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December 30th
On this day in history ...
1952 - Ben and Mike Sharpe win the San Francisco version of the NWA World Tag Team Title for the seventh time, defeating Fred Atkins and Ray Eckert.
1955 - Henry Lenz and Kurt Von Poppenheim defeat Bill Savage and Buck Weaver to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.
1966 - Paul Jones defeats Tony Borne for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, ending Borne's seventh reign and beginning his second.
1968 - Bobby and Lee Fields defeat The Mighty Yankees (Frank Morrell and Eddie Sullivan) in Memphis, Tennessee to win the Mid-America version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Title.
1972 - The Sheik defeats Bobo Brazil for the Detroit version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Detroit, Michigan. This ended Brazil's fifth reign and began The Sheik's third.
1972 - Verne Gagne and Bill Robinson defeat Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens for the AWA World Tag Team Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1975 - Black Gordman and Goliath defeat Rock Riddle and John Tolos to win their 10th NWA Americas Tag Team Title.
1978 - Terry Funk defeats Dick Slater for the NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Title in St. Petersburg, Florida, ending Slater's third reign and beginning Funk's second.
1978 - Dick Murdoch defeats Buck Robley in Kansas City, Kansas for the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title.
1984 - The WWF ran at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The results were:
- Angelo Mosca, Jr. (making his WWF debut) pinned Goldie Rogers.
- Bret Hart defeated Terry Gibbs.
- Mike Rotundo defeated Swede Hanson.
- Barry Windham defeated Rene Goulet.
- Tony Atlas defeated The Spoiler.
- Andre the Giant and Blackjack Mulligan fought Ken Patera and Big John Studd to a double disqualification.
- Jimmy Snuka pinned Bob Orton, Jr.
1984 - Terry Taylor defeats Eddie Gilbert to win the CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Gilbert's second reign.
1985 - The WWF held an event at Madison Square Garden before 20,225 fans. The results:
- Special Delivery Jones pinned Ron Shaw with an inside cradle.
- Jim Neidhart and B. Brian Blair fought to a 15-minute draw.
- Hercules defeated Jose Luis Rivera by submission with a backbreaker.
- Adrian Adonis pinned Lanny Poffo after a bulldog.
- Randy Savage defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan by countout.
- Big John Studd pinned Tony Atlas with a flying bodypress.
- The Haiti Kid pinned Butch Cassidy with a reverse roll-up.
- Jim Brunzell pinned Bret Hart with a backslide.
- WWF Tag Team Champions Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine defeated Hillbilly Jim and Uncle Elmer, when Beefcake pinned Elmer.
1985 - Bill Dundee defeats Jerry Lawler for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee. This began Dundee's ninth reign and ended Lawler's 36th.
1985 - Tim Horner wins the Southeastern version NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Title for the second time in Birmingham, Alabama, defeating Ken Timbs.
1986 - Dos Caras defeats Canek to win the UWA World Heavyweight Title, ending Canek's sixth reign and beginning his own second.
1988 - Cactus Jack defeats Eric Embry for the World Class Light Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas, ending Embry's fourth reign.
1988 - Makhan Singh (Mike Shaw) and Vokhan Singh (Gary Albright) defeat The British Bulldogs (The Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith) to win the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta, ending the Bulldogs' second reign.
1989 - King Cobra defeats Jerry Lawler to win the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Lawler's third reign.
1989 - The Lethal Weapons (Dennis Condrey and Doug Gilbert) defeat Phil Apollo and Vic Steamboat (subbing for Eric Sbraccia) for Apollo and Sbraccia's International Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in Augusta, Maine, ending their second reign.
1992 - Big Van Vader defeats Ron Simmons in Baltimore, Maryland to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.
1994 - The first-annual CMLL Torneo Gran Alternativa is held in Mexico City, Mexico. The tournament features eight teams, each pairing an established veteran with a relative newcomer. Negro Casas and Hector Garza won the tournament, defeating Satanico and Archangel de la Muerte in the finals.
1997 - As part of the "NWA Invasion" angle in the WWF, on RAW is WAR in New Haven, Connecticut, Jeff Jarrett defeats Barry Windham to win the NWA North American Heavyweight Title.
1998 - Sam Muchnick, longtime promoter of the St. Louis territory, and president of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1950 to 1960 and 1963 to 1975, which he had a hand in founding, dies at age 93. Muchnick's St. Louis Wrestling Club promotion produced the legendary show "Wrestling at the Chase", which aired locally on Saturday nights.
1999 - Tim White defeats Ricky Murdock for the NWA Southern Television Title in Dyersburg, Tennessee.
1999 - Warlock defeats Billy Fives to win the Future of Wrestling International Title in Davie, Florida. At the same event, FP&L defeat Wildside (Anthony Michaels and Jeff Roth) for the FOW Tag Team Title, ending Wildside's second reign.
1999 - Kid Ego defeats Mikey Whipwreck to win the Hardcore Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Title.
2000 - Christopher Daniels defeats Donovan Morgan in the finals of the first-ever King of the Indies Tournament, held by All Pro Wrestling in Galt, California. Daniels and Morgan would become the first ROH Tag Team Champions two years later.
2000 - Mark Wolf wins his second IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Title, defeating Paul E. Smooth in Charlestown, Indiana, ending Smooth's day-long second reign. At the same show, Cash Flo also ended Ian Rotten's eighth reign as IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion.
2001 - The X Wrestling Federation held an event at the Brown County Arena in Green Bay, Winsconsin. The results:
- Greg Valentine defeated Hail.
- Drezden defeated Big Vito.
- XWF Cruiserweight Champion Kid Kash defeated Josh Mathews.
- British Storm defeated Norman Smiley.
- Jim Duggan defeated The Wall.
- Buff Bagwell defeated Curt Hennig and Vampiro in a Triple Threat match.
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) defeated XWF Tag Team Champions The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags).
2001 - The Elements of Suicide (Cinna and Onix) defeat The Damned (Draven and Matthew Storm) to win their second Power League Wrestling New Tag Team Title in West Warwick, Rhode Island. That same day, Johnny Angel won the PLW Heavyweight Title from Dr. Heresy.
2003 - At a SmackDown! taping in Laredo, Texas, Rey Mysterio wins his second WWE Cruiserweight Title, ending Tajiri's second reign and third overall (he held one during the WCW/ECW Invasion). This began Mysterio's seventh Cruiserweight Title reign overall.
2003 - Steve Williams defeats Terry Taylor in Guangzhou, China to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title.
2005 - IWA Mid-South held its third-annual Revolution Strong Style Tournament in Streamwood, Illinois. The results:
- Trik Davis defeated Claudio Castagnoli.
- Samoa Joe defeated Tank in a Revolution Strong Style Tournament first round match.
- B.J. Whitmer defeated Corporal Robinson in a Revolution Strong Style Tournament first round match.
- Chris Hero defeated Ian Rotten in a Revolution Strong Style Tournament first round match.
- ICW/ICWA Tex-Arkana Television Champion Larry Sweeney defeated Colt Cabana and Delirious to retain the title.
- IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Jacobs defeated Bull Pain by disqualification.
- Mickie Knuckles defeated NWA Midwest Women's Champion Daizee Haze in a non-title match.
- Necro Butcher defeated Eddie Kingston in a Revolution Strong Style Tournament first round match.
- IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Champion Tyler Black, Marek Brave and Matt Sydal defeated Josh Abercrombie and Brandon and IWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion Vito Thomaselli in an elimination match.
- Chris Hero defeated Samoa Joe in a Revolution Strong Style Tournament semifinal match.
- Necro Butcher defeated B.J. Whitmer in a Revolution Strong Style Tournament semifinal match.
- Chris Hero defeated Necro Butcher to win the Revolution Strong Style Tournament.
2005 - Jeff Lewis defeats Slim J. for the NWA Anarchy Television Title in Cornelia, Georgia, beginning his second reign. At the same show, Pomp and Circumstance (Ace Rockwell and Shaun Tempers) defeat The Urban Assault Squad (Shadow Jackson and Nemesis) to win the NWA Anarchy Tag Team Title.
2006 - Steve Greene defeats Brass Munkey for the Carolina Wrestling Federation Mid-Atlantic Television Title in Burlington, North Carolina.
2006 - Jon Moxley defeats Brian Jennings, J.T. Stahr and Matt Stryker in a four-way match to win the vacant Heartland Wrestling Association Heavyweight Title in Dayton, Ohio.
2006 - Kilo defeats Tank in Dyersburg, Tennessee for the New Blood Wrestling Heavyweight Title.
2007 - Ring of Honor held Final Battle 2007 in The Manhattan Center in New York City with the following live report:
*Bobby Dempsey, who was super over, pinned Mitch Franklin.
*Jigsaw and Ruckus defeated Bobby Fish and Matt Cross in a fun opener.
*Larry Sweeney, who unsuccessfully tried to get out of the match, pinned Claudio Castagnoli after Daniel Puder laid out Sweeney's bad leg. Tank Toland tried to finish the job but was nailed with Ricola Bomb.
*Jack Evans pinned the Necro Butcher in a No DQ Match. Mercedes Martinez debuted, attacking Lacey, which allowed Evans to roll up Butcher. Really fun match including Evans hitting a sunset flip powerbomb off the apron to the floor and Butcher giving Evans a backbreaker across two back to back chairs facing away from each other. Martinez is the newest member of the Vulture Squad.
*In an excellent back and forth wrestling match, Naomichi Marufuji pinned Davey Richards with sliced bread #2. Richards hit an incredible dive out of the ring, taking out Marufuji and landing in the third row. Awesome stuff.
*Dave Prazak and Lenny Leonard filmed an opening for a ROH Videowire.
*In a No DQ Tables Are Legal Match, The Hangmen Three defeated Kevin Steen & El Generico & Delirious when Adam Pearce hit a piledriver off a table placed in the top turnbuckle through a tabke on Delirious. Luke Williams hit the ring and did the Bushwhackers battering ram with Delirious and did the march around the ring with all the babyfaces. Pelle Primeau returned from injuries sustained at the hands of the Hangmen Three to hit a top rope Frankensteiner through a table on Shane Hagadorn. The Hangmen drilled Steen and Generico with spike piledrivers after the match.
*Rocky Romero defeated Ernie Osyris via tapout.
*ROH champion Nigel McGuinness came out and cut a promo saying he doesn't remember his match last night and teased forfeiting the belt. He then said he was keeping the belt because of the fans who supported him and understand his sacrifices and in spite of the fans who don't understand.
*Erick Stevens pinned Roderick Strong to win the FIP championship. *In a Four Way to determine the top contender to the ROH title, Bryan Danielson defeated Austin Aries via submission in a bout that also featured Takeshi Morishima and Chris Hero. Eliminations saw All three pin Morishima. Aries pinned Hero. Awesome bout.
*The Age of The Fall, Tyler Black and Jimmy Jacobs defeated ROH Tag Team champions The Briscoes to win the belts in an excellent match.
2008 - WWE released Barry Windham from his role as a producer for the company.
2009 - Former UWF and All Japan Triple Crown champion Steve "Dr. Death" Williams lost his battle with cancer, passing away at the age of 49.
2009 - WWE debuted at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY with what would be their final live event of the 2000-2009 decade. Matt Besieda filed the following results:
Live Report from the last WWE Show of the Decade, The Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY Supershow
Howard Finkle was out first to warm up the crowd.
ECW champ Christian beat Shelton Benjamin in a Babyface vs. babyface match
Triple Threat MVP vs. Swagger vs. Miz, who had a huge amount of heat, for the U.S. title. Miz picked up the Win.
Then a Santa's Little Helper Divas match, which the babyfaces won..
Kane Defeated Big Show, who had a big pop,
Drew McIntyre won with a clean pin over John Morrison, Both were impressive)
Batista over Rey Mysterio in a Falls Count Anywhere bout. Batista must of got hit with a hard shot, because he had a lot of color in and around his right eye.
DX & Kofi over Legacy. A great six man. On Live TV you cant really build a hot tag as much due to time contrasts, but live is awesome. Interesting note -, All members of Legacy had their trunks pulled down by DX at one point, something they probably wouldn't be able to get away with on PG television.
Cena over Sheamus via DQ. Cena sold most of the match, Sheamus has so great moves but he is quite green as he botched a few of them. Cena thanked the fans and talked about it being the last WWE of the decade.
2010 - News broke locally in Philadelphia that former CZW champion Nick Gage was being sought in a New Jersey bank robbery. Gage, real name Nick Wilson, was sought by New Jersey authorities after surveillance cameras caught Gage leaving a Collingswood, New Jersey PNC Bank on 12/22 after handing a female bank teller a note demanding money under the threat of shooting her with a gun. Gage escaped on foot with $3,000 and later went to a casino in Atlantic City, NJ. Gage eventually turned himself into authorities and plead guilty, citing a painkiller addiction as being a factor in why he robbed the bank. Gage is currently serving a prison sentence.
2010 - TNA broadcast Impact. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
We look back at last week's Foley-Flair confrontation where Foley wanted to prevent the upcoming Ken Anderson-Matt Morgan match for fear of Anderson's well being and then Flair and Eric Bischoff called him out as a hypocrite for making his living doing the kinds of stuff that causes injuries like Anderson's.
We then head into the Impact Zone where Mick Foley comes to the ring to address the crowd. He asks Anderson to join him in the ring, which he does, and then Foley reminds him of when they met some years back and were with an injured serviceman at the hopstial with Miss America, and Miss America meant to say they can take a picture of her with the serviceman and then she can take a picture of them with the serviceman, but what she ended up suggesting was that they do her first and then she can do the two of them together. The point is they both understand the nature of the wrestling business and the biggest lie he ever told in his career, one he told over and over, was that he was okay, and what he needed was someone to tell him that he wasn't okay. So he's here to tell Anderson that he's not okay, and to think of his family and the future little assholes he and his wife will have, and he's here to tell Anderson to think twice before he gets in the ring with Matt Morgan. Anderson thanks him and the people, and he respects Mick and his opinion, but he finds it offensive that he's doubting Anderson and calling him a liar. He's been checked out and medically cleared to wrestle Morgan, and Foley says he doesn't think he's not ready, but he also doesn't think Anderson's thinking of his future. Anderson thanks him for setting the bar so high, and Foley says that he knew what he was getting into when he was diving off of stuff in the 80s, but the fact is that once you mess your brain up, you mess it up for good. Anderson says Foley's not listening to him and is still calling him a liar, and says that if you can't get along, get it on. Matt Morgan comes out to the ring (to a loud Morgan chant), and he asks Anderson if this is going to be two guys going at it to prove who's the best, or if it's another Anderson con game. One of the first things Morgan learned in this business is that you can't trust anyone, and Morgan says that when the bell rings at Genesis, it's going to be on, and it doesn't matter to Morgan whether or not he's at 100% because he'll have no choice at that point but to go through him and go on to the TNA World Title. Anderson reminds Morgan that he's dealing with an asshole, and he's going to do whatever he has to in order to go through him and get to Jeff Hardy. Anderson says nobody's listening to him so they don't have to wait until Sunday, and the two of them get ready to fight when Jeff Hardy's music hits. Whoa, are they going to let him talk?!? Hardy says that he's the one who gave Anderson and gave him a concussion, and he could have hurt him permanently if he wanted but he didn't because he's a professional and he knows what he's doing. Both of them are ready to wrestle, so Hardy's making a tag match tonight with the two of them on opposite sides and Hardy has chosen their partners.
We go backstage to Eric Young, who is dressed as Moses and making up his own Commandments, including that Thou shalt have booze, Thou shalt have donuts, and Thou shalt have the greatest party ever. Orlando Jordan comes in and reminds him that he's not Moses, he's supposed to be Father Time, and that he himself is the Baby New Year, helpfully dressed in a giant diaper with a sash over his shoulder. I know I shouldn't admit this as a somewhat credible internet writer, but I can't help but get a chuckle out of these two.
Tonight: Sarita takes on Velvet Sky in a strap match, the latest installment of the Double J MMA Challenge, and Matt Morgan and Ken Anderson face each other with mystery partners chosen by Jeff Hardy!
Let's go to the ring for our first match...
Robert Roode vs Chris Sabin
Hammerlock reversal sequence to start, Sabin does a fancy flippy escape but Roode gets a headlock, Sabin fires him into the ropes and Roode hits a shoulderblock. Roode off the ropes again and Sabin gets a pair of armdrags and an armbar. They go to the corner and Roode hits a chop, but Sabin dodges a second and hits some chops of his own, then leapfrogs Roode and gets another armdrag into an armbar. Roode fights his way out but gets tossed to the apron and Sabin baseball slides Roode's legs out from under him and then hits a dive to the floor. We see James Storm and Alex Shelley watching the action from the floor as Sabin rolls Roode back into the ring and covers for 2. Sabin gets the boot up on a Roode charge, goes to the apron and tries a springboard something, but Roode catches him in a fireman's carry and dumps him backward on his face and that gets Roode a 2 count. Sabin tries a sunset flip and only gets 2 and Roode rips his head off with a hard clothesline for 2. Roode gets a chinlock as they plan out their next several spots, Roode picks him up and goes for a suplex but Sabin slips out the back and takes Roode down with a series of running forearms and a flying headscissors off the second rope. Sabin with a springboard clothesline from the apron for 2 and then they fight over a waistlock, Roode gets an O'Connor Roll with the tights for 2, Sabin reverses to a rollup of his own for 2, then hits a spinning enziguiri for 2 again. Sabin with a running Yakuza kick in the corner and then he goes up top for a springboard tornado DDT, but Roode blocks and hits a spinebuster for the clean win.
Winner: Robert Roode
Roode points at Shelley as he comes in to check on his partner and motions that they're taking the title at Genesis.
Rob Van Dam is backstage saying that tonight he's wrestling a mystery opponent and it doesn't matter who it is unless it's Jeff Hardy, because all he wants is to get Hardy in the ring and nothing else matters to him.
We go back to Orlando and Eric Young's party, and Young is sitting on Orlando's lap and Orlando is asking Eric to read his Christmas list to him again. Eric says he's already read it to him several times and he's not sure how this is going to make them a better team, when suddenly we hear the glass break and here comes the Rattlesnake himself...SHARK BOY! He says that this is a great party, especially since it gets him on TV because he's never on TV anymore, and then asks Eric if there's anything he can do to get him on TV more since he's tight with Bischoff. Orlando Jordan suggests sitting on his lap and reading him his Christmas list, and Shark Boy sits on Orlando's lap, then decides that he needs more beer first so he leaves. Eric says he's drunk already, and they need to keep their eye on him because he drinks like a fish. This stuff is just too much.
We go back to the ring as Rob Van Dam comes out for his match, and he says that we get it, it's clear that he's in charge of TNA...for the time being. That's why he's out here now waiting on his mystery opponent. It's nothing he can't handle so he will handle it, and he'll tell him that there's no stopping Rob Van Dam until Bischoff puts him in the ring with Jeff Hardy, and that's why he's the Whole F'n Show. Here comes his opponent...
Rob Van Dam vs Robbie E
Well, that's a bit underwhelming. RVD gets a big chant from the crowd and Robbie E fist pumps in RVD's face so RVD does the Rob Van Dam pointing thing and then kicks him in the face. Robbie tries a kick of his own and RVD dodges and spinkicks him, beats him up in the corner, and monkeyflips him damn near across the ring. Robbie tries a hiptoss but RVD with another big kick and goes for Rolling Thunder but Cookie grabs the ankle and sets Robbie up to hit a clothesline and then nail a series of punches and cover for a 2 count. Robbie with a rear chinlock, RVD fights his way out and gets a jumpkick off the second rope and now hits the Rolling Thunder (splash variety) and then the Five Star Notebook Splash for the win.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
RVD celebrates, but wait a minute, Jeff Hardy's on the screen! If RVD wants revenge, that's what he'll get...in due time. First, he has to beat an opponent that was carefully chosen for him at Genesis, and if he survives then he'll get his hands on Hardy.
We go backstage to Sarita, who is appalled that Velvet Sky is challenging her to a strap match tonight, and what she did to Velvet in the locker room last week will be nothing compared to what she'll do to her tonight.
Frankie Kazarian comes out with a couple of chicks and says that Hogan, Bischoff, and Flair have put a bounty on every title in TNA, so at Genesis, he's going to take the TNA Title from Jay Lethal. I'll assume he meant the X-Division Title. He's going to talk about Lethal's history and why he is the way he is (and we see video clips from the Lethal background piece from a few weeks ago throughout this monologue): he talks about Lethal's childhood home and how he was so poor his folks had to bring the garbage in. The front door and back door were on the same hinge, and it wasn't just Jay that was raised in this crackhouse (his words), there were a whole clan of cretins raised there, like his brothers Keenan Ivory and Damon Lethal, and his sisters Whitney and Beyonce Lethal. He blames Jay Lethal's mother for all this because she is so fugly, rancid, and disgusting that she...well, she fits in with everyone here at the Impact Zone. Jay Lethal has finally had enough and tears down to the ring to go after Kazarian, but Kazarian whips out a telescoping baton and cracks Lethal in the face with it.
We go backstage as Mick Foley steps into Eric Bischoff's office and Flair yells at him to knock on the door, but Foley says that they put Anderson and Morgan in a tag match and won't tell them who their partners are going to be. They're messing with Anderson's head and he demands that they tell them who their partners are so they can prepare as professional wrestlers. Flair says that Foley shouldn't even be here and he should have him locked up for even being here. Flair kicks Foley out, and Foley says they can make whatever match they want because he'll be at ringside watching, and Flair warns him not to get hurt while he's at ringside.
Strap Match: Velvet Sky vs Sarita
Sarita stalls while Velvet yells at her to put it on, and finally Sarita attaches the strap to her wrist and the match starts. Sarita immediately bails to the floor but Velvet yanks her off her feet and goes out after her, and Sarita gets up and rams her into the apron and then starts whipping Velvet with the strap. Sarita rolls Velvet back in the ring and ties her wrists with the strap and starts dragging her from corner to corner. Sarita gets to 2 before trying (and missing) an elbowdrop. Velvet is revitalized and gets a couple of strap clotheslines and then uses the strap to trip Sarita and the strap comes free from Sarita. Referee Jamal Jackson (or whatever his name is) reattaches it, and Velvet goes right back to whipping Sarita and then chokes her with the strap, using it to hang Sarita over her back as she goes from corner to corner with Sarita touching each corner right behind her. Finally when we get to the fourth corner Sarita puts on the brakes and yanks Velvet across thering by the strap and touches the fourth corner for the win.
Winner: Sarita
Sarita attacks Velvet with the strap again after the match until Angelina Love runs in to make the save. Velvet picks herself up and yells at Angelina to just leave her alone.
We go back to Orlando and Eric's party, which now includes Shark Boy (who is saying that he technically works for TNA, but part of that is being on TV and he's never on TV) as well as Brian Kendrick, who wants Eric to show him some of his stick fighting moves. Eric lashes around and knocks stuff over, and Orlando reminds him that he's not allowed to poke guys with his staff, and then asks if the girls will ever show up, and Eric says that of course they will because he created this party and he's Moses.
We go to commercial and when we come back, we see that during the commercial break Velvet was having a fit about losing to Sarita again and walked out. We now go backstage where Angelina finds Sarita and kicks her ass for screwing with her friend. Sarita fights back and rams Angelina into the stairs, but Winter comes out of nowhere and drags Sarita off, sending her packing, and then goes to check on her partner.
We see a video package looking back at the year 2010 in TNA, and then we see Jeff Jarrett, who is backstage, and he's...WALKING!
We go elsewhere backstage as Doug Williams says he's got a tag match but no partner. As luck would have it, Brutus Magnus is in his locker room and is dressed to wrestle, and he comes out and tells Doug that he's been there for Magnus since day one and he'll be his partner tonight.
Okay, it's time for everybody's favorite segment of the show...
Double J MMA Challenge
Jarrett comes out, gets VASELINE RUBBED ON HIS FACE, and gloats about how quickly he tapped Red out last week and told him he did a good job, but needs a tougher challenge and asked Red if he has any relatives that can give him a challenge and Red said he has a little brother, so he tells Red to bring his brother out here now. Red comes out by himself and Jarrett invites him into the ring and says that he's not going to hurt him like he did last week, and that his baby brother probably has stage fright as he would if he had to fight himself, but he says he'll turn his back and give him the first shot, just get him out here. Red motions to the back and here comes...a big freaky looking version of Amazing Red. He stands behind Jarrett and taps him on the shoulder and Jarrett does the classic turn around and "oh crap" look.
Bell rings and Jarrett circles him warily before tying up and taking him to the ropes. Red #2 shoves him off and they start neutral again before tying back up and Red #2 takes Jarrett down in a flash with a Fujiwara armbar and Jarrett goes right to the ropes. Another neutral start and Jarrett shoots a single leg but Red #2 blocks and takes Jarrett down and gets a leg lace. Jarrett goes to the ropes for the break and immediately goes back after Red #2 and drills him in the head with punches, but Red #2 sits out and gets an ankle lock. Gunner & Muffin drag Jarrett out to the floor to safety and Red goes after them. Jarrett grabs the guitar and slips back in the ring in the confusion and the bell rings, I guess because this got so out of control. Red comes in and grabs the guitar and smashes it, and Jarrett bails to the floor and backpedals up the rampway yelling at Red #2 as he backs up the ramp. Red #2 gets a "thank you Brother" chant.
We go back to Bischoff's office after the commercial as Jarrett is suggesting to Bischoff that they not allow the tall, lanky guys into the Double J MMA Challenge anymore due to their being prone to injuring themselves getting in the ring. He also says that these should be framed as just exhibitions (with Bischoff responding "ah, like Thunderlips, right?"), and they also need a waiver that they need to sign. Bischoff says he likes it, but he looks less than impressed.
Time for our next match...
AJ Styles & Rob Terry vs British Invasion
British Invasion does the handshake and everything on the rampway as Taz reminds us that Rob Terry was the third member of the group, but it wasn't exactly like the Beatles. You know, we never did get that Terry-Magnus blowoff match, so this has been a long time coming. Magnus and AJ start and AJ goes right to a kick to the gut and a side headlock, but Magnus fires him into the ropes and gets a hiptoss and a full bodyslam, buy AJ goes to the eyes and tells Magnus that he wants Williams. Magnus obliges and tags Williams in and they circle one another for about two second before AJ tags Rob Terry in. They tie up and Terry powers Williams into the corner and then hits a pair of shoulderblocks to the ribs in the corner and chokes Williams with his boot. You know, after Williams and Magnus spent months running this guy down, how did he end up playing the heel in the situation? AJ begs for the tag and Terry tags him in, and AJ goes right for the Styles Clash but Williams quickly escapes and rams AJ into his own corner. AJ tags back out to Terry, who comes in and picks Williams up for a big delayed bodyslam and then tags AJ back in. AJ whips Doug into the corner and tries a Stinger Splash, but Doug dodges and hits an Exploder suplex. Williams tags Magnus and now Magnus comes in and cleans house on AJ, taking him out with a big backdrop. AJ tries a leapfrog out of the corner but Magnus catches him and gets a Davey Boy Smith-style powerslam and covers, but Terry breaks it up and chokes Magnus in the corner. Williams comes in and they double team Terry, but AJ with a springboard forearm takes Williams out and then he hits the Chaos Theory on Magnus for the win.
Winners: AJ Styles & Rob Terry
Madison Rayne is backstage, and she's...WALKING!
We go back to the party as Tara comes in with Generation Me while singing Broken. Orlando Jordan tells them that they can only come in if they take their shirts off. GenMe do as the Romans do, and then OJ starts to dance with Tara, setting off a brawl between OJ and GenMe. Brian Kendrick tells them all to stop because he has a message...and then realizes it's just gas and says nevermind. They go back to fighting.
Back to the ring, as Madison Rayne comes out to the ring, escorted by a bunch of dudes in tuxes. They form arches with their arms that she walks under, and then falls into their arms as they carry her to the ring. This whole episode of Impact is really just so bizarre. They carry her to the ring and place her on the apron so she can get in the ring and hold up her hand as they all walk past and kiss it one by one. Madison screams at So Cal Val to get on the apron and hand her a microphone. Madison tells everyone to drink it in because she has something very important to say right now SO SHUT UP. As she was saying, when she put on this $79,000, Vera Wang, one of a kind dress, she was just as speechless as they allSHUT UP! She knew she had to come out here to all her adoring fans and little people and show them how beautiful she is. She is their champion because she knows that they all want a champion full of class and elegance and all things perfect, and not some backwoods, cornfed, frumpy, flannel wearing, hardcore country slut. Now that does it, them's fighting words. Hardcore Country starts playing and Mickie comes strolling out, and Madison tells the cowgirl to come on in. Mickie grabs the microphone out of Madison's hand and tells her to shut up, and then suckerpunches Madison. Well, that's not very ladylike. Mickie gets a few clotheslines and then tears Madison's Wang off. Madison, now left in nothing but her undies, runs to the back in horror.
Matt Morgan is backstage, and he's...WALKING!
But before that main event starts, we go to a promo from Morgan as he talks about how he's had Hardy beaten twice now, but because of goofy stuff happening, it didn't happen and if there's an uncrowned champion in TNA, it's him. Now we go to Jeff Hardy who says that he is evolution, and he is the TNA World Champion. Now Ken Anderson says that he respects what Hardy's done, and if the fans appreciate what he does and want him as their champion, then fine, but he listens to the fans when Hardy's out there and he doesn't think they want that. Hardy says he doesn't care what the fans think.
We go outside the building where Pope is talking to someone at a kennel about getting a couple of pitbulls for the kids in his neighborhood. The guy warns them that they don't make good family pets, but Pope is undeterred so the fellow takes Pope on inside.
Back to the Impact Zone as Mick Foley joins Mike Tenay and Taz at the broadcast booth, and then it's main event time!
Ken Anderson & ?????? vs Matt Morgan & ??????
Anderson's partner is announced as Brother Ray after his entrance, and then Morgan comes out and is soon joined by...Brother Devon! Yep, saw that one coming. Devon starts, but Brother Ray refuses to get in so Anderson starts. Devon keeps yelling at Brother Ray to get in the ring and Anderson goes for the tag, but Ray pulls his hand away and walks away from him and drops off the apron. Meanwhile, Eric Bischoff comes out to the top of the ramp and sends Gunner and Muffin over to remove Foley from the booth. Foley starts to leave peacefully, but attacks them and uses Mr Socko to go after Muffin. Gunner hits Foley from behind with a baton and handcuff him and haul him out. While all that was going on, Brother Ray tagged himself in and nailed Devon from behind and started drilling him with rights and stomping him in the face. Ray with an elbowdrop and then continues the assault with more rights and a neckbreaker, then turns to the crowd and yells "I told you he was weak!" while pointing at Devon. Ray tags Anderson in and he walks right into a chinbreaker and then Devon tags Morgan as Anderson tags right back out to Ray. Ray nails Morgan and tags Anderson and pulls him into the ring. Anderson yells at Ray, then turns around and kicks Morgan in the gut and hits a DDT for 2. Anderson comes off the second rope but Morgan goozles and chokeslams him and goes for the cover, but Ray breaks up the fall. Devon chases Ray out of the ring and around ringside and goes face to face with Morgan and Morgan goes for a roaring clothesline, but Ray ducks and Morgan nails Anderson. Morgan hesitates for a second, then covers Anderson for the win.
Winners: Matt Morgan & Brother Devon
Morgan tries to help Anderson up but Anderson shoves him off and yells at him before sliding out of the ring to close the show.
Very interesting episode this week, in many ways. Some interesting booking with the way the main event was put together and the latest developments in the Double J MMA Challenge, and we also got some of the most bizarre stuff we've seen on Impact all year with the Eric Young/Orlando Jordan holiday party and Madison Rayne's...coronation? Interesting to watch at the very least.
2011 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
What will happen tonight when Wade Barrett tries to unleash the Barrett Barrage on Randy Orton one more time? Will it be any different when they battle in a Falls Count Anywhere Match? Will the Barrage return to the garage?
We are live on tape from Indianapolis, Indiana and your announcers are Michael ‘Thinks he could do a better job at quarterback for the Colts’ Cole, Josh ‘I miss the Indianapolis Racers’ Mathews, and Booker ‘Racing in the Indianapolis 5 Times 100’ T.
Booker is not at the announce table and he makes his way to the ring. Booker says that he wanted to say something before everything started. He wants to thank the WWE and its fans for making 2011 a great year for him. It started at the Royal Rumble and it made it a night that he will never forget for the rest of his life. Then he wanted to move on to the commentary booth where it has been fun, except for dealing with Michael Cole.
Booker turns his attention to Cody Rhodes. Cody did everything he could to drag him back in the ring. He did not jump Cody from behind. He beat Cody in the middle of the ring. Booker says that everyone is responsible for that.
Booker tells everyone to enjoy the final Smackdown of 2011 and then he wants to start digging, but . . .
Cody Rhodes interrupts with his music.
Cody says that the people of Indianapolis don’t read the newspapers or keep track of current events unless it involves turning left on a racetrack or the once proud, now pathetic Indianapolis Colts. If we are recapping the year, Cody wants to recap his year.
He overcame a career threatening injury to defeat Rey Mysterio at Wrestlemania. Then he brought honor and prestige back to the Intercontinental Championship. He does not want to offend Booker, but he talks about taking a washed up announcer and got him to reach back and regain some of his former glory.
Booker wants to correct Cody. He says that on Monday he beat Cody in the middle of the ring. If Cody had any respect for the business, he wouldn’t be running his mouth. Cody would be congratulating Booker on doing a good job.
Cody thinks about it and says that Booker is absolutely right. Since this is the last show of the year, he does not want to come off as a bitter jerk. He is a better man than that. He congratulates Booker and then he offers his hand to Booker.
They shake hands and Cody tells Booker that this is all over as Booker walks out of the ring.
Booker wants to know what Cody is saying. Cody says that the fairy tale is over because Booker is a nostalgia act. He is in no man’s land. Booker’s deteriorating skills will be revealed. If Booker goes back to announcing, his legacy as an in ring competitor will slowly become one where he is considered a semi-literate buffoon of an announcer. Cody calls Booker a ‘joke’ and he tells Booker to do him and everyone a favor and go home.
Things get golden in the building and Dustin Runnels makes his way to the ring and he confronts his brother on one side of the ring and his former ‘At The Movies’ co-host on the other.
Dustin tells Cody that he is sorry. He says that he loves his brother but he says that Cody is doing this the wrong way. He tells Cody that he has no respect for Booker. He tells Cody that when he was battling his demons, the person who inspired him was Booker T. Dustin tells Cody to look at him. When he thought it was all over, Booker took him under his wing and he had the best time in his career as a team. He tells Cody not to make a name at Booker’s expense. Dustin tells Cody that he knows that this is wrong.
Cody says that when he didn’t think there could be a bigger joke than Booker T, out comes his brother to come out and try to prove him wrong. Cody doesn’t care about inspiration because these people are not worth inspiring. He wants to know if Dustin said that Cody knows better. Cody says that he restored the Rhodes name after Dustin threw up all over it. As soon as Booker stopped teaming with Dustin, Dustin fell back into those same demons and moved into obscurity.
Booker stops Cody and he tells Cody that Goldy is more man than Cody will ever be. It ain’t about Goldy or him, it is about Cody. They each have one win so why not do it one more time. This time, the title will be on the line. Booker wants the match now.
Cody says that he will agree to one more match, but next week. After he beats Booker, Cody says that Booker can follow his brother into complete irrelevancy.
Booker says that he is going to celebrate. All of the people in this arena are going to celebrate. Him and Goldy are going to celebrate because he will become the new Intercontinental Champion. Now Booker gets to dig and call Cody a sucka.
Booker takes his place at the announce table and Dustin tries to calm Cody down. Cody kicks Dustin and then hits Beautiful Disaster on Dustin. Cody leaves the ring and Booker checks on Dustin.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage from a few weeks ago when Ted DiBiase beat Heath Slater, only to have Jinder Mahal attack Ted after the match.
While Jinder Mahal walks to the ring, we go to the Goldman Box for comments from Mahal. He talks about the false New Year’s Resolutions that people make because they are stuck in mediocrity, just like Ted DiBiase.
Match Number One: Ted DiBiase versus Jinder Mahal
They lock up and Ted with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Ted with a front face lock and he punches Mahal. Ted with a hip toss and punch. Mahal with a hot shot followed by a high knee for a near fall. Mahal with an STO and then he hits a knee drop to the throat and the referee stops Mahal from choking Ted. Mahal with a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Mahal with a cravate followed by knees.
Mahal with a quarter nelson and chin lock but Ted with a punch. Mahal with forearms but DiBiase with a drop kick and rebound clothesline. Ted runs into a boot in the corner but Ted with a sit out spinebuster for a near fall. Ted goes to the top turnbuckle and he leaps over Mahal but Ted lands awkwardly. Mahal with a flatline and then he sets for the Camel Clutch and Ted taps out.
Winner: Jinder Mahal
Teddy Long is in his office and he talks about his New Year’s Eve party and as he talks about what he is going to have at his party, the saxophones play and the blue lights come on and Aksana makes her way into the office with her own noisemakers. Aksana say that she so happy for New Year’s Eve Party. She has special gift for her special Teddy Bear. Teddy says that he cannot wait.
Drew McIntyre enters to the dismay of Teddy. Drew says that he heard Teddy wanted to talk to him. Teddy tells us that Drew was signed back to Smackdown and he talks about their issues from the past, but he is willing to work on a clean slate. Teddy tells Drew that he did not realize how much money Drew was making. He says that Drew was one of the fastest rising stars in the WWE, but then he went to Raw and his career went into a tailspin. Teddy is not going to pay Drew that much when he cannot get the job done. Teddy doesn’t want someone on Smackdown who doesn’t have the passion. Teddy tells Drew that if he cannot beat Ezekiel Jackson tonight, he will have to think about letting Drew go.
Drew says that there is no one in this company with more passion. He is someone who can still get a guy down on his knees to beg for mercy, just like he made Teddy . . .
Teddy interrupts Drew and says that he cannot understand Drew with his accent.
Drew tells Teddy if he has any reservations about his ability to get the job done, he tells Teddy to watch his match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see Alicia’s recent winning streak over the last few weeks.
Match Number Two: Kaitlyn and Alicia Fox versus Tamina and Natalya
Tamina and Kaitlyn start things off and Kaitlyn with a cross body for a near fall followed by a drop kick and another near fall. Kaitlyn with a kick and snap mare. When she goes off the ropes, Natalya grabs Kailtyn to distract her and Tamina hits Kailtyn from behind.
Natalya tags in and they send Kaitlyn to the mat. Natalya with a kick and a near fall. Natalya slams Kaitlyn’s head into the mat and then Natalya with a Michinoku Driver but she misses a leg drop.
Alicia tags in and she leap frogs a charging Natalya who runs into the turnbuckles. Alicia with a Scissors kick for the three count.
Winners: Kaitlyn and Alicia Fox
After the match, Tamina hits Natalya with a super kick and then she goes up top for a Kin of the Superfly Splash.
We see footage from Survivor Series when Wade Barrett eliminated Randy Orton to win the traditional Survivor Series Match.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound.
We see footage from Raw when Big Show faced David Otunga with one arm tied behind his back and Mark Henry’s interference as well as Daniel Bryan’s cameo.
Daniel Bryan is in the back telling AJ what happened and Show stops by. Bryan tells Show that he was telling AJ how he saved Show on Monday night. Show thanks Bryan but it doesn’t sound too sincere. He asks AJ if he can talk to the champ alone (along with the cameras).
Show tells Daniel that giants don’t need to be rescued or saved. Bryan says that isn’t how he saw it. Since they are partners tonight, they work together tonight.
Teddy Long comes out and he says that we are not going to have the tag match tonight. Otunga wants a match with Big Show, but Teddy tells Show that Mark Henry will be in his corner.
Bryan says maybe giants need saving after all and he wishes Show luck before we go to commercial.
We go to commercial.
Hunico was in the Goldman Box earlier and he introduces Comacho. He says that they were the kings in the barrio and then Comacho says that they are going to dominate the WWE in 2012.
Match Number Three: Justin Gabriel versus Hunico con Comacho
Hunico with a kick and forearm and then Gabriel sends Hunico over the top rope to the floor. Gabriel with a baseball slide to the floor but Hunico avoids it on the apron and then he kicks Gabriel and hits an Asai moonsault. Hunico sends Gabriel back into the ring and he gets a near fall.
Hunico with a kick and hard Irish whip. He charges at Gabriel but Gabriel sends Hunico into the turnbuckles. Gabriel with a cross body into the corner and then he goes to the apron. Gabriel tries for a springboard move but Hunico moves out of the way. Hunico with a kick and forearm. Gabriel with a Blue Thunder Driver and then he goes up top but Hunico recovers and hits an arm drag from the turnbuckles. Hunico goes up top for the Falling Star and he hits it for the three count.
Winner: Hunico
After the match, Hunico catapults Gabriel onto Camacho’s back and he hits a Samoan drop while Hunico hits a swinging neck breaker at the same time.
We go to commercial.
We are back with footage from last week when Big Show punched David Otunga and forced the ring crew to change the canvas because Otunga spilled his coffee.
Match Number Four: Big Show versus David Otunga with co-counsel Mark Henry
Otunga with a waist lock and Show backs Otunga into the corner. Show with punches to Otunga and Otunga punches back and they have no impact. Show with chops to Otunga followed by a slam. Otunga rolls to the floor and Henry provides him with some encouragement and Henry tells Otunga to do it himself.
Otunga returns to the ring and Otunga with a kick to the leg and punches but Show with a shoulder tackle and Otunga goes down. Show with an Irish whip followed by a splash into the corner. Show sets for the choke slam but he sees Mark Henry out of the corner of his eye and Show turns his attention to Henry on the apron. Otunga clips Show and kicks Show. Otunga with a DDT but Show kicks out and sends Otunga to the floor.
Daniel Bryan comes out through the crowd and he hits Mark Henry with the title belt. Henry chases Bryan to the back and that allows Show to focus solely on Otunga. Show biels Otunga back into the ring and it is time for the punch and Show gets the three count.
Winner: Big Show
We see highlights from the TLC match between Wade Barrett and Randy Orton.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Ezekiel Jackson versus Drew McIntyre
They lock up and Drew with a side head lock. Jackson with a slam for a near fall and he says that he was close to winning. Drew backs into the ropes to slow down Jackson’s momentum. Drew with a kick and forearms to the back followed by a drop kick and he gets a near fall. Drew with a front face lock but Jackson reverses and he sends Drew to the mat and gets a near fall.
Jackson with punches and forearms followed by a back elbow and he gets a near fall. Jackson with a front face lock and Drew gets to the ropes. Drew with a punch when the referee was not looking and Drew gets a near fall. Drew chokes Jackson and kicks him in the chest. Drew with short arm clotheslines in the corner followed by a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall.
Jackson with a back body drop and then he hits the running clothesline into the corner a few times. Jackson with an Irish whip and side slam for a near fall. Drew with a kick to the knee followed by forearms to the back. Jackson gets Drew on his shoulders for the torture rack while Drew tried to plead his case with the referee. Drew is able to escape the hold and punches Jackson. Jackson with an Irish whip but Drew with a kick and he tries to use the ropes for extra leverage on the cover. Jackson with a rollup for the three count and Jackson uses the tights for extra leverage.
Winner: Ezekiel Jackson
After the match, Drew tries to tell the referee that Jackson cheated to win the match.
Sheamus is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Drew is in Teddy’s office saying that the referee is biased. Teddy says that he cannot stand losers, especially losers that make excuses. Drew storms off.
It is time to hear from Sheamus and he makes his way to the ring. Sheamus wants to know how everyone is doing. He says that everyone is talking about the end of 2011, but he wants to talk about the future. Sheamus brings up the Royal Rumble. He says that there will be twenty-nine people flying over the top rope with the winner getting a Championship match at Wrestlemania. Sheamus says that it doesn’t matter what number he draws or how many people he eliminates, but he is going to win the Royal Rumble.
Hornswoggle comes to the ring and Sheamus points out that it is the man who eliminated him from the Christmas Battle Royal. Sheamus wants to know if Hornswoggle is going to enter the Royal Rumble and Hornswoggle says that he is. Sheamus gets face to face with Hornswoggle and says that just because Daniel Bryan beat the Big Show for the World Title, miracles do not happen every day.
Sheamus asks Hornswoggle who he thinks will win the Royal Rumble.
Hornswoggle takes the mic and he keeps saying his name.
Sheamus takes the mic back and he tells Hornswoggle that he admires the confidence that Hornswoggle has. Sheamus then talks about his great uncle who said “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, you are begging for a kick up the arse.”
Sheamus says that he was only joking and they are all buddy buddy again.
Heath Slater makes his way out and he mentions Bushwhacker Luke, the Brooklyn Brawler, and Hornswoggle. There is always one guy who says that they are going to win the Royal Rumble, but no one takes them seriously. Heath tells Sheamus that he isn’t the number one redhead on Smackdown, he is.
Heath says that he liked Hornswoggle better when he didn’t speak and he did not like him then. Hornswoggle won the battle royal because Sheamus did not want to squash a leprechaun. Slater says that he doesn’t have that problem.
Sheamus gets in Slater’s face and he tells Slater that he has nothing against Southern Rock, but Sheamus says that Slater must see himself as a Journey type of guy. They start singing Don’t Stop Believin’. Then Sheamus tells Slater that he sees him more as an R Kelly type of guy. Slater is confused and then Sheamus tells Slater I Believe I Can Fly and he sends Slater over the top rope to the floor.
We see the footage from the Raw after TLC when Barrett sent Orton through a table.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Six: Heath Slater versus Sheamus
We join the match in progress and Sheamus works on Slater’s arm and gets a near fall. Sheamus with a key lock into an arm bar. Slater punches Sheamus but Sheamus with a back elbow and he sends Slater into the turnbuckles. Sheamus with an Irish whip and forearm to Slater coming out of the corner. Sheamus throws Slater over the top rope but Slater lands on the apron.
Slater with a slap and then Sheamus with a knee and forearms across the chest and Slater falls back into the ring. Sheamus with a slam followed by an elbow drop for a near fall. Slater tries for a backslide but Sheamus counters. Slater with a drop kick to the knees and Sheamus falls into the turnbuckles. Slater hits Sweetness and gets a near fall. Slater with a forearm to the back followed by a side Russian leg sweep for a near fall.
Slater punches and kicks Sheamus and then he chokes him. Sheamus with punches to Slater but Slater with a knee to the midsection. Slater with a drop kick followed by elbows and punches. Slater with a knee to the back followed by a reverse chin lock. Sheamus gets Slater on his back and he runs Slater into the corner. Sheamus with a few double sledges and then he hits a clothesline in the corner followed by a short arm clothesline.
Sheamus goes up top for the flying shoulder tackle and he hits it. Sheamus looks around and he sets for the Brogue Kick and hits it and gets the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
Daniel Bryan is in Teddy Long’s office and Daniel says that he thinks he is Big Show’s good luck charm. Bryan wants to know why Teddy wanted to see him. Big Show enters as well and wants to know why he is here, but at least he has his good luck charm to save him. Show says that it started off cute but it started to annoy him. Bryan says that he is getting annoyed too because Show has not thanked him once. They argue for a bit until Teddy stops them.
Teddy says that they can stop their thank yous until after next week. Since Raw has a WWE Title Match on next week’s show between CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler, Teddy is going to have to compete with them. Daniel will defend the World Title against the Big Show next week.
Show starts to laugh and he tells Bryan that he had a good run. Bryan says that no matter what happens next week, at least his title reign lasted longer than 45 seconds.
We see footage from last week when Orton and Barrett fought through the back of the arena. We go to commercial.
Match Number Seven: Wade Barrett versus Randy Orton in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
Orton and Barrett exchange punches and Orton takes control and he punches Barrett in the corner. Orton with a European uppercut. Barrett with an Irish whip and Orton comes out of the corner with a clothesline. Barrett goes to the floor and Orton follows. Barrett with punches but Orton punches back and he sends Barrett into the apron and then Irish whips him into the ring steps and Orton gets a near fall.
Orton slams Barrett’s head into the ring steps and then he stomps on Barrett’s head and gets a near fall. Orton pounds the floor for the RKO but Barrett sends Orton into the ring post and Orton holds his ankle.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we are back in the ring and Barrett punches Orton and then kicks him in the ribs. Barrett sends Orton into the turnbuckles and then he kicks Orton. Barrett gets a near fall. Barrett chokes Orton in the ropes and then he hits a series of knees followed by a running boot that knocks Orton to the floor.
Barrett gets a near fall on the floor. Barrett sends Orton into the apron but Orton punches back. Barrett with a kick and then he sends Orton into the ringside barrier. They return to the ring and Barrett gets a near fall. Orton punches Barrett and kicks him. Barrett with a big boot to the chest and he gets a near fall.
Barrett with a reverse chin lock to wear down Orton. Orton with punches but Barrett with a knee to the midsection. Barrett goes to the turnbuckles and he hits an elbow drop for a near fall. Barrett returns to the reverse chin lock. Orton punches Barrett but Barrett with a back heel kick and then he sets for the pump handle slam but Orton avoids the hold. Orton with two clotheslines and Orton avoids a clothesline from Barrett. Orton with the power slam.
Barrett gets to the floor and Orton sends Barrett over the announce table. Orton sends Barrett into the crowd and he follows. Orton sends Barrett into the ringside barrier but Barrett collides with the referee. Barrett heads towards the back but Orton follows after him and they exchange punches.
Barrett drops Orton on a catering table in the hallway. Orton sends Barrett into the top of a laundry cart and a production container. Orton sends Barrett into a table and then Orton tries to use a chair but Barrett moves out of the way.
They continue to fight into the back and the elevator arrives on their floor and Barrett tries to get away. The door does not close before Orton is able to enter. The people who were in the elevator were smart to get out of there.
Thankfully, we have high resolution cameras in the elevator and we can watch Orton and Barrett fighting as they go down. Orton punches Barrett and they have reached their destination. More people flee while the battle continues.
They have made their way down the exit ramp and we see Orton at the bottom of the stairs and Barrett looks at what he has done and he leaves.
No Contest
We go to credits with Orton holding his elbow while in a lot of pain.
2011 - TNA ran Poughkeepsie, NY. Eric Sturrock filed the following live report:
TNA IMPACT WRESTLING LIVE EVENT from Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY 12/30/11
I arrived to the Mid-Hudson Civic Center alittle before 5:30pm. Don West & Jimmy Jay were outside plugging all the merchdise things. West said the TNA talent would only sign TNA merch so he told people to buy things if you did not have anything. I already bought a TNA guide book the night before in Albany.
Everyone was let in at 5:30pm, and all had to stand for 30 minutes before the doors to the civic center were open. As I stood in the hallway waiting the TNA guy with silver/black beard watched Jimmy Jay selling stuff at Merch. People brought out food for the Food stand and you could see into the Civic Center. You could see D’Lo Brown in the ring talking to Gunner & Garrett Bischoff. The doors opened again as food was brought out. D’Lo saw the door opened and yelled for someone to shut the door. The guy with the Silver/black beard did not hear him so someone came running to the door and shut it. The guy stood at the door to make sure it stayed shut from then on.
At 6 PM, everyone was let into the Civic Center and we all gathered around the ring barrier. I had front row seats. It was the first time I ever had front row seats at a wrestling event. Don West was in the ring telling everyone to squeeze in. Coming out for autographs were Matt Morgan, Crimson, Jesse Sorenson, Austin Aires, Kid Kash, Garrett Bischoff, & Mickie James.All sign autographs and took pictures. Morgan did not take pictures. Ronnie Lang of Atlas Security & another Atlas guy watched everyone.
At 6:30 PM, Don West said that James Storm was in the hallway signing any TNA merch. I did not go out.
At 7 PM, West plugged more TNA merch and threw stuff out. The floor at the Civic Center was almost full and the stands were about 80% full. West said if you bought a A.J. Styles/Jeff Hardy two pack or a Jeff Hardy glow in the dark action figure you get to go backstage to meet them. West said you could buy a backstage pass for $50 and you get to get autographs from everyone backstage and you get to get your picture taken with Jeff Hardy after the show. West noted you could not get Bully Ray’s autograph because he does not like giving them. My Dad told West he gave him one years ago. West walked over and said to him that the real reason is Bully Ray’s sister is about to give birth and he has to leave right after his match. West told him that, that stays between them.
At 7:15 PM, West said we were going to have a bonus match of Poughkeepsie’s own Vik Dalishus & Hale Collins. West introduced the most controversial referee in history Earl Hebner. West acted as ring announcer for the opener. Their was a photographer around the ring the entire night, I think for a Poughkeepsie Journal.
Vik Dalishus vs Hale Collins. Ref Earl Hebner.
Vik played to the crowd like at Northeast Wrestling shows. Vik attacked Hale as Hale went to pose on the top rope. Match was very quick like 2-3 minutes long. Vik hit some stops on Hale in the corner. Vik hit a big spinebuster but Hale kicked out. Vik put Hale in a submission hold, Hale tried to get the crowd behind him. Hale hit a leg drop bulldog. Hale kicked Vik and Vik caught his leg the second time. Vik put Hale in the sharpshooter and Earl rang the bell right away. Earl took off his shirt which was his “Damn right I did shirt” Earl put on his sunglasses and Hale chased Earl & Vik out of the ring. Eral & Vik left with their hands raised in the air. Crowd seemed hot when Vik got the win. West told everyone to give it up for Hale.
They announced the show would start in 10 minutes. Christy Hemme came down to be the ring announcer for the show. Referee Brian Hebner came down to the ring. Hemme like last night asked if everyone was ready.
Kid Kash vs. Jesse Sorensen vs. Austin Aries(X-Division Champion) TNA X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE MATCH. Ref Brian Hebner.
Aries & Kash talked together and threw Jesse out of the ring. Nice match with a lot of fast paced action. Jesse hit a crossbody off the top rope on Kash. Aries knocked Jesse & Kash out of the ring and jumped out of the ring onto them. A lot of the same from last night. They did the 3-way sleeper hold again and Jesse hit the stunner on Kash which hit Aries. Kash kicked down Aries. Later Kash went for his finsher on Jesse but Aries broke it up. Kash went for his finsher on Aries but Jesse broke it up. The finish was the same as last night with Kash & Jesse fighting in the corner and Aires running over and kicking them and hitting a awesome looking brainbuster on Jesse. Aries ran around the ring again with the title and faking fans thinking he was going to shake their hand. Kash got in Jesse’s face after the match. Kash went to shake Jesse’s hand. Then they both gave each other the finger. Really awesome match.
Christy Hemme told us the next match would have a special guest referee.Referee Garrett Bischoff came down to the ring. Ric Flair’s music played and he and Gunner came down to the ring. Flair said to Bischoff if he knew where he was, he was in Flair country. Crowd was cheering loudly for Flair so it was kind of hard to hear him. Flair talked about how Garrett is good looking, it he was a good wrestler that lady in the front row would take him home. Flair said the lady will take him home tonight. Flair told Gunner to take his shirt off to show what a real wrestler looked like. Gunner took his shirt off and flexed. Flair told Garrett to take off his shirt, which he did. Flair told Hemme to take off her pants. Hemme laughed and said no. The crowd cheered for Hemme to strip but she did not. Flair told Hemme she can’t always be first but she could be next. Flair told Garrett he is going to call Sting when he gets backstage and get him to wrestle Gunner tonight. A fan yelled something at Flair. Flair said what do you want fat boy. Flair asked if the fan was a midget and said oh you are in the front row. The fan woo’ed. Flair said everyone can woo but. Flair and Hemme woo’ed in each other’s face. Flair & Gunner walked to the back.
The guy with white hair who in the past got the fans heated up before the show came out. He talked into his walkie talkie and moved his hands a lot like crazy and pointed Garrett to the back. Hemme told us she did not understand a single thing he said but she thinks Sting has approved Gunner/Garett tonight. Ref Earl Hebner came down to the ring. Earl looked in the crowd and pretended to go into the crowd, but the Atlas guard held him back twice. Bully Ray came down to the ring and yelled at Earl and Hemme to get out of the ring. Bully yelled at the fans calling them trash. He only taked alittle not a lot like in Albany. Some guy on the floor afew rows behind me had a video camera and was recording the show. The Atlas guard ran over and yelled at the guy to turn it off now. The fan said he did not know he could not have a video camera inside(even tho there is a big sign when you walk in “no video cameras” and that on your ticket it says “no video cameras”)
Bully Ray vs A.J. Styles. Ref Earl Hebner.
The other Atlas Security guard took Bully Ray’s hat off the apron and gave it to one of TNA’s Staff who was wearing a IMPACT Wrestling shirt. Ray yelled where was his Yankee hat. The Atlas guard said he gave it the TNA guy. Ray yelled at the TNA staff guy if he told him he could wear his hat. Ray chased the TNA staff guy and made him put the hat back on the apron. As Ray yelled at Earl, AJ put on Ray’s hat. Ray got pissed and pounded the mat and yelled for his hat. Ray knocked down AJ and got back his hat. Ray put his yankee hat on. He yelled I’m wearing my hat, I got my hat.” Back & forth stuff from them. Ray went to leave but AJ went and threw him into the steel barrier a few times. AJ went to the top rope but Bully knocked him down. Ray punched AJ afew times. Earl yelled at Ray to stop it with the right hands. Ray put AJ in a bear hug. AJ fought out and Ray tossed AJ over his head. Ray spit in the air and caught it in his mouth. AJ kept running Ray but he would not fall. AJ knocked Ray down. AJ went for something but Ray threw him down. Ray hit the Bully bomb but AJ kicked out. Ray got his chain and missed AJ, AJ hit the Pele Kick, and then a crossbody off the top rope for the win.
Crimson (1/2 TNA Tag Team Champion) vs. Matt Morgan (1/2 TNA Tag Team Champion). Ref Brian Hebner.
Crimson threw his necklace and shirt to the crowd. They locked up a few times like last night. Crimson punched and kicked Morgan. Morgan did the leapfrog leg guillotine on Crimson and smiled to the fans after he hit it. Morgan hit a leg drop on Crimson after. Morgan hit his crazy elbows in the corner on Crimson. Crimson took down Morgan. Crimson hit a spear on Morgan. Crimson went for a second spear but missed. Morgan went for a big boot in the corner but missed and Crimson rolled him up for the win. They shook hands and raised each other hands after the match.
Mickie James vs Gail Kim (Knockout Champion & ½ Knockout Tag Champion). TNA KNOCKOUT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE MATCH. Ref Earl Hebner.
Mickie James had a different outfit then she wore the night before. Gail walked around the ring with her titles and put them in Mickie’s face. Mickie shoved down Gail. Gail started kicking Mickie in the corner. Mickie kicked Gail in the chest. Mickie hit a Mick-A-Rama. Gail kept playing with the fans. Gail kept saying she was smarter then Mickie. Earl kept yelling at Gail for pulling Mickie’s hair. Mickie elbowed Gail away. Gail pulled Mickie’s hair more and laughed. Mickie kneed Gail, but Gail gain control and tried a submission hold on her. Gail slammed Mickie’s face into the mat. Gail pulled Mickie’s hair more. Mickie kneed Gail. Gail stretched out Mickie’s back in a submission hold. Gail went to knock down Mickie but Mickie rolled her up but Gail kicked out. Mickie punched Gail afew times and then hit the Thez press and some more punches. Mickie hit a crossbody and Gail rolled her over and used a big handful of tights to retain her title. Gail rolled out of the ring right away. Gail held her title in the air walking away. Gail laughed at Mickie holding her title in the air, and Mickie teased going after her and Gail ran to the back.
Hemme said we would now take a short 20 minute intermission. I ran to the hallway and was 4th in line for Gail’s autograph session. Earl & Brian Hebner were seated at the Merch stands to sign autographs if people bought Earl’s “Damn right, I did shirts”. One of TNA’s merch guys was joking that it would be $2.50 for a Gail autograph and then he joked it would only be $1.50. Jimmy Jay yelled at him to stop fooling around and to help him at the Merch booth. Gail & the other Atlas Securty guard came around the corner. The Atlas guy told everyone they could not get their picture with Gail and they had to be ready and hand their stuff to him to give to Gail. He rushed everyone in and out. Gail was extremely nice and thanked each person for coming. Too bad you could not get your picture with Gail as pictures are a lot better than autographs. I bought two of the Hebner shirts and had them sign them. I asked them for a picture but Brian said nabey after the show.
Hemme returned after intermission and the other Atlas guard ran back to his spot, so they finshed Gail’s signing a lot quicker than Mickie’s last night in Albany.
Kurt Angle vs. James Storm. Ref Brian Hebner.
Angle came down to the ring first. Storm went around the ring slapping fans hands. Storm drank his beer bottle on the top rope. Storm & Angle went to lock up and Storm left the ring. Storm got on the microphone and said he forgot to talk. Storm said he is in Poughkeepsie tonight and he knows Poughkeepsie likes to drink beer. Storm looked in the crowd and asked if there was any drinkers here tonight. Storm went to ringside and said he wants to have some beer with Poughkeepsie and pointed to the stands. Storm hoped the guardrail with the other Atlas guard running behind him. Storm went up to the 15th row in the bleachers and drank with the fans. Angle & Hebner watched from the ring. Hebner went over to Angle and they talked. Hebner played to the crowd he did not know what was going on. As Storm walked over to the other side of the civic center, Hebner put his hands over his head to look for him. Storm hoped over the guardrail and asked a fan for his beer. Storm drank the beer and dropped it on the floor. The Atlas guard kicked the cup under the ring. Storm & Angle locked up. Angle punched Storm in the face. Hebner told Angle to watch his right hand. Angle got out of the ring and picked up two backstage passes by Hemme. Kurt asked if anyone wanted to go backstage. The people went crazy. Angle walked over to someone and ripped the backstage passes up in the kid’s face. A fan yelled something to Angle, and Angle yelled back “It was reckless driving you idiot!” Angle put Storm in a sleeper hold. Storm got out of it and took Angle down. Hebner started a 10 count but they both got up. Storm knocked Angle out of the ring. Storm hit a backbreaker on Angle. Angle hit a Angle slam on Storm but Storm kicked out. Angle pulled down his straps. Angle was tunning up the band going for a kick but missed. Angle & Storm traded reversals. Storm hit a double knee facebuster on Angle into the Last Call for the win. Angle selled the kick awhile laying in the ring.
Gunner with Ric Flair vs Garrett Bischoff. Ref Earl Hebner.
Flair got on the mic and talked trash on Garrett. Earl was smiling at the fans and Flair yelled at him to look at him. Gunner yelled at Hebner & the fans. Gunner was 100 times better as a heel tonight. Flair talked to Hemme that she can be with him again. Flair yelled at the fan in the crowd again. Hebner pointed back at Gunner but Gunner yelled back at him. Flair watched Hemme leave the ring as Earl made faces at Flair. Flair yelled at some fans at ringside. They locked up and Gunner shoved Garrett and yelled in his face. Gunner yelled at the fans. Garrett got offensive in on Gunner. They traded blows. Gunner irish whipped Garrett off the ropes and Flair tripped him. Earl ejected Flair from the ring and they yelled at each other. Gunner threw Garrett into the corner. Gunner threw Garrett into the other corner. Gunner motioned to the crowd and yelled at them. Gunner went to get out of the ring to the fans but Earl held him back. A man in the crowd pretended he was going towards Gunner and pretended someone was holding him back when no one was. Earl told the fan he can’t help him anymore. Gunner knocked Garrett down and motioned to the crowd he could not hear their boos. Garrett jumped off the top rope but Gunner caught him and put Garrett over his head. Garrett reversed it and rolled Gunner up for the win. Gunner threw a fit slamming the mat.
Hemme told us it’s that time we were all waiting for(no she did not take off her pants), it was time for the main event. Robert Roode came down to the ring. Roode took the mic from Hemme. Roode said he is not defending his title tonight in Poughkeepsie. He said if everyone wants to see him beat Hardy to retain his title they would have to pay to see the PPV next week. Roode yelled at Hemme and told her the match was non-title.
Robert Roode(TNA Champion) vs. Jeff Hardy. Ref Brian Hebner.
Brian ran back and forth in the ropes like he usual does for the main event match. Brian must of forgot that Roode said it was a non-title match because he held the title up in the air and showed the fans the title as if it was a title match. Roode got out of the ring and took someone’s Jeff Hardy sign. Roode got back into the ring and held it up and ripped it up and threw it to the outside. They locked up and Roode pushed Hardy into the ropes. Roode made fun of Hardy’s dance. Hardy clapped to get the fans into it. Roode put Hardy in a headlock and yelled to the crowd. Roode shoved Hardy down and pandered to the crowd. Hardy hit a double leg drop on Roode’s chest. Hardy threw Roode into the turnbuckle. Hardy knocked Roode out of the ring and then danced around. Roode said he was leaving and Hardy ran after him and they fought back by the stage. Hardy threw Roode back into the ring. Roode begged for a timeout and then poked Hardy in the eyes. Roode knocked Hardy down and punded his feet while holding the ropes. Roode knocked Hardy out of the ring. Roode threw Hardy into the steel guardrail. Roode threw Hardy back into the ring and went for a pinfall but Hardy kicked out. Roode argued with Hebner. Roode threw Hardy really hard into the turnbuckle. Roode kicked Hardy a lot in the corner. Roode yelled at the fans. Roode hit Hardy hanging out of the ring. Roode got on the top rope and made fun of Hardy’s dance and hit a swinging neckbreaker off the tope rope. Roode worked on Hardy’s neck in a submission hold. , Hardy’s foot caught Roode when he jumped off the top rope. Hebner started a 10 count but they got up at 8. Hardy punched Roode and knocked him over. Hardy motioned to the crowd and hit a leg drop on Roode’s chest. Roode picked Hardy up but Hardy got out and brought Roode down to the mat. Hardy went for a twist of fate but Roode got out of it. Roode locked Hardy in a crossface. Hardy got to the ropes to break the hold. Roode went to give Hardy a suplex but Hardy reversed it for the win.
I left as Don West said it was time for a Hardy party in the ring.
As I walked to the car in the parking lot behind the arena. I saw Austin Aires driving with Kid Kash in the passenger seat stopped at a red light. 5 fans went up to Kash’s window and Aires & Kash signed autographs for those fans.
I went to Uno’s Pizza in Poughkeepsie after the show to get pizza to go. I saw James Storm, Garrett Bischoff, & Crimson show up and I said hi. My Dad saw them inside and they asked him if he enjoyed the show. According to my Father, Gunner was already inside Uno’s and showed Storm, Crimson, & Garrett where they were sitting. Garrett and Storm sat together, and A.J. Styles, Jesse Sorenson, Crimson, & Garrett sat together. They were watching the UFC PPV on the TVs. Storm drank beer as the others drank soda & water.
It was my 6th TNA show of 2011. I saw a Against All Odds and the two days of TV tapings that followed in Orlando, 2 live events in Poughkeepsie (March and today) as well as Albany last night. All were enjoyable shows. Hope TNA does more live events in Poughkeepsie in 2012.
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