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June 29th
On this day in history in ....
1973 - Kim Sung Ho defeats Alfonso Dantes for the EMLL NWA Light Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
1986 - The AWA announces that since World Champion Stan Hansen refused to wrestle Nick Bockwinkel in Denver, Colorado, Hansen was being stripped of the title and Bockwinkel was named the new champion. In truth, Hansen had already been booked to defend the AWA World Title on All Japan Pro-Wrestling shows in July. When Hansen was told to drop the title beforehand, he refused, since his loyalty was to All Japan and Giant Baba, and he knew that Baba was advertising a AWA title defense on the July tour. Hansen went to Japan, still in possession of the AWA Title belt (a new belt was made for Bockwinkel) and "defended" it, dropping the belt after he won the NWA International Title (an All Japan belt) from Jumbo Tsuruta. Hansen would run over the AWA Title belt with his truck and mail the bent remains to Verne Gagne. Bockwinkel would take the mangled belt and had it restored.
1992 - Tom Prichard defeats Brian Christopher for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee to win the title that had been vacated a week earlier when a match between the two ended in a no-contest. This began Pritchard's fifth title reign. On the same show, Jerry Lawler & Jeff Jarrett defeated The Moondogs (Spot & Spike) to win the USWA Tag Team Title.
1998 - Steve Austin defeats Kane for the WWF World Heavyweight Title in Cleveland, Ohio, ending Kane's reign after less than 24 hours. This begins Austin's second WWF World title reign.
1999 - The Hardy Boyz defeat Faarooq & Bradshaw for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Fayetteville, North Carolina. This was the first of an eventual five runs with the belts for Matt & Jeff Hardy.
2008 - WWE held their Night Of Champions PPV. Here is Richard Trionfo's original report on the show:
NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS COVERAGE: MAJOR TITLES DO NOT CHANGE HANDS; NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS (KIND OF); NEW IC CHAMPION; NEW ECW CHAMPION
Welcome to tonight’s live coverage of the WWE’s Night of Champions pay per view from Dallas, Texas. All of the WWE titles are on the line. Make sure to check out all of the coverage on the site, including the Night of Champions Post Pay Per View Hotline.
On the Free for All, Jack Korpela reminds us that every title will be on the line as he welcomes us to the show. The first match that Jack previews is the World Title Match between Edge and Batista. Jack mentions that Chris Jericho was supposed to defend the Intercontinental Title against Shawn Michaels but due to Michaels’ injuries, they will not meet at Night of Champions. We see the video package for the feud. Jack mentions that someone might be facing Chris Jericho, but nothing has been announced yet. Jack next discusses the WWE Championship Match between John Cena and Triple H and we see a video package that we will see many more times tonight. We are shown highlights from the main event from this week’s Smackdown between Umaga and Batista.
We start off tonight’s pay per view with a video package where all of the wrestlers talk about why they want to be a champion. The focus turns to Edge and Batista. Next, we see the Cena/Triple H match highlighted.
After the pyro at the start of the show with banners of all of the titles hanging from the TitanTron, we go to the announcers for tonight’s show. Jim Ross and Mick Foley represent Smackdown; Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler represent Raw; and The Tazz and Mike Adamle represent ECW.
Match Number One: WWE Tag Team Title Match: John Morrison and The Miz versus Hornswoggle and Finlay
Finlay and Morrison start things off and Finlay with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Finlay with a European uppercut and arm bar followed by a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Finlay with a slam and elbow drop followed by a nerve hold. Finlay tries to use the turnbuckle but Morrison blocks it and he sends Finlay into the turnbuckles. Finlay blocks a pescado and uses the ring skirt. Miz grabs Hornswoggle. Morrison with a clothesline to Finlay on the floor. Hornswoggle runs away but Morrison and Miz grab him and bring him into the ring. Hornswoggle throws his jacket at Morrison. Finlay comes back in and he hits clotheslines and then he sends Hornswoggle into Miz and Morrison. Each hit a seated senton splash onto Miz and Morrison as the champions go to the floor to regroup.
Finlay rolls Morrison back into the ring but Morrison with a drop kick to Finlay. Miz is tagged in and they hit a double gutbuster on Finlay. Miz with a rear chin lock on Finlay and then he catapults Finlay into Morrison who hits a forearm followed by a slingshot elbow onto Finlay for a near fall. Morrison tags in Miz and Miz with a punch but Finlay with a kick and a reverse atomic drop. Hornswoggle is tagged in and he hits a tilt-a-whirl head scissors followed by a Stunner and bulldog for a near fall. Morrison hits Hornswoggle from behind as he goes off the ropes to stop his momentum. Miz slaps Hornswoggle and then Finlay tries to save his son. Miz and Morrison continue to bully Hornswoggle and Morrison tags in. Morrison sends Hornswoggle into the turnbuckles and the referee checks on Hornswoggle. Miz tags in and then they get on their knees to mock Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle with forearms to Miz and Morrison but Miz and Morrison with a double clothesline to prevent Hornswoggle from making the tag.
Miz misses the clothesline into the corner and he crotches himself. Morrison tags in and he prevents Hornswoggle from making the tag. Morrison slaps Hornswoggle as he holds him up. Finlay comes in and the referee stops him. Hornswoggle with elbows and he makes the tag. Finlay with clotheslines to Morrison and a forearm to Miz. Finlay with a power slam to Morrison for a near fall. Morrison with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot. Finlay with a drop kick from the turnbuckles for a near fall. Finlay with a fireman’s carry slam and then he hits Miz. Finlay with the Celtic Cross to Morrison and Miz knocks Finlay off the apron. Hornswoggle is on the top turnbuckle and Morrison grabs him and slams him to the mat. Morrison gets the three count.
Winners: Miz and John Morrison
We go to Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. Cole wonders if the other champions will retain their titles. Cole mentions the match between Cena and Triple H. Lawler says that there are times when historic is overused, but that is not the case tonight. We see footage from their previous one-on-one title match at Wrestlemania 22. This is the poll question for tonight.
Match Number Two: United States Title: Chavo Guerrero with Bam Neely versus Matt Hardy
They lock up and Chavo with a side head lock and rollup but Hardy escapes. Hardy with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Chavo applauds Hardy as he backs up. Chavo goes for a leg but Hardy moves out of the way. Chavo with a side head lock take down. Hardy with a wrist lock and Irish whip followed by a clothesline. Hardy with a slam and fist drop for a near fall. Chavo with punches to Hardy but Hardy with a back body drop. Hardy with an Irish whip and running clothesline but he misses the bulldog. Chavo clips Hardy and he works on the leg and knee. Chavo uses the ropes to add pressure to the leg. Chavo slingshots to the floor and he wrenches Hardy’s knee on the rope and apron. Chavo also wrings Hardy’s leg into the ring post. While Chavo talks to the referee, Bam goes over and wrings Hardy’s leg into the post.
Chavo gets a near fall and then he returns to the knee. Chavo with forearms to keep Hardy from escaping the hold. Hardy with kicks to the back and he gets out of the hold. Chavo with another kick to the back of the leg but Hardy with a punch. Hardy and Chavo exchange punches with Hardy getting the advantage and he hits a bulldog for a near fall. Chavo continues to work on Hardy’s leg. The referee wants to know if Hardy wants to give up but he refuses. Hardy sends Chavo to the floor but Chavo drops Matt on the top rope when he returns. Chavo tries for a frog splash but Hardy moves and Chavo sees him moving as he rolls through. Hardy with a clothesline to Chavo followed by more clotheslines. Hardy with an elbow drop for a near fall. Hardy tries for a Side Effect but Chavo blocks it with an elbow. Chavo tries for a back slide but Hardy blocks it and Hardy hits the Side Effect for a two count. Hardy limps to the turnbuckles and he goes up and hits the screaming elbow to the head but Hardy shows the effect of what Chavo did to the knee. Hardy goes up again but Chavo pulls Hardy off the turnbuckles. Chavo puts Matt in a single leg crab but Hardy gets to the ropes. Hardy tries for the Twist of Fate, but Chavo blocks it. Hardy is able to convert it into a DDT but he only gets a two count. Matt sets for the Twist of Fate but Chavo escapes and he rolls through into another single leg crab. Hardy gets to the ropes one more time, but more damage has been done to the knee. Hardy with an enzuigiri but Chavo with a kick and he hits two thirds of the Three Amigos but when Chavo goes for the third, Matt hits the Twist of Fate for the three count.
Winner: Matt Hardy
Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler point out that Tony Dorsett is in the crowd.
Time for a video package about the McMahon Millions Stage Collapse.
We start off our night of Adamle with Mike announcing that the McMahons will make a formal statement on Monday night. Tazz says that the McMahons always do things big, so it is time to see big and that is the ECW Title Match.
As Mark Henry walks to the ring, we see footage from Tuesday night when Mark Henry pinned Kane.
Match Number Three: ECW Title Match: Mark Henry versus Big Show versus Kane
Kane with punches to Henry and Show. Kane punches Show in the corner and Henry charges but Kane moves so he only hits Show. Kane with a drop kick to Henry’s knees and then he punches Show in the corner. Kane kicks Henry out of the ring. Show clotheslines Kane followed by a head butt. Show with punches to Kane but Kane with the patented uppercuts. Kane with a DDT to Show for a near fall. Show refuses to be Irish whipped and he throws Kane over the top rope to the floor. Henry sees Kane on the floor in front of him but Henry returns to the ring without attacking Kane.
Show and Henry lock up and neither man budges. They lock up again and Henry with a side head lock. Henry with a shoulder tackle but Show stays on his feet. They lock up one more time and Show with a side head lock. Show with a shoulder tackle that takes Henry down. Show slams Henry like he was a cruiserweight. Show with a head butt to Henry while the medical staff checks on Kane at ringside. Henry with punches to Show followed by a head butt. Show with a kick to Henry followed by a head butt. Show with a shoulder to the midsection. Show sets for a choke slam on Henry but Henry gets free and he punches Show. Henry and Show with clotheslines at the same time and they both go down. Kane returns to the ring and he goes up top for a jumping clothesline to Henry and an uppercut to Show.
Kane with a running clothesline to Show followed by one to Henry. He gives one more to Show. Henry with a bear hug to Kane when Kane charges at him. Kane sends Henry into Show and Show with a big boot to Henry. Kane and Show with a double choke slam to Henry. Show tries to cover Henry but Kane stops him. Kane tries to cover Henry and Show stops him. Kane and Show exchange punches. Show with kicks to Kane in the corner. Show charges into a boot from Kane. Kane with an enzuigiri to Show. Kane goes up top for a jumping clothesline but Show catches him and hits a choke slam but Kane kicks out at two.
Kane sits up and he grabs Show by the throat but Show sends Kane into the corner. Show with a belly-to-back suplex for a two count. Show goes up top and Kane with an uppercut to Show. Kane with a superplex to Show but Henry with a splash to Kane for the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
We return to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler as they talk about the World Heavyweight Title Match. The poll question is which title will go to Raw.
Batista is in the interview area with Eve Torres. She asks Batista if he will bring the World Title back to Raw. Batista says that he will not return to Raw empty handed. He will be the man on Monday night. John Cena enters the interview area. Cena welcomes Batista back to Raw and says that it is a bold statement to say that you are going to be the man on Raw. Cena says that Batista might not be the only champion on Raw. CM Punk enters the area and he says that he hopes both of them bring gold and he shows them his briefcase.
Ted says that his tag team partner is on the way and he asks for ten more minutes. He wants the match rescheduled for later. Now he wonders what he is supposed to do. He does not want to forfeit the match. Ted says that his partner will be here in time.
Match Number Four: World Tag Team Title Match: Cody Rhodes and Bob Holly versus Ted DiBiase and Mystery Partner who is still late and turns out to be Cody Rhodes
Ted says that he wants to face Holly, not Rhodes. Holly obliges and Cody kicks Holly and hits a DDT. Cody stands over Holly and Ted introduces his partner, Cody Rhodes. Cody tags in DiBiase and DiBiase with the Million Dollar Dream Junior and hits a side Russian leg sweep for the three count.
Winners: Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes
Cody makes sure to announce that they are the new tag team champions.
Todd Grisham is in a sky box with John Bradshaw Layfield who is in a suit and not his wrestling gear. He says that it is audacious for this pay per view to be called Night of Champions without him in a match. Todd points out that Bradshaw is not a champion. Bradshaw says that in a failing economy where people are losing their homes, Bradshaw points out that he owns his own company. He mentions that he has a penthouse apartment in Manhattan. Now he is the richest person in the company. He says that makes him a champion, a champion in life. Bradshaw mentions Mark Cuban but he says that he does not see any championship banners. When he left, the city of Dallas has not produced a champion. He mentions the Dallas Cowboys and how they choked to the City of Champions, New York, home of the Super Bowl Champions, the New York Giants. Bradshaw says that he is Texas’s favorite New Yorker, and as far as having a championship around his waist, it is not a matter of if, but when.
Chris Jericho gets on the mic and points out that he is an eight time Intercontinental Champion. Jericho mentions that he was told that he will face a surprise champion. Chris says that it will not be Shawn Michaels. We see Lance Cade at ringside. Chris says that Michaels could not be bothered to take a forty minute flight from his home because of his eye injury. As a hero and role model to millions, he shows up every night. Jericho runs through the injuries that he wrestled through and then he mentions the events in his family’s life that he has missed. Jericho points out that the fans do not appreciate this. He says that he is an honest man. Jericho says that he will have his vindication. He is not here to save everyone, he is here to save himself. Chris Jericho is interrupted by the music of his opponent.
Match Number Five: Intercontinental Title Match: Chris Jericho versus Kofi Kingston
Jericho walks around Kingston as he is ready for the match. They lock up and Jericho backs Kofi into the corner and he slaps the challenger. Kofi goes after Jericho, but Chris gets into the ropes and the referee gets Kofi away. Jericho with a waist lock but Kofi with a standing switch. Jericho with a reversal into a side head lock and take down. Jericho with a shoulder tackle and running forearm to the head. Jericho with kicks to Kingston. Jericho slaps Kingston again as he shows his opponent no respect. Jericho sends Kingston to the ropes but Kingston hits the ropes and bounces back. After a few high leap frogs, Jericho gets out of the ring. Kingston with a baseball slide to Jericho followed by a pescado. Kingston rolls Jericho back in and then he goes up top. Kingston with a cross body for a two fall. Kingston with forearms to Jericho followed by an Irish whip. Kingston leaps into the corner for punches, but Jericho sends Kingston to the floor. Jericho goes out after Kingston and sends Kingston back-first into the apron. Jericho with kicks to the back as he works on Kofi. Jericho with shoulders in the corner followed by a hard Irish whip. Jericho tries to suplex Kingston back into the ring, but Kofi blocks it. Kofi tries to suplex Jericho to the floor but Jericho is finally able to suplex Kofi and gets a near fall.
Jericho with a back breaker to Kofi and then he keeps Kofi on his knee. Kofi with kicks to Jericho and he gets out of the hold. Jericho with a drop kick to Kingston and then he chokes Kofi in the ropes. Jericho with a splash into the back as Kofi goes down. Kofi fights back with punches to Jericho but Jericho puts Kingston in an abdominal stretch. Kofi gets out of the hold and he hip tosses Jericho. Jericho with a drop toe hold and he chokes Kofi by standing on his back. Jericho puts Kofi on the top turnbuckle and Jericho tries for a belly-to-back superplex but Kofi is able to hit a cross body for a near fall. Kofi punches Jericho and follows with a clothesline and drop kick. Kofi with a flying forearm and it is time for the leg drop but Jericho blocks it and he tries to get Kofi into the Walls of Jericho. Kofi with a rollup for a two count. Kofi with a clothesline and leaping leg drop for another two count.
Kofi with an Irish whip but he charges into a boot from Jericho. Kofi with a rana for a two count. Jericho with a kick to the midsection of Kingston. Jericho with a slam and it is time for the Lionsault and it connects. Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho and he puts Kofi in it and from out of nowhere, Shawn Michaels comes through the crowd and he hits Sweet Chin Music on Cade. Jericho knocks Michaels off the apron and then Kingston hits Trouble in Paradise for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
After the match, Shawn Michaels is checked out at ringside by the medical staff. Michaels is helped to his feet and we see Jericho glare at Michaels. Jericho leaves the ring and he walks to Michaels, but the referees and Tony Garea come out to stop him. That is not enough protection for Michaels as Jericho connects with a forearm to the injured eye and Shawn Michaels looks like he is the fish at the end of the Faith No More video Epic. Jericho is sent to the back.
Vickie is in her office thinking about flowers and Edge really isn’t focused. Hawkins and Ryder enter and ask Edge if he is ready. Hawkins and Ryder suggest that Edge could use Hunter’s help tonight against Batista. Edge says that he does not need Hunter’s help. He runs through his accomplishments and points out that he banished the Undertaker. Edge says that he does not need any help, just the love of his fiancée. He will leave Batista battered and empty handed tonight.
We see the Gillette Fusion commercial with Vince McMahon and John Cena. Cole points out that it was filmed before Vince’s injury.
Match Number Six: Women’s Title Match: Mickie James versus Katie Lea Burchill with Paul Burchill
Katie with a waist lock and rollup followed by a backslide for a near fall. Katie with another rollup for a near fall as Mickie retreats into the corner. Mickie with a waist lock take down and she keeps Katie in the waist lock. Mickie with a rollup and bridge but Katie kicks out. Paul gives Katie some advice. Mickie with a kick and forearm to Katie. Mickie counters a hip toss with a monkey flip followed by a forearm. Mickie with a cross arm clothesline and then she goes up top. Katie rolls outside to stop Mickie’s momentum. Katie knocks Mickie down and covers Mickie. Mickie with a snap mare and drop kick to Katie for a near fall. Katie rolls to the apron one more time and goes to the floor.
Katie with a forearm and hammer lock into a belly-to-back suplex while Mickie was still in the hammer lock. Katie works on the arm and kicks Mickie in the shoulder. The referee checks on Mickie but Mickie with a forearm. Katie sends Mickie shoulder first into the ring post. The referee stops Katie as he checks on Mickie. Katie with kicks to the shoulder and she gets a near fall. Katie with an arm bar as Paul shouts words of encouragement to his sister. Mickie with forearms to Katie followed by a Thesz Press and punches. Katie hits Mickie in her injured arm and she hits a DDT for a near fall. Katie kicks Mickie in the corner and the referee continues to check on Mickie. Katie with an Irish whip but she charges into a boot. Mickie with a head scissors in the corner followed by clotheslines. Katie misses a spin kick and Mickie with a snap mare and double sledge for a two count. Mickie tries for the DDT but Katie with an arm bar submission. Mickie escapes the hold with an arm drag. Katie with a hammer lock and she sends Mickie into the turnbuckles. Katie tries for another hammer lock belly-to-back suplex but Mickie counters with an Implant DDT for the three count.
Winner: Mickie James
It is time to see the poll results and the fans think that Batista will be the one to bring a title to Raw with Both and Cena close behind.
It is time for the Edge/Batista video package.
Match Number Seven: World Title Match: Edge versus Batista
They lock up and Batista sends Edge to the mat and Edge gets to the ropes. They lock up again and Edge with a side head lock and Batista with a shoulder tackle. Edge backs into the corner and the referee stops Batista. They lock up one more time and Edge is sent outside to the floor by Batista. Batista chases after Edge and then he tries to pull Edge out but Edge kicks Batista. Edge misses a drop kick and Batista sends Edge into the ringside barrier. They return to the ring and Batista with a back elbow for a near fall. Batista works on Edge’s back. Batista with a hard Irish whip and he gets a near fall. Batista with a snap mare and boot to the head. Batista with a jackhammer to Edge for a near fall. Batista clotheslines Edge over the top rope to the floor.
Batista goes out after Edge and rolls him back in but Edge kicks Batista as he returns to the ring. Edge sends Batista into the ring post and Batista goes to the floor. Edge with a baseball slide that sends Batista over the ECW announce table. Batista rolls back in and Edge kicks Batista in the shoulder. Edge chokes Batista in the ropes and then he hits the cross body into Batista’s back. Edge with a forearm to Batista chest followed by an elbow drop. Batista falls to the floor one more time. Batista gets to the apron again and he connects with shoulders to Edge’s midsection. Batista with punches to Edge but Edge with a drop toe hold and elbow drop to the back. Edge with a swinging neck breaker for a near fall.
Edge with a reverse chin lock. Edge gets on Batista’s back as Batista returns to his feet. Edge is run into the turnbuckles and Batista charges at him but Edge with a drop toe hold that sends Batista into the barbecue sauce free turnbuckles. Edge grabs Batista and connects with a forearm and then he slams Batista’s head into the turnbuckles. Edge with punches but Batista responds with punches of his own. Edge with a neck breaker and a near fall. Edge with a reverse chin lock as he continues to wear down Batista. Batista gets out of the hold and he avoids a breakdown with a snap mare. Edge with a rollup for a near fall and then Edge takes Batista down one more time. Edge goes up top but Batista knocks Edge to the apron. Edge drops Batista on the top rope. Batista with a clothesline and both men are down.
Batista runs Edge into the turnbuckle and he connects with shoulders followed by an Irish whip and running clothesline. Edge avoids a second and Edge tries for a clothesline but Batista with a Black Hole Slam like maneuver for a two count. Batista with a spear but Edge is able to kick out. Batista sets for the Batista Bomb but Edge gets out of the hold. Batista with a power slam and then he shakes the ropes before trying the Batista Bomb. Edge gets out of the hold and Edge hits the Impaler DDT but Batista kicks out at two. Batista crawls into the corner as Edge sets for the spear but Batista with a boot to Edge’s head. Batista goes to the apron and then he goes up top. Batista is stopped with a drop kick from Edge as he comes off the turnbuckles.
Vickie Guerrero is wheeled to the ring by Curt Hawkins and Zach Ryder. Edge sets for the spear but Batista with a leap frog. Batista with a spinebuster for the three . . . Vickie Guerrero pulls the referee away. Batista wants to know what just happened. Edge misses another spear attempt as he is sent into the ring post. Edge pulls out the referee and punches him. Vickie demands another referee and this referee is Chavo Guerrero.
Batista grabs Vickie Guerrero and brings her into the ring. The members of La Familia beg for Batista to put her down. Vickie is press slammed onto La Familia. Edge hits Batista with the title belt and Chavo makes the three count.
Winner: Edge
After the match, we see Batista still in the ring as the crowd applauds Batista’s performance in the match. Jim Ross and Mick Foley also put over Batista’s performance as he has his final match for the Smackdown brand.
Triple H is walking in the back and Todd Grisham wants his thoughts on the match. Hunter says that he is going to do what he should have done two years ago.
Time for the video package for the main event.
Match Number Eight: WWE Title Match: Triple H versus John Cena
They lock up and Hunter with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. They lock up again and Hunter with a side head lock into a hammer lock and then back into the side head lock. Hunter with another shoulder tackle. Hunter blocks a hip toss and he hits a hip toss of his own. Hunter follows that with a crotch chop. They lock up again and Hunter with another side head lock. Cena powers out of the hold and Cena applies a side head lock. Cena locks in the hold as Hunter tries for an Irish whip to get out of the side head lock. Hunter with forearms but Cena with a shoulder tackle. Hunter tries a hip toss but Cena blocks it and hits a short arm clothesline.
Cena salutes at Hunter and Hunter pushes Cena as a reply. Cena takes Hunter down and he punches him. Cena with punches to Hunter as he backs him into the corner. Cena with an Irish whip followed by a kick and fisherman’s suplex for a two count. Hunter with a kick and punches. Cena avoids a clothesline and hits a flying shoulder. Hunter ducks out of the way of a second one and Cena goes to the floor. Hunter runs Cena’s back into the apron and then they return to the ring. Hunter with knees to Cena’s back. Hunter with a back breaker as he continues to work on the back. Hunter with a suplex to Cena and then he connects with an elbow drop to the back. Hunter with another elbow to the back. Hunter with a hard Irish whip and then he stands over Cena as Cena struggles to get up.
Hunter with another hard Irish whip and Hunter gets a near fall. Hunter slams Cena’s head into the turnbuckles and then they exchange punches. Cena with punches followed by an Irish whip and Cena charges into a boot. Hunter goes to the turnbuckles and he lands into a Cena boot. Cena with two flying shoulder tackles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb and it is time for the five knuckle shuffle set up, but Hunter kicks Cena off. Cena with a punch. Hunter with the running high knee and a punch. Hunter with a facebuster and Cena goes into the ropes. Hunter with a kick to the midsection and he sets for the Pedigree but Cena escapes the hold and Cena with a blockbuster. Cena goes to the apron and then he goes up top. Cena with a leg drop to the back of Hunter’s neck. Cena tries for the STFU but Hunter kicks him off.
Hunter misses a clothesline and Cena with the Blue Thunder Bomb. Now it is time for Cena to try the Five Knuckle Shuffle again and this time it is countered with a high knee. Hunter with a spinebuster. Hunter waits for Cena to get back to his feet and Hunter with a kick and he sets for the Pedigree. Cena Irish whips Hunter over the top rope to the floor. The referee checks on Hunter’s knee.
The referee starts his count while Hunter struggles to get back into the ring. Cena clips Hunter’s knee and then he drops Hunter’s knee on the ring steps. Cena wrings Hunter’s leg into the ring post. Cena wrings Hunter’s leg into the ring post one more time. Cena tries for the STFU but Hunter makes it to the ropes before Cena can apply the hold. Cena clips Hunter’s knee again. Hunter kicks Cena off one more time. Cena finally gets the leg but he does not have the hold locked in as Hunter gets to the ropes one more time. Cena waits for Hunter and he gets Hunter in the FU but Hunter with a Pedigree but Hunter is unable to make the cover quick enough and Cena kicks out. Both men get to their feet and Cena hits the FU but Cena has taken so much punishment that he delays his cover and Hunter kicks out at two.
Both men get to their feet again and Cena punches Hunter but Hunter responds with a punch of his own. Cena punches Hunter to boos from the crowd while Hunter punches and the crowd cheers. Hunter misses a punch and Cena hits a third Blue Thunder Bomb. Cena looks around as he gets ready for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena waits for Hunter to get to his feet for the FU but Hunter gets to the ropes. Hunter tries for the Pedigree, but Cena counters with the STFU. Hunter tries to get to the ropes. Hunter gets to the ropes and Cena releases the hold, but Cena tries to reapply it and Hunter counters with the Crippler Crossface. Cena appears to be passing out but Cena recovers and he gets Hunter up for an FU but Hunter with elbows to the head. Hunter with the Pedigree for the three count.
Winner: Triple H
After the match, Cena walks to the back as Hunter celebrates in the ring and the pay per view ends.
2009 - One of the best books ever written about professional wrestling, the autobiography of the late "Playboy" Gary Hart, is officially released. The book's first two printings immediately sold out, with a third printing launched in 2011 due to overwhelming demand and high praise from those who read the book.
2009 - WWE broadcast Raw. During the broadcast, Mark Henry, Evan Bourne and Jack Swagger were all moved to Raw as part of a "mini-draft" that Vince McMahon claimed was put into motion by Donald Trump during Trump's brief run as "Raw owner." Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from San Jose, California and your announcers are Michael ‘Viper in a Shark Tank’ Cole and Jerry ‘I think I know the way’ Lawler.
Tonight’s show starts off with Vince McMahon coming to the ring and he is walking as if he paid too much to ‘buy back’ his flagship brand. Vince says that if his friend Donald Trump was here, he would have presented a commercial free broadcast. He also would have given everyone their money back. Vince asks if the fans want him to do the same thing. Vince says that he cannot go commercial free because he has to make money. Vince says that he can give everyone their money back. He can do it, but he won’t do it. Vince blames Trumps for a fifteen superstar trade that took place as well as no General Manager on Raw with a guest host who has the same authority as General Manager. Vince says that he is going to shake it up VKM style so the guest host is Dave Batista.
Batista comes to the ring in a brace and he gets his pyro. Batista lets out a yeah before he addresses the fans. He says that it feels good and he is excited about tonight because everyone is going to have some fun. Batista says that there will be a four man tournament to see who faces Randy Orton at Night of Champions. Those matches will be Miz versus John Cena and MVP versus Triple H. Batista says that when Vince asked him, he said there was no way he would get in a suit because he is a fighter and a competitor. He is not a host . . .
He is interrupted by Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, and Cody Rhodes who come out. Orton tells Batista he shouldn’t have come back. He asks Batista if he is a glutton for punishment. He asks what is keeping them from tearing the rest of Batista apart.
Batista says that nothing is stopping them except the fact that if Orton looks at him the wrong way, they are all fired. Batista says that he did not want to come back until he was ready to fight. However, he was told that he would have unlimited power and he could do whatever he wants. Batista says that he can make Orton’s life a living nightmare.
Orton reminds Batista that it is already a nightmare. He barely survived Three Stages of Hell. He was hit with a sledgehammer and can barely walk.
Batista says that nobody wants to hear Orton whine. Batista tells Orton that he will not be defending the title. He tells Orton to be worried about the trade. He says that Raw acquired five new superstars but Orton will only have to face three of them in a gauntlet match. Batista tells Orton he knows how much Orton loves three-on-one fights. He tells Orton it is time he found out what it was like to be on the receiving end.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Triple H failing to win the World Title thanks to Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase.
Match Number One: Montel Vontavious Porter versus Triple H in a semi-final Night Of Champions Tournament Match
They lock up and Hunter with a side head lock and shoulder tackle but Hunter favors his injured leg. Porter being the smart ring tactician tries to go for the leg, but Hunter with a punch. Porter backs Hunter into the corner and Hunter with punches. Porter with kicks to the knee and then he puts the leg in the ropes and he punches the knee. Porter waits until the last moment to get out of the corner. Porter with punches and then he drops elbows on the knee and then he drops a knee to Hunter’s leg. Hunter punches Porter but Porter gets out of a spinebuster and Porter returns to the leg. Porter with a figure four leg lock to Hunter and Hunter tries to get out of the hold by reversing it or getting to the ropes.
Hunter gets out of the hold but Porter tries to reapply the hold. Hunter fights Porter off and then he kicks Porter. Hunter tries for the Pedigree but Porter goes for the knee. Porter with a facebuster and it is time to go Ballin’ and Hunter falls victim to the elbow. Porter misses the boot in the corner. Hunter with a kick and he tries for a Pedigree but Porter counters with a back body drop. Porter hits the running boot to the head and he gets a two count. Porter tries for the Playmaker but Hunter counters and he hits the Pedigree for the three count.
Winner: Triple H
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Chris Jericho and Edge winning the tag titles last night.
Edge and Jericho have mics and they are going to address the fans. Jericho says despite his vow never to appear on Raw again, he finds himself in front of the hypocrites again. He says that the only reason he is here is . . .
Edge says the only reason they are here is because he suggested that they form a united front to rule the WWE. He says that they were stopped by inept management and demanded to be put in the tag title match. Edge says that they can appear on every show in the WWE, unfortunately even Raw. Edge says that they take things into their own hands. They are winners, while everyone else is losers.
Match Number Two: Edge and Chris Jericho versus Carlito and Primo for the Unified Tag Titles
Primo starts off with Jericho and they lock up with Jericho applying a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Primo with a drop kick and a rana to Jericho. Primo with a leg sweep and Edge takes a swing at Primo but Primo knocks Edge off the apron. Primo back body drops Jericho onto Edge on the floor. Primo and Carlito with baseball slides to Jericho and Edge as we go to commercial.
We are back and Jericho has things under control with Primo as he has Primo on the mat with a head lock. Primo with a rollup while we see how the champions regained control earlier in the match. Jericho with an enzuigiri for a near fall. Edge tags in and he kicks Primo. Edge sends Primo into the turnbuckles and then he connects with a hard Irish whip and he gets a near fall. Jericho tags in and he slaps Primo but Primo with a head butt. Jericho with a knee to the head. Jericho yells at Primo in the corner and then he tries for a bulldog off the Irish whip but Jericho is sent into the turnbuckles and both men are down. Primo is able to make the tag and he hits a springboard drop kick and then he follows that with clotheslines and a neck breaker for a near fall. Jericho lands on his feet on a Lionsault but Carlito hits a moonsault and can only get a two count. Jericho with a double leg take down and Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho but Jericho turns it into a slingshot with Carlito punching Edge. Carlito with a cross body for a near fall. Edge tags in and he sets for the spear and Primo trips his brother to make the save. Carlito hits a backstabber but Jericho makes the save at the last second. Primo with a drop kick to Jericho and then Primo with a suicide dive onto Jericho.
Back in the ring Carlito with the knee lift but Carlito bumps into his brother when he tries for the springboard back elbow and Edge hits the spear for the three count.
Winners: Edge and Chris Jericho
After the match, Carlito and Primo discuss how close they were to winning.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Randy Orton is angry at what Batista is doing tonight. Batista enters and he tells Orton that if either of the shirt twins get involved in the gauntlet, they are fired on the spot.
Cole and Lawler talk about the feud between Miz and John Cena that existed before 10:00 pm last night and we have a video package.
John Cena is walking into a commercial.
We are back and did you know that women prefer watching Raw than ‘stereotypical’ women’s networks.
Match Number Three: John Cena versus The Miz in a Night of Champions Semi-Final Match
They lock up and Miz with a knee and forearm followed by kicks and punches. Cena with a back elbow and a hip toss and slam. Cena with an elbow drop for a near fall. Cena punches Miz and he runs into a boot. Miz takes Cena down and punches him. Miz with a kick to Cena as he controls the match. Miz with a cross face to Cena but Cena with a back body drop and a kick. Cena with a fisherman suplex and a near fall. Cena with a reverse chin lock. Miz with a punch when the referee was out of position and then he hits a suplex and gets a near fall. Miz with a reverse chin lock. Cena powers out of the hold but Miz with a knee and a kick to the head. Miz with a knee lift and a neck breaker for a near fall. Miz with a cross face to the neck followed by an elbow to the back of the neck. Miz with shoulders in the corner followed by a punch. Miz with more punches in the corner. Miz pushes Cena off on a bulldog attempt and Miz goes over the top rope to work on the neck. Miz with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Miz kicks and punches Cena in the corner followed by knees. The referee pulls Miz off Cena and we go to commercial.
We are back and Miz has Cena in a sleeper. We see footage from the break when Miz continued to work on the neck. Cena powers out and he flips Miz to the mat. Cena misses a charge and Miz hits a clothesline for a near fall. Miz punches Cena and chokes him in the corner. Miz hits the clothesline into the corner and then Miz goes to the apron and up top. Cena punches Miz to stagger him on the turnbuckles and Cena goes up for a Super Attitude Adjustment but Miz escapes and he hits an electric chair drop for a two count. Miz with a forearm and knee to the neck. Miz with a leg drop and then he hits a running boot to the head for a two count. Cena with a drop toe hold but Miz kicks Cena off. Miz with a sleeper and Miz climbs on Cena’s back. Cena gets a second wind and he backs Miz into the turnbuckles. Cena with two flying shoulder blocks followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb. I think you can see what is coming next because it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and it connects. Cena adds the leapfrog neck breaker before going up top for a leg drop to the back of Miz’s neck. Cena locks in the STF and Miz only needs one hand to tap out tonight.
Winner: John Cena
We go to commercial.
We go to the Legacy Locker Room and Cody tries to give Randy a pep talk. Ted tells Randy that he only has to survive tonight. Ted says that his dad is the guest host next week. Randy wants to know how that helps him tonight. Orton leaves the locker room.
It is time to talk about Night of Champions. Maryse will defend her title against someone.
Maryse comes to ringside to watch the match.
Match Number Four: Kelly Kelly versus Mickie James versus Beth Phoenix versus Rosa Mendes in a Fatal Four Way Number One Contender Match
Kelly and Beth square off while Mickie deals with Rosa. Beth punches Mickie and then she snap mares her protégé and gets a near fall but Mickie breaks up the cover. Mickie and Kelly are in the ring and they lock up and Mickie with a side head lock take down. Kelly with a head scissors but Mickie escapes the hold. Mickie with a near fall. Kelly with a side head lock and then Rosa is taken down twice. Beth with a double clothesline and then she kicks Kelly and gets a near fall on Mickie. Beth gets a cover on Kelly for a near fall. Beth with kicks to Kelly and Mickie and then she punches Mickie. Rosa touches Beth and Rosa realizes she made a mistake. Beth tries for a slingshot suplex but Mickie escapes the hodl. Mickie with a Dragon sleeper but Rosa with a chin lock on Mickie. Kelly with a sleeper to Rosa. Beth with a spear to all three. Beth with a kick to Mickie but Mickie with a kick back. Mickie with more kicks and then she tries for a rollup but Beth hold on to the ropes. Kelly with a kick followed by a sunset flip for a near fall. We get a series of near falls by all of the women. Rosa with an Irish whip to Mickie but she charges into a boot. Beth with a power slam on Rosa but Mickie breaks up the cover. Kelly and Mickie with forearms to Beth and then they hit a double running shoulder and Kelly gets a near fall. Kelly with forearms and kicks to Beth while Mickie takes Rosa down to the mat. Beth with a sit out implant driver to Kelly but Mickie breaks up the cover. Beth with an Irish whip and she charges into the corner and Mickie with a head scissors that sends Beth to the apron. Beth is knocked off the apron and she hits the steps. Rosa with a knee but Mickie with a forearm and a kick followed by the DDT for the three count.
Winner: Mickie James
After the match, Maryse and Mickie stare each other down and Mickie points at the invisible Night of Champions sign. Mickie approaches the announce table and Maryse tells her to back off. Mickie and Kelly hug in the ring.
Big Show is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to show how much the superstars of WWE are trying to get kids to read over the summer.
Match Number Five: Big Show versus Kofi Kingston in a Non Title Match
Kofi with kicks to the leg but Show with a clothesline. Show with an elbow to Kofi’s arm. Show with a head butt as Kofi tries to fight back but it is futile as Show stands on Kofi. Show with a slam but he misses an elbow drop. Kofi with a drop kick that staggers Show. Kofi with kicks and an uppercut but Show with an Irish whip. Kofi moves and he hits the pendulum kick. Kofi with a missile drop kick and it is time for the Boom Boom Leg Drop for a near fall but Show with a powerful kick out. Kofi with the leap into the corner but Show dumps Kofi to the floor.
Show goes to the floor and he goes after Kofi as they approach the announce table. Show with a chop to Kofi as the referee continues his count. Show tries to send Kofi into the ring post but Kofi gets to his feet and Show is sent into the ring post and the referee makes the ten count.
Double Count Out
After the match, Show is not a happy camper and he sulks to the back.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that Raw outdrew some of the networks?
Match Number Six: Randy Orton versus Three New Raw Superstars in the Animal’s Gauntlet
Orton’s first opponent is Evan Bourne. Orton with a kick and forearm but Bourne with a clothesline and Orton is down. Orton throws Bourne to the apron and then Orton with a kick and then he tries to suplex Bourne into the ring but Bourne escapes and gets a near fall with a rollup. Orton with an elbow but Bourne with a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Bourne with a kick to Orton but Orton with an uppercut. Orton with a boot to the injured abdominal region of Bourne. Orton with a leg sweep and a standing moonsault for a near fall. Bourne with a rollup for a near fall. Bourne with a drop toe hold and a drop kick to Orton for a near fall. Orton with an Irish whip but he charges into boots from Bourne. Bourne with a double knee to the head and then he goes up top for the shooting star press but he takes too long and Orton crotches him and Orton hits a super RKO for the three count.
Orton’s second opponent is Jack Swagger. Swagger with a take down. Swagger goes to the apron and he wants to be counted out and the referee makes the ten count.
After the loss, Swagger takes the mic and he tells Orton that he always liked him and respected him. He wanted to leave a lasting impression on Orton. Swagger shakes Orton’s hand and leaves the ring.
The third opponent for Randy Orton is Mark Henry. Henry takes the mic as he enters the ring and he tells Orton that he always liked him too and he also has a lot of respect for Orton. Henry says that just like Jack Swagger, he came to Raw on his first night to make an impression and it is going to be a good one.
They lock up and Henry sends Orton to the mat. Henry goes to the apron to get counted out and the referee makes the count, but Henry stops the referee. Henry gets back in the ring and the match continues. Orton begs for mercy from Henry and Mark gets a good laugh about this. Henry chokes Orton and then he biels the champion out of the corner. Henry with a forearm to the back followed by a head butt and a kick to the chest. Henry with an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Henry with another Irish whip. Orton with a punch but Henry with a head butt and Orton goes down. Orton tries for the RKO but Henry counters and hits the Wolrd’s Strongest Slam for the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
Batista comes out to the stage to watch the result of his work as Host of Raw. Cole reminds us that Hunter and Cena will be wrestling next week to see who faces the man who just lost to Mark Henry.
2010 - Drew McIntyre and Wade Barrett were pulled from WWE television as their current work visas have expired, thus they were no longer eligible to work within the United States. In the case of Barrett, he has returned to Great Britain while he awaits a new visa to be cleared. McIntyre has returned to Scotland to begin the same process.
Obviously, they wrote McIntyre's departure into the Smackdown storyline. Barrett's disappearance was not acknowledged on Raw beyond a mention that he had a meeting at WWE HQ. Both were back with the company within a month.
2010 - wwe Attorney Jerry McDevitt commented on the Martha Hart lawsuit against WWE and Vince and Linda McMahon, stating that Martha Hart is twisting the truth in some of the claims she made in her lawsuit against WWE. He also called her comments "pejorative nonsense" and said her lawsuit "a personal attack" on Linda McMahon.
2010 - WWE broadcast WWE NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV Report:
We are live from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and your announcers are Josh ‘Did you see me on Raw last night’ Mathews and Michael ‘Where is my e-mail machine’ Cole. Your host is Ashley Valence.
We go to Ashley Valence who welcomes everyone to NXT. She mentions that the voting has started on the website. The rookies are introduced.
Ashley tells them that tonight is the first step in their journey. She mentions that everyone is voting to determine the rookie’s future. Ashley points out that season one winner, Wade Barrett was never ranked below two. Ashley says that there is a surprise. In addition to the NXT poll, we are going to eliminate the wrestler in eighth place. She says that there is one way to avoid elimination.
We go to Matt ‘Stop hitting me’ Striker.
We have the first rookie challenge and the Keg Carry is back. The winner gets immunity.
Michael McGillicutty is first and he drops the keg almost immediately and he is disqualified. Matt says that those are the rules because it is NXT. Michael is asked for his comments. Michael says that he has carried kegs that were heavier. He says that he will be in first in the voting.
Lucky Cannon is next and his time is 12.7 seconds. Percy Watson is next and his time is 13.0 seconds. Eli Cottonwood is next and his time is 13.3 seconds. Kaval is the next to carry the keg and he says that the keg weighs as much as him so he is not going to put any strain on his body unless it is in the ring for the WWE Universe. Kaval is disqualified.
Titus O’Neil is next and he drops the keg and is disqualified after he trips over his own feet. Titus says that is a reason why you don’t drink, but if you do drink . . . don’t drive. We see a super slow mo of the fall.
Husky Harris is next and Husky drops the keg and appears to have injured his leg. Matt says that it is a shame that he is disqualified. Matt asks Husky if he is hurt. Husky tells Matt that he is brave to say something to him.
Alex Riley is the final rookie and his time is 13.8 seconds as he falls over the finish line.
Lucky Cannon is the winner and he has immunity. Lucky says that he feels awesome. He says that some might be bigger and some might be faster. Lucky says that what he lacks in size and speed, he makes up for in heart.
Michael Cole does his worst John Sterling imitation of an Alex Rodriguez home run for Riley.
It is time for a Percy Watson video package. He says that he is the biggest entertainer of them all. He says that he is from South Beach. He says that he is ‘Showtime’ because it is always show time when he is around. He says that he was in the NFL, was a commodities broker, and the owner of a limousine company. He might have limited experience, but he wants to learn. He talks about his positive qualities. He will show that he is the one to watch.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that NXT has been the number one show on Syfy?
Match Number One: Husky Harris with Cody Rhodes versus Montel Vontavious Porter with Percy Watson
Porter avoids Harris when Harris wants to lock up. They lock up and Porter with a side head lock and he tries for a shoulder tackle but Harris stays on his feet. They lock up and Porter with a hammer lock and side head lock. Porter with another shoulder tackle and Harris stays on his feet and he has something to say. Porter with a rollup on Harris but Harris kicks out before the count. Porter has some words for Harris. Porter with a double leg take down and a cover for a near fall. Harris goes to the ropes to relax. They lock up and Porter with an arm drag. Porter backs Harris into the turnbuckles and Porter with a clean break but Harris with a forearm and punches out of the break. Porter with forearms but Harris with an Irish whip. Porter with a running boot and Harris goes to the floor as he tries to remember what state he is in.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Porter with forearms and an arm bar and cross face. Harris with punches but Porter with a kick and Irish whip. Porter misses a forearm in the corner and Harris with a uranage for a near fall. The referee checks on Porter and Harris returns to the attack with a kick to the ribs followed by a body scissors. Porter escapes but Harris with punches to the ribs and he gets a near fall. Harris with a series of elbow drops. Harris with a splash for a near fall. Harris with a suplex and he gets another near fall. Porter with punches but Harris with a slam or two. Harris gets a near fall. Harris with a waist lock on Porter but Porter with elbows. Harris responds with forearms and then he hits a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Harris misses the running back senton. Porter with a clothesline and back elbow to Harris followed by the facebuster and Harris falls for the Ballin’ Elbow. Porter with the 305 for the three count.
Winner: Montel Vontavious Porter
After the match, Rhodes and Watson come into the ring. Porter offers his hand to Harris and Harris ignores him and leaves the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Michael Cole reminds us that there will be an elimination tonight. Josh talks about the percentages for the voting.
Cole reminds us that Lucky Cannon cannot be eliminated because he won the Keg Carry Challenge.
Match Number Two: Kaval, Michael McGillicutty, and Lucky Cannon versus Alex Riley, Eli Cottonwood, and Titus O’Neil
Eli and Michael start things off and Michael with punches and kicks followed by a head butt. Eli with a forearm and short arm clothesline. O’Neil tags in and he argues with Eli and that allows Cannon to tag in and they lock up. Cannon works on the arm and connects with forearms. Cannon with an arm bar but O’Neil with a forearm. Cannon with punches. Riley pulls Cannon by the hair and that allows O’Neil to hit a clothesline. O’Neil with a kick to Cannon and Riley tags in and he kicks Cannon. Riley punches and kicks Cannon in the corner. Riley with a hard Irish whip. There is some confusion in the ring and Cottonwood tags in. Cottonwood with a biel to Cannon and he chokes him in the ropes. O’Neil tags in and he punches Cannon. O’Neil with a slam to Cannon and then Riley is tagged in. Riley punches Cannon followed by a snap mare and reverse chin lock. Cannon with punches but Riley with a knee to stop Cannon from making the tag. Riley with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Riley with a kick as Cannon tries to make the tag but he cannot reach Kaval. Cannon sends Riley into the turnbuckles and Kaval is tagged in. Kaval with a clothesline and flying forearm. Kaval with a series of kicks for a near fall. Kaval with an Irish whip and he hits Tidal Crush and then he gets a near fall. Cottonwood and O’Neil throw Kaval out of the ring and the referee warns them. McGillicutty with a swinging neckbreaker. Cottonwood and O’Neil are sent to the floor. Kaval goes up top and hits the Warrior Way on Riley for the three count.
Winners: Kaval, Lucky Cannon, and Michael McGillicutty
After the match, Layla and Michelle celebrate.
Matt tells us that the voting closes soon and he tells everyone to vote so their voices can be heard.
It is time for the pros to huddle up and vote.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound.
It is time for a medical update. Cole says that Steamboat suffered cracked ribs and a sprained neck while the others suffered emotional trauma.
Josh wonders how the Nexus will get involved at Money in the Bank. Cole reminds us that the WWE Title Match will be inside a steel cage so nobody can interfere.
We also have the Edge Money in the Bank video package that aired on Monday night as we continue with the Network Time Killers.
Cole reminds us that there have been six money in the bank matches and there have been six successful cashes.
We go to commercial . . . for the final time for one of the rookies.
We are back and the rookies are lined up at ringside. Matt tells the rookies that they will see how the fans and the pros see the rookies.
Matt reminds the rookies that one of the rookies, other than Lucky Cannon, will be eliminated.
It is time for the Poll.
In first place is Kaval. Cole mentions that he is not surprised because of the internet voting.
Percy Watson is in second place.
Michael McGillicutty is in third place.
Fourth place is held by Alex Riley.
Fifth Place is held by Lucky Cannon.
In sixth place is Eli Cottonwood.
It is time for Titus O’Neil and Husky Harris to walk into the spots of doom. One man will be eliminated while one man has a tough road to avoid future elimination.
In seventh place is Husky Harris and Titus O’Neil is eliminated.
Matt asks Titus what he is thinking.
Titus says the people have dealt with a lot more adversity than he has. Titus says that life is a game and you must make it what you can. While you are living, make it a win.
Titus heads to the back while Matt reminds them that the competition will intensify.
2011 - TNA taped a pilot for All Wheels Wrestling, a motorcross/pro wrestling hybrid that, to date, was never sold as a series despite negotiations with the Speed Network and Fuel TV:
David Despane was at the taping and filed the following results:
Here are the results.
RPM (Jay Lethal) defeated Dubai (Shawn Daivari) in the first match which was a five minute match where the winner got the most falls during the five minute time period.
‘The Human Cyclone’ Aaron Aguilera defeated Schwagg Dutt (Sonjay Dutt) 4 falls to none in another five minute match.
Shwagg Dutt (Sonjay Dutt) defeated Dubai (Shawn Daivari), ‘The Human Cyclone’ Aaron Aguilera, and RPM (Jay Lethal) in an Ultimate X Match when he grabbed the All Wheels Wrestling Logo hanging over the ring.
2012 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Evansville, Indiana and your announcers are Michael ‘The Damon Bailey of commentary’ Cole, Booker ‘The Reggie Miller of commentary’ T, and Josh ‘The Randy Whitman of commentary’ Mathews.
The announcers talk about the World Title Match tonight and they mention that AJ won’t get involved because of her interaction with the people surrounding the WWE Title. We see footage from the Triple Threat Match from Raw when Daniel Bryan got the victory after AJ’s distraction.
We see footage from the Divas Battle Royal from Monday night that was won by AJ.
Match Number One: AJ Lee versus Layla in a Non Title Match
They shake hands before the match starts. They lock up and Layla with a side head lock and take down. AJ with a head scissors but Layla escapes. They lock up again and AJ with a side head lock take down. Layla with a front face lock and a near fall. Layla with a kick to the midsection and side head lock. AJ with forearms to the ribs but Layla with a shoulder tackle and then she blows a kiss to AJ. Layla with a rollup for a near fall.
Layla with a wrist lock but AJ with forearms. AJ with a drop toe hold and drop kick to Layla. AJ with a running forearm into the corner and she gets a near fall. Layla with a back heel kick and then Layla hits a double jump cross body for a near fall.
Layla takes AJ to the mat by the hair and gets a near fall. AJ with a knee but Layla with a kick. AJ with a spinning back round kick.
Daniel Bryan’s music plays and he starts to Yes his way to the ring. AJ gets distracted while Daniel does his lap around the ring. Layla with a rollup for the three count.
Winner: Layla
After the match, AJ stares at Bryan and then she attacks Layla from behind. AJ punches Layla and the referee has to separate them.
AJ looks at Bryan and the crowd is Yesing. Daniel tells her to calm down. He says that it is not so fun when someone distracts you in the middle of a match. Unlike AJ, he is not out here because he craves attention. He is out here because he has something very important to discuss.
He says that he has to talk with Vickie Guerrero and he wants AJ to hear it too. Bryan tells Vickie that he is not leaving the ring until he gets what he wants. Bryan says that he will hold this show hostage if he has to.
Bryan says that Vickie has left him no choice. Bryan starts to chant ‘Yes’. AJ starts to chant ‘Yes’ when Bryan stops.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Raw 1000 Memorable Moment and Triple H talks about Mike Tyson’s appearance on Raw when DX got in Tyson’s face in March 1998 and it was revealed that Tyson was wearing a DX shirt.
Meanwhile, back in the ring, Bryan and AJ are having a Yes duel.
Vickie Guerrero comes out and she excuse mes her way to the ring.
Vickie says that she doesn’t know what Daniel wants but the people are sick of him repeating the same annoying catchphrase. Vickie yells Excuse Me.
Bryan says that he needed to make a point because he defeated both Kane and CM Punk in the same match on Raw. He is the new number one contender for the WWE Championship. Bryan says that he needed to show everyone that both Raw and Smackdown will revolve around him.
Bryan says that he wanted to applaud Vickie for what she did by giving him a title match. Bryan says that management style makes him want to see Vickie run both shows on a permanent basis.
Bryan says that if that is the case, Vickie will be the GM and Bryan will be the champion. They will need to work together, hand in hand. Assuming that happens, he has an idea for Vickie to take to the Board of Directors for the WWE Championship match at Money in the Bank. He wants AJ banned from ringside.
Vickie starts to talk and Bryan interrupts and says that she is a liability, she is unstable, she is a menace, he refuses to lose his opportunity because of AJ.
Vickie says that she is not as bad as AJ. She does not forget what AJ did on Raw. Vickie comments on the Tweet that AJ posted. Vickie says that she is sick of being called grandma by AJ.
Bryan reminds Vickie that this is not about her, but about him.
Vickie mentions the poll that was on WWE.com about the role that AJ should have for the match at Money in the Bank. The options were guest timekeeper, guest referee, guest ring announcer, or guest commentator.
Vickie says that the Board of Directors listened to the poll results and AJ will be the guest referee.
AJ starts chanting yes as she leaves the ring.
Daniel says that this is not fair but Vickie says that this is what the Board wants.
Bryan starts to chant No and he leaves the ring.
Vickie says that she wants to thank the Board of Directors for their work. She says that over the next two weeks, there will be qualifying matches for the World Title Money in the Bank Match. This match will be open to anyone.
Damien Sandow makes his way to the ring for his match against Zack Ryder. Sandow begs everyone’s indulgence for a moment. He reminds us that he is here not only to help the WWE Universe, but he is here to help his opponent. The WWE’s official ambassador of ignorance, mediocrity, and stupidity. He says that Zack is no different than the crowd. He ensures that the unwashed masses will have a World Champion who will shepherd them to the enlightenment that they so desperately yearn for.
Match Number Two: Zack Ryder versus Damien Sandow in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
They lock up and Ryder with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Ryder with a flying forearm and flapjack for a near fall. Sandow backs into the corner and he kicks Ryder in the knee and sends Ryder into the turnbuckles and he kicks Ryder. Sandow rubs Ryder’s face in the mat and kicks him again.
Sandow with a side Russian leg sweep and Sandow rolls to his feet and he hits a flourish elbow drop. Sandow with a full nelson and he sends Ryder’s head into the turnbuckles. Ryder drives Sandow’s face into the mat and then he connects with an elbow. Sandow runs into knees from Ryder. Ryder with a missile drop kick and he gets a near fall.
Ryder with a punch and he sets for the Broski Boot and connects. Ryder sets for the Rough Ryder but Sandow hot shots Ryder onto the ropes and then hits the Cross arm neck breaker for the three count.
Winner: Damien Sandow
After the match, Sandow does his victory cartwheel.
Michael Cole mentions that Charlie Sheen will be the Social Media Ambassador for the 1000th episode of Raw.
Daniel Bryan is walking in the back and he knocks on the Divas locker room door because he wants to talk to AJ.
Kaitlyn comes out and she says that AJ is not inside. Bryan wants to know where she is and Kaitlyn says that Bryan should try to get on AJ’s good side because AJ is a little mentally unstable, but he didn’t hear that from Kaitlyn.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Tyson Kidd versus Jack Swagger in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Kidd with a waist lock and Swagger with a standing switch and waist lock take down. Kidd with a victory roll for a near fall. Swagger sends Kidd over the top rope but Kidd lands on the apron and Kidd with a slingshot rollup for a near fall. Kidd with a baseball slide and then he goes to the apron while Swagger returns to the ring.
Swagger with a wheelbarrow suplex for a near fall. Swagger with a punch and knees in the corner. Swagger with an arm wringer and he takes Kidd to the mat again and Swagger with a leg drop to the arm for a near fall. Swagger with an arm bar to Kidd. Swagger with a forearm to the shoulder and Kidd with a rollup for a near fall. Kidd has a kick blocked and Swagger with a splash into the corner.
Swagger with a biel across the ring and then Swagger with the double jump Swagger Bomb for a near fall. Swagger with an arm bar but Kidd with kicks and a DDT. Kidd with kicks to the leg followed by a jumping back heel kick. Kidd with a back heel kick and drop kick to the head for a near fall.
Kidd with a punch but Swagger with an Irish whip. Swagger runs into an elbow. Swagger applies an ankle lock but Kidd uses the ropes to escape. Kidd with an enzuigiri to a charging Swagger and then Kidd goes up top and hits a blockbuster for the three count.
Winner: Tyson Kidd
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at the way that we got the Triple Threat Match for the World Title tonight.
Vickie and Dolph are in the office and Dolph wonders why Vickie isn’t doing more to help him. Vickie says that she is being watched by the Board of Directors. Dolph wants Vickie to ban the Brogue Kick and Cross Arm Breaker. Vickie asks what this means for her and Dolph yells at Vickie for making it all about her. He tells her to do something for him after six years of stealing the show. Vickie slaps Dolph and it calms him down. Dolph just wants Vickie with him when he wins the World Title.
Match Number Four: Santino Marella and Christian versus Cody Rhodes and David Otunga in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Rhodes and Marella start things off and Cody with a hammer lock. Santino with elbows and he works on the arm and connects with a shoulder in the corner. Christian tags in and punches Cody and then he works on the arm. Christian with a punch to Rhodes and then Cody with a knee to the midsection and a gourdbuster for a near fall.
Otunga tags in and he kicks Christian and slams him followed by a low shoulder tackle and he gets a near fall. Otunga chokes Christian in the ropes and then Rhodes kicks Christian when the referee was not looking. Cody tags in and snap mares Christian and applies a side head lock and body scissors. Christian with an Irish whip and he runs into a boot from Cody. Cody goes to the turnbuckles and Christian with a punch to the midsection.
Otunga tags in and Christian kicks him away to tag in Santino. Santino with a forearm and then he does a split and hip toss followed by a diving head butt. Santino reaches into his gear and sets up the cobra and hits Otunga but Cody pulls him out of the ring. Cody punches Santino when the referee was not looking.
Cody tags in and avoids the cobra and connects with a back heel kick and gets a near fall. Cody with a jackknife cover and then he removes the sock puppet and throws it away. Cody chokes Santino in the ropes and then Otunga tags in and kicks Santino. Otunga with a back elbow and he poses and then he pulls a Steiner and does a flex elbow drop but only goes for the cover and gets a near fall.
Otunga with a rear chin lock and his knee in Santino’s back. Santino with a Saito suplex and both men are down. Christian and Cody tag in and Christian with punches and a running forearm. Cody with an elbow but Christian with a flapjack and he goes to the turnbuckles for a flying back elbow.
Cody with a kick but Christian with a shoulder from the apron and Christian drops Cody’s back across the top rope. Cody avoids the Killswitch but he cannot avoid an inverted DDT. Otunga grabs the leg and that allows Cody to connect with a running double sledge. Otunga tags in but David punches Cody by accident. Santino sends Cody to the floor but Otunga takes care of Santino. Otunga turns around and he is met with the spear from Christian for the three count.
Winners: Santino Marella and Christian
Sheamus in the interview area and Matt Striker asks Sheamus if he is worried about losing the title without being pinned. Sheamus says that he didn’t become World Champion by being worried. He might lose tonight. He could also retain the title at Money in the Bank but get ambushed by the winner of the Money in the Bank match. He could also walk outside and get hit by a car driven by Lindsay Lohan.
He didn’t spend his life worrying about what ifs. Alberto Del Rio thinks that he is better than everyone because he is rich. Dolph thinks that he is better than everyone because . . . he is Dolph Ziggler. Sheamus says that he can prove that he is better than both men by winning.
Sheamus says that he doesn’t worry, he just kicks arse.
We go to commercial.
We are back and AJ is in the back saying her role in the WWE Title Match at Money in the Bank out loud and she appears to like the sound of it. Daniel Bryan comes up behind and says that he has been looking for her. He apologizes for distracting AJ and costing her the match. He says that he is looking out for her best interest. He says that he has a doctor friend who can help her. He says that friends try to help each other. Daniel asks AJ if he can give her his number. AJ looks at Daniel and says Yes and then she repeats herself and skips away.
Match Number Five: Dan Barone and Brendan Burke versus Ryback
Ryback waits for Barone to charge at him and he sends him into the air. Burke tries to run away but Ryback cuts him off on the floor and hits a big boot to the chest. Ryback pulls Barone to the floor. Burke with a few kicks that have no effect. Barone climbs on his back and Ryback with the over the shoulder boulder holder. Ryback with a power bomb to Burke and then he takes care of Barone with a clothesline. Ryback with the double muscle buster for the three count.
Winner: Ryback
Aksana and Antonio Cesaro are kissing and Teddy Long stops by. Teddy says that he doesn’t harbor any hard feelings towards them about their relationship. Teddy tells them that he will be the General Manager next week.
Aksana starts to suck up to Teddy but Teddy says that he can see clearly. Not only do they deserve each other, they need each other. On Tuesday night, Aksana and Antonio will be in a mixed tag match against Layla and Great Khali.
Match Number Six: Justin Gabriel versus Tensai with Sakamoto in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match
Gabriel with forearms to Tensai but he does not move the big man. Tensai with a shoulder and then he pushes Gabriel over the top rope to the floor. Gabriel with forearms and then he goes up top but Tensai with an uppercut and then he connects with elbow drops and then he punches Gabriel in the back of the head. Tensai with a butterfly suplex and he gets a near fall.
Tensai rubs his forearm across Gabriel’s face. Tensai with a bear hug but Gabriel with a jawbreaker. Gabriel tries for a sunset flip but Tensai picks him up. Gabriel with a series of kicks but Tensai stays on his feet. Tensai runs into a boot. Gabriel with a springboard drop kick and Tensai is knocked to his feet.
Gabriel with a springboard moonsault but Tensai kicks out. Gabriel with a kick to the chest and back but Tensai catches Gabriel off the turnbuckles and hits the choke slam followed by a back senton for the three count.
Winner: Tensai
We go to commercial.
We are back and Alberto Del Rio says that even though he has to be in a Triple Threat Match in this horrible town . . . a place with nothing, at the end of the night, he will be the new World Champion. Del Rio says that these people don’t know anything about greatness. He says that he will be victorious because . . .
Vickie excuses herself and she tells Alberto that he will not win tonight. The crowning jewel of her week as General Manager is that she gets to introduce the next World Champion, Dolph Ziggler.
Match Number Seven: Alberto Del Rio with Ricardo Rodriguez versus Dolph Ziggler versus Sheamus for the World Heavyweight Title
Sheamus with a boot to Ziggler and then he goes after Del Rio. Sheamus sends Ziggler into the corner and then he does the same to Del Rio. Sheamus sends Ziggler to the floor and Del Rio attacks Sheamus from behind and chokes him. Del Rio with boots when Sheamus charges into the corner. Sheamus with a fireman’s carry slam on Del Rio for a near fall.
Ziggler hits Sheamus from behind and then Ziggler goes to the floor. Sheamus with a shoulder to Del Rio when he returns to the ring. Sheamus gets a near fall on Ziggler. Del Rio with a DDT for a near fall on Sheamus. Del Rio with knees to Sheamus’ shoulder and then he applies an arm bar.
Sheamus punches Del Rio but Ziggler gets Sheamus out of the ring. Del Rio tries for a tilt-a-whirl back breaker but Ziggler lands on his feet and he hits a drop kick. Ziggler kicks Del Rio on the floor and then he sends Alberto’s head into the ring steps.
Ziggler and Del Rio return to the ring and Dolph gets a near fall. Ziggler with a drop kick to send Sheamus off the apron and to the floor. Del Rio with punches followed by an Irish whip but he misses a splash into the corner. Ziggler gets a near fall. Ziggler kicks Del Rio in the corner and then he puts Alberto on the turnbuckles.
Ziggler tries for a superplex but Del Rio stops him. They continue to fight on the turnbuckles until Del Rio falls to the floor. Sheamus gets Ziggler on his shoulders and hits an electric chair drop on Ziggler.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Del Rio with a drop kick to Sheamus’ back and Ziggler is down too. Sheamus is kicked to the floor by Del Rio. Ziggler and Del Rio go to the floor as well. Del Rio kicks Sheamus in the head and Ziggler kicks Sheamus against the ringside barrier.
Sheamus punches Del Rio but Ziggler joins in the attack on Sheamus. Del Rio sends Sheamus over the announce table. Ziggler and Del Rio stand over Sheamus. Sheamus tries to kick Ziggler away. Del Rio sends Sheamus into the ring steps. Del Rio with a snap mare to Sheamus and Ziggler with kicks.
Del Rio tells Ziggler to go to the turnbuckles and Del Rio covers Sheamus. Ziggler yells at Del Rio and they push each other while Sheamus pulls himself onto the turnbuckles and Sheamus hits the flying shoulder tackle on Del Rio and Ziggler. All three men are down again.
Sheamus with double sledges and a shoulder to Del Rio. Sheamus with a knee lift to Ziggler followed by a power slam to Del Rio for a near fall. Sheamus puts Ziggler on the apron and in the ropes and it is time for the forearms across the chest. Del Rio tries for the single arm breaker but Sheamus avoids it. Sheamus misses a Brogue Kick but he does not miss the uranage back breaker. Ziggler breaks it up and he goes after Sheamus. Ziggler misses the Fameasser and Sheamus hits White Noise on Ziggler. Sheamus calls for the Brogue Kick but Del Rio drops the arm on the top rope. Del Rio with an arm breaker for a near fall.
Del Rio kicks Sheamus in the shoulder and he sets for the float over into the cross arm breaker but Sheamus escapes. Sheamus charges into the corner and his shoulder hits the post. Ziggler with a drop kick to the arm. Del Rio with a step up enzuigiri to Ziggler on the apron. Del Rio applies the cross arm breaker but Ziggler breaks it up and he hits the Fameasser on Del Rio but Del Rio kicks out.
Ricardo gets on the apron and Ziggler sends Del Rio into Ricardo for an O’Connor Roll. Sheamus hits the Brogue kick on Ziggler and then he sends Del Rio over the top rope to the floor and he pins Ziggler.
Winner: Sheamus
2012 - EVOLVE held EVOLVE 15 on iPPV. Stu Carapola filed the following report:
Welcome to coverage of Evolve 15 from St. Petersburg, Florida.
On the FUW portion of the iPPV.
Match Number One: Florida Flash Championship Title Match: James Alexander versus Wayne Wonder versus Maxwell Chicago versus Sideshow versus Dakota Darsow versus Lince Dorado. Dorado wins the match with a Shooting Star Press on Alexander.
Match Number Two: FUW Tag Title Match: The James Boys versus Kory Chavis and Michael Tarver. The James Boys retain after they hit Chavis with the cowbell.
Match Number Three: Mercedes won a Women’s Match with a rollup.
Match Number Four: NWA National and FUW Heavyweight Title Match. Kahagas versus Wes Brisco. Kahagas wins with a rollup.
Match Number Five: Bruce Santee versus Navy Seal. Santee wins with a rollup.
During the Intermission, they held a ceremony to honor the Legends of the Bayfront Center.
Jimmy Hart comes out to help with the ceremony.
The people who were honored tonight were:
Gordon Solie
Boris Malenko
Bugsy McGraw
Ron Bass
Mark Starr
Frankie Lancaster
Denny Brown
Denny Lane
Fidel Sierra
King Curtis Iaukea
Barry Darsow
Hector Guerrero
Kevin Sullivan
Gerald Brisco
Jack Brisco
Mike Graham
Eddie Graham
Ron Simmons
Jimmy Hart
Evolve 15
Match Number One: Special Challenge Match Tony Nese (1-3) vs. Mike Cruz (0-2)
They lock up and Nese with a waist lock and Cruz with a hammer lock. Nese takes Cruz to the mat and applies a half nelson with his leg. Nese gets a near fall. Cruz works on the wrist but Nese with a knee and side head lock. Nese with a shoulder tackle but Cruz with an arm drag. Cruz with a drop kick and Nese goes to the floor.
Cruz with a suicide dive onto Nese. Cruz rolls Nese back into the ring and Cruz goes up top but Nese stops him. Nese with a press slam but Cruz rolls through. Nese sends Cruz into the turnbuckles but he lands on the middle turnbuckle and hits a cross body for a near fall. Nese with a back breaker for a near fall. Nese with a kick to Cruz.
Nese with a forearm to the back and then he slams Cruz and gets a near fall. Nese trips Cruz and then he tries for a double jump moonsault but Cruz moves. Nese with an enzuigiri from the apron and then he hits the double jump moonsault and gets a near fall. Nese punches Cruz.
Cruz with punches to the midsection followed by a chop and European uppercut. Nese takes Cruz into the air and drives him face first into the mat. Nese follows that with a German suplex and bridge for a near fall. Cruz counters a suplex and gets a near fall with a rollup. Cruz with a series of kicks and an enzuigiri and both men are down.
Cruz with a flying forearm and clothesline. Cruz with a running back elbow and enzuigiri for a near fall. Nese with a rollup and then he sends Cruz into the corner with a buckle bomb and then he hits a running knee to the head but Cruz is able to kick out at two. Nese with a chop and punch followed by an Irish whip but Cruz with a pendulum kick and an enzuigiri for a near fall.
Nese crotches Cruz and sets for a German superplex and Nese hits it while staying in the turnbuckles. Nese hits a 450 splash for the three count.
Winner: Tony Nese
After the match, Lenny Leonard interviews Tony and Tony says that he is the premier athlete. He says that he has been waiting for a year but he didn’t get anything. Instead of earning his opportunity, he is going to take what is his. It pisses him off that he challenged Johnny Gargano last night but he has not answered him. He doesn’t care that Johnny has a big match tonight or that his back is injured. He will hear an answer to his challenge tonight.
Match Number Two: Style Battle Tournament Match Bobby Fish (4-4) vs. Tommy Taylor (0-1)
They lock up and Fish with a front face lock but he is against the ropes and he releases the hold. They lock up again and Fish tries for a round kick but Taylor ducks it. Taylor with a front face lock into a waist lock and he takes Fish to the mat and gets a near fall. Fish backs into the ropes and Taylor releases the hold.
They go for a Greco Roman knuckle lock and Taylor gets the advantage. Taylor with a Japanese stranglehold. Taylor gets Fish on his shoulders and hits a fireman’s carry slam and then rolls through into an arm bar. Taylor returns to the cross arm choke but Fish backs Taylor into the ropes and Fish with a snap mare but Taylor kips up. Fish with a snap mare and a head scissors.
Taylor tries for a headstand to escape and he succeeds and applies a reverse chin lock. Fish with a hammer lock but Taylor with a head scissors and he takes Fish to the mat. Fish with a waist lock and Taylor with a standing switch and Fish rolls through into the Fish Hook but Taylor gets to the ropes. Taylor goes to the apron to regroup for a moment.
Fish goes for the leg but Taylor with a rollup for a near fall. Taylor with a sunset flip but Fish rolls through and we get a series of near falls and counters as they go around the ring. Taylor with a shoulder tackle or two.
Fish with a drop kick and then he kicks Taylor in the chest. Fish with a snap mare and a double jump slingshot senton for a near fall. Fish with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Fish with a knee to the midsection but Taylor with a European uppercut and a head butt to the midsection. Taylor with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Taylor with a leg drop to the arm.
Taylor with a forearm to the back followed by a snap mare and neck breaker. Taylor gets a near fall. Fish with a forearm to the chest followed by a kick to the back of the legs. Fish with a kick to the chest but he runs into an elbow from Taylor. Fish with a round kick and he gets a near fall.
Fish goes up top but he misses the diving head butt and both men are down. Taylor gets to his feet first and he drop kicks Fish into the turnbuckles and hits a TKO for a near fall. Fish tries to get Taylor up but he collapses under Taylor’s weight. Fish rolls through into the Fish Hook and Taylor taps out.
Winner: Bobby Fish
After the match, Lenny interviews Bobby Fish and says that Fish is guaranteed a spot in the finals of the Style Battle Tournament. Fish says nothing and leaves the ring.
Match Number Three: Style Battle Tournament Match AR Fox (4-2) vs. Jon Davis (2-3)
Fox with a waist lock into a side head lock but Davis blocks a take down. Davis with a shoulder tackle but Fox with a back heel kick and drop kick. Davis sends Fox to the floor with a shoulder tackle. They go to the floor and Davis chops Fox. Fox with a kick from the apron to the chest and then he hits the moonsault off the ring post onto the floor.
Fox with a baseball slide to Davis and then Fox goes up top for the leg drop across the throat on the apron. Fox goes for another one to the back of the neck and he connects. Fox gets a near fall. Fox with a forearm to the back of the neck followed by a punch and kick. Fox with a counter into a small package. Davis gets up and hits a choke slam that somehow did not break Fox in half. Davis can only get a two count.
Davis with a forearm to the back followed by a chop. Davis with head butts to Fox followed by a European uppercut and he gets a near fall. Fox drops Davis on the top rope. Fox misses a springboard move. Fox with a stunner and he tries for a second one but Davis holds on and hits a snap mare back suplex and gets a near fall.
Davis with a kick to the back. Davis with a forearm to the back followed by a kick. Davis with a slam. Davis with another slam as he starts to work on the back. Davis with a chop in the corner and then he puts Fox on the turnbuckles. Fox with punches to Davis but Davis with a forearm and Fox goes to the mat. Fox with a boot and Fox tries for an arm drag but Davis stays on his feet.
Davis catches Fox on a rana attempt from the turnbuckles and hits a buckle bomb and then he hits a Yakuza kick for a near fall. Davis with a forearm to Fox and it looks like Davis is able to control the pace of the match. Davis with an Irish whip but Fox with an elbow and then he hits a cutter off the turnbuckles. Both men are down. Davis gets up first. Fox with a kick to Davis but Davis with an Irish whip. Fox moves when Davis charges into the corner and Fox with a springboard drop kick. Fox with a shooting star cannonball and he gets a near fall. Fox waits for Davis to get to his feet and he hits a clothesline and then skins the cat into a drop kick. Fox with a running forearm and he puts Davis on the turnbuckles and he pushes Fox off. Davis blocks Lo Mein Pain but Fox with an enzuigiri to Davis.
Fox runs the apron and Davis with a punch. Davis hits a jackhammer from the second rope but Fox can only get a two count. Davis gets Fox on his shoulders but Fox escapes and he kicks Davis. Fox goes up top and hits a Swanton but can only get a one count.
Fox with a kick to the knees and then a drop kick that sends Davis to the floor. Fox tries for a move to the floor but he lands on the apron. Fox hits a springboard inward moonsault and both men are down.
Fox rolls Davis back in and he hits a springboard 450 but Davis kicks out. Davis with a facebuster and kick. Davis with another buckle bomb but he misses a kick. Fox tries for the crucifix but Davis holds on. Davis with three seconds around the world for the three count.
Winner: Jon Davis
After the match, Lenny interviews Jon Davis but Bobby Fish comes to the ring. Their match on Saturday will determine the winner of the Style Battle.
Bobby tells Jon that tomorrow will not be about hand shakes or mutual respect. It is about the fact that he knows that Jon needs that win. Bobby says that he’s gotta have that win.
Jon says that Bobby thinks that he is a tough guy. He has a family to feed. He says that Bobby can bring all of the tough talk that he wants. He will not go home empty handed.
Match Number Four: Six Way Freestyle Alex Reynolds (3-1) vs. John Silver (2-1) vs. Jake Manning (1-2) vs. Lince Dorado (0-1) vs. Caleb Konley (2-1) vs. Scott Reed (0-1)
Silver and Dorado start things off and they lock up. Dorado with a waist lock but Silver with a standing switch and take down. Silver with a front face lock but Dorado with a hammer lock. Silver with a reverse chin lock. Dorado with a single leg take down. Reed kicks Dorado in the head from the apron.
Silver with an arm bar and arm drag but Dorado with a near fall. Silver with a forearm but Dorado with a handspring back elbow. Dorado avoids a leg sweep but Silver with a rollup for a near fall.
They shake hands again and try to tag in Konley and Reed but they refuse. Manning and Reynolds tag in. Reynolds with a flying back elbow. Manning with forearms but Reynolds with a back body drop and drop kick.
Reynolds with a running back elbow and he gets a near fall. Konley tags in and Reynolds tags in Reed The two members of the Scene will have to face off. They go to tag Dorado and Silver but they get off the apron. Manning and Reynolds go to the floor as well.
They lock up and Reed with a side head lock. They run the ropes and Konley gets winded and then he goes for the finger poke of doom. Everyone comes into the ring and break up the cover. Manning also goes to the floor. Manning trips Dorado and sends him into the apron. Silver and Reynolds with splashes onto Reed and Konley. Dorado goes up top and hits a dive onto everyone on the floor.
Dorado goes up top again and he waits for Reed to turn around and he hits a seated senton splash. Reed and Konley double team Dorado. Dorado with a twisting press to Konley. Dorado with an arm drag to Reed. The Scene hits a double spine buster and then they swing Dorado into a double suplex. Manning celebrates in the ring with Reed and Konley. Manning wants a high five from someone in the Scene. Reed and Konley hit a double elbow drop.
Silver and Reynolds with European uppercuts and splashes to the Scene. Reynolds and Silver hit German suplexes and bridges for near falls. Manning sends Reynolds over the top rope to the floor. Manning with a back breaker and gets a near fall on Silver.
Reed with a clothesline to Manning. Dorado with a rana and then Konley and Reed hip toss Dorado into Manning. Reynolds with a stunner to Reed but Konley with forearms to Reynolds. Konley with an Irish whip but Reynolds rolls through. Silver and Reynolds work over Konley. Reynolds with a super kick to Silver when Silver hits a back breaker on Konley. Manning with a back breaker combination for a near fall on Reynolds.
Dorado with a rana for a near fall. Manning misses a splash into corner and Lince with a tornado DDT on Manning and then he goes up top for a shooting star press and he gets the three count.
Winner: Lince Dorado
Match Number Five: Special Attraction Match Cheech (1-0) vs. Colt Cabana (0-1)
They lock up and Cabana works on the wrist. Cabana with a hammer lock but Cheech with a side head lock. Cabana with a wrist lock again. Cheech reverses and then Cabana does the same. Cabana escapes the hold and kicks Cheech to the mat and Cheech wonders what is so funny. Cabana helps Cheech up but Cheech falls on his face.
Cabana with a nerve hold followed by a surfboard. Cabana with a body scissors an then he gets a rollup. Cheech works on the wrist but Cabana reverses. Cabana with a rollup for a near fall. Cabana tells Cheech to stop and he applies a side head lock. Cheech with a flapjack and he gets a near fall. Cheech with a head butt to the midsection.
Cabana tries for a sunset flip but Cheech stays up. He tries for a splash but Cabana moves. Cabana gets a near fall with a rollup. Cheech with a kick and snap mare. Cheech hits a slingshot senton and gets a near fall. Cheech jumps onto Cabana’s midsection. Cheech goes up top but Cabana gets his boots up and kicks Cheech in the head. Colt with chops followed by punches into the Bionic Elbow.
Cabana with the flying butt splash and then he kicks the turnbuckle where Cheech’s head was resting. Cabana goes up top but Cheech stops him and crotches Cabana. Cabana gets Cheech on his shoulders and drops him on the turnbuckles and gets the three count.
Winner: Colt Cabana
Match Number Six: The Rematch El Generico (2-2) vs. Samuray Del Sol (0-3)
They shake hands and then Generico works on the arm and wrist. Generico with an arm bar but Del Sol with a reversal. Generico with an arm drag to escape. Generico helps Del Sol up. Del Sol with a waist lock and arm drag. Del Sol offers his hand to Generico to help him p and Generico thinks about it and he obliges. They lock up again and Generico with a side head lock take down.
They lock up again and Generico with a side head lock. Del Sol with punches but Generico with a shoulder tackle. Generico with a leg lariat to Del Sol. Generico gets a near fall. Generico sends Del Sol into the turnbuckles. Generico with a back breaker to Del Sol and he gets a near fall.
Generico with a snap mare and reverse chin lock. Generico with a side head lock. Del Sol with a head scissors take down for a near fall. Del Sol with a modified figure four leg lock and Generico struggles to get to the ropes but he succeeds.
Del Sol with a kick to the chest. Del Sol with a rolling Death Valley Driver followed by a drop kick to the face. Generico with a slam. Generico with a forearm to Del Sol followed by a boot to the head for a near fall. Generico with a chop but Del Sol goes to the apron and Del Sol with an enzuigiri. Del Sol tries for another enzuigiri but Generico with a drop kick to send him to the floor.
Generico waits for Del Sol to get back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Generico with a back breaker and he points to the turnbuckle. Generico sets for the Yakuza kick but Del Sol moves and Generico goes to the floor.
Del Sol with a double jump corkscrew plancha onto Generico. Generico gets back into the ring and Del Sol tries for a springboard move. Del Sol stands on Generico’s back and hits a Code Red for a near fall. Del Sol tries for a reverse rana but Generico blocks it. Del Sol hits a rana for a near fall.
Del Sol tries for a senton into the corner but Generico moves. Generico runs into a boot from Del Sol. Generico flips Del Sol into the air and gets a near fall. Del Sol with elbows. Generico with a Blue Thunder Driver but he can only get a two count. Generico has the Yakuza kick blocked. Del Sol with a tornado DDT for a near fall.
Del Sol goes up top but Generico recovers and tries for a superplex but Del Sol pushes him off. Del Sol with a kick to the midsection followed by a reverse hurricanrana but Generico kicks out at two. Del Sol pulls Generico into the corner and stomps on the ribs.
Del Sol goes up top but Generico gets to his feet and he stops Del Sol. Del Sol pushes Generico off the turnbuckles. Del Sol tries for a 450 splash but lands on Generico’s knees. Generico with the Yakuza Kick and he tries for the top turnbuckle brainbuster but Del Sol blocks it. Del Sol hits a top turnbuckle reverse hurricanrana for the three count.
Winner: Samuray Del Sol
Match Number Seven: Open The Freedom Gate Title Match Johnny Gargano vs. Chuck Taylor (with the Swamp Monster and Jake Manning)
Gargano with a running drop kick into the corner followed by a lawn dart and clothesline that sends Taylor over the top rope to the floor. Gargano with a pescado. Gargano with punches to Taylor and then he sends Taylor’s head into the ring steps. Gargano with a forearm to the back of the head. Gargano rearranges the ring steps and then he connects with an elbow. Gargano stops the count and then he thinks about a law dart into the steps. Taylor with a knee and he sends Gargano back into the ring.
Gargano with a running forearm and then he bits Taylor in the head. Gargano works on the shoulder and then he kicks Taylor in the head. Gargano with a back elbow followed by a drop kick to the back of the head and he gets a near fall. Gargano sends Taylor to the floor and he goes to the floor.
Taylor with a kick and then he sends Gargano into the bleachers. Taylor yells at a child at ringside. Taylor with forearms to the back as he works on Gargano’s injured back. Taylor sets up some chairs on the floor. Gargano back body drops Taylor onto the chairs.
Gargano trips Taylor on the apron. Gargano chops Taylor. Gargano Irish whips Taylor into the ring post. Taylor moves out of the way and Gargano super kicks the time keeper. Taylor drops Gargano onto the ring steps. Taylor rolls Gargano back into the ring and Taylor gets a near fall with a lazy cover.
Taylor with a double underhook suplex and he gets a near fall. Taylor pulls a string out of his wrist tape and he chokes Gargano. Taylor with a back breaker and he gets another near fall. Taylor with a slam and then he picks up Gargano and slams him again and goes for a posing cover but Johnny kicks out.
Taylor with a chin lock and another slam. Taylor sends Gargano to the apron. Taylor comes off the ropes and Gargano goes for the spear but Taylor knows what is coming and he avoids it. Taylor misses a moonsault. Taylor catches Gargano on a spear and hits a neck breaker. Taylor gets a near fall.
Taylor with a kick to the back. Gargano with a rollup and he kicks Taylor in the head. Taylor rolls to the floor and Gargano goes to the apron. Gargano hits the spear and both men are down. Gargano struggles to get to his feet but he punches Taylor. Gargano with a few clotheslines. Gargano goes ot the apron and then he slingshots in and connects with a knee.
Taylor with a super kick but Gargano with a sit out power bomb for a near fall. Johnny applies the Gargano Escape but Johnny had to release the hold because of his back. The referee asks Johnny if he wants to continue and he will not let the refeee stop the match.
Taylor with a chop. Taylor with a kick to get Johnny out of the ropes. Gargano is sent to the apron and Johnny tries for a slingshot DDT from the apron but Taylor catches him and hits an exploder into the turnbuckles and gets a near fall.
Taylor chops Johnny in the corner. Gargano with an Irish whip but he runs into a knee and then Taylor with a spinebuster and moonsault for a near fall. Gargano misses an enzuigiri and Taylor with a rollup for a near fall. Gargano with a kick but Taylor with a super kick. Gargano with a discus clothesline and both men are down.
Taylor with forearms as he tells Johnny to stay down. Gargano fights back with forearms of his own as they exchange shots. Gargano in control with forearms. Gargano with a rollup into the Gargano Escape but Taylor with a single leg crab and he has Gargano in the middle of the ring.
The referee checks on Gargano and the arm drops twice but Gargano gets a second wind and gets to the ropes. Taylor tries to figure out what he needs to do to finish him off. Taylor chokes Gargano in the ropes. Taylor with forearms in the corner followed by an Irish whip. Taylor runs into boots from Gargano. Gargano charges into the corner for a drop kick and Taylor pulls the referee in the way. Taylor with a low kick and he covers Gargano but there is no referee. Taylor tells Manning to give him the belt. Taylor holds the belt to use on Gargano but Gargano avoids it and Gargano hits Hurts Donut onto the belt. Manning pulls the second referee to the floor to break up the cover.
Gargano with a suicide dive onto Manning and the referee. Taylor kicks the ropes and then Taylor hits the Awful Waffle but Gargano kicks out at two. Taylor calls for the Swamp Monster and it holds Gargano. Taylor picks up the belt and hits the Swamp Monster. Gargano with a super kick and Hurts Donut for a two count.
Gargano applies the Gargano Escape and Taylor taps out.
Winner: Johnny Gargano
Lenny Leonard goes to the ring to interview Johnny Gargano. Johnny tells everyone to wave goodbye to Chuck Taylor. Johnny asks for a chair because his back hurts. Johnny asks everyone how they liked the show. He says that he heard Tony Nese issue a challenge for tomorrow night. He says that he has to give Tony credit for winning the match last night. Yesterday, Tony was the cause of the back pain coming back. He will accept the challenge for tomorrow night.
He says that he will not put the Open the Freedom Gate Title on the line. In Detroit, there is a Number One Contender by the name of Akira Tozawa. He doesn’t know if Tozawa is watching but he earned that match.
2012 - Extreme Rising (formerly Extreme Reunion) held their second ever event, debuting in Queens, NY at the ELMCOR Center. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of Extreme Rising in NYC!
The evening opened with the introduction of the play by play announcer Robby Mireno. A fan was razzing him, so Mireno called him a candidate for Megan's Law. He said he was here for the Extreme Reunion in Philadelphia and the crowd chanted "Philly sucks." Mireno ripped on NYC, bringing out Joel Gertner, who got a big reaction from the 200 or so fans in attendance.
Gertner entered the ring. He did his usual lewd introduction of himself.
Papadon vs. Sabu
Papadon came out and berated the fans as he walked to the ring. He demanded Stephen DeAngelis hold the ropes open for him as he entered the ring and had DeAngelis read a card declaring him the greatest unsigned talent today.
There was a huge, F**k him uo Sabu, F**k him up" chant at the bell. Sabu charged but was nailed low. Papadon chopped him in the corner and drilled him with a hard right.
Sabu was whipped into the corner but kicked off Papadon during a charge and nailed a tornado DDT. Papadon rolled to the outside, where he was nailed with a plancha to the floor. Sabu grabbed a chair and threw it in Papadon's face. Sabu did it again after the crowd chanted for it.
Sabu pulled a table over but was nailed by Papadon. Papadon began screaming at him and drilled him with a right, then whipped him into the railing. He went to hit a move off the ropes but Sabu grabbed his leg and slammed him facefirst on the apron.
Sabu whipped him into the rail and tossed him back into the ring. He nailed a slingshot legdrop and locked on a camel clutch. Sabu nailed him with a chair, then hit Air Sabu off a chair into the corner for a two count. Sabu nailed an Arabian Facebuster. Papadon came back with a series of kicks to the chest. The crowd was all over him chanting, "You suck d***."
Papadon nailed a running clothesline to Sabu and worked him over. Papadon went for the table but was attacked by Sabu. They went back and forth. Papadon nailed a trilogy of punches and a hard kick. He suplexed Sabu and placed him atop the table. He went to the top but Sabu caught him and powerslammed him over the top and the table. Sabu legdropped off the table for a two count.
Sabu set up for Air Sabu but Papadon ducked out of the way. Papadon nailed a Facewash. He covered Sabu for a two count. Sabu mounted a comeback with a series of rights. Papadon nailed a TKO into his knee, then nailed a fisherman's buster on a chair for a two count. Sabu rolled to the outside as Papadon argued with the referee.
Sabu grabbed a chair. The crowd chanted that Sabu was going to kill him. They dueled with chairs in the ring. Sabu won that exchange. Sabu slammed him into the table facefirst and hit an Arabian Facebuster through the table. Sabu legdropped him and covered Papadon.
Your winner, Sabu!
As Papadon was walked out, Sabu threw another chair at him. Sabu received a huge standing ovation.
Good match to open the show. The crowd is super hot and into everything so far. Papadon had an awesome accounting for himself and Sabu looked good.
They introduced Taya Parker, who won the Rock of Love season where the hot girls were on the bus. She walked around the ring and returned to the back.
The Full Blooded Italians vs. The Blue Meanie & Balls Mahoney
Meanie took the mic and said he looked far and wide for a partner and needed one with some Balls. They were announced as Team Blue Balls, The crowd chanted their team name.
Balls brought a chair into the ring and the FBI wanted nothing to do with that. So, Balls tagged out and handed Meanie the chair. In the end, Balls and Guido started out. Balls took him down with a reverse waistlock. Balls and Guido began working over each other's arms. Guido tried to kick Balls but was caught and sent into the corner. He went up and over and armdragged Balls, They went back and forth until Balls drilled him with a series of punches.
Meanie tagged in but Guido was able to tag in Mamaluke. They criss crossed and Meanie screamed for him to stop, then drilled him with a punch. They cross crossed again and this time Mamaluke screamed for him to stop but was punched in the face. Guido hit the ring but was backdropped over. The FBI were whipped into the corner, where Meanie squashed him with an Avlalanche.
The FBI doubled on Meanie, nailing a dropkick at the same time for a two count. They continued working over Meanie and nailed the Paisano elbow. Guido covered Meanie for a two count. They continued working over Meanie until he came back with a double clothesline and made the tag to Balls.
Balls peppered them with punches and nailed Guido with a chair. He hit Mamaluke with the Nutcracker Suite. Meanie tagged in and was going to use the chair but Thomas Rodman hit the ring and took it away. He started screaming at Balls that he shouldn't be tagging with Rodman. He slapped Mahoney, who chased him to the floor.
Meanie went to do a Meaniesault on Mamaluke but Guido nailed him. The FBI hit a double Russian Legsweep off the middle turnbuckle for the pin.
Your winners, The FBI!
After the match, Mahoney and Rodman returned and they argued. Balls told him the BWO was dead. Balls said he wasn't mad at Meanie for losing. He told Rodman that he's been MIA for six weeks. He said the BWO was all about having fun but he's had Meanie at the Jersey Shore toughening him up. He said that they were going to all be about fun and entertaining and hardcore blood and guts. He said Meanie had a choice to make. Meanie said that after a lot of deliberation, he picked Balls. Balls drilled Rodman with the chair and has Meanie nail him with a splash off the ropes.
OK match.
Rodman was placed in a neck brace and walked out of the ring.
CW Anderson vs. Pitbull Gary Wolfe with Christina Vicious
They locked up and Wolfe was too powerful for Anderson to out-muscle. Wolfe shoved him down to the mat. Anderson rolled to the outside and screamed at the fans.
Anderson locked on a full nelson. Wolfe broke free and locked on one of his own. Anderson used the ropes to break it and locked on an armwringer. They went back and forth working over the arm. Wolfe shoulderblocked Anderson down, which got an "ECW" chant.
Anderson began working over Wolfe's arm. He rammed it into the turnbuckles and wrapped it around the ropes. Wolfe started to mount a comeback but Anderson raked his face and nailed a series of kicks in the corner. Wolfe drilled him with a series of rights and a kick for a one count.
Anderson caught him with a superkick, laying out Wolfe. He grabbed Vicious and dragged her into the ring. She acted like was going to entice him then slapped him. He went to nail her but she ducked under and ran towards Wolfe. Wolfe nailed a flying forearm Anderson for a two count.
Anderson went for the spinebuster but Wolfe stepped out. He drilled Anderson with a clothesline for a two count.
Your winner, Gary Wolfe!
They introduced Reby Sky. She came to the ring and said that she's excited to be here and she paid tribute to the women that paved the way for her to be here like Beulah and Francine. As she left, Homicide came out, so she returned to the ring. Homicide told her something I couldn't make out on the mic but I think he wanted her to walk the streets. She slapped him twice, so he nailed her with an Ace Crusher. Matt Hardy hit the ring to back Homicide out of the ring. The Ace Crusher got an "ECW" chant.
BLK OUT vs. El Dramaticos
BLK OUT attacked Dramaticos at the bell. Jeez hit a tope con hilo over the top to the floor on one of the Dramaticos. Ruckus nailed a flipping kick and a razzle dazzle on the other, then killed him with a legdrop for a two count.
BLK OUT nailed a double hiptoss on of the Dramaticos. The Dramaticos made a comeback and began chopping the hell out of Jeez hard. They scissored him on the mat, trying to force a submission. One of them went to kick Jeez but he caught the kick and kicked his leg. The crowd started chanting, "F*** BLK OUT."
Ruckus hit a double Arabian Press into the ring on one of the Dramaticos. The crowd chanted, "We want New Jack." They then chanted "Philly sucks." The Dramaticos made a comeback and nailed a powerslam on Jeez.
They nailed a back suplex with a bridge on Ruckus for a two count. Jeez hit a rana. The OUT trapped one of the Dramaticos in the corner and worked him over. They nailed a double stomp on one for the pin.
Your winners, The Dramaticos!
The Gangstas' music hit. The place went nuts. Mustafa hit the ring and tossed a trash can in the ring. They brawled. The music stopped. Mustafa was worked over but made a comeback. They brawled out of the ring and up the aisle. The crowd was all over the sound guy for stopping the music.
They set up for Jeez to do a double stomp from above the aisle. New Jack hit the scene from a side door and they played the music. Chaos ensured with everyone brawling all over the building. In the end, they trashed BLK OUT and headed out the side door.
The fans chanted "You got f***ed up" at BLK OUT after it was over. A great chaotic brawl.
Shane Douglas came out and cut a promo. The place popped huge and chanted "Thank you Shane." Douglas put over Corona. He said there were critics who said their first show sucked. He said that he watched the tape of the first show and thought it was a pretty damn good show. He said it wasn't perfect but it was damn good. He asked the fans if they agreed and they popped. He said that you can't buy fan loyalty and he promised to bury Vince McMahon's Irish ass. He said Corona, NY is the most extreme city on the wrestling planet.
He said he was sitting in the back with his pencil because he was the booker and that's what he does. He said as he wrote down the matches, his arm started to shake because he knew what a great show it was going to be. When he got to the second half of the show, he thought back to 1994 when ECW invited Konnan to bring Extreme Lucha Libre to the United States. He said that they sent us Rey Mysterio, Super Crazy, Eddie Guerrero and Psicosis. They were men who side by side with ECW changed wrestling forever and left Vince and WCW in the dust.
Douglas said that he was bringing Lucha Libre back and they'd have to do it the right way. He said he had to do it with someone who had a connection to the ECW. He introduced Pescadilla, Super Crazy's nephew. He said that he's seen the tapes and he knows Pescadilla will do well. Pescadilla came out. He then introduced Bestia 666, putting him over as the son of Damian 666.
It was a damn awesome introduction.
Pescadilla vs. Bestia 666
They locked up and went through a feeling out process. Bestia hit a head scissors takedown. The place chanted "Lucha Libre". Bestia took Pescadilla down to the mat but was caught in an armbar. Pescadilla escaped and hit a cartwheel into a forward rana, sending Bestia to the floor.
Pescadilla caught him with a kick and sent him down to the mat. Bestia leapfrooged as he rebounded off the ropes. They exchanged armdrags and dropkicks, then faced off. The crowd chanted "Mexico".
Bestia hit a standing moonsault press for a two count. He went up and over in the corner and superkicked Pescadilla for a two count. He caught Pescadilla with a head scissors to the outside. He nailed a twisting dive over the top to the floor. The crowd chanted "ECW."
On the floor, Pescadilla nailed him with a chair. They battled back ito the ring. Pescadilla ducked a pair of clotheslines and nailed a powerslam for a two count. He drilled Bestia with a kick to the head and a tornado DDT for a two count.
Bestia was backdropped over the top but landed on the apron, he chopped Pescadilla but was dropkicked off the apron to the floor. Pescadilla nailed a moonsault to the outside to the floor. "ECW" chant. They battled on the floor. Bestia nailed Pescadilla over the back with a chair.
Bestia went for a dive out of the ring but Pescadilla nailed him in the face with a chair. Bestia was busted open. The place chanted "ECW". Pescadilla tossed a few chairs into the ring. They battled on the outside. Bestia was tossed over the rail into the crowd. He was then nailed with a trash can.
Back in the ring, Pescadilla nailed a moonsault off the center turnbuckle for a two count. The crowd began clapping for them to rally them on Bestia caught him in a forward roll for a two count. He nailed Pescadilla in the corner with a chop, then nailed a muscle buster for a two count. The crowd chanted, "Si!"
of chairs. Pescadilla nailed a droptoehold into a chair. They set up a bunch. Bestia hit a sunset flip powerbomb off the ropes into the chairs. He then nailed a standing moonsault for the pin.
Your winner, Bestia 666!
Fun Lucha match. They worked really hard.
Extreme Respect Match: Luke Hawx vs. Stevie Richards
Hawx took the mic when he hit the ring. The crowd chanted, "shut the f***up." He said that he wanted to be real with everyone because he was nervous to be here because AIDS was so popular with the community (referencing the gay pride march last week) and he was worried about sharing a locker room with those drug addicts. He said that Shane Douglas should stick his pencil up his ass and introduced Sylvester Turkay to watch his back.
Big "Stevie" chant for Richards. Hawx got into a lot of fans' faces and plays heel really well. They locked up and Hawx tied up Richards in the corner. He took Richards to the mat with a waistlock. Richards responded by throwing him to the mat. Richards worked over Hawx's arm. Hawx responded by trying to take him down to the mat but Richards got the better of it and Hawx rolled to the outside.
Richards hiptossed him over and went for a cross arm breaker Hawx got the ropes. Richard and Hawx faced off. Hawx was slapped. Hawx nailed a series of kicks on Richards, sending him into the corner. Hawx nailed him with a series of shots in the corner and nailed a running rana off the top into the ring. The crowd chanted, "You still suck."
Hawx covered Richards for a two count. He slammed Richards and covered him for several two counts. He drilled Richards with a series of shots across the back. Hawx slammed him again and tried for a moonsault, but Richards pulled his knees up.
Richards cleaned house with clotheslines and kicks. Richards clotheslined Hawx again, then nailed a sideslam. Turkay got on the ring and distracted the referee as Richards nailed the Steviekick. John Finnegan wasn't in position to make the count. Turkay and Hawx worked over Stevie and Enter Sandman hit.
The Sandman made his grand entrance. When he hit the ring, he caned Turkay in the head several times and nailed the White Russian Legsweep. Sandman left, which allowed Hawx, who ran off, to return and use the cane on Richards for the pin.
Your winner, Luke Hawx!
Decent match. Hawx is a hell of a talker. The crowd loved the Sandman stuff but turned on the finish big-time chanting "Bullsh**."
Still to come:
Homicide vs. Devon Storm
They went back and forth with some good wrestling and counters. Homicide caught him with a headscissors and choked him against the ropes. Homicide chopped him hard in the corner a number of times. Storm fired back with a series of chops
Homicide whipped him into the corner but was caught and kicked off,. Storm nailed a slam and a Vader splash off the corner. Homicide fought him off and snapmared him over Homicide nailed a tornado DDT for a two count.
Homicide went for the Cop Killer but Storm turued it into a Northern Light suplex. Storm and Homicide battled back and forth. Storm caught him with an overhead suplex and a Northern Light Suplex for a two. Storm dropkicked Homicide through the ropes to the floor. He dropped Homicide across the guard rail.
Storm grabbed a piece of guard rail and slammed Homicide atop of it. He returned to the ring and hit a splash over the top atop of Homicide on the rail. Homicide fought back and hit a flip off the apron to the floor.
Back in the ring, Homicide nailed a neckbreaker for a two count. Homicide nailed a lariat for another two. Homicide tied up Storm in a submission hold. When he was released, Storm slammed Homicide into the turnbuckles and chopped him hard in the corner.
Homicide was snapmared onto the railing, which was now in the ring and bridged between two chairs. Storm nailed an Asai Moonsault onto Homicide. Storm covered Homicide for a two count. Homicide brought another piece of rail into the ring. Homicide beats the hell out of Homicide with a chair. He went to nail him against but Storm blocked it and monkey flipped him with the chair, Storm nailed a DVDR on the chair for a two count.
Storm worked over Homicide and came off the top with a splash for a two count. Homicide went for a top rope rana but Storm didn't roll through. He finally caught Storm with the Ace Crusher for the pin.
Your winner, Homicide!
Really, really great physical match. The crowd gave Storm a standing ovation after. He was bleeding bad from the ear and near his eye. Storm went down in the aisle afterward and was helped to the back by doctors.
Jerry Lynn vs. Matt Hardy
They did some nice mat wrestling early. Lynn caught Hardy with a doubke leg takedown and pulled him out of the ring. They battled on the outside in the corner of the guard rail.
Hardy dropped Lynn across the rail and went to nail him with a chair but Lynn kicked it away. Lynn fought off Hardy and nailed a tornado DDT off the guard rail to the floor.
The battled back to the ring, where they fought over a suplex on the apron. Lynn suplexed him into the ring and ascended to the top. Hardy caught him and they battled on the top. Lynn nailed a sunset flip into the ring for a two count.
They battled on the apron. Lynn hit a guillotine legdrop through the ropes on Matt. They battled on the apron and Hardy hit the Sidewinder on Lynn through a table.
They made their way back to the ring and battled back and forth. Hardy nailed the Twist of Fate. Lynn kicked up at two. Homicide came out and got involved. Reby Sky hit the ring and jumped on his back. Atlas Security pulled her out and held down Homicide.
Hardy came off the top with an elbow across Jerry's back. Hardy nailed a legdrop off the ropes for a two count. He brought another table into the ring and placed it in the corner. Lynn drilled him with a DDT for a two count.
Lynn went for the cradle piledriver. Hardy turned it into a Twist of Fate. Lynn escaped and did a forward roll for a two count. Hardy nailed another sideslam. Hardy tried to send Lynn into the table but he slipped out of the way. Lynn whipped him into the corner and nailed a Frankensteiner off the top.
Hardy and Lynn went back and forth until Lynn speared Hardy through a table for a two count. Great false finish. The war continued until Hardy nailed a Twist of Fate with a chair wrapped around Lynn's neck for the pin.
. Your winner, Matt Hardy!
Another really good physical match. Hardy worked the hardest I've seen him on the independents to date and did a lot of hard hitting bumps I wouldn't have expected out of him.
After the match, Hardy took the mic and told Lynn to stand up high before his people. The fans and Hardy chanted "Thank you Jerry." Hardy said that when he knew he was going to Extreme Rising, he knew it was a hostile crowd and he knew he had his hands full with Lynn. He said the only words he had and he means this from the bottom of his heart - Thank you.
Lynn said that he hears a lot of thank you Jerrys but he wanted to thank you. Lynn said that Hardy has come a long a lot in leaps and bounds and he's proud of him. Hardy said that he asked for one favor.of Lynn. He asked that Lynn make it a three way dance so Hardy can get his hands on Homicide for what he did to Reby Sky. The crowd chanted "Yes" Lynn said that the people have spoken and Hardy has "f***ing got it."
A really strong and fun show. I wish THIS had been their debut event.
2012 - WWE developmental FCW ran Lakeland, FL. Spyke filed the following live report:
Here are the results from tonight's (6-29-12) FCW Summer Slamarama Tour Live Event in Melbourne, FL:
Brodus Clay, Naomi, Cameron, Paige, and FCW Divas Champion Raquel Diaz were signing autographs.
Pre-show Dance-off:
Colin Cassidy disses the Melbourne crowd and then proceeds to dance to NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye" with a female member of the FCW Universe.
Next up was Natalie dancing with a male participant. Abraham Washington (AW) refuses to dance and has his lady partner dance FOR him for money!
Jason Jordan and CJ Parker danced with some kids. The FCW Universe was asked to declare the winners via applause.. The kids with Jordan and Parker won, naturally.
1) Leakee d. Colin Cassidy via Samoan Drop & pinfall - Standard match. Leakee is announced as 1/2 of the FCW Tag Champs.
2) Big E Langston & Lincoln Broderick d. Erick Rowan & Luke Harper (Brodie Lee) via The Big Ending & pinfall.
3) Aiden English d. Garrett Dylan via The Director's Cut (arm wrench/scissor kick) & pinfall.
4) FCW Divas Summer Slamarama Swimsuit Contest: Participants were FCW Divas Champion Raquel Diaz, Natalie, Paige, Audrey Marie, Caylee Turner, & Sofia Cortez.
Byron Saxton was the guest announcer/judge. Paige was overwhelmingly declared the winner by the FCW Universe in attendance. Just as Byron was about to announce
Paige the winner, Summer Rae comes into the ring and she is declared the winner. This brings out Naomi and Cameron. They push Byron over and the Divas begin to dance
to "Somebody Call My Momma".
Damien Sandow makes his way to the ring and says runs down Melbourne crowd and announces MASON RYAN!
5) Mason Ryan d. Joel Pettyfer via Jackhammer and pinfall. - Joel is a new talent signed from England.
6) Corey Graves & Jake Carter w/ AW d. Jason Jordan & CJ Parker via roll-up pinfall after AW causes the distraction.
7) FCW Divas Championship Match: Caylee Turner d. Raquel Diaz via pinfall to win the Divas Championship! Raquel was crying post-match.
8) Triple Threat Match: Brad Maddox (FCW Jack Brisco 15 Champion) d. Bray Wyatt & Leo Krueger via pinfall on Wyatt. Wyatt went down early in the match, and appears to be severely injured! Match ended quickly after some confusion. Wyatt was taken to the back fairly quickly. Looks like a shoulder injury/dislocation. The show then ended.
It was announced that FCW would be returning to Melbourne on July 28th.
2013 - The Wrestling Cares Association held their second live event. Mike Epsenhart filed the following live report:
We are live at the second Wrestling Cares Association event. This event is taking place in Gardena, CA, not far from LAX.
Wrestling Cares Association Bracket B 6/29/13 Gardena, CA
We are live with delayed coverage from Wrestling Cares Association Block B event in Gardena, CA. Welcome to my rambling thoughts on the second show for pro wrestling's newest indy and freshest concept. One positive to doing WCA coverage is I'm not worried about having to flee from my table while I'm writing up the show since I fully expect most of the action to remain in the ring and around ringside. This will not be a Mike Johnson or Zombie Rich style play by play. It will be results and all things good or bad that stood out to me during the matches. The fans are filing in and we are almost ready to go! This is a Les Thatcher show for sure, we're starting on time!
Just like Block A we start with all the competitors in the ring for the announcement of the rules and the welcome from our host the hot as hell Maria. I hate Mike Bennett.
Very classy 10 bell salute for Matt Bourne.
Maria blows her job as hostess by mentioning the wrong charity. Scott L. Schwartz was last time, this time it is the Boys and Girls Club of Simi Valley. She's still hot.
Same girls were back for the National Anthem and were even better than last time. Some dipsh** to my right sat and drank a beer the entire time, I hope somebody shoot kicks him in the nuts before the night is over.
Match 1: Alternates Match to replace the Davey/O'Reilly spot due to Block A draw
Timothy Thatcher vs. Oliver John
Let's go Thatcher chant to start. Les is over! (Okay it may have been for Timothy.)
Our first John Oliver joke comes from the crowd two minutes into the match. There is some really strong mat wrestling going on. John Oliver on top trying to ground and pound. Both guys trade going for cross arm breakers to get an early submission and fail. Oliver John looks legit, great look and everything he does looks credible. Nasty open hand shots to Thatcher.
Out of nowhere, Oliver John dumps Thatcher on the back of his head with a suplex while they were jockeying for position and scores the first fall with 4:30 left
JOHN: 1 THATCHER: 0
Thatcher on his back doing the Inoki/Ali crab attack, thankfully it didn't last long. Oliver with another suplex as Thatcher has begun targeting his leg. Two minute warning and John is slowing it down to hold his 1-0 lead. Good psychology. Thatcher grabbing different leg holds but John keeps fighting to the ropes. Thatcher finally gets a heel hook in the middle to tie it via submission.
JOHN: 1 THATCHER: 1
With his leg hurt John bails out of the ring with the time running down to bring us to OVERTIME. Thatcher is pissed that John is running and wants to fight. John went back for his nasty open hand strikes but Thatcher ducks one and counters into another leglock. Injured and nowhere to go John has to tap. GREAT WRESTLING OPENER!
FINAL SCORE: THATCHER: 2 JOHN: 1 THATCHER ADVANCES!
Super sportsman post match promo from both putting over each other and old school wrestling. This was wonderful.
MATCH 2: BLOCK B BEGINS: WILLIE MACK VS. BRANDON GATSON
Size vs. skill to open as the bigger Willie is trying to run over Brandon but Brandon is using technique to keep the more powerful Willie grounded.
That didn’t last long, while trying to stay one step ahead Willie catches Brandon with a sit out powerbomb out of the corner to take the lead with 6:48 remaining.
WILLIE MACK: 1 BRANDON GATSON: 0
Willie Mack keeps his momentum going and Gaston ends up on the apron. Mack screams at the ref to move and charges Gatson which telegraphs what is coming. Gatson then slingshots into the ring with a RKO to tie the score via pinfall.
WILLIE MACK: 1 BRANDON GATSON: 1
In a sloppy sequence, Gaston hits a handspring splash into the corner, and fails at lifting the heavier Mack into a side slam. Mack shoots him into the ropes, Gatson goes for a hurrancanrana, and Mack turns it into a Sloppy Ass Powerbomb to take a 2-1 lead.
WILLIE MACK: 2 BRANDON GATSON: 1
Gatson goes for a few quick cradles and then locks in an armbar, but Mack holds on till the clock runs out and wins the matchup to advance. Solid even with the sloppy second point for Mack.
FINAL SCORE: WILLIE MACK: 2 BRANDON GATSON: 1
Willie cuts a promo said he had the match won the second he walked through the curtain and nobody reps LA like he does. He is going to win the ring for LA. Crowd was solidly behind the charismatic Willie Mack.
MATCH 3: DJ HYDE VS. DRAKE YOUNGER
CZW chant for Hyde to start. Drake Younger gets a big chant from the crowd in attendance. So far he’s the most over guy here so far. Nice exchange at the start as both guys try to go up 1-0 with a flash pin off of various cradles. DJ Hyde as Nikita no selling the Younger chops and then unloading on him with Younger selling like he’s being chopped by Big Show. Hyde then hits the not quite Stan Hansen lariat to go up 1-0 with 6:41 left.
DJ HYDE: 1 DRAKE YOUNGER 0
Younger starts to get momentum but Hyde turns it around with a spear. Seems like Hyde has scouted Younger well until Younger surprises him with the Cop Killer out of nowhere to tie the score with 3:24 left to go on the clock.
DJ HYDE: 1 DRAKE YOUNGER 1
We have our first DQ of the tournament as Hyde loses it and tosses the ref down twice when he can’t put Younger away after a couple of big throws. Hyde’s temper loses him a point with 1:21 to go and Younger is in the lead.
DJ HYDE: 0 DRAKE YOUNGER 1
Hyde hits a Death Valley Driver with time running out, but Younger kicks out and holds on to win. DJ’s temper just cost him the match. The clock appeared to malfunction during the match at the finish but Hyde got the full 10 minutes to get his point back and failed.
FINAL SCORE: DRAKE YOUNGER: 1 DJ HYDE: 0
Hyde complains after the match that he was the true winner since he kicked that crap out of Younger for most of the match and blames the clock malfunction for his loss. Younger is asked if it is a hollow victory and says no way because you do what it takes to move on in this prestigious tournament. He puts over his heart and desire and the crowd chants “Best in the World” at Younger after the promo.
Wrestling Cares runs down the matches set for August 17th for the beginning of round 2, we will post those on the site later. A special attraction match between MATT HARDY and SHAWN DAIVARI was announced for the next show. So far three matches and three different stories told. The opener as by far the best match so far, but the follow ups have been solid.
MATCH 4: ALEX REYNOLDS VS. ANTONIO THOMAS
After some back and forth chain wrestling Reynolds pulls out the Backlund Bridge to score the first fall of the match with 6:30 remaining. Thomas immediately tries to cradle Reynolds to tie it but fails.
SCORE: ALEX REYNOLDS: 1 ANTONIO THOMAS: 0
With the clock at about 3:30 Reynolds is trying to hold Thomas down and run the clock. Thomas fights out and hits a Randy Orton style powerslam for a nice near fall, he catches a vulnerable Reynolds in a leglock for a quick submission to tie the score with 2:55 left.
SCORE: ALEX REYNOLDS: 1 ANTONIO THOMAS: 1
Thomas goes into shooter mode and takes Reynolds down again locks on the Rings of Saturn for a tap tap tap to take the lead with 2 minutes left.
SCORE: ALEX REYNOLDS: 1 ANTONIO THOMAS: 2
Now it is Thomas trying to hold Reynolds on the mat to run the clock out with less than 2 minutes left. Good psychology. Reynolds fights up and catches Thomas with a lift into a Codebreaker to tie it up with 28 seconds left.
SCORE: ALEX REYNOLDS: 2 ANTONIO THOMAS: 2
“Sudden Death!” chant from the crowd as both guys try a couple of quick pinning combinations as time runs out. Next point wins the match.
Thomas showing great heart after being hit with a roaring elbow and a suplex into a stunner that Reynolds didn’t quite get all of he escapes a near fall. Reynolds then hits a moonsault which gets another near fall. Frustrated but thinking Thomas is done, Reynolds moves in for the kill and is put into the Rings of Saturn again. He holds on as long as he can, but has to tap. Antonio is moving on!
FINAL SCORE: ALEX REYNOLDS: 2 ANTONIO THOMAS: 3
Both men shake hands and the crowd chants “Please come back!” to Reynolds. Thomas puts over Reynolds as the toughest guy he ever faced. Thomas is geared up for the next round! If you like solid wrestling that tells good stories during the matches you need to give this product a look.
As we’re coming back from intermission I am watching lots of kids wander around and their little kid voices have been very loud all night. I guess you don’t have to book wrestlers as complete two dimensional goofs to get kids into your product.
Maria is the reverse Abdullah the Butcher, instead of sending people in the audience scampering in all directions, they line up to follow her as she wanders through the building during intermission. Men, women, and children. Not me! (I was served with an order to stay 50 yards away.)
Time for the heart of WCA. Time for the donation to The Boys and Girls Club of Simi Valley. People in the crowd are chanting for Maria during this segment. The big check gets presented to Lethal Logan X who is representing the charity and he is very grateful. All good wrestling aside, the WCA crew donating 25% of their gate to a different charity every show should be applauded loudly…chanting for Maria doesn’t count.
MATCH 5: INTERPROMOTIONAL TAG TEAM CHALLENGE MATCH
EWF’s Fallen Empire, Ryan Taylor & Mondo Vega vs. Millennium Pro Wrestling’s ‘Lethal’ Logan X & JJ Steele
Traditional rules for this bad boy as it is a special bonus attraction. Ryan Taylor has a necklace on in the tradition of AJ Styles and Samoa Joe, in the tradition of me I hope somebody chokes him with it. Logan X and JJ are the babyfaces which makes sense since Logan X just graciously accepted a donation on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of Simi Valley. Logan played face in peril before making the hot tag. Pretty standard tag action so far. After a miscommunication between JJ and Logan takes JJ out Fallen Empire hits Logan with The Snapshot for the win. Our charity hero gets beat. I was worried this would take me out of the world built within the tournament since it was under standard rules, but they worked a style that fit the product.
WINNERS BY PINFALL: FALLEN EMPIRE
MATCH 6: BJ WHITMER VS. SHAUN TEMPERS.
BJ gets the big ROH chant to start. Tempers gets a “Who are you?” and now “Keep your temper!” Kids get behind Tempers because the adults are chanting for BJ. Anti-bullying children! BJ kept jockeying for a rear naked but couldn’t lock it in, finally with just over 7 minutes he got it cinched to go up 1-0 via tapout. Shaun tapped out fast because he didn’t want to get choked out and rendered useless learning from the first show.
SCORE: BJ WHITMER: 1 SHAUN TEMPERS: 0
Tempers powers BJ up into a nasty sitout powerbomb to tie the score. That should have been a fall and it was. He hit it nice. 4:15 left and we are TIED.
SCORE: BJ WHITMER: 1 SHAUN TEMPERS: 1
Brief YAY/BOO punch sequence but BJ wasn’t having it. He starts blasting away with forearms. Tempers pulls a nice neckbreaker counter, but BJ counters a charge in the corner with an enzuigiri. Nice near fall sequence with BJ hitting two vertical suplexes and then two Fisherman’s Suplexes. The story is Tempers has great heart, but keeps the pressure on and hits a T-Bone suplex to take the lead. The veteran is overwhelming Tempers with physical wrestling right now.
SCORE: BJ WHITMER: 2 SHAUN TEMPERS: 1
Tempers realizes he has less than a minute and is trying to score a cradle pin on BJ, BJ is escaping try after try but is wearing down from all the kickouts. Another near fall on a jackknife pin gets the crowd roaring. Tempers can’t follow up as the crowd loudly chants the clock down. Good stuff!
FINAL SCORE: BJ WHITMER: 2 SHAUN TEMPERS: 1
BJ calls the best pro wrestling in the world Ring of Honor wrestling and the fans know it because they are chanting ROH even though the TV doesn’t air in LA. BJ hasn’t heard of this Internet thing. BJ wants the ring. I love how all the guys really put over how bad they want to win this whole thing.
MATCH 7: “SCRAP IRON” ADAM PEARCE VS. ADAM PAGE
Scrap Daddy time! I really enjoy Pearce so I am looking forward to this. Early chants for the former NWA world champ and in a shock Pearce doesn’t heel everybody. Pearce enjoying the fans chants and goofing off a bit gets caught by Page in a school boy and falls behind 1-0.
SCORE: ADAM PAGE: 1 ADAM PEARCE: 0
Pearce charges enraged and gets rolled up for another fall almost immediately. 2-0 with 8 minutes left.
SCORE: ADAM PAGE: 2 ADAM PEARCE: 0
The huge favorite is now the underdog cause if he drops another fall he loses via mercy rule. Crowd is really begging Pearce to make a comeback. Great story for this match. Even down 2-0 Pearce remains arrogant taking control and putting Page’s ball cap on. Page immediately takes over once Pearce starts playing around. Our first outside the ring action takes place during match 7. Pearce takes it outside hoping getting dirty with Page will turn the tide. He’s starting to get serious. He better cause he’s got less than 4 minutes to score two wins. Pearce is an eyelash away from getting mercy ruled as he barely kicks out of a superplex. Two minute warning and the chants for Scrap Iron start again since he’s running out of time. Pearce hits a crushing lariat to win a fall and make it 2-1 with less than a minute to go.
SCORE: ADAM PAGE: 2 ADAM PEARCE: 1
Time is running out and Pearce is desperate to continue so he can even up the match. The ref is holding him back. Pearce is freaking cause there are under 30 seconds left. Ref checks on Page again and he’s out like a light, he can’t continue and the ref won’t allow Pearce to abuse him. Ref stops the match.
FINAL SCORE: ADAM PAGE: 2 ADAM PEARCE: 1 BUT ADAM PEARCE WINS VIA TKO WHEN PAGE CAN’T CONTINUE.
Post match promo has Pearce dismissing the ref. He wants a round of applause for Page. He can’t live with the fact he’s moving on but the scoreboard says he’s a loser. He feels like a loser and he has a lot to prove to next round. He’s going to prove it to Willie Mack. Best promo of the night.
MATCH 8: JOHNNY GARGANO VS CHASE STEVENS
Announcer once again calls the final match the main event of the evening. It is a tournament they are all the main event. They need to instruct the ring announcer to stop that. Call it the final contest of the evening. I know it is ring announcer shtick but it doesn’t make sense.
Chase Stevens is Hogan orange. I think he’s going to marry Brooke next. Super macho handshake to start from Chase as he does the super hand squeeze. He’s caught staring at the crowd and Gargano scores a fall with a tornado DDT 30 seconds in.
SCORE: JOHNNY GARGANO: 1 CHASES STEVENS: 0
Gargano tries to press the advantage but Chase crushes him with a counter slam and scores a quick fall to tie it right back up. Both guys now realize discretion may be the better part of valor.
SCORE: JOHNNY GARGANO: 1 CHASES STEVENS: 1
They are having like a 2 minute back and forth forearm sequence. You have 10 total minutes this might not be the best use of your time. Gargano finally hits a big kick and goes for a dive. Chase dives back in the ring but Gargano lands on the apron as Chase charges he hits him with a sick spear and the old superkick while your opponent is on his knees. 5:33 to go.
SCORE: JOHNNY GARGANO: 2 CHASES STEVENS: 1
Crowd getting behind Stevens to make the comeback, but after a series of counters Gargano grabs him in a full nelson and nails a twisting face buster out of it to take a 3-1 lead with 4 to go.
SCORE: JOHNNY GARGANO: 3 CHASES STEVENS: 1
Stevens recovers enough to hit the Attitude Adjustment the fans know that is a fall. Cena Fu is strong.
SCORE: JOHNNY GARGANO: 3 CHASES STEVENS: 2
Chase stays all over Gargano and kills him with a brainbuster to tie it up again.
SCORE: JOHNNY GARGANO: 3 CHASES STEVENS: 3
Two minute warning and Gargano looks out of it from the brainbuster. Chase goes right for another fall but Gargano has enough to kick out. Chase goes up and gets cut off. They battle and Chase sends Gargano crashing below and hits a Frog Splash. Chase is hurt after the move and loses time before going for two covers. The lapse of time allows Gargano to survive. With 12 seconds to go Chase goes for another brainbuster, but Gargano counters with a few knees to the head and scores with the small package to get the win at the buzzer. Really good! It was the high scoring game you see in all sports every once in awhile.
FINAL SCORE: JOHNNY GARGANO: 4 CHASES STEVENS: 3
Respect hug after the match from both guys. Crowd gives both guys a standing O and chants “That was awesome!” Gargano is soaking in well deserved cheers. Gargano puts over Stevens as a great wrestler and the crowd chants for Maria. Gargano gives them what they want and asks Maria to come out. Great crowd, guy just busted his ass and they chant for the hot chick.
Gargano is having a lot of fun with it. He does the nWo survey asking “Who thinks Maria is a beautiful young woman?” and “Who thinks Johnny Gargano is a beautiful young man?” Gargano puts over the fans as the MVP for being vocal and wishes everybody a good night on behalf of Maria and himself. Fun ending to the show.
All in all another very positive experience from Wrestling Cares Association. When the round one DVD is released I highly recommend a buy and if you are in LA for SummerSlam weekend go out of your way to check out the next show.
That wraps it up from Gardena. I want to put over Mike Johnson for doing this at some many live shows. It is freakin’ hard! I get it now! See you all next time and if you’re interested you can follow me on Twitter @MikeEpsenhart is the handle. Good night!
2013 - WWC ran their Summer Madness iPPV. Jose Perez filed the following report:
WWC’s “Summer Madness 2013” was held last night at the “Hector Sola Bezares Coliseum” in Caguas, PR. In front of a packed arena, with estimates of over 8,500 fans in attendance, the company put up a strong effort with this event. Good, entertaining matches for which the crowd was hot all throughout the evening.
This show had a “throw-back” feel to it, and for very good reason. The main event of the evening was between two legends of professional wrestling in the Puerto Rico scene: Carlos Colon Sr. vs. Invader #1.
I went to the arena to with the intention of attending the event live. However, when I arrived, the line to purchase tickets was long enough that it went around the building with approximately 1,800 waiting. I have not seen this type of turnout and excitement for a WWC event in close to a decade. I actually returned home to watch the show on iPPV. Here are the results from the show:
*WWC Jr. Heavyweight Title - Battle Royal: AJ Castillo became the new champion after defeating “Diabólico”, Barrabas Jr., Steve Joel, Zcion RT1, Jay Velez and the returning Ricochet.
*Xix Xavant defeated “Cuban Assassin” Fidel Sierra w/ Fantasy
*WWC Universal Heavyweight Title Match: Chris Angel retained the Universal title after defeating Kenny Dykstra
*WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title Match: “El Chico Ilegal” Chicano retained the PR title after defeating Bronco #1
*WWC World Tag Team Title – Triple Threat Match: Sons of Samoa became the new Tag Team champions after defeating the teams of Thunder & Lightning and Andy Leavine & Samson Walker
*Retirement vs Mask/Hair Match: “Super Fenix” w/ Orlando Toledo defeated “Mr. Ray-tings” Ray Gonzalez. In my humble opinion this was the match of the evening. Both men worked really hard and had the crowd eating every move they made. The false finishes in this one were so well executed that even the an experienced referee like “Pelayito” Vazquez found himself confused at two different points in the latter stages of the match. Gonzalez looked shocked while sitting in the ring after the match. There was a complete silence in the arena for a few minutes until Gonzalez stood up and started took a bow in the middle of the ring. At that point the crowd gave him a huge ovation. Lightning and Chicano came out to the ring and hugged Gonzalez in the ring. Gonzalez, with tears in his eyes, then went around the ringside area shaking hands with the fans. When he got to the entrance way he turned to say thank you to the fans once again and then disappeared through the curtains. There were a lot of fans that were very moved by what happened and were crying. It was a very surreal moment.
*“El Boricua Mayor” Savio Vega defeated Carlito Caribbean Cool. Solid match put together by these two. Towards the end of the match Carlito took a bite of the apple and went to spit it on Vega, but he ducked. Vega immediately went for the “green mist” and this time Carlito ducked. Vega went to the opposite corner. Carlito then charged towards the corner, Vega moved and Carlito went shoulder first into the ringpost, only for Vega to get him in a roll-up from behind for the 3 count. Fans were on their feet for the last few minutes of the match. After a few minutes Carlito extended his hand to Vega. They shook hands and then Carlito low-blowed Vega. After that he grabbed a steel chair and punded on Vega several times. AJ Castillo and Jay Velez came out for the save only to eat a “back-stabber” each. Carlito took another bite of the apple; he then threw it to the crowd and spit the rest on Savio Vega’s face. As he made his way out of the ring, the fan who caught the apple threw it back at Carlito, with him reacting by smiling at them and then leaving to the back.
*For WWC Control – Legends Match: “El acróbata de Puerto Rico” Carlos Colon Sr. defeated “The Puertorican Dream” Invader #1 via pinfall in yet another controversial finish. Taking into consideration that this was a match between two legends well over 65 years old, it was and good match for what it was. At one point during the match Invader left the ring and went to the back and came back with two guys carrying a large plywood covered in barbwire. He placed it in one of the corners of the ring, intending to send Colon Sr. into it. However, Colon reversed and it was Invader who ended up tangled in the barbwire. Colon then went for the figure 4 while Invader was still tangled up in the wire, but he grabbed the bottom rope forcing Colon to let go of the hold. The ref then helped Invader get out of the barbwire to continue the match. They went back and forth and the crowd was into every shot and every move they made. Crowd was on their feet for the duration of the entire match. The finish came with Invader going for the “heart punch”, but Colon turned and received it on his back. The force of the “punch” pushed Colon into the turnbuckle, then landing flat on his back. Invader took advantage of this and went for the cover with his feet up in the ropes. The ref counted the 1-2-3 and declared Invader the winner. Out came Stacy Colon as well as the members of the PR Wrestling Commission and told the ref that he had to re-start the match because of what Invader did. The ref called for the bell and the match re-started. Invader went after Stacy Colon and grabbed her by the hair. Colon Sr. recovered and gave Invader a “back-stabber” (…well he tried and it looked similar to it…) and covered him for the win. After the match Invader told Stacy to be careful because he will be looking for revenge and will come after her. Colon Sr. then took the mic and told Invader that to get to her he will need to go through him.
As I mentioned earlier, overall it was a really good and entertaining show. There were some booking decisions that were a bit questionable, but we will have to see where they decide to take the stories. Congratulations to WWC and their team on the success of this event. Now we start the build up towards the “Aniversario 40” event, which is scheduled for September. The following are some notes and comments about the event:
The iPPV stream was sharp and crisp all throughout the show. Suggestions would be to set up the hard camera in a straight angle in order to get a better view of the action in the whole ring. Also, I did not need to see the announcers drinking beer while commenting the matches and did not care for “The Wizard” cursing all throughout the show. I am not a prude by any means, but that kind of language when it is overdone takes away from what is happening in the ring.
Awesome crowd! Very close to selling out the building. However, when a fan pays for general admission, they should be seated in general admission. Around 8:45PM when WWC looked at the long line of people outside, they decided to start pushing people that were inside the building from the general admission areas to the numbered seating area. Not fair for those that paid the $15 to be seated there and then had to deal with people that paid $10 having the same seats. I understand that the $15 tickets were not moving, and that is why they made the decision, but why not go back to the fans that did buy those tickets and refund the $5 difference as a token of good faith? Just saying…
QUICK NOTE: I wanted to take a quick moment to apologize for the weekly column, “Isle of Puerto Rico”, not being published in the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately I have been out of the country and doing some traveling for work and have not been able to get the time to type up the columns. I have already started working on this week’s and should have it ready for sometime mid-week with tons of information about “WWL’s Dream Matches Tour”, WWC en route to Aniversario 40, NBPW debut event results and much much more…
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