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January 3rd
On this day in history in ....
1957 - Stan Mykietowich and Ted Stefanyk defeat Frenchy Champagne and John DePaulo for the Madison Wrestling Club Tag Team Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1957 - Dizzy Davis defeats Jim Wright to become the first to hold the Amarillo version of the NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Amarillo, Texas.
1964 - The Destroyer defeats Mad Dog Vachon in Portland, Oregon to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, ending Vachon's fourth reign.
1965 - Pat Patterson defeats Pepper Martin for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign and ending Martin's second.
1965 - Johnny Valentine defeats The Sheik in Toronto, Ontario to win the Toronto version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title for the seventh time.
1977 - Bruiser Brody defeats Fritz Von Erich to win the World Class American Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia, ending Von Erich's 13th reign, which lasted only four days.
1977 - Dutch Mantel and David Schultz defeat Danny Little Bear and Chief Thundercloud for the Mid-America version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1978 - Randy Savage defeats Don Kent for the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Birmingham, Alabama, ending Kent's fourth reign.
1980 - Jimmy Valiant wins his third AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Jackson, Tennessee, ending the 15th reign of Jerry Lawler.
1981 - The WWF ran a show at Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The results:
- Yoshiaki Yatsu (advertised to be Bulldog Brower) and Johnny Rodz fought to a draw.
- Larry Sharpe defeated Ron Shaw.
- Special Delivery Jones defeated Jose Estrada.
- Killer Khan defeated Dominic DeNucci.
- Tony Atlas defeated The Hangman.
- Tony Atlas defeated Ernie Ladd by countout.
- The Moondogs (King and Rex) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Tony Garea and Rick Martel by disqualification.
- Bulldog Brower (advertised to be Larry Sharpe) defeated Rick McGraw.
- Sgt. Slaughter defeated WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund by disqualification.
1983 - The Great Kabuki defeats Al Madril in Fort Worth, Texas to win the World Class Television Title.
1983 - Tully Blanchard defeats Bob Sweetan in a tournament final in San Antonio, Texas for the vacant Southwest Championship Wrestling Southwest Heavyweight Title, beginning his seventh reign. Dick Slater, the previous champion, left the area in December, leaving the title vacant and ending his own second reign.
1986 - The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes and Buddy Roberts) defeat Brian Adias and Kerry and Kevin Von Erich in Dallas, Texas, to win the World Class Six-Man Tag Team Title for the fifth time.
1987 - The ninth edition of the WWF's "Saturday Night's Main Event" airs on NBC, earning a 10.6 rating. The show was taped on December 14 in Hartford, Connecticut at the Hartford Civic Center. The results:
- WWF Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Paul Orndorff in a steel cage match by escaping over the top of the cage after hitting the legdrop on Orndorff and sending Orndorff's manager, Bobby Heenan face-first into the cage. Earlier, both men escaped over the top of the cage simultaneously, causing the match to restart.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage pinned George Steele after hitting him with the ring bell. Ricky Steamboat came to ringside in support of Steele during the match, with Steele carrying Miss Elizabeth from ringside minutes later. Steamboat saved Steele as Savage was about to hit Steele in the throat with the bell off the top rope.
- The Junkyard Dog defeated "King" Harley Race by disqualification when Bobby Heenan ran and and attacked JYD after he had put on Race's crown and robe. JYD then fought off both Heenan and Race, accidentally headbutting referee Danny Davis in the process, when Race moved out of the way.
- Adrian Adonis defeated Roddy Piper by countout after spraying him in the eyes with perfume.
- Blackjack Mulligan pinned Jimmy Jack Funk after a flying back elbow.
1987 - The WWF ran an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, with the matches airing live on the New England Sports Network, as well as on the January 14, 19 and February 13 editions of Prime Time Wrestling. The results:
- Dan Spivey pinned Jimmy Jack Funk with a reverse roll-up.
- Don Muraco pinned Lanny Poffo with a powerslam.
- Greg Valentine pinned Dick Slater after sending Slater into the corner.
- Tama pinned Scott McGhee with a flying bodypress.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage defeated Bruno Sammartino by countout after hitting him with a chair on the floor.
- Sika pinned Corporal Kirchner after a diving headbutt.
- Mike Rotundo pinned Pete Doherty after an airplane spin.
- Blackjack Mulligan pinned Brutus Beefcake after a flying back elbow.
- Hillbilly Jim defeated Jim Neidhart by disqualification after Neidhart shoved the referee down twice.
- Blackjack Mulligan won a 20-man Bunkhouse Battle Royal, last eliminating King Kong Bundy.
1987 - Masanobu Fuchi defeats Kuniaki Kobayashi for the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan.
1987 - Bill Dundee defeats Sam Houston to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in Topeka, Kansas.
1988 - Moondog Spot defeats Tom Prichard for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title in Montgomery, Alabama.
1993 - The Tazmaniac defeats Flex Wheeler in a tournament final to become the first Century Wrestling Alliance Light Heavyweight Champion in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The CWA would later be known as NWA New England from 1998 through 2007, before reverting its the original name.
1996 - Doug Gilbert and Tommy Rich win their fourth USWA Tag Team Title, defeating Jesse James Armstrong and Tracy Smothers in Memphis, Tennessee.
1997 - Danny Christian and Johnny Thunder defeat Butch Black (subbing for Steve Flynn) and Justin St. John to win the Southern States Wrestling Tag Team Title in Fall Branch, Tennessee.
1998 - Michael Modest defeats Donovan Morgan for the All Pro Wrestling Universal Heavyweight Title in Hayward, California, beginning his second reign.
1998 - Christian York defeats Joey Matthews to win the NWA 2000 Light Heavyweight Title in Raeford, North Carolina. At the same event, Lance Diamond defeats Jimmy Cicero to win the NWA 2000 Heavyweight Title.
1999 - Rip Rogers defeats Doug Basham for the OVW Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky, ending Basham's second reign and beginning Rogers' third.
2000 - The Monday Night War entered its final full year, with RAW is WAR defeating Monday Nitro solidly, 6.4 to 3.3.
WWF RAW is WAR took place at the brand-new (it opened three days earlier) AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida. That night's RAW featured D-Generation X's "epic" Mankind-bashing film entitled "Have a Bad Day". The show also featured Triple H winning his second WWF Title, defeating Big Show. That night's RAW also featured Stephanie McMahon declaring Chris Jericho and Chyna co-Intercontinental Champions, after their double-pin on the previous week's SmackDown!.
WCW Monday Nitro came from Greenville, South Carolina's BI-LO Center, and featured a Lethal Lottery Tournament for the vacant WCW World Tag Team Title, which had been stripped from Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, due to Scott Hall not appearing, in reality, he had knee surgery. The tournament featured some quite odd pairings (as Lethal Lotteries often did) such as Norman Smiley and Asya, Lash LeRoux and Midnight, and Buff Bagwell and Vampiro. David Flair and Crowbar defeated Kevin Nash and Scott Steiner in the finals to win the title, after referee Arn Anderson hit Kevin Nash with a crowbar, put Flair on top of Nash, and counted the pin.
2001 - B.J. Payne defeats Flash Flanagan for control of their OVW Southern Tag Team Title in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Payne would select Damian as his new partner.
2002 - Super Delfin wins his third Osaka Pro Wrestling Singles Title by defeating Gamma in Osaka, Japan. Also, Daioh QUALLT and M-G-MA win the OPW Tag Team Title from Azteca and Miracleman.
2003 - The Heartbreakers (John Cesar and Larry Valentine) defeat Superfly P and Robbie Ruffin to win the United States Wrestling Organization Tag Team Title in Madison, Tennessee.
2004 - In Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Abdullah the Butcher wins his fifth WWC Universal Heavyweight Title, ending the 10th reign of Carly Colón. Also, José Rivera, Jr. defeats Eddie Colón for the vacant WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title, beginning his sixth reign.
2004 - Hoss defeats Nigel McGuinness to win the Heartland Wrestling Asssociation Heavyweight Title in Batavia, Ohio.
2004 - In McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Devin Divine defeats NWA East Three Rivers Champion Daron Smythe and NWA East Heavyweight Champion Justin Idol in a three-way double-title match. The match stipulated that if a champion is defeated, they lose their title. Divine pinned Smythe, beginning Divine's second reign with the NWA East Three Rivers Title.
2004 - Rikki Nelson defeats Chris Hamrick for the NWA Mid-Atlantic Junior Heavyweight Title in Guangzhou, China.
2004 - Cru Jones defeats Acid to win the NWA Revolution Heavyweight Title in La Salle, Illinois, ending Acid's second reign.
2004 - Three Alabama Pro Wrestling titles change hands in Sylacauga, Alabama. Whiplash defeats Dilemma, Goth and Twist in a four-way match to win the vacant APW Junior Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign. Major Havoc and Krazy Kat defeat champions Baine and Youngblood and The Motor City Clique in a three-way match for the APW Tag Team Title, ending Baine and Youngblood's second reign, and El Santanico defeats Death Row, who laid down for Satanico, to win the vacant APW Heavyweight Title. APW became NWA Xtreme in April.
2004 - Saki Maemura defeats Hikaru for the AJW Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2005 - Kumiko Maekawa defeats Ayako Hamada to win the vacant WWWA World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan. Previous champion, Nanae Takahashi, vacated the title on December 29 due to injury. Maekawa would be the last official champion, as All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling closed in April 2005. Takahashi would defend the title in her retirement match on March 26, 2006, before officially retiring it.
2007 - Eddie Kraven defeats El Aero Fuego (Seth Skyfire) for the OVW Television Title in Louisville, Kentucky, ending Skyfire's second reign.
2007 - Chris Stevens defeats Bobby Sanford to win the Great Championship Wrestling Columbus Heavyweight Title in Phenix City, Alabama, beginning his third reign.
2009 - Jeff Hardy announced he was returning to TNA for their first live Impact on Mondays, which would air the next day.
2009 - Bubba The Love Sponge announced he would be debuting for TNA Impact as a backstage interviewer. Bubba, a longtime friend of Hulk Hogan, would only remain a few weeks until being let go by the company with his most noteworthy involvement being a backstage attack where Awesome Kong attacked him for comments made about Haiti following that country being hit with a massive natural disaster.
2011 - WWE revealed plans to air the resurrected Tough Enough series prior to Monday Night Raw on the USA Network.
2011 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We begin this year of Raw with a look back at what happened last week when Nexus added some new blood in their war against John Cena. What did it mean when CM Punk put on the Nexus arm band at the end of the night?
Michael Cole gives us the news that John Cena will probably not be on the show because of what happened last week on Raw and on a WWE Raw house show last week against Wade Barrett. Who is going to be the leader of Nexus? We will see the WWE Title on the line in our first match as Michael Cole tells us about what we are going to see tonight.
We are live from Phoenix, Arizona and your announcers are Michael ‘It feels like something big happened in Phoenix last year’ Cole and Josh ‘My New Year’s Resolution is to make people want to see Michael Cole return to NXT’ Mathews.
Before our first match starts, we see footage of Miz attacking Jerry Lawler on last week’s Raw. Match Number One: Miz with Alex ‘The Designated Driver’ Riley versus John Morrison in a Falls Count Anywhere Match for the WWE Title
The fight starts in the ramp on the way to the ring and Riley tries to get involved but Morrison hits Riley and then Miz accidentally takes care of his protégé. Morrison with a slam and near fall. Morrison sends Miz into the TitanTron and then he sends Riley into the WWE logo on the stage. Morrison takes care of Miz and then he climbs the WWE logo and hits a cross body onto Miz and Riley but Morrison can only get a near fall.
Morrison punches Miz as they go down the ramp towards the ring. Morrison sends Miz into the ring. Miz with a back elbow and he gets a near fall. Miz kicks Morrison and runs him into the turnbuckles. Miz puts Morrison on the turnbuckles and punches him while Michael Cole makes excuses in case Miz loses the match tonight.
Miz tries for a superplex but Morrison holds on to the turnbuckles and then he knocks Miz off and hits a missile drop kick for a near fall. Morrison with punches and kicks followed by an Irish whip and flapjack. Morrison with a near fall and then he tries for the flip neck breaker. Miz escapes but he cannot avoid the springboard round kick and then Morrison with a Shining Wizard but Riley pulls Morrison out of the ring on the cover.
Morrison sends Riley into the ringside barrier and then puts him on the barrier and punches him. Morrison with a Shining Wizard that knocks Riley to the floor.
We go to commercial while everyone checks on Riley.
We are back and Miz has set up a guardrail by the stage and he is going to try to suplex Morrison on it. Morrison with a kick and he decides to try to suplex Miz but Miz fights it off. Miz back body drops Morrison onto the guardrail and Miz gets a near fall. Miz puts Morrison on the stage and then he slams Morrison’s throat onto the edge of the ramp and Miz with a running knee lift. Miz can only get a two count on the stage. Miz with a biel down the ramp and Miz is only able to get a two count.
Miz sends Morrison into the barrier on the way to the ring. Miz grabs some of the padding and hits Morrison in the head with it and gets a near fall. There is a table set up at ringside but they go back into the ring. Miz taunts Morrison and asks him if that is all he has but Morrison with a punch and kick. Morrison and Miz exchange punches and then Morrison goes to kicks while Miz stays with punches. Morrison with a clothesline or two followed by a leg lariat and he gets a near fall.
Morrison with a side Russian leg sweep and then he looks at the turnbuckles and goes for the split legged corkscrew moonsault but he takes too long so Miz is able to get out of the way. Miz with a neck breaker combination but he can only get a near fall. Miz tries for the Skull Crushing Finale but Morrison with an arm drag to escape. Miz goes shoulder first into the ring post.
Morrison pulls Miz to the mat and then he sets for the corkscrew split legged moonsault again but Miz kicks out at two. Morrison with a boot to the midsection. Morrison tries for the Shining Wizard but Miz ducks it. Miz with a rollup for a near fall. Miz with an elbow to Morrison but Morrison with an enzuigiri that sends Miz to the floor. Morrison decides to put Miz on the table and Morrison thinks about a corkscrew split legged moonsault but Morrison goes through the table when Miz moves out of the way. Miz can only get a two count.
Miz gets back to his feet first and he stands over Morrison and tries for the Skull Crushing Finale and he hits it. Miz gets the three count.
Winner: Miz
We see Miz on the ramp looking at John Morrison crawling up the ramp with the medical staff around him.
We go to commercial.
We are back and remember that we will have a Last Man Standing Match between Edge and Kane for the World Title as well as Rey Mysterio versus Alberto Del Rio in a two out of three falls match in ‘their final battle’.
We see members of the Phoenix Suns in the front row.
We go to Scott Stanford in the back and he is with The Miz. Scott asks Miz about his title defense in the first match of the year. Miz says that it proves that he is still WWE Champion. He wants to make sure that everyone got that. Miz is still WWE Champion. He says that he is also awesome. He says that his championship reign will go down with him being the best technical wrestler and the best brawler.
It is time to talk about the situation between Melina and Natalya. We see footage from two weeks ago when Melina slapped Natalya after Melina earned her title match. We go to footage from last week when Melina tried to get in another slap but Natalya knew it was a trap and she slapped Melina back.
Match Number Two: Maryse, Alicia Fox, and Melina versus Natalya, Eve Torres, and Brie Bella
Maryse and Brie start things off and Brie takes Maryse to the mat and they roll to the apron. Maryse goes to the floor and Brie follows after her. Maryse gets a near fall and then she connects with a knee to the head and kicks Brie to the floor. Brie rolls under the ring and Nikki emerges.
Maryse takes time to do her pose because what else are you going to do in a match. They return to the ring and Nikki with an X Factor but Alicia breaks up the cover. Alicia and Natalya tag in and Natalya with clotheslines followed by a snap mare and drop kick. Natalya with a slam and sets for the sharpshooter but Melina gets into the ring. She grabs Natalya’s leg and Natalya is able to hit a butterfly suplex. Melina drops Natalya on the top rope. Melina tags in and Natalya with a clothesline and Eve is tagged in. Eve with a snap neck breaker for the three count.
Winners: Eve Torres, Natalya, and Brie Bella
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: The Usos versus Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov with Tamina
Kozlov and Jimmy start things off and Kozlov with a take down. Kozlov with another take down and Jimmy makes it to the ropes. Jey tags in and so does Santino. They lock up and Santino with a hip lock take down into a side head lock. Jey with a shoulder tackle and then he tags in Jimmy. They double team Santino in the corner and then Jimmy punches Santino. Santino with an arm bar and Kozlov tags back in and he biels Jimmy. Kozlov with a head butt and then he tries for the power slam but Jey gets in the ring to distract the referee. Jey tags in and hits a forearm from the turnbuckles and gets a near fall. Jey with a reverse chin lock. Jey with a front face lock and he gets a near fall on Kozlov.
Jey gets back body dropped by Kozlov but Jimmy tags in and keeps Kozlov from making the tag. Kozlov tries to power his way to his corner and he makes the tag. Santino tags in and he punches Jey and hits a hip toss and then he does the diving head butt to the chest but he can only get a near fall. Kozlov eventually gets sent over the top rope and Jey goes to the floor as well. Santino tries for the Cobra but Jimmy with a Samoan drop for the three count.
Winners: The Usos
After the match Kozlov takes care of the Usos. Santino and Tamina give Jey a double cobra.
In case you missed it on the site earlier today, Tough Enough is coming back and it will be on USA Network. Josh talks about his experience on the first season of Tough Enough.
CM Punk is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back it is time for CM Punk to explain his actions from last week. Punk still has his Nexus armband on as he makes his way to the ring.
Punk thanks everyone for the warm welcome. He says that he wants to start things off by saying how much he loves being in Phoenix. He says that he already had a busy day. He was searching the backstage area for John Cena. He looked in the locker rooms and parking lot and he can’t see John Cena (as he does the hand waving across his face). Punk says that he can’t see John Cena because John is not here tonight. John is not here tonight because of him. Punk says that before they went off the air, he promised a big surprise and he delivered in spades. Punk says that he is a man of his word. Punk reminds us that he is a three time World Heavyweight Champion. That makes him a leader of men. That is why Nexus came to him and begged Punk to be their new leader. Punk says that he led them.
We go to footage from last week when Nexus attacked Cena and then CM Punk came out.
Punk says that Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect are three words that he lives his life by. Punk joins in with the Cena chants as he says that Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect is a phony catchphrase from John Cena. He expects Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect from the members of Nexus. He expects that John Cena stay at home because he will not win. Punk says that he is taking over Nexus and he is taking over Raw.
Wade Barrett comes out and he wants to correct Punk on two things. Barrett says that Punk has nothing to do with the reason why John Cena is not here tonight. Barrett says that he destroyed Cena in a match last week in Pennsylvania. Barrett tells Punk that he is the leader of Nexus, not Punk.
Punk says that Barrett might be a little confused because he had 23 chairs dropped on him.
Barrett calls Punk a manipulative, hypocritical piece of skin. Barrett says that his leadership made Nexus the most powerful group. He says that Punk has lied about his lifestyle and his leadership.
Punk suggests that we find out who the liar and who the leader is. Punk wants to find out from the members of Nexus.
The five members of Nexus come to the ring for the Nexus Primary to see who is in charge. David Otunga says that they both made good points.
Now it is time for a bad point as the dingy dingy dingy goes off and the official Dingy Dingy Reader climbs Mount MacBook to Quote. Before things get out of hand, there will be three participants in a Number One Contender Steel Cage Match to see who faces Miz at the Royal Rumble. The three members are Wade Barrett or CM Punk versus Sheamus versus Randy Orton.
Barrett says that as the leader of Nexus, he will take the final spot in the match.
Punk says that the spot is Wade’s. Punk says that he defended Wade when dealing with Cena. Punk says that he will not fight Wade for that spot. He says that he will congratulate Wade if he wins. Punk says that if Wade loses the match, he is out of Nexus and Punk can lead Nexus.
We have a handshake and it is a deal.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Did You Know about WWE’s brand.
Cole mentions that Jerry Lawler is not here this week due to what Miz did to him last week. Speaking of Miz, we go to footage from the WWE Title Match from earlier tonight.
Before our next match, Alberto Del Rio has something to say. Alberto tells us his name, but we already knew that. He says that with his rich Mexican heritage, it is his destiny to be the World Heavyweight Champion. His destiny is to destroy every single person on Smackdown. On Raw, the name Alberto Del Rio will be emblazoned on the heart and the mid of the WWE Universe. It is his destiny to win the Royal Rumble and Main Event Wrestlemania.
Truth tells Del Rio he is the man to send Alberto back to Smackdown.
Match Number Four: Alberto Del Rio versus R Truth
Truth slaps Del Rio before the bell rings and then Del Rio swings at Truth but misses. Truth with a punch and kick. Del Rio with an Irish whip and Truth floats over and then does a split and hits a leg lariat. Truth clotheslines Del Rio over the top rope to the floor and then Truth goes for a plancha and hits Del Rio. Both men are down as we go to commercial.
We are back and Truth with punches in the corner. Truth with a power slam for a near fall. Truth with a punch to the head but Del Rio with a kick to Truth followed by an arm breaker for a near fall. Del Rio punches Truth in the head and then he works on the arm. Del Rio stomps on the arm and gets a near fall. Del Rio returns to the arm bar. Truth gets back to his feet and he punches Del Rio and kicks him in the midsection. Del Rio with an Irish whip but Truth’s arm keeps him from floating over in the corner. Del Rio with an arm wringer to the mat and he gets another near fall.
Del Rio with a series of knees to the arm. Del Rio with another near fall and he applies a key lock. Truth punches Del Rio to get out of the hold. Del Rio with kicks to the midsection and then he tries for a splash to the back but Truth moves and Del Rio goes to the floor. Ricardo Rodriguez checks on Del Rio on the floor and then he returns to the ring and Truth with clotheslines and a hip toss. Truth gets a near fall.
Truth with a kick and then he sets for the axe kick but Del Rio goes to the apron and then he pulls Truth’s shoulder into the ring post. Del Rio floats over into the cross arm breaker and Truth taps out.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
We go to commercial.
We are in the locker room and Wade Barrett is telling the members of Nexus that he is the true leader because he made stars out of them. Slater and Gabriel tells Barrett that they have his back. Barrett says that he can make the new guys stars too. Barrett says that Punk is going to use them for his own personal gain.
Punk wonders if Wade is saying what he is doing. He says that they all wish him luck in his match tonight. Punk shakes their hands after Barrett leaves.
Randy Orton stares into space as Scott Stanford enters. Randy says that last year doesn’t mean anything to him. All he remembers is Miz cashing in his Money in the Bank to win the WWE Title. Randy says that last year he was too nice. He says that he actually showed human compassion. He hesitated before kicking Chris Jericho in the skull. He knows that nice guys finish last.
It is time for the official Cage Lowering Music of the WWE as we get ready for our main event.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look back at the match between Miz and John Morrison in case you missed the match live, or the recap at the start of the second hour.
While Wade Barrett comes to the ring for the main event, John Cena might be back next week.
Match Number Six: Sheamus versus Wade Barrett versus Randy Orton in a Number One Contender at Royal Rumble and Wade’s Way to Run Nexus Match
The bell rings and all three men stare at each other until Barrett makes a break for the cage to try to escape. Orton and Sheamus stop Barrett and they punch him. Sheamus waits for Orton to focus on Barrett to go to the cage to escape. Orton sees Sheamus and stops him. Orton with punches but Sheamus with an Irish whip. Orton with a clothesline to Sheamus but Barrett with a boot to Orton.
Barrett tries for Wasteland but Orton escapes and goes for the cage. Barrett and Sheamus stop him and Barrett with kicks to Orton while Sheamus chokes him. Orton with punches and kicks to fight off Barrett and Sheamus. Sheamus chokes Orton and Barrett is on top of the cage but Sheamus pulls Barrett to the mat. Sheamus with a short arm clothesline before Sheamus tries to climb the cage. Orton stops Sheamus and Sheamus tries to send Orton into the cage. Orton with clotheslines to Barrett and Sheamus. Orton stands in the corner by the door and the door opens, but instead of walking out of the cage with his opponents on the other side of the ring, Orton twists into the RKO push ups as we go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus is trying to keep Orton in the cage but Orton has made it over the top and is hanging outside the cage. Sheamus holds Orton up and then Barrett helps Sheamus pull Orton back on top of the cage. All three men return to the ring and Orton kicks Sheamus and then he sends Barrett into the cage. Orton with a drop kick to Sheamus who was on the apron and Sheamus goes into the cage. Orton with an IEDDT set up but Barrett is on his way up the cage so Orton turns his attention to Barrett. Orton sends Barrett into the cage. Orton decides to up the ante and tries for a double IEDDT, but Sheamus recovers and he back body drops Orton into the cage.
Sheamus kicks Orton while Barrett is down on the apron in front of him. Sheamus with a back elbow. Sheamus climbs the cage in front of Orton and Orton recovers in time to stop Sheamus. Barrett punches and kicks Orton and then he holds Orton for Sheamus to connects with a forearm across the chest. Barrett and Sheamus with a double suplex on Orton. Barrett punches Sheamus but Sheamus with a kick. Barrett with a head butt to Sheamus but Sheamus with a punch and head butt of his own. Barrett Irish whips Sheamus chest first into the turnbuckles. Barrett climbs the cage while Sheamus and Orton are down by the door. Orton gets up and he stops Barrett on top of the cage. Orton pulls Barrett back into the cage.
Orton with a superplex to Barrett. Orton with a kick to Sheamus and then Sheamus hits a uranage back breaker. Sheamus sends Barrett into the cage a few times. Sheamus decides to use a part of the cage away from the door. Sheamus asks for the door to open and his head is out of the cage, but Orton stops Sheamus. Sheamus kicks Orton to try to get out of his grasp.
Sheamus climbs the cage but Barrett stops him and he brings Sheamus back to the mat. Barrett sends Sheamus into the cage and Barrett with a kick to Sheamus. Barrett tries for a pump handle slam and he hits it. Orton with a kick to the ribs and then he connects with a forearm on Barrett. Barrett with a side slam and he climbs the cage but Sheamus follows and they fight at the top of the cage.
Barrett sends Sheamus’ head into the top of the cage and Sheamus falls to the mat. Barrett decides not to win the match and he sets for an elbow drop but Sheamus gets his knees up and Barrett is down. Sheamus sets for the pump kick but Orton with a clothesline to Sheamus and Barrett. Orton with a power slam to Sheamus and then Barrett. Orton with an Olympic Slam to Sheamus and the IEDDT to Barrett. Sheamus with a boot to Orton and then he tries to climb the cage.
Orton chases after Sheamus and he pulls Sheamus back onto the top rope. They fight on the tope rope and exchange punches. Barrett kicks the ropes and crotches both men. Barrett with running boots to the heads of Sheamus and Orton. Barrett tries to climb the cage even though he is feet from the door.
CM Punk comes into the cage to offer Barrett a hand to aid his escape. Punk pulls Barrett up but then he rips off the arm band and kicks him in the arm. Barrett falls to the mat. Punk goes down the cage and goes to the back. Sheamus with a double sledge to Orton and Sheamus calls for the door. Sheamus with a big boot to Barrett and then he heads for the door but Orton with an RKO out of nowhere.
Orton sees the door open and he eventually goes to the apron and walks out of the cage and win the match.
Winner: Randy Orton
2012 - The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that Brock Lesnar had been issued a six month medical suspension. Lesnar has been suspended through 6/28 due to an abdominal injury suffered in his match against Alistair Overeem. Of course, Lesnar announced he was retiring from MMA competition after the loss, so the suspension is pretty much in name only as its not like Lesnar will be competing.
2013 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the live Impact Wrestling Report on PWInsider.com!
We look back at last week when Austin Aries and Bobby Roode each tried to outdo the other and become the top contender to Jeff Hardy's World Title, Hulk Hogan refused to trust Bully Ray, and don't forget, Sting returns tonight!
We start off in the ring with Jeremy Borash, who has a big trophy he would like to present to this year's Wrestler of the Year. Borash introduces each of the finalists: James Storm, Bully Ray, Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, and of course TNA World Champion Jeff Hardy. The drum roll hits and this year's winner is...Roode and Aries walk down the ramp arguing with each other over who won it, but in case you didn't see this coming a mile away, it's Jeff Hardy. Frankly, I think both Roode and Aries have more of a claim to it than Hardy does, but never underestimate the voices of thousands of sheep. Hardy comes into the ring to claim his trophy as all the thirteen year old girls in the crowd chant his name and says that winning this award means as much as being the World Champion. Roode comes in and tells him to cut the crap because when he was the World Champion, there was nothing more important than that title and he didn't give a damn what any of the morons in the crowd thought. Roode made history by becoming the longest reigning World Champion in company history, and the fact that he's not the Wrestler of the Year is a bunch of bullsh- Aries interrupts Roode and says this is obviously rigged because he was the longest reigning X Division Champion and beat Roode for the title. He averaged over four stars for every match and deserves to be Wrestler of the Year. Hardy says they both get their wish and that he'll defend against both of them at Genesis, then says that when they think of 2012, to remember it as the Year of the Enigma. Hardy rightly winds up on the receiving of an ass beating for being such a smug jerk, but he gets ahold of the trophy and hits Roode in the groin so hard with it that he breaks the little man off the top of the trophy, which he then uses to knock Aries out. What a guy.
Tonight: Joe and Angle take on Doc and a masked Aces & Eights guy in a cage! Plus, Hulk Hogan returns and we'll see how he deals with Bubba and Brooke! Plus, in case you didn't know, STING IS BACK!!!
The dumbass cameraman tries to ask James Storm how he felt about not winning Wrestler of the Year, but Daniels and Kazarian come in and cut him off before doing a mock interview where Daniels plays Storm while Kazarian interviews him. Storm says they ought to be comedians because, even though he didn't win the World Title, he's going to win it in 2013. He tells Daniels to stop drinking piss water, spits in the appletini, and tells them to figure out which one is going to come out and get his ass kicked next.
James Storm vs Frankie Kazarian
Daniels starts to step in the ring like he's going to be the one facing Storm, but then Kazarian comes in and jumps Storm from behind. Storm turns the tables and hits a Thesz Press, then dumps Kazarian over the top rope to the floor. Storm wipes Kazarian out with a slingshot crossbody and then chases Daniels around ringside until Kazarian recovers and clotheslines him. Kazarian heads back in the ring, but grabs the referee's attention so Daniels can lay in a few cheapshots and dump Storm back inside so Kazarian can cover for 2. Storm hits a lungblower out of nowhere and follows up with a side Russian legsweep. IS there another kind of Russian legsweep that they need to differentiate from? Storm gets 2 and takes a swipe at Daniels at ringside, and that allows Kazarian to nail Storm and hit a TKO for 2. Storm with another lungblower and he goes for the Last Call, but stops when he sees Daniels on the apron and superkicks him instead. Storm dodges a charging Kazarian and lays him out with another Last Call, and that's all she wrote.
Winner: James Storm
We go to the Aces & Eights clubhouse where Devon tells Ken Anderson that time is running out as to whether he wants to join the gang. Anderson says he wants to chill and have a good time since he enjoys Devon's recruitment process. Doc walks up and asks him what the (bleep) it's going to be, because Sting is coming back tonight and they need to know right now. Anderson says that if this is how it's going to be, then none of them should show Sting even an ounce of fear. He hands Doc his hammer, and Devon says they should go find out what Sting has to offer. He asks the big guy if he's seen his bat around anywhere, but big guy hasn't seen it. Gee, I wonder what that could be about.
Kenny King sees Kid Kash backstage and says he's a legend who he used to watch on VHS. They've got this tournament tonight for a shot at the X Division Title, and after they get done winning their first round matches tonight, it's going to be the two of them going at it for a shot at Rob Van Dam.
We see a video package looking at the history of Aces & Eights and their war with Sting. Tonight...IT'S SHOWTIME!
Doc comes out from his special Aces & Eights entrance and makes his way to the ring, and he's got his hammer with him. He asks where Sting is and tells him to come down and join the party because it's 1-3-13, and Sting's been telling everyone who will listen that doc is a marked man. He doesn't feel like a marked man, so he again tells Sting to come out and face him. He's wasting Aces & Eights' time, and Sting should come out and face the man who's going to cripple him because he wants it, the fans in the Impact Zone want it, and he wants Sting to get his ass out here RIGHT NOW. A baseball bat falls from the ceiling, and Doc says he's not afraid of Sting and tells him to come on out...but we abruptly cut to commercial.
The asswipe with the camera catches up with Brooke Hogan on her way into the building and harasses her to ask whether she's talked to her dad since kissing Bully Ray. She says no, so the guy is like "No you haven't talked to him, or no you didn't kiss Bully?" Brooke says
X Division Contender's Tournament: Kid Kash vs Christian York
Kash jumps York on his way into the ring, but York starts firing back and drives Kash from the ring. They fight out to the floor, York nails Kash on his way back into the ring, drills Kash with a big boot, and folds Kash in half with a half nelson suplex. Kash reverses a suplex and chokes York over the middle rope while ramming crossfaces across his nose, but tries a moonsault and comes down on York's knees. York hits a handspring enziguiri and covers for 2, then a swinging Flatliner for 2. Kash gets a small package for 2, then ducks a kick and goes for the Moneymaker. York escapes so Kash goes for a backslide, York rolls through that and rolls the dice for the win.
Winner: Christian York
Chavo Guerrero Jr and Hernandez are backstage, they say they're the World Tag Team Champions and they're not running from Joey Ryan and Matt Morgan or anybody else.
Hernandez comes out to the ring for his match with Matt Morgan, but Morgan comes out with Joey Ryan and his arm in a sling. He says these things happen when you throw around 700 pounds like it's your job, and his partner Joey Ryan is going to come down the aisle and kick his ass. Ryan doesn't look happy, but he rubs baby oil on himself while Morgan psychs him up, and he rushes the ring.
Joey Ryan vs Hernandez
Hernandez destroys Joey, unloading on him with pummeling offense and hitting an over the shoulder backbreaker. Morgan tries slowing him down by grabbing his ankle from the floor, but Hernandez shoves him off and hits a Pounce that nearly sends Joey into the next time zone. Morgan suddenly comes in the ring and flattens Hernandez with the Carbon Footprint to draw the DQ.
Winner: Hernandez by DQ
Joey beats Chavo down in the corner as Morgan makes scary faces into the camera.
Hulk Hogan is backstage, and he's...WALKING!
Kurt Angle is backstage thanking Wes Brisco and Garett Bischoff for their help, but telling them to sit this one out. Garett says he'd rather be out there helping, but Joe says he doesn't need their help. Angle tells Joe to calm down because they're just being respectful, then sends his young boys on their way and tells Joe that they don't know where Sting's at but they need to take care of Aces & Eights.
The Knockouts are backstage, and they're...STRETCHING! They'll be in tag team action tonight!
We see a video package looking at the history of the Bully Ray-Brook Hogan-Hulk Hogan situation, then Hulk comes out to the ring to get down to business. First, he wants to apologize to everyone in the Impact Zone for not showing up last week. Will he also apologize for the weeks on end he'd disappear when he first started? He was caught off guard by seeing his daughter making out with Bully Ray, but he wants to take care of business and do it in the public eye once again. He asks Bully Ray and Brooke to come out to the ring right now, and as they walk to the ring, I wonder if Brooke always wears such slutty outfits when hanging out with her dad. I quickly decide not to ask questions like that about this family. Hulk says Bubba's been trying to get his respect for weeks, but something didn't seem right and he's been trying to figure out what his story is. There's a bro code and a code of the road, so now that he knows where they're at, he wants to know why. I'm guessing it's sex. They take a real long time to answer, but Bubba finally tells Hulk that he's right: they are brothers, he should have come clean and told him about his thing with Brooke, and all the heat is on him. Hulk says he's been telling everyone in the locker room from day one that he's no good, and when Bubba breaks the code, he doesn't even belong in the business. He tells Brooke to stay out of this, and tells Bubba that if this was 20 years ago they'd have already gone at it, but since it's today then they'll play the game with lawyers and General Managers. Hogan tells Bubba that he's suspended indefinitely without pay, then tells Brooke that she made her decision and now she'll have to live with it, and tells her to get out of his ring too. Brooke and Bubba seem shocked at this, and I have to say that this seems to be in flagrant disregard for what most sane lawyers and General Managers would sanction. They finally leave as Hogan looks satisfied at putting TNA in such a precarious position of liability by making HR decisions for indisputably personal reasons on live national television.
We come back from commercial break and, in case you didn't see Hulk Hogan setting TNA up for a major lawsuit mere moments ago, they show us a replay before going to OVW to take another look at Joseph Park training to be a wrestler. Danny Davis says he's been trying to get rid of him for weeks, but the fact that he keeps coming back says he has a passion for this and now he sees something in him. Park has been watching tapes and realizes how much more he has to learn, but also how much potential he has. He's going to become a student of the game, and Davis thinks he could be a game changer in this industry. We see Davis telling Park how much he sees in him and thanks him for everything he did here, so I guess that means he's graduated and will be back on Impact soon.
Knockouts Champion Tara & Gail Kim vs Mickie James & Miss Tessmacher
Gail and Tessmacher go at it as we start, with Tessmacher taking Gail out with a flying clothesline and a crossbody. Tara cheapshots Tessmacher from the outside and then tags in so she can grind her eyes across the top rope. That's cold, man. Tessmacher makes a blind tag and snapmares Tara so Mickie can come charging in with a running knee before dropkicking Gail out to the floor. Tara and Gail try to escape to the floor, but Mickie and Tessmacher go outside and give them a double noggin knocker. Taryn Terrell, being the high end official she is, blocks Tessmacher from coming back inside and pays no attention to Tara and Gail beating Mickie up 2-on-1 as we go to commercial.
We're back, coincidentally JUST as Mickie takes out both Gail and Tara and makes a hot tag to Tessmacher. Tessmacher comes in and goes nuts on Tara humping her face and setting up for the stinkface before Tara slips out to the floor so Gail can come in and nail Tessmacher from behind. Tara comes back in and blatantly chokes Tessmacher before using a hair Beell. Tessmacher gets double teamed in teh corner while Mickie distracts Terrell, and Gail hits a version of Go To Sleep for 2. Gail hits a running clothesline for 2, but misses a charge and hits the post. Gail falls out to the floor and now Tessmacher is crawling to make a tag, but Gail pulls Mickie off the apron just before Tessmacher gets to her corner. Mickie comes in AGAIN and distracts the referee while Tara tags in with a slingshot legdrop and covers for 2. Looks like Tara accidentally popped her on that one. Tara goes to a surfboard and then tries for the ass-shaking moonsault, but Tessmacher gets her knees up and then bulldogs Tara before finally making it to the corner and tagging in Mickie. Mickie takes Gail out with a Thesz Press and dropkicks Tara to the floor. Mickie with the swinging headscissors out of the corner and gets a neckbreaker for 2. Tessmacher takes Tara out, Tara rolls out to the floor to be comforted by Jesse, but Tessmacher takes them both out with a dive off the top rope. Mickie hits the implant DDT on Gail and gets the win.
Winners: Mickie James & Miss Tessmacher
Back to the Aces & Eights clubhouse, where Doc says that it's BS that Kurt Angle is after them, and he says there's no way they can let Angle take their masks off. The VP says Doc is right, and that anyone who still has a mask can't lose it. Another member of the group pulls out a switchblade and stabs it into the table as we go to commercial. This angle just gets better and better.
ODB is backstage saying that Aces & Eights have caused a lot of damage and Sting is back tonight to take care of them, but her husband Eric Young just got out of the hospital and is home recovering. She promises that he will be back in the Impact Zone one day.
After looking back at the confrontation between Jeff Hardy, Austin Aries, and Bobby Roode from earlier tonight, we see Aries and Roode bothering Hogan about the match Hardy wanted to make. Hogan said it's already official and it's going to be an elimination match so nobody will have anything to complain about, and that next week they're going to team up to face Hardy and whoever he wants as a partner.
It's main event time! Well, almost...Doc runs out and attacks Kurt Angle on his way into the cage and locks the cage shut with Joe in there by himself.
Cage Match: Samoa Joe vs Devon & ??????
Doc keeps beating Angle up on the floor while Joe tries to hold his own against Devon and the big guy. Joe does okay for a minute or two until Devon blindsides Joe with a running forearm, and now Joe's in trouble. Gee, I wonder who's going to save him. Joe tries to mount a comeback here and there, but mostly takes a beating and continues to do so as we go to commercial.
We're back, and Joe is once more trying to mount a comeback and is actually doing okay as he peppers Devon with jabs and takes him out with a flying boot before t-bone suplexing the big dude. Angle again tries to climb the cage, Doc pulls him down but Kurt kicks him in the uprights, steals the key to the cage door, and lets himself in to even the playing field. Angle is a house of fire as he beats up both Devon and the big guy, taking out the big guy with a missile dropkick and then tries to take his mask off. Doc tries to get in the cage and Angle goes after him, but Doc slams the door in his face and takes him out again. Angle rolls out of the way of a top rope headbutt from Devon as Joe takes out the big guy with a running boot, and Angle is busted open as he hits rolling German suplexes on Devon before ramming him back and forth into the cage walls. The big guy is on his own and now he takes a 2-on-1 beating until Angle gives him the Hacker Slam for the win.
Winners: Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe
Joe and Angle go for the mask again, but Devon and Doc swoop in and then the rest of the gang floods out of the back and comes in the cage for a 37-on-2 beatdown. Say, where are Garett and Brisco? Ken Anderson is on the outside observing the festivities as the beatdown continues, and with two minutes left in the show, you know who's showing up next. Sure enough, Sting comes into the cage and beats up the entire gang by himself with his bat. Doc smiles at Sting, but runs for his life when Sting goes after him with his bat. Now the big guy is outnumbered even worse then before and gets laid out with Sting's bat. Angle pulls the mask off and reveals that the big dude is Mike Knox, and he hightails to to the back as the rest of the gang tries to cover up his face. Devon looks really pissed off as Sting, Angle, and Joe celebrate in the ring to close the show.
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