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5/15 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: TERRY FUNK VS. RODDY PIPER FOR THE FIRST TIME

May 15th

On this day in history in ....

1953 - Frankie Talaber wins his ninth Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio, defeating Joe Scarpello in a tournament final.

1955 - George Dussette and Luther Lindsay defeat Bulldog Curtis and Tommy Martinez to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.

1957 - Kevin Von Erich is born in Belleville, Illinois.

1957 - Ed Francis defeats Luigi Macera for the Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Title, ending Macera's second reign.

1958 - Verne Gagne and Leo Nomellini defeat Doc and Mike Gallagher for the Minneapolis NWA World Tag Team Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1963 - Rocket Monroe (Bill Fletcher) defeats Joe Scarpa (Jay Strongbow) and Pancho Villa in a three-way match to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama.

1963 - Bruno Sammartino & Apollo defeated the Kangaroos in the main event of a WWWF event in Staten Island, NY.

1964 - Former WCW World champion Ron Simmons is born.

1964 - WWWF ran Harrisburg, PA at Zembo Mosque with the following results:
-Tony Marino defeated Frank Hickey with an abdominal stretch at 17:12.
.-Pedro Rodriguez fought Duke Miller to a 30-minute draw.
-Smasher Sloan pinned Sonny Love at 7:06 -Ernie Ladd defeated Klondike Bill at 20:14 with a dropkick and splash.
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino fought European Champion Hans Mortier to a no contest at 20:04 when both men failed to get to their feet after a collision in the ring.

1965 - Mighty Igor Vodic defeats Mad Dog Vachon for the AWA World Heavyweight Title in Omaha, Nebraska, ending Vachon's second reign.

1965 - The WWWF ran Pittsburgh, PA at The Meadows with the following results:
-Johnny DeFazio defeated Ron Romano.
-Mr. Kleen defeated Jim Grabmire.
-Bob Nandor defeated Arnold Skaaland.
-Sonny Boy Cassidy & Irish Jackie defeated Fuzzy Cupid & Sky Low Low.
-Don McClarity defeated Smasher Sloan via disqualification.
-Chief White Owl defeated Waldo Von Erich via disqualification.
-Bill Watts & Bill Miller defeated WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino & Bobo Brazil.

1967 - The WWWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results:
-Arnold Skaaland defeated Smasher Sloan at 18:21.
-Irish Jackie & Billy the Kid defeated Little Brutus & Fuzzy Cupid.
-Prof. Toru Tanaka defeated the Ox via submission with a sleeper.
-Bobo Brazil pinned Bull Ortega at 7:23.
-Sprios Arion & Antonio Pugliese defeated Luke Graham & Baron Mikel Scicluna in a Best 2 out of 3 falls. match, 2-0; both falls were earned respectively by Arion and Pugliese using backbreakers.
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino pinned Gorilla Monsoon by kicking off the ropes while caught in a bearhug and falling backwards on top of the challenger for the pin.

1969 - WWWF ran The National Arena in Washington, D.C., featuring:
-Haystacks Calhoun defeated Guillotine Gordon.
-Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Arnold Skaaland.
-John L. Sullivan defeated Lou Albano.
-Bulldog Brower defeated Pete Sanchez.
-Sky Low Low & Little Brutus defeated Cowboy Bradley & Joey Russell.
-Bill Miller defeated Tony Altimore.
-Rocky Johnson defeated Prof. Toru Tanaka via disqualification.

1970 - Mark Lewin and Antonio Pugliese defeat Swede Hanson and Rip Hawk to win the International Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title in Sydney, Australia.

1970 - Donna Christantello and Kathy O'Day defeat The Fabulous Moolah and Toni Rose to win the NWA World Women's Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California.

1971 - The WWWF held an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The results:
- NWA World Women's Tag Team Champion Donna Christanello and NWA World Women's Champion The Fabulous Moolah defeated Sharon Joy and Vicki Williams.
- Manuel Soto defeated Manuka Akim.
- Jimmy Valiant defeated Johnny Rodz.
- Beautiful Bobby defeated Mike Pappas.
- Gorilla Monsoon defeated Juan Caruso and Vincente Pommetti in a handicap match.
- Tarzan Tyler defeated Tony Marino.
- Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Bulldog Brower by disqualification.
- WWWF Heavyweight Champion Pedro Morales defeated Blackjack Mulligan to retain the title.

1971 - Red Bastien and Hercules Cortez defeat Butcher and Mad Dog Vachon to win the AWA World Tag Team Title in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ending the Vachons' second reign.

1972 - Boris Malenko defeats Bearcat Wright for the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title in Orlando, Florida, beginning his eighth reign.

1973 - The California Hippies (Mike Boyette and Mickey Doyle) win their second Gulf Coast NWA United States Tag Team Title in Mobile, Alabama, ending The Mongol and The Rugged Russian's second reign.

1973 - Sandy Parker defeats Miyoko Hoshino for the WWWA World Singles Title in Choshi, Japan.

1974 - WWWF ran Pittsfield, MA at the Boys Club, drawing 500 fans with the following results:
-Ed Sullivan defeated SD Jones at 1:35.
-Arnold Skaaland defeated Johnny Rodz at 10:20.
-Nikolai Volkoff fought Tony Garea to a 20-minute time-limit draw.
-The Fabulous Moolah & Peggy Patterson defeated Debbie Johnson & Sharon Brooks in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-1.
-Chief Jay Strongbow fought Killer Kowalski to a double disqualification.

1975 - Paul Jones and Wahoo McDaniel defeat Gene and Ole Anderson to win the NWA World Tag Team Title in Greensboro, North Carolina.

1976 - The WWWF held an event at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
-Jose Gonzalez pinned Johnny Rodz at 10:29.
-Rocky Tomayo defeated Johnny Rivera via submission at 11:11.
-Susan Greene & Vivian St. James defeated Paula Kaye & Kitty Adams in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match.
-The Executioners defeated Pat Barrett & Kevin Sullivan in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0.
-Ivan Koloff fought Billy White Wolf to a 20-minute draw.
-Stan Hansen defeated Haystacks Calhoun at 1:59.
-Superstar Billy Graham defeated Gorilla Monsoon (sub. for WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino) when the bout was stopped due to blood at 12:57.

1976 - The Sheik defeats Bobo Brazil for the Detroit NWA United States Heavyweight Title in Detroit, Michigan, ending and beginning both men's ninth reigns.

1976 - Tony Garea and Pat Patterson defeat Invader I and Don Muraco to win the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title in San Francisco, California.

1977 - The WWWF held an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The results were:
-Johnny Rivera defeated Jan Nelson at 9:35.
-Ken Patera defeated Chief Jay Strongbow at 9:20.
-Rocky Tomayo defeated Ted Adams at 7:15.
-Johnny Rodz fought Don Serrano to a 20-minute draw.
-SD Jones defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna at 11:25.
-Pete Doherty defeated Tony Altimore at 8:50.
-George Steele defeated Bruno Sammartino via disqualification at 13:45.
-WWWF World Champion Superstar Billy Graham pinned Tony Garea at 8:43 after Garea missed a charge and hit the corner; one of the challenger's feet was outside the ring during the cover but the referee failed to notice.

1978 - Maple Leaf Wrestling held an event at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The results were:
Billy Red Lyons fought Chris Tolos to a 20-minute draw.
Dewey Robertson defeated the Wildman via disqualification.
Kim Chang pinned Claude Dionne at 10:30.
Billy Red Lyons & Rufus R. Jones defeated Super Destroyer (Sgt. Slaughter) & Lord Alfred Hayes at 18:17. when Jones pinned the Destroyer.
British Champion Billy Robinson defeated Angelo Mosca via disqualification after the challenger hit the referee.
AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel fought Jim Brunzell to a double disqualification at 18:44 when both Bobby Heenan and Rufus R Jones interfered.
WWWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Superstar Billy Graham via count-out at 10:28.

1978 - Gene Kiniski defeats John Quinn for the Vancouver NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Title in Vancouver, British Columbia, ending Quinn's second reign and beginning Kiniski's seventh reign.

1979 - The WWF ran South Plainfield High School in New Jersey, featuring:
-Johnny Rodz fought Johnny Rivera to a draw.
-Tito Santana defeated Jose Estrada.
-Greg Valentine fought Ivan Putski to a double count-out.
-Frank Williams defeated Allan Coage via disqualification.
-Tiny Thumb & Cowboy Lang defeated Butch Cassidy & Little Tokyo.
-WWF North American Champion Ted Dibiase defeated Nikolai Volkoff via disqualification.

1982 - The Moondogs (Rex and Spot) defeat Eddie and Tommy Gilbert in a rematch from a week earlier, to win their second WWC North American Tag Team Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Those who had tickets in the first three rows were allowed in an hour early at 5:30 for a meet and greet, which involved a few wrestlers coming around the ring, siging autographs and taking photos. These fans also had first dibs at the merchandise stand, which was where the Twitter backstage pass was located.

The setup was a bit different than what WWE does when they run here. The bleachers were stowed away, so all the seats on the floor were flat. The upper level was general admission, so folks could set wherever they wanted up there. The $50 seats sold out very quickly, and the rest of the floor was mostly full, but I'd say only 1/8 of the upper level was filled, and that might have been due to people with those tickets moving up as security didn't seem to be enforcing seats too much.

Don West was handling the merchandise section. Before the doors opened, he would occasionally come outside to announce the merchandise specials and autograph signings. First, there was a Jeff Hardy Brown Bag Special: the new Jeff Hardy shirt and the usual brown bag special of 4 random DVDs and a random T-Shirt, for just $20. That's two shirts, one of a top star, and four DVDs for $20. Not bad at all. By intermission, those had sold out completely. For signings, Rob Van Dam signed from 6:30-7:30, the Beautiful People signed at intermission, and Jeff Jarrett signed after the main event. They were somewhat strict on what could be signed. The only thing announced as being allowed for these signings was the program guide, or a promo 8x10 that could be purchased for $10.

Before the show began, we were treated to a prerecorded message from Hulk Hogan "live from TNA Headquarters," thanking us for coming, and introducing Jeremy Borash. JB did his usual speil about the loudest fans getting backstage passes, which of course led to a hot crowd all night.

Earl Hebner was introduced first, and he took off his ref shirt to reveal his new, perhaps first ever, T-shirt, a white shirt with strips that says "DAMN RIGHT I DID" on the front, and "HEBNER" on the back. Him and Slick Johnson handled the refering all night.

1. Kazarian defeated Brian Kendrick with his piledriver variation to retain the X-Division Title. Fun opener. Kazarian didn't have his belt, continuing that storyline. Kazarain also had a fan as a guest manager, probably the result of some contest. Not as many high spots as you would expect, but they worked hard. Afterard, Kazarain and the fan came in the ring to do some poses.

2. Abyss defeated Desmond Wolfe with the Black Hole Slam. Standard stuff that you'd expect from the two today. Wolfe tried a lot of technical moves and submissions, and Abyss did his best Hogan imitation. Afterward, Abyss brought a young kid straight from the crowd in the ring to do some Abyss and Hogan poses.

3. The Beautiful People of Velvet Sky and Lacey Von Erich (w/ Madison Rayne) defeated Taylor Wilde and Sarita to retain the Knockout Tag Titles. BP mocked their opponents entrance (Taz's favorite, the butt bump.) Decent women's match. BP had the crowd way into them. Taylor and Sarita were solid, but there seem's to be a lack of charisma with them on the national level, which is ashame, especially for Sarita. Lacey was Lacey. She's athletic, but that's about it. For the end, Madison got involved, and hairspray was used.

4. Jeff Jarrett defeated Mr. Anderson with the Stroke. Crowd was surprisingly into Anderson. He called for the ceiling mic, but when it didn't come out, he just stared out JB for a couple minutes. He insulted the crowd and the Chicago Bears a lot. A woman also threw a drink in the ring, leading to Anderson saying "bye bitch!" as security ejected her. When Jarrett came out, he did a promo too. I missed this part, and the match, as I was at the merchandise stand buying stuff, and getting ready for the signing, but he was talking about Anderson's "people are fake" shirt. I did see the ending, which involved Anderson's chair backfiring.

Intermission. Again, the Beautiful People came out, and they would only sign programs, or a purchased 8x10. They ened up signing well past intermission and into the main event.

5. Ink, Inc of Shannon Moore and Jesse Neal defeated Beer Money, Inc of Robert Roode and James Storm. Beer Money came out first, and first riled up the crowd with backstage talk. Then, after getting them to chant "BEER.... MONEY", they started heeling the crowd with insults, and ripping up the passes. Crowd was way into Shannon and Jesse, and I felt it was due to the friendship of Shannon and Jeff Hardy. Hilarious antics by Beer Money, such as the inadvertant gay positions and reactions in the corner, James RUNNING into the crowd and after some kids, and other stuff. Shannon and Jesse were their unrated themselves. I believe Shannon hit his top rope neckbreaker for the win.

Before the main event, Borash announced that TNA would be returning to the area in July with a show at the La Porte County Fair. He also gave a shout out to Don West, who is from Chicagoland, although he had left the merchandise area by that point. JB also showed Don's parents in the crowd, saying what a great son they raised.

6. Rob Van Dam defeated Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles to retain the TNA World Championship. AJ did not have the feathered robe. Also, he didn't get an amazing reaction either, which was shocking. Crowd loved Van Dam and Hardy. There was a lot of stalling early on. AJ would keep grabbing the mic to complain hilariously. Some comments were "on my god does that (RVD) song suck!" and "I hate you guys." At one point, AJ said Van Dam and Hardy should go one on one since they are best friends, and they did some goofy chain wrestling, complete with sarcastic "TNA! TNA!" chants from the crowd. The actual match was fine, nothing blow away, but with everyone hitting their moves to keep the crowd happy. The ending saw Jeff hit a swanton on Styles (although he might have got the knees up), and that knocked Jeff to the floor, which led to the frog splash by Van Dam on Styles for the win.

To complete the night, Jeff Hardy stayed to pose with fans in the ring at $20 a photo, regardless of the size of the group, while Kazarian, Shannon Moore, Jesse Neal, and Abyss came out for autographs and photos.

I felt it was a great show. All the wrestlers had their working boots on to entertain the fans, and having three seperate autograph signings with top names was a nice touch. The matches weren't blow-away, five-star classics, but you shouldn't expect them to be. My only complaint is that they need to go easy on the backstage passes commentary. It's fine early on, but really, that shouldn't be the only way to get the crowd to cheer or boo you, especially in the second half when no passes are really being given out.

2011 - TNA broadcast their Sacrifice PPV.  Stu Carapola filed the following PPV report:

Welcome to PWInsider.com's live coverage of TNA Sacrifice 2011!

After the opening video hyping tonight's main event, wew're off to the ring for our first match...

Mexican America vs Ink Inc

Shannon Moore and Anarquia start us off and exchange waistlocks and wristlocks with Shannon getting the advantage. Anarquia gets a knee to the gut and takes Moore down with a shoulderblock, but Moore comes back with a series of armdrags. Anarquia yanks down on the mohawk and goes to work on Moore's arm and tries to power Moore to his back for a three count, but Moore springs to his feet and gets a flying armbar and a dropkick. Rosita gets on the apron to distract Moore and Hernandez nails him from behind with a hard double axhandle, then tags in. Moore leapfrogs Hernandez and dropkicks his knee out, then gets a running legdrop to the back of the head for 2. Jesse Neal tags in and Moore hiptosses him onto Hernandez for 2, then Neal works Hernendez over in the corner and gets a belly to belly suplex. Sarita now gets on the apron and distracts the ref while Anarquia nails Neal from behind to give Mexican America a brief advantage, but Neal manages to tag out to Moore, who hits a flying bodypress for 2. Moore heads to the floor and traps Anarquia in the ring apron and then hits an Asai moonsault onto Hernandez. Moore heads back into the ring and now Sarita flagrantly runs in and yanks Moore down by the mohawk and Anarquia goes right after Moore and puts the boots to him. Hernandez powers Moore up into a Jesse Ventura-style backbreaker and then drops to his knees, jarring Moore's spine and getting him 2. Mexican America hit a double team in the corner and then Hernandez wipes Moore out with a clothesline for 2. Anarquia puts Moore up top, but Moore fights him off and hits a moonsault, then drills Hernandez with an enziguiri and makes the hot tag. Jesse Neal comes in and cleans house, wiping Hernandez out with a flying forearm and then whipping him into Anarquia in the corner, then hit a springboard crossbody out of the corner for 2. Moore clotheslines Anarquia to the floor, and Neal escapes the Border Toss and sets up for the Mooregasm, but Rosita winds up on the apron and Moore and Neal argue about how to handle it, leading to Anarquia dragging Moore to the floor and Hernandez hits his inverted side salto for the win.

Winners: Mexican America

We see a replay of that finish and it looks like Hernandez drops Neal right on his face. That looked real ugly, but a solid opener.

We go to Mike Tenay and Taz, who call this the first PPV of the Impact Wrestling era, and then run down the card, discussing Thursday when Mick Foley was revealed as the Network represeptative and introduced Chyna as Kurt Angle's tag team partner tonight.

This leads us into our next segment, as the Jarretts come out to the ring with Karen on crutches and wearing a heavy brace on her right foot. Jeff says that unfortunately, despite being an all-around great wife and mother, when she was handing out jobs to the hired help, she slipped on one of her sons' action figures, which he thinks was a Jeff Jarrett action figure since it's the kid's favorite. He took Karen to the hospital and it turns out she has a grade 3 sprain and a fractured ankle. He's as disappointed as all the fans are, but this means there will not be a Jeff & Karen Jarrett vs Kurt Angle & Chyna match tonight, and it's the doctor's decision, not either of theirs. The Jarretts start for the back, but Mick Foley comes out to tell the Jarretts that he saw the x-ray and there's no question that there's a fracture in two places, but in some cases you can tell the gender, race, and size of the patient in the x-ray, and something tells Foley that she's not a 6'6” African American male. Foley says they're in a wrestling ring and wrestling matches take place in wrestling rings because wrestling matters. Karen says she didn't bring anything to wear, but Foley says she arranged with the seamstress to prepare an outfit for Karen, so when she steps into this wrestling ring with Chyna, the bad news is that Karen's likely to get her butt kicked all over the Impact Zone, but the good news is she'll look so good when it's being done. He tells her to think on that and have a nice day.

We go backstage to Jeremy Borash, who is with Brian Kendrick and asks for his thoughts on tonight's match with Robbie E. Kendrick cuts a long, rambling promo that would leave Bob Backlund scratching his head, but the point seems to be that the X-Division has been treated like filler by those in charge and he's here to put the division back on the map.

Robbie E vs Brian Kendrick

Kendrick meditates in the middle of the ring as the bell rings and Robbie flips his hood off, but this just pisses off Kendrick, who dropkicks Robbie to the floor and follows him out with a dive. Kendrick, still in his robe, goes up top and hits a flying bodypress, then goes back to meditating in the corner. Robbie gets back to his feet as Kendrick motions him to come and get it, and drop toeholds Robbie into the corner and hits a series of dropkicks and a leg lariat, then sits on the top turnbuckle and meditates again. Robbie charges, so Kendrick gets the boot up and hits another crossbody. Robbie goes to the floor and Kendrick goes after him. Cookie gets in his face, so Kendrick tells her that God has a plan for her and then he nails Robbie and rolls him back into the ring. Kendrick goes up top but Robbie nails him and sends Kendrick tumbling to the floor. Kendrick beats the count, but Robbie immediately pounces and puts the boots to Kendrick, then rams him hard into the corner. Kendrick is bleeding from the mouth as Robbie locks in a three quarter nelson, Kendrick fights his way out but Robbie nails him with a back elbow. Robbie comes off the second rope with a Bret Hart-style elbowsmash for 2, then clotheslines Kendrick to the floor. Robbie goes outside and suplexes Kendrick on the floor, then distracts the ref as Cookie attacks Kendrick. Robbie goes for another suplex but Kendrick slips out the back, whips Robbie into the apron, and scores with a superkick. Kendrick rolls Robbie in andcomes off the top with a missile dropkick, then throws his robe over Robbie's head and unloads with punches. Kendrick charges and gets elevated onto the top turnbuckle, but recovers and hits a leg lariat for the win.

Winner: Brian Kendrick

Great match, and it was nice to see these guys get a good ten minutes to do their thing on PPV. Kendrick extends his hand to Robbie after the match, and Robbie just yells “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, BRO?” and the Shore gets out of the ring and calls Kendrick a freak on their way to the back.

Jeremy Borash is backstage with Tara, and Tara says she's torn because Madison got her back into TNA and her job has been to protect her, but she's been treating Tara like crap. JB asks her who she wants to win this match, but Madison busts in and says it doesn't matter what Tara wants because it's all about what Madison wants. She says Tara's welcome for getting her job back, and tells Tara to stay in the back because she doesn't need her help, then Madison pushes her way past Tara and heads to the ring.

Knockouts Title/Tara's Freedom Match: Mickie James vs Madison Rayne

Tara immediately disobeys Madison's orders and comes to ringside, Madison goes to yell at her and gets caught with a baseball slide by Mickie. Madison responds by giving Mickie a drop toehold into the ring steps, then rolls her back into the ring and covers with her feet on the ropes for 2. Mickie fires back and tries a whip into the corner, Madison blocks and sits Mickie on the top rope and gives her a nasty neckbreaker into the ring for 2. Madison goes back out to the floor to yell at Tara, and Tara looks like she's going to hit Madison, but Madison reminds her that she owns Tara. Madison heads back in the ring but Mickie hits a neckbreaker and both girls are down. Tara starts pounding the mat to get the crowd going, Mickie gets an O'Connor roll for 2, a jackknife rollup for 2, then tries a backslide but Madison accidentally kicks the ref in the face, then kicks Mickie low. Okay. Madison goes to the floor and gets her Michael Jackson glove from under the ring, but Tara grabs her and yanks it off. Mickie tries to catch Madison by surprise, but Madison reverses to a rollup for 2. Mickie comes back with running forearms and a flapjack, then goes up top for a Thesz press, but the referee made sure to stand RIGHT BEHIND Madison so he would get knocked out again when Madison moved. Sure enough, that's exactly what happens, and Mickie goes for the DDT but Tara comes in with the glove on her hand. Both girls yell at Tara to hit the other one, with Madison getting down on her knees to beg for her help, and of course Tara nails Madison and sets Mickie up to get the pin.

Winner: Mickie James

TARA'S FREE! She and Mickie both look ecstatic.

Jeremy Borash is backstage with Fortune, and Kazarian tells Max Buck he wouldn't become a star if he was thrown by a ninja. AJ Styles says he can't figure out what's going on with Tommy Dreamer, but this is a no DQ match and he has no problem wrapping a chair around Dreamer's head. Robert Roode says if Matt Hardy wants to play head games with them...well, the audio cuts in and out, but then comes back as he says that AMW is dead and gone and Beer Money are going to walk out with the tag title once again. James Storm tells Harris that he shouldn't have come back because he's not here to tell jokes and sell DVDs, he's here to drink beer and kick ass, and he's sorry about Harris' damn luck.

X-Division Title: Frankie Kazarian vs Max Buck

They tie up and exchange wristlocks with some flippiness thrown in, Max takes Kazarian down with a shoulerblock and then dodges a monkey flip. Kazarian catches Max with a drop toehold and they do a mat wrestling sequence and fight over a front facelock. Kazarian winds up on top, Max sits out and goes to a wristlock but Kazarian gets another drop toehold and goes back to the front facelock. Max escapes and misses a charge and Kazarian hits a springboard dropkick and then leapfrogs Max and gets a dropping neckbreaker for 2. Max backdrops Kazarian to the apron, knocks him to the floor with a running knee, then nails Kazarian with a sweet running dropkick through the ropes. They head back in and Max puts the mouth on Kazarian, then hits a front jawbreaker and chokes him on the bottom rope. Kazarian tries to fight back but Buck dropkicks him square in the grill and covers for 2. Buck with a snapmare and drops repeated knees to Kazarian's back,then goes to a rear chinlock. Kazarian fights his way out and Buck yanks Kazarian to the mat by the hair and then repeatedly drills him with right hands before yelling at the fans that he'll be the champ tonight. Kazarian picks Max up and rams him into the corner and drills him hard with right hands, Buck kicks him in the face, but Kazarian runs up the ropes and hits a top rope gutwrench suplex and both men are down. Max makes it to his feet first and goes for a right hands, but Kazarian blocks and wipes Buck out with a pair of clotheslines and a leg lariat. Buck reverses a whip and tries a monkey flip, but Kazarian catches Buck and press slams him, then follows up with a springboard legdrop for 2. Kazarian goes for the Fade To Black, Max counters to a sunset flip, Kazarian counters that with a kick to the face and a rolling neckbreaker for 2. Buck blocks the Fade To Black again and powerbombs Kazarian into the corner, then follows up with a twisting Diamond Cutter off the top rope for 2. Buck puts Kazarian on the top rope and hits a hanging DDT, then goes up top and hits a 450 splash for 2. Buck is incredulous that the 450 didn't put Kazarian away and he wastes a bit of time arguing with the referee, then goes back to slapping Kazarian in the head while putting the mouth on him. Kazarian blocks a suplex and dumps Buck on the top rope and hits a running boot to the face to send Buck to the apron, then hits a running sunset flip that sends Buck flying into the aisle and landing with an audible thwack. That looked really ugly. Kazarian rolls Buck back in and covers, but Buck kicks out at 1. Crowd chants “this is wrestling” as Kazarian goes to pick Buck up and Buck small packages him for 2. Buck again escapes the Fade To Black and Kazarian hits the Shining Wizard for the win.

Winner: Frankie Kazarian

Excellent match, easily Max Buck's best match to date in TNA. Great psychology and a great build that really got the crowd into the match. If TNA's new focus is on wrestling, this is exactly the kind of stuff that works, minus the sunset flip to the floor.

Jeremy Borash is backstage with Abyss, who says he's lived his entire life by the motto that whatever doesn't kill him will make him stronger. Crimson thought he could take Abyss out by burying Janice in his spine, but Abyss is a weapon of mass destruction who has been ripped with barbed wire, slicedwith glass, and had his teeth kicked in by RVD, and he's always kept going. Those teeth were delicious, and tonight, he's going to teach Crimson a lesson in pain and humility, and his undefeated streak comes to an end tonight.

Abyss vs Crimson

They start off by trying to take each other out with shoulderblocks, but neither man moves so Abyss just drives Crimson down with right hands. Abyss whips Crimson into the corner but Crimson comes out with a flying shoulderblock and clotheslines Abyss to the floor. Abyss grabs Crimson's ankle and drags him out to the floor and starts unloading with right hands, but Crimson rams Abyss into the rail several times. Crimson tries a charge but Abyss moves and Crimson hits the ringpost, then Abyss rams him into the ring steps. They head back inside and Abyss hits the running splash in the corner, then whips Crimson hard into the opposite corner and locks him in a neck vice. Crimson fights his way out and they wipe each other out with a double clothesline. They go back to exchanging blows in the middle of the ring and Crimson wipes Abyss out with a flying clothesline, then gets a three quarter nelson, rams knees into the head of Abyss, and turns it into a neckbreaker for 2. Crimson misses a charge in the corner and Abyss chokeslams him for 2. Abyss goes out to the floor and pulls Janice out from under the ring, he chases the referee off with it and goes to hit Crimson, but Crimson ducks and spears Abyss for 2. Crimson measures Abyss for another spear but Abyss boots him in the chest and goes for the Shock Treatment, but Crimson escapes and hits a double underhook DDT for 2. Abyss nails Crimson and hits the Vader Bomb for 2, and now Abyss is wondering what it's going to take to put Crimson away. Abyss sets Crimson for another charge in the corner, but Crimson moves and hits a big Sky High for the win.

Winner: Crimson

Very impressive finish! Great match and I think TNA has a star on their hands in Crimson.

TNA World Tag Team Title Match: Beer Money vs Matt Hardy & Chris Harris

Harris looks huge. He and Storm start, but Harris tags out before making contact and Hardy beats Storm down in the corner. Storm comes back with a neckbreaker and then he and Roode lay into Hardy with a series of double teams. Hardy runs Roode into the corner and tags out to Harris, who beats Roode down in the corner, but Roode comes back with a flying clothesline, nails Hardy in the corner, and gets a running neckbreaker on Harris. Harris gets a back elbow on a charge by Roode and tags out, and Roode immediately nails Hardy and then tags Storm in for more double teaming. They do the old wishbone on Hardy, but Hardy suckerpunches Storm and tags Harris back in. Storm breaks free and Harris bails out to the floor, so Storm goes back to beating Hardy up until Harris comes back into the ring, spits Storm's beer in his face, and then rains down right hands on him. He whips Storm to the corner and Hardy follows him in with a running clothesline and then Harris hit a running bulldog, and Hardy covers for 2. Hardy charges the corner and Storm gets the boot up and hits a lungblower, then makes the hot tag to Roode, who comes in and cleans house on Chris Harris. Roode wipes Harris out with a clothesline and comes off the second rope with a Blockbuster. Hardy runs in but gets clotheslined to the floor, then somehow gets Harris over with a Perfectplex for 2. Roode goes to tag Storm but Hardy drags Storm off the apron and Harris hits a full nelson slam for 2. Hardy tags back in and hits a side suplex, then drops a second rope elbow on Roode's back for 2. Hardy with a bearhug and Roode tries to fight out, but Hardy drills him in the face and tags out to Harris, who drops down on Roode's back as Taz talks about how Harris isn't in ring shape because he's not on the road all the time. Hardy tags in and goes back to the bearhug, but Roode fights his way out and then collide head to head and both go down. Roode tries to make the hot tag but Harris tags in and drags him back, he spits at Storm but Roode kicks him off and makes the hot tag and it's down to the former AMW going at it. Storm just brutally beats Harris down, then comes off the ropes with a pair of clotheslines and a Thesz Press and just relentlessly fires right hands down on Harris. Harris tries to toss Storm over the ropes, but Storm skins the cat back in and hits a DDT on Harris for 2. Roode beats Hardy up on the floor as Storm hits a tornado Scorpion Deathdrop on Harris for 2. Beer Money set Harris up for the DWI but Hardy nails Storm and hits the Side Effect on Roode. He goes for the Twist of Hate on Storm but Storm counters to a lungblower. Harris grabs Storm and hits the Catatonic, but Roode then nails Harris with a spinebuster. Beer Money with a double suplex on Hardy that sends him to the floor, then they set Harris up for the DWI. Harris goes for a spear but Storm superkicks him in the face and go for the DWI, but Storm says no, and instead they give Harris the Death Sentence and Storm pins Harris for the win.

Winners: Beer Money

This match was really good in spite of the fact that Harris showed up out of shape, and underscored how good the rest of them are that they were able to hold it together so well even with Harris dragging them down.

Jeremy Borash is backstage with Bully Ray, who says everybody's uncomfortable around him because he strikes fear into people, because he can. Ray says JB looks like the kinda guy who listens to Lady Gaga, but JB asks him what's behind Dreamer's turn. Ray asks why JB cares, because he and Dreamer know why he did what he's doing, and the information is on a need to know basis. What JB does need to know is that Ray could do whatever he wants to JB, and that AJ is everything that's wrong with today's wrestlers. He powerbombed AJ off the stage and he's lucky he didn't end his career, and anytime he gets the opportunity in the future, he'll try and take AJ out, and once he gets done taking him out, he'll take the rest of Fortune out and then he'll take AJ's wife out...only it won't be the way he takes AJ out, if you catch my drift. What a heel!

No DQ: Tommy Dreamer vs AJ Styles

They do some mat wrestling to start and AJ gets an armbar, and Dreamer goes to the ropes but the referee tells him it's no DQ and he can't force a break. AJ lets go and tells Dreamer that he made this match famous and to wrestle. Dreamer beats AJ down and whips him to the ropes, but AJ rolls over his back and unloads with some hard kicks. AJ charges the corner but Dreamer gets the boot up and it nearly goes down AJ's throat he hits it so hard, then Dreamer stomps him down in the corner and hits Snake Eyes for 2. Dreamer with repeated elbowdrops for 2, then gouges at AJ's face. Dreamer backdrops AJ to the apron, but AJ comes right back in and takes Dreamer out with a series of clotheslines that send Dreamer to the floor. AJ hits a dive over the top, then takes a fan's soda and dumps it on Dreamer's head before going back to beating him up. Dreamer nails him and rams him into the steps, but misses a clothesline and AJ picks him up and crotches him on the guardrail. AJ slides under the guardrail into the crowd and hits a springboard forearm off the guardrail that drives Dreamer into the crowd. They fight up the stairs and into the crowd and AJ chops Dreamer so hard he goes over the wall and lands hard on the floor below. AJ goes after him, but Dreamer Tullys AJ into the wall, then tears a TNA Impact sign off the wall, nails AJ in the head with it, and rams him through the railing. Dreamer takes AJ and dumps him back over the guardrail to ringside, and goes under the ring for a trash can full of plunder. He takes his knick knacks into the ring but AJ dropkicks the can into Dreamer's ribs. Now AJ goes under the ring and gets a table, then rams it into Dreamer's head and covers for 2. AJ sets the table up on one leg, then whips Dreamer shoulder first into the ringpost and springboards off the table with a flying forearm to Dreamer, then rams Dreamer face first into the edge of the table and covers for 2. Crowd starts a “this is awesome” chant as AJ picks Dreamer back up and tries to suplex him onto the table, but Dreamer countered to a DDT and made the cover, but AJ got his foot under the bottom rope at 2. So Dreamer can't do a rope break, but AJ can? Dreamer gets a form and tries to gouge AJ in the forehead with it, but AJ fights Dreamer off with some hard chops and a leaping enziguiri, then drills Dreamer in the head with the trash can. AJ sets the table back up on the one leg, but Dreamer punches him in the groin and goes for a Spicolli Driver. AJ escapes and hits the Pelle Kick, but Bully Ray runs in and drills AJ in the back of the head with a chain. Christopher Daniels runs out and chases Ray off as Dreamer recovers and piledrives AJ through the table for the win.

Winner: Tommy Dreamer

Brutal and awesome brawl, and I didn't mind the interference at the end because it made sense in the context of the match.

Jeff & Karen Jarrett vs Kurt Angle & Chyna

Kurt and Jeff start us off and the crowd is solidly behind Angle, who waves at Karen with a big smile on his face. They tie up and Angle comes off the ropes with a shoulderblock and takes Jeff over with a side headlock, then they wrestle for a bit before Kurt tags Chyna in. The rules, as helpfully stated before the match, are “girl on girl and guy on guy” so Jeff is able to save Karen simply by continuing to attack Kurt, thereby forcing Chyna back to the apron. Kurt gets the ankle lock on Jeff, but Karen comes in and goes after Kurt, so Kurt picks her up and goes to tag in Chyna, but Jeff clips his leg and hits a nice dropkick before snapping Kurt's neck across the top rope. Jeff with a flying bodypress for 2, then chokes Kurt on the second rope. He hits the Boss Man Straddle, but goes for it a second time and Angle rips his head off with a hard clothesline. They trade blows in the middle of the ring but Kurt gets a couple of running forearms and tries a charge in the corner, Jeff gets the boot up but Angle immediately catches him with an overhead release suplex for 2. Jeff escapes an Angle Slam attempt, but Angle gets the rolling German suplexes and then the straps come down! Jeff counters another angle Slam attempt into an armdrag and then hits a leaping enziguiri for 2. Jeff's going lucha! Jeff goes for the Stroke but Angle rolls through into the anklelock. Jeff escapes that but Angle finally hits the Angle Slam for 2. Kurt drags Jeff over to his corner and tries to make him tag Karen, but Jeff mule kicks Kurt in the groin, and Kurt tags in Chyna, who slams Jeff and hits a vertical suplex, then points at Karen, who says no way and backs off. Chyna stalks her around ringside and Karen gets in the ring to escape, but runs right into Kurt, who blocks Karen's escape and allows Chyna to come in and nail her with a running clothesline in the corner. Chyna drags Karen back to her feet and hits the Pedigree, then hooks the anklelock. Jeff slides in and blocks Karen from tapping, so Kurt hooks Jeff in an ankle lock and drags him away, and Karen finally taps out.

Winners: Kurt Angle & Chyna

This was the first real stinker on the show, but I think we all had a feeling going in what we were going to get here. It could have been worse, and actually Kurt and Jeff did pretty well when it was just the two of them.

Mike Tenay and Taz analyze the upcoming World Title match, and then Ken Anderson comes out to observe the match since he's challenging the winner. He joins Mike Tenay and Taz at the broadcast booth, and then we're off to the ring for the main event!

TNA World Title Match: Sting vs Rob Van Dam

Crowd seems split for this one as they face off in the middle of the ring. They tie up and Sting takes a side headlock, RVD tries to twist out but Sting holds his ground, so RVD shoves Sting off into the ropes and Sting takes him down with a shoulerblock. Sting comes off the ropes again and RVD tries a monkey flip, but Sting grabs RVD's legs and drops down on RVD's shoulders for 2. RVD now gets a shoulderblock but doesn't budge Sting, so he ducks a clothesline and gets a bodyscissors rollup for 2. Nice move. RVD takes Sting to the corner and fires off some forearms, then rams some shoulderblocks into Sting and does his backflip, but runs into Sting's knee. RVD tries another monkey flip but Sting holds the ropes and RVD crashes hard and then rolls out to the floor. RVD takes a long count to break Sting's momentum, then comes back in and gets a schoolboy rollup for 2, a small package for 2, then just kicks Sting in the face and Sting goes down flat on his back. Sting rolls to the ropes as RVD puts the boots to him and chokes Sting with his boot, then hits a slingshot guillotine legdrop to the floor. RVD rolls back in and cradles Sting for 2, then unloads with straight right hands and kicks in the corner. RVD tries a running leg lariat in the corner, but Sting moves and RVD tumbles over the ropes and to the floor, landing on the back of his head. RVD looks hurt and stumbles to the guardrail, and Sting tries a Stinger Splash but RVD moves and Sting hits the rail. RVD tells the fans to move and he tries a springboard guillotine legdrop off the guardrail, but Sting dodges that and now RVD lands awkwardly on the rail and tumbles into the crowd. Sting follows him and goes right after the leg he's hurt pretty badly by this point and then rams RVD into the wall, but RVD nails him and rams Sting into the wall and both men are down. Sting climbs the stairs up to the same spot where AJ and Dreamer were before and RVD follows him up to take the fight to him. They fight across the crowd with RVD hitting a dropkick like a shotgun blast, but hits hard himself when he hits the floor. They get back up and RVD superkicks Sting, sending him tumbling back down the steps to the floor, then RVD hits a flying bodypress off the stairs and into Sting, who tumbles backward and barely avoids wiping out a few fans. They make their way back over the guardrail and into the ring, and it looks like RVD's leg is still tender as he makes his way to the apron, but he snaps Sting down on the top rope and then goes up top for a flying jump kick. RVD goes for Rolling Thunder but Sting gets the knees up and then gets all fired up, nailing RVD with chops and punches and then running him over with clotheslines. He goes for the Stinger Splash but RVD wipes him out with a spinkick. RVD hits a legdrop and then goes for the Five Star Notebook Splash, but Sting moves and rolls RVD up for 2. Sting hits the Scorpion Deathdrop, then picks him up and hits it again for 3.

Winner: Sting

Solid main event, the brawl through the crowd was good and set the tone for how beat up both men were by the time they got in the ring. I liked how Sting hit two Scorpion Deathdrops just to make sure RVD stayed down. RVD raised Sting's hand after the match in a nice display of sportsmanship, then Ken Anderson leaves the broadcast booth and comes to the ring to go face to face with Sting to close the show.

This show was way better than I expected it to be, a lot of great wrestling with a minimum of screwiness. I really enjoyed this and thought it was the best PPV TNA has done in a long time.

2011 - New Japan Pro Wrestling debuted at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA, the final date of the company's tour of the United States.  Mike Johnson filed the following live report:

We are live at the New Japan Pro Wrestling "East Coast Invasion" finale at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA.

Pre-Show Notes:

*There look to be about 500 fans in attendance.

*CZW owner DJ Hyde and Jay Lethal are visiting.

Tetsuya Naito vs. Hideo Saito

Saito got the better of their opening exchange and started working on Naito's arm. They went back and forth until Naito escaped and they faced off. They locked up again and Saito cinched in a side headlock. He wound it up and grinded Naito's head. Naito shot him off into the ropes but had no effect when he went for a shoulderblock. Saito then nailed him with one. Naito rebounded off the ropes and nailed a dropkick.

Saito retreated to the floor. Naito teased a dive and dared Saito to get back into the ring. When Saito returned, he caught Naito with a stiff shot to the mid-section, then mounted him for a series of right hands. The referee told him to stop, so he did, then continued beating him.

Saito stomped Naito in the back of the neck and head. He clobbered Naito, who tried to mount a comeback but was nailed with a double elbow coming off the ropes. Saito covered him for a two count. Saito choked Naito against the ropes. He locked in a rear chinlock. Naito tried to escape with a series of elbows to the mid-section but was taken down again.

Naito nailed several shot but was cut off in the corner. He fought his way out and nailed a hangman's neckbreaker. Naito drilled him with several forearms and a forward senton splash for a two count. Naito nailed a missile dropkick. He worked over Saito but was caught with a sidewalk slam for a two count.

Saito nailed an exploder suplex and ascended to the top rope. He drilled Naito with a diving headbutt for a two count. He went for another exploder but Naito elbowed his way free. Naito pysched himself up and headbutt Saito. Saito drilled him back. Naito nailed a big right hand. Saito returned. They exchanged punches and kicks in the middle of the ring. Naito nailed a flying forearm and then a bridging German suplex for a two count.

Naito ripped off his shirt, slammed Saito and nailed his twisting moonsault press for the three count.

Your winner, Tetsuya Naito!

Very strong opener. Saito is a great heel and looked much better this weekend than he usually does on WWC TV. Naito showed some good fire here. It was a good athletic match, which is what gets over in Philly.

Tetsuya Naito vs. Hideo Saito

Saito got the better of their opening exchange and started working on Naito's arm. They went back and forth until Naito escaped and they faced off. They locked up again and Saito cinched in a side headlock. He wound it up and grinded Naito's head. Naito shot him off into the ropes but had no effect when he went for a shoulderblock. Saito then nailed him with one. Naito rebounded off the ropes and nailed a dropkick.

Saito retreated to the floor. Naito teased a dive and dared Saito to get back into the ring. When Saito returned, he caught Naito with a stiff shot to the mid-section, then mounted him for a series of right hands. The referee told him to stop, so he did, then continued beating him.

Saito stomped Naito in the back of the neck and head. He clobbered Naito, who tried to mount a comeback but was nailed with a double elbow coming off the ropes. Saito covered him for a two count. Saito choked Naito against the ropes. He locked in a rear chinlock. Naito tried to escape with a series of elbows to the mid-section but was taken down again.

Naito nailed several shot but was cut off in the corner. He fought his way out and nailed a hangman's neckbreaker. Naito drilled him with several forearms and a forward senton splash for a two count. Naito nailed a missile dropkick. He worked over Saito but was caught with a sidewalk slam for a two count.

Saito nailed an exploder suplex and ascended to the top rope. He drilled Naito with a diving headbutt for a two count. He went for another exploder but Naito elbowed his way free. Naito pysched himself up and headbutt Saito. Saito drilled him back. Naito nailed a big right hand. Saito returned. They exchanged punches and kicks in the middle of the ring. Naito nailed a flying forearm and then a bridging German suplex for a two count.

Naito ripped off his shirt, slammed Saito and nailed his twisting moonsault press for the three count.

Your winner, Tetsuya Naito!

Very strong opener. Saito is a great heel and looked much better this weekend than he usually does on WWC TV. Naito showed some good fire here. It was a good athletic match, which is what gets over in Philly.

Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi, Jado & Gedo vs. Charlie Haas, Tiger Mask, Kazuchika Okada & Josh Daniels

Nakamura and Okada opened the match with Okada trying to avoid his kicks. Okada was grabbed in an armbar. He rolled out and used a single leg takedown to grab a leglock. Nakamura escaped and scissored his body. They faced off and exchanged forearms and punches.

Nakamura got the best of the exchange. He whipped Okada, who reversed it and nailed a dropkick. Josh Daniels tagged himself in and faced off with Nakamura, who tagged out to Jado. Daniels and Jado went back and forth. Daniels slammed him several times but Jado refused to stay down. Daniels drilled him with a running clothesline and Jado went to the floor.

Has and Takahashi went back and forth after tagging in. Haas was chopped several times in the corner and kicked in the gut. Haas went up and over after being whipped into the opposite corner and nailed a series of deep armdrags. He dropped a leg and covered Takahashi for a near fall.

Takahashi tackled Haas into his team's corner. Gedo tagged in and dared Tiger Mask to tag in. Haas obliged and tagged his partner. There was a huge Tiger Mask chant. Gedo locked in a hammerlock and screamed, "Tiger is sh**!". That fired up Mask, who escaped and nailed some offense. Gedo cut him off with a knee to the gut. Mask sent him to the outside and teased a dive. Gedo backed off. Mask went to dive off the apron but Jado knocked him to the floor, where he was worked over.

Nakamura tagged in, draped Tiger over the top turnbuckle and punted him in the gut. Takahashi tagged in and continued the beating with an over the knee backbreaker for a two count. Jado tagged back in and worked over Mask, who responded with several chops. They went back and forth until Jado cut him down.

Jado whipped Tiger into the ropes but Mask came back with a sunset flip, pulling down his tights in the process. Jado kicked out and kicked Mask in the head, leaving his ass hanging out. He and Takahashi worked over Mask, who kicked them away and tagged Haas. Haas drilled Takahashi with a big boot and nailed him with an Olympic Slam for a two count.

Haas and Takahashi battled back and forth until Haas was caught with a belly to belly suplex. Nakamura tagged in and began drilling Haas with kick after kick, then an enziguiri. Haas came back with a big dropkick and tagged Okada. Okada nailed a leg lariat and went to town with a series of chops, then a blue thunder bomb for a two count,

Okada went for a German suplex but Nakamura headbutt him. He charged but was caught with a reverse STO for a two count. All eight started battling in the ring. Jado grabbed Okada for a suplex. Daniels clotheslined him. Takahashi nailed a suplex. Mask nailed a diving headbutt. Gedo clotheslined him. Haas drilled Gedo with a big boot. Nakamura nailed a leg lariat.

Nakamura then drilled Okada with a big suplex and a running Boom A Ye kick to the face for the pin.

Your winners, Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi, Jado & Gedo!

JAPW Light Heavyweight champion Jushin Liger vs. Kenny Omega

Big pop for Liger, who received a few streamers for his entrance. Some really nice mat wrestling early. Liger grabbed a side headlock but was shoved off. He shoulderblocked Omega, who didn't go down. Omega talked some trash so Liger lit him up with chops. Liger nailed several hiptosses and the tiltowhirl backbreaker.

Liger locked Omega into a bow and arrow. Liger chopped at Omega. Omega returned in kind. He punted Liger in the head. Liger ducked a kick but was caught with a leg sweep. Omega legdropped him, then sent him into the corner. Liger backdropped him onto the apron. Omega and Liger fought back and forth. Omega was knocked to the floor. Liger hit a dive off the top rope to the floor.

Omega rolled back into the ring, where Liger locked on a reverse figure four and then hooked Omega's head with his other leg. Omega fought to the ropes. Liger was nailed with several moves but took Omega out with a forward rolling kick. Liger went for the Ligerbomb but Omega turned it into a rana. Liger went to the floor. Omega hit a beautiful dive over the top to the floor on Liger. The crowd went nuts and chanted for Omega.

Liger rolled back into the ring before the count. Omega grabbed him and nailed the running forward Samoan Drop and a standing shooting star press for a two count. Liger came back with a series of chops but was caught with a dropkick to the knees. Omega leapt up and brought Liger down with a bulldog style legdrop across the back of the head and neck for a two count.

The crowd began clapping for Liger to make a comeback. Liger flipped Omega out of a move, missed a charge in the corner but caught an attempted rana and turned it into a sitdown powerbomb for a two count. Liger went for the brainbuster but Omega slipped out and nailed a back suplex.

Both men were out and tried to recover. Omega was up first and went for his running strike but Liger nailed him with the palm thrust. Liger hit the brainbuster but Omega kicked up.

Liger placed Omega on the top. They battled and Omega went for the Electric Chair. Liger rolled forward and caught him for a two count. Omega kicked out and went for the Electric Chair. Liger jumped forward to escape the move but Omega caught him by the waist and dropped backwards into a German suplex with a bridge for the pin.

Your winner and new JAPW Light Heavyweight champion, Kenny Omega!

Great match!!'

Liger hugged Omega after the match and placed the belt around his waist, crowning him the new champion. Liger raised Omega's hand and endorsed him before leaving the ring and allowing Omega to soak in the moment.

Satoshi Kojima & Dan Maff vs. IWGP Tag Team champions Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson

Big Kojima chant. Kojima and Anderson go back and forth, feeling each other out. Kojima shoulderblocked him down. Anderson and Kojima worked each other over with chops. Anderson raked his face and ran him down, knocking him to the mat.

Anderson was caught in a back suplex and returned to his corner. Maff and Bernard tagged in and went nose to nose. They exchanged forearms. They had a nice sequence of chopping and punching away at the other, daring each other to hit harder. Maff couldn't make Bernard move with a shoulderblock. Bernard slapped him. Maff ripped off his shirt and tried again. No success. Bernard slapped him again. Maff slapped him back and took him out but missed a back senton splash.

Anderson tagged in. He whipped Maff into the corner, where Bernard kneed him in the back. Maff screamed, "F*** you" and nailed Bernard off the apron, then hit a suicide dive to the floor on him. That was AWESOME.

The champions soon took over on Maff, beating the hell out of him. They double whipped him on the floor into the railing, which gave way and he crashed into the crowd. Maff was out. Kojima went to help him but the champs held him at bay. An exhausted Maff made it in at the last second.

Bernard nailed an over the knee backbreaker and held Maff, where Bernard came down with a massive elbow on him. He covered Maff but Kojima broke up the pinfall. Bernard knocked Kojima off the apron with a stiff shot. Bernard began kicking and stomping Maff, screaming at him that he wasn't sh**. Maff fired up and cursed him out, only to be cut off with a chokeslam into a sitdown powerbomb.

The champs kept working over Maff, who kept trying to fight his way out. It looked like he finally had but was caught with a spinebuster. Anderson locked on a side chinlock to keep wearing Maff down. Maff escaped and nailed a back elbow. Maff made the hot tag to Kojima, who fired off with his rapid fire chops.

Kojima nailed a running forearm into the corner, then hit the top rope elbowdrop for a two count. They exchanged forearm smashes in the center of the ring. Kojima won the exchange and nailed a hangman's neckbreaker. Bernard was tagged in. He and Anderson killed Kojima with a series of back senton splashes and elbows.

Bernard went for a powerbomb but Kojima escaped and nailed an Ace Cutter. Kojima finally made the tag. Maff cleaned house and nailed a back senton splash on Bernard but Anderson broke it up. Maff drilled Anderson and Bernard with cannonballs in the corner. Kojima DDT'd Bernard and went for the lariat only to be cut off by Bernard's own clothesline.

Maff went for a back suplex but was unsuccessful. He drilled Bernard with several shots and went for a clothesline but was taken out with Bernard's own lariat. The champions worked over Maff some more and nailed their finisher, Beer Money's DWI but Maff kicked out. Kojima saved the day and nailed Bernard with the lariat.

Maff tackled Anderson and nailed a back suplex. He went for the Burning Hammer but Anderson landed on his feet and drilled Maff with an Ace Crusher for the pin in 15 and change.

Your winners, Bad Intentions!

Another incredible match. This really was a banner weekend for Maff, who looked like he fit right in with the NJPW crew. Kojima is simply amazing. Incredible stuff here.

Maff left the ringside area, leaving Kojima to get a nice farewell reception. He left the ringside area, only to be attacked by former WWE and TNA star Lance Hoyt in the aisle. Hoyt tossed him into the ring and nailed a big boot. He worked over Kojima until MVP hit the ring and Hoyt powdered out.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team champions Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Homicide & Low Ki

Homicide and Devitt started out. Devitt rode him to the mat but Homicide reversed it. They went back and forth until they faced off. Devitt grabbed an arm but Homicide used his legs to take out Devitt's. He controlled Devitt on the mat, then began working on his arm. Devitt reversed and cinched in an armbar.

Ki and Taguchi tagged in. They had some great early exhanges. Ki was taken to the mat, but while down, kicked up and tagged Taguchi in the chest. They locked up again and Ki was grabbed in a side headlock. Taguchi was sent into the ropes and shoulderblocked down. Taguchi and Ki went back and forth until Ki was sent into the corner. He was monkeyflipped out but landed on his feet. Before he could do anything, Taguchi drilled him.

Taguchi pulled Ki up into the corner and chopped him. Ki was whipped into the opposite corner but grabbed the ropes and caught him with his legs, then tagged him with a kick. Ki mocked Taguchi's hip swivels. He tagged in Homicide, who snapmared Taguchi over and began tying him up on the mat.

Ki and Homicide whipped Taguchi into the corner and nailed him with double kicks to the face. Ki chopped Taguchi, took him to the mat, and scissored his neck. Ki pulled Taguchi into the corner and tagged in Homicide, who nailed a Northern Lights suplex with a bridge for a two count. Homicide worked over Taguchi in the corner. Taguchi reversed a whip out but was caught with a drop toehold into the buckles.

Taguchi leapfrogged over Homicide and drilled him, then brought him into the champions' corner. Devitt tagged in and nailed Homicide with several big dropkicks and strikes. Homicide kicked out but was trapped in a rolling hammerlock.

The champions tagged in and out taking turns working over Homicide. Devitt chopped him against the ropes. Homicide kicked him away. He missed one clothesline but tagged Devitt with another. Homicide tagged Ki, who went to work on Devitt, nailing a series of kicking strikes and running clotheslines. He nailed a kick across the back of the neck and a leaping kick to the chest in the corner.

Ki nailed a double stomp to the chest for a two count. Taguchi tagged in and caught Ki with a gourd buster. Devitt dropkicked Homicide off the apron when Ki went for a tag. He then drilled Ki with a Pele type kick. Ki finally fought off Devitt and made the tag.

Homicide hit a running clothesline in the corner. Devitt reversed a whip and nailed a dropkick in the corner. Ki kicked him. Taguchi came off the top with a missile dropkick on Ki. The champs worked over Homicide, then turned their attention to Ki. They worked over the challengers in opposite corners.

Homicide went for a tornado DDT on Devitt but Taguchi charged and kicked him. Devitt went for a suplex but Low Ki nailed a handspring kick. Ki put Devitt on his shoulders and Homicide came off the top for an Ace Crushers. Taguchi broke up the pinfall. Ki dispatched him to the floor.

Homicide went for the CopKilla but Devitt fought him off and nailed his brainbuster variation. Ki tried to make the save but Taguchi held him off. Homicide was pinned.

Your winners and still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team champions, Prince Devitt & Rysuke Taguchi!

Another great match. This is by far the strongest of the shows on the tour.

Another great match. This is by far the strongest of the shows on the tour.

IWGP Heavyweight champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Davey Richards

HUGE dueling chants as the bell gets underway. There must be a sizeable amount of fans from the Upstate New York area here as there was a pretty nice "2CW" chant for Richards as well.

They had a great feeling out period early with some great back and forth moves as well as evading the other's attempts at offense. Tanahashi began working on Richards' wrist. He did a cartwheel and then used a bridge to escape.

They went into a test of strength with Tanahashi getting the better of the exchange. They went to the ropes and broke but Richards kicked him in the gut. He worked over Tanahashi, who nailed him with a back elbow and dropkicked Richards out of the ring., Tanahashi hit a pescado to the floor.

Richards was worked over on the floor and was tossed back in. As the champ returned, Richards grabbed his leg and nailed a Dragon Screw Legwhip while he was in the ropes. Richards then began working over the knee and the leg.

Richards worked over Tanahashi's leg for some time. Tanahashi tried to kick him off while in the corner but Richards drilled his knee in the corner. Richards teased a figure four leglock but when the fans all "wooed" he changed his mind. Richards and Tanahashi went back and forth with strikes and kicks in the center of the ring. Richards was caught with a flying forearm smash but Tanahashi was too hurt to take advantage.

When he recovered, Tanahashi slammed Richards and went to the ropes, coming off with flip senton for a two count. Tanahashi charged Richards who sent him up for a kick low but Tanahashi avoided it and took Richards out. He drilled Richards to the mat neckfirst.

Tanahashi went to the top rope but was cut off by Richards. Richards tried to superplex him but Tanahashi fought him off. Richards nailed a series of headbutts to daze Tanahashi. Richards nailed a big superplex then pulled him up for a Michinoku Driver slam. Tanahashi kicked up at two but Richards locked on an ankle lock.

Tanahashi kicked him off into the corner and tried for a German suplex but Richards broke free and nailed several strikes, Tanahashi nailed a right knockout punch. He charged Richards who elevated him and kneed him in the gut as he came down. Tanahashi attempted a forward roll but Richards turned it into a ankle lock. He let it go and nailed a shining wizard then a powerbomb that looked to be the end but Tanahashi kicked out at the last second.

Not to be denied, Richards locked on a Texas Cloverleaf. Tanahashi tried to break free but Richards forced him down in thecenter. Richards rolled him into a pinfall combination for two. Richards charged him in the corner but was nailed with a hangman's clothesline. Tanahashi hit a German suplex with a bridge for a two count, then nailed a frog splash off the top for the pinfall.

Your winner, IWGP Heavyweight champion Hiroshi Tanahashi!

Another incredible match.

IWGP Intercontinental championship tournament final: Toru Yano vs. MVP

Yano took the mic and said he's been to NYC and New Jersey and after coming here, he wants to go back there because Philly sucks. I think it went over the heads of the crowd though.

Yano attacked MVP as he was introduced. MVP made a comeback and ran Yano out of the ring. Yano began walking around the outside, stalling. Apparently they study Larry Zbsyzko tapes in Japan. MVP left the ring so Yano would return, but once MVP jumped back in, Yano went back to the floor.

MVP tricked him into returning to the ring and worked Yano over with rights and a clothesline. He went for the Ballin' elbow but Yano rolled out to the apron. So, MVP hit a sliding dropkick to the outside. MVP nailed a running Yakuza kick, sending Yano over the railing into the first row. The ECW Arena chanted for MVP.

MVP brought Yano back into the ring and covered him for a two count. He began drilling Yano with crossfaces. MVP whipped Yano into the corner but it was reversed. MVP kicked Yano off but was drilled with a clothesline. Yano tossed him into the ropes and began choking him against it. Yano shoved down the referee when he tried to intercede. The referee got in his face but then backed down.

Yano continued beating down MVP and began choking him with wrist tape. The referee forced him to stop. MVP fired back with several punches but was raked in the eyes. MVP drilled Yano with several clotheslines and a suplex, then a double thrust to the throat. He slammed Yano and went for the Ballin' elbow, then nailed it.

MVP nailed a Perfectplex for a two count. He tried for a German suplex but Yano held onto the ropes. Yano then held onto the referee, so the ref slapped him. MVP nailed a series of rolling German suplexes on the shocked Yano. MVP went to the top and nailed flying headbutt.

MVP went for another German but Yano kicked him low for a two count. Yano lifted up MVP for an elevated powerbomb, but MVP kicked out at the last second. Yano whipped MVP into the corner but MVP reversed it. MVP went for a running Yakuza kick but Yano moved and the referee was nailed.

Yano drilled MVP with his umbrella and covered him but MVP kicked up at the last second. Yano went to nail him again but was punched. MVP drilled him with the weapon, then locked on his submission.

The referee called for the bell.

Your winner and the first IWGP Intercontinental champion, MVP!

Good match. Yano had been winning all his matches in the tournament by using weapons and low blows so MVP overcoming them made for some nice false finishes.

MVP took the mic as he held the belt for the first time. The building chanted for him. MVP said that Philadelphia fans are some of the toughest fans in the world, bar none. He said that he can't even say what the reaction he got today meant to him. He said this is a special moment on a special day in a special building. He said he is happy to call NJPW his home and he is proud to call himself a PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER. MVP held up the belt and celebrated. Nice promo.

MVP's promos and work this weekend were incredible. All you can say is that WWE really dropped the friggin' ball with this guy. His work was absolutely great and it's a shame politics led to his decision to leave, but their loss was absolutely New Japan's gain.

Philadelphia Street Fight with Falls Counting Anywhere in the ECW Arena: Rhino vs. Togi Makabe

They locked up and Rhino was forced into the corner. The referee forced a break..in a street fight? Rhino shoulderblocked Makabe down and said, "Welcome to America, B****!" Makabe then shoulderblocked him down and they faced off.

They went for a test of strength but Makabe kicked Rhino in the gut. He charged Rhino but was backdropped onto the apron. Rhino knocked him to the floor and hit a pescado out of the ring.

They battled at ringside, including Rhino being whipped into the guard rail, which gave way. Makabe hit a flying clothesline off the apron to the floor. He went under the ring and tossed trash cans into the ring. He went after Rhino again but Rhino atomic dropped him on the railing, then clotheslined him off into the crowd. Rhino went to the top rope and dove off onto Makabe in the ring.

They brawled though the building and back into the ringside area. They battled around the ring some more. Rhino pulled a think plank out from under the ring and placed Makabe on it. He returned to the ring for a pescado but Makabe moved and Rhino crashed through. It looked nasty.

Back in the ring, Makabe hit a series of running clotheslines and then peppered him with punches in the corner. He nailed a Northern Lights suplex, which probably the first time they move was ever used in a street fight. He swung a trash can at Rhino, who ducked and drilled Makabe, nailing a DDT.

Rhino nailed Makabe in the head with the trash can. He covered Makabe for the pin but Makabe kicked up at two. He wedged a trash can in between the buckles and whipped Makabe into it, then went for a shoulderblock but Makabe sent him into the can, then rolled him up for a two count.

Makabe went under the ring and brought a board out. He placed it in the corner of the ring. He teased a powerbomb into it but Rhino backdropped him over. He went for the Gore but Makabe sidestepped it. Rhino grabbed him and just charged the corner. Makabe went throught the board, which exploded. Rhino scored a two count.

Makabe and Rhino went back and forth. Makabe forced the trash can over Rhino's head and nailed it with a piece of the wooden plank, like a bat, getting a two count. He wrapped his chain around his arm and nailed several lariats with it in the corner. He went to punch Rhino in the corner but Rhino lifted him up and dropped him into a powerbomb for a two count.

Rhino tried to drive him into the corner but Makabe forced him off. Rhino nailed a sidewalk slam and set up for the Gore. He nailed it but Makabe kicked up at the last second. Rhino set up for another but Makabe grabbed a trash can and slammed it in his face. Makabe went back under the ring and this time pulled out another plank. He then grabbed several chairs and set the plank up across them.

He tried to powerbomb Rhino but Rhino slipped out, only to be clotheslined. He placed Rhino on the board and came off the ropes with a flying kneedrop through the board for the pin.

Your winner, Togi Makabe!

Fun brawl to close out a GREAT weekend of wrestling.

There are plans to release all of the shows, which were shot by Samurai TV, here in the United States.

2011 - WWE Smackdown ran Austin, Texas.  Michael Neuman filed the following:

The Frank Erwin Center was at about 70% capacity. The place was rocking and the crowd was into every match. It was the best house show I have ever attended and I have been going since 1987.

Over-the-top-Battle Royal: Ezekiel Jackson wins a 10 man battle royal and gets a shot at the IC Belt later against Wade Barrett

Dusty Rhodes comes out to welcome us to Smackdown and put over Zeke. The Corre come out to attack Jackson and work him over pretty good until Kane and Khali made the save. The American Dream announces a tag match later as Kane/Khali takes on the Corre (Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel).

Natayla and A.J. defeat Rosa Mendes and Alicia Fox. The crowd was shockingly in this match and the Sign Guy was yakking it up with Rosa throughout the match. Natayla wins with a sharpshooter.

Daniel Bryan defeats Tyson Kidd. Lots of back and forth between Bryan and Kidd. We did not see Michael Hayes, which was a bummer. Great match so far.

Wrestlemania Rematch: Rey Mysterio defeats Cody Rhodes. Cody had by far the most heel heat of the night and he played it up. It was AWESOME!

IC Championship Match: Zeke Jackson defeats Wade Barrett by DQ when Wade uses a chair on Zeke. Zeke gets back at Wade and plays to the crowd, which loves him.

Kane/Khali defeat The Corre when Kane/Khali put a double chokeslam on Justin Gabriel.

Triple Threat match for World Heavyweight Championship: Randy Orton defeats Christian and Sheamus when Randy RKO's Sheamus.

2012 - Ring of Honor Chief Operating Officer Joe Koff held a conference call with invited media this afternoon to discuss the problems with this past Saturday's Border Wars iPPV as well as different aspects of the company's business over the last year and going forward into Year Two of ROH under Sinclair Broadcasting ownership.

For simplicity's sake, I will break the recap up into two sections, one regarding the iPPV issues and the other regarding ROH's business in general.

iPPV Issues, Fallout and The Future

Joe Koff said they had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.  He wishes everyone was here to talk about what a great show was but that's not why they are here.  He said that they weren't able to deliver the product as they hoped and that he's very disappointed that they disappointed the fans.  Koff said that there was good and bad in that.  He said that it was a fabulous shows and one of the best under the Sinclair ownership.  He said that they wanted to present their product through their own website after Showdown in the Sun's problems, "which were a source of contention" and they wanted to deliver it but weren't able to deliver it in the time specified.  He said the positive side was that an unprecedented amount of people tried to order and login.  He said that given the numbers they had garnered in the past and through their own testing, they did not anticipate the interest.  He said that their system could not handle all the logins at the same time and it had nothing to do with the actual stream of the events itself.  Koff said that they felt the production quality of the stream and the show were very strong.  The load that was placed on their database was not something they were able to handle.

"For that, I am deeply sorry, because Ring of Honor is an experience.  We failed our PPV customer by not being able to deliver that experience as it happened live in Toronto."

Koff said that he was proud of the response team in that they immediately contacted via social media and in that they offered restitution (they offered immediate refunds or the next iPPV for free).  He said that it doesn't replicate the experience of seeing it live, but he watched Border Wars online and the experience was "very close."

Koff said that there is no buck to be passed.  He said that they should have anticipated the interest but they didn't and they weren't prepared.  He said they have teams of people looking at the situation to make sure it does not happen again.  He said that every PPV they've done has had some sort of technical issues and it's not a perfect science yet.  He said that ROH is an innovator of iPPV and has the largest subscription base for the iPPVs but "we didn't get it done."  He said that other than Saturday's snafu, the experience they are giving the fans through their TV and their website has been a positive.

When asked what the source of the iPPV issue was, their server was overloaded.  Koff said the load of everyone trying to login was the issue.  He said that what happened is that such a great amount of people hit at once, admitting "we should have known and there are no excuses", and they had never been tested at that level before.

When asked what steps they are taking going forward, Koff said they are exploring solutions in-house and externally.  He said that he isn't a "techie" and doesn't speak the language, but he has access to people who can help them through the situation.  They made the move after Showdown in the Sun so they were in control of their own product and there's no one to pass the buck too.  He said he wishes he could go back and fix it so the conversation was on the show itself and their one year anniversary as owners but that's not possible.  He said that if they need to expand server size or take other measures for the June Best in the World iPPV they will.  He said they have until 6/24 to make it right and "it will be right."

Koff was asked about the response time between the problems and the initial response online.  Koff said that he didn't realize it was 55 minutes and said "if you thought an hour was long for you, imagine how long that was for us."  He said that they were dealing with their people in Baltimore to determine where the issue was and at one point, they had the site up 15 minutes into the show, only for it come crashing down again.  He said that as soon they knew they wouldn't get things up in a timely fashion, they went to social media to communicate.

Koff was asked were percentage was able to get in because the fans that got in were praising the stream.  Koff said that he knew fans were getting the show because they were getting feedback.  He said that the best response might have been to ask everyone to give the site ten minutes to log off and log back in but at the moment, they didn't ask for that.  He said that fans continuously trying to login was part of the issue because it taxed their system.

Koff was asked if a lot of refunds were issued.  He said that an incredible amount of replays that were purchased on Sunday.  They "do not have an incredible amount of refunds to make" because they offered a fair re-payment to upset fans. Fans were able to see it, but not in real time.  Fans not "being able to see it in real time hurts me" because he wants fans to have that experience.  He said that if you please a customer, they don't say anything but if you piss off a customer, they tell 30 people.  He said they went out of their way to please the customers.

Koff was asked if they would forgo iPPV and go for a traditional PPV.  Koff said that the cost to do a PPV and have the satellite time would not be cost-effective given the size of their fan base right now.  Koff said the iPPV delivery was a good, economical way to bring the product to the fans.  He said "it's even better when it works and we're working towards that."  He said that they aren't ready to go on PPV and DirecTV as they don't have the support for that.  He said they've love to work to that but they aren't geared for that yet.

Koff was asked about the finances involved with bringing everything in-house, as Gabe Sapolsky had alleged the company did it on the "cheap" without "adequate equipment" on his Facebook and that's what caused the issue.    Koff said he was not going to respond to "his comments specifically, because I'm going to consider the source of his comments."  Koff said he can't "refute or dispute perception.  I can refute and dispute credible sources."  Koff said he's not going to get into that conversation.  Koff said, "I can tell you this company is well financed.  He work with people we rely on for their expertise.  I think this was something that was unanticipated from our own analytic and our own analysis.  The load was tested and we thought that we should be fine with what the normal number of buys are and how they come in over the course of a day.  But, we were fooled, and I'm going to say that positively, by the positive response to the product and shame on us for that."  Koff said it wasn't a money issue, it just "happened to be an unfortunate call on our part for feeling [the server was] strong enough to carry the show.  That's the way it happened."

Koff was asked about the difference between the predictions and the amount they actually got.  He said they had 20-30% more than they expected.  He said "It wasn't 2000, but it was just shy of or a little bit over."  Koff was asked how much of the additional interest was due to the show being in-house.  Koff said a lot has to do with the matches and with Kevin Steen challenging for the belt in Canada.  He also felt there were people happy it wasn't with the old provider and said "perhaps we were smoking too much Hope-ium, hoping that this would be ideal and this would be great and this would be a great conversation today." 

Koff said he won't knock his own resources or the people behind the product.  He said if it went a little differently, they'd be sipping champagne but it didn't happen.  "We learned.  My heart is out - and I mean this - not being able to deliver to the expectations of those consumers who bought the product, but the product was there is still available to those people.  It's just the product wasn't there when they wanted to watch it and they have every right to question that and they have every right to ask for a refund and they have every right to forgive us, if they choose so."

Koff was asked if taking everything in house was economically better in the short and long run.  Koff said they don't know because they haven't had a clean broadcast yet.  Koff said that they want to be in control of their own product.  He said he liked the relationship with GFL but the issues in Florida led to them deciding to finally take control.  "I like to be in control of my own product.  This gives us control."  He said it's more financially feasible and better in the long run, but they have to get things in order.  He said taking it in house will allow them to offer more iPPVs and even get to a point where they could do some or every house show as an iPPV on their own schedule and not someone else's schedule.  They don't have a number of how many more they'd want to do but obviously the plan is to do more once they "master" iPPV and "we will master it" by 6/24.  He said once they are in control of the product and the delivery, how many they do will be the least of their concerns.

Koff was asked about the test with the Bryan Danielson vs. CM Punk bout earlier in the week.  Koff said that was a separate issue with their media server as opposed to what held their stream.  He said the free video was unrelated and actually gave them false positives that the site could handle the traffic load because you didn't need to actually login to watch the free video.  They had 3,000 people watching the free video.

Koff was asked about expanding the iPPVs to other streaming devices.  Koff said that they didn't have an app but he believes they were able to be viewed on iPads.  He said that he didn't want to be definitive but believed they had availability for streaming devices.   

Koff was asked about what he says to the fans who are frustrated.   Koff said that he believes the wrestling fan is a forgiving fan because he knows that as a fan, he's been frustrated by wrestling's product over the years yet he would still watch twice a week. He said that they are doing what they need to do to make good and he'd like to think that their fans are going to be forgiving because they love the product.  They are let down by the delivery and he gets that.  He said that the quality of their product in the ring is unmatched and no one works harder than "my guys."

The Last Year of ROH and The Next

TV RATINGS: Koff was asked about why ratings for the TV aren't being released.  Koff said there are ratings for those specific markets and they are doing well but as they are for different markets in different timeslots and it doesn't make sense to release ratings for each specific market every week.  He said he's not even sure how the ratings are processed.  He said he sells time for a living and he doesn't think even they know how they are processed.  He said the ratings and sales and the buys they had for Border Wars are exceeding what they had from a company standpoint.  He said that while he doesn't know how to equate a cable rating to a household rating, but knowing what he knows about broadcast TV, they are beating TNA in those specific markets.  Koff said that they are doing close to a 2 rating in some of their better markets and these are in late night timeslots.  Koff clarified that he doesn't make that statement to say "HAHA TNA" but to express how they are doing specifically in those markets via broadcast TV.  He said that TNA has 2 hours of primetime at the same time nationally every time, so there's a difference in how things are measured.  Koff said there is "no disappointment" on the ratings front and some of Sinclair's own stations are upgrading the ROH series to better timeslots on their own without being requested to do so. 

NEXT TV GOAL: Koff said that they have a meeting tomorrow to bring the show into new markets.  Koff said that they are looking at syndicating outside of Sinclair stations.  He said that's not something they have to do but something they want to do.  He said they wanted to get through the first year of programming to make sure they were happy with the show and where it is.    He said they are very pleased with the show and the programming.  He said that they have produced 36 original hours of TV content with a very small production staff that are wrestling aficionados.  He said most network series don't get 29 weeks and they are on 36 and counting.

SELLING TO ADVERTISERS: Koff said if they can get into more markets, it would help them take the series to a national advertiser level.  Ad buyers on that level would require 70-80% clearance for that.  He said they always wanted to present it as a Sinclair product the first year and they are now working on syndicated telecasts.

PRODUCTION ISSUES: Koff was asked about production issues with camera shots missed, particularly on live iPPVs with "shoddy camera work" and "glaring" lights.  Koff was asked if they intended to clean up the production.  Koff said he's not going to argue a lot of that but with live TV, that's the nature sometimes and noted that they almost lost a camera when Rhino and Eddie Edwards nailed the cameraman in the first match.  In terms of the lighting, they were in the Ted Reeve Ice Arena, not Madison Square Garden so they can only do so much with the lighting and in pro wrestling, you have to follow where the action goes and that doesn't always mean the best lit areas.   Koff said he sees the glare on his own TV and he does wince a little bit but the quality of the wrestling and action is so good.  He said they needed to get the wrestling side down and now they can work on the cosmetics.  There is a meeting with his "entire crew" this week because they are doing TV and it's an ongoing process.  He said they can perhaps bring in some consultants to work on such thing.

LESSONS OF THE FIRST YEAR: Koff said that they learn every week and it takes a full year and a full cycle of shows and going through a season of TV and markets that you have high hopes for that don't do well.  He said that there were things they needed to learn but also some wonderful things from the first year.  He said that the product level and the expectation levels of the fans and the wrestlers were met.  He said the hardest thing is marrying the cultures because they (the wrestling and the corporate sides) are two diverse and different businesses.  Koff said that he's very pleased with the booking and the creative end.  He said he's been happy with the office staff and with Gary Juster as the promoter.  With that said, they are learning and the most humbling moment of the last year was this past Saturday night and he feels badly for fans who didn't get what they expected.  He said that he feels bad for everyone who put in their time because they did what they were supposed to do "but our servers didn't and that's a different story."  For ROH as an organization, it was assimilated into the Sinclair organization and it was a banner year and "if I had to do it again, I would have done it sooner."

HDTV & INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF TV: Koff said their corporate budgets start in the Fall and HDTV is at the top of their list.  He said that distribution in HD is a different animal but by 2013, "you will definitely see that upgrade."  Koff said they own the content and once they upgrade it and it makes sense, they can look into ventures like Netflix and international markets.  Koff said they are making headway internationally.  He said WWE has done a great job in distribution there so sometimes you are reduced to second and third outlets but they aren't in a rush.  He said they have had some good conversations but nothing ever "happens as fast as you want it."

ROH's HEALTH: "This isn't a sprint.  It's a race.  No one needs to write about the demise of ROH from our perspective.  This is a company that has been in business a long time and knows how to sustain its product."

NEW MARKETS: With every acquisition that Sinclair Broadcasting makes, they will organically add stations for the series.  Koff said he's having a lunch tomorrow to discuss greater distribution in early stages.  "We've had lots of requests, we just haven't acted upon them at this point."

TV TAPINGS: They love the Baltimore, MD venue and they dress it up and produce it well.  They love the Baltimore fans and their crowds have grown since they've started taping there.  They do tapings on the road and will do more shows from select house shows.  He said Baltimore will be their home because that's where they are based and where they produce the product.

SYNCHRONIZING TV IN MARKETS WITH iPPVs: Koff said that when you are producing four shows and TV for different markets, it's hard but they'll be trying to move something forward in that regard in the future.

CHANGES KOFF WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN YEAR TWO OF OWNERSHIP: He'd like to get the production values up to HD, he'd like to get the markets they are in up and new markets.  He also said he wants the company to keep all the promises they make.  He noted that the TV business is a "lead lag" business and that it takes time for an audience to find and understand the program.  He said wrestling gets a jump start but they still have so many people that don't know they are on.  The longer and more they are on, the more they will grow their business and viewership.  He said that wrestlers, including Mark Briscoe and Jay Lethal, have noted they are getting noticed more out in public.  Their highest ratings are usually Saturday and Sunday nights from 11 PM on.  They are still feeling out the audience.

LIVE SPECIAL: They have the flexibility with Sinclair to do specials.  It's not something they would do this year but perhaps down the road.  They have different markets who have agreements that certain programming cannot be preempted.  Koff said that he started in primetime and doing something like that is a huge undertaking to even do it once a year.  They are focused now on the weekly TV.

FUTURE DVDS: The compilation DVDs are great sellers.  There are ways to take the content, repurpose it and repackage it and sell it.  He said that he's very happy with the way they have handled that.  He said he's proud to go to the administer page of ROH and see the sales.  He was asked about production issues with some of the recent DVDs and Koff said that "the issues have been noted and taken down and will be dealt with."

PPV LENGTHS: Koff said the businessman in him says less is more but the excitement of the crowd drives the guys to work as hard as they can.  He said very few fans leave before the show is over unless a little kid is involved.  He said that maybe the shows are too long but the fans aren't dictating that there is an issue.  He said 4 hours is more than enough time for an event.

2013 - WWE broadcast Main Event.  Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

Things are heating up for Main Event and while it might not get Al Gore to complain about Global Warming, the Shield does get their hands on one of their opponents on Sunday. Seth Rollins faces Kane.

We are in Wichita, Kansas and your announcers are Michael ‘Rock, Chalk, Big E Langston’ and Miz.

Match Number One: Kane versus Seth Rollins (with Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose)

Rollins avoids Kane and Reigns tries to distract Kane. Rollins with punches to Kane and he backs off. Kane misses another punch and Rollins with punches. Kane sends Rollins into the corner but Rollins with a punch. Rollins with two drop kicks and Kane stays on his feet. Rollins runs into a big boot from Kane.

Kane backs Rollins into the corner and he connects with a shoulder and forearms. Kane with another shoulder in the corner followed by a hard Irish whip. Kane with an Irish whip and a back breaker to Rollins. Kane stretches Rollins over his knee and he connects with an uppercut. Kane with a reverse atomic drop and shoulder tackle for a near fall.

Kane with an uppercut and kick in the corner. Kane with an Irish whip and Rollins tries to float over but Kane catches him and he tries for a tombstone piledriver but Rollins escapes and he goes to the floor to discuss strategy with Reigns and Ambrose.

Reigns tries to distract Kane but Kane sees Rollins coming and he back body drops Rollins onto Reigns and we go to commercial.

We are back and Kane with a suplex and a near fall. Kane misses an elbow drop and Rollins with a back heel kick and a kick to the chest. Kane tries for the choke slam but Rollins escapes and he hits an enzuigiri and both men are down. Rollins with punches to Kane and the referee warns Rollins. Rollins kicks Kane in the shoulder.

Rollins chokes Kane in the ropes and then Ambrose punches Kane when the referee is focused on Rollins. Rollins with punches to Kane in the corner and Kane pushes Rollins away. Rollins with a kick to Kane and then he climbs the turnbuckles to punch Rollins and then he runs Kane’s eyes across the top rope.

Kane with uppercuts to Rollins followed by punches and kicks. Kane with an Irish whip but he misses a charge into the corner and he hits the turnbuckles with his shoulder. Rollins gets a near fall and then he applies a reverse chin lock.

Rollins with a kick to the leg but Kane with a clothesline that flips Rollins. Kane with a clothesline into the corner followed by an Irish whip and clothesline and Kane hits the side slam. Kane gets a near fall and then he goes up top for the clothesline. Ambrose and Reigns distract Kane and Rollins with a running drop kick that knocks Kane off the turnbuckles and to the floor. We go to commercial.

We are back and Rollins with a reverse chin lock. We see footage during the commercial when Rollins sent Kane into the apron. Kane with punches and an uppercut to Rollins. Kane charges into the corner but Rollins with a drop kick to the knee. Rollins with a running forearm into the corner followed by a flatline into the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall.

Rollins goes to the turnbuckles and he is met with an uppercut from Kane. Kane with punches to Rollins followed by a back body drop. Kane with a clothesline into the corner and he hits a power slam and gets a near fall. Kane goes up top and hits the clothesline.

Kane signals for the choke slam but Rollins with kicks and punches to escape. Kane sends Rollins to the apron but Rollins with an enzuigiri. Rollins goes up top but Kane grabs Rollins by the throat but Rollins counters with a rollup but Kane still holds on to the throat. Kane sends Rollins into Reigns and Kane hits the choke slam but Ambrose breaks up the cover and he attacks Kane. The referee calls for the bell.

Winner: Kane (by disqualification)

After the match, Ambrose continues his attack on Kane but Kane grabs Ambrose by the throat for a choke slam. Reigns with a spear and then all three members of the Shield attack Kane and then they get Kane up for the Cerberus Bomb but the Usos come to save Kane and they go after Ambrose and Reigns. Reigns runs into a super kick and the Shield go back to their compound.

We take a look back at the six man elimination tag match from Raw.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a video package for the Brock Lesnar/Triple H match.

We go to commercial.

We are back and we are told that The Usos will be facing Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins on Friday night.

Match Number Two: Sin Cara versus Wade Barrett in a Non Title Match

The lights are returned to ‘Sin Cara Level’ and Barrett with knees to Cara. Barrett with a swinging neck breaker for a near fall. Barrett with knees and he puts Cara on the turnbuckles. Barrett with forearms to the back and then he connects with a knee to send Cara to the mat and Barrett gets a near fall. Barrett chokes Cara in the ropes. Barrett puts Cara in the ropes and he connects with knees to the chest and then he connects with a boot to send Cara to the floor.

Barrett goes to the floor and Barrett runs Cara into the apron. Barrett gets a near fall followed by a reverse chin lock. Barrett with a knee and Irish whip but he runs into boots from Cara. Cara with kicks and a springboard back elbow. Barrett misses a clothesline and Cara with a double jump cross body for a near fall. Cara goes to the apron for an enzuigiri and then he hits a springboard drop kick to the back and he gets a near fall.

Cara goes up top and leaps over Barrett but Barrett with the Blackpool Slam and he gets a near fall. Barrett with a forearm to the back and he hits a buckle bomb. Barrett goes for another power bomb but Cara counters with a rana for the three count.

Winner: Sin Cara

Cody Rhodes is walking in the back as we go to commercial.

Match Number Three: Cody Rhodes versus Justin Gabriel

They lock up and Gabriel works on the wrist but Cody with a punch and chop. Gabriel sends Cody into the turnbuckles and then he chops Cody. Cody goes to the apron and he suplexes Cody back into the ring. Cody blocks a hip toss and Gabriel blocks one as well but Cody with a swinging neck breaker for a near fall. Cody with a gourdbuster and he gets a near fall.

Cody with a cravate but Gabriel with a jawbreaker. Gabriel with a series of kicks and a jumping spin kick. Gabriel with a spinning heel kick. Gabriel with a Blue Thunder Driver for a near fall. Gabriel with a quebrada for a near fall.

Gabriel goes up top for the 450 splash but Rhodes rolls to the other side of the ring and Gabriel gets frustrated. Cody tries for Cross Rhodes but Gabriel with a kick. Rhodes tries for Cross Rhodes again but Gabriel with an inside cradle for a near fall. Rhodes with an Alabama Slam for a near fall. Cody hits Cross Rhodes for the three count.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

After the match, Cody Rhodes gets on the apron and he stares down his opponent on the Pre-Show.

2013 - WWE broadcast NXT.  Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

Damien Sandow will have his chance to win gold tonight when he faces Big E Langston for the NXT Heavyweight Title.

We are in Winter Park, Florida and your announcers are Tom ‘Tony’ Phillips and Brad ‘Half of Brickie’ Maddox.

Match Number One: Natalya versus Summer Rae

They lock up and Natalya with a side head lock take down. Summer with a head scissors but Natalya escapes. Natalya with a waist lock and double leg take down into a front face lock. Summer with a hammer lock. Natalya with a fireman’s carry into an arm bar. Summer with a head scissors and Natalya escapes again. Summer with a wrist lock after a kick.

Natalya rolls through and reverses but Summer pulls Natalya down by the hair and she gets a near fall. Natalya with a shoulder tackle and double leg take down. Summer gets to the ropes to stop Natalya from applying the Sharpshooter. Summer with a back elbow but Natalya kicks her away.

Natalya with a kick and discus clothesline for a near fall. Summer wants the referee to keep Natalya back and the referee allows it since Summer is in the ropes. Summer wants Natalya to shake her hand but it was a trap and Summer sends Natalya to the floor. Summer with a kick to the head when Natalya returns to the ring and Summer gets a near fall.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Summer gets a near fall. Summer yells at Natalya and she dives onto Natalya’s injured arm. Summer gets a near fall. Summer sends Natalya into the turnbuckles and she chokes Natalya with her boot. Natalya with a rollup for a near fall. Summer with a DDT and she rolls through and slams Natalya’s head into the mat. Summer with a running back elbow for a near fall.

Summer with an arm ringer and she works on the injured shoulder. Natalya gets to her feet and she applies the Sharpshooter while Paige enters the ring. Summer sends Natalya into Paige and Summer gets a rollup for the three count.

Winner: Summer Rae

After the match, Summer runs to the back but Paige follows after her.

Renee Young is in the interview area with a man who will debut in the ring next week. She is with Sami Zayn. She asks him about his debut and she mentions his international reputation. She mentions that Sami will be facing Curt Hawkins. Sami comments on Renee’s choice of blouse for today. Sami mentions that Curt is a formidable opponent, but since he has been doing this for a while, he is not nervous or freaked out at the idea of being on NXT. He is confident and excited that this will be the start of a beautiful relationship with the WWE Universe.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Bray Wyatt says that when he looks at his reflection, he sees something different than what you see. Bray says that he is wearing this mask because he sees something different and Chris Jericho shook him. He says that he has to go back to his roots. He says that this is the new face of fear. This is not the face of a human being. This is the face of a monster. This is the face of the end of worlds. Every time that you gaze into his face, he wants you to realize that no matter who you are, you cannot hurt him because he is already dead.

Match Number Two: Bray Wyatt (with Luke Harper and Erick Rowan) versus Danny Burch

Bray keeps his mask on and he bends over backwards to get a good look at his opponent. They lock up and Wyatt slaps Burch. Burch with head butts and European uppercuts but Wyatt with a kick and forearm followed by an elbow drop to the back. Wyatt with a cross face to the head. Wyatt with a running cross body and then he pulls Burch into the corner. Wyatt with punches and slaps followed by a splash into the corner. Wyatt pulls Burch out of the corner and he leads him into Sister Abigail and the three count.

Winner: Bray Wyatt

We go to the medical office and the doctor asks about how Oliver is doing. Bo Dallas stops by and says that he is looking all over for Adrian. Adrian says that he has been better and he says that he was talking to Oliver.

Bo says that time heals all wounds. Just like John Cena, the man who won the Royal Rumble that Bo was in, says . . . never give up. Bo says that Adrian might make it some day.

Bo says that he signed up for the Battle Royal for a shot at the NXT Title. Bo says that he is sorry that Adrian couldn’t get in the match and he tells him that he will catch him around. Adrian says that he is in the battle royal.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Three: Conor O’Brian versus Briley Pierce and Sakamoto

Sakamoto starts off and Conor sends him ot the mat. They lock up again and Conor with a double underhook and then he sends Sakamoto to the mat. Briley tags in and Briley runs into a boot. Conor with a running shoulder tackle or two. Conor with a side head lock take down and he rolls through into a front face lock. Conor with a suplex and Sakamoto is tagged in and Conor brings him back into the ring.

Sakamoto with chops and Briley clips Conor. They double team Conor but Conor fights them off and he punches both men. Conor with an Irish whip to Sakamoto and then to Pierce. Conor with a splash into the corner and both men go down in a heap. Conor picks up both men and hits a double flap jack and double pin for the three count.

Winner: Conor O’Brian

Conor poses on the turnbuckles and he sees someone on the stage and it is Rick Victor.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Tony Dawson is with Corey Graves and he says that Corey has been going through some ups and downs on NXT. Corey says that is what his life has been. He was told by his father that you need to fail first before you succeed. Once you break through, you will never have to look back. He will be in the battle royal in two weeks and he will stand tall.

Bray Wyatt enters and he says that this is quite baffling. He wonders why Corey plays Mr. Cool Guy while the greatest war in history is outside his door step. If Corey doesn’t understand, he can ask Kassius Ohno. Bray says that NXT belongs to the eater of worlds and the Wyatt Family.

Corey says that Bray and his family creep him out. He doesn’t have a family. He just has what he believes. If Bray and the swamp people continue to mess with him, they will stay down.

Bray says that we shall see.

Match Number Four: Damien Sandow versus Big E Langston for the NXT Title

They lock up and Langston backs Sandow into the ropes and Langston with a clean break. They lock up again and Langston with another clean break. They lock up again and Langston with a side head lock. Sandow with forearms but Langston with a shoulder tackle.

Sandow with a kick but Langston blocks a second one. Langston spins Sandow around and he gets Sandow up for the Big Ending but Sandow escapes and gets to the corner. Sandow works on the arm but Langston escapes. Langston with a slam to Sandow and then he punches Sandow five times in the midsection. Sandow with a kick and punch. Sandow with more punches but Langston with a back elbow. Langston gets a near fall. Sandow goes to the apron and he connects with a shoulder but Langston with a punch and hip toss back into the ring.

Langston pulls Sandow out of the corner and then he Irish whips Sandow but runs into an elbow. Langston gets Sandow on his shoulders but Sandow gets to the ropes and the floor. We go to commercial.

We are back and Langston with a delayed vertical suplex to the challenger. Langston with an Irish whip but he misses a splash in the corner and Sandow with a Northern Lariat and he punches Langston on the mat. Sandow with a reverse chin lock. Langston with a shoulder in the corner but Sandow with a drop kick for a near fall.

Sandow with knees to the ribs and he gets a near fall. Sandow with a head scissors but Langston powers out of the hold. Sandow is pushed to the floor but Sandow goes up top with a double sledge for a near fall. Sandow with a knee drop after pulling down the knee pad. Sandow with a near fall and then he applies another reverse chin lock.

Langston gets to his feet but Sandow with a drop kick to the knee to keep Langston on the mat. Sandow with kicks to Langston followed by knees and an elbow drop. Sandow with a reverse chin lock and front face lock. Langston sends Sandow away and he hits a belly-to-belly suplex and both men are down.

They both get back to their feet and Langston with clotheslines. Langston with five knees to the midsection and a running body block. The straps are down and Langston gets Sandow up on his shoulder but Sandow with an Edge-o-Matic for a near fall. Sandow returns to the front face lock and knees followed by the side Russian leg drop. Sandow misses the Elbow of Disdain.

Sandow with a kick and a swinging neck breaker followed by the Elbow of Disdain but Sandow can only get a two count. Sandow sets for Terminus but Langston escapes and he hits the Big Ending for the three count.

Winner: Big E Langston

After the match, Langston gets Sandow on his shoulder for another Big Ending and a five count.

We go to credits.

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