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March 2nd
On this day in history in ....
1936 - Dick Shikat defeated Danny O'Mahony for the NWA Heavyweight Wrestling Title.
1939 - Marv Westenberg defeated Steve Casey for the AWA World Heavyweight Title.
1993 - Paul Orndorff defeated Erik Watts in a tournament final for the WCW World Television Title. Previous champion Scott Steiner had been stripped of the title when he left for the WWF, so a tournament was formed with 16 wrestlers divided into two brackets, called the "Anderson Conference" and the "Mr. Wrestling II Conference" in honor of two of the better known Television champions. Orndorff defeated 2 Cold Scorpio, Cactus Jack and Johnny B. Badd to reach the finals, while Watts defeated Johnny Gunn, Maxx Payne and Vinnie Vegas (Kevin Nash) to reach the finals. Interesting to note that Chris Benoit and Robbie V (Rob Van Dam) were in this tournament, long before they would ever get a push in the U.S.
1993 - Steve Austin & Brian Pillman defeated Shane Douglas & Ricky Steamboat for the WCW World Tag Team Championship in Macon, Georgia, beginning the only tag title reign ever for the Hollywood Blondes.
2002 - The 6th Annual Super 8 Tournament was held in, St. Matthew's Parish Hall in Wilmington, Delaware. Here are the results of the tournament:
First Round:
- Donovan Morgan defeated Pepper Parks.
- Jamie Noble defeated Matt Stryker.
- Red defeated Bobby Rude.
- AJ Styles defeated Xavier.
Semifinals:
- Donovan Morgan defeated Jamie Noble.
- AJ Styles defeated Red.
Finals:
- Donovan Morgan defeated AJ Styles to win the Super 8 Tournament.
2004 - WWE taped Smackdown in Savannah, Georgia. In the most hilarious moment of the night, Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas did a parody of the APA (who they were feuding with), then sang a rendition of the West Texas Rednecks (a WCW stable) song "I Hate Rap" with new lyrics making fun of the APA, leading to a brawl between the teams. Also on the show, WWF World Champion Eddie Guerrero was to wrestle Paul Heyman with his hands handcuffed behind his back. However, it was a set-up, as Heyman left the ring and Kurt Angle came out and beat up the handcuffed Eddie. Guerrero responded by spitting in Angle's face, so Angle knocked out Guerrero with the title belt.
2008 - Takeshi Morishima captured the Pro Wrestling NOAH Global Honored Crown today, defeating Mitsuharu Misawa at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
2008 - WWE ran a combined Raw and ECW house show in Muncie, Indiana. Michael Weaver Jr. filed the following live report:
WWE SMACKDOWN & ECW LIVE EVENT
MARCH 2, 2008
MUNCIE, INDIANA
JOHN E. WORTHEN ARENA AT BALL STATE UNIVERSITY
The show began with WWE SmackDown! General Manager Assistant, Teddy Long coming out to the ring along with the 2007 Diva Search winner, Eve Torres. Long said the crowd was in for a good night and a lot of fun because Vickie Guerrero was not in the building. He then introduced Eve, who was standing next to him, to the crowd. Long announced two big matches: ECW World Champion, Chavo Guerrero will defend his championship against CM Punk and WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Edge teams up with The Big Show to take on The Undertaker and Finlay. Eve then announced that there would be a Divas Tag Team Match featuring Michelle McCool and Kelly Kelly versus Victoria and Layla El. Long said it was time to get the party started and our first match was to begin. He asked for ECW referee, Scott Armstrong to enter the ring. Long said that Armstrong didn't win Referee of the Year but he's the Referee of the Night. Eve went and sat next to ring announcer Justin Roberts while Teddy Long shook everyone's hand at ringside and down the isle. He even talked with a few of the fans.
1. Kofi Kingston pinned Shelton Benjamin.
2. Big Daddy V (with Matt Striker) pinned Kevin Thorn. Thorn was billed as hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana.
3. Jamie Noble pinned Domino. Before the match, Noble asked Eve to give him a kiss on the cheek and she did.
4. WWE Tag Team Champions, The Miz & John Morrison defeated Jesse & Festus to retain the titles when Miz pinned Festus. Eve was the ring announcer for this match. When the champions made it to the ring, Morrison shushed the crowd but that only made them yell louder. Miz then grabbed the microphone and stated that the fans need to do what the champions tell them to do. He then asked Eve if she was staring at the Chick Magnet and Shaman of Sexy. Miz told Eve he was going to let her dreams come true by taking the shirt off of Morrison. Eve actually did take the shirt off and then playfully slapped Morrison with the shirt. The champions won the match when Miz kicked Festus in the genitals region. After the match, Jesse asked Eve to come into the ring. Eve kissed Festus on the cheek and then Eve and Jesse proceeded to slap the head of Festus to fire him up.
5. WWE United States Champion, "MVP" Montel Vontavious Porter came out for a special VIP Lounge. He said it was hard to find a good leather couch in Muncie and that alcohol isn't sold on Sundays so he couldn't find any Crystal. He said his guest had been on the show before but things got out of hand and he wanted to apologize to the guest and try to make things good with him. I think the fans thought it was going to be Ric Flair as several "Woooooooooos!" could be heard throughout the building. However, MVP introduced the Freebird, Michael PS Hayes. MVP welcomed Hayes to the VIP Lounge and told him about the set issues. He said the last time Hayes was on the show, it was to promote his DVD about World Class Championship Wrestling and he wanted to know how it was doing. Hayes said the DVD did good and he wanted to thank everyone who bought it. He said for those that haven't, for them to go get a copy because it's truly about the message that is in the DVD. He said the message was that people played hard back then but in the end they ended up getting played. MVP then said for all the kids in the audience to heed Hayes advice and not to do drugs or abuse alcohol. MVP reminded the world that Hayes was a mentor to The Hardy Boyz. Hayes told MVP that he didn't come out to have MVP talk like that (negatively against The Hardy Boyz) and if he wanted to do that he could do it by himself. MVP said not to leave that he was sorry. He said Hayes never held a major singles title except for the US belt for a whole thirty days. MVP said he's the longest reigning US Champion in WWE history. Hayes wanted to know how MVP felt about Batista beating him for the belt this coming Friday on SmackDown. MVP said he didn't need to go there but since he did, MVP was going to talk about how it must've made Hayes upset when he realizes that he "raised" the Hardy Boyz in the WWE and neither of them have held a major singles championship like the WWE Championship (WEAVER'S NOTE: Neither has MVP so what's his point? LOL) and it must've upset Hayes when he took Matt Hardy out of action awhile back. Hayes said he was going to whip his but and proceeded to take his jacket off. He then said he wasn't going to do it. Instead he introduced a returning Matt Hardy who ran to the ring and performed the Twist of Fate on MVP. MVP made his way back to the locker room while Hardy and Hayes celebrated in the ring.
6. Michelle McCool and Kelly Kelly defeated Victoria and Layla El when McCool pinned Layla.
7. ECW World Champion, Chavo Guerrero pinned CM Punk to retain the championship. It appeared that Punk may have injured his right knee. Either that or it was a set-up for an angle they will use on television. If their match this Tuesday is half as good as this match was, it could be a Match of the Year candidate. The only issue I had with this match wasn't with either athlete. It was with the fans. I find it highly upsetting that when Chavo goes to pay respect to his late uncle, Eddie Guerrero by using the Three Amigos and the Frog Splash, the fans boo him. I really don't think Chavo is doing anything "in character." He's trying to really pay respect to Latino Heat and it almost sickens me to hear fans boo him when he pays respect, just because he's a "bad guy."
8. In the main event, The Undertaker and Finlay defeated WWE World Champion, Edge and The Big Show when Undertaker pinned Edge. I would dare say that Edge's heel status as hot as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper's was back in the 1980s. I have never heard a building get so loud just to boo somebody. Edge slowly walked to the ring and would tear up three posters he saw at ringside. He even argued with a couple of fans. When Edge made it to the ring he stated that the fans need to realize that history was standing before them in the form of two men who will change the face of WrestleMania. Edge said The Big Show is going to destroy Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Edge is going to end the streak of The Undertaker. He reminded fans that he too is undefeated. The Undertaker and Finlay became victorious when The Undertaker tombstoned Edge and pinned him.
2009 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
In less than five weeks, Wrestlemania 25 will take place. Tonight, we will move a few steps closer to the show with a few things being resolved tonight. First, we will have another person entered into the Money in the Bank match that already has CM Punk in it. Randy Orton will decide which title he will challenge for at the pay per view. Will it be his former tag team partner whose wife he did not give an RKO to, or will it be his former tag team partner whose wife he did give an RKO to? John Bradshaw Layfield will also make an announcement tonight. We will also find out who will be the seventeenth to fall short of defeating the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Will it be Mr. Wrestlemania Shawn Michaels or will it be Mr. I Must Break You Vladimir Kozlov? Will a McMahon feel the wrath of the Legacy? How many sledgehammers will be used this week? Will John Cena confront Edge this week? Will he insult Vickie Guerrero? Will Vickie Guerrero continue to leave her mark on the Raw brand?
Neither rain, nor sleet, nor a freaking blizzard can keep you from a Randy Orton/Triple H video package recap, including Randy Orton making the mistake of thinking that Triple H doesn’t bring reinforcement GameHammers. The Benny Hill chase through the back of the arena is the next thing shown and the GameHammer attack of the mirror.
We are live from Boston, Massachusetts and your announcers are Michael ‘Did anyone find Hornswoggle, I lost him in a snow bank’ Cole and Jerry ‘Is CM Punk going to do snow angels tonight’ Lawler.
Jerry Lawler is in the ring and he says that Vickie Guerrero wanted him to make the following announcement. Tonight on Raw, there will be a World Title match. Edge will defend the title against John Cena.
It is time for Piper’s Pit, but Chris Jericho is your host. Chris says that he was not planning on doing this, but he welcomes everyone to Piper’s Pit. Chris talks about how he has been ridiculed by the fans for what he has done to the legends. Chris says that he got the original set and is going to host it. Chris says that it was a groundbreaking show and featured many great moments. We see footage of Piper hitting Jimmy Snuka with a coconut almost 25 years ago.
Chris brings out his guest, Jimmy Snuka.
Chris asks Jimmy to sit down and he does. Chris talks about the matches between Snuka and Piper after that episode of Piper’s Pit. We go to footage from those matches. Chris tells Jimmy to wait his turn to talk. Chris says that Jimmy is a grim reminder of what can happen to legends. He calls Snuka the poster boy for Mickey Rourke. He says that Jimmy is in his mid-60s and he embarrasses himself by working independent shows. Chris reminds Jimmy about his time in the Royal Rumble with Piper and he says that Piper and Snuka were selfish for taking those spots away. Chris says that Jimmy needed to hear the crowd one more time. Chris says that the problem with the Hall of Famers is that they are sick in the head and too occupied with their egos to pack it in. Chris says that he brought Snuka out to show them what could happen if you are not careful. Jericho calls him a pathetic disgrace.
Jimmy gets up and Chris asks him if that makes Jimmy angry. Chris says that he will tell Jimmy slowly so he can understand. He tells Jimmy that he is finished and nobody cares about him any more. He tells Jimmy to go home and pack it in.
Jimmy says that he does not understand so Chris says that he isn’t getting through to anyone. Chris says that they can go old school and he brings out some fruit for Jimmy. Chris has a coconut and he asks Jimmy if he wants to relive the past. Jimmy catches the coconut and he throws the table aside. Chris begs for mercy and he runs away. While Snuka poses, Jericho knocks the set onto Snuka. Jericho kicks him and asks Jimmy if he wants to relive the past. Jericho whips Snuka with his belt.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that David Caruso’s glasses couldn’t even get more viewers than the second hour of Raw.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Chris Jericho trying to relive the past with Jimmy Snuka.
Jerry Lawler says that Jericho’s actions are inexcusable.
We see footage of CM Punk getting into Money in the Bank after pinning John Morrison last week.
Match Number One: Kane versus Rey Mysterio versus Mike Knox in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Rey is outside the ring and Knox chases after him. Kane punches Rey when Rey returns to the ring. Rey with knees to Kane but Kane catches Rey on a seated splash attempt. Rey gets out of the power bomb attempt but Knox throws Rey out of the ring. Knox and Kane both hit big boots and they go down. We go to commercial.
We are back and Knox has Rey on his knee as he stretches him. Rey with a knee to try to get out of the hold. Rey avoids a big boot but Kane pulls Rey out of the ring and flings him into the ringside barrier. Time for the big men to battle as Knox punches Kane and follows that with a knee to the midsection. Knox with an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Knox with a reverse chin lock. Kane with a belly-to-back suplex to Knox. Knox takes Kane down and then he tries to bring Rey back into the ring. Rey with a rana to Knox and then he hits a bulldog on Knox for a two count. Rey with a drop kick to Kane’s head. Knox with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to Rey for a near fall. Knox gets Rey up for a running power slam, but Rey counters with a DDT but Kane breaks up the cover. Kane with an Irish whip and he catches Rey on his shoulder. Kane goes into the turnbuckles with a drop toe hold. Knox sends Rey into Kane and Kane goes down. Rey sends Knox into the ropes in 619 position. Kane grabs Rey by the throat but Kane with a boot to Knox. Rey hits the 619 on Kane and then hits the springboard seated senton. Knox breaks up the cover. Knox hits the corkscrew DDT but Kane choke slams Knox for the three count.
Winner: Kane
After the match, Kane gives Rey a choke slam.
We see Vladimir Kozlov doing dips in the back. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to take a look back at one of Buck Woodward’s favorite matches . . . the Hart/Michaels Iron Man Match.
Todd Grisham is with Shawn Michaels in the locker room. Todd asks Shawn about his match against Vladimir Kozlov and how will he be able to win. Shawn says that he does not need to be reminded about what happened last week. Shawn says that last year has been one of the most traumatic years of his life. Shawn says that he has gone to Wrestlemania every year and he has stolen the show each time. Shawn tells Kozlov that he will end his streak and go to Wrestlemania where he will end Taker’s streak.
Maryse and Melina are with Cole and Lawler.
Match Number Two: Mickie James and Kelly Kelly versus Beth Phoenix and Jillian Hall
Beth sends Kelly into the turnbuckles but Kelly with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Beth gets flipped onto her feet and Beth powerbombs Kelly into the turnbuckles and chokes her in the corner. Jillian also works over Kelly while Beth is with the ref. Jillian tags in and she tosses Kelly by the hair. Kelly kicks Jillian and tags in Mickie. Mickie with a snap mare and drop kick to Jillian followed by one to Beth. Jillian kicks Mickie but Mickie with an elbow. Jillian with a forearm in the corner and then it is time for the screeching handspring elbow but she jumps into boots from Mickie. Mickie with a Thesz Press from the top but Beth breaks it up. Kelly tags in with a sunset flip and the three count.
Winners: Kelly Kelly and Mickie James
After the match, Rosa attacks Kelly and Melina tries to get involved in the melee but Maryse pulls her off the apron and hits a DDT on Melina.
Cole and Lawler talk about the issues with Randy Orton and Triple H. Did you miss the video package at the start of the show because it is on again.
Randy Orton comes to the ring with Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, lawyers, accountants, security, and maybe even Billy Krotchsen. We go to commercial before we find out the name of his opponent at Wrestlemania.
We are back and Randy is about to speak. Randy points out that as the winner of the Royal Rumble, he is entitled to a championship match at Wrestlemania. Randy says that he is challenging the winner of the John Cena and Edge match tonight. Randy says that some expected him to challenge Triple H, but that is not going to happen. Triple H is not going to Wrestlemania, he is going to jail. Randy says that he is pressing charges against Triple H for his assault with a deadly weapon last week. Randy says that he dropped his hammer before Hunter got to the ring. Randy says that he wanted to settle things like men, but Hunter had a concealed sledgehammer and used it on DiBiase and Rhodes. Randy says that his life could have ended that night. Randy tells Hunter that it is time to face the music. If Hunter has anything to say, he should come out because very soon, he will be going away for a long time.
Hunter’s music plays and he comes out and he has his GameHammer. He says that Randy’s doctors and lawyers say that he has a disease and he is not in control of his actions. Hunter says that he is in complete of his actions. Hunter walks to the ring and drops his GameHammer. Orton tells them to move out of the way and Hunter gets on the apron.
Hunter tells Orton that they tell you what you want to hear, but he tells Randy what he needs to hear. Hunter says that it is about Randy. It is about how Orton wants this to end. Hunter says that Randy needs this story to end. Randy has taken out the entire McMahon family so now he needs to go to Wrestlemania to beat him for the WWE Title. He says that Orton needs to avenge the moment that defines his life. Hunter reminds Randy of the night he got Ortoned after becoming the youngest WWE Champion. Hunter reminds Orton that he beat the hell out of him. Hunter asks Orton how long he had the title. Was it a month? Hunter says that he does not run from his past. He says that he is not a good person and never has been a good person. He wasn’t happy for Randy’s success. He says that he made a conscious decision and he took what was his. Now Randy has that opportunity to avenge that night. He can go to the biggest stage and beat Hunter for the WWE Title and put all of it behind him. However, Randy makes a conscious choice to run. Hunter says that it is because Randy is afraid. Hunter tells Orton that he has been afraid his whole life. Hunter tells Orton that he does not have what it takes. Hunter says that Orton can hide behind his lawyers and security and talk tough, but Hunter knows the truth. Randy is that same little kid who was carrying his bags around in Evolution. Hunter says that he is the same little boy with all of the talent in the world, but is gutless.
The vein in Orton’s head starts to throb and one of Randy’s attorneys says that Randy has nothing to say unless Hunter turns himself in. The security are about to take Hunter out of the ring, but Orton tells them to stop and let him go. Randy says that he thinks he has changed his mind. Randy says that he won’t be facing Edge or John Cena at Wrestlemania, he will be facing Hunter under one condition. They settle it at Wrestlemania. Randy says that Hunter does not lay his hands on him until Wrestlemania unless provoked or the match is off the table and he presses charges. Hunter says that they have a deal.
Hunter leaves the ring and Orton says that if Hunter wants to get all personal, it felt great, regardless of whether he was in control of things, when he kicked the old man in the skull. It felt better when he did it to Shane. When he hit the RKO on his wife, he replays it over and over in his head. He says that he can still smell her scent and her skin was so soft. Randy asks Hunter if she knows what was the last thing she felt before the RKO.
Hunter returns to the ring and gets in Orton’s face and he says the last time they fought in the ring, he broke Orton’s collarbone. That was business, but this is personal. Next time, it will be Orton’s neck. Hunter leaves the ring and we go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Shawn Michaels defeating Bradshaw in the who will face Vladimir Kozlov to wrestle Taker at Wrestlemania Qualifying Match and the post match festivities with Vladimir Kozlov.
In case you missed it, we see highlights from Vladimir Kozlov defeating Undertaker on Smackdown last week.
Match Number Three: Shawn Michaels versus Vladimir Kozlov in a Who Gets to Lose to Undertaker and be Number 17 Match
Michaels avoids Kozlov as Kozlov tries to corner Michaels. Kozlov with forearms but Michaels gets out of the corner. Michaels with a side head lock but Kozlov with shoulders in the corner. Michaels tries for a sunset flip but Kozlov pulls him up and puts Shawn in a bear hug. Shawn boxes Kozlov’s ears and then he clips Kozlov and hits a drop kick. Shawn with a figure four leg lock but Kozlov reverses. Shawn goes to the floor and Kozlov raises his arms because he can. We go to commercial.
We are back and Kozlov with shoulders in the corner. Michaels with a chop to Kozlov but Kozlov with an Irish whip and Michaels with the Michaels flip. Kozlov puts Michaels on the top turnbuckle and then he head butts Michaels in the ribs. Kozlov with a running power slam for a near fall. Kozlov with a back breaker to Michaels and then he hits a second one. Kozlov with a torture rack on Michaels but Michaels punches his way out of the hold. Kozlov with a vicious back elbow for a near fall. Kozlov with forearms to the head and then he applies a bear hug. Michaels with punches to Kozlov followed by a chop. Michaels tries for the ‘vintage’ flying forearm but Kozlov with a head butt to counter it and Kozlov gets a near fall. Kozlov sends Michaels into the corner and he chokes Michaels with his boot. Kozlov with forearms to Michaels and then he puts Michaels on the top turnbuckles for an overhead belly-to-belly but Michaels stops him and he sends Kozlov off the turnbuckles and Michaels sets for the elbow drop and he hits it. Michaels sets for Sweet Chin Music and he hits it for the three count.
Winner: Shawn Michaels
After the match, the lights go blue and Taker’s music plays and he comes into the arena. Taker signals what he is going to do to Michaels while flames rise next to him.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that Raw still gets good ratings.
We see a lot of snow on the ground in Boston.
Cole and Lawler talk about 12 Rounds and we get to take a look at Cena’s character in the movie.
It is time to see the next man into the WWE Hall of Fame and it is Bill Watts who will be inducted by Jim Ross.
Edge is in the back with Todd Grisham and Todd asks him about the title match. Edge says that he does not like Todd’s tone. Cena has been demanding a title match and he is giving him his match. Edge says that it is not because Cena was knocked out last week on Smackdown. Edge says that it is because they are less than an hour from Cena’s home town. We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Show knocking out John Cena on Smackdown.
Match Number Five: John Cena versus Edge for the World Title
They lock up and Cena with a side head lock and take down. Edge backs Cena into the corner and Edge with a side head lock and take down. Edge with a kick and punch to Cena followed by a forearm. Edge charges at Cena but Cena ducks down and Edge goes over the top rope to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Edge with a reverse chin lock and we are told that Edge has focused on Cena’s neck. Edge with a boot to the head and Cena goes down again. Edge with an elbow to the head followed by a forearm and punch. Edge punches Cena and Irish whips Cena followed by a clothesline for a near fall. Edge with an Irish whip but Cena avoids a clothesline and Cena with two shoulder tackles followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb. Time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Edge moves and gets a near fall. Cena tries for the Attitude Adjustment but Edge counters with a breakdown for a near fall. Cena goes to the apron and Cena with a shoulder and a sunset flip attempt but Edge with an elbow drop. Edge tries for the Impaler DDT but Cena counters with a rollup for a near fall. Edge hits the Impaler DDT for a two count. Edge goes to the apron and up top but Cena stops him and Cena tries for an Attitude Adjustment from the turnbuckles but Edge escapes the hold and Edge knocks Cena off the turnbuckles and Cena hits the apron and ring post. Cena makes it in at nine and Edge is not happy. Cena with a leap frog neck breaker and then Cena goes up top for the Rocker Dropper. Now it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and he hits it. Cena sets for the Attitude Adjustment but Edge gets out of the hold. Edge with a Sharpshooter and Cena eventually makes it to the ropes. Edge sets for the spear and Cena with a drop toe hold into the STF. Edge reaches for the ropes and he gets it. Edge with a spear and both men are down until Edge gets a near fall.
Edge goes outside the ring and he brings in the title belt. The referee takes the belt away but Edge grabs it back and hits Cena in the head with the belt. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner: John Cena by disqualification
AAfter the match, Big Show stands next to Edge on the ramp. Show looks at Edge and Edge wants Show to help him get up but Show does nothing. Vickie Guerrero comes out and she has a mic. Vickie introduces the number one contender for the World Title and Edge’s opponent at Wrestlemania . . . The Big Show.
2010/strong>- WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Wichita, Kansas and your announcers are Josh ‘Are you Tough Enough’ Mathews and Michael ‘Compared to my co-host on Mondays I am Lance Russell’ Cole with backstage interviewer Matt ‘Casual Tuesdays’ Striker.
We start off with highlights from last week’s show including Daniel Bryan’s match against Chris Jericho.
Matt Striker is in the back and he welcomes everyone to the show. He says that he is excited about the concept of NXT and how the rookies are here to impress the fans as well as the mentors because the mentors are the ones who vote on the rookies. They cannot vote for or against their rookie.
Match Number One: David Otunga with R Truth versus Darren Young with CM Punk, Luke Gallows, and Serena
Young with a kick and he sends Otunga into the turnbuckles. Otunga with a hip toss and arm drag followed by a slam and he gets a near fall. Otunga with an Irish whip and running clothesline into the corner. Young with an Irish whip and a neck breaker. Young with a kick to the back followed by a snap mare and knee drop. Young with a rear chin lock and his knee in Otunga’s back. Young turns it into a reverse chin lock but Otunga with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Otunga with a shoulder from the apron but he tries again and Young with a knee and then Young drops Otunga on the top rope and Otunga goes to the floor. Otunga gets back on the apron but Young with a drop kick that sends Otunga to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Young with a cravate on Otunga and then he drops a knee on Otunga’s head. Young with a suplex to Otunga and he gets another near fall. Young with another cravate on Otunga. Otunga with a punch but Young with a running back elbow and a kick to the head. Young with a knee to the head and then he returns to the cravate. Otunga with a punch but Young with a forearm to the back and then he sends Otunga into the turnbuckles. Young with an Irish whip but he misses a charge and Otunga with a near fall on a rollup. Young with a clothesline for a near fall. Young with a rear chin lock and a forearm to the back and then he sends Otunga into the turnbuckles. Otunga with a kick and elbow to Young followed by clotheslines. Young tries for a neck breaker but Otunga with a shoulder tackle that sends Young to the floor. Otunga rolls Young back in and then Gallows and Truth have some words on the floor. Punk trips Otunga and then Young hits a full nelson into a Flatline for the three count.
Winner: Darren Young
After the match, Otunga pushes Truth away as he leaves the ring.
We take a look at Daniel Bryan. Bryan mentions that he is from Washington. He points out that he has been wrestling for ten years and thinks that he is better than anyone in the ring. He says that he is a submission wrestler who utilizes the entire body. He mentions that he was trained by Shawn Michaels in 1999 and says that he started with Michaels when he graduated from high school. Bryan says that he is very laid back outside the ring. He says that he has been looking at this for the last ten years and his goal is to headline Wrestlemania. This is the first step. He says that nothing will stop him from his dream.
Cole defends his comments from last week and says that Bryan hasn’t established himself in the ring yet.
Josh mentions Bryan’s match with Jericho last week and we see the highlight of Bryan going into the announce table on a suicide dive.
We see Miz berating Bryan after last week’s match.
The medical staff checks on Bryan’s rib and the Miz enters. He says that Bryan learned a valuable lesson that he is dirt, scum, and nothing in the WWE. He tells Bryan that he will respect him. Miz tells Bryan that even when he has a boo boo he has to wrestle. Miz tells Bryan that he has a match with Wade Barrett and that match is next. Miz slaps Bryan in the rib as Bryan gets taped up and we go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that NXT got better ratings than other channels.
We see footage from the commercial break when Matt Striker asked Otunga what happened. Otunga says that he was jumped when he had the match won and then Truth comes into the interview area in back and he pushes Otunga and they fight on the ground before they are separated by referees.
Chris Jericho comes out with his rookie, Wade Barrett. Chris says that it is time for the failures in the crowd to meet the newest success story, his protégé Wade Barrett. We have a video package. He mentions that he is six foot seven and he says that he will be able to dominate anyone. He mentions that he fought all over Europe and was a Bare Knuckles Champion. He talks about how he needed to make more money and that is why he came to the WWE. He is not here to wow the fans, he is here for the contract and to be the next WWE Superstar.
Cole asks Jericho about his relationship with Barrett. Jericho says that Barrett is listening to him. Jericho mentions Bryan’s injuries at his hands last week. Jericho says that Bryan is a seasoned veteran but he is a rookie in the WWE. He has wowed and amazed fans around the world, but not in the WWE.
Match Number Two: Wade Barrett with Chris Jericho versus Daniel Bryan
Barrett with a kick to the ribs and then he connects with a forearm to the ribs followed by a shoulder to the injured ribs and Bryan goes to the apron. Barrett with an Irish whip and a back breaker for a near fall.
We see Carlito and the Miz watching in the back and then Barrett with a belly-to-back suplex to Bryan. Bryan side steps Barrett and Barrett goes to the floor. Bryan with a running knee off the apron. Bryan misses a springboard move and Barrett gets a near fall. Barrett with a slam from the shoulders and gets the three count.
Winner: Wade Barrett
After the match, Chris Jericho kicks Bryan in the ribs and then he puts Bryan in the Walls of Jericho.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound.
Cole wants to know why Sheamus attacked Triple H at the end of Raw. Josh brings Michael back to this show and we see highlights from the tag match from last week and the teamwork between Christian and Heath Slater.
We see Heath Slater talking about how everyone loves him and he mentions his Twitter account. Christian says that there is a difference between being confident and overconfidence. He talks about David Otunga and Daniel Bryan. Christian says that the fans were reacting to him, not Heath. Christian motivates Heath in the gym.
Matt Striker is with Justin Gabriel and Matt Hardy in the interview area. Justin says that he couldn’t ask for a better mentor and he calls Matt his sensei. Matt says that Justin will use a lot of high flying maneuvers and reminds him of a young Matt Hardy.
We have a video package for Skip Sheffield. He calls himself a crazy cornfed meathead. He says that he isn’t the smartest man or the best trained wrestler. He is an entertainer and then he rhymes a lot. He calls himself a brawler and says that he has wanted to be a WWE superstar since he was twelve. He is going to make the most of it and go full blast. Skip says that he is going to win it and he gives us his catchphrase.
Match Number Three: William Regal and Skip Sheffield versus Matt Hardy and Justin Gabriel
Sheffield and Gabriel start things off and they lock up and Sheffield backs Gabriel into the corner and he gives a clean break. Gabriel with a shoulder in the corner followed by an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner followed by a snap mare and kick to the back. Gabriel with a drop kick and drop toe hold into an arm bar. Hardy tags in and he punches Sheffield. Hardy and Sheffield with double back elbows followed by more double team moves. Hardy works on the arm and then Gabriel tags in and Hardy with a clothesline into the corner followed by a splash on Poetry in Motion as we go to commercial.
We are back and Regal with a back elbow to Gabriel followed by a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Regal with an arm bar and cross face. Gabriel with a forearm but Regal with one that sends Gabriel to the mat. Regal with forearms and knees in the corner followed by an Exploder. Regal tells Sheffield that is what he needs to do but Hardy makes the tag while Regal was talking to Sheffield. Regal with knees to Hardy and then he chokes him. Hardy goes to the floor and then Sheffield and Regal have some words. Regal with a kick and then he stands on Hardy’s chest. Sheffield comes in and he punches Hardy and then he slams Matt and then he does a shuffle before hitting a splash and gets a near fall. Sheffield with punches and kicks to Hardy. Regal tags back in and he connects with an uppercut on Hardy. Hardy tries for a backslide but Regal counters with a forearm to the neck. Regal backs Hardy into the corner and Sheffield tags in and he punches Hardy. Sheffield gets a near fall on Hardy and then he goes to the reverse chin lock. Sheffield tries for a power slam but Hardy counters with a neck breaker and both men are down. Regal tags in and he kicks Hardy in the head. Regal lectures Sheffield and tells him not to do stupid things. Regal with a forearm to Hardy but Hardy with a Twist of Fate out of nowhere and then Gabriel is tagged in and he hits the 450 Splash for the three count.
Winners: Matt Hardy and Justin Gabriel
WWe go Matt Striker with the other rookies. Matt says that one of the rookies will become a breakout star and then Carlito comes out and he takes a bite of his apple and spits it in Heath Slater’s face. Carlito says that is cool. Slater wants to know if that is all Carlito is going to do and walk away.
2011 - ROH champion Roderick Strong and El Generico signed deals with Ring of Honor.
2011 - WWE filed a trademark on the term Sherriff Austin.
2011 - Derrick Bateman underwent knee surgery.
2012 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Six Man Mayhem: QT Marshall vs Silas Young vs Mike Sydal vs Adam Page vs ACH vs Tadarius Thomas
Matt Taven won the Top Prospect Tournament to earn a TV Title shot at Adam Cole later on tonight, and this match is made up of six of the seven other men who participated in the tournament. Antonio Thomas is the one . Page and ACH start us off and got back and forth, then Young and Thomas come in and trade shots until Young backdrops him to the floor. Sydal comes in and drills Young with a kick to the side of the head that knocks him to the floor, but Marshall comes in and blindsides Sydal before knocking Page off the apron. ACH catches Marshall with a flying headscissors, then all the other participants take turns beating Marshall up until Page clotheslines him to the floor. Young goes after Page and dumps him out to the apron, and Page comes off the apron with a shooting star press to Thomas on the floor. Barrister RD Evans grabs ACH's ankle from the floor to stop him from hitting a dive on Marshall, so Thomas takes his place and hits a Space Flying Tiger Drop. Sydal wipes everyone else out with a moonsault to the floor except for ACH, who follows him out and nails the five guys with a dive. RD Evans climbs up the corner for some reason, so Young goes up and suplexes him to the floor where they take everyone out again. Wow, this is really old school ROH! The fans chant "this is awesome" as ACH hits a Stunner on Marshall and then tries a springboard move, Marshall trips him up by kicking the ropes and then kicks Page's hand (which is in a cast) and plants him with an Alabama Slam. Sydal hits Thomas with a flying neckbreaker and a standing shooting star press for 2, then tries a flying crossbody on Young, but Young rolls through, powers Sydal into a Finlay Roll and tries the headstand suplex. Sydal moves and ACH pops Young over into a short fisherman's buster for the win.
Winner: ACH
Hell of an opener! This was so old school in terms of the type of action we saw out there and gave ACH a strong first win after signing his ROH deal.
Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs vs Cedric Alexander & Caprice Coleman
Coleman and Alexander don't even wait for the bell, and go right after SCUM as soon as they get in the ring. Corino and Alexander fight outside and Coleman leaps over the ropes to hit a springboard moonsault to Corino, then Alexander slides into the ring and takes both of SCUM out with a dive. C&C bring Jacobs inside the ring and take over with some fancy double teaming, then Corino comes in and has the same luck, getting laid out with a Hart Attack and then a pair of suplex/slingshot senton combos. Coleman charges Corino in the corner and runs into his boot, Jacobs tags in and immediately finds himself on the receiving end of another beating, getting slingshot into a forearm by Alexander, who then slingshots in and nails Jacobs with a twisting elbow. Corino cheapshots Coleman from outside the ring and comes in for a double team back elbow with Jacobs. Coleman is in the wrong part of town as SCUM work him over, hitting a double necktie beckbreaker and baiting Alexdander into the ring so they can get more free shots in on Coleman. Corino with a Saito suplex, Coleman surprises him with a Silver Slice and makes the tag to Alexander. Alexander goes to town on Jacobs with running forearms and a diving kick, followed by the IED and a back suplex into a backbreaker. That looked really nasty, and so did what happened right after when Corino came in and speared him shoulder first into the ringpost. Coleman comes in to help and winds up in the wrong part of town, Jacobs tried coming off the second rope with something but Coleman low blows him on the way down and C&C hit a series of suplexes on both Corino and Jacobs. Jacobs and Coleman wind up out on the apron, Jacobs spears Coleman as Corino lariats Alexander, SCUM hit an assisted Contra Code and Corino hits the sliding lariat, but only get 2. Alexander catches Jacobs coming off the ropes again and hits a facebuster, Coleman hits Jacobs with a second rope legdrop, then they dump Corino to the floor and go for Overtime, but Corino superkicks Coleman and Jacobs gets the knees up when Alexander comes off the top with a frogsplash. Corino picks Alexander up and Jacobs comes off the ropes with a spike cradle piledriver, and Alexander is DEAD as Jacobs covers for the win.
Winners: Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs
That is a hell of a devastating looking finish. Coleman and Alexander looked good, but they're in the same spot they were when they got here, so there wasn't a whole lot of suspense.
No Holds Barred Streetfight: BJ Whitmer vs Charlie Haas
This match is a continuation of the WGTT-All Night Express feud from last year that culminated in Haas nearly breaking BJ's neck with a suplex through a table, and then escalated as a result of an incident at a car dealership. Haas waits for Whitmer in the aisle and they start fighting in the entryway, then brawl down to ringside where Whitmer rams Haas into the barricades. Whitmer sends Haas inside and brings in a trash can that he puts over Haas' head, then big boots Haas and stomps on Haas' face through the can. Whitmer goes under the ring for a stepladder and rams it into Haas' ribs, then whips him into the corner and skeeballs the ladder into...well, Haas' skeeballs. Just to up the ante even more, Whitmer then takes a chair and slams it into the bottom of the ladder, ramming it into Haas' skeeballs one more time. Haas tries to escape to the floor, but Whitmer won't let up as he follows Haas outside, sets up a table between the ring and barricade, then goes after Haas. Haas had enough time to recover that he's able to Tully Whitmer into the barricade, smash a chair into his head, and back suplex him onto the barricade. Haas then sends Whitmer back inside and repeatedly smashes the ladder down onto him. Haas sets up the ladder in the corner, and he goes all Stone Cold when it falls back down nad he has trouble getting it to stay there. Eventually he manages to get the ladder to stay on the top turnbuckle facing into the ring and whips Whitmer face first into it. Haas grabs a piece of wood and prepares to bash Whitmer in the head with it, but the kid from the wrestling school that Haas beat up comes down and distracts Haas long enough for Whitmer to get a piece of wood of his own and trade shots with Haas. Haas gets the advantage and suplexes Whitmer over the top rope and through the table Whitmer set up earlier, then brings him back inside and covers for 2. HJaas is pissed off now, so he puts the ladder over Whitmer and nails him with a chair about fifteen times. Haas finally stops and covers, but BJ kicks out at 2. Haas sets up a chair in between the top and middle rope and rams Whitmer headfist into it, then pulls a table out from under the ring and sets it up in the middle of the ring. Haas puts Whitmer on the top rope to try for a repeat of Final Battle, and while Whitmer doesn't go through the table headfirst, Whitmer sure does get suplexed through the table. Haas covers and Whitmer somehow kicks out at 2, so Haas gets another couple of chairs and uses them to set up a "ladder table" in the corner, and tries to hit the Hacker Slam onto the ladder. Whitmer slips out the back and suplexes Haas through the ladder, Whitmer covers and Haas kicks out at 2, so Whitmer starts pummeling Haas with kneestrikes to the head and the referee quickly stops the match.
Winner: BJ Whitmer
Whitmer keeps ramming kneestrikes to Haas' head until the referee tells him to stop because he won the match, but Whitmer has now earned his biggest singles win yet since returning to ROH last year. HELL of a fight, just a good, old fashioned brawl between two guys who want to hurt each other. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
American Wolves vs Forever Hooligans
A lot of history here between Davey Richards and Rocky Romero, who were ROH World Tag Team Champions when both were members of the No Remorse Corps. For those who have never seen Romero wrestle, he's probably one of the three most talented people to ever work for ROH and not win the ROH World Title. He brings a terrific blend of MMA, submissions, and lucha libre, and is one of the smoothest wrestlers I've ever seen, and makes it looks like everything he does requires no effort whatsoever. I've never been quite as high on Koslov, he's okay but I always thought he relied more on the Soviet gimmick than his in-ring skills. He sings the Soviet national anthem, reminiscent of Nikolai Volkoff, though I'll give him enough credit to say he's a better wrestler and in much better shape than Nikolai ever was.
We don't waste any time getting down to business, starting off with Davey and Romero. Romero ducks a tie up and punches Davey in the ribs on his way through, then does the azucar dance to get in his head. They do another feeling out sequence and Romero dropkicks Richards and dances again. Richards bridges out of an armbar and kicks Romero in the shoulder and azucar dances back at Romero, who were also former IWGP Tag Team Champions according to the announce team. Back and forth sequence ends with Richards dropkicking Romero, and Romero gets on his knees to beg for mercy. Richards gets an incredulous look on his face as Romero gets to his feet and asks for a handshake, then hugs toe referee to show his sincerity. He of course was just setting Davey up for a kick, but Davey caught his foot and beat the crap out of him, then Eddie comes into the ring and the two of them absolutely beat the crap out of Romero, then give Koslov the same treatment. They dump the Hooligans out to the apron, connect with stereo kicks and then stereo dives. The crowd is going nuts for the Wolves as Davey gets a 2 count on Romero, then Edwards comes in and unloads with chops on Romero. Romero goes to the eyes and tags Koslov in, but Koslov immediately winds up on the receiving end of an onslaught from Edwards, who kicks Koslov's legs out from under him before connecting with a running kneestrike for 2. Koslov finall manages a cheapshot and turns the advantage around on Edwards as Romero attacks Davey and lays him out at ringside. Now Edwards in in the wrong part of town, and he tries firing back on Romero with chops, but Romero dropkicks his knees out and then tags in Koslov, who tries to put Edwards in the deep freeze with a chinlock. Koslov with a Russian legsweep (or a legsweep, in his case), then Romero nails a series of frenzied clotheslines in the corner until Edwards lays him out with a single clothesline of his own. Koslov cuts off the hot tag, but Edwards lays him out, powerbombs Romero onto Koslov's prone form, and tags in Davey. Davey with a missile dropkick and a boot to the face of Koslov, then they trade forearms in the middle of the ring. Davey hits a handspring enziguiri for 2, suplexes Romero and tosses him to the floor, then kicks Koslov in the face and German suplexes him for 2. Koslov dodges a top rope double stomp and hits an enziguiri, then does the Russian dance thing where he kicks Davey in the head and covers for 2. Romero zips into the ring and dropkicks Eddie off the apron, then Koslov picks Romero up and rams his knees into Davey's chest. Koslov picks Davey up so Romero can come off the top rope with a kneedrop, and that gets 2. Edwards comes into the ring and nails Romero with an enziguiri, then superkicks Koslov's teeth down his throat. Davey ducks a roaring clothesline from Koslov, Edwards comes off the second rope with a chin checker to Koslov, Davey picks Koslov up for a Tombstone, Eddie kicks Koslov in the face, and Davey hits the Tombstone for 2. The Wolves head up to the top rope, Edwards hits a double stomps, Davey howls and hits the top rope double stomp, but Romero finally gets back in and breaks the fall at 2. Eddie dumps Romero back out to the floor and picks Koslove up for the powerbomb/lungblower combo, but Romero neutralizes Davey and Koslov spins out and into a tornado DDT on Edwards. Romero and Koslov go to the top rope with Davey and hit a mega Diablo armbar and Koslov immediately follows with a frogsplash, and Davey kicks out at 2.999999999999. Eddie hits an enziguiri to Romero as Davey gets an O'Connor roll for a very close 2, then Eddie pops Koslov up into the Alarm Clock. Davey charges across the apron and kicks Romero in the chest, then the Wolves hit the powerbomb/lungblower combo for the win.
Winners: American Wolves
I hate to sound like a broken record, but this was an awesome, awesome match. Back and forth, didn't know who was going to win until the final three count, and could have gone either way. These guys all worked their asses off, and this was trademark ROH tag team wrestling at its best. Romero and Koslov are clearly disappointed, but follow the Code of Honor and Romero and Richards share a hug, then all four men raise their arms to the crowd together. This is the kind of match you show to people so they can see what ROH is all about.
INTERMISSION
Quick note before we come back with the second half: the quality of the iPPV stream tonight has been FLAWLESS. The video is higher quality than anything they've ever produced before, there have been no hiccups or lockups, and it's come across like I've been watching TV on my computer, which is exactly what it should be.
2 Out Of 3 Falls: Michael Elgin vs Roderick Strong
Feeling out process to start, Strong takes Elgin down with a wristlock, but Elgin CARTWHEELS out of the hold and backs Strong to the ropes to force a break. Shoving match ensues, Strong hits a leaping knee to Elgin's chin and fires forearms at Elgin, Elgin drills Strong with a spinning backfist, powerbombs Strong into the corner, and hits the sitout powerbomb to dust Strong for the first fall.
Elgin 1, Strong 0
Strong rolls out to the floor to create some distance before the second fall starts, but Elgin goes right after him and they brawl on the floor. Elgin no-sells Strong's chops and rams him into the barricade. Elgin rolls Strong into the ring and gets on the apron, Strong tries to sunset flip him to the floor, Elgin tries to drop down with a vertical splash, Strong moves out of the way and back suplexes Elgin to the floor. They head back inside and Strong covers for 2, Elgin tries to shrug off Strong's chops, but he's tired now and Strong drills him with a dropkick for 2. Strong with a leg lariat that knocks Elgin backward into the corner, but Strong charges in and takes what was once known around here as the STJoe. Elgin goes up for a moonsault, Strong cuts him off and tries a back suplex, Elgin fights him off and hits a Patriot missile. Strong with a series of elbowstrikes, but Elgin hits a Black Hole Slam for 2 and then transitions right into the Crippler Crossface. Strong rolls Elgin to his back for 2, then hits a boot to the face and a leaping enziguiri, boot to the face from Elgin, and Elgin hits Shock Treatment. Hey, maybe Joseph Park should be looking for his brother in ROH? Nah. Elgin goes for the powerbomb again, Strong escapes and hits a leaping enziguiri to the face, a leaping kneestrike, and a charging forearm. Strong hits a pump handle suplex for 2, Elgin blocks a fireman's carry attempt with elbows, but Strong hits another knee, he tries a powerbomb, Elgin backdrops Strong, Strong superkicks Elgin in the face and gets 2. Strong charges into Elgin's boot in the corner, Elgin goes to the second rope and tries to pick Strong up for a powerbomb, but Strong fights his way out, side suplexes Elgin onto the top rope, and hits the vertical suplex into a backbreaker to win the second fall.
Elgin 1, Strong 1
Strong jumps Elgin during the 20 second break and repeatedly rams kneelifts to Elgin's face and hits a gutbuster, Elgin is out at 2. Strong with a crucifix but Elgin rolls through and hits a running DVD in the corner. Strong tries to back suplex Elgin off the top rope again, but Elgin fights him off and this time he hits the twisting senton for 2. Elgin with a deadlift German suplex for 2, another for 2, Strong rolls out to the apron but Elgin goes to the corner and suplexes Strong all the way up, Strong slips out the back and powerbombs Elgin off the top rope for 2. Elgin reverses a sunset flip and hits the sitout powerbomb, but Strong is out at 2 so Elgin goes back to the Crippler Crossface and Strong taps out.
Winner: Michael Elgin
Very hard fought win for Elgin and both guys came out looking like a million bucks. I'm not a fan of people winning the first fall in under a minute because it's been done to death and doesn't mean anything anymore, but otherwise the match was great.
Matt Hardy comes out before the next match and says that Nigel McGuinness has thrown every obstacle he could in his way, but he's still here and wants a shot at the TV Title. Hardy takes a seat at the broadcast table and joins the commentary team for our next match.
TV Title Match: Adam Cole vs Matt Taven
I love Taven and Martini's new "hoopla" entrance music, but Martini is wearing...well, I guess he's wearing the type of thing he wears when he's preparing for another of his infamous conquests. Feeling out process starts us off as they exchange wristlocks and stuff, then go to the mat for some chain wrestling. Cole finally gets some momentum as he counters a leapfrog to an inverted atomic drop, Taven backdrops Cole to the ring apron and Truth distracts Cole so Taven can dropkick him to the floor. Taven tries a dive and Cole counters with a leaping enziguiri, Cole tries a springboard move back into the ring and Truth pulls Cole's ankle and allows Taven to nail Cole and send him tumbling out to the floor. Cole reverses a whip and sends Taven into the barricade, then gets distracted by Truth again and chases him around ringside until Taven sneaks in and spinkicks Cole in the face. Truth runs around with his fists pumped in the air as Taven rams Cole into the barricade, then they go back inside and Taven hits a side backbreaker for 2. Taven with a vertical suplex and a SWEET springboard twisting senton, then he distracts the referee so Truth can choke Cole on the second rope. Cole starts a comeback, but Taven shuts him down pretty quickly, humps his face, and repeatedly right hands him in the face before stopping to yell at a ringside fan. Cole gets his boot up when Taven charges him in the corner and starts to mount a comeback, bicycle kicks Taven, and gives him an over the knee neckbreaker for 2. Cole with a missile dropkick for 2, Taven escapes a vertical suplex attempt and hits a rolling neckbreaker for 2. Cole blocks a superplex attempt and hits a sunset flip that causes Taven to apparently land right on top of his head in the scariest thing I've seen in months, then he rams Taven headfirst into the turnbuckle, drills him with a kneestrike for 2, but Taven hits a springboard enziguiri for 2, showing no apparent ill effects from that scary bump. Cole dumps Taven out to the apron and apparently causes him to tweak his knee, then slingshots over the top rope to DDT Taven on the apron in another scary head bump. Taven dodges a flying bodypress from Cole and tries a suplex, but Cole reverses to a brainbuster over the knee and gets Taven in the figure four. Taven makes it to the ropes, Truth grabs Cole from the floor and allows Taven to roll him up for 2, Cole with enziguiri #347 of the evening but Truth drills Cole in the back with the Book of Truth and Taven hits Moonlight Drive, and we have a new TV Champion!
Winner and NEW ROH TV Champion: Matt Taven
Wow, that's a shocker! Great match and you did NOT see this title change coming, and Matt Hardy is stunned at ringside because his match with Cole tomorrow is now no longer a TV Title match.
ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Jay & Mark Briscoe vs Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly
Mark and O'Reilly start us off as both Briscoes are looking really grizzly like they've been living in the woods or something. Basic feeling out process to start as they go back and forth until Mark hits a leg lariat and O'Reilly tags Fish in. Jay obliges by tagging in as well, and Nigel McGuinness joins the broadcast team to address Matt Hardy's concerns, and he says that tomorrow's Hardy-Cole match will be for a shot at the TV Title at Supercard of Honor. So there you go. Jay connects with a series of jabs and a big boot, then Mark comes back in to beat Fish up as well. Fish is in real deep trouble as Mark hits a vertical suplex for 2, then unloads with Redneck Kung Fu. Fish easily beats that with his real martial arts training, then tags in O'Reilly and knocks Jay off the ring apron so they can hit a series of charging strikes and a windmill backbreaker/kneedrop combo on Mark for 2. O'Reilly unloads on Mark with a series of kicks to the chest while mocking Redneck Kung Fu, Fish tags in and charges...and gets backdropped to the floor. Mark tags Jay in, but Fish sweeps the leg before Jay even has a chance to get in the ring and attacks his leg on the floor, then rolls Jay inside and drags him to his corner where he and O'Reilly viciously attack his knee. O'Reilly with a flurry of kicks to Jay, then he distracts Mark so Fish can hit a top rope headbutt behind the referee's back. O'Reilly gets a side figure four on Jay and really cranks on the knee, then dumps him out to the floor so Fish can beat him up while he takes a shot at Mark. O'Reilly goes for the dropkick off the apron, but Jay clotheslines him on the way down and Mark nails Fish off the apron. Jay rolls back inside and finally makes the tag to Mark, and Redneck Kung Fu once again reigns supreme! Mark tears through Fish, then O'Reilly, then Mark goes for the Crane Kick, backflips out of a counter attempt by Fish, and hits a fisherman's buster on Fish. Mark dumps Fish on his head with a pair of suplexes, but Fish kicks out of a cover at 2. Mark hits Iconoclasm and Jay follows up with a frogsplash, but O'Reilly breaks the fall at 2. Fish boots Jay in the face and backdrops Mark to the apron where O'Reilly boots him to the floor, then they double up on Jay. O'Reilly with a charging kick to Jay for 2, they hit a double goozle for 2, Mark shoves Fish off the top rope and brawls with O'Reilly on the apron, but Jay picks O'Reilly up from the floor and Mark comes off the apron with the Doomsday Device. The Briscoes get Fish alone in the ring and hit a Falcon Arrow suplex/froggybow combo, but Fish kicks out at 2. Briscoes go for the Doomsday Device again, but O'Reilly shoves Mark off to the apron and they trade punches and then headbutts while Fish and Jay lay each other out. O'Reilly goes to the second rope and Mark goes for Iconoclasm to the floor, but O'Reilly shoves Mark off and Fish suplexes Mark to the floor. Jay tries to superplex O'Reilly, O'Reilly stands his ground long enough for Fish to come in and pick Jay up so they can hit Jay with their own Doomsday Device for 2. Fish and O'Reilly hit Chasing The Dragon and we have our second title change of the evening!
Winners and NEW ROH World Tag Team Champions: Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly
What an eventful evening! I can't wait for O'Reilly's promo where he gloats about how he was able to do with Fish what he couldn't do with Cole or Richards. The new champions demand that Cary Silkin comes into the ring and straps the belts around their waists. This match was terrific, O'Reilly and Fish have great chemistry and I'm looking forward to seeing what they do as championsSteen actually went to observe the Code of Honor, but Lethal waved him off and went after him with right hands. They trade blows and go right out to hte floor where Lethal rams Steen into the barricade, Steen goes to the eyes and rams Lethal into the barricade, then raises his fists in victory to the crowd. Steen sends Lethal back inside, but gets drop toeholded onto the second rope and Lethal slides out to the floor to dropkick Steen in the face. Steen clubs Lethal in the face with a series of forearms, Lethal shrugs it off and dropkicks Steen in the face, then he holds onto the ropes so Lethal can't drag him back into the middle of the ring. Good idea, but it doesn't work because Lethal gets Steen back out into the ring and dropkicked him out to the apron, then followed that with a springboard dropkick that sends Steen to the floor. Lethal wipes Steen out with a dive through the ropes, then does it a second time. Lethal goes for number three, but Steen drags him under the bottom rope and powerbombs him onto the ring apron. Steen crotches Lethal on the ringpost as the announcers rattle off a bunch of statistics about Steen's title reign, Steen hits a senton for 2, then drills Lethal with some right hands and chokes him on the second rope. Steen with a DDT for 2 and then clotheslines Lethal before going to the top rope for a senton. Lethal got the knees up and Steen is in trouble, but he manages to block the dragon suplex so Lethal hits a lungblower instead for covers for 2. Steen with a pump handle neckbreaker for 2, but Lethal dodges a cannonball and hits a neckbreaker for 2. Lethal goes for the Lethal Injection, Steen blocks by trying to pick Steen up for the F5, but his swings Lethal's legs right into the referee's face and knocks him out. Lethal hits the Lethal Injection on the second try, but Corino and Jacobs run in and attack Lethal, laying him out with the spike cradle piledriver and then ditching out of the ring. Jacobs reaches into the ring and wakes the referee, who crawls over and counts 2. Jacobs elbowdrops the referee, but Nigel McGuinness comes down to ringside and chases Corino to the back. Jacobs is still there and goes after Lethal, but Lethal takes him out with an enziguiri.
Steen is on his feet and he and Lethal stare each other down, then they break down into a slugfest in the middle of the ring. Lethal hits a dragon suplex, Steen pops right back up, and Lethal hits a second dragon suplex and Steen barely kicks out at 2. Lethal goes for the Lethal Combination, Steen fights him off but Lethal hits a spinning enziguiri and goes to the ropes, Steen pops him into the air and hits a sitout powerbomb for 2. Steen misses a charge in the corner and Lethal hits five superkicks, then hits the Lethal Combination and foregoes a chance for the win to go up top for Hail To The King. Lethal connects and covers Steen for 2, then transitions right into the Koji Clutch right in the middle of the ring. Steen makes it to the ropes fairly easily and rolls out to the apron, and I have a feeling something dangerous is about to happen. The folks at the timekeeper's table know it's coming and clear out as Lethal goes to the apron, he tries for a dragon suplex off the apron, but Steen picks Lethal up and hits the F5 through the timekeeper's table. Yep, that was pretty dangerous, all right. Steen makes it into the ring as the referee counts on Lethal, and Jacobs holds Lethal's ankle to keep him from getting inside, but Lethal kicks him off and makes it inside just before the 20 count. Steen immediately hits the package piledriver, but Lethal kicks out at 2. Jacobs pulls out the spike and Steen tells him to get out of here, Lethal kicks Steen into Jacobs, knocking Jacobs off the apron, and rolls Steen up for 2. Lethal with a superkick, and both men are down. They both get up, Steen charges into Lethal's boot, and Lethal slowly goes to the apron and climbs to the top rope. He's taking F-O-R-E-V-E-R to get up there, Steen stops him and goes up top as well, Lethal fights him off and goes for the elbow, but Steen pops up and nails Lethal a second time, then hits his old buddy's top rope brainbuster for the win.
Winner: Kevin Steen
Steen prevents a clean sweep of title changes for the evening, and Rhino and Jacobs run in and attack Lethal and the referee. The Briscoes run in, but they get laid out as well. Coleman and Alexander run in and go at it with Rhino and Jacobs, but Jimmy Rave runs in with a SCUM t-shirt on and clears Coleman and Alexander out. BJ Whitmer and Rhett Titus run in and Whitmer goes after Rave, but Titus dropkicks Whitmer in the face and tears his t-shirt off to reveal a SCUM shirt on underneath. Michael Elgin runs in and tries to fight SCUM off, but then Cliff Compton runs in as well with a SCUM shirt on and throws powder in Elgin's face. The American Wolves run in to try and help out, but they wind up getting laid out as well as we see that everyone SCUM lays out has been zip tied to the ropes. Adam Cole runs in, but Matt Hardy runs in as well and opens up his shirt to reveal a SCUM shirt underneath as well. Steve Corino comes back out to ringside with a microphone and says that evil would win, and evil is here. We are witnessing the power of SCUM and the destruction of Ring of Honor, and there isn't a thing anyone can do about it. As Jay Lethal sits there a beaten man, he's the last of the challengers, and Kevin Steen has proven himself to be the greatest ROH World Champion in history. He's the king of ROH and the king of professional wrestling, and the mission has always remained the same: bring suffering, chaos, ugliness, and mayhem to this company, and everyone in ROH should feel responsible for the destruction of everyone laying in the ring. The nail has been put in the coffin, he promised their numbers would grow, and they did. They are the ones who have been put down by this company and have had to deal with everyone's complaining, and they will murder this company. Jimmy takes his spike and tears up an ROH banner, then the rest of the group tears it apart and throws it on top of Lethal's unconscious form. Corino says that war has been declared, and it won't last very long because tonight, honor has died. Steen didn't lift a finger during this entire postmatch segment, and didn't seem sure about what Corino was saying, teasing that he might not be long for the group himself.
Well DAMN, that was a hell of a closing angle! Anyone who didn't watch this needs to go out and buy the replay right now. This was three hours of excellent wrestling, a terrific main event, and an insane angle to close the show while setting us up with some questions to make us come back. The iPPV stream was top notch, it looked professional, and this was overall a premium wrestling experience. I simply can't recommend this highly enough.
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