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January 16th
On this day in history in ....
1941 - Billy Weidner defeats Jules Larance to win the Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio, beginning his second reign.
1963 - Dory Funk defeats Gene Kiniski for the Amarillo NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Lubbock, Texas, to begin his 12th reign.
1963 - Al and Don Greene defeat Jack Curtis, Jr. and Jan Madrid to win the Gulf Coast NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Mobile, Alabama.
1964 - Karl and Skull Von Stroheim win their second Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This ended Jackie Fargo and Mario Milano's second reign.
1967 - Fritz Von Erich defeats Joe Blanchard to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Fort Worth, Texas. This began Von Erich's third reign and ended Blanchard's second.
1967 - Chris and John Tolos defeat Don Leo Jonathan and Dominic DeNucci for both the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title and Vancouver NWA World Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1968 - Paul DeMarco and Lorenzo Parente defeat Ron and Terry Garvin to win the Florida NWA World Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida, to begin their second reign.
1970 - Fred Blassie and Don Carson defeat Pepe Lopez and El Medico to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California. At the same event, Rocky Johnson defeats Great Kojika for the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title.
1970 - Dick Dunn and Ken Lucas defeat Flash and Rocket Monroe for the NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Title in Dothan, Alabama, ending the Monroes' sixth reign.
1976 - Gilles Poisson defeats Frankie Laine to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta.
1977 - The WWWF holds an event at Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The results were:
- Johnny Rodz defeated Mark Tendler.
- Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Pete Sanchez.
- Doug Gilbert defeated Manuel Soto.
- Stan Stasiak defeated WWWF World Tag Team Champion Chief Jay Strongbow.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Bruiser Brody in a lumberjack match.
- Tor Kamata defeated WWWF World Tag Team Champion Billy White Wolf.
- Nikolai Volkoff defeated Jose Gonzalez.
- The Executioners defeated Special Delivery Jones and Gorilla Monsoon in a two out of three falls.
1980 - Tony Benetto defeated El Halcón to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Title in Acapulco, Mexico, ending Halcón's third reign.
1981 - Steve O defeats Kevin Sullivan for the NWA National Television Title in Atlanta, Georgia.
1981 - Ernie Ladd wins his second Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Title, defeating Jake Roberts in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1982 - The WWF holds an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Charlie Fulton defeated Tony Altimore.
- Bulldog Brower defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna by countout.
- Davey O'Hannon defeated Johnny Rodz.
- Jesse Ventura defeated Jeff Craney.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Pedro Morales defeated Killer Khan.
- WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund defeated Greg Valentine in a steel cage match.
- Tony Garea and Rick Martel defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito by disqualification. Tony Atlas was the guest referee for the match.
- Adrian Adonis defeated Dominic DeNucci.
- Larry Sharpe defeated Jose Estrada.
- Steve Travis defeated Hans Schroeder.
1982 - Jack and Jerry Brisco win their second Florida NWA North American Tag Team Title, defeating Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk in St. Petersburg, Florida. At the same event, Ray Stevens defeats Eric Embry for the NWA Florida Television Title.
1982 - Matt Borne and Rip Oliver defeat Rocky Johnson and Iceman King Parsons to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.
1983 - The Grapplers defeat Ken Lucas and Ricky Morton to win the Southwest Championship Wrestling Southwest Tag Team Title in San Antonio, Texas, ending Lucas and Morton's third reign.
1985 - Rick Rude defeats Pez Whatley for the Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida, ending Whatley's second reign.
1985 - Ted DiBiase defeats Brad Armstrong in Shreveport, Louisiana to win the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Title, beginning his fifth reign.
1985 - Alan Kilby defeats Steve Logan in Walsall, England for the vacant British Light Heavyweight Title.
1986 - Candi Devine defeats Sherri Martel to win the AWA World Women's Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, beginning Devine's third reign and ending Martel's second.
1987 - Kevin Sullivan wins his third Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Lex Luger's third reign, in Daytona, Florida.
1988 - Kendo Nagasaki and Mr. Pogo defeat Invaders I and III for the WWC World Tag Team Title in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, beginning their second reign and ending the Invaders' third.
1988 - Rick Davis defeats Verne Siebert to win the Universal Wrestling Alliance World Junior Heavyweight Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia. The UWA was formerly NWA All-Star Wrestling, but changed its name when promoter Al Tomko pulled out of the National Wrestling Alliance in 1985.
1992 - Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton defeat Dustin Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat in a two out of three falls match for the WCW World Tag Team Title in Jacksonville, Florida.
1995 - The WWF holds an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results:
- Aldo Montoya defeated Steven Dunn.
- Duke Droese defeated Timothy Well.
- Henry Godwinn defeated Bob Holly.
- WWF Women's Champion Bull Nakano defeated Alundra Blayze.
- The Undertaker defeated Tatanka.
- Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart with the Sharpshooter in a No Holds Barred match.
- The Allied Powers (The British Bulldog and Lex Luger) defeated Bam Bam Bigelow and King Kong Bundy by disqualification.
- WWF Champion Diesel defeated Jeff Jarrett.
1995 - Miss Texas (Jackie Moore) defeats Sweet Georgia Brown for the USWA Women's Title in Memphis, Tennessee. This ended Brown's second reign and began Miss Texas' ninth reign.
1997 - Spice Richards defeats Bobby Collins to win the Canadian Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, beginning his third reign.
1998 - Mr. Gannosuke, Jado and Yukihiro Kanemura defeat Hayabusa, Hisakatsu Oya and Masato Tanaka to win the FMW World Street Fight Six-Man Tag Team Title in Yokkaichi, Japan.
1998 - Super Delfin wins the UWF Super Welterweight Title for the fourth time, defeating Mens Teioh in Sapporo, Japan.
1999 - Quinn Magnum and T. Rantula defeat The Wrong Crowd (Brian Anthony and Paul Atlas) for the Pro Wrestling eXpress Tag Team Title in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, ending the Wrong Crowd's third reign.
1999 - Flexx Wheeler defeats Patch to win the Pennsylvania Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Title in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was stripped of the title right after, as the promotion didn't allow a wrestler to hold more than one title at one time. Wheeler held the PWA Tag Team Title with The Original Mercury.
2000 - WCW holds the fourth-annual, and final, Souled Out pay-per-view at the Firstar Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The results were:
- Billy Kidman defeated Dean Malenko in a Catch-as-Catch Can match, when Malenko accidentally touched the floor. The rules stated that a competitor could not only lose by pin or submission, but also by touching the floor
- Vampiro defeated David Flair (with Daffney) and Crowbar in a Triple Threat match, by pinning Flair after a Nail in the Coffin.
- Big Vito and Johnny the Bull (with Disco Inferno) defeated The Harris Brothers (Ron and Don Harris), when Vito pinned Ron.
- Oklahoma pinned WCW Cruiserweight Champion Madusa with a roll-up to win the title.
- WCW Hardcore Champion Brian Knobbs defeated Fit Finlay, Meng and Norman Smiley in a Fatal Four-Way match, by pinning Smiley after hitting him with a police shield.
- Billy Kidman pinned Perry Saturn in a Bunkhouse match after a Bulldog.
- Booker T (with Midnight) defeated Stevie Ray by disqualification, after Big T made his debut and attacked Booker. Big T (Anthony Norris) was previously known as former WWF Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson.
- Tank Abbott defeated Jerry Flynn by knockout.
- Buff Bagwell defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Last Man Standing match.
- The Wall (with Shane Douglas) pinned Billy Kidman in a Steel Cage match after a chokeslam.
- Kevin Nash pinned Terry Funk in a Hardcore match after a Jacknife Powerbomb onto a steel chair to become the new WCW Commissioner.
- Chris Benoit defeated Sid Vicious by submission with the Crippler Crossface to win the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Title. Arn Anderson was the guest referee for the match. Benoit was stripped of the title the next night on WCW Monday Nitro when it was shown that Sid's leg was under the rope when he tapped out to the Crossface. In reality, Benoit had left the company in frustration, and would debut in the WWF two weeks later.
2000 - Jose Rivera, Jr. wins his second WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title in Carolina, Puerto Rico, defeating Harley Lewis.
2000 - Three NWA New England titles change hands in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Jeff Mangles wins the NWA New England Junior Heavyweight Title from Jason Rage, beginning his second reign. A male wrestler, Vince Viccolo, defeats Amanda Storm for the NWA New England Women's Title. Finally, Curtis Slamdawg defeats Knuckles Nelson to win the NWA New England Heavyweight Title, to begin his second reign.
2001 - FMW holds a pay-per-view event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The results:
- Ricky Fuji and Flying Kid Ichihara defeated Tomokazu Morita and Yoshito Sasaki, when Ricky pinned Sasaki.
- Mammoth Sasaki defeated Chocoball Mukai by knockout.
- Hideki Hosaka and Hisakatsu Oya defeated Asuza Kudo and Shinjuku Shark, when Oya pinned Shark.
- Naohiro Yamazaki defeated Kyoko Inoue.
- Jado, Gedo and Masato Tanaka defeated Kintaro Kanemura, Mens Teioh and Ryuji Yamakawa, when Tanaka pinned Kanemura.
- Goemon and Onryo defeated Chris Candido and Pat Tanaka, when Goemon pinned Tanaka.
- Kodo Fuyuki defeated Tetsuhiro Kuroda. As a result, Fuyuki had to retire and Kuroda had to marry Kyoko Inoue.
2002 - Gutter & Hacker defeat champions Tyson Dux & Tornado and Ruffy Silverstein & Trent Steele in a three-way match in Toronto, Ontario, for the Border City Wrestling Can-Am Tag Team Title.
2004 - Jerry Lynn defeats Danny Daniels for the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in Oolitic, Indiana.
2004 - Harry Smith defeats Karnage to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta.
2004 - John Walters defeats Billy Kryptonite for the Chaotic Wrestling Title in Methuen, Massachusetts, beginning his second reign.
2005 - At a WWE RAW house show in Winnipeg, Manitoba, La Résistance (Rob Conway and Sylvain Grenier) defeat William Regal and Jonathan Coachman, who was subbing for Eugene, to win their third WWE World Tag Team Title. Coachman replaced Eugene, due to Eugene suffering a dislocated left patella one week earlier in the opening match of New Year's Revolution in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2005 - TNA holds its first-annual Final Resolution pay-per-view, at the Impact Zone in Orlando, Florida, featuring AJ Styles starting his 4th reign as X Division Champion and America's Most Wanted winning the NWA World Tag Team Title for the fifth time by defeated Team Canada, ending their second reign.
A New York native, E. Normous trained out of a number of different schools including Gino Caruso and Jason Knight's after growing up a fan of the business. He often noted in interviews that growing up, his grandmother was a huge Ric Flair fan He was mentored by Little Guido/Nunzio as well before Guido signed with WWE in 2002.
E. Normous had worked some of the early Ring of Honor shows, plus numerous indy promotions like WXW, 3PW and a slew of other groups in the New York City tri-state area. He had also worked an invitational training camp for Ohio Valley Wrestling when it was an official WWE developmental.
A tall, extremely muscled worker, E. Normous was billed at 6'6 so he fit the role of a huge monster worker on independent shows during an era where most wrestlers on that level are far smaller. Beyond that, he had also worked as a celebrity bodyguard, personal fitness and nutrition and had done some acting work. He was among the wrestlers who had attended the New York debut of "The Wrestler" at the NY International Film Festival last year.
Meanwhile, backstage interviewer Bubba The Love Sponge wrote (or possibly had someone write for him) the following on his Twitter page on January 14 (with the swearing edited out for family consumption): "I say f*** hati. Why do we have to take care of everybody our country is in shambles. Bubba".
Bubba's comments led to Awesome Kong attacking him backstage at a taping and likely led to the end of his short TNA run as well.
The event, co-promoted by Gulas Old School Wrestling, Showtime All-Star Wrestling and Havoc Wrestling Association, drew an SRO crowd of 340 to the HWA building in LaVergne, TN to honor the 20th anniversary of Nick’s passing.
The attendance was the great news, as was a tour de force performance by 80 year old Jackie Fargo. Also on the plus side, was a women’s dog collar match that delivered something unique and memorable.
Any wrestling event that calls for coordination and cooperation among three promotions is fraught with peril, and when one of the three is a late addition, it’s just asking for trouble. SAW had to move their TV taping out of Columbia, TN when RTW decided not to renew their sponsorship agreement. Since SAW was already planning to work with George Gulas and GOSW, they hitched their TV taping onto the Memorial. In theory, the move figured to improve the show by significantly boosting the talent level. In practice, it was a disaster.
The show ran over 5 hours, ending after 1am local time. There were 19 matches. The SAW TV Taping with the top talent went on last and didn’t start until after 11. The incredible packed house atmosphere of the first hour was long gone. The crowd dwindled to less than 100 before it was over. The net result was a good percentage of the fans missed the best matches featuring the big league talent, and SAW got a TV taping with a crowd that went from decent to dead, and was nothing like what it would have been had it gone on early in the evening.
So through some really fine promotion including a great article in the Thursday edition of the Nashville Tennessean, Gulas and company succeeded in producing a great atmosphere and getting a lot of new eyeballs to view their product, then failed to deliver anything close to the best possible product. The show had 10 matches before the SAW TV Taping was added. There were a number of changes made to the card that was originally advertised, and it was my understanding that it had been tweaked to get the total down to 12 or 13. Why that didn’t happen is an unanswered question. Why the SAW TV taping didn’t go on first is another one. And for that matter, how could a Nick Gulas Memorial take place anywhere except the Nashville Fairgrounds Sports Arena, the building the city of Nashville constructed specifically for Nick’s wrestling shows?
The event got off on the right foot with a smoothly run legends meet and greet. Jackie and Don Fargo, Gypsy Joe, Bobby Eaton Tony Falk and Gulas had a steady line of fans for 90 minutes. Scott Teal was selling classic photos – 5 for $5 - that the fans were getting the legends to autograph. Jackie was a bundle of energy throughout the evening. He appeared to be in great mental and physical shape. He and Don were obviously having a great time being together. The legends sat together at ringside kibitzing during the first half of the show, all except Falk, who had a show to run at the Stadium Inn. Michael St. John was on hand to handle a portion of the announcing duties along with Gordon and the HWA announcer.
(1) Johnny Demento (with Crazy Ray) beat Chad Williams (with Blackie West). At one point, Fargo came over with some words of advice for Ray. Demento pinned Chad after a screw up in which West hit Williams. West has limited ability, but it was good to see him at ringside after the serious medical issues he’s had.
(2) “Boogie Woogie Boy” Gary Valiant (with Yukon Jack) beat Sharp Dressed Man Lawrence (with Blackie West) in 10:13. Boogie’s popularity hasn’t dropped of any. The crowd ate up his all-through-the-crowd entrance. In my mind, “Sharp Dressed Man” will forever be associated with the heyday of Jimmy Garvin and Precious, and there’s just something so wrong about anybody else using that music. It was the typical Valiant match where he sells long and big before the comeback, pinning Lawrence with the Boogie Blaster. Afterward, Valiant tried to get Fargo to join him the ring. Fargo wasn’t down with that but Boogie was able to cajole him into a moment of Boogie Woogie schtick at ringside.
(3) “King of the Hill from Knoxville” Shane Williams pinned “King of Kingsport” Beau James in 9:10. No entrance music for Shane. I started going to pro wrestling shows when there was no such thing, and it did my heart good to see a heel get heat with sheer attitude walking to the ring. The crowd didn’t know what to make of Beau as a babyface, being that he looks like the love child of Jerry Blackwell and Frenchy Riviera, but they told the story well. Shane pinned James after punching him with a chain-wrapped fist.
(4) Dominique defeated Mickie Knuckles and Jessie Belle and Miss Rachel and Misty James to become The Queen of Gulas Old School Wrestling in 4:47. Not much to it. They paired off heels vs. faces. Knuckles and Belle battled to the back. James and Rachel went down on a collision of clotheslines. At that point, Dominique ran out and covered James and the made a three count. Jeff Daniels came out and celebrated with Dominique. Gordon announced The First Lady of the NWA” Dominique as the winner. Misty maintained her credibility by giving the ref holy hell for allowing it.
George presented each of the legends with a certificate. George talked about teaming with Eaton as the Jet Set vs. Joe & Tojo Yamamoto. Joe teased doing something physical to which George responded, “I know you’ve got flashbacks but no way.” George called the Fargos the biggest Nashville legend of all time at the Hippodrome and the Fairgrounds and said they made more money for his father than anyone else. George said Roughhouse Fargo died in 2008 and had gone to the big ring where it was 2 out of 3 falls with an everlasting time limit. Don made a brief thank you speech. As Jackie started to speak, he was interrupted by the appearance of King Shane. He made the rounds and the legends were less than thrilled with his hugs and handshakes. Jackie told Shane to get his ass out of there. “It’s me!” Shane said, his Jerry Lawler delusion in full effect. Jackie dropped Shane with a short right hand. Shane bounced to the outside. “You don’t want none of this action,” Jackie said. Jackie gave a simple heartfelt thank you speech, then he and Don did one last tandem Fargo strut. Jackie wasn’t done though. He danced in the ring with the blonde HWA security girl. Cue up “I Don’t Need No Rocking Chair.”
It was all downhill from there. The legends left during the intermission.
(5) Matt Madison & Jamine J beat KDS Legend & Violent T (with ?) in 6:30. Madison was the bright light in this HWA affair. He’s very small but he has skills, which is more than I can say for the rest of the guys in this match. Madison pinned Legend with a sick burning hammer.
(6) Chris Michaels beat Ryan Genesis in 5:45. Athletically and aesthetically speaking, this was several notches up from what had gone before. Michaels escaped from the Death Valley Driver and rolled Genesis up using the tights and the ropes.
(7) Chaos won an 8 man battle royal to become the number one contender for the HWA Hardcore Title. With six guys in the ring, the announcer asked if there were any more participants – a reasonable question after what happened with Dominique. Seven out of the eight combatants were in all black. The match dissolved into an indistinguishable mass of backyard level ugliness. The best thing about it was the bump Demento took for his elimination. Chaos and Torch Hudson managed to dump Karnage, who is hated heel here. Chaos pulled the ropes down on a charging Hudson for the win.
(8) Mickie Knuckles beat Jessie Belle in a Dog Collar Match in 9:22. The women brought the brutality. Belle is a terrific heel. Her personality is way more developed than her wrestling ability. Fortunately, Knuckles was there to hold up that end of the deal. Belle mostly choked Knuckles with the chain. Knuckles threw Belle out of the ring and rudely hauled her back inside. Knuckles then scored near falls with a basement dropkick, a gutwrench suplex, a spinning uranage. They traded near falls and it was a bit of a struggle. Belle used the chain to clothesline Knuckles over the top, then wrapped the chain around the turnbuckles in an attempt to hang Knuckles, who appeared to be in dire straits. Ref Jess Fields had to get physical with Belle. Knuckles recuperated sufficiently to hit a slingshot sunset flip for the pin. I liked this match a lot. Knuckles was on her game.
(9) GQ & Lee Condrey & White Trash beat Kevin “Thug” Jones & Deshawn Hoodrich & Brian Swift in 13:50. Hoodrich and GQ carried the action. Hoodrich now has a great look, the type that separated him from the pack in this match. He has added significant muscle weight since the last time I saw him. The aptly named Trash pinned Hoodrich with trailer park version of Sliced Bread #2. Way, way too long.
(10) Hammerjack & Shane Morton & Steve O & Diamond Steel defeated Jeff Daniels & Road Hogg & Derrick King Enterprises (Derrick King & Drew Haskins with Sista O’Feelyah) at 12:20 in an eight man elimination match. Steel is a pint-sized Van Hammer with a full blown electrified Guitar Hero intro. Daniels and Hammerjack did a believable brawl to the back for the best action of the night thus far. Personal highlight was a properly applied abdominal stretch by Haskins. It came down to Steel & O vs. DKE. King accidentally superkicked Haskins to the floor. O hit a cool full nelson face plant on King and Steel pinned him with a leaping legdrop, so I guess O and Steel split the $600 (cough) purse.
It was after 11pm when the SAW TV Taping finally got underway.
(11) Shane Williams beat Ryan Mitchell via DQ in 8:30 when Arrick Andrews attacked Williams.
(12) Jess Emerson (with Rick Santel & Roxy) beat Ryan Genesis in 8:50. Genesis hit the ceiling when he elevated on his top rope elbow drop. Kind of messed up his trajectory. Emerson kicked out of it. While Roxy provided the distraction, Santel threw a stinging liquid into Genesis’ eyes.
(13) Picture Perfect (Jon Michael Worthington & Christian Jacobs) beat Derrick King Enterprises (Derrick King & Drew Haskins with Sista O’Feelyah) to win the SAW Tag Team Championship.in 12:30. Worthington started the match alone. Jacobs came limping down to ringside to take the hot tag. Johnny Bandana came out and promptly missed catching King. Jacobs did the Hernandez suicide dive onto DKE. Worthington followed with a twisting dive off the top and was lucky not to kill himself. He couldn’t get his footing because the top rope was loose. Finish saw Bandanna screw up with a hotshot stunner on King, and Jacobs speared King for the pin.
A brief intermission for ring repairs was required, the last thing they needed.
(14) Tommy Mercer beat Chase Stevens via DQ in around 20 minutes. These guys have nothing but solid, intense matches. Heavy duty brawling to start. Stevens knocked Mercer off the apron with a springboard kick and delivered a snap suplex on the floor. Mercer had a Stevens in a cravate submission for a very long time. Mercer hit a massive double underhook suplex for a near fall. Mercer used a donkey kick to the yambags to cut off a comeback and hit a Russian legsweep but couldn’t put Stevens away. Stevens came back with the scissors kick for a near fall. At that point, Stevens lost his mind. He tossed ref Joe Williams out of the ring before hitting his finisher, so of course there was no ref to count. Fields ran down and Stevens threw him over the top rope. Fields caught the rope on his way down or it could have been really nasty. Mercer capitalized on the diversion, attacking Stevens’ knee with a chair. The geek squad ran out to break it up. Both refs sold huge and Stevens needed major help getting to the back.
(15) David Young (with Paul Adams & Jess Emerson & Rick Santel) beat Vordell Walker in 4:07. Young was wearing the superhero suit. He was in deep trouble despite all the outside help. Adams ran distraction and Emerson hit the Alabama Slam on Walker to hand Young the win on a silver platter.
(16) Hammerjack beat Jeff Daniels by DQ in 4:38. Daniels went for the coathanger. Hammer cut him off and was about to turn the table on him when Dominque bopped him in the head with a hammer. Daniels choked Hammer out with the coathanger again. Would have been great with the fired up crowd of the first hour.
(17) Cody Melton beat Johnny Bandanna (with Sista O’Feelyah) in 6:33. Some really crisp action. Nobody cared. Melton got out from under Bandanna’s moonsault attempt and rolled him up.
(18) Sigmon beat Terry Ray via submission in 30 seconds.
(19) Arrick Andrews pinned Will the Thrill in 30 seconds with Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am. The few people remaining for some reason gave Will a lot of grief. It was amazing to me that found it within them to spew venom after 5 hours.
NOTES: Footage taped for broadcast by SAW included the legends ceremony, exclusive interviews with Fargo and Eaton, and all the matches from Shane Williams vs Ryan Mitchell on except for Mercer/Stevens, which will appear on a DVD version along with several other matches. In total, the taping will provide three weeks worth of TV…The next SAW TV taping will be 2/12 in Nashville at the Stadium Inn, the promotion’s first Saturday night taping at that venue. The upcoming event for the HWA Arena reads as follows: HWA on 1/22, 1/29 and 2/12. GOSW on 2/5 and 2/19…The most professional aspect of HWA is their security. I didn’t catch her name, but the blonde that danced with Jackie Fargo was a total pro…Former occasional SAW TV announcer Jack Johnson, Nashville wrestling pundit The Bro (www.broknowswrestling.blogspot.com), and noted Nashville wrestling photographer Embra were in the house…Beau James will be our special guest on “Phoning It In” Monday night at 8pm ET. We’ll also talk get an update on the 1/29 Fairgrounds show featuring Lawler/Dundee for the last time in Nashville. Check it out at www.blogtalkradio.com/psp. The promotion behind the Fairgrounds event is Southern All-Star Wrestling, not to be confused with Showtime. Not only do both promotions go by SAW, but at one point they were one and the same as Southern All-Star. The Reno Riggins/Paul Adams TV product changed its name after consultation with Jerry Jarrett, who came on board to assist in securing international syndication. TJ Weatherby, the promoter of the of the original SAW Mill building in Millersville, has continued to run weekly Friday night shows as Southern All-Star…Haskins worked on torn ligaments in his left knee. The good news is the doc said he won’t need knee surgery, which was the initial prognosis…Riggins was at the building but did not appear in front of the crowd.We are live from Anaheim, California and your announcers are Jerry ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’ Lawler and Michael ‘Is Anaheim ready for the Funk’ Cole.
Mick Foley starts things off and he makes his way to the ring.
We see that CM Punk and Daniel Bryan will be facing Mark Henry and Dolph Ziggler in a tag match. Zack Ryder will defend the United States Title against Jack Swagger tonight.
Mick says that he is here tonight for two simple reasons. He would never pass up an opportunity to spend the day at Disneyland, right here in Anaheim. Second, he says that he was more than content to be involved in a non-physical and nostalgic role. Foley says that he enjoyed being Santa on Smackdown and he was happy being in the This is Your Life segment with John Cena, even though it was not that good.
Mick says that he has accomplished everything in the ring, including headlining Wrestlemania in this building with his wife and children in attendance. Mick says that he has two more kids so he wants to be able to have his kids see him in the ring. He wants Mickey and Huey to see their dad in the ring one more time.
Mick says that he is here to announce that he will be in the Royal Rumble.
Vickie Guerrero comes out to the ring with Dolph Ziggler and she throws out some Excuse Mes. She introduces the next WWE Champion, Dolph Ziggler.
Dolph takes the mic and he points out that there are thirty precious spots in the Royal Rumble for the golden ticket of Wrestlemania, but Mick wants to show up to take one. Dolph wants to know if Mick is willing to take the spot of the person whose dream it is to make it to Wrestlemania so Mick can show off for his snotty kids. Mick says yes.
Dolph says that he saw Mick doing his standup and if this is one of his bits, it is funny. If not, Mick’s shot in the Royal Rumble would go just like this. Yay, our daddy is in the Royal . . . whoops, daddy got eliminated.
Mick says that could happen and it could be considered the biggest mistake of his life. There is an unpredictability with the Royal Rumble. Mick might draw a number in his favor. There could be the same magic that was there when Mick won the World Championship three times.
Mick says that he is not in there only to participate. Mick says that he has higher aspirations. He is in the Royal Rumble to win it.
Dolph says that is what everyone wishes for and what he works all year for. Dolph mentions that he beat John Cena last week. He beat CM Punk two weeks in a row. Dolph says that he cannot believe that Mick is out here and Dolph says that he cannot believe the possibility of having to face Mick Foley for the WWE Championship if Foley wins at the Royal Rumble. He calls Mick a glorified stuntman and punchline.
Dolph says that Mick came here to make one more point. He came out here to make a fool of himself one last time and Foley succeeded. Dolph tells Mick that it is over and he tells Mick to go home, buy a new shirt, eat a salad, and just go away.
CM Punk’s music plays and he makes his way into the arena.
Punk stands by Foley’s side in the ring. Punk says that it is so good to see Mick, right here in Anaheim, California.
Dolph suggests that Mick and Punk buy clothes from the same homeless person.
Punk says that they don’t look, talk, or try to fit in the mold like every other WWE Superstar. They don’t hide behind a woman. They do their talking themselves. Punk calls Vickie a poor excuse for a woman.
Everything they have achieved, they have earned, unlike a guy in the ring wearing a pink shirt with a guest referee in his pocket. Punk then insults John Laurinaitis. With the turd in the punchbowl referee, Punk says that he will still be the WWE Champion. It is because he is the best in the world.
Punk says that he thinks it would be damn cool if he faced Mick Foley for the WWE Title.
Vickie says that there is a wrestler in the ring named Dolph Ziggler. Punk tells Vickie to stop talking.
John Laurinaitis comes out and he has an announcement. John wants Punk to look at him. He reminds everyone what his job is. He says that as the guest referee, he will be completely unbiased in the match. To show how fair he can be, he will take Mick’s request to be in the 2012 Royal Rumble under advisement. John says that he has thought long and hard and his answer is NO.
John walks to the back and Vickie laughs in Mick’s face.
Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston are walking in the back but they do not have their tag title belts because they lost the titles to Epico and Pimo in Oakland.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage from the Tag Title Match in Oakland when Epico and Primo beat Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston to become the new tag champions.
Match Number One: Epico and Primo with Rosa Mendes versus Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston for the WWE Tag Titles
Epico and Bourne start off and Epico with punches and Bourne with a sunset flip for a near fall. Bourne with a head scissors take down. Epico with a kick and Primo tags in and Bourne with a springboard cross body but Epico and Primo catch Bourne and hit a double fallaway slam. Primo kicks and punches Bourne.
Epico tag back in and Bourne with a rana that sends Epico off the turnbuckles and into Primo. Kofi tags in and he hits a springboard clothesline on both men followed by a clothesline, back elbow, and drop kick. Kofi with a Superman punch to Epico and then he hits the Boom Drop.
Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise but Primo tries to interfere. Epico with a rollup for a near fall on Kofi. Kofi with Trouble in Paradise and Bourne tags in and Primo sends Kofi into the ring post and Epico crotches Bourne and he hits a lungblower for the three count.
Winners: Epico and Primo
John Laurinaitis is texting someone and we get to watch. Mr. Coffee enters and he gives a package to John. David slurps after saying that someone needs to come into the match. The tag match is now a six man tag match with David Otunga, Dolph Ziggler, and Mark Henry against CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, and . . . Chris Jericho. Chris enters into the camera shot and he turns off the lights and turns on his jacket.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to talk about the six man tag match that was made from the scheduled tag match. Jerry Lawler mentions that the envelope that was handed to John earlier was Zack’s medical report.
Zack is in the interview area and his ribs have been taped. He is with Eve. Josh asks Zack if he is cleared to wrestle. Zack says that he does not know. Eve says that he should not be wrestling tonight. Zack says that he is going to go to the ring and he is not going to forfeit the title. Eve says that she is going with Zack to the ring.
We see a Kane video package about what he has done to Zack Ryder the last few weeks.
Match Number Two: Jack Swagger with Vickie Guerrero versus Zack Ryder with Eve Torres for the United States Title
Swagger with a forearm to the injured ribs and then he hits a side slam. Swagger with a hard Irish whip. Swagger with forearms to the back and then he runs into Ryder’s knees in the corner. Ryder comes off the turnbuckles and Swagger catches Ryder and hits a back breaker. Swagger with a Swagger Bomb to the back and he gets a near fall.
Swagger with the Doctor Bomb and he only gets a two count. Swagger with another Doctor Bomb and Swagger can only get a two count. Swagger with elbows to the back. Swagger with a third Doctor Bomb and he finally gets the three count.
Winner: Jack Swagger
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Jack Swagger becoming the United States Champion.
The doctor is checking on Ryder and John Laurinaitis enters and he says that Zack was not medically cleared but he did not read the report until after the match. Eve yells at John but John tells her to shut her mouth and show him some respect.
It is time for our guest ring announcer and it is Perez Hilton.
Match Number Three: Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox versus The Bellas
Brie with a knee to Kelly and then she kicks Kelly. Brie runs Kelly into the corner and kicks her. Brie misses a clothesline and Kelly with a bulldog for a near fall. Nikki replaces Brie in the ring but Perez pulls Nikki out of the ring.
Kelly with a rollup for the three count.
Winners: Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox
After the match, The Bellas push Perez down and then Kelly and Alicia stand up for Perez.
It is time to take a look at what happened last week when Big Show ran over AJ Lee during the World Title Match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and R Truth makes his way to the ring.
Before Truth can say anything, Wade Barrett comes out and he throws off his jacket before making his way to the ring.
Wade apologizes to Truth for interrupting him. Wade tells us who he is and he says that is a name that we are going to hear soon as the winner of the 2012 Royal Rumble match. Wade thanks everyone that the old git Mick Foley is not one of the thirty. Wade says that he is in the match and so is the delusional lunatic in the ring with him.
Truth says hello to the guvnah. Little Jimmy wants to ask Wade if he knows that he talks funny. Truth says that they are across the street from the happiest place on Earth. Truth says that he went there earlier today and he had a smile on his face. He wants to see Wade’s smile. We have a slideshow of Truth’s day at Disneyland.
Truth tells Wade that he saw Pinocchio at Disneyland and he said that Wade was going to win the Royal Rumble, but his nose grew. Truth says that he believes that a mouse can talk and an elephant can fly, but he does not believe that Wade is going to win the Royal Rumble.
From out of nowhere, Miz attacks Truth from behind and Truth tries to fight back but Barrett joins in the attack.
It is time for the fill in for feuds moment and Sheamus comes out and Barrett and Miz leave the ring.
Teddy Long comes out because he has nothing to do with Raw. Teddy says that he is taking charge since John is busy. Teddy suggests that we have an Over the Top Rope Challenge.
Match Number Four: Miz versus R Truth versus Sheamus versus Wade Barrett in an Over the Top Rope Challenge
Sheamus goes after Barrett while Miz goes after Truth. Barrett with punches and Miz tries to eliminate Truth but Truth gets free. Sheamus with elbows to Barrett and then Barrett with kicks. Sheamus punches Barrett while Truth punches Miz. Truth and Sheamus try to eliminate Barrett and Miz joins in.
Miz punches Truth and Sheamus takes care of both men. Sheamus with punches and kicks to Miz in the corner. Truth punches Sheamus and then Truth tries to eliminate Sheamus but Sheamus stays in the ring. Sheamus sends Truth into the corner and then Truth floats over in the corner and does a split followed by a leg lariat.
Miz with a clothesline to Truth followed by a running boot to the head. Miz throws Truth over the top rope but he lands on the apron. Miz sets for the Awesome Clothesline but Sheamus recovers and hits a clothesline of his own. Sheamus with double sledges to Miz and then he connects with a series of forearms across Miz’ chest.
Sheamus hits his own chest to set for the Brogue Kick but Miz ducks down and Sheamus gets caught on the top rope. Miz punches Sheamus but Sheamus pushes Miz away. Sheamus gets ready to eliminate Miz, but Truth comes from under Sheamus and eliminates both Sheamus and Miz.
Winner: R Truth
After the match, Sheamus with a Brogue Kick to Miz on the floor and then Sheamus points through Truth to the imaginary Wrestlemania 28 sign that will be hanging over the ring at the Royal Rumble.
John Laurinaitis is texting again and John Cena storms in and accuses Laurniaitis of screwing over Ryder. Cena says that he will show how concerned about Kane he is if he shows up. Kane will face John Cena at the Royal Rumble. Cena will face the new United States Champion tonight.
We go to commercial and Laurinaitis goes texting.
Match Number Five: Jack Swagger versus John Cena in a Non Title Match
Cena punches Swagger and Irish whips him and hits a splash into the corner. Cena punches Swagger and throws him over the top rope to the floor. Cena sends Swagger into the ring post. Cena punches Swagger while the referee warns him. Cena chokes Swagger on the announce table while the referee warns Cena. Cena with a punch to the head and then he kicks Swagger. Cena with a front face lock and then Cena Irish whips Swagger into the ring steps.
Cena adjusts the ring steps and he slams Swagger’s head into the steps multiple times. Cena thinks about stomping Swagger’s head on the ring step but Cena remembers that bullying is bad.
Cena picks up the ring steps and he is going to drop them on Swagger, but Kane’s pyro goes off and we know that Kane takes forever to get to the ring so Cena drops the steps and gets into the ring.
Kane says that Cena is starting to get it. Kane says that by the time they get to the Royal Rumble, Cena will have embraced the hate. Kane signals for the pyro but it is on a brief delay.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Brodus Clay with the Funkettes versus JTG
Brodus steals the butt shimmying from Eve before locking up. Brodus with a waist lock and JTG with a punch and then he looks like he is humping Clay’s leg. Clay with a punch and head butt. Brodus with a T-Bone suplex followed by a splash into the corner and the cross body for the three count.
Winner: Brodus Clay
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole talk about the collision between Big Show and AJ during the World Title Match on Smackdown. We also see Bryan calling Show a bastard for what he did.
Daniel Bryan makes his way out to tell everyone how AJ is doing. Daniel says that most of the people think that Big Show is a lovable, gentle giant. Big Show is a cruel, inhospitable freak who at over 500 pounds had no problem bowling over his 95 pound girlfriend AJ. Daniel says that AJ has been traumatized and she will never be the same.
Show could have avoided this, but Show intentionally ran over his girlfriend to get to him and his World Title. Bryan says that Show never said that he was sorry. Show was crying like a blithering idiot. Bryan says that Show was faking with the crying. He tells Show never to show his face on Smackdown. Bryan says that if he shows up, he will make him pay.
This Friday on Smackdown, he has a World Title Match against Mark Henry. Right now, Bryan says that he is going to dedicate that match to his girlfriend AJ. Last week, she told Bryan that she loved him and he appreciates that. On Friday, he will show AJ how much.
Match Number Six: Daniel Bryan with a heavy heart, Chris Jericho with a shiny jacket, and CM Punk without any ice cream bars versus Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero, and David Otunga with his bottomless cup of coffee
Punk starts things off against Ziggler. Punk with a waist lock and take down into a front face lock. Punk with a slam and kick. Punk with a punch and suplex for a near fall. Bryan tags in and he kicks Ziggler and he follows it with a European uppercut. Bryan with a shoulder tackle but he trips on Ziggler and Ziggler with a kick to Bryan. Ziggler with a DDT to the leg.
Otunga tags in and he kicks Bryan in the hamstring and then he hyperextends the knee. Ziggler tags back in and Ziggler with a snap mare and a leaping elbow drop for a near fall while the fans chant for Jericho. Ziggler with a single leg crab on Bryan but Bryan gets to the ropes.
Ziggler misses a splash into the corner and Punk is tagged in and he faces his former Nexus protégé Otunga. Punk with a side head lock and take down. Punk with a head butt to the midsection but Otunga with a boot and Ziggler tags in and he kicks Punk. Ziggler with a neck breaker. Ziggler with a side head lock on Punk but Punk with a back breaker to get out of the hold.
Ziggler keeps Punk from making the tag and Otunga tags in and he connects with a double sledge and boots. Otunga puts Punk on the turnbuckles and he tries for a superplex but Punk stops Otunga and he knocks him off with a head butt. Punk goes up top for the Savage elbow and he hits it.
Punk tags in Jericho and he wants to hear the crowd instead of wrestling. Jericho tags in Bryan without doing anything and Jericho goes to the back.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler with a leg submission and chin lock. We see Bryan hitting the turnbuckles when Otunga moved on the drop kick into the corner. Bryan with a kick and Ziggler is down. Dolph tries to keep Bryan from making the tag but Punk tags in.
Punk with a clothesline followed by a neck breaker. Punk with the running knee and a bulldog to Ziggler. Punk with a springboard clothesline for a near fall. Henry gets involved and Henry puts Bryan on the apron but Bryan punches Henry. Henry wants to know if that is all that Bryan has. Bryan hobbles away and Henry follows after him. Henry sends Bryan up the ramp.
Meanwhile, there is a match going on.
Mick Foley’s music plays while Punk and Ziggler are down in the ring. Foley wants to be a part of the match and he says that Laurinaitis okayed it.
Ziggler grabs Punk’s leg to prevent Foley from tagging in. Punk misses an enzuigiri and Ziggler hits a Fameasser for a near fall. Ziggler kicks Punk and hits a neck breaker. Ziggler with a second neck breaker for a near fall. Punk with a round kick to the head and both men are down.
Foley and Otunga tag in and Foley punches Otunga and sends him into the turnbuckles. Foley with punches in the corner and then he hits the running knee into the corner. Foley waits for Otunga to get up and he hits the double underhook DDT and it is time for Foley to dig into his pants and Mr. Socko is out.
Foley with the Mandible Claw and Otunga is out.
Winners: Chris Jericho, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, and Mick Foley
After the match, Super Texter John Laurinaitis comes out and he says that he never gave Foley permission to be in the match. John says that he is going to have to reverse the decision.
Punk takes the mic and he wants to know if John doesn’t like that. Punk asks John if he thinks he is disrespectful. He says that John is not going to do anything about this. Punk wants John to listen to him and shut up. He tells John to man up, take his balls out of his purse, and figure out the situation.
This is all about who John is not. The people have no idea who John is because when he was a competitor, he had the look, but he sucked in the ring. Punk brings up how John’s brother was part of one of the greatest tag teams while John was boring and vanilla. Punk says that it kills John that he never made it to the ring in WWE. John went from someone who sucked to someone who sucked up. He says that John cannot accept that Punk has achieved more in the last year than his entire life.
Punk says that John is going to screw him at the Royal Rumble. Better people have tried and they have failed. Punk says that he is the WWE Champion and John cannot stand it. Punk says that there is nothing that John can do at the Rumble because he will always be better than John. Punk says that if he screws him, he will not hit the GTS or put John in the Anaconda Vice. They will talk about how John Laurinaitis looks like he went through a meat grinder because CM Punk kicked his pathetic ass.
Punk makes Laurinaitis flinch and then he calls John pathetic.
Foley gives Laurinaitis the thumbs up while he paces around the ring trying to figure out what to text.
John introduces himself and he reminds us of his title. John says that he is not pathetic and he says that he will not be intimidated by CM Punk.
Foley wants John to admit that he will screw over Punk at the Royal Rumble. Foley calls John a sycophant and then he dumbs it down for John and calls him a kiss ass.
John wants to know who Foley thinks he is talking to. John says he is going to screw Punk. He says that he is sick and tired of being disrespected and pushed around. He says that he is sick and tired of being bullied. He puts on the most entertaining show every week and he is not appreciated for it.
John hits Foley in the head with the mic.
We go to credits.
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