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November 28th
On this day in history in ....
1939 - Paul Jones defeats Pedro Martinez in Honolulu for the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title.
1963 - The Crusher defeats Verne Gagne in St. Paul, Minnesota for the AWA World Heavyweight Title, ending Gagne's fifth reign with the belt, and starting Crusher's second run as champion.
1977 - Dennis Condrey & Phil Hickerson defeat The Samoans (Afa & Sika) to win the AWA Southern Tag Team Title for the second time in Memphis, Tennessee. On the same show, Jimmy Valiant defeated Jerry Lawler for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Lawler's second reign and beginning his own second run with the gold.
1985 - Buck Zumhofe defeats Steve Regal for the AWA World Light-Heavyweight Title in St. Paul, Minnesota, starting his second reign as champion.
1985 - World Class held their Thanksgiving Star Wars card in Dallas, Texas at Reunion Arena. Here are the results of the show:
- The Missing Link & The Grappler defeated Dave Peterson & Johnny Mantell.
- Lance Von Erich defeated Tim Brooks.
- One Man Gang defeated Gary Hart.
- One Man Gang vs. Kamala ended in a double countout.
- World Class Texas Champion Brian Adias defeated Jack Victory.
- Iceman Parsons defeated World Class American Champion Rick Rude via disqualification.
- John Tatum defeated Scott Casey in a Steel Cage Texas Death match.
- Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez defeated Kerry & Kevin Von Erich in a Steel Cage to win the vacant World Class American Tag Team Title when Adams pinned Kerry. Terry Gordy and Brian Adias were the guest referees.
1985 - The NWA/Jim Crockett Promotions held Starrcade '85 "The Gathering" at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina and the Omni in Atlanta, Georgia. The two locations alternated having live matches, while showing bouts from the other venue on closed circuit television. Other closed circuit locations were also set up for fans to see the entire card.
Here are the results from Greensboro:
- Don Kernodle defeated Tommy Lane.
-World Junior Heavyweight Champion Denny Brown defeated Rocky King.
- Krusher Khruschev defeated Sam Houston to win the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title.
- Ron Bass defeated Black Bart in a Bullrope match. As a result, he was given a Bullrope match with JJ Dillon.
- JJ Dillon defeated Ron Bass in a Bullrope match.
- Buddy Landell defeated Terry Taylor to win the NWA National Title.
- Magnum TA defeated Tully Blanchard in an I Quit match in a steel cage to win the United States Heavyweight Title. Tully was forced to submit when Magnum took a piece of a chair that Tully had tried to use as a weapon and spiked Tully in the head with it until he quit.
- The Rock N' Roll Express defeated Ivan & Nikita Koloff when Morton pinned Ivan to win the NWA World Tag Team Title.
Here are the results from Atlanta:
- Thunderfoot defeated The Italian Stallion.
- Pez Whatley defeated Mike Graham.
- Manny Fernandez defeated Abdullah the Butcher in a Sombrero on a Pole match.
- Jimmy Valiant & Miss Atlanta Lively (Ron Garvin) defeated The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) in a Street Fight match when Lively pinned Eaton.
- Superstar Billy Graham defeated The Barbarian by disqualification in an Arm Wrestling match.
- Ole & Arn Anderson defeated Wahoo McDaniel & Billy Jack Haynes when Arn pinned McDaniel.
- Dusty Rhodes defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair via disqualification. Rhodes actually pinned Flair and the show ended with fans thinking Rhodes had won the title. However, that weekend on TBS, it was announced that because Ole Anderson had interfered in the match (which was not seen by the referee), the match should have ended in a DQ at that point, and the belt was returned to Flair with Rhodes getting a DQ, not pinfall, win. Yep, it was a "Dusty Finish".
1985 - Mid South Wrestling ran three live matches at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana before showing Starrcade on closed circuit TV. Here are the results of the matches:
- Nick Patrick defeated Tommy Wright.
- Butch Reed & Nick Patrick defeated Dick Slater & Buzz Sawyer via disqualification.
- Jake Roberts defeated Lord Humongous via disqualification.
1991 - WWF holds their Survivor Series Pay-per-view in Detroit, Michigan at the Joe Louis Arena, headlined by The Undertaker defeating Hulk Hogan for the WWF World Heavyweight Title when Taker gave Hogan a tombstone onto a steel chair that was slid into the ring by Ric Flair. This was also Flair's PPV debut for WWF, lasting as the sole survivor in his match when almost every other participant was disqualified for brawling outside the ring.
2006 - WWE Diva Michelle McCool was hospitalized suffering from an enlarged kidney and an electrolyte imbalance. She was hospitalized for about a week.
2006 - WWE officially announced that Ashley Massaro would grace the cover of Playboy.
2006 - WWE broadcast ECW on SciFi. Mike Johnson filed the following TV report:
ECW opened with Paul Heyman inside the ring, flanked by his special security force. Heyman said that this Sunday, six men will sacrifice their careers and bodies for a chance at the ECW World championship. Heyman promised pure anarchy inside the Elimination Chamber as he ran down the rules for the match. Heyman said that we all know who the competitors are, so he introduced the weapons that would be inside the Chamber - a crowbar, a steel chair, a table, and a barbed wire baseball bat. Heyman noted that everyone will be eliminated one by one until there is one person, the ECW champion, left standing and the match is every man for himself.
They went into the "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" opening sequence.
Later tonight it's CM Punk vs. Test, Sabu vs. Rob Van Dam, and ECW champion Big Show vs. Bobby Lashley.
Sabu vs. Rob Van Dam
As he headed to the ring, an insert of Van Dam discussing the Elimination Chamber played in the corner with RVD saying he knew how dangerous the Chamber was but it was worth it to scar his body to became ECW champion. They featured comments from Sabu as well as he said, "My scars are my sacrifices. Imagine what I would sacrifice to be ECW champion."
The match began and they went back and forth. Sabu attempted a Frankensteiner off the top rope but RVD held on. Sabu attempted to come off the ropes with a springboard leg lariat, but RVD dove off the ropes and tackled him as they went to commercial.
Back from commercial, Sabu and RVD grappled on the mat. Van Dam dove at Sabu, who ducked down. RVD flew over the top and landed on the apron outside. RVD attempted to suplex Sabu out of the ring to the floor, but Sabu escaped. Sabu went for his sunset flip powerbomb to the floor but RVD escaped and Sabu crashed and burned to the floor. RVD hit a moonsault press to the floor. RVD went for a compactor but Sabu escaped. Van Dam hit a German suplex with a bridge for a nearfall. Sabu hit a legdrop off the ropes across the back of Van Dam's head. He went for a somersault legdrop into the ring but missed. RVD hit Rolling Thunder on Sabu for a two count. Van Dam nailed Sabu with a tornado DDT, then hit the Five Star Frog Splash for a clean pinfall.
Your winner, Rob Van Dam!
They aired a video feature on Bobby Lashley's ECW debut.
The Hardy Boyz vs. Elijah Burke and Sylvester Turkay
They pushed the Hardyz vs. MNM as a "One Night Only" attraction. This is how they give away Turkay's ECW in-ring debut? Burke and Jeff Hardy started the match. Hardy worked over Burke's arm as they went back and forth. Burke tossed him into the turnbuckles, Matt tagged in and the Hardyz doubled on Burke with reverse elbows. Burke distracted the referee, then pulled Matt's hair to slam him backwards onto the mat. Jeff tagged in and got a near pinfall on Burke. The Hardyz kept working over Burke. Burke hit an STO on Jeff Hardy and tagged out.
Burke picked up Jeff and slammed him down with an over the shoulder powerslam. Turkay charged Jeff in the corner, but Jeff evaded and Turkay hit the ringpost shoulder-first. All four began battling inside the ring. Jeff backdropped Burke out of the ring to the floor.
The Hardyz doubleteamed Turkay. They whipped him into the corner and Jeff hit Air Sabu off Matt's back. Matt hit the Twist of Fate followed by Jeff nailing the Swanton for the clean pinfall.
Your winners, The Hardy Boyz!
Before the Hardyz could celebrate, MNM hit the ring and laid them out. They tossed Matt out of the ring and then worked over Jeff. Joey held Jeff up as Nitro measured him and nailed an enziguiri. MNM celebrated over the prone Jeff Hardy.
They aired a video feature on the ECW December to Dismember PPV press conference.
CM Punk vs. Test
Test opened up with a ton of offense, stomping the hell out of Punk in the corner. Punk fired back with a series of forearms, but was cut off with a big clothesline. Outside the ring, Test attempted to pick up Punk, but was shoved facefirst into the ringpost. Punk unloaded with knee strikes. Punk rebounded off the ropes but Test caught him with a tiltowhirl backbreaker. Test cinched in a rear chinlock on Punk. Punk began to fight him way out of it and knocked Test out of the ring with a leg lariat. Punk hit a tope suicida to the floor on Test. Punk tossed Test into the ring steps on the floor. They battled into the crowd with Punk grounding and pounding Test as they were both counted out. Punk continued to beat down Test. Referee Scott Armstrong tried to hold Punk back but Punk continued to go after Test as Test retreated backward. The story here was that Punk was a top star going toe to toe with a top heel.
Double countout - no winner.
Backstage, ECW champion Big Show was walking as Paul Heyman questioned his decision to wrestle Bobby Lashley tonight. He said that since the rebirth of ECW, he's invested everything in Big Show as champion and he doesn't understand why Show is doing this. Show stopped and glared at him. Heyman backed off, but then asked Show to let Heyman accompany him to ringside to help him.
Joey Styles and Tazz reviewed MNM laying out The Hardy Boyz. MNM walked backstage swarmed by paparazzi. Nitro said that what they did to the Hardyz was just a taste of what was to come. Mercury said that MNM would prove that they were the best tag team. They were pushing the Hardys vs. MNM as a one-time meeting as two of the best teams in modern history.
They aired a video feature on the dangers of the Elimination Chamber match.
ECW World champion Big Show (with Paul Heyman) vs. Bobby Lashley
They aired a Show promo where he promised to use the Elimination Chamber to end careers this Sunday and would walk out of the PPV as the ECW champion.
After a commercial break, Lashley came to the ring. No promo from Lashley. They had a staredown before the bell. Lashley went right after Big Show with punches but Show rebounded off the ropes and decimated him with a big clothesline. Show suplexed Lashley over. Show trapped Lashley in a corner and began decimating him with punches and strikes. Lashley began to mount a comeback but Show cut him off with a big boot. Show continued to batter Lashley punches, then worked over his back.
Lashley finally came back, suplexing Show, who was standing on the bottom rope. He nailed Show with several moves, then speared him. Paul Heyman's personal security hit the ring and attacked Lashley. The referee called for a DQ.
Test hit the ring and attacked Lashley. They all began beating down Lashley. Show chokeslammed Lashley. All five, including Heyman, began putting the boots to Lashley. Heyman began taunting Lashley with the ECW title belt. As security and Test held Lashley, Heyman began slapping him. Show drilled him with the ECW World championship belt. Show covered the unconscious Lashley with Heyman acting as referee and counting to three.
ECW went off the air with Heyman's crew trashtalking the unconscious Lashley.
2007 - Dave "Angel of Death" Sheldon has passed away in Bedford, TX at the age of 43 years old.
2007 - In a story that made the front page of newspapers in both Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida, authorities released a 133 page official report on Nick Hogan's car wreck last August, which left passenger John Graziano severely injured, criminal charges filed against Nick and a civil suit expected to be filed in the future by Graziano's family.
According to the report, Hulk Hogan was with his son Nick, Graziano and two additional friends, Barrett Lawrance and Daniel Jacobs, when he purchased 2 cases of Miller Lite beer, 2 cases of Corona Extra beer, 1 case of Miller Chill beer and 5 bags of ice at an Albertson's store in Clearwater. Hogan and Nick's friends carried the alcohol from the store according to the report.
The five spent time boating before being turned away at a local establishment, Shepard's Tiki Bar, because Nick was underage. A bouncer at Shephard's was interviewed by authorities and said everyone in the group was holding bottle of Corona beer when they entered the bar area, except for Nick Hogan, who was drinking from a green cup. Nick Hogan was later charged with operating a vehicle with a breath-alcohol level of .02 or higher while under the age of 21.
The decision was made to drive to Arigato's Steakhouse in Clearwater with Bollea and Graziano driving a yellow Supra and Jacobs and Lawrance taking a silver Dodge Viper; Both cars were owned by Hulk Hogan.
Investigators have alleged Hogan was racing the Supra against the Viper when he lost control and crashed. Jacobs and Lawrance both denied racing with Hogan at the time of the wreck when interviewed by investigators. Lawrance claimed that The Viper he was in, Nick's Supra, a motorcycle and another vehicle were all at an intersection at Court Street and Missouri Avenue at a red light. When the light turned green, Lawrance claimed Jacobs cut in front of the motorcycle to pass Nick. They did, and then heard the Supra crashing behind them.
Authorities have previously acknowledged that the road was wet from weather conditions. Lawrance told investigators the Supra was “at or near 100 miles per hour" at the time of the crash. The posted speed limit for that area is 40 mph.
Authorities ruled that Jacobs was not a direct cause of Nick's crash, but he was issued a court summons for reckless driving in the wake of the crash. Nick Hogan, charged as an adult, not a juvenile, is facing the following:
Nick Hogan's driver's license was suspended in the wake of the wreck. The wreck has also caused a ripple effect including the likely cancellation of the Hogan family VH-1 reality series and the announcement that Linda Hogan had filed for divorce from Hulk Hogan after 23 years of marriage. Some, including the Graziano's family attorney, have surmised that announcement could simply be a strategic move to prevent assets from being lost in the expected civil suit since the cars were owned by Hulk, not Linda Hogan and any assets split in the divorce could be protected from the suit.
Hulk Hogan's attorney was contacted by Tampa Bay Channel 10 but declined comment, stating he had not yet seen the official report.
2009 - WWE DVD "Viva La Raza: The Legacy Of Eddie Guerrero" debuted in the top spot of Billboard's Sports Recreation videos in the first week of its release.
2010 - Dragon Gate USA taped their Open the Freedom Gate PPV in Philadelphia, PA at the ECW Arena. Josh Higham filed the following live report:
Dragon Gate USA Open the Freedom Gate PPV Taping report.
When the reserved ticket holders arrived, it was announced that Eddie Kingston and Jigsaw were stuck behind a huge accident on the PA turnpike. If they didn't arrive on time, Hallowicked would take Jig's spot in the 6way and Eddie would face Jig after the intermission. Which did happen.
In the preshow:
*Kyle OReilly def. Adam Cole.
*Jon Moxley def. BBoy. BBoy had a big following from the CZW fans in attendance who were pissed he took the loss.
After 45-50 minutes, the main show started.
*The 6way titled "Generation New" featuring Hallowicked, Johnny Gargano, the Young Bucks, Gran Akuma, and Lince Dorado was first. Gran Akuma won by pinning Johnny Gargano with a modified Oklahoma Roll. Lot of flippy, acrobatic action.
*"Redemption" pitted BxB Hulk against Brian Kendrick. Hulk won. After the match, ring announcer Kevin Hervey tried to hurry Kendrick out of the ring, which led to Kendrick cutting an promo about he was an artist and that he didn't wrestle for the fans, but for himself. When the refs and preshow wrestlers came out to stop him, Jon Moxley grabbed the mic and told Kendrick that he understood what he was saying and they attacked the wrestlers and students (and maybe a plant). A few people around me thought it was total shoot.
*Salute to Skayde had Jorge "Skayde" Rivera take on his students, CIMA, Super Crazy, and Lightning Mike Quackenbush. Four faces with CIMA and Super Crazy doing the occasional heel spot. CIMA pinned Skayde to advance.
Next Level: Yamato pinned Davey Richards after they hit each other with everything. This match was insane and has to be seen. Tons of back and forth, hard-hitting, intense action. Not knowing how big Yamato is in Japan, I would say Davey made Yamato a star the same way Nigel McGuinness made Tyler Black at ROH Take No Prisoners 2 years ago.
So the finals were announced to be Gran Akuma vs. Yamato vs. BxB Hulk vs. Cima.
Intermission.
Jigsaw defeated Eddie Kingston with a double stomp off the top.
Then they took a mini-break for CHIKARA's students (who were working as staff) to adjust the ring ropes. The one student didn't understand the concept of righty-tighty/lefty-loosy and loosened the top rope til it sagged. Mike Kehner and Bryce Remsburg got someone else to fix it.
Masato Yoshino and Naruki Doi def. Shingo and Dragon Kid. One great spot has Yoshino put Shingo in an octopus stretch while Dragon Kid put Doi in one of his own and then Kid and Yoshino started punching each other. And then there were ten other even more insane doubleteam combos after that. At one point, the only person sitting was the ref, Mike Kehner, who needed to rest on the bottom turnbuckle. The Arena got really loud with the Dragon Gate chants. Yoshino forced Dragon Kid to submit to a crossed arm lock. After the match, the Young Bucks came out to challenge Yoshino and Doi.
Before the main event, each competitor got the big introduction. Most got streamers. Yamato pinned Cima after Akuma kicked CIMA in the junk. It happened a lot earlier in the match than a lot of people expected. BxB pinned Akuma with a version of the Here It Is Driver. BxB pinned Yamato with EVO to become the first Open the Freedom Gate champion. After the match, Davey Richards came down and attacked Hulk with Yamato joining in. Dragon Kid ran down to run them off. So either we have our next title match set or at least the top three challengers.
2010 - Dwayne Johnson's return to a harder edged role in "Faster" failed to excite the box office for its opening weekend. For a five day holiday weekend, the film only brought in $11.8 million. It placed seventh for the weekend.
2010 - The Hulkamania tour ran Sydney, Australia. Joe Burgett filed the following results:
ust got back from the show. Overall it was pretty good. Here's the results:
Sean Morley (aka WWE’s Val Venis) b. “Pimp Fatha” Charles Wright (aka WWE’s Godfather).
The Nasty Boys vs. Rock of Love went to a double DQ.
Nick Dinsmore (aka WWE’s Eugene) b. Heidenreich.
Solofa Fatu, Jr. (aka WWE’s Rikishi) & Brian Christopher (aka WWE’s Grandmaster Sexay) b. Vampire Warrior (aka WWE’s Gangrel) & Black Pearl “The Count of California”.
Orlando Jordan b. Brutus Beefcake.
Shannon Moore in a Ladder match for $25,000 b. “Spartan 3000″ Matt Cross (aka M-Dogg 20) - Awesome match!.
Ken Anderson (aka WWE’s Mr. Kennedy) b. Uso Fatu (aka WWE’s Umaga).
Hulk Hogan d. Ric Flair.
There were about 6,000 people in the crowd with a good atmosphere the whole night.
2010 - Acting great Leslie Nieslen, best known for his work on the "Naked Gun" films, passed away due to complications of pneumonia at the age of 84. Nielsen actually had a short wrestling-related series of appearances, spoofing his role as detective Frank Drebin from the Naked Gun film series in a number of vignettes that saw Nielsen searching to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of The Undertaker leading to Taker's Summerslam 1994 return against the impostor Undertaker portrayed by Brian Lee. The vignettes also served to plug the PPV's sponsor, Domino's Pizza, which was doing a campaign that featured the PPV logo and The Undertaker on their pizza boxes.
2011 - After PWInsider.com broke word of the very phallic nature of a new WWE Sin Cara t-shirt over the weekend, WWE pulled the shirt from their online store.
2011 - Urban Wrestling Federation champion Rasche Brown departed the promotion and been stripped of the promotion's championship. Brown won the belt during the their second PPV, Street King, which had just debuted for taped PPV airings.
Word first broke after Brown posted on his Facebook Page that he was, "No longer in any way shape or form affiliated with UWF or Urban Wrestling Federation, so if you supported because of me, thank you... You can stop now..."
Sources indicate that the promotion opted to end negotiations with Brown instead of agreeing to several requests Rasche had asked for in order to return. Talent that worked the first three PPV broadcasts were under contracts that had expired, necessitating new deals for talent appearing on UWF events going forward.
One of those points were said to be how Brown would dress in the ring, which he touched upon in another post on his Facebook, writing, "..There are basic fundamentals in pro wrestling that should not change and I'm not a storm trooper trying to look like the rest of the roster and I don't need some white man who never spent a day in the ghetto trying to tell me how "WE" act and what "WE" wear... "
Where the issues started between the two sides was that the promotion, in wanting to be something more akin to "Grand Theft Auto" than traditional professional wrestling, required the wrestlers to dress in certain styles of garb, as opposed to traditional tights and trunks. Brown requested that he be allowed to dress as he wanted going forward and the promotion, which claimed it had already signed off on previous requests as part of the negotiations, decided they had hit the tipping point and ended negotiations.
When reached for comment, UWF issued the following statement to PWInsider.com:
"UWF management is standing by their vision for the product, and wish to only have talent who understands, accepts, and is active in promoting the company and image being projected."
Brown's comments and departure were the latest in an ongoing back and forth between wrestlers who worked the initial taping and UWF management. There had been complaints among some wrestlers, including Ricky Reyes (who also departed the company) over the attention to the hip hop artists as opposed to the wrestlers. Given the unique nature of the promotion, where the idea is to be a hybrid of urban entertainment with pro wrestling, the reality was that without the rap aspect, the promotion probably wouldn't even exist. But, in the eyes of the wrestlers taking bumps, they don't want to be seen as second class citizens.
As it turned out, the promotion already had their out when it came to Brown losing the belt. The night of the first taping, a vignette what shot after the title win where Brown handed the belt over to "persons unknown" after the win. While the vignette was originally designed to be an out in case one of the rappers left the promotion and needed to be replaced as the head of a crew, it instead ran as a cliffhanger on the Street King PPV.
In a parting shot at the company, Brown also took umbrage with some of the talents being used by the UWF going forward, writing on his Facebook, "The final straw is word is they will be using guys that are still training on the next PPV... Really? and your not INDY? c'mon man."
When PWInsider.com contacted the UWF for comment on the talent issue, they responded with the following:
"With the above prior explanation to why no contract was offered to Rasche Brown for future UWF tapings, this statement is unfounded and was never an issue at all and was never discussed. The Urban Wrestling Federation continues to strive to book the best available talent fitting the UWF mold. The producers of the UWF have booked matches that have garnered universal praise from wrestling fans and top wrestling press reporters for the first three pay per view events "First Blood, Hood Justice, and Street King." The original list of talent with whom the producers wanted to work was too long to fit in/on the previous three pay per views and now some of those talents, rumored to be from both the west and east coasts, will be moved onto the active roster. The UWF is a place for stars to be made, and we welcome hardworking talent to our roster, known and some currently unknown. We welcome the addition of select talents signed from the S.A.T.'S Ludus Professional Wrestling School located in Brooklyn, NY, where we feel Joel and Will Maximo provide great knowledge and experience to all their students veterans and new students breaking into the business.The Urban Wrestling Federation provides a perfect platform for talent that wish to elevate themselves and game on our nationally televised pay per views, DVD's, company branded website, many social media platforms, as well as an aggressive national marketing campaigns including ads on urban and rock radio stations in major markets, print ads in magazines and newspapers, as well as ads on national TV cable networks on highly rated programs."
2011 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Columbia, South Carolina and your announcers are Jerry ‘Maybe I will say more this week’ Lawler and Michael ‘Do you want to see my t-shirt that was pulled from wwe.com’ Cole.
Jerry talks about the rematch of the WWE Championship match that went 30 minutes (or 17) from Survivor Series between CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio.
Roddy Piper makes his way to the ring for Piper’s Pit and the fans show their support for Hot Rod. Piper says that they have had some times together. He has a question. He wants to know how a guy who has never won the WWE Championship, was never the strongest guy, was never the biggest guy ever become a Hall of Famer and one of the biggest icons in the WWE Universe. Piper says that the answer is energy. He says that the fans cheering for him made him do good. When they booed him, it made him feel bad and he did some really rotten things.
The fact of the matter is that it is their energy that makes him go to work. Tonight, they have a man in the building who is not sure if their energy is important. Piper says that he is here to find out. Roddy introduces John Cena.
John makes his way to the ring. He comments on the people in the building. Piper reminds everyone that John Cena is in the ring with him and Cena mentions that they are in Piper’s Pit.
Cena says that just when he thinks he has the answers, Roddy changes the question. Cena wonders what Piper meant about the energy of the WWE Universe not being important to him.
Roddy gives John an example. Roddy is going to play ‘Word Association’ and he wants the fans to do whatever they want to the name. Piper mentions Steve Austin and the place goes crazy. They give the same reaction to Bret Hart. The Rock gets a bigger reaction, but it is a little mixed. Piper finishes with John Cena and there are some cheers, but a lot of boos.
Cena says that he sees what Piper is trying to do. Piper says that he is trying to help Cena. Cena says that he can see it on Piper’s face. Cena says that Piper saw Survivor Series and Piper interrupts and says that when the fans were telling the Rock to Rock Bottom Cena and they did, the place became unglued.
Cena wants the fans to chant, but Piper tells him not to. Cena says that this isn’t the first time that something like this has happened.
Cena has a story that the fans already know. There is a group of people who know what he stands for and he is very loyal. He says that he is extremely loyal to them. He knows that there are some people who are not going to like him and they might tell him to go to hell. Cena says that is the energy that Piper is talking about.
Piper says that Cena can do what he wants and they will allow him. Piper says that Cena is the face of the WWE and the booing is getting louder and louder. Piper says that Cena is losing it. Piper tells Cena that if he doesn’t suck it up and tell the people exactly what he thinks, and this is a reality check. If he doesn’t tell the fans what he thinks about them, he will be the loser of the biggest Wrestlemania in history.
Cena says that Piper is going a bit overboard. He says that Piper is a Hall of Famer. Cena mentions Mania 22 when the fans cheered for him. Cena says that the night before when they were there for Eddie Guerrero and he heard words that. Cena mentions CM Punk and Chicago. He talks about wrestling Edge and then the Hammerstein. Cena says that the Garden was a cake walk compared to the two.
Cena says that is New York. Cena says that the people wanted to see the Rock. Cena says that he is a fan. John points out two kids in the front row having a good time and that is why he does not get phased. John mentions that he met with three Make-A-Wish families and they are having the time of their lives in the crowd. John mentions the members of the military in the crowd.
Cena points out that his shirt is why he does not let it get to him and doesn’t get him rattled. He will walk into Miami on April first whether they cheer him or not. Cena says that he knows that he can beat the Rock.
Piper tells Cena that he has come a long way to have Cena in Piper’s Pit. Roddy says that he has watched John and he is proud of him. Roddy says that it was his generation that passed the torch and Cena raised the bar higher than they could think.
The Rock comes in one day while Cena is there every day. Piper wants to know how much energy Cena can utilize.
Piper gives Cena his Hall of Fame ring and says from a Hall of Famer to a future Hall of Famer, if Cena doesn’t get it off his chest, he will be in denial and it will kill his chances for everything that he wants to do.
Cena says that he is in a good place and Piper slaps Cena.
Piper tells Cena to feel the energy and he wants to know if he feels the energy.
Cena takes off his hat and he gives the ring back to Piper and leaves the ring.
Cole asks Lawler if he thinks the pressure is getting to Cena and Lawler says that despite what he saw at Survivor Series, he thinks that he is going to be fine.
We go to footage from last week when R Truth and Miz saw the end of the Awesome Conspiracy due to John Cena.
John Morrison and Alex Riley are in the back and we go to commercial while the parkour torch is virtually passed.
Match Number One: Miz versus John Morrison in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
Before the match starts, Miz attacks Morrison with a lead pipe and he hits Morrison in the leg and the officials check on Morrison.
Miz is in the ring while Morrison is being helped to the back. Morrison hobbles to the ring while officals warn him that it could get worse.
John gets into the ring and the match is started. Miz goes for the knee and Morrison sees him coming and Morrison with punches to Miz. Miz with a kick to the knee. Miz with kicks to the leg and then he wrings the leg into the post. Miz gets a kendo stick from under the ring and he hits Morrison in the leg with it.
Morrison with a clothesline out of desperation. Morrison grabs the tick and he hits Miz in the ribs and arm. Miz rolls to the floor and Morrison goes after him and hits him in the midsection and back. Morrison gets a near fall. Morrison takes the stick back and Miz goes up the ramp. Morrison limps up the ramp and he almost catches up to Miz. Morrison is sent into the WWE logo on the stage.
Miz picks up Morrison and hits the Skull Crushing Finale on the stage and then Miz looks at Morrison for a few seconds before he rolls over Morrison and the referee stops the match because he is out.
Winner: Miz
They put Morrison on a back board and put a neck brace on Morrison for precautionary purposes. Miz walks past Morrison and goes to the ring.
John Laurinaitis comes out to check on Morrison to see how to lay motionless.
Morrison is stretchered out and Miz says that last week it was R Truth. This week it was John Morrison. Next week . . . we’ll see. There is only one superstar who can make this kind of impact. This kind of statement. That person is the Miz. He says that he can do it because he is awesome.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: The Bellas versus Alicia Fox and Kelly Kelly
Kelly and Brie start things off and Brie shakes her butt at Kelly before locking up. Kelly is distracted by Beth Phoenix and Natalya who runs laps through the arena and the Bellas double team Kelly. Kelly with a slap and a screaming spinning head scissors take down and Alicia makes the tag. Nikki trips Kelly before she can do the stinkface. Brie is tripped by Alicia and Alicia with a flip leg drop for the three count.
Winners: Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Sheamus video package . . . fella.
John Laurinaitis is on the phone and he tells Brodus that it will be next week (when they are in Tampa). Otunga enters and wants to know when Brodus will debut. John says that the longer he holds him out, the angrier he will get.
Alberto enter the room and John wants to know if he is ready for his match tonight. Alberto says that he is ready but John points out that Alberto said he was ready at Survivor Series and he lost in front of sponsors.
Alberto says that he will win.
Punk enters and he says that you get 156,000 hits when you type in John Laurinaitis and spineless. There are more than 900,000 hits when you type in Alberto Del Rio and boring. Punk says that when you type in Otunga’s name, all you get is Jennifer Hudson.
Punk tells everyone that the WWE Title is not going anywhere.
Otunga says that sounded like a threat. Otunga says that Punk is going to get disqualified to keep the title. Laurinaitis says that if Punk gets ‘Intentionally’ disqualified, he will lose the title.
Dolph Ziggler and Randy Orton walk in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to acknowledge the presence of Wade Barrett as he makes his way to the announce table to add some class to the commentary.
We go to the Goldman Box and Dolph Ziggler says that he is a showoff. He took Punk to the limit last week and he is going to beat Randy Orton. Dolph says that he is going to do what he does best . . . show off.
Match Number Three: Randy Orton versus Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero
They lock up and go to a standoff. They lock up again and Ziggler goes for the legs but Orton stops him and applies the side head lock. Orton with a shoulder tackle and then he avoids a hip toss. Ziggler with a rollup for a near fall. Ziggler with a kick and elbow to the head. Orton with an Irish whip but Ziggler floats over. Orton with a clothesline and Ziggler goes to the floor to regroup.
Ziggler returns to the ring and they lock up again and Orton with a hip toss and then Orton with a boot to the solar plexus. Orton with more boots to Ziggler but he does not do the full Garvin Stomp. Orton with a knee drop for a near fall. Orton with a knee drop and then he sets for a leaping one but Ziggler moves. Ziggler with a kick and punches to Orton.
Ziggler gets a near fall and he continues with forearms to the back of the neck. Orton tries for the back breaker but Ziggler with a rollup for a near fall. Ziggler with a kick and then he sends Orton to the floor. Orton gets back to the apron and Ziggler hits a drop kick that sends Orton to the floor.
Ziggler goes to the floor and he sends Orton into the ring steps. They return to the ring and Ziggler gets a near fall. Orton backs into the corner and Ziggler with boots to Orton’s chest. Ziggler misses a splash into the corner and Orton with European uppercuts to Ziggler. Ziggler with a kick to the knee and he hits a neck breaker and Ziggler gets a near fall.
Ziggler with elbows while we see the Twitter Trending Box. Ziggler with more kicks to Orton and then he goes to the turnbuckles. Orton with a punch to stop Ziggler. Orton goes up for a superplex attempt but Ziggler stops him. Orton is able to hit the superplex and both men are down.
Orton gets a near fall on Ziggler and we go to commercial.
We are back and Orton and Ziggler exchange punches. Ziggler with kicks as we see Barrett’s snarl. Ziggler with kicks but Orton with a European uppercut. Orton with a kick to Ziggler followed by clotheslines. Ziggler misses a clothesline and that means time for an Orton power slam. Orton picks up Ziggler and sends him into the ropes for an IEDDT and he hits it.
Orton stares at Barrett and then he turns into the push ups for the RKO. Ziggler sees the look on Orton’s face and Ziggler goes to the floor. Ziggler says that it is time to go.
Wade Barrett gets up from the announce table and Orton with a drop kick to Barrett that knocks him off the apron. Ziggler returns to the ring and hits the Zig Zag for the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
After the match, Vickie announces Dolph’s victory while he does a headstand.
We are back and Michael Cole calls Daniel Bryan the biggest hypocrite in the WWE. Cole says that Bryan has the opportunity to face Mark Henry in a steel cage on Smackdown tomorrow night. Bryan corrects Cole by pointing out that he did not get anything. He earned a title match by winning a Fatal Four Way Match.
Bryan then calls Cole the worst announcer in the history of the WWE for his ability to not get facts correct. Bryan says that maybe he has earned some respect from Michael Cole.
Cole says that Bryan tried to cash in the briefcase against a defenseless man. Cole asks if he should respect a man who said that he would wait until Wrestlemania. Bryan says that he said that. Cole calls Bryan a hypocrite.
Cole says that what happened on Friday night was hilarious and we go to the footage from Smackdown when Bryan attempted to cash in the briefcase but it was invalidated by Teddy Long. Cole talks about how Bryan held the title in his face on Friday night. Cole says that it is funny that Bryan thought that he was the World Champion. Cole explains what happened after Bryan thought he won the title. Cole says that if he was the Smackdown General Manager, he would have stripped Bryan of the briefcase and then he would have suspended him. Cole says that he hopes that Henry decimates Bryan inside the cage.
Bryan says that he is a hypocrite. He had big plans to main event Wrestlemania, but plans change. Those plans changed when Mark Henry tried to induct him into the Hall of Pain. The briefcase is no guarantee. Daniel says that he saw the opportunity and he took it. Bryan says that he is going to step inside a steel cage with the World’s Strongest Man. He might try to put Bryan in the Hall of Pain. Daniel says that it is more important to be the World Champion than main event Wrestlemania.
Mark Henry comes out and he asks Daniel if he has knocked him upside his head so many time. Mark talks about how Bryan should be ashamed of himself for attacking a half defenseless man. Teddy Long should be ashamed for booking him in a match when he is injured. Mark says that he is the World Champion and one of the toughest Superstars to ever live. Henry says that he will defend his title tomorrow in a steel cage. Mark says that Daniel can talk all he wants because it doesn’t matter what condition he is in, Daniel Bryan can’t beat him.
Bryan goes up the ramp and he kicks Mark Henry in the injured leg and he says that he will beat Henry as he goes to the back.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Jack Swagger with Vickie Guerrero versus Zack Ryder
Swagger with a waist lock take down and then Swagger does a half lap around the ring with his arms out like an airplane. They lock up again and Swagger backs Ryder into the corner and Ryder punches Swagger. Ryder with a flying forearm but Swagger with a belly-to-belly suplx for a near fall. Swagger with forearms to the back.
Swagger with a slam and a leg drop for a near fall. Swagger with a key lock to Ryder and then he connects with forearms and punches. Swagger returns to the key lock but Ryder with a neck breaker for a near fall. Swagger tries for the Doctor Bomb but Ryder gets out of the hold.
Ryder with an elbow and then he comes off the turnbuckles and Swagger catches him. Swagger with a back breaker and then he goes for the double jump Swagger Bomb but he trips over Ryder so Swagger kicks him. Swagger goes for the double jump Swagger Bomb and Ryder gets his boots up and then he hits the Rough Ryder for the three count.
Winner: Zack Ryder
We go to commercial.
We are back with an Earlier Tonight clip from Piper’s Pit.
Mick Foley makes his way to the ring and he is dressed like Xanta Claus. Mick has a story to tell as St. Mick. Twas the Night before Smackdow and all through the land, Mick Foley’s smile shown brightly he had a plan. Festive fun will be the rule tomorrow night. He mentions the steel cage match between Mark Henry and Daniel Bryan tomorrow night. He tells us that there is a special gift because there will be no Michael Cole. It is not a Foley promo without the Vintage Mick Foley Cheap Pop.
Josh Mathews stops CM Punk to ask him about the disqualification ruling from John Laurinaitis. Punk says that John is dealing from the bottom of the deck so John can kiss his bottom after the match. Punk tells John to kiss his ass.
Match Number Five: CM Punk versus Alberto Del Rio with Ricardo Rodriguez for the WWE Championship in an If Punk gets Intentionally Disqualified he loses the title Match
They lock up and Punk works on the wrist and connects with a fireman’s carry into an arm bar. Del Rio punches the arm and he applies an arm bar. Punk with an Irish whip and monkey flip before he returns to the arm and applies an arm bar. Del Rio with a side head lock take down.
Del Rio with a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Del Rio with an arm drag into an arm bar. Del Rio with a shoulder tackle but Punk with a back elbow. Del Rio holds on to the ropes but Punk clotheslines Del Rio over the top rope to the floor. Punk with a suicide dive onto Del Rio and we go to commercial.
We are back and Del Rio continues to work on the arm as he gets Punk’s arm prepared for the cross arm breaker. Del Rio with an arm bar. We see highlights from the commercial break when Punk was crotched and then Del Rio kicked Punk in the shoulder.
Punk punches Del Rio to get out of the hold and then he tries for a sunset flip but because he only has the use of one arm, he cannot get Del Rio over. Del Rio with kicks to the arm and then he goes up top. Del Rio with a forearm and he gets a near fall. Del Rio kicks the arm and then he slams it into the mat. Del Rio wraps Punk’s arm in the rope as he continues to weaken the shoulder.
Del Rio runs into a boot from Punk and Punk tries for a cross body but he misses. Del Rio with a baseball slide into the arm and he gets a near fall. Del Rio with an arm bar to Punk. Del Rio with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Del Rio with elbows to the arm and elbow as he continues to weaken the left arm. Del Rio goes to the turnbuckles and he hits a double sledge and gets a near fall.
Del Rio gets another near fall. Del Rio with a key lock. Del Rio with a running boot to the head and he gets a near fall. Del Rio goes up top but Punk with a kick to Del Rio when he comes off and both men are down. Punk gets a near fall.
Both men get to their feet and Del Ro punches Punk but Punk with a kick and Del Rio starts with kicks. Punk with a series of kicks but Del Rio with punches. Punk with a leg lariat and a clothesline and then he hits a swinging neck breaker for a near fall.
Punk with knees and then he sends Del Rio into the turnbuckles and hits the running knee. Punk tries for the bulldog but Del Rio grabs the left arm and hits a single arm breaker and he gets a near fall.
Punk misses an O’Connor Roll and a round kick when Del Rio escapes and Del Rio with a snap German suplex and bridge for a near fall. Del Rio tries for the float over into the cross arm breaker but Punk avoids it. Punk cannot get Del Rio to his shoulders for the Go To Sleep. Del Rio with a DDT for a near fall. Del Rio with more kicks to Punk and then Del Rio tries to remove the turnbuckle pad but the referee stops him.
Del Rio gets a chair and then he tosses it to Punk and Punk gives the chair back to the Del Rio and pulls a Guerrero. The referee sees the chair but he does not disqualify Del Rio because of his plea. Punk with a rollup for a near fall. Del Rio with a lungblower for a near fall.
Ricardo gets on the apron to argue with the referee. Del Rio tries to send Punk into the exposed turnbuckle but Punk stops Del Rio and then Punk hits Snake Eyes and gets the three count.
Winner: CM Punk
After the match, Ricardo tries to tell the referee what happened and Punk tells his side of the story. Punk gets Ricardo up and hits Go To Sleep on Ricardo.
We go to credits.
2012 - WWE broadcast Main Event. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Tonight is a special night for Main Event. John Cena makes his first appearance on the show and he will face Damien Sandow. What else will happen on this week’s show and what parts of Raw will we relive?
This week, Main Event comes to us from Bossier City, Louisiana and your announcers are Michael ‘Mario’ Cole and John ‘Luigi’ Layfield.
Michael and John are in the ring and Michael mentions that history will be made because John Cena will be in the ring tonight to face Damien Sandow.
John says that it doesn’t get any bigger than the ten time WWE Champion, two time World Champion, movie star, man who has appeared on SNL. John Cena has done it all.
We go to a video package for John Cena.
John Layfield says that Damien Sandow is a future WWE Champion and the intellectual savior of the masses. If Damien wants to be the guy, he has a chance to beat the guy.
We go to a video package for Damien Sandow.
Michael mentions that Damien’s tag team partner is Cody Rhodes and he says that Cody is at home recuperating. Cody did send a video message for Damien via Tout. Cody wishes Damien luck tonight and in his singles matches, but he cannot wait to return so they can continue their tag team mastery.
Damien begs our indulgence. He introduces himself and he says that he is here to help all of us. This moment requires a quote from a true thinker, not that he expects any of the nitwits to comprehend this. Damien demands silence.
Socrates once said that the only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance. John Cena, you are a false idol. He demands that the referee keep Cena back. He tells John that his stranglehold of ignorance is about to come to a just and swift end.
You’re Welcome
Match Number One: John Cena versus Damien Sandow
They lock up and Sandow with a side head lock. Cena with a snap mare and reverse chin lock. Sandow gets to the ropes and Cena breaks. Sandow complains to the referee about Cena pulling his hair. Sandow goes to the floor to regain his faculties. Sandow returns to the ring when Cena goes to the floor after Sandow.
Cena returns to the ring and they lock up again. Cena with a wrist lock and snap mare. Cena with an Irish whip and he sends Sandow out of the corner and Sandow goes to the apron. Sandow returns to the ring and Cena with a side head lock. Cena with a shoulder tackle and Sandow goes to the floor and goes up the ramp towards the back. Cena goes to the floor and Cena with a running clothesline to the back of the head. Cena returns Sandow to the ring and sends Damien into the turnbuckles. Cena with an Irish whip and bulldog for a near fall. Sandow with a kick to the midsection.
Sandow with kicks to the back and he stands on Cena’s head as we go to commercial.
We are back and Sandow with a punch to Cena and then Sandow with a cartwheel of confidence followed by a knee drop for a near fall. Sandow with a reverse chin lock but Cena powers out of the hold and he gets Sandow on his shoulders but Sandow escapes and he drives Cena into the mat and gets a near fall.
Sandow with a kick to the back followed by a forearm to the back. Sandow with a side Russian leg sweep and then it is time for the Elbow of Disdain and he connects and gets a near fall. Sandow returns to the reverse chin lock. Cena gets back to his feet and Cena with a kick and punches to Sandow. Cena goes for a flying shoulder tackle but Sandow drops down and Cena goes to the floor.
Sandow tells Cena to stay down but Cena does not listen and he gets to the apron. Sandow with a kick to Cena but Cena drops Sandow on the top rope. Cena returns to the ring but Sandow with a clothesline and knee drops to the ribs and he gets a near fall. Sandow goes back to the reverse chin lock.
Cena with a drop toe hold and he tries for the STF but Sandow kicks Cena away. Both men go for clotheslines and both men are down. Sandow with punches and Cena with kicks and punches as they go back and forth. Sandow with a drop toe hold that sends Cena into the ropes and Sandow with a running knee into the back and Sandow gets a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Sandow with a punch to Cena and Cena gets caught in the ropes. Sandow taunts Cena and does a cartwheel before punching Cena. The referee warns Sandow and Sandow bows for the fans. Sandow with more kicks and punches while Cena is still caught in the ropes. Cena takes Sandow down and he punches Sandow. Sandow goes to the floor and Cena follows. Cena gets Irish whipped into the ring steps.
Sandow rolls Cena back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Sandow waits for Cena to get up and Sandow hits a leaping snap neck breaker for a near fall. Sandow with more kicks and the third cartwheel. Sandow with a knee drop and he returns to the reverse chin lock. Cena with a back body drop to Sandow and then he runs into an elbow from Sandow.
Sandow gets a near fall. Sandow with a fourth cartwheel but he misses a knee drop after taking too long. Cena with two flying shoulder tackles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb. Cena sets up for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and he hits it. Cena gets Sandow up for the Attitude Adjustment but Sandow escapes and Sandow with a knee to the head and he gets a near fall.
Sandow sets for Terminus but Cena powers out of the hold and he takes Sandow to the mat. Cena with the STF and Sandow taps out.
Winner: John Cena
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Raw Rebound with a look at what The Shield did at the end of Raw.
Michael asks John if Vickie made the right decision to give Ryback the TLC match at TLC. John says that she was right. You put the two people who the people want to see in the ring.
We go to the footage of the end of the match between Damien Sandow and John Cena.
John and Michael mention that Damien held his own despite losing.
Josh Mathews is in the back but Damien Sandow is not with him. Josh mentions that Damien handed him a letter to read. The ignoramus reading this statement and doing so while lacking the proper intonation or panache, does not deserve to share the same oxygen as the great Damien Sandow. Therefore, there will be no interview. Through victory, John Cena and the WWE Universe have proven his point. He is a false idol leading a mindless flock. The Day of Enlightenment has been postponed due to ignorance. You’re Welcome.
We see a video package for Antonio Cesaro.
Match Number Two: Antonio Cesaro versus Zack Ryder
They lock up and Cesaro with a fireman’s carry and rollup for a near fall. Cesaro with a waist lock take down into a reverse chin lock. Ryder gets to his feet and Cesaro with a shoulder tackle. Ryder tries for a hip toss but Cesaro blocks it. Ryder with a sunset flip for a near fall. Cesaro and Ryder with near falls. Cesaro with a take down and then he sends Ryder into the turnbuckles.
Cesaro with kicks and then he hits a running European uppercut into the corner. Cesaro with a European uppercut to the back of the neck followed by a forearm to the head. Cesaro tries for a back body drop and Ryder tries for a sunset flip Cesaro picks up Ryder but Ryder with a drop kick that sends Cesaro to the floor. Ryder with a baseball slide to Cesaro.
Ryder with a kick when Cesaro misses a shoulder. Cesaro with a kick to Ryder. Cesaro hip tosses Ryder onto the ring post and we go to commercial.
We are back and Cesaro with a chin lock. We see footage from the commercial break when Cesaro sent Ryder into the ring post. Cesaro with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Cesaro leaps onto Ryder’s chest and gets a near fall. Cesaro with a forearm to the back of the head and a kick to the back and he gets a near fall.
Cesaro with a dead lift side salto and Cesaro with a reverse chin lock. Ryder with punches and he avoids a tilt-a-whirl back breaker. Ryder with a clothesline. Ryder with punches and a knee in the corner. Ryder with a missile drop kick and he hits the running forearm into the corner. Ryder sets for the Broski Boot but Cesaro goes to the floor. Ryder tries for a pescado but Cesaro with a European uppercut and then he rolls Ryder back into the ring and hits the Gotch Style Neutralizer and he gets the three count.
Winner: Antonio Cesaro
After the match, Cesaro says that your United States Champion has something to say. Zack Ryder represents everything that is wrong with this company. The fist pumping, hair spiking, self tanning internet darling who cannot cut it in the real world. Cesaro responds to the USA chants by reminding them that he is the United States Champion. He is disgusted with the people in this part of the country. He has to because he is the United States Champion. Even though he is the champion of an inferior country, he is a superior champion. As a matter of fact, his record proves without a shadow of a doubt that he is the greatest champion in WWE history.
Kofi Kingston’s music plays and he questions Cesaro’s claim that he is the greatest champion in the WWE. The great thing is that you can come out and make an outlandish claim like Cesaro just made, but he has to back it up. Kofi tells Cesaro that he is wrong. Kofi tells Cesaro that he will be facing him next week in a champion versus champion match.
We go to credits.
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