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8/6 THIS DAY IN HISTORY

August 6th

On this day in history ....

1963 - Ali Bay defeats Gory Guerrero to win the EMLL NWA Light Heavyweight Title in El Paso, Texas.

1994 - Chris Candido & Brian Lee defeat The Rock N' Roll Express for the Smoky Mountain Tag Team Title in Johnson City, Tennessee, ending Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson's eighth title reign after only a day. Candido & Lee had lost the belts the day before in Knoxville, Tennessee.

1995 - WCW held the Clash Of The Champions XXXI in Daytona Beach, Florida at the Ocean Center.  Here are the results from the show:
In matches held before the television broadcast:
- Johnny B. Badd defeated Big Bubba Rogers.
- The Nasty Boys defeated David Sierra & Ricky Santana.
- Brian Pillman defeated Marcus Bagwell.
- Hulk Hogan defeated Kamala via DQ.
In matches that aired on TBS:
- Sting & Road Warrior Hawk defeated Meng & Kurasawa when Hawk pinned Kurasawa.  After the match, Kurasawa "broke" Hawk's arm.
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Alex Wright.
- WCW Television Champion The Renegade defeated Paul Orndorff.
- Harlem Heat & Sherri Martel defeated Bunkhouse Buck, Dick Slater & Col. Robert Parker to earn a tag team title match.
- Big Van Vader defeated Arn Anderson & Ric Flair in a handicap match when Vader pinned Anderson with a powerbomb.

2001 - Yoshihiro Tajiri defeats X-Pac for the WWF Light Heavyweight Title in Anaheim, California.

2009 - TNA broadcast Impact.  Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

We start off this week’s show with a look back at Samoa Joe’s convincing victory . . . whoops, he lost to Hernandez. We also heard from Bobby Lashley and saw Mick Foley become the Legends Champion.

We see footage from earlier today when the Main Event Limo arrived with Eric Young emerging with Kurt Angle. Apparently there is a deal between the two factions.

We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike ‘You forgot to connect the doll’ Tenay and Don ‘We’re Going to Wally World’ West.

If it is a few minutes after nine, it must be Main Event Mafia time. Kurt says that a great injustice was done last week. Mick Foley allegedly won the Legends Title from Kevin Nash by pinning him. Kurt says that two things went wrong in that match. First, Sting was in the crowd and he caused a distraction. Then Bobby Lashley made his way to the ring and caused all of the damage. Kurt says that Bobby was not the legal man in the match. Therefore, the match was null and void. Kurt says that he talked to the TNA board of directors and they agreed that the match was a sham. They agreed to let the outcome stand on one condition. That would be that Kevin Nash get another shot at the Legends Title at Hard Justice. Kurt says that he is here to protect his family. Kurt says that he has been forced to strike a deal.

The World Elite come out and Eric Young has a mic. Kurt says that before they start the celebration, Kurt tells Eric that it is an honor and a privilege to do business with him. Eric says that the World Elite and the Main Event Mafia together as a team, they will be revered as the greatest team of wrestlers ever. It is his honor and privilege to be taking over TNA side by side with Kurt Angle. Eric tells Kurt that his men are 100% dedicated to the cause. They will do whatever it takes. He says that it is sad because it did not have to be like that. If the sick disgusting fools of this nation did not give him the respect that they deserve and treated them like stars, this could have been avoided. It is not only about Mick Foley, Bobby Lashley and TNA; it is about an entire nation. It is about a sick nation that should feel guilt for what they are about to do to their heroes. He says that it is everyone’s fault. He tells them to let the cleansing begin.

Mick is in his office and Jeremy asks him about this. Mick says that this is the wrestling business and anything can happen. Mick says that nobody is bigger than the business. Mick says that he is going to war because this is a night that neither of them will ever forget. We see Sting and Lashley in the office and we go to commercial.

We are back and Lauren is with Daniels. Lauren asks about the deal to have Eric Young make a mark of him. Daniels talks about how Eric Young fought for the company for seven years. Daniels asks Eric if he didn’t get enough attention as a kid. He tells Eric to stand up and be a man.

The Motor City Machine Guns walk into the shot and they are amazed at the camera. Daniels tells Shelly and Sabin to pay attention because they jobs are in jeopardy. Shelley says that they haven’t been on television for a month. Daniels says that is because they aren’t doing anything to be noticed. Daniels wants them to join him at ringside.

Match Number One: Eric Young with Sheik Abdul Bashir and Kiyoshi versus Daniels with the Motor City Machine Guns

Young attacks Daniels from behind as the bell rings. Daniels with a kick and chops followed by a leg lariat. Daniels with an Irish whip and flying forearm into the corner. Young is pulled to the floor by Kiyoshi and Daniels hits a Suicide Dive. Bashir tries to interfere and Daniels stops him. Bashir is able to work over Daniels and they return to the ring. Young with a back elbow and he gets a near fall. Shelley and Sabin are more preoccupied by video game manuals. Daniels with an Irish whip but he charges into a boot and Young with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Young sends Daniels into the turnbuckles and then he chokes Daniels in the ropes. Daniels punches Young but Young with a swinging neck breaker and then he puts Daniels in the Crippler Crossface. Young with a slam and then he goes to the turnbuckles for a moonsault but Daniels moves. Daniles with a flying forearm and spinning heel kick. Daniels with a running knee into the corner and then Daniels with a palm thrust and driver for a near fall. Daniels with the Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Daniels with an uranage and it is time for the BME but Young rolls out of the way. Daniels with a kick and he sets for the Angel’s Wings but Kiyoshi with mist to the eyes while Bashir distracts the referee. Young with a piledriver for the three count.
Winner: Eric Young

After the match, Bashir and Kiyoshi attack The Motor City Machine Guns. We go to commercial.

We are back with a look at what is scheduled for tonight’s show.

We go to Lauren who is with Robert Roode, James Storm, and Team 3D. Lauren asks if they can put their differences aside. Roode says they don’t want to talk about the past or their history. Roode says that he knows Eric better than anyone. They grew up together in Canada and they worked together before they joined TNA. Roode says that Eric forgot about the day that he begged Jeff Jarrett for a job with the company. Roode says that he did the same thing. Roode says that he is not going to stand for this. He will not let Eric Young dictate his future. Ray says that he can understand why Roode and Storm are pissed at Eric Young. Eric Young cost them their IWGP titles last week. Ray says that Devon is so pissed he might not utter ‘Testify’. Devon shows that no matter how angry he is, he can say ‘Testify’

Match Number Two: Doug Williams, Rob Terry, Booker T, and Scott Steiner versus Team 3D, Robert Roode, and James Storm

Steiner and Ray start things off and Steiner with a kick and punch. Steiner with a rake of the eyes and a slam and then Steiner poses. Ray with a side slam for a near fall. Ray follows that with a splash for a near fall. Devon tags in and they hit a double shoulder tackle. Williams tags in and he connects with a knee and punch. Devon with the flying back elbow and then he sends Williams into the corner followed by punches. Storm tags in and he punches Williams but Williams gets a near fall and punches Storm. Storm with an uranage for a near fall. Williams charges into a boot and Storm with a neck breaker for a near fall. Roode tags in and they hit a double suplex. Time to waste time and announce their team name. Rob Terry is able to tag in and he hits a double clothesline. Terry with a slam to Roode. Terry with a short arm clothesline. Terry tries for a running power slam but Roode gets out of the hold and he chops Terry. Rob with an Irish whip and he runs into a boot. Roode with a blockbuster and all eight men are in the match and the referee has lost control. Ray and Williams are now in the ring and Ray with a slam and it is time for the Wassup head butt.

Time for the tables to be called, but Eric Young, Bashir, and Kiyoshi come to the ring. Daniels and the Motor City Machine Guns come out.

Kevin Nash comes out and Nash attack Storm and Sabin. Mick Foley is out but so is Kurt Angle. Ray runs Angle into the ring post. Sting is out and so is Samoa Joe. Bobby Lashley attacks Joe. Security has come out.

Back in the ring, Traci Brooks pushes Robert Roode off the turnbuckles and Rob Terry with a choke slam. You mean the match is still going on? He gets the three count.
Winners: Rob Terry, Doug Williams, Scott Steiner, and Booker T

After the match The British Invasion attack Roode, but Storm comes back into the ring. The brawl moves into the crowd and we go to commercial.

We are back and the brawl continues. Sting has found Kurt Angle while Storm and Roode are battling with the British Invasion. They are going outside and there is sunshine in Orlando at 10:00 pm as Foley, Sting, and Angle go to the floor. We have a security camera feed and now a cameraman has arrived. Foley has Angle choked and then he has help from Sting as Angle is sent into a table. Angle returns the favor to Sting.

There is more brawling in the back.

Back in the ring, we have the Motor City Machine Guns and Daniels attacking Kiyoshi. Daniels with the BME to Kiyoshi.

There is trouble in the locker room as Lashley and Joe have to be separated. Hey there’s Billy Gunn. Nash hits Foley in the face while Ray hits a table that is covering Booker T with a steel chair.

Team 3D work over Doug Williams outside. Daniels and the Machine Guns work over the rest of the World Elite. Now Team 3D and Sting work over Steiner with a trash can. Storm hits Rob Terry with a trash can.

Here comes the police.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Mike says that the brawl was nothing that was ever seen during the days of the nWo.

We see footage from the match between Sarita and Alyssa Flash. We also see footage of Traci joining the Main Event Mafia.

Match Number Three: Alyssa Flash and Traci Brooks versus Sarita and Taylor Wilde

Wilde and Traci start and Wilde with a waist lock and arm drag. Wilde with a kick but Traci with an Irish whip. Wilde with an arm drag and Traci goes into the ropes. Flash tags in and Wilde with a kick but Flash throws Wilde to the mat. Sarita tags in and Flash with a kick and chop. Sarita with a rana and a chop. Flash with a forearm to Sarita who is on the turnbuckles. Sarita with an arm drag and Flash goes to the floor. Wilde tags in and she helps Sarita with a cross body onto Flash and Traci. Wilde gets a near fall. Traci holds Wilde’s leg but Taylor kicks Traci. Flash slams Wilde and she gets a near fall. Traci with a kick to the midsection followed by a slap. Traci chokes Taylor in the ropes. Traci with knees to the back followed by a clothesline and she gets a near fall. Flash and Traci both work over Taylor and Flash with a curb stomp for a near fall. Traci tags in and she keeps Taylor from making the tag. Wilde with forearms and then they both try for a cross body and both go down. Flash and Sarita tag in and Sarita with an elbow to Traci and a drop kick to Flash. Sarita with a kick to Traci. Flash with a full nelson but Sarita kicks Traci. Sarita tries to get Flash with a submission hold. Sarita with a small package for the three count.
Winners: Taylor Wilde and Sarita

After the match, Traci and Alyssa attack Taylor and Sarita. Traci takes care of Taylor while Flash hits a Michinoku Driver on Sarita.

Lauren is with Angelina Love, Velvet, and Madison and Lauren tells Angelina about the four corner match next week. Velvet says that she is sick of this. It is time for them to do something about this and they will start with ODB. Angelina tells ODB to bring Cody and she will bring Velvet for a match at the pay per view.

We see the remnants of the battle and Hernandez makes it to the Impact Zone. Kip James is cleaning things up and Hernandez wants to know what happened. Kip is angry that he has to clean things up while he asks Hernandez where he was.

We go to commercial.

We are back and A.J. Styles is with Lauren and Lauren reminds A.J. that if he wins tonight, he is in the main event at the pay per view. A.J. says that he has never seen anything like this in seven years. A.J. says that a meteor could hit the Earth, but it will not take away from his focus to be in the main event at Hard Justice.

It is time to run through the card for Hard Justice.

It is time to take a look at Hernandez’s time in TNA.

Mike Tenay interviewed Hernandez and it is time to watch it. Mike asks Hernandez about his injury. He says that he got attacked from behind and he had to have neck surgery. He talks about growing up in a military family. Hernandez is asked about the flag burning incident with Konnan and Hernandez says that his father was not happy with the angle and he refused to talk to Hernandez. Hernandez mentions how his father is very patriotic and he wanted to re-enlist in 2001 after being retired for more than fifteen years. He says that he is still trying to rebuild things with his father. Hernandez is asked about Homicide. He says that he wishes Homicide nothing but the best right now and he says that they will be tag team champions again.

Homicide is with Lauren and Lauren asks about Hernandez’s comments but Homicide wants to talk about the X Division title. He turns his attention to Samoa Joe and the Nation of Violence. Homicide says that the Latino Nation is bigger than the Nation of Violence. Homicide talks about Taz and he says that 187 is stronger than a 13. Homicide says that his partner beat him, but he will hurt Joe at Hard Justice.

Matt Morgan is walking in the back as we go to commercial.

We are back and we take a look back at A.J. Styles victory over Matt Morgan last week.

Match Number Four: A.J. Styles versus Matt Morgan in Match Number Two of the Best of Three Who Joins the Main Event Match

Styles goes for the leg but Morgan tosses him away. A.J. goes for the leg again and he cannot get a good hold on it. A.J. goes to the apron and he is able to get Morgan down and he kicks Morgan in the leg and connects with an elbow drop. Styles works on the leg but Morgan kicks Styles off. Morgan with a clothesline and then he hits the elbows in the corner. Morgan with a splash into the corner and Styles goes down. Morgan picks up Styles and drops him to the mat. Morgan poses and then he turns around and Styles with a punch and he tries for a cross body but Morgan catches him and hits a fallaway slam. Morgan chokes Styles in the ropes and then he hits a splash onto the back. Morgan chokes Styles with his boot and then he hits a leg drop on the apron. Morgan tries for a choke slam but Styles kicks out of the hold. Styles escapes another attempt and hits an enzuigiri followed by punches. Morgan charges into boots from Styles and Styles tries for a tornado DDT but Styles hits a Pele kick for a two count. Styles goes to the apron but Morgan gets to his feet and Styles avoids Morgan. Styles with a shoulder and a kick to the knee. Styles tries for the springboard 450 but Morgan moves. Morgan hot shots Styles into the ropes and hits the Hellevator for the three count.
Winner: Matt Morgan

We are told that D’Angelo Dinero is coming on August 16th.

Jeremy Borash is stopping Kurt Angle as he is leaving the Impact Zone. Kurt says that it is better to leave since the cops are involved. Abyss wants to talk to Jeremy because he is freaking out about the $50,000 bounty. He says that he can only trust Lauren. He asks Jeremy if he can trust him and Jeremy is holding a hammer behind his back. Consequences Creed wants to know what is going on. Abyss apologizes to Creed and then Lethal attacks Abyss but it does not work and they are thwarted.

Sting is walking in the back and we go to commercial.

Match Number Five: Brutus Magnus with Rob Terry, Doug Williams, Hernandez’s briefcase, and Team 3D’s IWGP Tag Title Belts versus Sting

Before the match starts, the referee sends Williams and Terry to the back.

They lock up and Magnus backs Sting into the corner and he punches Sting. Now it is Sting’s turn and he hip tosses Magnus followed by a drop kick and clotheslines. Magnus goes to the floor to regroup with his fellow British Invasion . . . by himself. Sting follows after Magnus and Magnus begs for mercy when they return to the ring. Magnus with a kick and European uppercut and a flying back elbow. Magnus clips Sting’s left leg. Magnus with elbow drops to the leg as we go to commercial.

We are back and Magnus continues to work on the leg but Sting with an enzuigiri. Magnus with a punch but Sting wants more and he punches Magnus. Sting with an Irish whip but Magnus with a boot when Sting tries for the Stinger Splash. Sting catches Magnus off the turnbuckles and Sting puts Magnus in the Scorpion Death Lock and Magnus taps.
Winner: Sting

After the match, Magnus tries to attack Sting but Sting with a back elbow and Sting punches Magnus. The World Elite comes to the ring and it is six-on-one so Sting has things under control. They finally gang up on Sting and they kick him in the corner and choke him. Bobby Lashley and Mick Foley come to the ring and Lashley takes care of the World Elite and Foley does the same.

The Main Event Mafia are back in the building and Angle, Joe, and Steiner join in the attack. Booker T makes his way to the ring along with Nash. Booker with forearms to Lashley and Angle with punches as well. Hernandez is out and he has a chain swinging above his head and the Main Event Mafia and World Elite leave the ring.

2007 - WWE released Aaron Stevens and KC James.  Stevens returned to the company years later as Damien Sandow.

2008 - TNA announced the following:

UPDATE ON THE NEW TNA TELEVISION PRODUCTION FACILITY IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

As reported last week, TNA Wrestling is in final stages of a plan that is three years in the making. The massive "TNAtv" production facility should be completed in the coming weeks, housing all of TNA Wrestling's pre and post production, including "iMPACT!", Xplosion, international programming, DVDs, TNA Today, on-air graphics and commercials, as well as audio and video studios.

"TNAtv is the next logical step in the growth of the company. The ultimate goal is to deliver the best product possible to the fans, and now we will have all the tools to do that," said Kevin Sullivan, Director of Production at TNA.

TNA will also have one of the largest Hi-Definition facilities in Nashville, Tennessee, as they prepare for the future of broadcast television. The Hi-Def wing will house four Avid Symphony Nitris DX edit suites, while one Final Cut Pro HD suite will house TNA Home Video.

"It is a beautiful facility, first class all the way. We can't wait move into our new home," said Sullivan.

TNAwrestling.com will have updates on TNAtv and will post pictures of the new production facility upon its completion.

2009 - WWE developmental FCW ran Tampa, FL.  Michael Spears filed the following results:

 Gabriel pinned Espiral. After the match Gabriel cut a promo about wanting to become FCW Champion

- Sheamus & Drew McIntyre defeated Max McGuirk & Wes Brisco when Sheamus pinned McGuirk

- The Abraham Washington Show (hosted by Abraham Washington along with Rosa Mendes and Troy Jackman) featured Alberto Banderas (formerly Dos Caras Jr.). This was actually a very entertaining segment where Washington thought he had Antonio Banderas instead of Alberto Banderas. Washington making fun of Banderas’s gold led to an altercation between Banderas and Jackman which Banderas got the better of. The segment finished with Washington saying he was going to have karate lessons next week so Jackman can learn how to fight.

- Johnny Curtis pinned Mr. Tarver

- Dawson Alexander pinned Curt Hawkins

- Lance Archer pinned a returning Eric Escobar

- Brett DiBiase, Bo Rotundo & Duke Rotundo beat Trent Beretta, Caylen Croft & Dylan Klein after DiBiase pinned Beretta

- Yoshi Tatsu & Tiffany beat Ricky Ortiz & Alicia Fox when Yoshi pinned Ortiz

- Justin Angel pinned Alex Riley in a decent match

- FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion Tyler Reks retained his title in a triple threat match against Heath Slater and Joe Hennig when Reks pinned Slater

Notes:

- There really wasn’t anything must-see tonight.

- Angel and Riley had a decent back-and-forth match.

- The crowd was really into the main even with dueling chants for Reks and Hennig.

- How good can a show be when the Abraham Washington show was one of the highlights?

- It was nice to see Eric Escobar back in the ring.

2010 - The NWA Legends Fanfest opened with a special Q&A featuring Ric Flair and Harley Race discussing their memories of Starrcade '83.  Mike Johnson filed the following report:

We are on site at the NWA Legends Fanfest  in Charlotte, NC.  The convention will open with a special Q&A sessions featuring the two men who headlined the first-ever Starrcade event in November 1983, Ric Flair and Harley Race.  

There is a big backdrop promoting the forthcoming Ric Flair "Wooo" lottery game, which will debut for the North Carolina Lottery next month.

Chris Cruise welcomed everyone to the weekend.  He said there were some true legends tonight and everyone gave Flair and Race a standing ovation.  Cruise talked about the history of the first Starrcade event, discussing how it was the beginning and end of different NWA championship eras as well as the first branded supershow event using closed circuit technology over several states.

Race was asked about the responsibilities of being the NWA World champion.  Race said that in that era, traveling the world used to be a much harder hassle.  He said that one had to be able to go to wherever you were sent and take whoever you were facing and then deliver the absolute best you could deliver.  He said that he felt he did that as did the person sitting next to him.  Flair said that he met Harley in 1973 before he even came to Charlotte the first time.  He said that growing up in Minneapolis, there was a place called the Chestnut Tree where a lot of toughs congregated.  He said that Race, who was teaming with Larry Hennig at the time, walked into the place and Flair told his friends someone was going to get their ass kicked.  He found out later from his father that Race was stabbed in a fight there and that made him an even bigger hero. 

Flair said that there were names you idolized when he get into the business for their work ethic like Race, Ray Stevens, Dick Murdoch, etc. and talked about meeting Race and riding with him to Denver when he first broke into the business.  He said Race drove 100 miles an hour in a snowstorm and 100 miles an hour was normal for Race to drive no matter what.  He said that they were going over mountains, drinking at 100 miles an hour in a rental car.  He said that as his career grew, he saw Harley became World champion.  Race set the bar "so high" for the champion because he went into the buildings with whoever he was facing and took them to a new level.  He said Race "was like God" and always came to the buildings dressed nice and said Race was what he wanted to be.

Flair said that sometimes you went to venues to face people who weren't world class performers but if you were the World champion, you had to take them to the level you needed them to be.  He said that if you were the World champion, "you were in the mack daddy seat" and had to carry the load.

Race was asked about when Flair's name began to be circulated around as a potential World champion.  Race said that it wasn't long after he debuted because Flair had a style and demeanor right away.  He said there were eight members who could put you in the race for the title and when Race heard Flair's name bandied about, "I couldn't recommend him enough" as Flair could take guys who were limited to good and great matches.  Race that anything complimentary Flair said about him so far, if you reverse them, they fit Flair.

They were asked about their first-ever meeting in the ring.  Race said they wrestled so many damn times, it's like the first one was the last one.  He praised Flair's class and work.  Flair said that the first time he wrestled Race was St. Louis.  He didn't believe Race was the champion at the time.  He said that he used to chop guys really hard and Race was one of the few who would say hit me harder.  In return, he would then give it back.  Flair said it was a learning process and imitated how Race would call spots in the ring.  Flair said after five minutes in the ring, he was exhausted.  He said he picked up things from Harley and now Triple H has taken them from him. 

Flair said Race was the first person to do the vertical suplex and even did it to Andre the Giant.  He praised Race for his innovative moves like suplexing someone outside the ring and going to the floor together, going over the top, etc.  Flair said he was told like Dory Funk Jr. and was told if he wanted to get over in the business, he had to get over in St. Louis.  Flair asked how and Funk told him to take bumps like Race because the ring was like concrete and no one bumped in it.

Flair was asked about the Crocketts putting him in contention for the NWA title.  Flair said he used to bug Race and Dusty Rhodes about being the World champion.  Race finally told him he had told him all he could now and it was up to him.  The Crocketts told him in 1980 he was a possibility.  He was sent to St. Louis as part of the process and it was a really political journey.  Flair said when he left Charlotte, it hurt the territory a bit but in the long run made it a bigger company.  Politically, the NWA was run by multiple territories so when it came time to talk about who would be champion, it was about skill, presentation and being able to draw money.  He said that you had to be skilled and you had to be skilled with political allies.  He said it was a much tougher business back then.

Race was asked about working the Charlotte area.  Flair said he has the relationship they have because as heels, they were able to travel together in the territory.  Race said they traveled a lot together and when he came in as NWA champion, putting them together was what it made it work the best.  Fans wanted to see Flair become World champion and they were disappointed when it was time for him not to be there. 

Race said that Flair came in during a period where they all wrestled seven nights a week, then did everything Race did and more, because Flair was still a young man when he was given the belt.  Race said that he set a bar that Flair couldn't go lower than, so Flair ran right at it and went over it and still today runs at it.  He said Flair was the greatest thing to ever walk into the squared circle.  Fans gave Flair a standing ovation and he got very emotional, tearing up.  Race said that the way the fans just responded, that's the type of respect Flair gets around the world.  Flair said that he felt like he was just inducted into the Hall of Fame again and thanked everyone.

Reid Flair was brought up on stage, wearing a suit jacket and hugged Race and his father.  Flair said that Reid's heard all the Race stories before.  Flair said there is always someone who wants to be a wrestler and Race has a great school.  Flair said having the opportunity to be around someone like Race and learning what's "inside" that helps people become great wrestlers and that's why he sent Reid to live with Race for several months.

Flair told a story about being in Japan at Budokan Hall with Race wrestling Jumbo Tsruta.  They wrestled for an hour and at one point, Race was inadvertently dropped on his head and everyone was scared.  Race returned to the locker room and he was mad.  He told Flair he was going to teach Ric a lesson about the business.  He took Flair to Giant Baba's locker room.  Tsrutua came to Race and thanked him for the match.  Race asked Jumbo if he asked him to suplex him.  Jumbo said, "No but crowd like."  Race popped him and put him down on his rear, then told him not to ever do that again.  Two years later, Flair as champion toured All Japan and the NWA sent Harley as his bodyguard to protect the title.  Harley was in Ric's corner as he defended against Tsruta and the entire time, Race called for Jumbo to suplex him again and again.  Flair said he took like 50 German suplexes.

Ric was asked about his role leading into the first Starrcade.  Flair talked about the entire show being built around him and that the show did well but would have done even better if on the day before and Thanksgiving Day, there wasn't 12 inches of snow.  He said the feeling of all the fans pulling for him to win the World title was awesome.  Flair said they did a lot to build to the show over the year, including Race putting a bounty on him and other territories played up the storyline as well.  He said Race was at a point in his life where he wanted to go home and relax and promote St. Louis.  Flair said it was a great moment.

Race talked about being offered to walk away from the NWA title and go to the WWF right before Starrcade in 1983.  Race said that there are things and moments where you have to make a decision and it has to come from what you, as a person, truthfully believe.  He said that he couldn't believe in what they were trying to get him to do and had too much respect for himself, Flair and the wrestling business.  He said that he couldn't do it and Flair didn't deserve to have that happen to him.  He said Flair had the NWA title for a short period and deserved "his just try to go everywhere in the world with it."  Race said that cheating Flair out of that run wasn't an option and if he had to do it again, he wouldn't "change a damn thing."

Race was asked if he was offered money.  He said there were certain stories that weren't meant to be told in front of an audience and to be recorded and replayed over and over.  Flair said he talked about some of it in his book and said that had Harley not come to Greensboro, it would have changed the face of the business and the business wouldn't be where it is today.  He said the evolution of the NWA and WCW would have been very difficult.  He said that only Race knows the truth of what happened but he doesn't think anyone involved in the business would have thought for a second that Race wouldn't be there.

Flair was asked about the art of cutting a money drawing promo.  Flair said that for him, the business was so real and he believed 90 to 95% of what he said.  He said that he had passion for it and when they put the microphone in front of him, he felt it and noted that when you are wrestling one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, it wasn't hard to get the words to come out.  Flair said it's an emotional process that's just right there for him and sometimes it works for him and sometimes it doesn't.  Race praised Flair for his promos and said that when someone talks from the heart, it reflects onto the fans.  Race said they were both gifted at cutting promos.  He said his last hope at that time was to see Flair become what he eventually did.  He said that no one deserved it then or now more than Ric did.

Flair said that after his match with Shawn Michaels, Reid came running to him in the locker room and told a story about Race getting up clapping for the match and looked around the room, so everyone knew to get up and clap or else.  Flair thanked Race.  Race said that their era will survive what is out there now.

Race was asked his reaction to losing the belt.  Race said it was two-sided deal as passing the torch was the best thing he ever did in the ring.  He said that he knew he was passing it to a person that thought as much about the importance of the title as Race did.  He said they did Lord knows how many 60 to 90 minute matches and he knew he wasn't passing the title to someone who wouldn't take it and do the same that Race did.  Race said his body was telling him it was time to drop it.  He said that the way he walks today, he has no one to blame but himself now.  He said that Flair being able to take the same drive in the ring made Race feel that he couldn't and wouldn't have dropped it to a better choice.  Race said that when he passed the torch, he decided the only time he'll ever dress in a suit is a wedding or funeral, which is why he dresses the way he does.

Flair was asked about the feeling of winning the World title that night.  He said it was a great feeling and that having it and being able to prove yourself was an awesome feeling.  He said Race advised him to get to TBS and get on cable.  He said the first time he was World champ, he would go to places where there were no fans because no one knew he who was.  The second title win really elevated him to being a true champion as opposed to a flash in the pan deal. 

Flair was asked if his first title run was something of a tryout.  Race answered saying at the time, there were a lot of political arguments going on about who got the most votes to make what needed happen.  He said Flair was caught up in the middle of an argument that worked great for Race and bad for Flair, but in the long run, set Flair on the path to his greatness.

Flair and Race were asked about how intense the locker rooms were back during the territories.  Flair said there were times that there was legitimate heat between the wrestlers and that it was a whole different world.  Flair said with no contracts you were working to be at the top of the card and there was legitimate animosity and competition to get into the top spots.  He said it created a whole different atmosphere than the business has today.

A fan asked about Gene Kiniski refereeing the match and whether he got in their way.  Flair said Kiniski did and Race "told him."  Flair said Kiniski was called a "clumsy son of a bitch" and told that some things never change.  Flair said Kiniski took it the same way everyone did when Race did something, he took it and kept quiet.

A fan asked about the art of storytelling in the ring and how it's lacking today.  Flair said that the business is different now since it's all about television and about getting the viewing audience.  Flair said that there are guys good enough to do anything he and Race did but that's not what their job is.  He said it could be their passion but they won't get the chance because the changes in the business.  He said Undertaker, Randy Orton, Batista, John Cena, Triple H, Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels could all do it.  He said the younger ones have it in their hearts to do it even if they don't have the experience.  Flair said people think he puts up for Triple H but the reality is he doesn't need to get in the ring every night and goes for 30 minutes.  Flair jokes that he watches him and thinks "he's seen this before" because it's Flair's old deal.   Race said there are names that can perform at every level and do a heck of a lot more on the house shows than they do on the WWE TV.  He said that's the way it should be but it's TV so when you watch it, you see what you get.   Flair said he'd like to see any of the names he mentioned drink all night with Harley Race and then make TV at 9 AM before going to a double shot that night.

A fan asked when they had the time to talk to the other wrestlers about what they were going to do.  Flair said, "Are you kidding me?" and commented that they only talked about it in the ring, certainly never before or after.

A fan asked if they tried to go out of their way to make Starrcade 83's main event "more special" than any previous bout.  Flair said that they saw each other all of two minutes.  Flair said usually Race said, "It's like Greyhound, leave the driving to me" although he didn't that night out of respect.

A fan asked about Dusty Rhodes hogging up the spotlight the night of Starrcade and asked if Flair ever wanted to slap him for it.  Flair disagreed and said that the show was built around him and that was Dusty's call.  The fan mentioned Rhodes being credited with killing Crockett's company with bad booking.  Ric disagreed and said what killed Crockett was going West of the Mississippi River when they didn't have the TV strength.  He said that if they hadn't, Crockett would still be in business.

A fan asked about the phantom title changes in New Zealand.  Flair asked if everyone wanted to hear the truth.  Race decided they were going to change the title themselves because promoter Steve Rickard was a good guy and needed the help.  Flair said they were going to get in trouble and Race told him they were doing it, so Flair said, "Yes sir!"  Flair said that if Paul Boesch hadn't been there, no one would have known.  He said that if Harley wanted to do something, he had the respect to pull it off.  Flair joked he was actually a 17 time World champion and kept going up on numbers.  Race said that he knew he was going to get chewed out over the switches and "it happened from every angle you could imagine."  Flair quipped they happened over the phone, not face to face.

Flair was asked about their thoughts on World Class, Fritz Von Erich and the Von Erich family.  Race said he started wrestling in St. Louis and Fritz was a good sized name there.  He said that when Fritz took over the Dallas territory, everyone in the NWA stood up to help him.  He said getting one Von Erich into the business was a good idea but three or four didn't work out so well.  Race said that David was the best of them.  He said that the time, if you could get in and out of St. Louis, you would be in contention because all the TV was sent to all the NWA promoters.  He said he and Ric were lucky to be in the right point and time and spot in St. Louis.  He said that he didn't think anyone deserved the NWA title more than himself or Ric.  Race said that in that era, you needed to pull out an hour with anyone you were put in the ring with and none of the Von Erichs could have done it.  Race said it was never planned for David to win the World title from him.

A fan asked if they ever got tired of carrying the World title around.  Flair said never.  It was noted that Flair had 12 robes stolen so at times, he had to stop checking them on airplanes.  Flair said that everyone took care of the belt but didn't have the same respect for the robes.  Flair said he took a lot of his mannerisms with the robe and the belt from Race.  He said the respect in the business changed as it went from returning to the locker room to find the robe laid out and smoothed for him in 1981 to it being tossed in a ball in a corner in 1995.

A fan asked about working and carrying the Von Erichs in the ring.  Flair said the Von Erichs put together a phenomenal promotion and had amazing TV behind them but the "boys never had a chance."  Flair said that Fritz was in denial and no one wanted to deal with the problems, from David on down.  Flair said that everyone knew what was going on but the family was in denial with themselves and the boys.

Flair was asked about the night Baby Doll joined forces with the Horsemen.  Flair said that she always had eyes for him.  Baby Doll was in the back, so Flair called her onto the stage.  He said that she was such a huge part of the promotion and her coming over to them was a huge coup.  He said she had more fun with them.  She said that growing up in the business, being put with them was amazing.  She said she was the biggest mark in the business and was honored to even be asked to come up.  She said that in her first match, when she was told her first finish, that was when she learned how it was done.  She said that unless you were on the jets and in the limos, you don't really know what it was like and thanked everyone.

Race said that there's no one who hasn't been physically involved in wrestling that understands what it's really like to do the business and do it safely.  He said there are people who talk about what they would do but that's part of why the business has fallen apart.  He said if they taught what they know and Triple H knows, the business would be in a better spot than it is right now.

Flair said that today is better for the wrestlers than it was during their era and they are both happy for that since there are contracts and guys being paid when there are health issues.  He said they don't wish they could make the money John Cena makes because they are happy to see the business at the level it is at now.  Flair said sometimes he doesn't like socializing with guys who don't like the business today because everyone made their own beds and laid in it, himself included.  He said the business is a guy's soap opera now.

Race was asked if there were other names in the early 1980s who could have been in Flair's position to replace him.  Race said there were a lot of qualified people, but only one Ric Flair and that was the right call.  He said time passed him by but it still hasn't passed Flair by and Flair could still make Joe Blow look like Mr. Wrestling.

Flair was asked about wrestling Vader at Starrcade '93 and Race's memories of managing Vader.  Flair said it was something that worked out as Vader was supposed to wrestle Sid Vicious.  Flair said Leon White was a great guy but didn't think he wanted to lose.  Flair said Vader tested him in the ring.  Vader had respect for Race and when he was told to do the right thing, he said "Yes sir" like everyone else.

A ten year old fan asked for advice for someone who wants to be in the wrestling field one day.  Flair said he advised his parents to get him into an amateur wrestling program because it builds self-esteem, which you need in the business.  He said to finish school and get through college.  He said if you still want to do it in ten years, go to Harley's school and if that doesn't exist, go to Tampa, FL (WWE developmental).  Race said amateur wrestling shows everyone that you have the drive and that you are capable to do whatever you want to do.  Race said that if by chance, he's still running a school in ten years, go to www.harleyrace.com.

Flair and Race were asked about Dick Slater and Bob Orton's roles leading into Starrcade 83.  Race said that he had cut a promo putting a reward out on Flair's head but that was as far as his knowledge in the angle went.  He said Flair was involved in it and worked it to a tee to pull it off all over the Carolinas and got everyone in the United States talking about it.  Race said he was lucky to be part of the lucky end of the product and had the weather been better, they would still have records that stood.  Race said he was lucky to get  a great payday in part thanks to that angle.

Flair said Slater and Orton were both World champion caliber wrestlers.  Flair said that he wrestled them with various partners for three months leading into Starrcade and it was a great time.  Flair said they made the people believe and they conducted themselves really seriously.  He said the business is still the same, but the word entertainment changed it so much.  He said that everyone who knows and loves the business knows its a sport.   He said it changed for the better long term.

A fan talked about how nothing in the business makes him want to watch anymore.  He said that the last thing he wanted to watch was Flair's last run.  He said there are no older fans at the shows now and he'd rather watch these two cut promos than anything in the business now.  Flair said he and Race like hearing that but he doesn't know that's the truth.  He said he'll never be the guy who says things aren't better now because he has friends that work there and they have the stresses of a different environment.   He said the structure and camaraderie of the business has changed so much.  He said life has changed and we all have to make that adjustment.  He said they respect that the fans care so much about their accomplishments.

Ric was asked when he really realized he could carry the World title and a promotion.  Flair said he never really thought of it like that and he's had self-confidence issues periodically.  He said he just wanted to hear from a few people that he was doing the right thing and if Race and Blackjack Mulligan felt he was doing well, he was happy.  He said that if he tells someone something, they don't need to ask anyone else because he's that good.  He said that he knew his peers were that good.

Flair was asked about Kerry Von Erich's initials being on the NWA title.  He said it wasn't.  He was asked why he still has the World title belt and Flair said they never asked him for it to be returned and he was sure they would ask for it back, but they never did.  He said they replaced it with the big gold belt and he kept the old one and eventually mounted it.  He said the gold one is in Hogan's possession, which fans booed.

They were asked about the stresses of the travel and pressures.  Flair said he had five unrecorded nervous breakdowns.  You were in the ring for an hour every night in different places, sometimes with the same person, sometimes with different.  He said that even if you wanted to sleep, there was no time.  You got out of an Arena at 11 PM and had to be on a plane at 6 AM.  It was his life and he never thought twice about it and regrets nothing.

Flair was asked about Race working as a substitute for Vader in WCW against Flair.  Flair said it never happened.  Race was asked about his final match and he said he doesn't truthfully know.  He said it was in the mid-90s but he'd have to look it up to tell fans.  He said that to sum his career, it would be a coin flip over who had the better career.  Race said they were both on an untouchable career.  Race said he thought he set a mark, but then can Ric.  He said there was very, very little about his career he would change.

Flair was asked about the Internet and things he'd like to dispel.  He had taken some jabs at it earlier.  Flair said he was being facetious since he'd remember working Race in the 90s. 

A fan who was at Wrestlemania 24 asked Flair about the experience.  He said Shawn Michaels was next to none in the ring.  He said that what fans need to understand about Michaels and Triple H is the level of respect they have for names like Flair and Race.  Michaels wanted to be Ric when he grew up and Ric described him as a unique, special guy with unique level of performance.

Flair was asked about Four Horsemen candidates he wanted that didn't come to pass.  Flair said it wasn't his call, but he wanted people who could talk and wrestle and they, including J.J., could all do it.  Flair was asked about a fantasy Horsemen lineup and he said himself, Harley Race, Dick Murdoch and Jack Brisco.  Flair said you'd never imagine the hell Race and Murdoch raised.  Race said he's surprised they are even free.

A fan asked if they ever watch their own matches.  Flair said that he does it with his son Reid and he likes watching the 80s.

They were asked about Dusty Rhodes.  Flair said he was their best good guy opponent and that at no point could Dusty not hang with them or keep up.  They praised him a lot.  They were asked about Ricky Steamboat.  Race praised him as a performer and person.  Flair said he wanted to tell a story about Steamboat at the Hall of Fame.  Flair told a story about busting open Ricky on the floor of WRAL in Raleigh, NC and Race was visiting.  Race wasn't happy with the final result so he told David Crockett to get some sandpaper and used it on Ricky's face to make it look rougher and harder of a beating.  He said that Steamboat cried the entire time but he did what he needed for the business, because back then it was more real.

They were asked about their favorite wrestlers.  Race said it was Flair and that there was no one out there today who could equal what Flair accomplished.  He said Flair leaped into it in the early 70s and is still in it today and healthy.  Flair said it was a gift that God gave him.

They were asked if they ever felt disrespected by storylines about legend killers, etc.  Race said they were just that, storylines.  Race said they have told their stories and have done it.  Flair said, "Who's going to kill Ric Flair and Harley Race? Nobody."  Flair said he loves when they call him to come to TV and can't wait to see what they have in store for him.  He joked he almost got killed wrestling Randy Orton for 15 minutes (and he said "wrestling").  He said he doesn't take anything for granted.

They were asked to address the fans who assembled from around the world for the convention.  Race said that if it wasn't for the fans, there never would have been a Flair or a Race.  He said if they went into an empty Arena, there wouldn't be pay for long for them.  He said the fans gave them both everything they have.  Race said that they may have been entertaining but it was thanks to the fans and asked them to thank themselves.  Flair said they both have so much respect for the fans and the parents of the fans who came before them.  He said that the fans continue to give them respect even when they are past their prime.  He said normal people don't understand because what they did wasn't normal and thanked everyone.

2010 - As part of the NWA Legends Fanfest in Charlotte, NC, Jim Cornette took part in a Q&A Session.  Mike Johnson filed the following live coverage from the event:

Jim Cornette hit the stage while referee Tommy Young made his way around the room with a wireless mic.

Cornette was asked about Dave Batista's comments that he never learned anything during his time in Ohio Valley Wrestling.  Cornette said that what was best for Batista at the time may not have been the best for the company he worked for, especially since he wasn't best friends with the "son-in-law" at the time.  Cornette said that Batista didn't show a drive or ambition, and given his lack of ability, he had to be pushed as a main event attraction because he couldn't have been a guy in the third match doing armdrags and hiptosses.  He said that a lot of other hungry people like Randy Orton and John Cena learned a lot and there's only been two complaints about OVW for all the time they were part of developmental.  He said he predicted Batista would be a Wrestlemania main eventer, and he was - but because he learned to work out with the "son in law."

The next fan asked Cornette his thoughts on the WWE Nexus angle.  Cornette said he can't knock it because he doesn't watch the show, but reaads what's going on with it.  He said it aggravates him after awhile.  Cornette said WWE should have been getting the younger talent exposed and over a long time ago, but using them now is a step in the right direction.  He said whether you need to expose new talent in groups is another story.

A fan asked Cornette to tell the famous Dairy Queen story from the SMW era.  You can see that footage at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id4rZhN_LEg.

Cornette was asked what was the "craziest situation" he has found himself in.  He joked that he was in a jail cell in Baton Rouge for 90 minutes where everyone knew who he was.  He hit a cop by accident when he went to nail a fan that hit him.  The other person in the cell was laying on a bench with a blanket over it and Cornette was sure it was a dead body, but he was relieved because everyone else in the jail probably would have taken a shot at him because he was such a heel.

When asked about the ECW themed TNA PPV, Cornette joked they are finally up to 1996.  He said it's sad because there are a lot of dedicated fans who loved ECW at the time when wrestling was cool.  He said that while it's "newer" talent, it's guys in their early 40s as opposed to guys from WCW in their early 50s.  He said TNA needs to get new talents over and not pigeon hole them or kill their push after six weeks because someone gets mad at them.  He said he doesn't want to waste time on "that cretin" Vince Russo but asked everyone to imagine what could have happened to TNA if they had spent their money on applying themselves by doing a more serious style similar to UFC instead of doing yet another restart and another attempt to make a first impression or to be Dixie Carter's vehicle to be a TV star with her own promotional photos.

Cornette then told a story about being in a production meeting for TNA.  He jokes there's usually someone from SpikeTV complaining about Russo's spelling.  He talks about how Stevie Richards, who's been a wrestling star for over a decade, is now a therapist.  He told of a vignette that was written where Richards would drug Abyss and beat him up, only Russo didn't know what the name of the "miracle drug" would be.  Then, they would go to commercial and go right to the next segment with no follow-up at all.  Cornette said it was so frustrating, employee's immediate families didn't want to watch.  He compared it to Ring of Honor, which he said hasn't used up millions of dollars and aren't hiring people who were over in 1996 or were professional models, and is trying to do a more serious style.

A fan asked him his thoughts on Ed Ferrara being fired by TNA.  He said that Ferrara lasted all of nine months and was just "the sh**s" to the point he wasn't even fired in an entertaining manner.

Cornette was asked about Bobby Heenan.  Cornette said that one of the reasons he enjoyed working for ROH is because it was the first time he got the chance to work opposite him at ringside because they never had the opportunity before.  He said that many of the things that he did on TBS were things he lifted from Heenan in the old Dick the Bruiser territory.  Cornette said that Heenan perfected the animated manager at ringside and was a better worker than anyone he ever managed except Ray Stevens and Nick Bockwinkel.  Cornette said that he's really sorry that Heenan is having health issues again because he was looking forward to seeing him.  He recounted a story of Heenan's first match, where he saw a backstage brawl, a fan attack him, saw a wreck on the way home and was paid $20, then wondered when he could do it again.

He was then asked a "What if" question of who he would book for a Wrestlemania main event if he was somehow given that power.  Cornette said that he doesn't watch the show but the only way to book a match like that is to start a year in advance deciding who he wanted to be in that position and begin that build as soon as possible.  He said he would want someone young but someone who carries themselves with maturity.  He praised John Cena as someone who gets knocked but does everything that is asked of him and will be responsible and do everything that is asked of him.

The best and worst wrestler of all time - Cornette said that he was going to get heat for anything he answered.  He said the epitome of the worst was The Ultimate Warrior just based on stories he's heard from Bobby Heenan.  He said Warrior wasn't a fan, didn't want to learn to get better and hurt Bobby Heenan by clotheslining him when he wasn't ready, causing Heenan's neck problems.  He said that the nostalgia for Warrior is more self-created than box office.  He said that Warrior's attitude is what makes him the worst.  He said that if someone wants to put everything into his look but not care about anything else makes him the worst.  Cornette said he was picking Don Fargo as the best because there is no way to get heat for naming someone who has been around since the dawn of network television.

A fan asked about Bobby Eaton's health and whether ROH could be on their way to being the number two company.  Cornette said Bobby is doing well and may be there this weekend.  In regard to ROH, he said that when you look at it who loses the most money, that would make ROH the number two organization already since they didn't hire Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff.

Cornette was asked if he's had any further contact with Terry Taylor of late.  Cornette joked that his old friend hasn't called him lately.  Cornette said in regard to TNA "he doesn't give a f***"  He said that he doesn't care to help them any more because he would only give himself a stroke trying to get mad and aggravated about them.  He recounted the story about emailing Terry Taylor and how that landed him a legal letter from TNA over his comments about Vince Russo in said email to Taylor.  He said Taylor has known him for 30 years and others in the company knew him for many, many years so what did they think was going to happen when he received the letter?  He was going to have some fun.  He said that he wanted to frame the letter because it included the statement "Vince Russo is in extreme fear of you."  He said he wanted to have that on his tombstone.  He laughed about them saying he was breaking his confidentiality by discussing Vince Russo with Terry Taylor, the man who hired Cornette.  He said that Terry Taylor "flunked the stooge test" and he put the letter on his website to "f*** with them."

A fan asked which tandem was the best version of the Midnight Express.  Cornette said he wasn't going to name his favorite version.

Cornette was asked how hard Baby Doll hit and told a story about that.

Cornette was asked his opinion on the most underrated wrestler and tag team of all time.  Cornette said that if people saw Davey Richards on a national scale and won't be rated on the level that he should be until he's seen on a major scale.  He said the same thing about the Briscoes, noting their work is great and their promos aren't scripted and they are just being themselves and having fun with all their emotion and passion.

Cornette ragged on a fan for having the courage to wear a John Cena shirt to an NWA Legends Fanfest.  That fan then asked about the Midnights vs. Midnights feud.  Cornette said it was a lot of fun but didn't make any money.  Dusty was fired as the booker so the feud ended up as the second match of the show.  Jim Crockett was booking and didn't like Randy Rose's work, so after six weeks, he wanted to get rid of Rose via a Loser Leaves Town match.  Dennis Condrey was so mad they were going to break up the team, he left.  The George Scott became the booker and wanted to get rid of Cornette, Eaton and Stan, so it became a whole big mess.

A fan asked about short term and long term ROH plans.  Cornette joked that he wanted to make a little bit of money followed by a large amount of money.  He said they want to make more markets viable and more television outlets.  He is looking for more talent and noted they are about to sign a talent from the UK that recently did an ROH camp.  He said that there's room for a harder hitting style. 

Cornette asked about NWA champ Adam Pearce.  Cornette said he does a great job balancing by wrestling in the NWA and booking in the ROH and is a pretty underrated talent.

A fan asked about the ratings and why fans who used to watch WCW and WWE don't flock to ROH.  Cornette said that the "people with the knowledge don't have the money.  The people with the money don't have the knowledge", crediting Dutch Mantel with the quote.  He commented about the "Shyster" in Florida with a friend with all this money.  He said that if people would just try to have a fresher, more logical, more thought out version of pro wrestling, they'd have a chance to build something.

Cornette was asked about the Mulkey Brothers.  He said that Randy and Bill Mulkey were two brothers who just loved wrestling but had no physical skills beyond being able to take an asskicking and taking crazy bumps, splattering on the floor.  He said that fans just loved them and Dusty decided they would run the Mulkeys' hometown in Anderson, SC with the Mulkeys challenging the Midnights for the United States Tag Team championship.  It tickled Dusty to push this so they pushed it on TV and they packed 1,800 fans in a tiny little room.  Cornette said that there was no real chance that a team with zero wins was going to get the belts but they were Anderson natives and everyone came to see it.  Cornette wanted to do a DQ but Dusty wanted the MX to go over so Cornette had them go twenty minutes with the Mulkeys killing the Express the entire time and then the MX getting a fluke win.  Cornette said they ran right out to the waiting car and all they saw behind them were fans streaming out of the building ready to kill because the Mulkeys should have won.

A fan asked Cornette his feelings on Paul Heyman.  He said Heyman could sh** a better TV format than Vince Russo could write, but even Heyman realizes there's nothing he can do with TNA.  So, Heyman babyfaces himself by asking for points and keeps his streak intact if it doesn't happen.  He said that Dixie is giving out parcels of the company to anyone she thinks might be able to turn it around but it's real simple "Fire Russo!"

Cornette was then asked his real feelings on Bubba the Love Sponge.  Cornette said that he watches the January 4th Impact special and the best homegrown team in the company, Beer Money, are laid out on the floor of the show with Bubba the Love Sponge squatting over them to tell fans he knows who did this.  He said that TNA hired him because he was friends with Hulk Hogan and because of a false belief that he would bring viewers to them and in the end, all they did was sacrifice their best tag team for nothing.  Cornette mentioned that Bubba played a tape of Cornette's podcast where Cornette ripped on TNA and didn't even respond to the points, but ripped on the audio quality of the podcast.  He said Bubba gave him a lot of traffic for free and helped Cornette get his points across, but he didn't respect the business and is glad Bubba is gone.

Cornette told a story about working in MA for the first time on a World Class house show that drew 8,000.

He was asked to talk about some of the specific things he brings to the Ring of Honor product.  Cornette said the talents were trying to concentrate on having a great wrestling match but now he's trying to help them open up and show the world who they really are, because that makes people care more about your matches.  Cornette said that he's trying to help show the world who the top stars and contenders are in the company.  He said that he works with tag teams like the Kings of Wrestling and the Briscoes because he loves tag team wrestling and that in ROH, the Tag Team belts can still headline shows.  He said that these are wrestlers who love the wrestling business and aren't trying to become movie stars.

Cornette was asked about the change in ROH from Gabe Sapolsky to Adam Pearce.  Cornette said that he wasn't there at the time so he can't speak on it.  He said Gabe is very creative but Cary Silkin wanted to make a change.  He talked about Adam Pearce's work and talent in maintaining a TV show that is taped far in advance, a company where no two lineups are the same and much more.

In regard to comments Eric Bischoff made about him, Cornette joked about Bischoff saying Cornette was selling fake autographs and bootlegs.  He asked how he could forge his own autograph?  He commented that Bischoff said that the business passed Cornette by, but he's the guy who says that MMA has nothing in common with pro wrestling when it's all about personalities fighting and trying to sell tickets. 

Cornette was asked for advice on how to draw money on an independent level.  He said that you need to keep providing a quality show that makes fans want to keep coming back.

Cornette was asked for some Dennis Coralluzzo stories.  Cornette said Dennis was the Sopranos without the blood and talked about all the crazy characters that populated Dennis' backstage area.  He told stories of Coralluzzo mentoring and fostering names like Chris Candido, Tammy Sytch and Danny Inferno, among others.  He said that if you were a sponsor, Dennis would figure out a way to get an extra percentage for himself but he always tried to take care of the boys.

A fan asked how you can book a monster character that are built on  being unbeaten to lose without destroying their aura.  Cornette said that the Road Warriors were built on being unbeatable but after a certain point, no one believed they could ever lose, so when they did, it hurt them.  He said the Goldberg streak was great but in the old days, characters like Andre were sent to different areas to keep the gimmick fresh.  He said that the booking hurt Goldberg and his idea would have been not to give them any ideas, since that's what ruined Goldberg.

Cornette was asked his take on Brock Lesnar snapping and quitting WWE.  Cornette said he was always a great natural beast for the business, but felt Lesnar really didn't want to do it or work hard for it.  He said Brock was making five times what most did in developmental, so he should have worked five times as harder.  He questioned how Brock got himself into a seven figure job and then decided he didn't want to travel.  He said he's happy to see Brock in MMA where he obviously is great and loves that genre, but Cornette wasn't shocked he left because he didn't ever feel Brock was passionate about the wrestling business itself.

A fan wondered how the business could still shock everyone after all the things that are given away on free television over the last few years.  Cornette said that the problem is no one has any restraint because they look at it as a television show without respecting what the guys have to endure physically in order to accomplish what is written on a piece of paper.  He talked of Abyss being off TV for six months because he had done it all and within a few weeks of being back, they set him on fire.  He said that no one seems anything wrong with this and it's preposterous and doesn't mean anything.  He asked if there has ever been a ladder spot in a real bar fight?

When asked about Stephanie McMahon taking over for Vince McMahon, Cornette said that when Vince's black heart goes, we'll all hear the noise coming from the power grab in Stamford.  He said that WWE is too big for running it to be enjoyable anymore.  He said its a billion dollar publicly traded company that's too big for it's own good and it doesn't matter who's going to run it at this point.

Cornette was asked about whether Davey Richards will really retire at the end of the year.  Cornette said he can't speak for Davey but at times he's so driven he wants to be the best and isn't there yet and at other times, he wants to move on because he gets frustrated.  Cornette commented that we'll have to see.

When asked about CHIKARA, he said that hasn't seen much of it but it's a good Lucha product made up of talents that love Lucha and do some comedy as well and it draws good houses.

Cornette was asked about the Ron Wright in a wheelchair deal in Smoky Mountain Wrestling.  Cornette said a few people did send him a few dollars after Wright claimed he needed donations.  He said that the gimmick worked because Wright was such a well known personality and they left him in the chair for nine months, so people bought it and then when he got out of the chair, people were pissed because they "knew he was lying".  He said that it was great having a legend like Wright in his locker room.

A fan asked for memories of working with Yokozuna in the WWF.  Cornette said he'd watch Yokozuna would put away a family sized basket of KFC while waiting to do promos.  He said Yokozuna and Undertaker had great matches because you had a good, agile monster heel against a big monster babyface and both took big bumps.  He said working with Fuji and Taker was really rewarding and he would get goosebumps when  he was in the ring and watched the lights go out and the gong hit for Taker's entrance.

A fan asked Cornette how things went so bad over the last year in TNA.  Cornette said he thinks it was three year rib on him.  He said he promised Jeff Jarrett he wouldn't admonish Russo personally and then had to adhere to it when Jarrett went home and Dutch Mantel was let go.  He said that he finally told Russo "I will help you" and the next week he was fired, so he sometimes wonders if they all pulled this elaborate rib to see if they could get Cornette to even say he'd be civil with Russo.

The same fan asked about working with Jim Mitchell in SMW.  Cornette said that Mitchell was a great talent to have around at the time and was entertaining for the Mummy character he wanted Mitchell to manage.

Shawn Michaels retirement: Michaels had a great career except for when what he pulled outside the ring outshined his ability.  He said that at times, Michaels was abysmal to get along with and was sour to be around towards Vince, Cornette, Jose Lothario and Bret Hart among others.  Cornette said that he deserved a classy sendoff for his retirement but all the times Michaels lost his smile and went home soured Cornette personally.

Owen Hart stories:  He told the story of a rib being pulled on him by being tricked into thinking he was talking to a Stu impersonator when it was really Stu.

Cornette was asked to compare the MX feuds against the Road Warriors and the Rock N' Roll Express.  He joked that the Express didn't' beat them up while the Warriors did.  He talked about the psychology of the power spots and the way that putting a match against the Warriors.

New Jack: Cornette said he and Jack reconciled  because they are both old and crippled.  He said Jack wasn't a great worker but worked hard and could talk and riled people up.  He said that in ECW, Jack was encouraged to do things that a person shouldn't be asked to do.  He said that the locker room was never dull with New Jack around.

Star Ratings for Matches: Cornette said his friend Norman Dooley initially did it after Cornette suggested it to Dooley as a rib.

Linda McMahon's Senate Run: Cornette joked about it being closer to Damian and the Omen.

A fan asked what happened to Vader that he "fell off" in WWF as compared to other places, like WCW.  Cornette said they almost gave Leon White a nervous breakdown trying to remake him as "The Mastadon".  He tells the story of Vader taking out Gorilla Monsoon and they were all over him about not getting over as a babyface while being a heel.  So, he would work harder as a heel and Shawn Michaels would go nuts because Vader was working rough with him.  He said there was an element of danger to Vader in WCW but in the WWF, he was Dr. Jeckyl and not Mr. Hyde because they kept getting into his head and making him doubt himself.

Ric Flair: He worries for Flair's personal safety but he obviously can still go and fans still enjoy seeing him.

How Cornette would react to an invitation for himself and the Midnight Express in the WWE Hall of Fame:  Cornette said Bruno Sammartino isn't in the Hall of Fame but Vince Sr.'s limo driver is in it, s how do you take it seriously.  He said that it's more about a feel good induction for the market, who's life are we optioning for a film, what tape library did we buy.  He said the boys have done a good job of making it an emotional night but it's more of a marketing thing.  He said there is no real wrestling Hall of Fame where people would vote people in.  He said that it's never going to happen but they would have to offer him a lot of money to make him want to be around a lot of people he doesn't want to see...or no.

WWF mentioning SMW when Cornette debuted in 1994: Stan Lane left wrestling and Jimmy Del Rey replaced him.  Del Rey was supposed to be a cousin of Bruce Prichard and they shot a promo with Tom Prichard and his dad to introduce him.  Bruce Prichard sees the promo and people in the company thought it would be a good idea to use Cornette and the Bodies.  He came to TV and they mentioned SMW so people in the SMW territories didn't think he and the Bodies wouldn't make the towns.  Once he got there, suddenly, he was asked to manage Yokozuna.  He said that for some reason, WWF gave him publicity and he was happy to take it and that led to WWF stars working SMW towns.

Bret Hart's Screwjob and Return: He wasn't surprised Hart came back after being screwed on a wrestling finish, but he was surprised due to the Owen Hart situation.  He said that maybe Bret just wanted to come back one more time but we're all older and it's time to let the younger guys go.  Cornette then joked that maybe he didn't have the ambition.

When asked about Jim Ross not being used as an announcer, Cornette said he didn't want people to think he's lambasting WWE for it but he doesn't get it because everyone who's younger and who's replaced Ross haven't been able to do Ross' job as good or better.  He said that Ross doesn't want to be on the road full time anymore but still, he's the best there is and he doesn't get it,

The Steiners: They were young and strong and a dream to work with.  They were great matches, but thats' why WCW rarely booked them against each other.

PG Wrestling: A show about violence can't feature violence?

A fan asked Cornette's thoughts on the ECW Reunion.  Cornette said he would be featuring new faces and homegrown talent, not others' talent.  He said you have to be an original, unique product.

The first NWA Clash of Champions and the Fantastics vs. MX bout on that card:  Cornette said that he loved working with Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers because they worked hard and wanted to get people involved in the match by selling their asses off.  He said that there was going to be a 45 minute draw with Sting and Flair and they saw they only had seven minutes on the show.  So, they decided to just go all out and steal the show and it worked, so everyone remembers it fondly.  He said that there's a moment in the bout where Eaton bulldogs Rogers on a table and Rogers was hit so hard he was blinded and they had to keep going.  He said that the match got over and everyone remembers it.

Necro Butcher: He's an attraction like Andre or Abdullah.   He's a gimmick and you can't put him on every show and have mayhem all the time.  Cornette said he is amazed the guy does what he does barefoot.  He said that if Butcher could be a traveling attraction for different companies, but he doesn't want to see the guy do that style constantly and kill himself.

Cornette Shooting on WWF Television: Cornette said they had Byte This on the WWF website, which no one saw, and he cut an evil promo on Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.  They received a ton of feedback so they decided to do it on TV.  Cornette said he was just telling the truth so after a few weeks, they realized he was knocking WWF as well because he wasn't making them look good.  They wanted to try and script it and he said that when they wanted him to say what he wanted to say, he would do it again.  He joked that at some point, he would have said something that would have gotten him fired.

Cornette was asked about the Randy Savage-Stephanie McMahon rumors.  Cornette said he would love to slander a member of the McMahon family but he never heard it when he worked there, he doesn't believe the timeline and there's nothing to it.

A fan praised Tommy Young's work as a referee.  He asked for a funny story on Young.  Cornette praised Tommy's facial expressions and how he made you believe he did believe in what he was officiating.  He said that a good referee is important and you could see that Young loved his job because he worked so hard.  Cornette praised Nick Patrick, The Hebners, Brian Hildebrand and several others.  He told a story of the referees being assigned by the New York State Athletic being old and inept while Young was reduced to playing music.  He said the ref they put on the match (Midnights vs. Z-Man and Pillman) was nearly dying because he couldn't keep up with them athletically and talked about how a bad ref can ruin a match.

Tommy Young put over Charles Robinson as a referee.

Cornette let Young ask the last question.  Young asked him for a job.  Cornette told Young he could carry his bags and have a job and the business. They hammed it up to close out the night.

2011-  WWE ran Fresno, CA with a Raw house show.   Cohen Morrison filed the following results:

Tag Team Champions David Otunga & Michael McGillicutty Def. Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne.

Santino Marella Def. Jack Swagger.

Zack Ryder Def. Drew McIntyre.  Ryder invited a fan in to the ring after the match.

Divas Champion Kelly Kelly, with Eve, Def. Beth Phoenix.

US Champion Dolph Ziggler Def. Alex Riley.

Rey Mysterio cut a in-ring promo before Alberto Del Rio & R-Truth attacked him. Del Rio put an armbar on Rey and he was carried out of the ring.

John Cena vs. CM Punk Ended in Double DQ when the heels ran in.  The faces made the save and stood tall at the end.

2011 - WWE Smackdown ran Boise, Idaho.  BDK filed the following live report:

The top two tiers were tarped off and almost no one was in the center seating arrangements. The floor was only about 80 percent full while there was A TON of paper in the arena as I won my tickets 2 hours before the show via Facebook contest. 

On my way to Taco Bell Arena for the WWE Smackdown house show.. Scored some free tix thanks to the box office! Pretty decent seats for comps. Right behind tech and gorilla position. An unobstructed view of the ring. Time for a beer. Lots of kids wearing Cena shirts and young males sporting the new CM Punk T-Shirts. I got my Fat Tire. I'd say 1,400 people maybe here.. 1,500 tops. There we're still some open seats on the floor. The $25 seats on my side of the building we're probably all paper seats and comps from the media. I literally had my own row of seats for myself.

-Starting us off is a battle royal for a shot at the IC Title later tonight. Johnny Curtis is actually in this match. Pretty fast for an 11-or-12 Man Battle Royal. Cody Rhodes back doors Daniel Bryan after he eliminates Wade Barrett for the win.

-Guest host Diva interview segment leads us to Natalya Vs. AJ. Starts out with the Diva guest host (Who they announced twice but I couldn't tell who the hell it was) gets confronted by Nattie about not being a real Diva when AJ comes out, says something inaudible an challenges Natalya to a match. This was a very long, slow and methodical match. AJ is really small. A real 'paint by numbers' match with Natalya putting AJ over.

-The Great Khali and Jinder Mahal Vs. The Usos is next. Match was pretty much controlled by Khali/Mahal until the basic and typical heat segment on one of the Uso's that lead to the hot tag and one of the Uso's cleaning house until Khali interferes from the outside causing Mahal to cut off the comeback and get the pin. Mahal looks like a superstar. Nice, clean and crisp moves.

-Wade Barrett Vs. Daniel Bryan is the first match where the crowd actually cheered for the babyface and boo'ed the heel. Long match where they did several false finishes before Daniel Bryan scored submission with the Lebell Lock. Another good match. 

-The Diva host had an audience dance competition for backstage access after the show. 3 adults and 1 little kid square off. The crowd puts over the little kid for the dance-off win.

Intermission. I was a smart one and got my beer during the dance off.

-Cody Rhodes Vs. Zeke Jackson for the WWE IC Title is next. Cody starts on the mic about how no one knows who the Intercontinental champ is and talks about the history of who's held the title and even mentions 'his brother' as being a former IC Champ. Cody powders out and begs off to start the match. Cody jumped the guard rails on both sides of the ring, getting heat from the crowd. One guy in the crowd got a little anxious and made contact with Cody. The fan was immediately thrown out of the building by security. Pretty basic match with Cody taking a lot of bumps. Zeke gets the submission win with the Torture Rack. Zeke is Lex Luger 2011.

-Mark Henry Vs. Sheamus in a 'Smackdown Challenge' match is next. Mark Henry was really over. Actually a pretty good heel reaction for Mark Henry. Sheamus is a good guy now but no one really understood that. Big man match that lead to Sheamus getting control over the match, Henry bailing out and blatantly using the chair on Sheamus for the DQ. Good back and forth, big man match until the DQ finish.

-Randy Orton Vs. Christian in a Street Fight is next. A lot of stalling and mic work at the beginning of the match. About 10 minutes of good back and forth. Randy teased the head kick and missed a couple of RKO's while Christian was on-point on all of his offense. They eventual pull out the dreaded Kendo stick and tease using it on Orton. It ended up being used on Christian. Finish comes pretty much out of nowhere when Cody Rhodes does the run-in to distract Randy for Christian to hit the Kill Switch and to get the pin. Afterward, Orton his RKO's on both Christian and Rhodes to send us home happy..

The show was about 2:30 with intermission. The building was set-up for full use. Sin Cara and Kane we're also advertised but not one the show.

2012 - WWE broadcast Raw.  Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

We start off with a look back at the first night in the AJ Era as Raw General Manager and her announcement of the main event for Raw 1001. Then we hear AJ’s announcement that we will have a Triple Threat Match at SummerSlam for the WWE Title.

We are live from San Antonio, Texas and your announcers are Michael ‘What about David Robinson Appreciation Night’ Cole and Jerry ‘I wonder if Pee Wee Herman will be here tonight or did he find the basement in the Alamo’ Lawler.

 

The Raw General Manager makes her way to the ring and she skips down the ramp. She welcomes everyone to Raw. She has some matches for tonight. First, Big Show will face Randy Orton. Her ex-fiancé Daniel Bryan will face John Cena tonight. The final person in the Triple Threat match . . .

will interrupt AJ before she can announce his match.

CM Punk makes his way to the ring. Punk says that he lives his life with absolutely zero regrets. He says that he is man enough to know when he made a mistake. Punk says that he did something he was not proud of. He did something he wishes he could take back, but he cannot. He grossly stepped out of line and lost his temper so he is going to apologize to AJ. His emotions got the best of him last week. He might not have been justified to get in her face and yell at her because it is not right for someone of AJ’s position to be disrespected.

Punk says that someone of his position should not be disrespected either. Punk tells AJ that he is sorry.

AJ tells Punk that she accepts his apology.

Punk says that he hopes they can stay friends. He says that AJ may fall flat on her face at times and make mistakes like putting the champion in a match that the champion can lose without being pinned. Punk wants AJ to cancel the Triple Threat Match for SummerSlam.

AJ says that she is new at this and she might make some mistakes, but the Triple Threat Match is not one of her mistakes. She says that her decision stands.

Punk says that this is AJ getting back at him for embarrassing herself by getting down on one knee to propose to him. Punk says that AJ shouldn’t be the general manager who is going to stick it to the guy that everyone likes. Punk says that he has no problem facing either in a singles match or finding a new opponent, but . . .

John Cena’s music plays and he walks to the ring.

John says that Punk has become ‘one of those guys’. He is the guy who comes out every week to demand respect. You don’t demand respect, you earn it. Cena says that if you deserve respect because you are the champion, he has eleven of those and he has to fight each and every day for respect.

Cena says that if Punk wants to play the blame game, it is on Punk. Cena says that Punk got involved and he forced it into a Triple Threat Match. John stops to smell the GM and introduce himself.

Punk tells John that he has not become anything. Cena is the guy who turned a blind eye to facts. Punk says that Cena stuck his nose into Punk while he was doing commentary. Cena came barreling over the table onto him. Cena put his hands on him and Punk reminds Cena that he is the WWE Champion. He will not be disrespected. He will not be disrespected by John Cena, the Big Show, or anybody.

Punk says that he saved Cena’s life. Punk says that Cena was going to be flattened by Big Show in the AA.

Cena reminds Punk that he is in a Triple Threat Match and the champion does not do well as the champion in a triple threat match. Cena suggests that Punk won’t be the champion after SummerSlam.

Punk says that they should check Gray’s Sport Almanac to see who won last year and Punk reminds Cena that he won last year at SummerSlam.

Big Show makes his way to the ring and AJ stops the insanity.

She says that things will not get out of hand on her show. AJ tells Cena and Show to save their aggression for matches tonight.

Punk points out that the champion does not have a match, and he deserves to be in the main event.

AJ tells Punk that he will be wrestling tonight but she says that the WWE Universe will choose his opponent tonight. AJ says that the fans will choose Punk’s opponent on Twitter. The choices are Miz, Kane, or Rey Mysterio. AJ tells Punk that his match is next.

We see footage from a few months ago when Triple H’s arm got broken. Brock and Hunter are in San Antonio tonight. What will happen?

 

Match Number One: CM Punk versus Rey Mysterio in a Fans Choose the Opponent Match

 

They lock up and Punk backs Rey into the corner and he gives a clean break. Rey tries for a drop toe hold and he finally gets Punk to the mat. Rey works on the leg but Punk is able to apply a hammer lock. Rey with a flying mare and kicks to the leg.

Rey with an Irish whip but Rey goes into the post when Punk moves on a flying shoulder into the corner. Punk gets a near fall. Punk with a slam to Rey followed by a leg drop for a near fall. Punk with a figure four head scissors. Rey with a kick to the knee but Punk with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Punk with a belly-to-back suplex and then he goes to the turnbuckles.

Rey recovers and hits a drop kick that sends Punk to the floor. Rey goes to the apron for a seated splash and both men are down as we go to commercial.

We are back and both men are down. Rey goes up top and connects with forearms to the chest before pulling Punk to the turnbuckles. Punk with a double chop and forearm followed by a superplex. Punk is only able to get a two count. We see footage during the commercial when Rey set up for the 619 but Punk with a clothesline to stop Rey from this attempt at the move.

Punk with a body scissors and elbows to the upper chest. Rey bites Punk’s hand to get out of the hold. Punk throws Rey under the bottom rope but Rey gets back to the apron and connects with an elbow. Rey goes up top for a seated senton. Punk with a kick but he gives Rey a sunset flip but you don’t do that to Rey. Rey rolls through and kicks Punk and gets a near fall.

Rey with a kick but Punk gets Rey on his shoulders. Rey escapes and he kicks Punk in the knees and Punk falls into the ropes. Rey with the 619 and he goes up top for the splash but Punk gets his knees up. Punk with the Go To Sleep for the three count.

 

Winner: CM Punk

 

After the match, Punk gets on the turnbuckles and celebrates his victory.

We go to the back and Alberto Del Rio is trying to park. Ricardo yells at the people in the back to move the table. Ricardo opens the door and he tries to explain the situation to Alberto but Alberto yells at Ricardo and tells him to go.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a Wade Barrett video package and he says that the Barrage has just begun.

AJ is in her office and Alberto and Ricardo enter. Alberto says that AJ is doing a fantastic job as the new General Manager of Raw, unlike the job that Booker T is doing on Smackdown. Alberto says that both of them know that he doesn’t have do anything before SummerSlam.

AJ says that she doesn’t have anything for Alberto.

Alberto says something is crazy and AJ overreacts and she says that Alberto has a match and it is next. Alberto is not happy and he yells at Ricardo to get his bags.

We go to commercial.

 

Match Number Two: Christian versus Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez)

 

Christian punches Del Rio in the turnbuckles and Del Rio goes to the floor. He pulls Christian to the floor and sends Christian into the ring post. Del Rio Irish whips Christian into the ringside barrier before returning to the ring and Del Rio gets a near fall. Del Rio punches Christian in the arm and then stomps on the arm and gets a near fall. Del Rio with an arm bar.

Christian with a punch but Del Rio with a head butt and divorce court. Del Rio tells Christian that he is nothing and he kicks Christian. Christian with a punch and clothesline. Christian slingshots to the floor and then he punches Del Rio. Christian goes up top and hits a cross body and gets a near fall.

Del Rio with a kick and then he tries to work on the arm but Christian blocks it and gets a near fall. Del Rio with a kick to the shoulder followed by an arm wringer. Del Rio with a kick to the arm and then he goes to the turnbuckles but misses a back senton.

Christian gets ready for the spear but Del Rio with a super kick and then Del Rio tries to float over but Christian counters. Christian tries for the Killswitch but Del Rio escapes. Ricardo distracts Christian and gives Del Rio time to recover and he hits Christian with his boot and then applies the cross arm breaker and gets Christian to tap out.

 

Winner: Alberto Del Rio

 

After the match, Sheamus gets Bertie’s attention. He says that Alberto was right that he is beneath him so he is going to do something about that. He will start with the car. He tells Ricardo not to leave the keys in the car the next time he gets Alberto’s gear. Sheamus says that he is going to take the car on a sight seeing tour of San Antonio. Sheamus says that he feels classier already.

We go to commercial.

 

Match Number Three: Randy Orton versus Big Show

 

They lock up and Show sends Orton to the mat and then he punches Orton in the midsection. Orton with punches and kicks followed by clotheslines into the corner. Orton climbs the turnbuckles and he punches Show. Show pushes Orton off the ropes and then Show with a side slam for a near fall.

Show waits for Orton to get up and he tells Orton that he is in over his head. Show with a head butt to Orton. Orton punches Show but Show with a back elbow and he applies a reverse chin lock. Orton with elbows followed by a punch but Show sends Orton into the corner. Show runs into boots from Orton. Orton tries for a few clotheslines but Show stays on his feet. Orton with a drop kick and Show goes down.

Orton looks into the crowd and it is push up time. Orton waits for the RKO but Show grabs Orton by the throat and hits a choke slam but Orton gets his shoulder up. Show pulls Orton from the floor to the apron but Randy drops Show on the top rope.

Show with a shoulder tackle that sends Orton through the ropes and to the floor. Show goes to the floor and they exchange punches while the referee continues his count. Show with a chop to the chest and then he sends Orton back into the ring. Show signals for the choke slam and he grabs Orton. Orton with kicks to the leg and Show sends Orton over the top rope to the floor.

Show goes back to the floor and he chops Orton against the announce table. Show wants to send Orton into the ring post but Orton escapes and he sends Show into the post. Show with a spear and the referee gets to ten.

 

Double Count Out

 

After the match, they return to the ring and Show waits for the knockout punch but Orton ducks it and hits the RKO.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks are in the ring. That must mean it is feeding time at the Ryback Zoo.

Ryback is in the Goldman Box and he says that Reks and Hawkins will be fed to him tonight.

 

Match Number Four: Ryback versus Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks

 

Reks starts off and he kicks Ryback and connects with knees. Ryback with a power slam to Reks and a forearm to the back. Reks avoids a slam and he connects with a forearm. Reks with a punch and he tags in Hawkins but Ryback with a boot to the chest. He sends Hawkins into the corner and he tags Reks back in.

Ryback brings Reks into the ring and Hawkins distracts Ryback and Reks with a boot and he gets a near fall. Hawkins tags back in and he applies a front face lock before tagging Reks back in. Reks with forearms to the back and Hawkins is tagged back in. They hit a double gourdbuster for a near fall.

Hawkins with a reverse chin lock. Ryback sends Hawkins to the mat but Reks grabs the leg and Hawkins charges at Ryback but Ryback back body drops Hawkins over the top rope onto Reks. Ryback with a spinebuster and he does the Chong Li to set up for the lariat. Ryback with the marching muscle buster on Hawkins for the three count.

 

Winner: Ryback

Match Number Five: Darren Young and Titus O’Neil with Abraham Washington versus Epico and Primo

 

Darren pushes Epico and Epico with a drop kick before the match starts.

The match starts and Titus with a forearm to Primo and Darren is tagged in. They hit a double shoulder tackle and then Young has something to say to Primo. Primo with a chop and Irish whip but Young sends Primo to the turnbuckles but Primo with a head stand and kicks to Young for a near fall. Young runs Primo into the corner and he tags in Titus.

Titus with punches to Primo and then he throws him across the ring. Titus stretches the arm in the ropes. Primo with a chop but Titus with a knee and a pump handle slam. Darren tags in and Titus with a gourdbuster of Darren onto Primo. Young with a rear chin lock and his knee in Primo’s back.

Young turns it into a reverse chin lock and Primo with punches. Young tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Primo is able to counter with a lateral press. Young with a power slam and Irish whip but he runs into an elbow from Primo.

Epico tags in and he punches and chops Young. Epico with a flying clothesline and drop kick followed by a back body drop. Epico with a drop kick on the apron followed by three belly-to-back suplexes on Young. Titus pulls Young to the floor and Abe says that they are done.

Kofi Kingston’s music plays and the champions make their way onto the stage.

Epico and Primo go after Young and O’Neil. Epico with a lungblower for the three count.

 

Winners: Primo and Epico

 

Michael Cole mentions Damien Sandow and Jerry says that he has been impressive. We take a look back at what happened with Damien Sandow when he decided to talk to Degeneration X. Then we go to what Sandow did to Brodus Clay last week on Raw.

Damien walks through the back and Josh Mathews stops him. Damien says that as the intellectual savior and martyr, he is here to stop all foolishness. Anyone who engages in a ridiculous action like dancing only contributes to the delinquency of society. Tonight, he will take care of Brodus Clay for the betterment of society. Damien thanks Josh and leaves.

We go to commercial.

 

Match Number Six: Brodus Clay (with the Funkettes) versus Damien Sandow

 

Sandow attacks Brodus on the stage before he can get to the ring. Sandow kicks and punches Clay on the floor. Clay sends Sandow onto the stage. While Clay removes his pants, Sandow with a splash off the ramp and then he goes for the injured leg. Sandow with boots to the leg followed by a punch. Sandow puts Clay’s leg on the stage and then he stomps on it a few times. Sandow works on the leg and the referee warns Sandow even though there has been no start to the match.

Damien tells everyone they are welcome and then he tells Brodus that he did this to himself.

AJ is in her office and she is in deep thought. We see that Daniel Bryan is in the room too. She tells Daniel that he might be sane, but he has definite anger management issues.

Daniel says that maybe it had something to do with being left at the altar. Bryan says that he likes the decision to put him in a match with John Cena because when he wins, she will have to make it a Fatal Four Way at SummerSlam.

AJ tells Daniel that he already has a match at SummerSlam . . . against Kane.

We get a Yes . . . No . . . Rabbit Season . . . Duck Season back and forth.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Jerry wonders where Sheamus is driving Alberto’s car.

 

Match Number Six: Kelly Kelly versus Eve Torres

 

Eve has something to say to Kelly before they lock up and she walks past Kelly and leaves the ring but Kelly brings her back in and sends Eve to the mat. Kelly with a Thesz Press and then she punches Eve. Kelly sends Eve into the turnbuckles and it is time for the handspring back elbow and stinkface. Eve goes to the floor and Kelly follows after her.

Kelly with a forearm and Irish whip into the ringside barrier. Kelly rolls Eve back into the ring and Kelly goes up top for a cross body and gets a near fall. Eve with an Irish whip and Kelly tries to float over but Eve sends Kelly face first into the mat. Eve with kicks and then she goes to the turnbuckles to choke Kelly.

Eve with a choke on Kelly but Kelly gets free and she punches Eve. Eve with a knee but Kelly with a punch and rana for the three count.

 

Winner: Kelly Kelly

 

Michael Cole reminds us of what Sheamus did to Alberto Del Rio’s vehicle earlier in the night.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time for San Antonio’s favorite son, Shawn Michaels to come to the ring.

We see Jerry and Michael giving Shawn a standing ovation.

Shawn soaks in the ovation of the crowd and then he says that it doesn’t matter how many times he tells the WWE that he cannot come out like this because he is out of shape.

Shawn says that he has to thank the WWE Universe for allowing him once again to be part of history. A few weeks ago at Raw 1000, it was truly a historic moment with the reunion of Degeneration X.

Shawn says that he is pretty comfortable watching the world go by, but with Raw in his hometown, he figured that there is no way that ole HBK is going to miss that. Shawn says that the irony is that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

He walked into the locker room and he saw some new faces, but the scuttlebutt is the same. People are talking about the confrontation at SummerSlam between Triple H and Brock Lesnar. They are asking Shawn what his opinion is and . . .

Brock Lesnar’s music plays and Brock and Paul Heyman make their way onto the stage. Brock does the Brock Bounce before making his way to the ring.

Heyman tells Shawn that it is not surprising to him that everyone wants to know what Shawn thinks about the match between his client Brock Lesnar and Shawn’s best friend Triple H. Paul says that Shawn is the greatest in ring entertainer in the history of WWE.

Paul says that him and Brock would seek out his opinion, but not for this match in particular. Paul says that Brock is not going to go into SummerSlam as an entertainer. He is not going to entertain with Triple H at SummerSlam. Paul says that Brock doesn’t care about entertaining. Brock Lesnar is coming to SummerSlam to fight Triple H and prove that he is the baddest dude on the planet.

Shawn tells Paul that he is not here to dispute the attributes of Brock Lesnar. He tells Paul not to put words in his mouth. Any other time, with any other guy. Shawn says that Brock has gone somewhere he shouldn’t go with Triple H or any man. They made it personal. They have turned Hunter into someone he does not recognize.

Shawn says that they might not be asking for it, but he will give them his opinion. Shawn says that the guy he is going with is Triple H. Shawn says that he believes it to his core. He believes it so much that he wants to see it personally.

Shawn says that he will be in Hunter’s corner to see him beat Brock Lesnar.

Paul says that is the ‘big announcement’ and the moment in time when they play the end of Triple H’s career. Paul says that Shawn had his choice and option to walk away. It is bad enough that Triple H’s wife and children will have to witness what Brock is going to do to Triple H.

Brock says that the only reason that Shawn thinks that Triple H can beat him is that Shawn has never been in the ring with him . . . until now.

Triple H’s music plays and that means that Shawn and Brock will stand still until Hunter makes his way to the ring.

Hunter enters the ring and he stares down Brock.

Brock thinks about attacking Hunter or Shawn, but he just smiles and says that he will see Hunter at SummerSlam. He tells Shawn that he will see him before then.

Michael Cole reminds us one more time that Sheamus stole Alberto Del Rio’s car. Michael shows us Sheamus’ tout from the Alamo.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Chris Jericho is at the announce table with Michael and Jerry to watch the next match.

 

Match Number Seven: Alex Riley versus Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero)

 

Ziggler avoids Riley and then he struts before looking at Chris Jericho at ringside. Ziggler wit a waist lock but Riley with an arm wringer that sends Dolph to the mat. They lock up and Ziggler works on the arm but Riley with a single leg sweep and gets a near fall. Riley with an arm drag into an arm bar. Ziggler backs Riley into the corner and connects with a knee and punch instead of a clean break.

Ziggler with kicks to Riley in the corner. Ziggler with an elbow to the back of the head. Ziggler takes some time to say something to Jericho and Riley with punches to Ziggler but Ziggler with a drop kick and he wants to know if Jericho saw that.

Ziggler with a leaping elbow drop and he gets a near fall. Riley punches Ziggler but Ziggler with kicks to Riley. Ziggler with another kick to the head and he punches Riley. The referee warns Ziggler. Riley with punches and a hip toss but he misses a charge into the corner and his shoulder hits the post.

Ziggler with a neck breaker and Ziggler looks at Jericho and then he does the Jericho pose. Jericho says that he is going to tout the match and Ziggler gets rolled up by Riley and Riley gets the three count.

 

Winner: Alex Riley

 

After the match, Jericho comments on how Ziggler talks about how Chris cannot win the big ones, but Ziggler cannot win the little ones.

We are told by Michael Cole that Miz and Kane will meet tonight.

We go to commercial.

We are back and did you know that Sheamus stole Alberto Del Rio’s car? We have the Touts to prove it.

 

Match Number Eight: Kane versus Miz in a Fans Don’t Like Them as Much As Rey Match

 

They lock up and Kane with a clean break but Miz with a punch. Kane sends Miz into the corner and he punches Miz. Kane stops before the referee gets to his five count. Miz avoids a boot in the corner and Miz goes for the hamstring. Kane tries for a slam but Miz escapes and he clips Kane. Miz with a DDT for a near fall.

Miz kicks Kane in the leg and he continues to work on the leg. Kane with uppercuts to Miz but Miz with a drop kick to the knee and Kane goes down. Miz with a running boot to the head for a near fall. Miz with a reverse chin lock. Kane with punches but Miz with kicks.

Kane with another uppercut followed by a slam and drop kick. Kane gets a near fall. Kane with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner but he misses a second one. Miz tries for the Skull Crushing Finale but Kane backs Miz into the corner. Miz with a drop kick to the knee and Kane hits the turnbuckles.

Miz goes for the Awesome Clothesline but Kane with snake eyes and then he hits a choke slam on Miz for the three count.

 

Winner: Kane

 

We go to commercial.

We are back and Sheamus is back with the BertieMobile. Sheamus says that is a better ride than his mule. He tells a backstage worker to take care of the car.

We see Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez in the back and they see what happened to the car. Alberto blames Ricardo for what happened and he tells Ricardo to clean up this mess.

We go to commercial.

 

Match Number Nine: Daniel Bryan versus John Cena

 

They lock up and Cena with a side head lock. Cena with a clean break. Bryan says that this is about him and he wants everyone to stop chanting for or against Cena. Bryan leaves the ring and he starts to yell at fans at ringside.

Cena with a hip toss when Bryan returns to the ring and Cena gets a near fall. Cena with a reverse chin lock on Bryan. Bryan with elbows but Cena with a shoulder tackle and side head lock take down. Bryan works on the arm and he takes Cena to the mat with an arm bar.

Cena gets to his feet and Bryan goes to the floor on an Irish whip. Cena chases after Bryan and Bryan with a drop kick to the leg and Cena is knocked off the apron and then he goes to the apron. Bryan with a running knee of the apron and we go to commercial with Bryan yelling at a fan in the front row.

We are back and Bryan with a hammer lock but Cena powers out of the hold. Bryan with a kick to the leg. Bryan with kicks of No in the corner. Bryan with the running drop kick into the corner and he gets a near fall. Bryan with kicks in the corner and the referee warns him. Cena with an Irish whip and back body drop.

Bryan with a drop toe hold that sends Cena into the turnbuckles and then Bryan kicks the ropes and he gets a near fall. Bryan with a hammer lock but Cena gets to his feet again. Cena gets Bryan on his shoulders but Bryan gets to his feet again and he kicks Cena in the hamstring and then hits a leaping knee drop and gets a near fall.

Bryan returns to the hammer lock and a kick to the midsection. Cena with two flying shoulder tackles followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb and it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena gets Bryan on his shoulders for the Attitude Adjustment but Bryan counters with a Guillotine Choke.

Cena runs Bryan into the turnbuckles to try to get out of the hold but Bryan holds on and Bryan gets Cena on the mat. Cena gets back to his feet and he runs Bryan into the turnbuckles to get out of the hold. Cena with a drop toe hold but Bryan kicks Cena away.

Bryan with a rollup for a near fall followed by a kick to the head. Bryan gets a near fall on Cena. Bryan goes up top for the diving head butt and he hits it but can only get a near fall. Bryan with kicks of No to the chest and then he tries for the round kick but Cena ducks it and he puts Bryan in the STF. Bryan is able to counter and he applies the No Lock but Cena counters and he gets Bryan up for an Attitude Adjustment and the three count.

 

Winner: John Cena

 

After the match, CM Punk’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring and he looks like he is ready for a fight. He holds up the title belt in Cena’s face. Cena says that the belt will be his. Cena pushes Punk out of the way when he seeds Big Show coming to the ring. Cena with a few shoulder tackles and Show tries for a choke slam. Cena gets Show on his shoulders but Punk hits Show to knock Cena down as well.

Punk gets on the mic and he says that maybe Cena is right that it is Punk’s fault that he is in the Triple Threat Match. Maybe he is letting people disrespect him. Punk says that he has been smiling and kissing babies to make people happy. Big Show and John Cena are getting acquainted with the mat. Raw ends the same with with CM Punk standing tall holding his title, showing that he is the best in the world. Anyone else who gets in his way will be lying on the mat like Big Show and John Cena.

Punk returns to the ring and Big Show knocks out CM Punk. Show does the same to John Cena.

Show holds the title over his head as we go to credits.

2013 - WWE issued the following press release:

WWE STUDIOS AND LIONSGATE TO PARTNER ON NEXT INSTALLMENT OF SEE NO EVIL WITH KANE AND SOSKA SISTERS

STAMFORD, Conn. August 6, 2013 – WWE Studios (NYSE: WWE) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) announced today that production on See No Evil 2, the follow up to the duo’s 2006 horror release, See No Evil, is scheduled to start in fall 2013. WWE® Superstar Kane®, a dominant force within the WWE, is set to reprise his lead role as reclusive madman Jacob Goodnight. Fanboy favorites and identical twin directors of horror, the Soska Sisters, Jen and Sylvia (American Mary), are set to helm the film. See No Evil 2 was penned by co-writers Nathan Brookes and Bobby Lee Darby.
 
See No Evil 2 revives the nightmare of the first film when Jacob Goodnight rises from the dead in the city morgue after his killing spree at the Blackwell hotel. In this ominous, underground locker for the dead, a group of medical students fight to survive as this deranged psychopath once again starts to pick them apart one by one.
 
Lionsgate will handle worldwide distribution of See No Evil 2, while WWE Studios will utilize its extensive global reach through television, digital and social media and print assets to market the film.
 
"We are so pleased to extend what has been an ideal partnership with
Lionsgate,” said Michael Luisi, President, WWE Studios. “Their expertise in distributing and marketing thrilling genre films complements our own vision and efforts for these movies perfectly. We are equally excited to work with the Soska Sisters, who will apply their truly unique filmmaking style to See No Evil 2.”
 
"The WWE team has proven success in building strong global brands and have proven to be a great partner in our past ventures together," said Steve Beeks, Co-Chief Operating Officer and Motion Picture Group President, Lionsgate.  "We are thrilled to expand the partnership in the development and marketing of genre features that marry WWE's stars with our own global distribution expertise."
 
See No Evil 2 is the fourth partnership between Lionsgate and WWE Studios following See No Evil, The Condemned and a reboot of the Leprechaun franchise.
 
 ###
About WWE Studios
WWE® Studios produces a diverse slate of feature films for theatrical and direct to home release through distribution partnerships with global entertainment companies. The WWE’s film division led by President, Michael Luisi, is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA and continues to create content for audiences of all ages. Most recent films produced by the studio include The Call with Halle Berry and WWE Superstar David Otunga®, Dead Man Down with Colin Farrell and WWE Superstar Wade Barrett®, The Marine 3: Homefront with WWE Superstar The Miz® in the third follow-up in the explosive Marine adventures, and 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded, the second installment in the action franchise, starring WWE Superstar Randy Orton®. Upcoming films for WWE Studios include Christmas Bounty, an action comedy starring WWE Superstar The Miz and Francia Raisa, premiering on ABC Family November 26, 2013 and releasing on Blu-Ray/DVD on December 3, 2013 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment; Scooby Doo WrestleMania Mystery which pairs WWE Superstars with Scooby and the gang releasing direct to home spring 2014 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment; a reboot of the Leprechaun franchise directed by Zach Lipovsky starring WWE Superstar Hornswoggle® distributed by Lionsgate in spring 2014, and The Flintstones another Warner Brothers Animation feature releasing in early 2015 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment which joins Fred, Barney and the whole Bedrock gang with stone age versions of WWE Superstars and Divas.
 
About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.  

About Lionsgate
Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of primetime cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 28 shows on 20 networks spanning its production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men, Nurse Jackie, Anger Management, the network series Nashville, the syndication successes Tyler Perry's House of Payne, its spinoff Meet the Browns and The Wendy Williams Show as well as the new series Orange Is The New Black.
 
Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first installment of The Hunger Games franchise, The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn – Part 2, Now You See Me, Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, Tyler Perry’s Temptation, Warm Bodies, Texas Chainsaw 3D, The Expendables 2, The Possession, Sinister, The Cabin in the Woods and Arbitrage.
 
Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 15,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

 

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