5/9 THIS DAY IN HISTORY
By
Mike Johnson on 2013-05-09 08:00:00
May 9th
On this day in history in ....
1931 - Jim Deakin defeats Jack Haymon in Sydney, Australia to become the first Australian Middleweight Champion.
1940 - Herb Parks defeats Prince Ilaki for the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Title in Eugene, Oregon.
1950 - Ben and Mike Sharpe defeat Ray Eckert and Hard Boiled Haggerty to win the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title.
1951 - Buddy Rogers defeats Bobby Managoff to win the Montreal Athletic Commission's World Heavyweight Title in Montreal, Quebec.
1957 - Mike Shaw is born in Skandia, Michigan. Shaw is better known for his many gimmicks in different promotions in North America. Those include Klondike Mike (Vancouver), Makhan Singh (Stampede and GWF), Norman the Lunatic (WCW), Aaron Grundy (CMLL), Friar Ferguson (WWF), and perhaps his most memorable, also in the WWF, Bastion Booger.
1957 - Ben and Mike Sharpe defeat Leo Nomellini and Enrique Torres for the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title in Stockton, California, ending Nomellini and Torres' second reign and beginning the Sharpes' 14th reign.
1957 - Bob Geigel defeats Don Curtis to win the Amarillo NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Amarillo, Texas.
1957 - Pat O'Connor and Whipper Billy Watson defeat Bill and Ed Miller for the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Title in Toronto, Ontario.
1958 - El Medico defeats Pepper Gomez to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas, ending Gomez's eighth reign and beginning Medico's fifth.
1961 - Guy Mitchell and Bob Rasmussen defeat Gypsy Joe and Skull Murphy to win the Georgia NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Macon, Georgia. This match was actually a repeat of the title change between them four days earlier in Atlanta.
1961 - John DePaulo and Stan Mykietowich defeat Frenchy Champagne and Ole Olsen in Winnipeg, Manitoba to win the Madison Wrestling Club Tag Team Title.
1964 - The WWWF ran Philadelphia, PA headlined by Ernie Ladd fighting Killer Kowalski to a draw
and WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeating Bobo Brazil via disqualification.
1965 - The WWWF ran a TV taping in Washington, D.C. featuring Bill Watts pinning Tomas Marin with a bulldog at 5:06, Chief Big Heart defeating Tony Newberry via submission with a bow and arrow at 8:25; Newberry "tapped out" to signal the submission, Argentina Apollo pinning Bob Boyer with a flying bodyblock at 14:05 and Chief White Owl defeated Steve Stanlee via referee's decision when the match was stopped due to the curfew at 6:06.
1966 - Tony Borne and John Tolos defeat Paddy Barrett and Tom Geohagen for the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia, ending Barrett and Geohagen's second reign.
1966 - The WWWF ran The Moose Hall in Trenton, NJ with the following results:
-Arnold Skaaland defeated Angelo Savoldi.
-The Beast defeated Chief Big Heart.
-Vittorio Apollo defeated Gene Dubuque.
-Johnny Valentine & Antonio Pugliese defeated Curtis Iaukea & Smasher Sloan.
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
1967 - Jack Brisco and Gorgeous George, Jr. defeat The Assassins to win the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Little Rock, Arkansas, ending the Assassins' second reign.
1967 - Jose Lothario and Wahoo McDaniel defeat Rocket and Sputnik Monroe for the Florida NWA World Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.
1968 - The WWWF ran Washington, D.C., headlined by Gorilla Monsoon defeating Manuel Soto & Angelo Savoldi in a handicap match, Betty Boucher & WWWF Women's Champion Fabulous Moolah defeating Gloria Colon & Sue Dorsey in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match and WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeating Bill Miller via submission with the backbreaker.
1968 - Ron Etchison and Sonny Myers defeat Bob Brown and Bob Geigel to win the Central States NWA North American Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Kansas. This began Etchison and Myers' second reign and ended Brown and Geigel's fourth.
1969 - Mario Milano defeats The Spoiler (Don Jardine) for the International Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title in Sydney, Australia, to begin his fourth reign.
1970 - Bruno Sammartino teamed with Battman Tony Marino to defeat George Steele & Crusher Verdu in the main event of a WWWF event in Munhall, PA.
1970 - The WWWF ran Harrisburg, PA at The Zembo Mosque, with the following results:
-Mike Conrad pinned the Red Demon at 14:34.
-Joe Turco fought John L. Sullivan to a 20-minute draw.
-Karl Kovacs pinned Lee Wong at 12:35.
-Gorilla Monsoon pinned Eric the Red at 5:44.
-The Mongols defeated Dominic DeNucci & Victor Rivera via count-out at 14:55 when Rivera failed to return to the ring before the referee's 20-count.
-Mario Milano defeated Prof. Toru Tanaka via knockout in a Texas Death Match at 10:14.
1971 - Future six-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Tatsumi Fujinami makes his pro debut for the Japan Wrestling Association.
1972 - Boris Malenko and Bob Roop defeat Bobby Shane and Bearcat Wright for the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida.
1972 - Georgia Championship Wrestling held an event at the Macon Coliseum in Macon, Georgia. The results were:
- Buddy Colt and Karl Von Stroheim defeated Cisco Grimaldo and Koa Tiki.
- Vicky Williams defeated NWA World Women's Champion The Fabulous Moolah by disqualification. Moolah retained the title.
- Roberto Soto defeated Billy Spears in a taped fist match.
- The Assassins (Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto) defeated NWA Macon Tag Team Champions Bob Armstrong and Bill Dromo to win the title, ending Armstrong and Dromo's second reign.
1972 - The Royal Kangaroos (Jonathan Boyd and Norman Frederick Charles) win their fourth NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title, by ending the 11th reign of Tony Borne and Moondog Mayne.
1973 - Jerry Lawler and Jim White defeats Jackie Fargo and Jerry Jarrett for the Mid-America NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Nashville, Tennessee. This began Lawler and White's second reign and ended Fargo and Jarrett's second reign.
1975 - PWF Heavyweight Champion Giant Baba and WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino face off in Tokyo, Japan with both titles on the line, with the match ending in a no-contest. It was the first WWWF title match ever held in Japan.
1975 - Georgia Championship Wrestling held an event at the Municipal Auditorium in Atlanta, Georgia. The results:
- Ken Dillinger defeated Dennis Hall.
- Tommy Gilbert defeated Cowboy Parker.
- Bob Armstrong and Robert Fuller defeated NWA Georgia Tag Team Champions Assassin #2 and Toru Tanaka (with Rock Hunter) to win the title.
- Dory Funk, Jr., defeated Jerry Lawler.
- Chris Taylor defeated Abdullah the Butcher (with Rock Hunter).
- Mr. Wrestling II defeated Rock Hunter in a steel cage match.
1975 - J.C. Dykes defeats Dick Dunn for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title in Dothan, Alabama, ending Dunn's fifth reign.
1975 - Big Bad John defeats Rip Tyler to win the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Meridian, Mississippi.
1975 - The Missouri Mauler and Steve Rackman defeat Ron Miller and Larry O'Day for the NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Title in Sydney, Australia, ending their third reign.
1980 - Hulk Hogan defeated Gorilla Monsoon in Glens Falls, NY at a WWF house show.
1981 - Carlos Colón defeats Killer Karl Krupp to win his sixth WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title and eighth WWC North American Heavyweight Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. This a rematch from their May 2 meeting in San Juan.
1981 - Devil Masami defeats Tomoko Kitamura (Lioness Asuka) for the vacant AJW Singles Title in Omiya, Japan.
1982 - Bob Backlund retains the WWF title, defeating Adrian Adonis in the main event of a Manchester, NH event at the JFK Coliseum. The undercard featured the following results:
-Charlie Fulton defeated Pete Doherty.
-Bob Orton Jr. defeated Fred Marzino.
-Tony Atlas defeated Greg Valentine via count-out.
-Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito defeated Rick McGraw & Steve Travis.
1983 - Dutch Mantel defeats Bill Dundee to win the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Dundee's sixth reign and beginning Mantel's fourth.
1983 - NWA World champion Ric Flair defeated Buddy Rose via countout in Longview, WA.
1984 - Championship Wrestling from Florida held an event at the Convention Hall in Miami Beach, Florida before 4,545 fans. The results:
- Dennis Brown defeated Mike Fever in a $2,000 bonus match.
- Kevin Sullivan defeated Mike Davis.
- Superstar Billy Graham defeated Chief Joe Lightfoot in a no-disqualification match.
- Mike Graham and Mike Rotundo defeated Chavo and Hector Guerrero in a best-of-three falls match.
- Kevin Sullivan defeated Dennis Brown. This replaced the scheduled match between NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion Billy Jack (Haynes) and Molokai.
- Blackjack Mulligan and Barry Windham defeated NWA Florida United States Tag Team Champions - NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Champion Ron Bass and NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Champion Black Bart.
- Dusty Rhodes defeated The Purple Haze in 14 seconds in a loser leaves town match.
1985 - The WWF ran a pair of events in Pennsylvania featuring the following results:
Bethlehem, PA:
-Jose Luis Rivera fought Terry Gibbs to a draw.
-Barry O defeated Bob Bradley.
-Big John Studd defeated Tony Atlas.
-Salvatore Bellomo defeated AJ Petrucci.
-Bob Orton Jr. defeated Swede Hanson.
-Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo fought WWF Tag Team Champions Nikolai Volkoff & the Iron Sheik to a draw.
Clarion, PA at University Gym:
-Jimmy Jackson defeated Bigfoot.
-Rocky Johnson defeated Rene Goulet.
-Ken Patera defeated Red Walsh (subtituting for Ivan Putski).
-Don Muraco defeated Tony Garea.
-The Fabulous Moolah (substituting for Mad Maxine) defeated Wenona Little Heart.
-The Junkyard Dog defeated Brutus Beefcake via disqualification.
1985 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Norfolk, VA with the following results:
-Pez Whatley defeated Black Bart.
-Mark Fleming defeated DJ.
-Ron Bass defeated Buzz Tyler.
-NWA United States Champion Magnum TA defeated Buddy Landell.
-Dick Slater & Jimmy Valiant defeated Superstar Billy Graham & the Barbarian.
-NWA World Tag Team Champions Ivan & Nikita Koloff defeated Don & Rocky Kernodle.
1986 - The WWF ran events in Kingston, Ontario, Rosemont, IL and Monroe, LA all the same evening. The Ontario event was headlined by Nikolai Volkoff vs. Cpl. Kirchner. The Monroe event was main evented by Junkyard Dog vs. Terry Funk. The Rosemont event featured Hulk Hogan retaining the WWF title over Adrian Adonis.
1986 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran The Richmond Coliseum in Virginia:
-Black Bart defeated Todd Champion.
-Jimmy Garvin defeated Denny Brown.
-Manny Fernandez & Ron Garvin fought Ivan & Nikita Koloff to a draw.
-NWA World TV Champion Arn Anderson defeated Wahoo McDaniel.
-Robert Gibson defeated NWA National Heavyweight Champion Tully Blanchard via disqualification.
-NWA World Tag Team Champions Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey defeated Dusty Rhodes & Magnum TA via disqualification.
-Jimmy Valiant defeated Shaska Whatley via disqualification.
-NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated Ricky Morton.
1987 - Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka) defeat Steve Keirn and Mark Starr for the CWA/AWA International Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1987 - J.R. Bundy and Rick Davis defeats Timothy Flowers and Jonathan Sayers to win the Universal Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia.
1987 - The WWF held an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was televised on the PRISM Network. The results:
- Pedro Morales pinned Steve Lombardi after a backbreaker. This match aired on the June 17 Prime Time Wrestling.
- The Young Stallions (Jim Powers and Paul Roma) defeated The Shadows, when Powers got the pin after a crossbody. This match aired on the June 8 Prime Time Wrestling.
- Kamala (with Mr. Fuji and Kimchee) defeated George Steele by countout after Steele chased Kimchee backstage with Fuji's cane. This match aired on the June 17 Prime Time Wrestling.
- WWF Champion Hulk Hogan pinned King Harley Race with a roll-up. After the match, Race wanted to keep fighting, and they did so until Hercules ran in and choked Hogan with his chain. Hogan ended up clearing the ring. Later on in the event, Hogan announced that a tag team match had been signed for the next Spectrum event on June 20, against Hercules and Race in a tag team match, and that they would be surprised at who his partner will be. Hogan's partner at the June 20 show turned out to be Ken Patera.
- Billy Jack Haynes (subbing for Jake Roberts) pinned The Honky Tonk Man (with Jimmy Hart) after Honky Tonk Man collided with Hart, who was on the ring apron. This match aired on the June 8 Prime Time Wrestling.
- Nikolai Volkoff pinned Corporal Kirchner after a backbreaker. This match aired on the June 17 Prime Time Wrestling.
- Danny Davis (with Jimmy Hart) pinned Koko B. Ware after hitting him with a foreign object.
- The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques and Raymond) defeated Dino Bravo and Greg Valentine (with Johnny V), when Jacques pinned Valentine with a small package.
1987 - The same night, WWF ran St. Louis, MO at the Kiel Auditorium before 2,300 fans with the following results:
-Ron Bass defeated Brad Rheingans.
-Outback Jack defeated Frenchy Martin.
-Demolition defeated the Islanders when Ax pinned Haku.
-In his WWF debut, Sam Houston pinned Sika.
-Jim Duggan defeated the Iron Sheik.
-WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation defeated The British Bulldogs.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage in a steel cage match.
1987 - The Eddie Graham Memorial was held St. Petersburg, FL at The Bayfront Center with the following results:
-Jimmy Valiant defeated Colt Steele
-Bob & Brad Armstrong defeated the MOD Squad
-Mke Graham defeated Dory Funk Jr.
-Florida Heavyweight Champion Mike Rotundo defeated Kevin Sullivan
-Jimmy Garvin defeated Teijo Khan
-NWA Florida Tag Team Champions Steve Kiern & Stan Lane defeated the MOD Squad
-Barry Windham & Ed Gantner defeated Dory Funk Jr. & the Tahitian Prince
-The Road Warriors fought NWA World Tag Team Champions Rick Rude & Manny Fernandez (w/ Paul Jones) to a double disqualification at 5:07 when both Ellering and Jones interfered as Road Warrior Animal had Fernandez covered following a powerslam off the top.
Dusty Rhodes defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair via disqualification.
1987 - Jim Crockett Promotions drew 9,000 fans to the Charlotte Coliseum for an event headlined by Ronnie Garvin defeating Jim Cornette in a Steel Cage Match after The Midnight Express and The Rock N' Roll Express. The undercard featured:
-Ivan Koloff defeated Todd Champion
-Chris Champion & Sean Royal defeated Rocky King & the Italian Stallion.
-Baron Von Raschke defeated Thunderfoot.
-Lazertron pinned Nelson Royal.
-NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard defeated Ole Anderson.
-NWA U.S. Champion Nikita Koloff defeated Lex Luger via disqualification.
-The Rock N' Roll Express defeated Vladimir Pietrov & Dick Murdoch.
1988 - The Championship (formerly Continental) Wrestling Association held an event at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. The results were:
- Brickhouse Brown defeated The Nightmare.
- Mark Starr and Scott Steiner defeated Doug and Tommy Gilbert.
- AWA World Tag Team Champions Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka) defeated Tom Brandi and Billy Travis.
- The Cuban Assassins defeated The Bruise Brothers (Don and Ron Harris).
- Mike Graham and Steve Keirn defeated CWA Heavyweight Champion Max Pain and Gary Young.
- Jerry Jarrett and Robert Fuller fought to a double-disqualification.
- Bill Dundee defeated Eddie Gilbert.
- Jerry Lawler defeated AWA World Heavyweight Champion Curt Hennig to win the title.
1988 - The WWF ran The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ with the following results:
-Scott Casey defeated Iron Mike Sharpe.
-Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated B. Brian Blair & Jerry Allen after a double team move behind the referee's back.
-Rick Rude defeated Koko B. Ware.
-Jake Roberts pinned Greg Valentine with the DDT.
-Andre the Giant defeated Jim Duggan via countout.
-The Ultimate Warrior pinned Hercules with a gorilla press and splash.
-The Islanders defeated Hillbilly Jim & Don Muraco.
WWF IC Champion Honky Tonk Man defeated Brutus Beefcake via countout
1989 - Mike Graham and Dustin Rhodes defeat Southern Force (Black Bart and Bobby Jaggers) for the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida.
1989 - The NWA taped television at Center Stage in Atlanta, GA. The tapings featured the quarter finals of a tournament for the NWA World Tag Team championships, which were vacant after The Road Warriors were stripped of them the month before. In that quarter final, Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy defeated The Warriors. In an interesting match on the taping, Terry Funk defeated a young Eddie Guerrero, who he had brought into the tapings to try and help Guerrero get into the company. Guerrero was not signed by the company.
1990 - The NWA drew 4000 to the Syracuse, NY High School for the following results:
-NWA U.S. Tag Team Champion Brian Pillman pinned the Cuban Assassin. Pillman worked twice, filling in here for Abdullah the Butcher, who didn't appear..
-The Midnight Express defeated Johnny Ace & Jonnie Stewart.
-Mike Rotunda pinned Bam Bam Bigelow.
-NWA U.S. Tag Team Champions Brian Pillman & Tom Zenk defeated the Samoan Savage & Samu when Zenk pinned Samu.
-NWA World Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Doom via disqualification when Ron Simmons hit Rick with a foreign object.
1991 - WCW ran Portsmouth, Ohio at The High School, WCW, featuring the following results:
-Dustin Rhodes defeated Dr. X.
-The Junkyard Dog & Brad Armstrong defeated Rip Morgan & Jack Victory.
-Bobby Eaton defeated Terrance Taylor.
-WCW World Tag Team Champions RIck & Scott Steiner defeated Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin.
1992 - The Sioux War Party (Dancing Wolf and White Cloud) defeat The Canadians in the finals of an eight-team tournament in Hamburg, Pennsylvania to win the vacant IWCCW Tag Team Title.
1992 - WWF champion Randy Savage defeated Ric Flair in the main event of a WWF event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1992 - WWF also ran Tampa, FL at the SunDome, featuring the following results:
-The Nasty Boys defeated Owen Hart & Koko B. Ware.
-The Genius pinned Jim Brunzell.
-Jim Duggan defeated Repo Man via disqualification.
-The Legion of Doom defeated the Beverly Brothers when Road Warrior Animal pinned Blake.
-Rick Martel defeated Tito Santana.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart defeated Shawn Michaels.
-The Ultimate Warrior pinned Papa Shango.
1992 - WCW ran Kansas City, MO at The Municipal Auditorium, drawing 1,800 fans for the following results:
-Van Hammer pinned JT Southern.
-Big Josh pinned Richard Morton.
-Nikita Koloff (subbing for WCW World Champion Sting) defeated Big Van Vader via disqualification.
-The Great Muta pinned Mr. Hughes.
-Steve Austin & Cactus Jack defeated Ron Simmons & the Junkyard Dog
.-WCW U.S. Tag Team Champions Greg Valentine & Terry Taylor defeated Tom Zenk & Marcus Alexander Bagwell.
-Ricky Steamboat defeated WCW U.S. Champion Rick Rude via disqualification.
-WCW World Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton.
1992 - Ole Olson defeats Moondog Moretti to win the West Coast Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia, beginning and ended each man's second reigns.
1993 - Smoky Mountain Wrestling held Volunteer Slam II at the Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee. The results were:
- Robert Gibson defeated The Tazmaniac.
- Killer Kyle defeated Robert Fuller by disqualification.
- SMW Television Champion Brian Lee defeated SMW Tag Team Champion Stan Lane.
- Kevin Sullivan defeated Jimmy Golden.
- SMW Tag Team Champion Tom Prichard defeated Ricky Morton.
- SMW Heavyweight Champion Tracy Smothers defeated The Dirty White Boy in a "coward waves the flag" match to retain the title.
- Robert Fuller, Jimmy Golden, SMW Television Champion Brian Lee and The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton) defeated SMW Tag Team Champions The Heavenly Bodies (Stan Lane and Tom Prichard), Killer Kyle, Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac in a steel cage match, when Morton made Lane submit.
1993 - The Head Hunters defeat Yukihiro Kanemura and Miguel Pérez, Jr. in the finals of a four-team tournament in Saitama, Japan to win the vacant W*ING World Tag Team Title. They were the last champions, as W*ING closed in March 1994. At the same event, El Texano won the WWC/W*ING World Junior Heavyweight Title from Masayoshi Motegi, ending his second reign.
1993 - WCW ran Louisville, Kentucky at The Commonwealth Convention Center featuring the following results:
-Robbie V defeated Rip Rogers.
-Chris Benoit defeated Steve Regal.
-Maxx Payne pinned Joey Maggs.
-2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated the Wrecking Crew when Scorpio pinned Fury.
-Van Hammer defeated Vinnie Vegas.
-NWA World Champion Barry Windham defeated Erik Watts.
-Unified WCW/NWA Tag Team Champion Brian Pillman defeated Ricky Steamboat in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match; fall #1: Pillman won; fall #2: Steamboat won; fall #3: Pillman won; the tag team titles were at stake in the singles match.
Sting & WCW U.S .Champion Dustin Rhodes defeated Rick Rude & WCW World TV Champion Paul Orndorff when Sting pinned Orndorff.
1994 - Brian Christopher defeats Doug Gilbert in a hair vs. title match to win the USWA Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning Christopher's 13th reign and ending Gilbert's third.
1994 - The WWF's tour of Japan brought them to Osaka, Japan at Castle Hall, drawing 4,000 fans. In the main event, The Undertaker eliminated Bam Bam Bigelow to win the only Royal Rumble the company has ever held in Japan. The match went 46:05, featuring 18 competitors. Also in the bout were Rick Martel, Bob Backlund, Jinsei Shinzaki. Adam Bomb, 1-2-3 Kid, Masashi Aoyag, Tatanka, Billy Gunn, Nobukazu Hirai, Bart Gunn, Owen Hart, Randy Savage, Samu, Fatu, Bret Hart and Doink the Clown. Undercard results from the event saw:
-The 1-2-3 Kid pinned WWF Tag Team Champion Fatu at 10:12.
-WWF World Champion Bret Hart & Randy Savage defeated Owen Hart & Adam Bomb at 13:35 when Owen submitted to Bret's Sharpshooter.
-The Undertaker pinned Jinsei Shinzaki at 7:22.
-WWF Women's Champion Alundra Blayze pinned Bull Nakano with the German suplex at 15:10.
-Genichiro Tenryu fought Yokozuna to a double count-out at 14:20.
1994 - WCW ran Ft. Lauderdale, FL at the War Memorial Auditorium, drawing 1,300 fans for the following results:
-Erik Watts defeated Brian Anderson.
-Cactus Jack defeated WCW Tag Team Champion Brian Knobbs.
-WCW World TV Champion Lord Steven Regal defeated Johnny B. Badd.
-Ray Traylor defeated Paul Orndorff.
-Dustin Rhodes defeated Bunkhouse Buck.
-Sting & Ricky Steamboat defeated WCW U.S. Champion Steve Austin & Paul Orndorff.
1996 - Malia Hosaka defeats Debbie Combs for the NWA World Women's Title in Johnson City, Tennessee.
1996 - WWF ran Kuwait City, headlined by Bret Hart defeating Steve Austin.
1997 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Downingtown, PA with the following results:
-Chris Candido defeated Mikey Whipwreck.
-Taz defeated Cpl. Punishment.
-Raven defeated Chris Chetti.
-ECW TV Champion Shane Doulgas defeated Balls Mahoney.
-Tommy Dreamer & Spike Dudley defeated The FBI.
-The Sandman defeated Louie Spicolli.
-Sabu & Rob Van Dam defeated the Pitbulls.
-ECW World Tag Team Champions The Eliminators defeated The Gangstas and D-Von & Big Dick Dudley in a Three Way Dance.
1997 - The WWF ran Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, featuring:
-Flash Funk pinned Leif Cassidy.
-Bradshaw pinned Doug Furnas after Barry Windham interfered.
-Rockabilly defeated Jesse Jammes.
-Ahmed Johnson defeated Crush (substituting for Farooq) in under 2 minutes.
-Farooq defeated Phinneas Godwinn after 4 minutes.
-Hunter Hearst Helmsley pinned Goldust after Chyna interfered.
-Steve Austin & Ahmed Johnson defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & WWF European Champion Davey Boy Smith in a non-title match when Austin pinned Owen with the Stunner.
-WWF World Champion the Undertaker pinned Vader with the tombstone.
1998 - Tre defeats Millennium to win the NWA New England Cruiserweight Title in Somerville, Massachusetts.
1998 - Magic defeats Matthew T. Storm for the NWA New York Heavyweight Title in Staten Island, New York, to begin his second reign. At the same event, Lord Zieg defeats Eclipse, Chris Michaels and Mr. Motion in a four-way match to become the first NWA New York Television Champion.
1998 - WWF ran St. Louis, MO at The Kiel Center, drawing 16,840 fans with the following results:
-Skull & 8-Ball defeated Savio Vega & Jesus Castillo after a DDT at 8:50.
-Terry Funk pinned Marc Mero at 8:16 with a roll up.
-Bradshaw pinned Barry Windham at 5:43 with the lariat.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion the Rock & Owen Hart defeated Farooq & Steve Blackman at 10:10 after Hart hit a spin kick on Blackman.
-The Undertaker defeated Kane via disqualification when Paul Bearer interfered.
-Jeff Jarrett defeated Chainz at 4:05 with the figure four leglock.
-Vader pinned Quebecer Pierre with the Vader Bomb at 5:00.
-WWF Tag Team Champions The New Age Outlaws defeated the Legion of Doom at 7:05 after Road Dogg hit Road Warrior Hawk in the ribs with one of the tag belts.
-WWF World Champion Steve Austin pinned WWF European Champion Triple H at 19:43 with the Stunner.
1998 - MTV attempted to use WCW personalities during an outdoor TV taping titled "Ultimate Video Bash" but the weather, driving rain, proved to be too dangerous for the wrestlers to compete. The lone bout of the broadcast featured Public Enemy defeating High Voltage.
1998 - WCW ran Wichita, KS with the following results:
-Bobby Eaton defeated Steve Armstrong.
-Yuji Nagata defeated Ernest Miller.
-Konnan defeated Chris Adams.
-Silver King & Juventud Guerrera defeated Psychosis & La Parka.
-WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho defeated Dean Malenko.
-WCW US Champion Bill Goldberg defeated Perry Saturn.
-The Giant defeated Scott Norton.
-Sting defeated WCW World Tag Team Champion Scott Hall.
1999 - WCW held its seventh-annual Slamboree pay-per-view event at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. 20,516 fans attended the show, which got a 0.45 buyrate. The results were:
- In a dark match, Dale Torborg pinned Johnny Swinger.
- Raven and Saturn defeated Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko (with Arn Anderson) and WCW World Tag Team Champions Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio in a three-way match, when Raven pinned Kidman after an Evenflow DDT off the top rope following interference from Chris Kanyon, to win the title.
- Konnan pinned Stevie Ray (with Horace Hogan and Vincent) with a roll-up after Rey Misterio, Jr. interfered.
- Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Brian Knobbs in a hardcore match, after a suplex through a souvenir stand.
- Rick Steiner pinned WCW World Television Champion Booker T after a diving bulldog to win the title, beginning Steiner's second reign and ending Booker's sixth.
- Gorgeous George (with Madusa, Miss Madness and Randy Savage) pinned Charles Robinson (with Asya and Ric Flair) after a flying elbowdrop.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner defeated Buff Bagwell by submission with the Steiner Recliner to retain the title. After the match, Rick Steiner came out and helped Scott attack Bagwell.
- Roddy Piper defeated Ric Flair (with Arn Anderson and Asya) by disqualification. Flair had originally won by pinning Piper, but Eric Bischoff came out and disqualified Flair for hitting Piper with a foreign object.
- Sting fought Goldberg to a no-contest after Bret Hart came out and attacked the referee. After the match, The Steiner Brothers came out and attacked Sting and Goldberg.
- Kevin Nash pinned WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page after a Jackknife powerbomb to win the title.
2000 - The WWF taped May 11 and May 14's respective editions of SmackDown! and Sunday Night Heat at the New Haven Coliseum in New Haven, Connecticut. SmackDown! got a 5.0 rating on UPN. The results were:
- In a dark match, The Dupps (Bo and Jack) defeated The Mean Street Posse (Pete Gas and Rodney).
Heat:
- Val Venis defeated Matt Hardy.
- Hardcore Holly defeated D'Lo Brown.
- Steve Blackman and Al Snow defeated Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn.
- Jeff Hardy defeated Essa Rios (with Lita).
- Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Edge and Christian by disqualification. Edge and Christian retained the title.
SmackDown!:
- T&A (Test and Albert) (with Gerald Brisco, Shane McMahon and Trish Stratus) defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von).
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Benoit defeated The Godfather to retain the title.
- WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko defeated Chyna to retain the title.
- Kurt Angle and WWF Tag Team Champions Edge and Christian defeated Chris Jericho and The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt).
- WWF Hardcore Champion The British Bulldog fought Hardcore Holly to a no-contest when Crash Holly interfered, and defeated the Bulldog to win the title. This began Crash's seventh reign as champion and ended Bulldog's second.
- The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated The Big Show in a handicap tables match.
- WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero (with Chyna) defeated Perry Saturn (with WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko) to retain the title.
- D-Generation X (Road Dogg, WWF Champion Triple H (with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) and X-Pac (with Tori)) defeated Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay, Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty) in an elimination match.
2000 - WCW taped the May 10 edition of Thunder at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Illinois, which got a 2.5 rating on TBS. The results:
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Candido (with Tammy) defeated Crowbar (with Daffney) to retain the title.
- WCW Hardcore Champion Terry Funk defeated Harlem Heat 2000 (Big T and Stevie Ray (with J. Biggs and Kash)) in a handicap hardcore match to retain the title.
- Shawn Stasiak defeated Lash LeRoux.
- Rhonda Singh defeated Elizabeth by disqualification.
- WCW Hardcore Champion Terry Funk defeated Chuck Palumbo in a hardcore match to retain the title.
- Juventud Guerrera, Billy Kidman, Konnan and Rey Mysterio, Jr. defeated Horace in a handicap falls count anywhere Texas Death I Quit match. As a result of the loss, Horace was fired.
- David Flair (with Daffney) defeated Arn Anderson.
- KroniK (Brian Adams and Bryan Clark) fought Tank Abbott and Rick Steiner to a no-contest.
- Mike Awesome defeated Sting in an ambulance match.
2003 - WWE Smackdown ran Aberdeen, Scotland. Pie Pete filed the following live report:
The Smackdown Brand, or most of them anyway, were in London, England as part of the Smackdown Tour De Force and before the show my sister and I got the chance to meet the champ, Brock Lesnar, and Torrie Wilson for autographs etc. First we congratulated Torrie on her wedding date being set. She seemed surprised more than anything else but thanked us both. My sister thought Brock was a nice guy because he asked her how she was and I asked him what his favorite match was and he said against the Undertaker, Hell In The Cell. I half expected him to say WrestleMania. For the show though we were seven rows from the front and had a great view of everything.
When the show did begin there was no pyro, unusual considering there has been the last two times, and the show began with a Cruiserweight title match. Matt Hardy (with Shannon Moore) vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Jamie Noble (with Nidia). Matt and Noble teamed up at the beginning after Matt had tried to get Rey to team with him. Matt played to the crowd a lot but the other two didn't do much. Noble had a few temper tantrums though, which we all laughed at. The match ended after Shannon interfered to stop the 619 and Matt told the whole crowd he was going for the Twist Of Fate, which he landed perfectly. Shannon and Matt celebrated, posing on the ropes until Rey knocked them both on the middle rope and delivered a double 619. Noble then gave Rey the tiger bomb and celebrated with Nidia to huge boos until Rey chased him away. Noble was booed throughout the match and Rey cheered, but Matt got a mixed reaction throughout.
Next up Rhyno took on A-Train and before the match Rhyno took the microphone and told A-Train to "shave your back, bitch" which was accompanied by wild cheers and a "shave your back" chant that kept coming back throughout the match. A-Train tried to lure Rhyno out of the ring and through a chair in, but Rhyno just sat down on it and got even more pops. The match was slow, A-Train tried a lot of sleeper holds but it ended with a gore and chants of "ECW" for Rhyno to pick up the win. He posed on the turnbuckles after the match.
Sean O'Haire took on Brain Kendrick next and try as he may, Brian barely took O'Haire off his feet the whole match except with a beautiful jumping sidekick to the face, which O'Haire sold excellently, and a jumping tornado DDT. O'Haire won the match after his reverse Death Valley Driver. Surprisingly, O'Haire got a lot of pops throughout the match, especially from where we were sitting, but Kendrick was the heavy favorite and was helped out of the ring by Mike Sparks.
Torrie Wilson vs. Nidia was next with Sable as the guest ring announcer. She did her "all the guys came to see me" line but wasn't that popular. Torrie vs. Nidia was very bad, the most entertaining bit was seeing Sable's face when she overheard someone reply "I bet she does" when the crowd started chanting "Sable sucks". Torrie won it with a well-taken DDT and Sable attacked her after the match but was saved by Nidia who took a spinning neckbreaker for her troubles. Torrie posed and left.
Next up was the WWE title match between Brock Lesnar, who was cheered wildly in the beginning, and Big Show, although Lesnar didn't seem in to the match at all. Big Show hit a series of massive moves but the match ended in the now predictable F5 style. Brock didn't get the same reaction after the match that he did before, and he only held up the title and left. Very disappointing.
After a 15-minute interval we were treated to Team Angle vs. Los Guerreros, who wore the gold medals to the ring, for the tag titles, which was awesome. Eddie and Chavo kept pointing at one another and whenever they did the cheers changed. Team Angle were very hesitant to start the match but once it got underway they isolated Chavo and Eddie, desperate to make a tag, hooked the tag rope on to the top rope and pulled it to the middle of the ring which everyone cheered. Once Eddie finally did get the tag he took Team Angle out and from then on the match was Guerrero dominated. Shelton Benjamin was isolated and kicked in the back of the leg multiple times, which he just seemed to dance around the ring after with the Guerrero's laughing at him and Haas wanting to know what he was doing. Shelton had Charlie rub the back of his leg better, and as the crowd booed Charlie tried to defend himself. The match ended after Chavo accidentally kicked the ref in the face during a tornado DDT and Eddie hit the Frog Splash on Haas, but Benjamin made the save and super kicked Eddie in the face while Haas held him in place. After the match Team Angle spotted the gold medals on the turnbuckle and took them off, celebrating with them in the ring but Eddie and Chavo knocked Team Angle down and ran off with the medals AND the titles.
Beniot vs. Cena was next. Cena came to the ring and rapped about how much he hated England then addressed some of the signs in the crowd, including "Cena Who". He promised he'd show us Cena Who. Beniot came out to an incredible reaction, by far the biggest of the night, and they put on an awesome match. Half way through Beniot even did the diving head butt, which got a standing reaction, and countered the DVD in to the Crossface but Cena rolled him up and hooked both legs, sitting on his chest for the pin. Beniot looked pissed after the match but the majority of the crowd gave him a standing ovation. During the match though there were some pro-Cena chants!
The main event was a disappointing one, Rikishi and Tajiri took on Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli (accompanied by Nunzio of course) and whenever Tajiri wasn't in the ring it was a very slow match. Crowd went wild for Tajiri though as he kicked Palumbo's ass, literally! Rikishi won the match with the Rump Shaker from the second rope and, after the match, Team Angle, Noble, Nidia and Nunzio all hit the ring and started to beat down Rikishi and Tajiri until Beniot, Los Guerrero's and Torrie Wilson made the save. They then danced in the ring along with the late arriving Rey Mysterio, who came in too late to get any in ring action but in time for the dance-a-thon. The crowd went wild for this as it ended the show.
Over all an awesome show with a few disappointing matches, but then Team Angle vs. Los Guerrero's and Beniot vs. Cena made up for that in terms of quality. No Crash, which I was VERY disappointed at, though as I had hoped that he'd take on someone like Funaki, who also wasn't there. Stephanie wasn't there this time around either and, unsurprisingly, neither was "Mr. America" Hulk Hogan or "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.
Biggest pops
1.. Chris Beniot
2.. Torrie Wilson
3.. Eddie/Chavo Guerrero
4.. Brock Lesnar
5.. Rhyno
Biggest Heat
1.. Big Show
2.. Team Angle
3.. FBI
4.. A-Train
5.. Cena
After the show though, as they were all getting on the buses to leave, Brian Kendrick spent ages walking around signing loads of autographs and posing for pictures. My sister managed to get his autograph. Torrie waved for the fans and then, later on reappeared to flash her bra. Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas came over and signed autographs but Charlie didn't stay long as he was told to get on the bus. Shannon got straight on but Matt came over and signed autographs and even answered questions, which pleased my sister since she's a huge Matt Hardy fan. So we left having collected five autographs (Lesnar & Torrie before the show, Kendrick, Benjamin and Matt Hardy after) and having seen a great show!
2003 - WWE Raw ran Wilkes Barre, PA. David Joseph filed the following live report:
Good show, poor attendance for the Raw brand show here in Wilkes-Barre, PA. In my opinion this hurts the chances of getting a live show or Smackdown taping here again.
The lights remained on for the first four matches of the night.
1) Hurricane & Maven def. Chief Morley & Lance Storm. Hurricane gets the pin after hitting Morley with a choke slam.
2) Chris Nowinski def Tommy Dreamer.
3) Triple Threat Women's Championship: Jazz def Trish Stratus & Victoria. Jazz got the pin over Trish. One of the things I found to be pretty painful in this match was the Victoria locking Trish in to a Camel clutch, while Jazz put Trish into a Boston crab. OUCH! After the match Steven Richard's tried to jump Trish, but was met with a Stratusfaction.
4) Kane def Christian. Sadly this match was the mid card. Christian was very entertaining in the match, & seemed to set the pace for the rest of the night.
Intermission. After the break, the lights went out for the final four matches of the night.
5) 6 Man Tag Team Table Match" Dudley Boyz (Bubba, D-Von & Spike) def. 3 Minute Warning & Rico. 3D to end the match on Rosie err Jamal. Either way to me, 3MW have lost their edge. After the match, Bubba grabbed a piece of the table & was offering it up to the fans. Lucky recipients were two little kids in the first row. Who not got the table end, but were brought into the ring for picture with the Dudley's They left to probably the biggest response of the night, in fact they ran back to the ring for more ring post posing.
6) La Resistance def Test & Scott Steiner. La Resistance got the win when Test was knocked into Stacy who was on the apron. Stacy naturally fell into the arms of Steiner, which distracted Test.
7) Booker T def Rodney Mack. Booker was lost on the mic because he thought he was Pittsburgh.
8) World Title Main Event: Triple H def Kevin Nash. To me this was the biggest disappointment of the night. The match was extremely quick & Trips didn't even finish it off with the Pedigree. After the match Nash Jackknifed Triple H, & left. Triple H laid in the ring a while & when he got up. The more entertaining part of the match went down. Triple H got in the face of Hebner, shoved him into the ropes, only for Hebner to bounce off of the them & shove Triple H down to the mat. Triple H then demanded that the fink get into the ring, he tried to shove him around. Same end result, Fink shoved into the ropes, bounces off & shoves Trips down to the mat. Triple H then mouthed off to the crowd a bit.
Overall: Good show.
Biggest Pops Most Heat
1)Dudley's 1)Teddy Long
2)Triple H 2)La Resistance
3)Steiner 3)Christian
4)Trish 4)Chris Nowinski
5)Booker T 5)Morley/Storm
Lastly: For a guy on the verge of winning the championship, Nash wasn't as over as he should of been. Trips, broke out of character on the way back to the dressing room, & hugged some fans.
2003 - Major League Wrestling debuted in Orlando, Florida at Tabu with the following results:
*Paul London pinned Jerry Lynn. Lynn was accompanied by Christopher Daniels. London was left laying.
*Madada defeated Fast Eddie and Don Juan in a Three-Way Dance. All are members of the Texas Wrestling Academy.
*Homicide pinned Christopher Daniels, but was laid out by Daniels and Lynn.
*The Samoan Island Tribe defeated Jose and Joel Maximo, revealing it was they who beat up The Maximos on MLW TV.
*Raven pinned CM Punk.
*Fuego Guerrero (Amazing Red) pinned Ikuto Hidaka.
*Simon Diamond and CW Anderson defeated PJ Friedman and Steve Williams in a tournament final to become the first MLW Global Crown Tag Team champions. The storyline was that Anderson and Diamond attacked Friedman and laid him out as he entered the ring with steel chairs. Williams went at it alone until Friedman tagged himself in while Williams had his back to him. Friedman ended up pinned and then was beaten up by Williams.
*Michael Shane (with Francine of ECW fame) pinned Norman Smiley (with Taylor Vaughn aka WWF's BB the EMT).
*Mike Awesome defeated Masato Tanaka, DQ to become number one contender for the MLW championship when Tanaka struck the referee with a steel chair. Awesome powerbombed Tanaka out of the ring through a table.
*La Parka defeated Sabu in a "Mexican Massacre Match."
*Terry Funk pinned Steve Corino. CW Anderson and Simon Diamond attacked Funk. Steve Williams made the save. There were challenges tossed for a Corino vs. Funk No Ropes Barbed Wire Match in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 6/20.
Notes: Sabu was accompanied by The Cuban Assassin. No Bill Alfonso....The promotion had built up a Raven-Vampiro angle on their weekly TV, but Vampiro pulled out of the booking several days back. Not sure why.
2004 - Kenichiro Arai, Dragon Kid and Second (Naruki) Doi defeat Touru Owashi, Condotti Shuji (Shuji Kondo) and YASSINI in Shimonoseki, Japan to win the UWA World Trios Title.
2006 - WWE taped the May 11 SmackDown! and May 12 Velocity at the iPayOne Center in San Diego, California. The results:
Velocity:
- Funaki defeated Sylvan.
- Matt Hardy defeated Simon Dean
- Chris Benoit defeated William Regal by submission.
- Gunner Scott defeated Orlando Jordan.
SmackDown!:
- Super Crazy defeated Kid Kash and Nunzio in a triple threat match by pinning Nunzio to earn a shot at Gregory Helms' WWE Cruiserweight Title at May 20's Judgment Day.
- The Gymini (Jake and Jesse) defeated Joey Ryan and Mike Wellington, when Ryan was pinned following a double throw into the air.
- Bobby Lashley pinned Finlay after a spear to advance to the King of the Ring Tournament finals at Judgment Day.
- Mark Henry pinned Paul Birchill after a powerslam.
- The Great Khali (with Daivari) pinned World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio after a double choke throw.
- In a dark match after the show, World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio defeated WWE United States Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield and Mark Henry in a triple threat match by pinning JBL after a frog splash.
2006 - Jon Moxley defeats Pepper Parks for the Heartland Wrestling Association Heavyweight Title in Cincinnati, Ohio.
2007 - OVW held its weekly television taping at Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky. The results were:
Dark matches:
- Maryse defeated Victoria Crawford.
- Dan Rodman defeated Andrew Vain.
- Jay Bradley defeated Chris Cage.
- Seth Skyfire defeated Del Electrico.
- Antoni Polaski defeated Mike Hutter.
- Mike Mondo defeated Boris Alexiev.
- Atlas DaBone, Johnny Jeter, ODB and She Nay Nay defeated Vladimir Kozlov, Beth Phoenix, Roucka and Mr. Strongko.
Televised matches, which aired May 12:
- OVW Television Champion Shawn Spears defeated Chet the Jett.
- The Major Brothers (Brett and Brian) defeated Los Locos (Ramón and Raúl).
- Michael W. Kruel defeated Steve Lewington.
- Jamin Olivencia defeated OVW Southern Tag Team Champion Justin LaRouche.
- The James Boys (Kassidy and K.C. James) defeated Jake Hager and Dirty Money.
- OVW Women's Champion Katie Lea defeated Serena.
- Paul Burchill defeated OVW Heavyweight Champion Idol Stevens to win the title, beginning his third reign.
2008 - Former WWF, WCW and WWE World champion Hulk Hogan's son Nick Bollea (henceforth referred to under his stage name of Nick Hogan) entered a plea of no contest to the criminal charges stemming from the 8/25/07 car wreck that left his friend John Graziano badly injured and was subsequently sentenced to eight months incarceration in Pinellas County jail, which would immediately begin, five years probation, which would include a no alcohol provision, 500 hours of community service, the type of which would be similar to the service Graziano provided to his community, three years of revocation of his driver's license, preventing Hogan from driving until he's 21. The court declined to deliver adjudication in the case, which would have ruled Nick guilty due to the evidence at hand.
Presiding Judge Philip Federico called the case a tragedy for both the Hogan and Graziano families, especially the Grazianos for the loss of their son. The judge said that what started out as a "great friendship for two young men has turned out to be something completely different." He said that he did believe that Nick has been hurt and is suffering from the accident, not in the same physical way, but still hurting from the loss of his friend.
The judge also noted that he has an issue with calling the incident an accident, pointing out the facts of the case and saying the wreck was the result of volitional decisions. "That accident could have been avoided at any time had any of the decisions [made that day] been different." While Hogan did not have a criminal record, he felt that Nick's driving record could be described as "cavalier" and that professional drivers understand the difference between a race track and a public street while carrying passengers. He called the incident "a serious of conscious choices that led to consequences for all involved."
The judge said that he's pleased with some of the things he's seen and heard that Nick has done since the wreck and felt that the Hogan family has done much to assist the Graziano family since the wreck. He said that despite that, he cannot overlook that had decisions not been made, Graziano would not be suffering and Nick would not be standing before the court.
"There is no perfect answer. You weigh the things you've heard and try to present a decision that you feel is appropriate."
The August 2007 car wreck left one of Nick's closest friends, John Graziano, permanently disabled and injured and in need of hospitalization for the rest of his life. The no contest plea was partially due to to the ongoing civil case against the Hogan family by the Graziano family.
The no contest plea was a condition of the court agreeing to a cap of a total period of one year incarceration and an additional five year probationary period. Nick Hogan's attorney asked that any probationary period be transferred to the state of California. The judge agreed, as long as the State of California signed off on the probation and that Nick could not back off on his agreement if California declined to transfer the probation. The issue of restitution to the Graziano family would be left to the civil case, although it would be followed up upon by the criminal court. The court ruled they would follow up on that aspect on November 12, 2008.
The Graziano family had previously petitioned the court for "at least" a year of incarceration, according to the prosecutor, although statements from the Graziano family members featuring requests of six months to a year incarceration. The State prosecutor stated that they would "go along with those requests." Nick's attorney asked for no incarceration and three years of probation, but if the court wanted incarceration, that it be less than the 6 months to a year requested by members of the Graziano family.
Prior to his sentencing, Nick addressed the court. Nick Hogan was placed under oath before being asked a number of questions by the court. Hogan was asked if he understood the plea he was putting in and that he would be resolving the case without a trial. He said that he did and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, had never been treated for any mental illness in the past, was doing it of his own free will and was happy with the counsel he had received. After the prosecutor read the circumstances of the case, the Judge noted that Hogan was not necessarily agreeing with the facts but was agreeing that there was sufficient evidence to warrant charges. Hogan agreed and the judge at that point noted they would move forward with the sentencing portion of the proceedings.
Prior to his sentencing, Nick spoke directly to the court, stating "The man I looked up to" was injured in the car accident. He said that he looked up to Graziano as a brother. He said that he misses being around John every day, all the time. He said that he understands that the situation has been extremely difficult for the Grazianos and his own family. He apologized to both families for the accident. He said that it's not easy listening and reading all the "terrible things" said about his family and that no matter what is said, every single day, he thinks of John. He said he prays for John every chance he has. He said that he knows that he has apologized to the family before, then turned to them in the court and told them that he was indeed terribly sorry and nothing can ever make up for what happens.
Hogan said that since the accident, he has tried to do as much as he can to become a better person and has gotten involved in charities that have raised $60,000 to date towards brain trauma research and some of it has gone directly to John Graziano's care. Nick said he is also trying to raise awareness to safe driving and the importance of wearing a seatbelt. He said that he hasn't driven since the day of the accident and made that decision out of respect to John and the case. He said that he hopes to show his peers the responsibilities of safety and driving.
Hogan said he understood this was a serious situation and was ready to accept any punishment the court was about to hand down. He thanked the court for doing so and closed by saying that he feels that since the day of the wreck, he had matured as a person and had a better understanding of what good he can bring.
Prior to the sentencing, prosecutors showed the judge a video that was not made public to the cameras following the proceedings. Nick, his counsel and the prosecuting attorney were the only others present in the courthouse allowed to see the footage. The prosecutor then showed the court a series of photos from Hogan's Toyota Supra, recounted Hogan's speeding tickets (including one he received while Hulk was in the car with him) and that 12 different witnesses of the accident claimed that Hogan was "driving recklessly" prior to the crash.
Pinellas County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Rosenwasser noted that the incident was not an accident as Hulk Hogan claimed to the media, because an accident means that the series of events were unintentional or an act of God, which was not the case. He said that Nick made the choice to take the keys to the car and drive in the manner that Nick did, on a wet road, after drinking. He noted that Hulk stated that finding out about the accident was a "nightmare" and said that the nightmare indeed became true and John Graziano will have to live with that nightmare for the rest of his life. He said that the crash was completely Nick Hogan's fault.
The prosecutor asked for Hogan's license to be revoked until the end of his probation, that Hogan serve 500 hours of community service that would have to be completely served, and that he be forced to take alcohol testing to insure he was not drinking until the end of the probationary period.
Nick's attorney said that Nick and John had been friends since Nick was 12 and John was 17 after they met and realized a friendship over their mutual interest in cars. He pointed out family letters to the Hogans from Graziano that shows the close friendship. He pointed out Nick was the only minor involved in the accident and there were three adults also involved, one of whom received 90 days probation. He said that Nick could have been behind the wheel after the accident, but chose not to. He said that Nick has been doing a number of things for community service. He spoke to Hogan working as a religious food bank and of Nick's dismay that TV cameras showed up when someone was tipped off to the charity work. He said that although Nick had a number of speeding tickets, he did not have a criminal record. He said that Nick's parents are going through a difficult divorce, he's lost his best friend and his family is being sued for more money than this family has - and that's "a difficult thing for a 17 year old to know that he is responsible for."
The prosecutor commented that he thought it was "nervy" for anyone to claim what John Graziano may have wanted and pointed out that while Nick was a minor, he was the only professional driver of the quartet.
During the proceedings, both the Hogan and Graziano families read prepared statements to the court.
The Graziano's, as victims, spoke first. Graziano's father stated, "What Al-Qaida could not do, Nick Bollea accomplished in a matter of minutes." Graziano had returned from the Iraq war with a number of declarations shortly before the wreck. He explained that his son will need a round the clock nursing care and that it is questionable that he will ever be able to communicate with his family again, while "Nick Hogan's life will go on." Graziano claimed that Nick "has shown no remorse" for what he's done and that when he visited Graziano in the hospital, he had the face of a child being "dragged to his grandmother's house" and at times, was skateboarding down the hallways of the Bayfront Medical Center.
Graziano's father, Ed Graziano, also called out the Hogan family's claims that Graziano was like a brother to Nick, questioning where Nick and they were during Graziano's boot camp graduation, his sendoff or return from military service. He noted that the family wanted no less than at least one year of incarceration "would have no impact on Nick's life" and that Nick needed to be reminded of all the daily activities that he can still perform that John Graziano will never be able to do again. He closed with the statement, "Nick should bear the burden of what he did to my son as my son will have to carry the burden of what Nick did to him for the rest of his."
Graziano's sister, Christian Carson, addressed the court, explaining the family's loss in emotional detail and stating that to this day, Nick Hogan had yet to apologize or show any remorse for what had happened. She likened Graziano's current state to a never-ending open funeral.
Graziano's girlfriend Ashley Berry talked of future plans they talked talked about that will never come to pass and asked what type of friend brings skateboards and Nerf guns into a hospital to play as their friend is unable to breath in an ICU unit. She said that her boyfriend was safer on the streets of Iraq than he was on the streets where Nick Hogan was driving. She said that anything less than the fullest criminal punishment will have no effect on Nick, who needed to be held accountable. She said that it was time for Nick to step up and understand what he had done.
Graziano's mother then spoke to the court. He said that her statement was not motivated by anger or revenge. She talked of going to see her son and her jump of excitement when he moves his eyes towards her or being able to breath without a tube. She said that such a large part of his brain was removed, that he could never, ever be the same John again. She said that at the time of the accident, she was unaware that Hulk was in the car when Nick was once pulled over for speeding over 100 mph or that Linda Hogan was bragging about racing on a video. She said that she has never received an apology from the Hogan family and within weeks, Nick was "bragging about looking for sponsors on his website, with just a post-script about John." She said that an adjudication of guilt is necessary to make sure that this is never forgotten by Hogan because it is important that Hogan has a lasting impression on the incident. She asked for at least 6 months to a year in jail, plus probation and additional monitoring without being able to end it early. She asked that he be forced to serve the type of community service that cannot be used to "boost his own ego, such as speaking at schools" but instead, hard labor.
The entire Hogan family were present at the Pinellas County courthouse, arriving together. Linda and Brooke Hogan sat together, with Linda's mother sitting between Brooke and Hulk. Hulk, who was carrying a copy of the book "The Power of Now - The Power of Spiritual Enlightenment" sat quietly praying with his hands folded during parts of the proceedings. Hulk and Linda did confer together with Nick's attorneys during the proceedings.
Hulk Hogan, addressed the court before the sentencing. He thanked the court and the Grazianos for allowing him to speak on his son's behalf. Hogan said that he considered John Graziano like "a son" and considered him "another member of the family." Hogan said he understands how devastating the entire situation has been for the entire family. He said that what many don't understand is that while it pales in comparison to the Grazianio's pain, is that his Hogan has suffered and been torn apart. Hogan said that when Graziano had issues with his father, he spent days, sometimes "weeks at a time" with the Hogans. He said that Graziano spent the last night before he went back into service in Iraq with the Hogans and that he had gone on family vacations with them as well.
Hogan said that when he arrived at the scene of the accident, he thought both boys had died and that they were blessed that both survived. He said that his son's focus since the accident has been what can he do to help John and to have John back in his life. Hogan said that he spoke to John's mother a few days ago on the phone and he still refuses to accept anything less than praying for John's full recovery.
Hogan noted that it wasn't easy for Nick to follow in the shadow of a celebrity father or being part of a celebrity family. Hogan said that Nick has been unfairly attacked by the media because of his on-air persona on television. Hogan said that their VH-1 show was "a scripted show, even though it was presented as a reality show" and Nick has been attacked for being that on-air persona. He said that no matter his physical appearance, Nick is still just a 17 year old boy and one that had just turned 17 at the time of the accident. Hogan asked that the judge not make his son a convicted felon. He said that he doesn't want Nick to be treated differently than anyone else, but also doesn't want him treated more harshly because his father is a celebrity. He said the Hogan family will never give up on John Graziano and asked the court not to give up on Nick.
Linda Hogan then addressed the court. She called the incident "heart-breaking" and that Graziano was like a big brother to Nick and Brooke. She said that Graziano lifted the spirits of their home and that they were a clan of friends in the home, but not there's just an air of sadness in their home. She said that Nick has been deeply saddened to see Graziano hurt. She cried as she said, "My son never meant to hurt his best friend and he would have changed places with him if he could." She said that no matter what sentence Nick is given, he will live with the sadness for the rest of the life and will never be the same without Graziano "by his side." She said, "These were two friends that were having the time of their lives."
A letter from Nick's grandfather (Linda's father), who was a former Los Angeles police officer, was read by Nick's attorney. Sean Schumura, speaking for the J&J Recovery Fund charity, explained that he came to speak on his home, not on the behalf of the family. He said that he never knew Nick before the accident and that Nick had gotten involved on his own to help their charities and "that no one has done more to help The National Wave." He said that the loss of Nick would be "detrimental effect to the money being raised" by the charity.
Brooke Hogan told the court that she was there to speak on behalf of neither side, because Nick was her blood brother while John was her brother as well. She said she wasn't there to smooth things over or to be sweet, but just to set the record straight. She said that from the day John met Nick, they were extensions of the other. She said Graziano was her best friend and confidante. Brooke, who cried through her statement, said that Graziano was a wonderful person, who was thoughtful and kind and wouldn't have spent time with Nick if Nick wasn't the same. She said that if John was there, he would say the same. She said that these were two boys who were friends and now there are two families that have heartbreak. She intimated that some who spoke on John's behalf now were not there for John in the past and were after "superficial" things. Brooke said, "This is why I hate being a celebrity and why they say money is the root of all evil."
A letter that John Graziano's mother Debbie Graziano wrote to the St. Petersburg media in the days following the accident discussing Nick's heartbreak and the Hogan family's support for her was also read to the court before the sentencing. It was explained that the Hogans have supported her financially in the days since the accident, including furnishing a condominium so she could be closer to Graziano and even helping financially with the funeral of her father.
2008 - Ring of Honor debuted in Manassas, Virginia. Stuart Carapola filed the following live report:
I made the long trip from New York to Virginia last night for ROH's debut in Manassas, and just wanted to give some quick thoughts on the show.
-I hit insane amounts of traffic on the way down in New Jersey and Delaware (I could have crawled through Delaware faster than I drove), so I missed the opener of Chris Hero vs Pelle Primeau (which was said to have been a good opener) and got there in the middle of the second match, pitting Rhett Titus and Rex Sterling against Mitch Franklin and Sean Denny. These guys have been improving and they put together a good main show match. The crowd really got behind Sean Denny when Mitch made the hot tag, but Titus and Sterling ended up getting the win.
-Up next, Brent Albright won a Four Corner Survival against Claudio Castagnoli, ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness, and Damien Wayne. Wayne is apparently some kind of local big deal, but I have to say that I wasn't very impressed and he just seemed in over his head with these three. He didn't have a good look to carry him, either./ Albright ended up getting the win with his front facelock/knees to the face combination until the referee stopped the match. I liked Albright getting the win in a match that also included the two guys in the ROH Title match tonight, because that automatically positions Albright as a contender, even as they continue to build to him splitting from Sweet N Sour Inc.
-Austin Aries came out to the ring in street clothes and, to paraphrase, said he was blowing off his match with Erick Stevens because he just wanted to fight Jimmy Jacobs. Stevens came out and, again to paraphrase, said "Hey, we have a match, and I think you're just afraid of getting beat by me again." Aries suckerpunched him to start the match, and though Stevens griefly got control, Aries pretty much went through him in about five or seven minutes when he put Stevens in Jacobs' front guillotine choke. Jacobs never came out during this segment, although there was one funny bit when the crowd started chanting "sloppy seconds" and Aries turned around and said "That's sloppy seconds you'll never get." Aries is a master of shutting down smartasses in the crowd.
-Necro Butcher defeated Jack Evans in a No DQ rematch from Final Battle 2007. Age Of The Fall has actual entrance music and lights now, though the screaming is still there at the beginning for anyone who was wondering. Also, Necro came in through the entranceway instead of the crowd, so I guess AOTF is starting to conform. Not as good as the last match in my opinion, though there were some pretty sick spots, including Necro side suplexing Evans on the guardrail, then later on two back to back chairs for the win.
-After intermission, Jay Briscoe fought Jimmy Jacobs in a grudge match that I guess was also No DQ even though I don't believe that was ever explicitly promoted. Aries came out and attacked Jacobs before Briscoe got to the ring, but then Jay came out and went after Jacobs and the match was off. Another stiff brawl and Jimmy took a couple pretty nasty chairshots, but ended up picking up the win when Necro did a run in and Jacobs got Briscoe in the guillotine choke for the win. Aries ran out and a big pull apart brawl between Aries and AOTF started, though Jacobs and Necro cleared out before Aries could do any serious damage.
-In the semi main, Bryan Danielson scored a second win over Tyler Black in another great match. Tyler looked great in this one, and definitely had the fan support as there were people in the crowd with signs for him. They started slow, but built up to a fast paced end with Tyler countering or escaping several of Danielson's trademark moves and hitting big moves of his own before Danielson caught him in a heel hook and made Tyler tap. Danielson went for tha handshake but Black spit in his face and left. Hopefully this is leading to Danielson vs Black #3.
-In the main event, Takeshi Morishima, Go Shiozaki, and Naomichi Marufuji defeated Roderick Strong, Rocky Romero, and Davey Richards. There was a lot of comedy early on in this one, with Morishima showing he has a sense of humor when he did Romero's azucar dance. This got pretty brutal at some points, with some stiff chops out of Go and Roderick and Richards and Romero killing people with kicks. I love Marufuji's ability to make it look like he's taking people's heads off when he's probably barely making contact. He is one of the most talented guys I've ever seen. Marufuji got the Sliced Bread #2 (whose Japanese name I know, but can't spell) on Romero for the win.
The show must have done well, because they announced a return date in August. The one thing that I found unusual was that the matches were unusually short and the show was over in three hours flat, which is good but way shorter than I'm used to from ROH, and the last time I remember an ROH show I attended being that short was when I went to the show under the tent in Connecticut back in 2006. Fun show though.
2009 -Dwayne Johnson was in attendance at the White House Correspondent's Dinner last night, accompanied by his ex-wife and business manager, Dani, who he remains friends with.
2009 - WWE broadcast an episode of Smackdown, headlined by Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy. Richard Trionfo filed the following report:
We start off tonight’s show with a look back at the Four Way Elimination match that determined Edge’s opponent at Judgment Day that was won by Jeff Hardy.
We are live on tape from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and your announcers are Jim ‘Super Bowl’ Ross and Todd ‘Fish that Saved Pittsburgh’ Grisham.
Teddy Long is in the ring doing the Teddy Shuffle and then he welcomes everyone to Smackdown. He says that it is his honor and privilege to bring out a man who came home to Smackdown to be the face of Smackdown. Teddy brings out Rey Mysterio. Rey thanks Teddy for the introduction and then he says that it feels good to be back home on Smackdown. He says that on his first night back he came close to earning a title match against Edge, but Jeff Hardy was the better man that night. Rey says that it is okay because he will get another chance to be World Champion again. Rey says that he will continue to defend the Intercontinental Title against anyone willing to face him.
Chris Jericho’s music plays and pyro goes off and Chris is dressed for action. Chris has a mic and he tells Teddy that if he wants to introduce the face of Smackdown, he will give Teddy the chance to introduce him since he is the face of Smackdown. Teddy says that he is not going to do it and he throws out a playa. Chris says that he did not think Teddy would do it because Chris does not share the same prejudiced views that Teddy has. Chris points out that he is a five time World Champion and an eight time Intercontinental Champion and the Superstar of the Year in 2008. His presence in the ring makes Smackdown a higher profile show and the top show in WWE. He talks about the disrespect that he receives from the jealous sycophants in the locker room, the fans, and inept fly by night General Mangers. Teddy tries to interject but Jericho shoots down his playa with a playa of his own. Chris tells Teddy to apologize and he wants reparations because of what the referees did to him last week by disqualifying him in a Fatal Four Way Match because it never happened before. Chris says that Rey had no chance to win so he wants a title match for having it taken away last week.
Rey tells Jericho to shut up and that makes Chris smile for the first time in the segment. Jericho tells the little man to watch his mouth. Rey tells Jericho to shut up again and then he pushes Jericho to the mat. Rey tells Jericho to accept the fact that he lost. Rey says that the fans don’t need to hear Jericho’s crap and neither does he. Rey leaves the ring and heads to the back.
Jericho tells Rey not to walk away and he tells Teddy that this is the disrespect that he was talking about. Jericho . . .
is interrupted by Jeff Hardy who comes to the ring. Jeff asks Chris if he wants respect, competition, and a title match; Jericho has to beat him because he is the number one contender. Jeff says that if it wasn’t for the fans, Jericho would not be where he is today but he calls the fans liars and hypocrites. Jeff tells Jericho that Chris is the biggest hypocrite he has ever seen in his life. Jeff suggests that they make things interesting. If Chris can win their match tonight, Jericho is in the title match at Judgment Day and he can show that Jericho is an extremely sore loser. Jericho misses a punch but Jeff does not miss with a slap.
Teddy makes it official and we go to commercial.
Match Number One: R-Truth with rap through the crowd versus Mike Knox
Truth with punches and a side head lock but Knox picks up Truth and runs him into the corner and connects with punches. Knox adds knees and elbows. Truth with a split to avoid Knox and then he staggers Knox with a kick to the head. Truth with a punch and kick but Knox sends Truth into the ropes and then he slams Truth to the mat. Knox with knees to the head. Knox with a side head lock but Truth with a drop kick to the head and one to the knees. Truth with a scissors kick for a near fall. Truth goes up top and he hits a missile drop kick but he can only get a two count. Truth with punches in the corner but Knox blocks them and then when the referee pulls Truth out of the corner, Knox with a bicycle kick and then he hits the corkscrew DDT for the three count.
Winner: Mike Knox
Gail Kim and Michelle McCool (with Alicia Fox) walk in the back in split screen as we go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that a lot of people looked at wwe.com after Wrestlemania.
Match Number Two: Michelle McCool with Alicia Fox but no dancing versus Gail Kim
Michelle pushes Gail in the back and then they lock up. Michelle with a take down and then Michelle channels Scott Steiner and does push ups. Michelle with a kick and punches followed by an Irish whip. Gail with a drop kick and leg sweep for a near fall. Gail with a forearm and Michelle goes to the floor on an Irish whip and Alicia checks on Michelle. Gail goes after Michelle and Michelle uses Alicia as a human shield and then she sends Alicia into Gail, but Gail pushes Alicia aside. Gail with a kick and then they return to the ring. Gail with a kick and then Michelle counters a wheelbarrow move with a hot shot to Gail on the top rope. Michelle punches Gail and then she puts Gail in a figure four head lock but Gail escapes. Gail with an elbow to Michelle followed by a kick and then she sends Michelle into the turnbuckles followed by clotheslines. Gail with an Irish whip and a cross body into the corner. Gail goes up top and hits a Blockbuster but Alicia puts Michelle’s foot on the rope to stop the referee’s count. Michelle misses a boot. Gail tries for a rana and Michelle counters with the McCool Clash for the three count.
Winner: Michelle McCool
We go to commercial.
We are back and Josh Mathews is in the interview area with Jeff Hardy. Josh asks Jeff about his match against Chris Jericho. Jeff says that the only thing running through his head is the World Title match. He says that Chris Jericho is a distraction because of everything he does and says. It ends tonight. The only thing they will be saying after Judgment Day is how he became the World Champion.
Ricky Ortiz and Maria are discussing Maria’s fashion designs in Teddy’s office and Teddy is there too. Ricky says that things are going to turn around for Maria and he tells her to ‘Rally up’. That comment is heard by Edge as he enters the office and he does not know what to say in response. Teddy asks for a moment with Edge. Edge wants to know who Teddy thinks he is. Teddy reminds Edge that he is the general manager and he wants to know what he can do for Edge. Edge says that he wants to know why Teddy is giving Chris Jericho a shot at the title. Teddy says that Edge is lucky to even have the title because CM Punk was about to cash in his Money in the Bank before Umaga attacked Punk. Edge says that he had Punk taken care of. Teddy says that Edge will be facing CM Punk again tonight. Edge says that it is a non-title match. Teddy says that it is the case unless Punk cashes in his Money in the Bank briefcase tonight.
We see footage from the Superstars Match between John Morrison and Chris Jericho which featured a distraction by Shelton Benjamin on the SuperStarTron.
Match Number Two: John Morrison versus Charlie Haas with Shelton Benjamin
They lock up and Haas with a waist lock into a take down and front face lock. Haas with a side head lock and Haas with a punch to Morrison followed by a knee and forearm. Morrison sends Haas into the turnbuckles followed by a European uppercut. Haas pushes Morrison into the corner but he misses a charge into the corner. Morrison with a springboard drop kick for a near fall. Morrison with a back body drop and then Morrison looks at Benjamin who is sitting at the announce table. Morison with a European uppercut but Haas with a hard Irish whip. Haas with a kick to the back and the head. Haas puts Morrison in the ropes and he connects with cross faces. Morrison with an elbow to Haas but Has with punches and forearms. Haas with a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Morrison with punches and forearms but Haas with a boot and a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Haas with a knee in Morrison’s back as he stretches Morrison. Morrison gets to his feet and he hits a mule kick. Morrison with forearms and a drop kick. Morrison follows that with a clothesline. Haas sends Morrison into the turnbuckles. Morrison stop s a charge by Haas and then Morrison with a knee to the head and then Morrison goes for the split legged corkscrew moonsault for the three count.
Winner: John Morrison
After the match, Morrison wants Benjamin to enter the ring but Benjamin walks away.
CM Punk is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with the Smack of the Night: Umaga attacking CM Punk last week.
Match Number Three: CM Punk versus Edge in a non-title match
They lock up and Edge with a side head lock and hammer lock but Punk reverses. Edge gets to the ropes and Punk releases the hold. They have a Greco-Roman knuckle lock and Edge with knees and then he sends Punk into the turnbuckles. Edge misses a charge into the corner and Punk with an arm drag into an arm bar. Punk sends a charging Edge over the top rope to the floor and then Punk hits a suicide dive. They return to the ring and Punk tries the springboard clothesline but Edge moves out of the way but Edge does not miss with a big boot to the head. Edge with an elbow drop and then elbows to the head and back. Edge puts Punk in a full nelson but Punk gets to his feet and he escapes the hold and gets Edge up for the Go To Sleep but Edge with elbows and then he has Punk in a crucifix. Punk escapes the hold and then he kicks Edge but they both go down when each man tries for a cross body at the same time.
Punk with forearms but Edge with a kick and then Edge tries for a suplex but Punk escapes the hold and he connects with a kick and a running knee lift. Punk with a leg lariat and then he goes to the apron for the springboard clothesline and he hits it but he can only get a two count. Edge avoids the knee into the corner and Edge gets Punk on his shoulders but Punk with a victory roll for a near fall. Punk tries for the Go To Sleep but Edge escapes the hold. Punk with the knee in the corner and then Edge gets out of the bulldog attempt but Punk gets Edge on his shoulders. Edge grabs the ropes and gets out of the hold. Edge goes for a spear but Punk leap frogs Edge and Edge goes to the floor. While Edge waits on the floor he decides that he has had enough and heads to the back and gets counted out.
Winner: CM Punk by count out
After the match, Umaga comes into the ring and he attacks Punk. Umaga with a savate kick and then he hits a uranage. Umaga with the Samoan Spike to Punk.
We are back and there are some members of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the front row.
There is an arm wrestling table in the ring and Cryme Tyme comes out.
JTG and Shad throw out some yo-yos and then they talk about the Brooklyn Break Down from last week. JTG says that they are going to do something different this week. They want to settle the beef between Eve and Layla. This arm wrestling match has a Cryme Tyme twist to it.
Layla and Eve come to the ring for the arm wrestling match. Layla claims that she hurt her elbow and calls for a time out. Shad asks Layla if she is okay. They lock up again and Layla is about to win but Eve is able to summon the strength to go Over the Top. Layla with a kick and a neck breaker to Eve before she leaves the ring.
Dolph Ziggler sees Jimmy Wang Yang and Jesse talking in the back and he pushes Jesse aside and then asks them what they are doing here. Dolph says that they might want to hear what he has to say in the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that more people might have watched NBC, CBS, or ABC than Smackdown, but not the other two broadcast networks.
Dolph Ziggler comes to the ring and he has something to say. Dolph says that now that he is on Smackdown, he is going to rip through the entire roster and show everyone what a real winner is. He says that he is a real winner. To make his point, tonight he is issuing an open challenge to anyone in the Smackdown locker room. Dolph says that tonight he cements his place as the premiere superstar. No one will forget the name Dolph Ziggler.
Match Number Four: Dolph Ziggler versus The Great Khali in the Dolph Ziggler Greatness Open Challenge
Ziggler with a clothesline that hurts him more than Khali. Ziggler comes off the ropes again and Khali grabs Ziggler by the throat and then he hits a clothesline. Khali sends Ziggler into the turnbuckles and then he chops Ziggler. Khali tries for a big boot in the corner but Ziggler moves. Ziggler works on the hamstring and Ziggler grabs a chair. Ziggler hits Khali with the chair and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Great Khali by disqualification
We are back with the Raw Rebound.
Edge comes to the ring to do commentary with Jim Ross and Todd Grisham.
Match Number Five: Jeff Hardy versus Chris Jericho in an If Chris Jericho wins, he gets a spot in the World Title Match at Judgment Day . . . but if he loses, nothing else happens to him Match
Jericho with a kick and forearm followed by punches. Hardy with a spear and punches to Jericho and then he puts Jericho in a reverse chin lock. Hardy holds on to the ropes when Jericho tries for a drop kick. Hardy with a leg drop and a near fall. Jericho punches Hardy and tries to slam Hardy but Hardy counters and he slams Jericho. Hardy goes up top but Jericho rolls out of the ring. Rey Mysterio comes out as Jericho starts walking to the back. This allows Hardy to ambush Jericho from behind and send him into the ringside barrier.
They return to the ring and Hardy punches Jericho and kicks him in the corner. Jericho with an Irish whip but he misses a charge into the corner and Jericho goes to the floor. Hardy with an Irish whip that sends Jericho into the ringside barrier. Hardy moves the ring steps to use them to propel him into Jericho with a modified Poetry in Motion and Jericho moves and Hardy goes into the ringside barrier. Hardy tries to get back into the ring and he barely makes it in before the referee’s ten count. Jericho gets a near fall as Hardy returns to the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back and Jericho is choking Hardy in the ropes and then Jericho has some words for Edge at the announce table. Jericho catapults Hardy into the middle rope. Hardy punches Jericho but Jericho with a knee to Hardy for a near fall. Jericho with a reverse chin lock with the arm isolated. Hardy gets to his feet and he punches Jericho but Jericho with a knee. Hardy with a short arm clothesline to Jericho. Hardy with a running forearm to Jericho. Hardy tries for Whisper in the Wind, but Hardy slips on the turnbuckles. Jericho works over Hardy on the turnbuckles but Hardy punches Jericho off and Hardy hits Whisper in the Wind but he can only get a two count. Hardy tries for the Twist of Fate but Jericho blocks it. Hardy misses the mule kick and Jericho puts Hardy in the Walls of Jericho. With Edge’s encouragement at the announce table, Hardy is able to man up and get to the ropes to get Jericho to break the hold. Jericho begs the referee to help him. Jericho waits for Hardy to get up but Hardy with a kick and gourdbuster driver and then Hardy goes up top but misses a Swanton. Jericho with a Lionsault but he can only get a two count.
Jericho punches Hardy but Jericho misses an enzuigiri. Hardy cannot hit the Twist of Fate but Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho but Hardy sends Jericho off the ropes and they each get near falls with inside cradles. Hardy clotheslines Jericho over the top rope and both men go to the floor. Jericho throws Hardy over the announce table and into Edge and Todd Grisham. Jericho brings Jeff back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Edge gets on the apron to yell at Jericho and Hardy with a School boy for a near fall. Edge takes his belt and goes to the back. Jericho with a cover but he uses the ropes and Rey Mysterio narcs out Jericho for using the ropes. Jericho yells at Rey and then Jericho turns around into a Twist of Fate and then Hardy hits the Swanton for the three count.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
After the match, Edge backs up the ramp while Hardy follows him.
While Jeff celebrates at the top of the ramp, Rey hits a seated splash on Chris Jericho.
2009 - WWE ran a combined Smackdown/ECW house show in Grand Rapids, Michigan with the following results:
-Evan Bourne defeated Tyson Kidd.
-Kozolv defeated Finlay
-John Morrison defeated Shelton.
-Gail Kim and Eve Torres defeated Natalya and Layla.
-CM Punk beat Umaga by DQ.
-ECW champion Christian vs Jack Swagger became a no contest when Tommy Dreamer and Mark Henry became involved. It becomes a tag with Dreamer and Christian defeating Henry and Swagger.
-Rey Mysterio defeated Chris Jericho to retain the Intercontinental title.
-Edge defeated Jeff Hardy to retain World title.
2009 - Ring of Honor ran Edison, NJ. Stu Carapola filed the following live report:
I was at the ROH show in Edison, NJ last night, and while it was an okay show, it was nothing really to write home about. It was a typically strange NJ crowd, in that part of the crowd (last night, it was the section around the entranceway) was really alive and into the show, and the rest kind of sat on their hands or jeered whatever was going on. It was also incredibly hot in there, which made it hard to really get into the matches. Couldn't get a good gauge on the crowd size, but there were several open seats in my section in the first three or four rows, which isn't a good sign.
Results:
-Eddie Kingston defeated Ricky Reyes with the spinning back fist. Crowd was really into Kingston (who I don't get), but couldn't care less about Reyes. Reyes did beat him up pretty good with some stiff kicks and forearms, but this was a pretty standard opener.
-Brent Albright & Erick Stevens defeated the Super Smash Brothers. The Smash Bros got a good pop from the crowd and some token offense, but this was pretty much all Stevens and Albright. Albright picked up the win with the half nelson suplex.
-Chris Hero defeated Sonjay Dutt. Dutt popped the crowd and had some nice high flying offense, but Hero picked up the win with a big boot with the loaded elbow pad on his foot for the win. Hero still wins regularly, but seems like he's going nowhere fast.
-Delirious & Necro Butcher defeated Jimmy Rave & Claudio Castagnoli. Rave spent most of the match hiding out on the apron, but did come in long enough to get rolled up and pinned by Delirious. Nana was hilarious as always here, calling everyone in the crowd swine flu pigs, with Osiris going around panhandling even as the match was going on. Nana is such an entertaining guy and you didn't realize until he came back just what we were missing without him these last few years.
-Rhett Titus & Kenny King defeated Grizzly Redwood & Alex Payne. Part of the crowd started the "you're a virgin" chant, and then another part started a "he gets p----" chant, with Redwood acting like they meant him, which was pretty funny. Standard "coming back from intermission" match that ended when they hit the blockbuster/powerbomb combo for the win.
-Colt Cabana defeated Joey Ryan. This was my first chance seeing Joey Ryan wrestle in person and I thought he was very entertaining, he does this sleazy gimmick with the chest hair and the tacky Hawaiian pattern tights and the sunglasses, complete with the "Who wants a mustache ride?" entrance music intro. Fun comedy match with Cabana acting grossed out to get too close to Joey Ryan because he didn't know where he's been. Ryan is a member of the Embassy, so Prince Nana and Ernie Osiris were at ringside for this one as well. Cabana picked up the win with an inverted Boston Crab.
-The American Wolves defeated Bryan Danielson & Kevin Steen to retain the ROH World Tag Team Title. This was a good match, though nowhere near as good (or as long) as the match in Canada from a few weeks ago. Edwards and especially Richards were far and away the best thing on the card, as usual of late. They've really got a good thing going with these two, and I'm consistently amazed at how a team that seemed thrown together has really developed into the top act in the company. At this point they seem more main event than Jerry Lynn or Tyler Black. They spent most of the match working over Danielson's leg until Edwards made Danielson tap out to a half crab, which really surprised me, but then again they've been doing well at getting away from the perception that Edwards is the "B" member of the team. Steen got in Richards' face after the match, so it looks like we're going to see more of Steen battling the Wolves.
-Jerry Lynn defeated Jay Briscoe to retain the ROH World Title. I have a feeling this match will come off better on DVD than it did live, and this is no fault of the company's, but it was so hot in the building by the end of this show it was hard to really get into anything. Both men brought it, but Lynn gets nowhere near the reaction as champion that Nigel did, and there was even a small part of the crowd doing a "We want Nigel" chant. I don't think anyone expected to see Briscoe get the title, because I think he and Roderick Strong are the two guys with the most failed attempts to win it, but Briscoe's a marquee name in ROH that can be counted on to deliver in any spot you put him in, and I thought he frankly had a better showing than Lynn. Each man kicked out of the other's finisher until Lynn hit a Tombstone version of the Cradle Piledriver for the win. After the match, Lynn got on the mic and put over the Briscoes as guys he's known since they broke into the business and is proud of how far they've both come, and then he called out a few smartass fans in the crowd who were running him down.
Overall, I think the heat in the building dragged it down, but this was an unspectacular show. Sonjay, Kingston, and Joey Ryan brought something different, but beyond that, and the Wolves bringing their usual A-game, this wasn't the greatest ROH show I've been to lately. It wasn't bad per se, and there were a couple of asterisks with the Jersey All Pro show running across town as well as the glut of injuries that decimated the planned lineups for this weekend's events. ROH isn't returning to Edison until November.
2010 - A match between "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan and Matt Borne on a Pro Wrestling Syndicate event in New York turned into a shoot. When Duggan and Borne attempted to talk over their match backstage, Duggan, who was scheduled to go over in the match in five minutes, tried to tell Borne exactly what they were going to do for the match with Borne getting beat with a spear for the finish. Borne felt disrespected by this, as he's been in the business just as long as Duggan and it's common knowledge that a heel usually calls and dictates the flow of a match. Once the two former WWE Superstars went out for their match, things fell apart quickly when Duggan kicked Borne dead in his face.
2010 - According to an article in the Hindustan Times, the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in India was vandalized when Khali did not make an advertised appearance at a charity wrestling event, "War of the Champions." The wrestling ring, a big screen and other property in the stadium were vandalized and fans fought with "bouncers" at the event. No police were present. The promoters of the event claimed that Khali no showed due to a contracted appearance for a sports channel, whole reps for Khali claimed that the promoters were informed 10 days ago he couldn't make the date. Khali's reps also claimed to have returned the money he had been paid for the event, but the promoters continued to advertise him for "reasons best known to them." Tickets to the event carried Khali's picture.
2011 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Knoxville, Tennessee and your announcers are Michael ‘
The Lane Kiffin of WWE’ Cole, Josh ‘
The Bruce Pearl of the WWE’ Mathews and Jerry ‘
The Pat Summit of the WWE’ Lawler.
The show starts with Alberto Del Rio making his way to the ring as Ricardo Rodriguez introduces him.
Del Rio introduces himself but we know who he is already. Alberto says that it is his destiny to be the World Champion but it was stolen by the retired Edge. He says that destiny can be delayed, but it cannot be stopped. Alberto wonders why we wasted so much time last week with the Rock. It should have been a celebration of the arrival of Alberto Del Rio. The WWE Champion is John Cena, but we know that there is no one better than him. Alberto says that he should be the number one contender.
Rey Mysterio’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring. Rey tells Alberto that he is no more worthy to have a title match than him. They both got drafted to Raw and he is going to tell Alberto what he has said before. It isn’t Alberto’s destiny to be champion, it is his destiny to be the personal ring announcer of Ricardo Rodriguez. In order to determine the number one contender, he is challenging Alberto to a match tonight.
Alberto tells Rey to listen to him like the little Chihuahua that he is. If he has to beat Rey for the thousandth time . . .
We hear Awesome first and Miz comes to the ring followed his personal young boy, Alex Riley.
Miz throws out a few reallys. He says that Teddy Long’s incompetence on Smackdown led to things, but draft or no draft, this is still his show. The WWE Championship is still his title. If not for the incompetence of his assistant last week, he would still be WWE Champion.
Alberto says that Miz had his chance and he didn’t get the job done. He tells Miz that he goes to the back of the line.
Miz says that he got the job done and he pinned John Cena. Last week, he was announced the WWE Champion. Then the prejudiced referee reversed the decision. Miz says that he didn’t know what Alex Riley was going to do. Miz says that he used the belt before Cena could. Miz demands a legitimate rematch and then he tells Alberto and Rey that they can fight in a Taco Bell parking lot. Miz says that he is the only person who should be facing John Cena.
R Truth comes out to the ring without wanting to know ‘What’s Up’. Truth says that we can’t get along and since everyone is spitting a bit of hate, he wants to spit a little hate of his own. Truth says that he hates hospital food. He says that it is as dry as a desert, it smells bad, and it tastes bad. He says you never get it when you really want. Truth says that John Morrison is eating a lot of hospital food now because of what happened last week. We go to the video tape.
Truth is proud of what he did and says that Morrison had to have surgery and he says that it is on WWE.com if you don’t believe him. Truth sends a shout out to John Morrison. P.S. hospital food gives you constipation.
Truth says that he has no problem making sure that everyone in the ring is hooked up to the same IV. He says that they can share the same bedpan too. It doesn’t matter if you’re some pretty boy from L.A. and he calls Miz ‘Kermit’. It doesn’t matter if you are some super hero wannabe from San Diego and he calls Rey ‘bottle nose’. It doesn’t matter if you’re some pompous Mexican fence jumper and he calls Del Rio ‘liver lips’.
When an angry black man is talking, everyone needs to shut it up. Truth says that he is not going to wait around like he did over the last ten years. The only person who is going to face John Cena is him and that is the TRUTH.
We get an Instantly Annoying Message and Michael Cole gets to grace us with his reading comprehension skills. Cole quotes and says that despite all of the compelling arguments, only three deserve it. There will be a Triple Threat match to see who faces John Cena at Over The Limit.
Miz is right that he deserves a rematch so he is in. Alberto Del Rio is the crown jewel of the WWE Draft so he is in too. As for the third competitor . . .
By virtue of his victory last week, the third competitor is Rey Mysterio.
Truth is not happy with the announcement and he wants to know why it happened to him again. Truth says that he is better than everyone, especially Rey.
Rey tells Truth that for once, he is agreeing with the General Manager. Truth should not be in the match and that’s What’s Up and that’s the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Truth leaves the ring, but is this the last time we see Truth tonight?
Miz tells Alberto and Rey that it doesn’t matter what they accomplished or did not accomplish on Smackdown. They need to learn that on Raw, they are day laborers, chump change, and bench warmers because the star of this show and the next WWE Champion is . . .
Ricardo jumps in and says ‘Alberto Del Rio’ and Alberto laughs. Alex Riley attacks Del Rio but Rodriguez takes care of Riley. Miz goes after Rodriguez and then Del Rio and Miz battle to the floor. Rey with a plancha onto Del Rio to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Kharma attacking Maryse last week while saving Kelly for later.
Match Number One: Nikki and Brie Bella versus Eve Torres and Kelly Kelly
Kelly and Brie start things off and Kelly with a clean break. Nikki distracts Kelly and Brie attacks her from behind. Nikki tags in and Brie with a drop kick followed by one from Nikki for a near fall. Nikki with a forearm to the back and Kelly with a head scissors to Nikki. Kelly spanks Nikki and then she sends Brie to the floor.
Kelly with a handspring back elbow to Nikki followed by a bulldog. Brie tries to pull Nikki to the floor and Eve with a drop kick to Brie. Kelly with an inside cradle for the three count.
Winners: Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres
After the match, Kharma’s music plays and she is on her way to the ring while Eve and Kelly stay in the ring.
The Bellas try to hide from Kharma as she makes her way to the ring.
The Bellas run to the back while Eve and Kelly stand in the ring, well Kelly has backed herself into a corner and then she leaves the ring.
Eve charges at Kharma and Kharma knocks Eve to the mat. Kharma leaves the ring and Kelly runs away. Kharma stares at Kelly and then looks back into the ring. Kharma picks up Eve and hits her with the Implant Buster.
Kane is walking in the back and Big Show joins him as we walk into commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that WWE has a lot of Facebook fans?
We see highlights from last week when Mason Ryan took Kane down with an uranage. Then we see Ryan giving Big Show a spear.
Match Number Two: Mason Ryan with CM Punk versus Kane with Big Show
Kane with a waist lock but Ryan gets out of the hold. Kane with a kick and uppercut. Ryan with an Irish whip but Kane with punches to Ryan and the referee warns Kane. Ryan with a clothesline that takes Kane down. Ryan chokes Kane in the ropes and then he gets Kane up and he hits the Oklahoma Stampede but he can only get a near fall.
No Contest
Ryan misses a clothesline and Kane with an uppercut and a drop kick to the knees and then to the head for a near fall. Kane with a kick when Ryan misses a shoulder in the corner. Punk hits Kane in the leg but Kane is able to kick Ryan. Punk gets knocked out by Show. The other members of Nexus come to the ring but Kane and Show take care of McGillicutty and Otunga like they are members of the Corre. Kane and Show with a double choke slam to Ryan.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Vickie Guerrero interrupts Santino’s music to introduce the greatest superstar in the WWE.
Match Number Three: Santino Marella versus Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero
Dolph pushes Santino away and he punches Santino followed by kicks and more punches. Dolph with a fireman’s carry and then he hits a leaping elbow drop and then he kicks Santino in the head. Ziggler holds Santino by the head but Santino with a punch and hip toss. Time for the cobra but Ziggler with a drop kick while Santino wasn’t looking. Ziggler with the Zig Zag for the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
We go to commercial.
We are back with the return of the Smackdown Rebound (Byte This is next) of Christian’s title reign ending at the hands of Randall Keith Orton.
Josh says that he thought it was unfair for Christian to have to defend his title so soon. Lawler says that we shouldn’t blame Teddy Long.
R Truth is walking out of the building while listening to something on his headphones.
Scott Stanford wants to talk to him. Truth says that it is a conspiracy. Truth says that he is getting letters from parents to go back to dancing and singing ‘what’s up’. Truth says that he isn’t being taken seriously because the fans aren’t taking him seriously. Truth tells Del Rio, Miz, and Mysterio will get theirs in due time.
Truth wants Scott to say ‘what’s up’ and Truth stares a hole through Scott as he leaves.
Zack Ryder fist pumps with John Cena and then Cena walks away.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look back at last week’s Raw when Miz defeated John Cena only to have the referee reverse the decision.
Miz is pacing and Riley tells Miz that he thought he was doing the right thing. He had it set up perfectly and he did it for Miz. Riley says that he didn’t realize that Miz had the title in his hand when he raised it.
Miz asks Riley how stupid he gets. He told Riley what to do and he hugs him and then raises his hand with the title belt.
Riley apologizes and Miz calls him an amoeba. Miz thinks about it and he calls Riley a troglodyte. Then he says that Riley has the brain of an orangutan. Miz wonders why he allows Riley in his presence.
Riley says that he is going to make it up to him and Miz wants to know how. Riley tells him to watch him.
Riley is walking in the back and he is looking for someone or something, but he keeps walking and walking and walking and walking.
Riley makes his way into the arena and the fans show their appreciation. Riley says that he doesn’t care what everyone thinks about him. The only person in his life that he cares about is the Miz. He says that he is going to prove it to the Miz because he is challenging John Cena to a match.
Riley tells Cena that he is in the ring. Since he is the Miz’s poor little apprentice, he can’t do Cena any harm. Riley throws the mic up the ramp and then John Cena’s music plays.
Match Number Four: John Cena versus Alex Riley in a Non Title Match
Cena with a waist lock and take down. They lock up and Cena with a snap mare to Riley. Riley tries for a kick but Cena blocks it and then he hip tosses Riley. Cena misses a charge into the corner and he hits a clothesline and gets a near fall. Riley gets another near fall. Riley works on the arm and hits a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Riley with a reverse chin lock. Cena powers out of the hold but Riley with a kick.
Cena with the two flying shoulder tackles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb and the Legendary sequence ends with the Five Knuckle Shuffle and an Attitude Adjustment. Cena sees Miz on the ramp walking to the ring. Cena gets Riley up for another Attitude Adjustment. Cena applies the STF and Riley taps.
Winner: John Cena
Cena takes his time to release the hold and then he poses for Miz.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for Michael Cole to increase the sales of ear plugs. Cole says that after beating Jerry Lawler twice, he cannot get any higher. After much deliberation, Cole says that he is going to announce his retirement from in ring competition. Cole says that he knows he is retiring as the only undefeated superstar. Cole says that he wants to be known as a dual announcer and in ring competitor when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Lawler comes into the ring and Cole reminds us that the stipulation from earlier in the year still stands.
Lawler says that rule did not apply to the Rock last week. Lawler decides that to get the fans out of their coma, he wants to show everyone what happened last week between Michael Cole and The Rock.
Lawler tells Cole that it was very entertaining. He says that if the day ever came where Michael Cole was ever inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, life as we know it would cease to exist. Lawler suggests that if Cole could defeat him again, Lawler says that he would personally induct Cole into the Hall of Fame and give him his Hall of Fame ring.
Cole says no after bringing up the ring a few times.
Cole returns to his sequin mine and Cole says that Lawler had to steal his spotlight again. Cole wonders what it is about people from Tennessee being sore losers. Cole brings up Al Gore who lost to George Bush and he is still complaining about it. Cole suggests that people in Tennessee will not acknowledge that Elvis died on the toilet. Cole says that Lawler won’t acknowledge that he lost to him twice. Cole says that he made that decision yesterday on Mother’s Day. He talks about how he spent Mother’s Day with his mom and they watched Wrestlemania on the DVD player and they watched over and over the night that he dissected Lawler in the ring. He says that there is nothing better to do on Mother’s Day than to spend it with your mother. Cole asks Lawler what he did on Mother’s Day. Cole says that he is insensitive because it slipped his mind that Lawler’s mother passed away in February.
Lawler goes to the Sequin Mine but Swagger stops Lawler and sends him into the ring post.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Be A Star video package.
Match Number Five: Jack Swagger versus Kofi Kingston for the United States Title
They lock up and Kofi with a waist lock but Swagger backs Kofi into the corner and he goes for the ankle but Kofi rolls through. Kofi misses on Trouble in Paradise. Swagger with a side head lock take down but Kofi with a head scissors. Swagger escapes and Kofi with another waist lock but Swagger with a standing switch. Kofi tries for a standing switch but Swagger with a knee. Kofi with a flying forearm followed by a drop kick and Swagger goes to the floor.
Kofi tries for a pescado but Swagger returns to the ring. Swagger with a kick and then he knocks Kofi off the apron and we go to commercial.
We are back and Swagger has Kofi’s arms locked and Swagger with a forearm to the back. Swagger runs Kofi into the turnbuckles and then he puts Kofi on the turnbuckles. Kofi kicks Swagger but Swagger with a knee to the midsection. Swagger tries for the Swagger Bomb but he lands on Kofi’s knees. Kofi misses Trouble in Paradise when Swagger moves out of the way. Kofi goes up top and hits a cross body for a near fall.
Kofi kicks Swagger in the head but Swagger sends Kofi over the top rope but Kofi holds on and tries to sends Swagger to the floor. Swagger puts Kofi in the ankle lock while Kofi was in the ropes. Swagger sends Kofi’s knee into the mat. Kofi kicks Swagger away and then he connects with an elbow. Kofi sets for a tornado DDT but Swagger counters and Kofi lands on his ankle. Swagger stands on the ankle while kicking Kofi.
Jerry Lawler comes out and Kofi with Trouble in Paradise for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
After the match, Lawler sends Swagger into the crowd as he tries to enter Cole cubby hole. Lawler throws a chair into the box and then he grabs Cole’s tie and pulls Cole into the wall a few dozen times.
Swagger checks on Cole and he tells Lawler that he did it. Swagger says that Lawler is going to be fired for touching him.
Lawler says that he didn’t touch Cole, he touched his tie.
Swagger says that Lawler a first ballot Hall of Famer because Cole accepts.
Cole wonders what just happened as he walks to the back with Jack Swagger.
We go to footage from the Santa Barbara Film Festival for That’s What I Am, which featured Randy Orton.
Match Number Six: Alberto Del Rio versus Miz versus Rey Mysterio in a Number One Contender Match
Miz goes after Rey but Rey moves. Rey kicks Del Rio and Miz. Miz hits Rey from behind. Rey kicks Del Rio and then Miz sends Rey over his head and Rey kicks Del Rio. Alberto and Miz go into the ropes but Del Rio with a clothesline. Del Rio sends Rey to the floor and Miz with a rollup for a near fall. Miz avoids the cross arm breaker. Del Rio tries for a rollup but Miz holds on to the ropes.
Rey with a sunset flip on Del Rio but Miz breaks up the cover. Miz sends Del Rio into the ring post and Miz gets a near fall on Rey. Miz with an Irish whip and then he sets for the Awesome Clothesline and the force sends Del Rio to the floor. Miz gets a near fall on Rey. Miz with a snap mare and cravate on Rey but Rey with kicks to Miz. Rey with a drop toe hold and Miz falls into the ropes. Del Rio trips Rey and then he kicks Rey in the midsection. Rey tries for a head scissors but Del Rio sends Rey to the floor. Miz tries for the Skull Crushing Finale but Del Rio with a rollup for a near fall. Miz counters a cross arm breaker attempt with a rollup. Miz and Del Rio with clotheslines at the same time and they are down in the ring while Rey is down on the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Del Rio with a rear chin lock on Rey but he takes time to kick Miz off the apron and back to the floor. Rey punches Del Rio in the ribs but Del Rio punches Rey. Del Rio with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Del Rio goes to the floor and he sends Miz into the ring post.
Del Rio returns to the ring and he kicks Rey in the head and gets a near fall. Del Rio with a reverse chin lock on Del Rio. Rey with an elbow to Del Rio but Del Rio with a kick to Rey’s leg followed by a punch. Miz pulls down the ropes and Del Rio goes over the top rope to the floor. Miz with a sunset flip but you don’t give Rey a sunset flip and Rey rolls through and kicks Miz in the head. Rey with a leg drop and he gets a near fall.
Miz backs into the corner and he sends Rey into the turnbuckles. Miz kicks Rey followed by an Irish whip. Miz thinks about the Awesome clothesline but Rey moves out of the way. Del Rio pulls Miz to the floor. Rey with a flip dive onto Del Rio and all three men are down on the floor.
Rey kicks Del Rio and sends him back into the ring. Rey with a baseball slide to Miz. Rey goes up top for a seated splash and he connects. Rey with a springboard cross body for a near fall on Del Rio.
Del Rio pushes Rey into the ropes but Rey with a head scissors and Del Rio is down. Miz goes up top while Del Rio and Rey fight in the ring. Del Rio is sent into the turnbuckles and Miz is crotched. Rey with a rollup for a near fall.
Rey punches Miz on the turnbuckles and Rey hits a super rana but Del Rio with a single arm breaker. Del Rio smiles at Rey and then he puts Rey in the cross arm breaker. Rey tries to get out of the hold. Miz misses a boot but Del Rio with a rollup on Miz for a near fall. Miz with a DDT for a near fall on Del Rio.
Rey kicks Miz out of the ring and Alex Riley limps to ringside. Riley checks on Miz while Del Rio sets for a power bomb on Rey. Rey counters and sends Del Rio into Riley. Rey hits the 619 and then he kicks Miz off the apron. Rey with the dive but Riley pulls Del Rio out of the ring. Miz with a rollup for the three count on Mysterio.
Winner: Miz
Miz has Riley hold up his hand in victory while Rey cannot believe that he came so close to winning.
John Cena’s music plays and he comes out to announce the stipulation for his match with Miz at Over the Limit.
Cena congratulates Miz and he says that he is doing the same thing he did the night after Wrestlemania. All Miz did was have excuses when he lost. Cena says that there will be no excuses because there will be no disqualifications. There will also be no count outs. There will be no submissions. There will be no pinfalls. Cena tells Miz that if he wants to win the title back, he will have to make Cena say two words . . . I Quit.
Meanwhile, back in the ring, R Truth attacks Cena and hits What’s Up on Rey.
We go to credits.
Thanks to www.thehistoryofwwe.com for their assistance with archival results.
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