taker followed by punches and more kicks. The referee pulls Punk out of the corner and then Taker throws Punk over the top rope to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Punk with a kick and side head lock. Taker with a shoulder tackle and then he throws Punk over the top rope one more time. Taker goes out after Punk and Punk returns to the ring first but Taker avoids a kick from Punk. Taker tries to pull Punk out but Punk stays in. Taker drops Punk on the top rope and then Taker with a forearm across the chest and a kick. Taker goes to the apron for a vintage leg drop. Taker works on Punk’s ribs and then he sends Punk back into the ring. Taker with a punch and a kick followed by more punches. Taker works on the arm and it is time to go Old School but Punk stops Taker and then Punk with a roundhouse kick to the head. Punk with elbows on the turnbuckles and then Taker knocks Punk off the turnbuckles. Punk with head butts and then he hits a superplex but Punk barely gets a two count. Punk with knees to the back followed by a kick. Punk with a leg drop and then he gets a near fall. Punk with a figure four head scissors. Taker escapes the hold and has Punk by the throat. Taker has Punk set for a choke slam attempt but Punk with kicks to the leg and Taker goes down. Punk punches Taker but Taker punches back. Punk with kicks that are met with punches by Taker. Punk goes down and then Taker sends Punk into the turnbuckles. Taker with an Irish whip followed by a splash in the corner. Taker with snake eyes, a big boot, and leg drop for a near fall. Taker sets for a choke slam but Punk with a roundhouse kick to the head and Taker goes down. Punk crawls between Taker’s leg and that is mistake number one. Taker locks in Hell’s Gate but Punk gets to the ropes. Punk takes the belt, but Taker punches him and then Taker throws the belt into the ring. Taker rearranges the announce table and then Taker sets for Last Ride onto the table, but Punk escapes the hold and then he pushes Taker onto the announce table and Punk gets back into the ring before the ten count, but Taker is not so lucky.
Winner: CM Punk by count out
2010 - Jay Lethal defeated The Amazing Red to win the X-Division championship at a TNA event in Rahway, NJ.
2010 - Bret Hart returned to a WWE ring within the confines of Madison Square Garden for a "Bret Hart Appreciation Night" event as part of a Smackdown house show. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
World Wrestling Entertainment returned to Madison Square Garden with a Smackdown show that also imported Raw stars and Bret Hart for "Bret Hart Appreciation Night", held almost 13 years to the day Hart last appeared at a WWF event in MSG.
*Kofi Kingston pinned WWE Intercontinental champion Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler came out with a mic saying he had just defended the belt and since he only has to every 30 days, the bout was a non-title match. The crowd was behind Kingston in a major way. Ziggler shoulderblocked him down and locked in a sleeper but Kofi flipped Ziggler over. Ziggler retreated to the floor. When he returned Kofi cleaned house with a series of rights but wiped out when leaping towards Ziggler in the corner. Ziggler locked on a rear chinlock but Kingston came back and rolled him up for a two count. ZIggler nailed Kingston with a rolling snap mare for a two count, then scissored him as he worked Kingston on the mat. Kofi fought back and began nailing chops and a dropkick. He went for Trouble in Paradise but it was blocked. Kingston drilled Ziggler with a kick and then got a near fall after a beautiful high cross bodyblock. Kingston nailed the Boom Drop. He set up for Trouble in Paradise but Ziggler nailed him with an inverted suplex for a two count. Ziggler locked in the sleeper. Kingston fought his way out and then reversed it. Ziggler ran for the turnbuckles and drilled Kofi into it. Kofi came back with the Trouble in Paradise and scored the pin, but no title change. Real good back and forth opener. The fans were really into the near falls.
*Ring announcer Tony Chimmel introduced WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel, who came to the ring. Finkel welcomed everyone to the show and put over the Bret Hart Appreciation Night. He noted they would showing clips of Hart's famous moments from MSG as well as a special ceremony in the ring.
*They played a Bret Hart video package.
*WWE Tag Team champions Cody Rhodes & Drew McIntyre defeated Chris Masters & MVP. Drew and MVP started off. Drew caught him in the corner with a series of kicks. MVP came back with a knee to the back of the head for a two count. The frazzled Drew tagged in Cody. Masters tagged in and bounced his pics. Yep, that's what he did. He controlled Cody, running him headfirst into the buckles and chopping away at him. Rhodes came back with a kick to the face when Masters put his head down. He and Drew doubled on Masters. Masters finally tagged out and MVP cleaned house on Drew and Cody. Rhodes powdered out of the ring and McIntyre was hit with the Ballin' Elbow. Rhodes returned to the ring but was tossed out. Drew kicked MVP in the face and covered him but Masters broke it up. Rhodes tagged in and nailed MVP with a gourd buster for a two count. McIntyre tagged in and worked over MVP. The fans rallied MVP but Drew cut him off. Cody and Drew tagged in and out getting heat on MVP. Rhodes locked in a rear chinlock but MVP came back with the Electric Chair. Masters made the hot tag and worked over Rhodes with a high backdrop. Masters nailed a spinebuster and then cinched in the full nelson. Drew went to break it up but Masters let Rhodes go and caught him instead. He let Drew go and MVP nailed a clothesline over the top. Masters turned into the Cross Rhodes and was pinned. Not a bad match at all. The last few minutes were good.
*They aired a clip of Bret Hart winning his first WWF Intercontinental championship from Mr. Perfect.
*Alberto Del Rio pinned Chavo Guerrero . Rio, who was making his MSG debut, did some mic work talking about the history of the Garden, putting himself on the same level as Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano. He said he can't believe he came all the way from Mexico to find MSG is a dump and called his opponent, Chavo Guerrero, A "fake Mexican." Chavo put Del Rio's scark on Tony Chimel to mock him Del Rio got mad and chased Chavo, who's a babyface tonight, around the ring. Chavo goofed around early but Del Rio shoved him back. Guerrero nailed a dropkick. Del Rio tossed Chavo out but Guerrero returned and used a double leg takedown to pepper him with punches. Del Rio walked around on the outside and teased walking out. He returned right before nine, only to be dropkicked again and clotheslined. Del Rio cut off Guerrero with an enziguiri, which sent Chavo to the floor. He placed Chavo's hand against the rail and stomped it, then tossed him back in for a one count. Del Rio locked in an armbar. Del Rio controlled Chavo's arm. Guerrero made a comeback with several rights and a dropkick, then a flying head scissors. Del Rio went for a dropkick but missed and went through the ropes. Chavo nailed a plancha to the tope. Chavo nailed a flying bodypress for a two count, then hit a tornado DDT out of the corner for a two count. Del Rio cut off Chavo with a DDT. Del Rio set up for a superplex but Guerrero fought him off and hit a frog splash but Del Rio grabbed the ropes at the last second. Del Rio threw him shoulder first into the post twice, then circled him into the cross armbreaker for the submission. Another real good bout.
*They showed Bret defeating Yokozuna for the WWF championship at Wrestlemania X. Before the video, Finkel mentioned Hart's bout against Owen Hart, which got a nice round of applause.
*Kelly Kelly and Melina defeated WWE Divas champ Michelle McCool & Layla El. Melina and McCool opened. Kelly Kelly tagged in with a top rope sunset flip then began beating McCool's head into the mat. She knocked Layla off the apron but was kicked in the face by McCool. LayCool began using nefarious means to control the bout. Layla controlled Kelly with head scissors. McCool tagged in and drilled Melina to prevent a tag. LayCool continued working over Kelly. Melina made the hot tag and cleaned house on Layla. Melina went to slingshot into the ring but was pulled off and slammed facefirst into the apron by McCool. Kelly went to help but was clotheslined. Hornswoggle hit the scene and chased McCool around the ring but Layla attacked him. They tossed him in the ring but he Hulked Up, shaking the ropes like Ultimate Warrior. Before anything could happen, the babyfaces hit the ring and double clotheslined the heels and scored the pin. Layla got in Hornswoggle's face pointing so he bit her hand then her behind. McCool got in his face so he stomped her foot and hit a stunner. Big pop. Horny celebrated with the babyfaces and they all left. Match was solid.
*They played a video of Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin at the 1996 Survivor Series.
*Mark Henry pinned Jack Swagger. Swagger tried to lift Henry for a takedown which failed. Swagger powdered out and roamed around the ring to get heat. When he returned, Henry clobbered him then pressed and dropped him. He went to hit the Earthquake splash but Swagger moved and scored a two count. Swagger began beating Henry across the back and took his knee out from behind. Swagger nailed several Vader splashes off the ropes. Swagger kicked Henry off the apron and onto the floor, where Henry mounted a comeback and shoved Swagger into the apron. Swagger cut his leg off and began dropping knees across it. He locked in a step over toehold. Henry began kicking Swagger off but Swagger rolled him into the anklelock. Henry finally kicked him off but was was hobbling as he mounted his comeback. Henry slammed Swagger then rebounded off the ropes with a splash. He went for the World's Strongest Slam but his knee went out. Swagger went to the ropes and dove but was caught and hit with the WSS for the pin. It was about what you would expect.
*They brought out Ashley Valance, who showcased several pieces of WWE Merchandise as they were shilled, then tossed some shirts out.
After intermission, they had a ceremony honoring Bret Hart. Howard introduced Jerry Lawler, and the Hart Dynasty to take part. Finkel said it gives him a great pleasure to introduce Bret Hart, saying Bret was unequivocably was the "Best there was, best there is and the best there ever will be." Hart received a deserved standing ovation.
Finkel noted that tonight was the first 13 years that Bret graced The Garden (if you ignore the Rangers game a few days ago). They presented Bret with a photo of Bret and his mother, a photo of Bret posing with Owen Hart and a photo of Bret and his brothers. There was a huge "Owen" chant.
Madison Square Garden then presented Bret with a New York Rangers jersey with the number to commemorate the year Hart returned to the Garden. The fans chanted "Thank you Bret." Nice classy moment.
Bret Hart took the mic. He said 13 years was a long time and he doesn't think there was another city of Arena he missed more than NYC. He knew years ago he would return one more time to thank his fans because they were the best.
The Nexus' music played and out came Michael Tarver, Heath Slater and. Tarver said there was a problem and that was no one invited the Nexus. He said they were the best that ever will be. He said he wanted to offer Bret the gift of safety tonight and gave Bret a chance to join the Nexus. They went right into the match.
*Bret Hart & The Hart Dynasty defeated the Nexus with Jerry Lawler as the special guest referee. It was the first match in MSG for the Nexus. Tyson Kidd and Heath Slater started out. Kidd controlled and he and Smith tagged in and out working on Slater. Slater tagged Justin Gabriel who got caught with a scoop powerslam for a two count. Hart tagged in and began working over Gabriel's arm. He locked in an armbar and a flipped Justin over and tagged Kidd. Natalya slapped Gabriel when he went near the ropes. Kidd rebounded off the ropes with a dropkick. Gabriel missed a spinkick but sent Kidd over the top to the floor. Slater controlled Kidd when he returned. Kidd fought out of a rear chinlock as fans chanted "We want Bret." Kidd nailed an enziguiri (barely) but Tarver tagged in and controlled Kidd. Kidd battled back but was cut off and mauled in the corner. Kidd came back with a dropkick and tagged Bret. Bret worked over Slater with punches, then whipped him into the corner. Bret nailed Gabriel off the apron. He nailed Slater with an inverted atomic drop and elbow, then nailed a backbreaker and an elbow off the ropes. Slater went for a kick but Bret caught him and went for the Sharpshooter. Slater raked his eyes and went for a high knee but Bret moved and Slater nailed Tarver on the apron. Smith tagged in and cleaned house. Bret kicked Gabriel in the back as he rebounded off the ropes. The Dynasty went for the Hart Attack on Gabriel but Slater hit the scene so Kidd hit a springboard dropkick on him. Hart tagged in and locked in the Sharpshooter for the submission.
The Harts celebrated but the Nexus attacked the Dynasty, tossing them out of the ring. They cornered Bret and punched out Lawler but Lawler made the save punching out Tarver and Gabriel. Bret clobbered Slater and Lawler hit the fistdrop off the ropes. Bret then locked in the Sharpshooter on Slater, who furiously tapped. Bret and the Harts took a long time greetings fans at ringside after. The match was decent and Hart did more than anyone should have expected from him, but it was all secondary to the happy ending of Bret returning victorious to MSG. That ending was a classy, great moment. Kudos to all involved.
*Big Show pinned CM Punk. Punk took the mic and said hello to New York City. He said that instead of telling everyone about the cesspool they live in, he wants to tell them about a better place, Chicago and was going to tell them in the form of a song. He began singing about the Second City, getting some heat for it. Big Show's music cut him off. Punk mouthed off to a lot of fans at ringside as Show came to the ring. Show went to chop Punk, who ducked and went for some kicks. They were deflected and Show shoved him away. Punk went to the apron, then returned asking for a test of strength. He went to kick Show but got caught. He failed trying to slap him and Show chopped him in the chest, then squeezed Punk against the corner and stinkfaced him. Show slammed Punk and walked over his chest. Show chopped Punk in the corner hard. Punk tried to escape but Show held onto his trunks and Punk ended up running in place. Show continued the chop assault, then backdropped Punk. Show went for the chokeslam but Punk raked his eyes. Punk went on the assault, raking, punching and kicking Show, who kept shoving him off. Punk finally got him down and went for a pin but Show pressed him off with a one count. Punk got on Show's shoulders for a sleeper hold. Show fought out and flipped Punk off, then clotheslined Punk and hit a back splash in the corner. Punk came back with a chop block, taking out Show's leg. Punk went for the springboard clothesline but was caught in mid-air and chokeslammed Punk, then nailed the KO punch for the pin. Match was OK. Punk worked really hard with his antics. Punk took a backwards bump through the ropes to the floor afterward as he was "dizzy and dazed" from the KO.
*WWE World champion Kane in a New York Streetfight. No Paul Bearer. Big pop for both. Taker attacked Kane right away and they went to the floor. Taker drilled him with a chair. Taker placed Kane against the ringpost and nailed him with shots. The fans chanted for Taker. Back in the ring, Taker continued to work over Kane until Kane grabbed the ring mic and hit him with it. Kane kicked Taker out of the ring and back to the floor. Kane beat Taker on the floor, slamming him into the ringpost. Kane continued beating Taker with bodyshots and knees to the midsection in the corner until Taker grabbed him by the goozle. Taker went for the chokeslam but Kane nailed him and hit one instead. Kane whipped Taker in the corner but Taker came out with a clothesline. Taker nailed Kane with a punch as he draped him across the apron. He nailed the guillotine legdrop. They battled in the aisle. Kane reversed a whip into the stairs. He tossed Taker back in the ring and began stomping him. Kane dropped an elbow on the hamstring and tied up Taker's leg. He continued the assault on Taker's leg, slamming it into the ringpost. Taker began fighting back but Kane cut him off. He grabbed the ring bell and slammed it across Taker's legs. Kane ascended to the top and nailed a clothesline for a two count. Taker tried to trap Kane in Hell's Gate but Kane slipped out. Kane and Taker slugged it out with Taker finally getting the better of the exchange. Taker ducked a clothesline and nailed the heat seeking missile. He nailed a big boot to Kane's face but went down selling the knee. Kane ducked a goozle and grabbed Taker in one. Taker grabbed Kane as well and went for a chokeslam but Taker was kicked low. Kane chokeslammed Taker for the pin. Decent main event. Interesting to note that the younger fans were way into everything in the match since the feud is fresh to the new generation.
Notes: The video packages were a great way to make the night unique and special...Hart's last appearance in MSG saw him defeating the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels to retain the WWF title in a dark main event of a Raw taping...They had a special T-shirt commemorating Hart's return...The show marked the first time in years WWE did not sell out MSG...They were selling signed Kofi Kingston photos for $15...WWE will have a Raw taping on 11/1 at the Nassau Coliseum and a 12/30 Smackdown house show at the IZOD Center, both of which were being pushed during intermission.
2010 - Dragon Gate USA taped a PPV in Chicago, IL. Matt Carter filed the following live report:
This is my 3rd DGUSA show at the Congress and just like the last 2 shows, I hit NASTY traffic on the way. I arrived during the last match of the “Bonus” portion
Bonus Card –
Tha Soul Touchaz with C Red beat 3 guys from the tryout.
Guy next to me said the Soul Touchaz were fun to watch. I’ve seen them at IWA shows and they are fun
Silas Young won the 3 way but I didn’t ask who he pinned.
Arik Cannon beat Kyle O’Reilly.
It was a good match, but no where near that 4 way from the last PPV..but that would be awfully hard to do.
Main Card for PPV:
The show started with a video package countdown to the PPV. It was hard for me to see on the stage. The countdown ended and BxB Hulk’s music hit
Hulk comes out to a nice pop and has a single dancer with him. Its one of the two girls from the last Chicago show, and I think it was Dempsey’s sister. She walked out with Hulk but was acting bored and didn’t do any dancing at all. Hulk shoved her out of the way to do his moonsault and when he landed the dancer hit him with a low blow from behind. Out comes Moxley and Tozawa. Tozawa started to work over Hulk as Mox and the dancer celebrated and walked to the back as out came Mike Quackenbush and the match started.
BxB Hulk beat Mike Quackenbush and Akira Tozawa with a clean pin on Tozawa.
After the match, Hulk celebrated and took the mic. It wasn’t real clear, but I think he said he’s coming after Kamikazee USA and taking them out one by one.
I heard some familiar music, and out came Tha Soul Touchaz with C Red. C Red grabbed the mic and said while there are a lot of great tag teams in Dragon Gate, the best tag team in the world is from right here in Chicago. He put out an open challenge to any tag team. I love C on the mic…he was great. Out came Brody Lee. Brody grabbed the mic as C Red ran off and said he didn’t need a partner because he is a team.
Brodie Lee beat Tha Soul Touchaz
The three guys got in some offense and looked good but Brody was just a beast and destroyed everyone including C Red. That guy is a monster. Not sure if this was 3 on 1 or 2 on 1...Brody said on the mic that he wasn’t done and was coming for a Japanese man later.
Shingo beat Dragon Kid wih CIMA
I wasn’t sure of this match because Shingo is a brawler and hard hitter and Kid is the flyer type, but this match was AWESOME. It might be my favorite Dragon Kid match of DGUSA and Shingo looked great too. I really liked this one a lot. Dragon Kid did everything he possibly could to counter but just couldn’t out match Shingo’s power. I’d say 80% of the crowd was behind Shingo. He’s been over in Chicago since his match with Danielson. It took tons of near falls and 2 of Shingo’s finishers to get the win. Amazing match…must see kinda stuff.
Intermission
Several of the DGUSA guys like BxB Hulk were signing and meeting fans in the lobby. Highspots were there. Lots of DVDs for sale everywhere. One interesting note, on the past 2 Chicago shows they announced a return date with tickets on sale. Not the case tonight. When I asked, I got a story about DG having 3 shows already planned this year….so they might not be coming back to Chicago and that would be a real shame.
Jon Moxley with dancer chick beat Jimmy Jacobs in a Chicago street fight
Mox is in the ring when Jacobs comes out. He is wearing the white suit coat stained in blood. His hair is nuts and he is wearing a chain. He gets on the mic and warns Mox that “one time in Chicago I even hung a man upside down and drank his blood in this jacket”. Took it off (the jacket) and threw it in the ring. He said “That was in the past, though. Also in the past, I used to be a little Berzerk” Then tore off his pants to reveal trunks with “HUSS” on the back and some fuzzy boots. People seemed to get the HUSS thing, but I was clueless. Match started on the stage and went through the crowd then into the ring. Jacobs took 2 huge spikes of his boots and Mox reached for something too….Jacobs hit him with the spike and Mox did a VERY obvious blade job. The brawl was pretty good and then in came Yamato to help out Moxley and Brody Lee came out to run him off to the back. Mox got control of Jacobs and covered his head with the blood stained white jacket and wrapped the chains around his neck…beat on him with a chair and got the pin. Good match…can’t wait to see where the Jacobs and Brody Lee thing goes…if it does.
Chuck Taylor beat Drake Younger, Johnny Gargano, and Rich Swann.
Fun match. Taylor and Gargano worked together for a while and then turned on each other. Rich Swann has something special and looked good. Drake got rammed head first into the steel guard rail early in the match. He got cut up bad. Think it was hard way cause it was a huge, nasty gash all around his head.
Richochet and CIMA with Dragon Kid beat Speed Muscle (Yoshino and Doi).
The OTDGC Belt is HUGE on Yoshino! This match was about one thing, making Richochet a star. It was different for me, as usually when I see Richochet he is the best in the match and in this case he was being carried to a great performance. These three guys really made him look great. Im not sure if it was a 450 or what that he did as a finisher but it was AMAZING. A clean pin, right in the middle of the ring on Naruki Doi. I was shocked. The place went NUTS! CIMA got on the mic after the match and said how incredible Richochet was and lead us all in a “Holy Sh@t” chant for Ricochet. He and Dragon Kid looked ultra impressed. CIMA got cut off as Johnny Gargano came out. Gargano even put over Richochet with out an incident…interesting. CIMA then got back on the mic and named Richochet the new member of Warriors International. Very Very cool.
Bryan Danielson beat Yamato
Bryan came out to that awful Star Wars theme from WWE. The crowd also did a good “You’re gonna get your fu$&king head kicked in” chant. This was a really good match and a whole lot more than I expected. I thought Danielson would be really safe, I was wrong…he even did a huge dive into the crowd. Bryan teased the “I’ve got til 5” bit several times…then finally did the line…that drew a “That was awesome” chant. Bryan won the match with his new WWE finisher. After the match, he thanked the crowd and said he’s not the biggest guy and never will be…he’s also not a superstar…he is a wrestler and is proud to make a living being a wrestler. Jon Moxley then came out to ruin the party but BxB Hulk came out to make the save. Bryan got back on the mic and said he’s not going to wrestle Moxley in Milwaukee…”I’m gonna kick his fu^%ing head in so come and watch me do it” Then we got the Final Countdown and went home happy.
Crowd didn’t seem as hot as the last two shows, but that might have been my seat. Crowd also didn’t seem as big as last couple shows at the start, but seemed to get bigger as it went along. I’d say around 500 people. Overall very fun show with 3 killer matches but nothing that doesn’t kick the sh$t out of EVERYTHING on TV now. Can’t wait to get up in the morning and make the 4 hour drive to Milwaukee.
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