September 20th
On this day in history in ....
1933 - Salvador Lutteroth ran the first Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre (EMLL) event in Mexico City. The promotion still exists today, referred to mostly as CMLL, making it the oldest professional wrestling entity in the world.
1957 - Ivan The Terrible & Nikita Zolotoff defeat Pepper Gomez & El Medico in Houston, Texas for the NWA Texas Tag Team Title.
1968 - Ramon & Alberto Torres defeat Butcher Vachon & Stan Vachon for the NWA Georgia Tag Team Title in Atlanta, Georgia.
1971 - A Gulas Promotions event in Memphis, TN at the Mid-South Coliseum drew 5,900 fans who witnessed the following results:
- NWA Souther Junior Heavyweight champion Don Greene defeated Robert Fuller in a match with No DQ and no time limit.
-Karl & Kurt, The Von Brauner Bros., managed by Saul Weingeroff, defeated Oni Wiki Wiki & Jim Alexi.
- Jerry Jarrett defeated the Green Hornet.
- Jackie Fargo defeated Al Greene.
- Sputnick Monroe & The Black Panther (Norvell Austin) defeated Tojo Yamamoto & Eddie Marlin.
1971 - A live event in Orlando, FL at the Sports Stadium saw the following results:
- Mr. Wrestling (Tim Woods) defeated Johnny Walker (Mr. Wrestling II) with special referee Louie Tillet.
- Hiro Matsuda defeated Skandar Akbar.
-The Australians (Ron Miller & Larry O'Day) defeated Dick Murdoch & George Strickland.
- Louie Tillet (replaced Johnny Adonis) defeated Porter Tindale.
-John Heath fought Juan Garcia to a draw.
-Duke Keomuka defeated Corsica Jean.
1974 - A live event in Atlanta, GA saw the following results:
-NWA World Champion Jack Brisco beat Harley Race.
-Ole & Gene Anderson beat Mr Wrestling I & Mr Wrestling II to win Georgia Tag Team championships.
-North American Champion Bob Armstrong beat Buddy Colt by DQ.
-Don Muraco & Dusty Rhodes beat Ron & Terry Garvin.
-Handicap match: Bill Watts beat Bill Dromo & The Professional.
-Joyce Grable beat Dottie Downs.
-Pat Barrett beat Bob Orton Jr.
-Prince Pullins beat Roger Kirby.
-Tom Jones beat Jerry Oates.
1975 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeats George Steele in a stretcher match at the Philadelphia Spectrum in Pennsylvania. Andre The Giant was the special referee.
1975 - Jose Miguel Perez defeats The Spoiler II in Caguas, Puerto Rico to win the WWC Puerto Rican Heavyweight Title for the third time. Perez had been stripped of the title following a no-contest with Spoiler II on August 30th. On the same show, Carlos Colon defeats The Spoiler I in to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title for the fourth time.
1975 - Ric Flair defeats Wahoo McDaniel in Hampton, Virginia to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title. Flair had put his hair up in the match, which saw Flair win his first Mid-Atlantic championship.
1975 - The Mongolian Stomper & Ivan Koloff defeated Robert Fuller & Bob Armstrong in the main event of a live event in Chatanooga, TN at the Memorial Auditorium. The remainder of the card saw:
-Jackie Fargo & Pepper Gomez defeated The Interns by DQ.
-Tommy Rich & TojoYamamoto fought to a draw against Phil Hickerson & Dennis Condrey.
-George Gulas & Don Carson defeated Rip Hawk & Otto Von Heller.
1977 - Championship Wrestling from Florida ran Tampa, FL at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory with the following results:
-In a bout featuring Florida Title vs. $1,000 Silver Dollars, champion Lars Anderson beat Dusty Rhodes via DQ.
-Pedro Morales beat WWWF champion Billy Graham in a non-title bout.
-Ivan Koloff & Pat Patterson beat Rocky Johnson & Don Muraco.
-Mr. Saito beat Raul Mata.
-Mike Graham & Jerry Brisco beat Buddy Roberts & Keith Franks (the future Adrian Adonis).
-Steve Keirn beat Dutch Mantel.
-Tony Marino beat Scott Casey.
1978 - Jose Lothario defeats Assassin #1 in Monroe, Louisiana to win the Mid-South Wrestling Association Heavyweight Title.
1979 - Mid South ran New Orleans, LA with the following results:
-Mike Bowyer (Mike Boyette) beat Stan Lane.
-Missing Link beat Billy Starr.
-Charlie Cook & Hercules Ayala draw Junkyard Dog & Porkchop Cash.
-Mike George beat Mr. Wrestling II by DQ.
-Mike Sharpe beat Tank Patton in a "Lights Out" match.
1980 - WWF ran Springfield, MA at the Civic Center with the following results:
- Rene Goulet & Rick McGraw fought Johnny Rodz & Jose Estrada to a draw.
-Tony Garea defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
-Pedro Morales defeated Samoan Afa.
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned the Hangman.
-Hulk Hogan pinned Gorilla Monsoon at 4:22.
-Andre the Giant defeated WWF IC Champion Ken Patera.
-Rick Martel defeated Wild Samoan Sika.
1981 - Big John Studd defeats Angelo Mosca in Toronto, Ontario to win the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title, ending Mosca's third reign as champion.
1983 - A CWA in Louisville, Kentucky at The Louisville Gardens featured:
-Koko Ware and Jaguar drew the Bruise Brothers (Porkchop Cash and Troy Graham).
-Dutch Mantell defeated Dennis Condrey by disqualification.
-The Rock N' Roll Express defeated Lucifer and Prince of Darkness.
-Jesse Ventura defeated Jerry Lawler.
-CWA International champ Stan Hansen defeated Austin Idol.
-Bill Dundee and Bobby Eaton defeated CWA tag champs the Assassins by disqualification.
1983 - Championship Wrestling from Florida ran Tampa, FL at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory with the following results:
-Sam Houston beat Mike Fever.
-The Zambuie Express beat Hector Guerrero & Mike Davis.
-Mike Rotundo beat the Purple Haze.
-Angelo Mosca battled Jos LeDuc to a double countout.
-Barry Windham beat Southern champion Ron Bass via DQ.
-The Midnight Rider beat Lucifer in a cage match and unmasked him as Kevin Sullivan. As a result Sullivan had to leave the promotion for one year.
 1984 - A World Class Championship Wrestling event in Fort Hood, Texas at The Abrams Fitness Center featured the following results:
-Iceman Parsons defeated Norvell Austin.
-Kevin Von Erich defeated Gino Hernández.
-Killer Khan defeated Jules Strongbow.
-Chris Adams defeated Jake Roberts.
1984 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Norfolk, Virginia with the following results:
-Nikita Koloff defeated Denny Brown.
-Keith Larson defeated Jeff Sword.
-Black Bart defeated Mike Davis.
-Ron Bass defeated Sam Houston.
-Mike Rotundo defeated Ivan Koloff.
-Barry Windham defeated Don Kernodle.
-NWA World Champion Ric Flair & Dusty Rhodes defeated U.S. Champion Wahoo McDaniel & NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard.
1985 - Captain Lou Albano defeats Fred Blassie in a steel cage match at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York when he ties Blassie to the cage and escapes. The two had wrestled to a disqualification finish on a show at Nassau Coliseum the previous month, and this rematch between the 67-year-old Blassie and the 52-year-old Albano marked the last match in the legendary career of Fred Blassie. The remainder of the card saw the following:
-Roddy Piper & Bob Orton Jr. defeated Paul Roma & Salvatore Bellomo.
-Randy Savage defeated George Wells.
-SD Jones defeated Barry O.
-Lanny Poffo fought Iron Mike Sharpe to a draw.
-Paul Orndorff defeated Big John Studd.
-Uncle Elmer & Cousin Junior defeated WWF Tag Team Champions -Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake via countout.
1985 - A live event in St. Louis saw the following results:
-Art Crews fought Sheik Abdullah to a draw.
-Little Bobo defeated Midget John.
-Bulldog Bob Brown defeated Mark Batten.
-The Ax Attack (Larry and Curt Hennig) defeated Mr. Pogo and Edgar Thomas.
-Gary Royal defeated Brad Batten.
-Crusher Blackwell fought Kamala to a double disqualification.
-AWA World Champion Rick Martel defeated Jimmy Garvin.
-Bruiser Brody defeated One Man Gang.
-NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated Missouri champ Harley Race.
1985 - A combined Pro Wrestling USA event featuring talent from the AWA and Jim Crockett Promotions ran Fort Wayne, Indiana, drawing 5,000 fans with the following results:
-Brad Rheingans fought Steve Regal to a draw.
-Bill & Scott Irwin defeated Calypso Jim & Bobo Brazil.
-Superstar Billy Graham defeated Pez Whatley.
-Larry Zbyszko defeated Buck Zumhoffe.
-Sgt. Slaughter defeated Boris Zhukov via disqualification.
-Magnum TA fought NWA US Champion Tully Blanchard to a draw.
-NWA TV Champion Dusty Rhodes defeated Ivan Koloff.
1986 - During a WWF event at the Philadelphia Spectrum in Pennsylvania, Pedro Morales outsmarted Jake Roberts. Prior to the match, Morales took Roberts' snake bag and brought it to the dressing room while Roberts argued with ringside fans. Shortly after the bell rang to start the match, Roberts realized the bag was gone, and left the ring to go find it. Roberts was counted out, and Morales won the match. Incensed, Roberts returned to the ring and tried to DDT Morales, but was backdropped out of the ring.  The remainder of the card, broadcast on the PRISM Network, featured:
-Koko B. Ware defeated Steve Lombardi.
-The Islanders defeated the Moondogs.
-Kamala defeated Salvatore Bellomo.
-Hillbilly Jim defeated Don Muraco (with Mr. Fuji) via disqualification; later in the show, Fuji returned to the ring and challenged Jim to face him, upset that Jim tore part of his tuxedo during the match; it was later announced that Hillbilly would battle Fuji in a tuxedo match at the next month's card.
-King Harley Race pinned Lanny Poffo at 8:56 with a cradle suplex after Poffo missed a somersault splash off the top.
-Paul Orndorff (with Bobby Heenan) defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan via disqualification at 9:56 after Hogan shoved the referee as the ref tried to stop the champion from using a pair of brass knuckles, which Orndorff had used moments earlier as the referee was knocked down; after the match, Hogan continued to attack Orndorff until he was held back by Koko B. Ware and the Islanders, after Hercules came out to help Orndorff.
-Ricky Steamboat defeated Hercules via count-out at 13:23 after both men began brawling on the floor; after the bout, both men continued to fight around ringside.
-Billy Jack Haynes defeated Tiger Chung Lee at 1:57 via submission with the full nelson.
-The Hart Foundation defeated Mike Rotundo & Danny Spivey at 11:15 when Neidhart pinned Spivey following a clothesline from Bret as Spivey attempted a running bulldog on Neidhart.
1986 - WWF ran Hershey, PA at The Hersheypark Arena with the following results:
-Cpl. Kirchner defeated Iron Mike Sharpe.
-Dick Slater defeated Terry Gibbs.
-Sika defeated Tony Garea.
-Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated Rene Goulet & Jimmy Jack Funk.
-Bob Orton Jr. defeated Tito Santana.
-The Killer Bees fought Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik to a draw.
-WWF Intercontinental champion Randy Savage defeated George Steele via disqualification.
-The Machines defeated Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy.
1987 - Hurricane Castillo Jr. defeats Gran Mendoza in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title. On the same show, Carlos Colon defeats Hercules Ayala to win his sixth WWC Universal Heavyweight Title.
1992 - WCW ran The Omni in Atlanta, GA, with the following results:
-Erik Watts defeated Mark Canterbury.-
Brad Armstrong & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Scotty Flamingo & Brian Pillman when Bagwell pinned Flamingo.
-Dustin Rhodes defeated Diamond Dallas Page.
-Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Greg Valentine & Dick Slater when Rick pinned Valentine.
-The Barbarian (with Cactus Jack) defeated Barry Windham.
-Sting & Nikita Koloff defeated Jake Roberts & Super Invader when Koloff pinned Super Invader.
-Unified NWA/NWA World Tag Team Champions Steve Williams & Terry Gordy defeated Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton when Williams pinned Eaton.
-WCW World Champion Ron Simmons defeated WCW U.S. Champion Rick Rude
1993 - Shinya Hashimoto defeats The Great Muta in Nagoya, Japan to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title for the first time.
1994 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Concord Township, PA at the Pulsations Night Club, featuring:
-ECW World TV Champ Jason Knight beat The ockin' Rebel.
-JT Smith beat the Sandman.
-Angel vs. Penny Pulsations went to a no contest.
-Axl & Ian Rotten beat Public Enemy.
1997 - Sugar Sato defeated Yoshiko Tamura to win the WCW Women's World Cruiserweight Title in Kawasaki, Japan. The belt was created in April of 1997, and quickly became forgotten by WCW, finally being abandoned shortly after this match.
1997 - Extreme Championship Wrestling held "As Good As It Gets" in the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA. The show, which was released on ECW Home Video, featured the following results.
-The FBI's Little Guido & Tracy Smothers (with Tommy Rich) defeated Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten at 8:40.
-Justin Credible (with Jason) pinned Jerry Lynn at 10:28.
Chris Candido pinned Lance Storm at 14:16.
-Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Spike Dudley at 5:21 with a splash off the top after press slamming Spike into the front row, with the audience then crowd surfing Spike until Bigelow rolled him back inside the ring.
-ECW World Champion Shane Douglas (w/ Francine) pinned Phil Lafon (with Doug Furnas) at 12:03. Furnas was a mystery opponent brought in by Rick Rude.
-Tommy Dreamer & Beulah McGillicutty defeated Rob Van Dam & Bill Alfonso. Dreamer and RVD were soon gone from the bout, leading to Alfonso being busted open so bad he spent several days in the hospital.
-The Sandman fought Sabu to a no contest when Sabu shot a fireball into Sandman's face.
-New Jack & John Kronus defeated ECW World Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz to win the championship.
1997 - WWF held their first ever UK Only PPV "One Night Only" featuring the final match ever between Bret Hart and The Undertaker. The show, from The NEC Arena in Birmingham, England was later released on home video sans the Hart vs. Taker bout. The full results of the show saw, courtesy www.thehistoryofwwe.com:
Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/ Chyna) pinned Dude Love with the Pedigree at 12:51 after Chyna put Helmsley's foot on the rope after he sustained the double arm DDT.
Tiger Ali Singh pinned Leif Cassidy at 4:06 with a bulldog off the top.
WWF Tag Team Champions the Headbangers defeated Savio Vega & Miguel Perez Jr. at 13:34 when Mosh pinned Miguel with the Bombs Away.
The Patriot pinned Flash Funk at 8:47 with the full nelson slam.
The Legion of Doom defeated Henry & Phinneas Godwinn at 10:42 when Road Warrior Animal pinned Phinneas following the Doomsday Device.
Vader pinned Owen Hart at 12:14 by catching Hart coming off the top and hitting a powerslam.
WWF World Champion Bret Hart defeated the Undertaker via disqualification at 28:35 when the challenger failed to stop beating on Hart after the champion became entangled in the ropes head-first.
Shawn Michaels defeated WWF European Champion Davey Boy Smith to win the title at 22:53 when the referee stopped the match as the challenger had a figure-4 applied, with an illegal assist from Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Rick Rude, and Chyna; several minutes prior to the finish, the Bulldog injured his ankle while attempting the powerslam outside the ring and suffered the superkick and Pedigree on the floor; after the match, Bret and Owen Hart made the save for the Bulldog and Diana Smith against Michaels, Helmsley, Rude, and Chyna; the Bulldog's wife, mother, and sister - who was being treated for cancer at the time - all sat ringside for the bout.
2002 - Jim Ross announced on his WWE website column that Nikita Fink (a trainee of Les Thatcher), Sylvian Grenier, and Orlando Jordan had all been signed to WWE developmental deals in advance of being assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling.
2002 - Steve Austin appeared before the court in Bexar County, TX to answer charges stemming from a June 15, 2002 incident where his wife Debra called the local police after a domestic incident between the two. As a result of the hearing, Austin was set to go before a jury on a misdemeanor charge on October 9, 2002. Austin's lawyer felt confident that the case could be settled before going in front of a jury. Austin also was happy that he and his wife Debra have reconciled, after divorce proceedings he initiated were dropped. He was quoted as saying, “We’re doing great, as a matter of fact.”
2002 - Homicide defeats Slyk Wagner Brown in Bayonne, New Jersey to win the Jersey All Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title for the fifth time. Eric Rosen filed the following results from the show:
*Deranged defeated Azreial
*Mike Kruel defeated Tony Lazaro
*Boogaloo defeated J-Train
*Devastation Inc. (Striker & Skinhead Ivan) defeated Team Thomas
*The Solution NO CONTEST The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
*JAPW TV Title Match: Champion Jay Lethal defeated his partner Rain
*JAPW Tag Team Title Match: Champions Da Hit Squad defeated the The Briscoe Brothers
*JAPW Light Heavyweight Title Match Brother vs Brother: The Insane Dragon won on a Count Out against his brother Dixie (Champion)
*Main Event- JAPW Heavyweight Title Rematch: Homicide defeated Slyk Wagner Brown (with April Hunter) to win the JAPW Heavyweight Title.
2002 - Eric Bischoff appeared on FOX Sports' “Best Damn Sports Show Period." Daniel Bradshaw filed the following report:
Eric was shown working the heavy-bag with stiff jabs and kicks backstage as the show went to a break before introducing him.
John Kruk took over the wrestling segment of the show from host Chris Rose as Kruk stated that Rose was clueless when it came to professional wrestling. Kruk then reminded us of the history between Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff, and showed a clip of Bischoff’s involvement in Chuck & Billy’s “Commitment Segment” on Smackdown recently, highlighted by Bischoff’s revelation of “3 minutes” as he unmasked himself and confronted Stephanie McMahon. Eric Bischoff was then introduced as the live studio audience cheered him wildly.
Eric Bischoff came out patting his heart and pointing to the audience, telling them he loved them, as he always does and shook hands with all the hosts. Tom Arnold asked Bischoff a question about the clip that was shown and they talked about the secrecy of the angle on Smackdown and how they were able to pull it off without anyone knowing it was him under the latex mask. Bischoff went into the make up room and was walking around the arena all day as the minister. No one knew, and it was magic. He walked around the backstage area as the elderly pastor, complete with the voice he would later use in the segment, and no one recognized him.
Eric said he walked around and talked smack about himself to see if anyone would talk disparagingly about him. No one knew it was him until he unmasked himself later that night during the ceremony segment. The thing that made the segment work was that very few people knew it was him, and so the secrecy surrounding his involvement, much like his debut in WWE this past July. It was done in complete secrecy and was pulled off as a legitimate surprise since only a select few knew before hand that he was joining WWE as an on-air performer.
John Kruk asked Eric about the kick to the groin on RAW this past Monday, and if the kick was practiced before hand. Eric said they (Stephanie and Eric) didn’t practice because he didn’t want to take more than one shot in case Stephanie messed up, so Stephanie and Eric didn’t practice the kick at all. It was all done on the fly.
They then went on to plug the PPV and asked him of his other ventures. Eric talked about his new Martial Arts reality show with Survivor’s Mark Burnett, which is currently in the developmental stages. Eric also talked about his involvement in the Indy Racing League.
A question was asked about working with Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman working with Bischoff in the past. Bischoff talked about Dennis Rodman and what it was like to deal with him during his short stints in WCW with the nWo and Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
Someone stated that John Kruk was a huge fan, and watches WWE all the time. Bischoff then invited former Phillies player John Kruk to come out to LA and step inside the ring at WWE Unforgiven.
The segment was then ended by reminding everyone to watch WWE Unforgiven on PPV this coming Sunday.
Eric Bischoff replaced Chris Jericho at the last minute on the show. The reason for the change wasn't given.
2002 - Stephanie McMahon appeared on Byte This. Joe Sheaer filed the following results:
We begin this week’s edition of Byte This! with another recap of Billy and Chuck’s faux-wedding ceremony and Bischoff’s outstanding performance as the JOP. Did Eazy-E look creepy as he said “Did I just hear myself say, three minutes?” with that latex mask on, or what?
Back for another go-round of internet wrestling mayhem are your congenial hosts, Dr. Tom Pritchard and Kevin Kelly.
The show starts with some Unforgiven hype, and Dr. Tom says there will truly be no losers for the Billy & Chuck/Rosie & Jamal match, given the stipulations. Speaking of which, today’s guests will be the aforementioned B&C;, along with SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon.
On to Droz’s Two Cents, beginning with RVD/Triple H, otherwise known as the Battle of the Initials. Droz said that RVD’s time is now and he’s primed to rise to the top. Dr. Tom compared this match to the Shawn Michaels/Bret Hart matches. Droz called Triple H having the title given to him was a slap in the face to the entire WWE.
On to Ric Flair. Kev asked if it was time for Naitch to hang up his boots, and Droz says that as long as he can compete, he should stay.
Dr. Tom asked if Droz was rooting for HLA or Bischoff kissing booty. Droz said the answer to that question is obvious, but it would be entertaining either way. Droz also noted that he has been looking forward to seeing Rosie and Jamal compete.
Kev brings up Taker/Brock, and asked what was up with Matt Hardy interfering on behalf of Brock Lesnar. Droz said that Matt is doing what he thinks he has to further his career and find his groove. On the whole, Droz thinks that this is a very personal PPV with Brock/Taker, Angle/Benoit, and Eric/Steph, and a lot of issues will be settled.
With that, Droz left the show, and Kelly notes that next week’s Byte This! will emanate from The World in the heart of Times Square, with Tommy Dreamer, Dawn Marie and Steven Richards all confirmed guests. Some idle chatter, then a break to the Chris Benoit piece from SmackDown, or at least that’s what Kevin Kelly says as they fool around a little. Dr. Tom calls Duda “Tracy Smothers Jr.” Kevin wonders aloud if there is a chance that they could run the piece, and evidently the answer is no, and Kelly says “get Tazz on the phone,” and until then, they’re taking callers.
The first caller brings up the “shut up and wrestle” column, and says he agrees with it and that he doesn’t like the state of the WWF. Oops. Kev challenges him to tell him what he doesn’t like about WWE. The caller brings up Booker T’s gross misuse in the Un-Americans, and Chris Jericho. Kev spews company line, cuts off the caller, then goes to Tazz. The thug mentioned that the caller seemed a little bit frustrated, but, that Vince would love for every superstar to be a top player, but that’s not the reality of the situation. Tazz compared WWE’s current direction to the NFL or Major League Baseball, with its divisions, and Kelly said he’s been blown away by how good RAW has been the past several weeks. Tazz says that everyone works hard in the creative department and in the talent department. He says that there are up times and down times, but everyone is working hard.
Tazz said that Brock is primed to deliver on Sunday and that he’s getting better every week. He said that he watched the main event from Global Warning, and in two months it is unbelievable how much better Brock is since then, just two months ago. Brock is such a quick learner and is so intelligent that he just absorbs information. Tazz also mentioned that it’s a shame that with Brock’s character he may not get the chance to show how smart he is.
Tazz quickly brought up Kev’s “5 minute” comment from last week, and moved on to Angle/Benoit, saying that the two gel very well and the match could steal the show. Tazz also said that the 8-man match (Un-Americans vs. Booker/Bubba/Goldust/Kane) is going to be a good match.
Tazz then speaks about the brand extension, but says he considers SmackDown the enemy on PPV Sundays. Kevin asked if, competitive nature aside, is there a part of him rooting for Rosie and Jamal at Unforgiven? Tazz chuckled and said he has all the respect in the world for Stephanie, but if she wants to dabble, more power to her. He noted that Bischoff is in a no-lose situation as well.
An instant feedback suggested that JR likes to be cruel to animals, with his sayings about government mules and scalded dogs. Tazz said that it’s because he’s from Oklahoma, where they like to kill animals. Tazz says that in The Hook, the rats, pigeons, etc. all just come in the house, like a petting zoo.
Tazz tells a great story about going to the Nebraska/Penn State game, which he attended with Michael Cole and Big Gaburick (from Tough Enough). Big is a Penn State fan, and Tazz a Nebraska fan, and (as most of you probably know) Nebraska got murdered in that game, and Tazz said that as he walked out of Penn State’s stadium with his Nebraska shirt on he got heckled. He said it was “worse than being a heel in the ECW arena.” The Thug said that Gerry Brisco and JR were the worst.
With that Tazz took a powder, Kev mentioned that Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley would be joining us later, which drew catcalls from Dr. Tom. Kev literally smacked himself for that one, then welcomed to the show Chuck, and mentioned that Billy would be on the phone later.
Chuck said hello, then said that Billy was at his house, and Kev told him to put him on. Billy said hello, and Kev immediately mentioned that he was surprised that Billy said he wasn’t gay. The former Mr. Ass said that just because he had all those escapades with you (Kevin Kelly) that didn’t mean he was gay. Kev called their performances “masterful,” and said that it was one of the biggest swerves in history, that people will be talking about it for years to come.
Chuck said that he didn’t know that there would be such a positive reaction for it, but said it turned out to be a positive night. Billy noted that fans can be brutal in an angle like that, but everything went great, and the fans loved it. Kev said the fans went “stupid” when Billy said he wasn’t gay. Billy then talked about being on the Today show, Howard Stern, New York Times, New York Post, Entertainment Tonight, etc. Billy said that even during D-X he had never been a part of an angle so big. He said that they didn’t disrespect anyone and had a great time. Kevin Kelly defended the angle, saying that it was like Will & Grace, where the actors who portray gay men are not really gay.
Kevin asked Chuck if Matt Lauer hit on him, and Chuck said he thought he was, and Billy added that Katie Couric was hitting on him. Kevin asked about GLAAD giving them the gravy bowl, and getting behind the angle, then retracting it, calling them Indian Givers. Billy said that he didn’t want to say anything bad about them, but they got some publicity from it as well.
Kevin asked them about Rosie and Jamal, and Billy said that he knows Samoans, and they have never let him down before, and Kev mentioned his friendship with the late Yokozuna, and Billy said he considers himself one-quarter Samoan.
Dr. Tom asked them about possibly splitting afterwards, and Billy said that he doesn’t have too many years left, and the tag scene is a little weak with the tag titles being on RAW, so who knows what will happen. Billy also said that Chuck has never had the opportunity to prove himself as a singles wrestler, and Billy would like to have a run at the World Title. Dr. Tom asked Billy how much time he thought he had left, and Billy said maybe two or three more years.
Kevin asked Chuck where his interest in wrestling came from, and he answered that he was a fan of Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper, but never thought he was going to be a wrestler. He had a scholarship in basketball and said he gave it up to go to the WCW Power Plant.
Kev asked what they thought of HLA, and Billy said he is a fan of HLA, but said that he digs it. Chuck said it was a no-lose situation, and Kevin referred to Dr. Tom. Billy and Chuck then left the show, and Kevin asked if Billy Gunn is a Hall-of Famer if her retires today. He said that he’s a dark horse, where you wouldn’t think so until you look at his accomplishments. He mentioned all the tag title reigns, his Kiss-My-Ass match with The Rock, etc. Dr. Tom added that he’s easy to forget because he hasn’t one the big one, but he’s worthy.
Moving on to Edge/Eddy, Kevin mentioned that Edge is ready to get to the next level, but when is he going to be ready? He called Edge “SmackDown’s Booker T,” and Dr. Tom says that it takes that one match to finally break through.
The Dynamic Duo welcomed Steph, and Kev said that Eric would have his ass kissed if Billy & Chuck won, and Steph quickly corrected him. He brought up RAW, and Steph didn’t break character, saying she enjoyed kicking Bischoff in the jewels. Kevin asked what Steph thought about HLA, and Steph said they were a cheap ratings ploy because SmackDown is doing so much better.
Dr. Tom noted that the tag ropes were back on SmackDown (which I hadn’t noticed!) and said that it was the little things that distinguished SmackDown. Steph hyped Unforgiven and the SmackDown matches, and called Paul Heyman an incredible manager, an incredible talent, and an incredible sleaze.
Kev asked Steph who the SmackDown MVP was, and Steph hedged a bit, saying that maybe not MVP, but Brock was certainly most improved.
Dr. Tom asked if Steph had seen the WWE poll that asked viewers if they’d like to see Steph perform HLA with Anna Kournikova, Britney Spears, etc. and asked which she’d prefer to do it with, and Steph said that she’s never tried it, but she might like it.
Kev and Dr. Tom closed the show with the SmackDown segment with Bischoff and Steph on their via satellite confrontation. A nice touch with Eric getting the crowd chanting “HLA,” not to mention his reaction when Steph said she might like it. Also telling was Steph’s response that it was about “cheap, sleazy thrills,” which is what WWE has been bringing us sports entertainment fans for years.
A side note: why is WWE setting up Rosie and Jamal as crowd favorites in this match when they’re the heels? No self-respecting wrestling fan would want Billy and Chuck to win for the HLA factor, and Kevin Kelly even came out and said he wishes that Rosie and Jamal would win.
Another side note: I think it is really disconcerting when most of the guests break kayfabe, then others come on and treat storylines as real. That shows a lack of preparation for both the guests, the hosts, and the show’s writers. Tazz and Kevin Kelly and Dr. Tom and even Billy and Chuck this week all broke kayfabe and talked about the entertainment aspect of the show, but Stephanie treated the storylines seriously and talked about the matches as if they weren’t predetermined. Not only that, but I, as a Byte This viewer, have come to view the show as a refreshing change of pace, one of the few times WWE will break kayfabe, but to do it, then not to do it is a kick in the head, in my opinion.
2003 - WWE Champion Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker in a steel cage match in the main event of a WWE event at Madison Square Garden in New York City when Vince McMahon interfered and prevented Taker from leaving the cage while Lesnar climbed over the top for the win.
2003 - Ring of Honor presented Glory By Honor II in Philadelphia, PA in what would prove to be their final event ever held in their original home venue, The Murphy Recreation Center. Eric McHugh and Mike Johnson filed the following reports:
Eric McHugh filed the following live report:
Ring of Honor returned to the Murphy Rec Center in Philadelphia on September 20 for Glory By Honor II. It was a solid show overall but there were a few negatives, one in particular which I hope does not become an ECW-like habit. This is just a quick rundown since it's 2:15AM and I wasn't really in note-taking mode at the show, plus a few names were hard to hear over the audio.
Showcase card began at 6:30 promptly. First match saw The Outkast Killahs go over on April Hunter/Slyk Wagner Brown. Pretty good opener, and yes April was a female in there with three males. She totally blew her first spot and it turned the crowd against her for the whole match, but everyone was good overall. Best spot: Slyk did an Ultimate Warrior-style press slam drop and followed right up with a backflip splash.
Second Showcase match saw Angel Dust of Special K defeat Joey Matthews, who played the face tonight (important to know now because of something later).
Showcase Main Event: Jimmy Jacobs (who does a Berserker "Huss" gimmick) over Josh Daniels, Roderick Strong, and a name I couldn't hear. All four were awesome and got a standing ovation afterwards.
At this point it was about 7:15 and the show itself was to start in 15 minutes. I went outside for a smoke, and there will still 100-200 people outside. As a result, ROH decided to announce on several occasions that the show would start in 5 or 10 minutes before finally just out-and-out saying it would start whenever everyone could get in. Meanwhile, all of us hearing this were trying to figure out where in the hell these 200 others were going to fit, because chairs were filled from one end of the room to the other. Finally at about 7:50 the show began.
So OK, now for the event itself. First match saw BJ Whitmer go over on Jimmy Rave. Solid opener, Whitmer wins with a top rope powerbomb.
Second match saw Xavier go over on John Walters. Both guys busted it big time and afterwards Xavier heeled Walters by not shaking his hand and instead leaving with Lollipop from NWA:TNA (who pretty much added nothing to the whole night). Walters cut a promo saying next time he'd beat some respect into Xavier.
Third bout saw Teddy Hart over TJ Wilson. Good stuff, and Hart especially left a big impression on the crowd, winning with a gorgeous Shooting Star Press.
Fourth bout was half of the Raven-CM Punk challenge. Raven took on Punk's choice of an opponent: Steve Corino. Corino was out with some Zero One buddies of his, and the Zero One ring announcer proceeded to list about 40 names of guys that Corino has beaten. At one point he had to stop and chug some water before continuing. This may have been the funniest ring introduction ever, even better than Pat Patterson's. The almost-bald Raven went down to Corino thanks to interference from Punk. However, afterwards Corino slapped Punk saying he didn't need his help.
Fifth bout: Colt Cabana over AJ Styles and Chris Sabin and Matt Stryker. Great stuff, Cabana won with the Colt 45.
After intermission we had the tag-team gauntlet for the vacant belts. The first two teams wrestled a 6-man, with the winning team and all successive matches being 2-on-2. In the first match, three guys from Special K (I'm still trying to learn them all) defeated Justin Credible/Carnage Crew by DQ because Crew used belts. Terrible finish, especially found stupid by the crowd because 5 seconds earlier about 5 other Special K guys interfered. At any rate, next out were the Briscoe Brothers, and they defeated the two Special K members, then made quick work of Dunn & Marcos as well (to loud boos). The fifth team out were two other K guys, who took out the Briscos. Final team, and winners, were the Backseat Boyz, your new ROH tag champions. Afterwards, K jumped the Boyz until the Briscos and Teddy Hart ran out and cleared them away; Hart did an insane twisting leap from the top rope to the floor at one point. Hart saluted the crowd from the heart and mouthed emphatically, "I'm coming back!"
At this point, Gary Michael Cappetta came out to have us all bid congratulations and good luck to Alexis Laree, who recently signed with McWorld McWrestling McEntertainment. Laree got a great response and thanked everyone. Just as she finished, Special K came out and cornered her. Joey Matthews (Alexis' real-life squeeze) ran them off with a chair. As Matthews checked on her, Alexis planted a kiss on him. Matthews played it up all flustered and raised her arm...and then clotheslined the hell out of her. He and K prepared for an Alexis beatdown when out came the big bodyguard of K. However, he wound up hitting one of the K members instead. At this point it turned into a mess as 3 or 4 other guys ran in and no one in the crowd knew who was fighting who. Finally, someone played referee and said "We have a match" and Alexis wrestled and defeated one of the K guys. After that the snazzy-dressed person went on some more on the mic but everyone was tired of this angle minutes earlier already. Alexis deserved a much better sendoff than this; the crowd was just lost.
Second half of the Raven-CM Punk challenge saw Terry Funk defeat CM Punk by DQ. Punk came out to what I believe was new music and the crowd popped for it when it ended, and Punk then delivered a solid anti-Funk promo that you need to read or see to really appreciate, because right now I couldn't do it justice. Crowd hated the finish, which saw the DQ happen when Punk wouldn't release a figure-four and Funk was in the ropes. Funk's still doing moonsaults too, and he looked as Funktacular as ever. Afterwards, Punk and a second person I couldn't make out were beating on Funk until Raven ran in, followed quickly by...Tommy Dreamer! The former ECW triumvirate cleared the ring and the crowd as well as the trio basked in the nostalgia. Dreamer than thanked Funk for all he's done and put over ROH.
Main event: Samoa Joe successful defense against Christopher Daniels. Great bout, crowd totally into it, and Daniels hitting the Angels' Wings made the place go berserk; the 2.99 count as well as the crowd reaction to it was off the charts. After the match, Joe went to Daniels but instead of shaking his hand, gave him the finger and left.
Misc.: When Funk arrived outside, he was as good-natured and lovable as Ol' Uncle Terry always is. A fan was saying he'd seen his Japan Death matches, and proclaimed "You are the ****ing man!", to which Terry replied as only Terry can, "I'm an idiot!" Also seen before the show were Steven Richards and Zach Gowen. Richards was seen by many, which makes me wonder if he was a red herring, because everyone expected him to run out and help Funk and it turned out to be Dreamer, who no one had any clue was there. Overall, good show up to ROH standards, but I certainly could do without the wall-to-wall humanity...either book a bigger building or adhere to the sellout, but don't make it an unsafe and uncomfortable environment. Phily return date is 12/27.
RING OF HONOR DODGES TWO BULLETS LAST NIGHT
by Mike Johnson
I attended last night's Ring of Honor event in Philadelphia, PA. Eric McHugh sent in a live report, so check out Eric's report for his opinions on the show. Here are brief results and Notes from the show, including two major hassles the promotion went through before the opening bell even rang:
*The Outcast Killahs defeated Slyk Wagner Brown and April Hunter in 6:25. The Crowd was heavily deriding Brown and Hunter during the bout.
*Angeldust pinned Joey Matthews in 7:36.
*Jimmy Jacobs beat Roderick Strong, Alex Shelley and Josh Daniels in 13:18 of an excellent Four Way.
*In a Field of Honor Match, BJ Whitmer defeated Jimmy Rave in 9:25.
*In a Field of Honor Match, Xavier defeated John Walters in 10:46. Lollipop (TNA) came out to ringside. Allison Danger came out but was sent back. They aligned Lollipop with Xavier as she cheered him on and left with him after the match. Walters said on the mic that Xavier doesn't respect anyone and he was going to teach Xavier about respect the next time they got into the ring.
*Teddy Hart defeated TJ Wilson in 7:42 with a shooting star press. Hart looked more impressive than Wilson.
*Steve Corino defeated Raven after CM Punk interfered and Corino hit a superkick in 13:10. Corino slapped Punk after the match, saying he didn't need his help. Corino was accompanied by a huge entourage which including Zero-One ring announcer Bobby Cruz reciting a huge list of every wrestler Corino had ever defeated.
*Colt Cabana defeated Chris Sabin, Matt Stryker and AJ Styles in 18:56. Cabana pinned Stryker. This was the best match on the show with tons of innovative moves and fast action.
*Special K's Hydro, Angeldust and Deranged defeated The Carnage Crew and Justin Credible) in a six man gauntlet match. Special K advanced in the Gauntlet for the vacant ROH Tag Team championships....Jay and Mark Briscoe beat Special K in 2:47....The Briscoes defeated Dunn and Marcos in 1:45....The second Special K team, Izzy and Dixie defeated the Briscoes in 5:21.... The Backseat Boyz defeated Izzy and Dixie in 3:53 to win the ROH Tag Team Titles. Special K attacked the Backseats. The Briscoes and Teddy Hart made the save setting off a series of awesome dives. This looks like the setup for the promotion's 11/1 Scramble Cage Match with Platforms in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
*Gary Michael Cappetta introduced Alexis Laree for her farewell ceremony. The fans threw streamers and she gave a speech thanking everyone. Special K came out and went to attack her. Joey Matthews ran them off, only to attack her as well, so he's back in Special K. Julius Smokes and the Rottweilers (Slugga and Benny from the Bronx) made the save and Alexis defeated Cabana from Special K in a quick match with Smokes as the referee.
*Terry Funk in his ROH debut defeated CM Punk by DQ when Punk would not release the figure four at the ref's 5 count as Funk was grabbing the ropes. The storyline was that Punk was trying to crippled Funk. Punk did a promo mocking Funk's All Japan retirement speech. As much as it pains me to say this, Funk looked really old out there. Colt Cabana teased he wanted Punk to stop, but then joined in beating on the attack. Raven made the save. As the brawl continued, WWE's Tommy Dreamer hit the ring. After everyone else left, Dreamer gave a brief speech thanking Funk for everything he did for the business. The fans chanted "ECW" and then "ROH."
*ROH Champion Samoa Joe defeated Christopher Daniels in 15:03 with the Island Driver. Awesome match with tons of false finishes.
Notes: The promotion dodged a major bullet as they were contacted late Friday by the local fire marshal who informed them there was an anonymous complaint about the size of the crowds at ROH's events at the Murphy Recreation Center. The Marshall informed the promotion that if they went beyond 400 fans in the building, the show would be shut down immediately. As you could imagine, having a show shut down would be crippling to the promotion's health, so it was stress city in the ROH offices. About 200 fans waited outside hoping to get in, but ROH was unable to allow the fans entry until the marshal arrived. While the fans were waiting, ROH sent a number of performers, including the Backseat Boyz, Samoa Joe, and Jimmy Jacobs out to thank them for the support and to ask them to hang in there. The actual "main show" started 30 minutes late as the promotion was trying to work out the situation. PA State Athletic Commission official Frank Talent went to bat in a major way for the promotion when the fire marshal arrived and the fans were eventually allowed into the building. The promotion was very thankful that there were so many fans that were willing to wait for a chance to support the product. The feeling internally with ROH was that another promotion had phoned in a complaint in an attempt to sabotage the show as the report was phone in. The marshal acknowledged the situation was "shady." It certainly looks like no one has learned from the mistakes of the promotional rivalries from last year that left Philadelphia crowds down and several promotions defunct. ROH really has no choice but to seek out a larger venue, because next time, they may not end up with such a positive ending to a situation like this one....WWE's Zach Gowen and Steven Richards were backstage visiting....As if the promotion didn't have enough stress, they found out the day of the show the company they contracted for their lighting had gone out of business, and had to scramble to find a new lighting company and get them set up in time for the show....Philadelphia FOX affiliate channel 29 was at the show with a camera crew, filming a feature that will air in November during sweeps....They reconfigured the building setup for this show and announced a 12/27 return to Philadelphia at the Murphy Recreation Center....There was a huge "F*** you Jasmin" chant at the onset of the show from the fans as word was going around that there was 3PW involvement in the fire marshal situation, which is something that is absolutely not confirmed. There has been heat between the two promotions in the past.
2003 - New England Championship Wrestling held a 12-team tournament for the vacant tag team titles at their monthly show in Hamden, CT on 9/20. They had six first round matches, with the winners advancing to two triangle matches, and the winners of those meeting for the belts. The Shaolin Wrecking Crew (Suba & Magic), who work New Jersey area indies including Jersey All Pro Wrestling, debuted and went to the finals before losing to Eddie Edwards & D.C. Dillinger. The Shaolins won their first round match over K.L. Murphy, who teamed with his inanimate Murphy Cup (it's a running undercard comedy gimmick). They squashed the Noize Boyz in the semifinals in under a minute. Their semifinal only had two teams because Johnny Idol & J-Busta went to a double DQ with Anthony Michaels & Mark Gore. Idol and Busta were the champs who were stripped last show for a non-finish against Michaels and Gore. Idol turned on Busta afterward. They set this up before the match, as Idol told Busta he was tired of everything going wrong with them and this would be Busta's last chance. Dillinger & Edwards beat El Boriqua & Mercedes Martinez in the first round when Nikki Roxx distracted the ref, allowing Dillinger to reverse a Boriqua rollup and help Edwards win. They then won a three way over Bob Evans & Zaquary Springate III and Antonio Thomas & Frankie Arion (subbing for the absent Pain). Arion also won a singles match over Psycho Mike Osbourne. Ron Zombie was the ref, and they built to Osbourne slapping Zombie and Zombie attacking him with a chair in retaliation to help Arion go over. Zombie and Osbourne brawled afterward. They are coming back on 10/25 with those two in a hardcore match. Alex Arion vs. Steve Bradley, which they've been building to for a while, is going to take place at the November show; on 10/25 they will do a "contract signing". I'm sure that will go smoothly as these things usually do. Jess McGrath reporting.
2003 - Gateway Championship Wrestling ran Overland, MO. Kory Twist won a three way over Delirious and Diamond Back Dingo. Delirious and Dingo collided, and Dingo bumped out to the floor, leaving Delirious to take Twist's finisher and be pinned. MsChif kept the light heavyweight title beating Ian Storm after interference from Delirious. There will be a rematch at the next Overland show on 10/24 with MsChif stripped of the belt if anybody interferes. Pete Madden and Jack Adonis, beat Johnny Greenpeace and Daizee Haze. Greenpeace turned on Daizee because she lost the fall. Jess McGrath reporting.
2003 - Gregory White filed the following Memphis Wrestling TV report from UPN Studios in Memphis, TN.
Hosts: Brian Teigland and Corey Maclin
Ref: Bill Rush
The announcers open the show by mentioning who will be on the show. We will talk to the King about what happened to him last week and Brian Christopher and Doug Gilbert.
On the Phone is Jimmy Valiant. He says that he is sorry that he cannot be at the studio today. He announces that Jerry Lawler will make an announcement for next week that will surprise Dundee,Hart and the XWF and that Jerry can pick any partner he wants.
The first match of the day is Kevin White and Flex vs The Moondogs with April. April hits both Moondogs with a strap and screams at them. April hits Flex with a 2x4 which could be heard. Winners: The Moondogs.
Cyborg Promo. He says that he has arrived.
The second match of the day is Kevin Sharp & Stephen Lee vs The Alternative Express with Athena. Douglas pins Kevin Sharp. Winners: The Alternative Express.
Athena walks over to the desk and talks to the announcers. I can't understand we beat the best tag teams and we get no respect from you two, you are idiots! The Moondogs come out with April and the two argue. I cannot print what they said, but they eventually got into a catfight CATFIGHT!!!!!!!!! CATFIGHT!!!!!!!!! CATFIGHT!!!!!!!!!
The Smash of the Week is from last week where Lawler gets posted by Dundee, Hart and Mabel.
Jimmy Hart with Reggie B Fine comes out with a covered bird cage. Jimmy Hart cries about Jerry Lawler and says that Reggie has taught Frankie how to talk. The parrot sounds a lot like Jimmy Hart. Reggie keeps referring to the parrot as a pigeon. Reggie asks who is the greatest wrestler. The bird says "Reggie B Fine". Who is the world's greatest manager. The bird says "Jimmy Hart". Reggie than asks who is the worst, sorriest ass wrestler you have ever seen. The bird says "Koko Ware". The announcers say that Hart is talking for the bird, but Hart says that he was busy calling the hospital to see how Jerry Lawler was. Jimmy Hart takes the cover off the cage and in the cage is a piece of chicken. Jimmy says, "Reggie, you left Frankie in the car too long" and then says that he is hungry. Koko runs out and runs off Hart and Fine and does not look happy and says that they did not cook my bird, this is not Frankie, and I am gonna find you.
The third match of the day is Koko Ware vs Mr Compulsive. Koko Ware puts a reverse neck breaker on Mr Compulsive. Winner: Koko Ware. Koko then blames Corey for the disappearance of Frankie.
They show Lance Russell playing with a German shepherd in his yard, hyping the the Sept 28 show at the Mid-South Coliseum with 5 pm bell time and with $10 general admission getting you not only admission to wrestling but also all day admission to the Mid-South Fair and the Jeffrey Osborne Concert.
Buddy Landel comes out and says that he is glad that Lance is drawing a pension from the Civil War. Jimmy Hart, I was the #1 stud in your stable and I heard you were knocking me last week. Jimmy says that you are the greatest.
The fourth match of the day is Shock and B-A-D-D with Jimmy Hart vs Johnny Dodston. Jimmy Hart claims that Dodston is Corey Jr and mentions that he went to the Jerry Lawler school of Wrestling. Both guys slam and pin Dodston and Landel says that I cannot believe what they did to Lawler.
Todd Hamilton of the Mid-South fair came out hyping the the Sept 28 show at the Mid-South Coliseum.
Lance Russell is indoors this time and mentions that he will be tickled to return to Memphis and mentions that the Rock 'n' Roll Express will be there as well as Kimala, Jimmy Hart, Jimmy Valiant etc. hyping the the Sept 28 show.
Jerry Lawler comes out to a loud pop with a Jerry chant. Jerry mentions that he remembers Dundee's statement last week about regretting about making the challenge from last week. Jerry asks them to play the posting video again. Jerry mentions that it has happened to him in the past and that Tommy Rich did it and he had to have surgery and that Mabel, Hart and Dundee did not get the job done. Jerry Lawler asks "Who is the lowest and who will do the worse to them than what they did to me?" He then announces that his partner will be Austin Idol.
Austin Idol video. Idol says that he does not let anyone on his property who is not on his list. but the conniving King came under the radar to get me. He asks me to come one more time to Memphis and be my partner. I don't need your fans and people shouting Idol and women crawling across burning coals and broken glass to kiss feet of Austin Idol. I have one piece of unfinished business in Memphis; be careful what you ask for because you might get it.
They announce the Mid-South Coliseum show will be a double main event. Jerry Lawler and Austin Idol vs Bill Dundee and Mabel, and a cage match with Brian Christopher and Doug Gilbert vs Shock and B-A-D-D.
Christopher and Gilbert come out. Brian grabs a "Brian Christopher #1" sign from a fan. Christopher asks that the people don't call them a tag team that instead we are two guys put together to fight a common cause and that nobody has been a bigger thorn in my side than you Doug Gilbert. Doug Gilbert then replies, "I kicked butt in this building and that if you fight with me as much as you did against me then we can run anybody out". The match will be a cage match.
The fifth match of the day is Gilbert and Christopher vs East Coast Bad Boys. Christopher distracts ref and Gilbert piledrives one of the boys. Christopher does a hip hop drop. Winners: Christopher and Gilbert.
Hart and Dundee comes out. Hart shows a picture of the First Family which consisted of Dutch Mantell, Austin Idol, Dream Machine and Jimmy Valiant.
Dundee says that Idol is low. Mabel asks Jimmy how he got into the match. Jimmy Hart is whining the whole time.
They show a Austin Idol video. Jimmy Hart is still whining.
2004 - Raw was held in Tucson, Arizona, with the announcement that Kane and Lita had lost the (storyline) child they were expecting as a result of the previous week when Lita was knocked down following a Kane-Gene Snitsky match. Snitsky then did a promo stating that it "wasn't his fault", which would become his catchphrase.
2005 - Smackdown was taped in Lubbock, Texas featuring the television debut of Bobby Lashley, who defeated Simon Dean in under three minutes. However, that wasn't the fastest match of the night, as U.S. Champion Chris Benoit defeated Orlando Jordan with the Crippler Crossface in 49.8 seconds.
2006 - WWE announced the following: "WWE has come to terms on the release of Boogeyman (Marty Wright) as of today 9/20/06. We wish Marty the best in all future endeavors." The reasoning was that WWE didn't feel Boogey was working hard in rehabbing from injuries that had sidelined him, as he had missed several doctor's appointments. However, WWE would rehire him less than a month later, reportedly at the behest of Booker T, who brought Boogeyman to his wrestling school where he saw that Boogey was dedicated to returning to the ring. He would later be released again.
2007 - Dr. John Todd Miller, head of the Tampa, Florida-based Physician's Wellness Institute was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for conspiring to dispense steroids to a teenaged in-line skater. Â
Authorities became aware of the illegal actions after the father of teenage champion in-line skater Corey Gahan's father, James had a "business dispute" with Dr. Miller and informed authorities that Miller had given steroids to Corey. The father went on to plead guilty to his part in getting steroids for his son as well.
According to clinic records, acquired by the Tribune, Miller also provided steroids to Billy Kidman, the late Eddie Guerrero, Hector Guerrero, Danny Spivey and Paul "Big Show" Wight. Kidman told investigators that he was referred to the clinic by the late Brian "Crush" Adams, according to the article.
WWE's spokesperson Jennifer McIntosh would not comment on the specific wrestlers, none of whom are currently under any WWE deals. In the case of Spivey and Hector Guerrero, it has been well over a decade since either were regular WWF performers. None of the named wrestlers were able to be reached for comment.
Before being sentenced, Miller told the judge, "It was never my intention to hurt anyone."
2007 - The ROH "Driven" PPV debuted. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
Ring of Honor Driven PPV Report
The second Ring of Honor PPV, Driven, opened with announcer Dave Prazak center ring in the Frontier Fieldhouse in Chicago Ridge, Illinois. Prazak set the tone for the company, saying that tonight ROH's athletes would show how "driven" they are to compete and show that their "brand" (I hate that word when it comes to this genre) is about professional wrestling. The live crowd popped for that.
Erick Stevens, Matt Cross and Delirious hit the ring. Prazak identified them by name. Stevens took the mic and challenged the No Remorse Corps to a six man tag match right now. Delirious then took the mic and began jabbering gibberish (that has to be the first time that's ever been written in a PPV report) into it, which the audience popped huge for. The one thing that stands out immediately from a production standpoint is that you can see the back of the bleachers across from the hard camera. On first glance, it looked like those were empty seats, although they aren't. ROH needs to make sure that the next time they film in this building, that's covered with a curtain or something. On TV, a small factor like that can go a long way in presentation.
ROH went into quick video highlight reel using highspots and clips from the debut PPV set to music. If you know the storylines, you immediately know where everyone stands. If not, it's a decent highlight reel.
The No Remorse Corp. hit the ring and it's an impromptu six man tag bout.
"The No Remorse Corp." Roderick Strong & Rocky Romero & Davey Richards vs. "The Resilience" Delirious & Erick Stevens & Matt Cross
All six brawl in the ring. Delirious pulls Richards' shirt over his head like a hockey player and pounds him. Richards goes to the floor. Romero is left with the babyfaces and Delirious chops him. The Corp. yank Romero to the floor and they regroup. It settles down into a traditional six man. The crowd harasses Strong with a "Roodeerriick" chant. Delirious hits a cross body to the floor. Strong dropkicks Stevens, who goes to the floor. Romero dives out of the ring to the floor. Cross drills Strong with a twisting headscissors and Strong retreats out of the ring. Â
Delirious climbs to the top and hit a flip dive to the floor on The Corp. Prazak and Lenny Leonard point out that it's revenge of sorts for Delirious after being laid out by them at the last PPV. Small things like that help so much with educating new fans because it provides exposition and at the same time, insight into the motivation of the competitors. It's something the larger companies would be smart to learn from. When was the last time we had a good idea of what motivated, say, Santino Marella or Sonjay Dutt? I rest my case. Â
Delirious tosses Romero back inside the ring. He nails a belly-to-back suplex. Romero cuts him off with a kick to the gut, then drills another to Delirious' back. Richards tags in and nails several snap suplexes. The Corp. begin tagging in and out, working over Delirious. They triple team Delirious as the referee admonishes the other babyfaces. Delirious kicks up at two. The announcers noted that "The Former Resilience leader" (Austin Aries) isn't there because he's under contract to another company, but was in attendance as he bought a ticket because he didn't want to miss ROH on PPV. Couldn't he have just ordered it at home? I digress.
Romero continues to work over Delirious. The rest of the Resilience try to rally the crowd. Delirious headbutts Richards in the gut, but Strong cuts off Delirious. Erick Stevens finally gets the hot tag. He nails an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Richards then clotheslines Romero as he springboards into the ring. Cross hits a handspring elbow on Strong. Delirious hits a running knee to the corner. Stevens hit a TKO but Strong kicks out. Â
Cross hits a space flying Tiger drop to the floor on the rest of No Remorse. The place loved that. Stevens catches Strong with a powerslam but Romero breaks up the pinfall. Richards hits a missile dropkick on Richards. Richards grabs Delirious for a butterfly suplex but Cross jumps on his shoulders and swings backwards for a reverse frankensteiner. At this point, they are ridiculously beyond the $10 price tag of this PPV in terms of quality and this is just the first match. Romero drills Cross with a kick to the chest Delirious kicks Romero and hits a leaping lariat. That leaves everyone down on the mat out as the audience pops.
Strong hits a gutbuster on Cross. Romero DDT'd him but The Resilience breaks up the pin. All six battle in the ring. Strong works over Stevens with chops as the others battle on the floor. Strong goes for a running boot but is grabbed and slammed down. Stevens picks up Romero in a wheelbarrow for Cross to come off the top with a double stomp. Stevens hits a release German suplex on Richards. Delirious nails Shadows over Hell. Cross hits a shooting star splash. That should have been the finish. The Corp. break it up. The place chants ROH. Â
Strong picks up Delirious while outside on the apron and drops down, slamming him on the corner of the ring apron. Cross hit a spinning twisting moonsault but Romero kicked up. Romero cinches in an anklelock but Cross rolled him up for a two count. Richards nails the DR Driver for the pin.
Your winners, the No Remorse Corp.
A great six man tag with far more going on than I could recap and a ton of fun back and forth wrestling and highspots. Â
The Corp. continue to beat down the Resilience. The crowd starts chanting for Austin Aries. Aries finally hits the ring and clotheslines all three, then begins working them over. Prazak says, "You can't do this!" while Lenny Leonard says, "This isn't going to make air anyway." Aries hits a running dropkick in the corner. He goes to nail a brainbuster on Richards but sees Roderick Strong and goes after him. He hits a flying lariat out of the ring on Romero. The building chants Aries' name.
Aries pulls out a piece of paper and says he has a document that will give him "his wrestling freedom" and allow him to return to "the greatest wrestling company in the world", Ring of Honor. He asks if anyone has a pen. Fan start throwing them in the ring. That was funny. The crowd chants "Welcome Back" as he signs. Aries says he's back where he belongs. He says he back in a company that respect it's fans, it's wrestlers and respects the wrestling business. The crowd chants, "F*** TNA" but Aries cuts them off. He says that fans won't find more excitement or passion "anywhere in this industry" than in ROH. He says ROH is exactly what they say they are. "We are wrestling." Aries hands the contract to ROH owner Cary Silkin at ringside and shakes his hand. The crowd chants, "Welcome back." Live, there were problems with the audio on the promo to the point Gabe Sapolsky was destroying the locker room, but it wasn't that bad on the PPV broadcast. Â
Backstage, ROH Tag Team champions The Briscoes say that they just came back from the first ROH shows in Japan. They challenge Japan to show what they have and "Man up." They came off like two kids goofing around.
ROH went into an awesome video feature on the recent Ring of Honor shows in Toko and Osaka, Japan with comments from ROH performers interspersed with the clips. An awesome feature that made the company look top notch and global. Â
Matt Sydal vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Prazak and Leonard explained that they were facing off after losing their bid to capture the ROH Tag straps on the first PPV. They said Sydal blamed Claudio for the loss and challenged for a singles match, wanting to prove himself. Good logical reason to give an undercard match meaning. ROH showed a highlight reel of each competitor after the ring introductions. ROH did this with all of the competitors the remainder of the show.
Sydal and Claudio faced off and did some good back and forth wrestling. Sydal goes for a hiptoss but it's blocked. Sydal finally takes him down and gets several near-falls. Sydal charges Claudio in the corner but is caught and shoved off into the mat. Claudio slams and legdrops him but doesn't get a three count. Claudio does a long standing suplex but Sydal bridges to escape the pinfall. Claudio grabs Sydal and gives him the giant swing. I love that move. Claudio doesn't get the pin but nails a gut-wretch suplex. He drills Sydal with several uppercuts. He rebounds off the ropes but Sydal sweeps his leg and Claudio takes a bump out of the ring through the ropes feet first (think Chris Hamrick or Lucha star Heavy Metal) to the floor. Sydal hits a running dive over the top into a bodypress on the floor.
Back in the ring, Sydal drills Claudio with an elbow in the corner then hits a spinning leg lariat. Claudio kicks up at two. Claudio comes back with a spin into a facebuster. Sydal comes back with La Magistral. They go back and forth into a series of reversals and pin attempts. It's good. Sydal catches Claudio with a DDT and cradles him for a pin as Claudio bounces over. I've never seen that before. Sydal goes to the top but is caught off. Claudio hits an enziguiri and a bicycle kick for a two count. Claudio hit a big uppercut for a two count. Sydal reverses a flapjack attempt and turns it into headscissors.
Claudio goes for a powerbomb but Sydal jumps on his shoulders and turns it into a pinfall combination. Sydal goes for a frankensteiner, but Claudio rolls through and nails the clean pin. Â
Your winner, Claudio Castagnoli!
ROH showed a replay of the pinfall. Another really good wrestling match with the emphasis on the athletics and in-ring work. Ever smarter, ROH now has two good Sydal matches on their first two PPVs, with Sydal (who recently signed with WWE) losing, so they have footage of their talent going over a "WWE performer."
Larry Sweeney, Chris Hero, Tank Toland and Bobby Dempsey come to the ring. Sweeney says that timing is everything and the time has come for "Super Agent" Larry Sweeney and "Sweet and Sour, Inc."  Sweeney says they already have the number one athlete in wrestling, Chris Hero, signed. He says Hero carried Castagnoli to the ROH Tag Team championships. Sweeney hands Sydal a contract and says he has the ability to spot great talent and make them a superstar. He tells Sydal that with his guidance, they can turn his recent losses into victories. He asks Sydal to look over the contract and sign it. Â
Castagnoli grabs the mic and tells Sydal not to do it because Sweeney is "sc**bag." The crowd chants it at Sweeney, who is awesome in reacting. Castagnoli says that ROH is about the sport of wrestling and doesn't want to see Sydal make a mistake. He rips up the contract. Claudio battles with sweet and Sour, Inc. but when he grabs Sweeney, Sydal suddenly attacks him. Chris Hero helps him and they lay out Claudio. Sweeney starts yelling at Castagnoli, telling him he's a "ham and egger." Hero locks in the Hangman's Clutch on Claudio. Sweet and Sour, Inc. raise their arms and leave the ring. Â
They air a video feature on Jimmy Rave with footage of him voiceover over with a promo. Rave says that tonight it's time for him to take what's his, the ROH title. He says that ROH promised him a World title shot and he's going to take down Takeshi Morishima.
BJ Whitmer vs. Naomichi Marufuji
The announcers point out that Whitmer is 0-1 on PPV while Marufuji is 1-0 and that winning will not only keep them on PPV but move them further up the ladder for a title shot in the future. Wins and losses meaning something in wrestling in 2007? What a concept.
Marufuji is locked in a top wristlock, but uses his speed to escape and reverse. Whitmer backs him into the corner but gives a clean break, staring down Marufuji. They shoulderblock each other, but neither backs down. Whitmer nails a series of armdrags. Both men go for dropkicks at the same time, but neither connect. They face off and the crowd pops. They chop each other. Whitmer nails a leg lariat at Marufuji rebounds off the ropes. Whitmer hits a dive to the floor. Â
Marufuji dropkicks Whitmer as he returns to the ring. He goes to suplex Whitmer into the ring but Whitmer escapes. Marufuji leaps over the ropes and DDT's Whitmer on the apron outside the ring. Both men tumble to the floor. Marufuji recovers first and throws Whitmer into the ringpost, then rolls him into the ring. Whitmer kicked up at the two count. Marufuji goes for a butterfly suplex but instead goes for a crossarmbreaker. Whitmer fights to the ropes and forces a break.
Marufuji goes to the top but is cut off by Whitmer. Whitmer cinches him for a superplex and nails it. Both hit their head on the mat and are out. They get to their feet and exchange chops in the center of the ring. Whitmer finally grabs a German Suplex, then hits a full nelson suplex. He goes for a powerbomb but Marufuji lands on his feet, but Whitmer drills him on the jaw for a two count. Marufuji drills the straightjacket suplex for a two count. Â
Marufuji leaps and drills Whitmer's jaw into his knees but Whitmer kicked up at two. Marufuji misses a superkick and is powerslammed. Whitmer only gets a two count. Marufuji clotheslines Whitmer but can't take him out. He finally nails a big lariat but again, only a two count. Marufuji teased Sliced Bread #2 but Whitmer nailed a brainbuster. Whitmer goes to the top but is drilled and falls backwards with his legs caught in the ropes. Marufuji hits the Van Terminator but only gets a two count. That move should always be a finisher in my opinion.
Marufuji drills a superkick and scores the pinfall with sliced bread #2.
Your winner, Naomichi Marufuji!
Another really good back and forth wrestling match. Three matches, nothing bad so far. The announcers point out that BJ Whitmer's frustrations over not winning big matches continue.
They go into the crowd where Rebecca Bayless is looking good. She says there's nothing like seeing ROH live and in person and begins plugging future live ROH events while a scroll gives further information.
Brent Albright vs. Pelle Primeau
The announcers talked about Primeau, the first graduate of the ROH school, accomplishing his dream by debuting on ROH's PPV but when Albright came out, said that dream just became a nightmare. Albright just mauled Pelle. He nailed a huge Beel throw across the ring. Pelle slides through the legs of Albright but is caught and dumped in a suplex. He nails a head and arms suplex, then a half nelson suplex. Albright covered him for the pin but pulled him up at two. This is an old school heel squash. Albright pressed Primeau overhead. The crowd wanted him to launch him into the audience. Albright dropped him into the Crowbar submission and Pelle tapped out. Â
Your winner, Brent Albright!
The match set out what it needed to accomplish - a showcase of Albright to get him over as a badass heel. Primeau was good in his role of getting Albright over.
ROH Tag Team champions Jay and Marc Briscoe vs. El Generico and Kevin Steen
Fans throw streamers for the champions. The storyline is that Steen is a full-fledged jerk while Generico is having doubts about being a heel while Steen initiates all the problems and bullies Generico into following along. Steen takes the Tag belts and poses with them before the bell.
Generico and Jay start the match. Jay breaks clean when they end up in the corner. Jay and Generico do a test of strength, which is pretty silly when you look at Generico's lean frame. Briscoe takes him down and drills him with crossfaces, then cinches in a front facelock. Briscoes shoulderblocks him down, then nails headscissors and a drop toehold. Briscoe goes back to the front chancery. Â
Steen and Mark tag in. They go back and forth. Steen takes over and knocks Jay off the apron for good measure. Jay tags in and takes Generico out. The Briscoes work over Steen. Steen takes contol on Jay then tags in Generico. Generico locks Jay down with a leglock. Steen hits a flip legdrop across Jay's neck. Steen chokes Jay against the ropes, ripping at his nose with his fingers.
Steen and Generico continue to control Briscoe. Generico nails several punches and a leg lariat, but Jay kicks up at two. Jay ducked a clothesline and hit a neckbreaker. He tosses Generico into his corner and tags in Mark. Jay nails a running big boot as Mark knocks Steen to the floor. The Briscoes continue to double team Generico but he keeps kicking up.
Jay cinches in a stretch plum on Generico, then boots him in the back of the head. Mark tags in and kneedrops him off the second rope. He unloads with forearms and chops in the corner, then nails a Samoan Drop. He drags Generico to his corner by his leg. Jay tags in. Generico is whipped into the ropes but holds on and doesn't rebound. He grabs Jay and tosses him to the floor. Steen jumps into the ring and dives to the floor on Jay, then begins screaming at him and beating him. Generico and Mark battle in the ring. Mark escapes and dives off the top turnbuckle to the floor on Steen. Mark follows that up with a moonsault off the guard rail to the floor on Steen. Â
Meanwhile, Jay hit a top rope lariat on Generico.  The Briscoes grab Generico and hit a Beel throw on the floor, sending him into rows of chairs at ringside as the audience scatters. Steen attacks the Briscoes and sends Mark into the crowd. He starts screaming at Generico as he helps him back into the ringside area from the crowd. Â
Steen and Jay exchange forearm shots in the center of the ring. Steen drills him with a sitout power bomb. Steen called for his piledriver, but Mark broke it up. Generico dove and took out Briscoe. Steen picked up Jay and dropped him neck-first across his knee. Steen followed up with a swanton drive off the top and covered the elder Briscoe Brother, who kicked out at the last second. Steen looked shocked that he didn't get the pin. Â
Generico tagged in and they set up for the Package Piledriver but Mark came back with a springboard missile dropkick. Generico took down Mark and Generico set up for a running charge. Mark caught him with a kick to the chest, then hit a doublestomp out of the ring through a table on Steen.  Jay nailed a Death Valley Driver on Generico, who kicked out. The crowd chanted, "ROH."
Jay calls for the J-Driller and Mark assists him by spiking it. They score the pinfall on Generico.
Your winner and still ROH Tag Team champions, Mark and Jay Briscoe!
"You have just witnessed the new standard. You have just witnessed the best tag team on the planet." Great call by Dave Prazak. Â
Another really good back and forth wrestling match. You got the impression these were four guys who didn't like each other that were fighting for a championship, as opposed to just running through an alphabet of spots from A to Z. A really strong tag bout. It probably wasn't at the blowaway level of the first ROH PPV Tag title match but this was a different type of story and just the first part of a chapter, which leads us to...
ROH showed a highlight reel of replays. As The Briscoes left the ring, Steen drilled them from behind with a ladder. The announcers pointed out that this type of behavior wasn't what ROH was built on. Steen grabbed Generico and said that is what Generico needs to do. Steen snotted on the Briscoes. Ugh. Well, that helps set up the ladder match on the third ROH PPV. It's pretty interesting to follow the ROH storylines from both the usual show to show run and also how you can just watch them PPV to PPV without further knowledge, but still not be lost by the show.
Somewhere, Larry Sweeney is with his charges. Sweeney tells Matt Sydal that he's got Sara del Ray off doing an endorsement deal and is going to make him lots of money. Sweeney says Claudio Castagnoli is just where they want him and he won't be able to get his hands on Sydal or Hero until "all conditions are met to my liking." He sounds just like the President of the first talent management company I worked for. I must have heard that term 10,000 times between 1997 and 2003. Sweeney says that he's arranged to have the finest athletic training facility at the disposal of his charges. He walks over to Tank Toland who is forcing Bobby Dempsey to work out. He starts screaming at him that he's a fat pathetic excuse for a human being. Dempsey is having a problem so Toland pulls out a cookie and starts calling him a "cookie monster." Dempsey is straining hard to get the cookie but can't do it. They all rip on him. It's funnier than I'm describing.
ROH champion Takeshi Morishima vs. Jimmy Rave
Morishima attacked Rave as the streamers were still flying into the ring. He began beating down Rave in the corner. Morishima threw him to the floor. He tried to whip Rave into the railing but it was reversed and Morishima ate steel. The announcers put over that Rave had fought all of the top ROH names in the past including AJ Styles and CM Punk and had come back from a number of injuries to be part of some of the company's most memorable matches, but has never held a title. This was actually genius because they built up Rave strong on commentary, making Morishima's win mean even more. Rave came off the top but was caught. Morishima went to the top. Rave tried to suplex him off but was shoved to the mat. Â
Morishima hit a missile dropkick from the top, which if you know what Morishima looks like, is damn impressive. He drills Rave with a lariat. Rave evaded a sitdown splash and hit a running knee strike for a two count. Rave went for a Pedigree but Morishima evaded it. Rave locked in a heel hook but Morishima made it to the ropes. Rave began working over Morishima's leg, but is caught with a sideslam.
Morishima drilled him with another lariat but Rave kicked up. Morishima, bleeding from the nose, killed him with a backdrop driver and scored the pin.
Your winner and still ROH champion Takeshi Morishima!
They put over that Morishima won the bout in under four minutes for the second PPV in a row. The announcer noted that since they have time left on the PPV, they are going to present a special bonus "number one's contenders bout" from Philadelphia.
They show a graphic saying they will go to Philly momentarily. As ROH is breaking down the ring in the background, Adam Pearce is mentoring Shane Hagadorn. He says that after every event, there is a moment where a competitor needs to reflect on his performance and on what he wants and needs. Hagadorn sucks up to Pearce saying that all he needs is Pearce's help. Pearce pats him on the shoulder and sends him off. Pearce says that everyone on the locker room has certain needs. He then turns to the camera and points out an exhausted and beaten BJ Whitmer sitting alone in the bleachers. Pearce says that Whitmer has needed the acceptance of the fans that have a need of wanting to be something that athletically they cannot do. He tells the camera that Whitmer gave of his body and his blood for the the fans and it hasn't gotten him anywhere. He says Pearce has a losing streak and is in a state of depression. Pearce says that he knows what the fans need and what BJ needs. Pearce says, "In time, you will know and understand what will satisfy my needs." He walks away from the camera to console Whitmer. He hugs him, then punches him in the face. Brent Albright walks into the frame and they shake their heads at him and walk away.
We go to Philadelphia where the fans are chanting "ROH" and are live. As good as the Chicago crowd came off, it was night and day here.
Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness to determine the top contender to the ROH championship
They have complete ring entrances for this one. The crowd chants "best in the world" for Danielson. I always pop for the Final Countdown as Danielson's entrance. I doubt anyone beyond me remembers this, but there was a great music video set to Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat footage at the NWA Wrestlewar '89 PPV featuring the song. Danielson pretty much epitomizes the style of wrestling that those two stood for, in my mind, so it's a nice way to bridge the generations...at least to me. Â
Anyway, they face off and shake hands before the match begins. They do a lot of awesome matwork as the bout starts. The crowd is doing dueling chants. The crowd then chants, "You're gonna get your f**** head kicked in."  Danielson goes to work on McGuiness' wrist. Danielson works him over his knees, sort of a sideways bow & arrow. McGuiness escapes and they face off.
McGuinness grabs a side headlock. They go into the corner and break. Danielson is caught again. McGuiness shoulderblocks him down. Danielson grabs him and goes into a guard, working him over with strikes. McGuiness closes the gap by scissoring himself around Danielson. They return to the mat, where Danielson slaps him across the face. He drills Nigel with a kick to the back of the neck and a dropkick.
Danielson slams another kick to the chest of Nigel, who battles to his feet and slaps Danielson. McGuinness does the headstand in the corner and hits a mule kick on the charging Danielson. Nigel takes him to the mat with a hammerlock. He focuses on Danielson's shoulder, which has had injury problems in the past. He gets Danielson's other arm and forces it backwards behind the body, then bridges back to force even more pressure on Danielson's arms.
Danielson escapes and locks on a Japanese stranglehold. McGuiness fights his way out and drills a short arm lariat. Danielson retreats to the floor to recover. McGuiness follows and beats him with uppercuts in the corner. McGuiness charges with a European uppercut. Danielson fires back with his own and begins kicking him. He throws a chair at McGuinness, then overturns the ringside table on him.
Danielson goes to toss McGuiness into the ring but Nigel rebounds off the ropes on the outside and lariats him, sending Danielson over the guard rail into the first row. Nigel goes to the top rope and dives into the audience. Philadelphia goes nuts, chanting ROH. This is a great match. Danielson is tossed back into the ring. He takes over on McGuiness and suplexes him over the steel barricade separating the crowd and the ring. McGuiness lands across it on his back and falls into the fans. Danielson suplexes him back into the ringside area.
McGuiness is tossed back into the ring but only gets a two count. He is taken to the mat and Danielson works him over. Danielson and McGuiness exchange strikes in the corner. Danielson headbutts Nigel. He begins slapping away at Nigel. Nigel fires up and demands more and more. Danielson goes for a European uppercut but its blocked. Nigel swings him around and nails a lariat for a near fall.
McGuiness hits a running European uppercut in the corner. He superkicks Danielson, then hits another lariat. McGuiness drills Danielson with a kick to the back, then shoots him down to the mat. Nigel tries to set up a superplex but Danielson battles back. He runs Nigel into the corner. Danielson drills him with several kicks to the back of the head.
Danielson sets McGuiness in the center of the ring and goes to the top. McGuiness recovers and cuts him off. He goes for the Tower of London but Danielson fights him off and hits a top rope sunset flip. They go back and forth into reversals, ending with a Nigel powerbomb. He cinches in a half Boston Crab on Danielson trying to force a tap. The crowd chants, "This is wrestling!"
Danielson fights his way to the ropes and finally makes it. McGuiness goes for the headstand mule kick but is dropkicked in the face while upside down. Danielson follows him to the ropes and hits a belly to back superplex. He covers Nigel but only gets a two count. Danielson locks on a crossface chicken wing.   McGuiness tries to fight his way out of the hold and gets to his feet. He drives Danielson backwards into the corner trying to force a break. He finally pulls Danielson into the Tower of London and drills him.
Both men are down on the mat and being counted out. The crowd chants, "This is awesome." Nigel begins drilling Danielson with strikes and sets him up straddling the top rope. McGuinness comes off the top rope with a lariat. He drags him away from the ring ropes and covers him but Danielson is still able to reach the ropes with his feet. Danielson uses the ropes to pull himself up and drill Nigel with an enziguiri. The crowd is loving this and is heavy into the dueling chants. As good as this was live, this is just as good, if not better, on PPV.
They face off center ring with slaps and punches that are stiff. They start charging each other with shoot headbutts, one of which splits Danielson's melon open. That's just sick. Nigel clotheslines him and there's a beautiful shot of this woozy Danielson just oozing with blood. Danielson hits a German suplex for a two count, then starts beating Nigel with elbows. He locks in the Cattle Mutilation submission, The referee stops the match because Nigel was out cold and the place goes insane. The announcers note that Danielson sacrificed his own head in order to win a shot at the ROH title. This will be one of the best matches of this or any year, on PPV.
Your winner, Bryan Danielson!
Danielson screams in victory and rallies the crowd to chant "Best in the world" at him. The announcers thank the audience for allowing them to show the world how "Driven" the company is and invites everyone to join them again in November.
Nigel recovers and Danielson offers him his hand. McGuinness takes it. The show goes off the air with the referee raising Danielson's hand, followed by Danielson leading the crowd in a ROH chant.
From top to bottom, there is not one bad match on the entire PPV. Danielson vs. Nigel is as good as pro wrestling gets in today's generation. If you have given up on old school wrestling, believing that genre is dead forever, you might want to give this PPV an order. All you have to lose is $10 but I honestly believe you'll get ten times that amount in athletic wrestling action. Complete thumbs up. Order this show as soon as you can.
2008 - Ring of Honor held their Glory by Honor VII event in Philadelphia, PA. Stu Carapola filed the following live report:
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-The opening match saw Jerry Lynn defeat Kenny King. King looked good, he seems like he'll be someone to keep an eye on. Jerry was over huge here, and I would even say he got one of the biggest pops of the night.
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-Adam Pearce defeated Brent Albright to regain the NWA World Title. I was kind of surprised at the result, not only because Pearce got the title back but also because he beat Albright by submission, and with his own hold (the crowbar) at that. I did see Mike's news posting that Albright may have suffered an arm injury that led to the title switch, but I guess we'll hear more about that if there's anything to it.
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-Go Shiozaki defeated Kevin Steen to retain the FIP "World" Title. Good match, these two guys stiffed the hell out of each other, but you never really felt like Shiozaki's title was in any serious jeopardy here.
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-Bryan Danielson defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Title. This was an excellent match, and it was either this or the main event for match of the night, depending on whether you like strong wrestling or brawls. Nakajima has some of the stiffest kicks I've ever seen, and he basically kicked the crap out of Danielson for much of the match before Danielson came back, drilling Nakajima with a series of elbows to the head before hooking in Cattle Mutilation for the win.
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-After intermission, we got Erick Stevens defeating Rhett Titus. Stevens seemed to take an accidental shot to the face because his nose started gushing blood within the first minute or so of the match. After the match, Larry Sweeney came out and offered Stevens a contract to join Sweet & Sour Inc, but Stevens blew him off, leading to all of Sweeney's guys attacking Stevens. Roderick Strong and the Vulture Squad made the save, leading to...
Â
-Chris Hero, Eddie Edwards, and Shane Hagadorn defeated Roderick Strong, Ruckus, and Jigsaw. This was an excellent match and easily the best match Shane Hagadorn has ever been, and probably will ever be, a part of. Chris Hero picked up the win after knocking Roderick Strong out with his loaded elbowpad.
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-GHC Heavyweight Champion Kensuke Sasaki defeated Claudio Castagnoli in a non-title bout. This was a good match, even though I didn't think Claudio was laying into him with some of his moves the way he usually does. Sasaki, on the other hand, seemed to have no problem laying into Claudio. I don't think I was necessarily expecting a classic, but this felt kind of pedestrian nonetheless, and Sasaki finished him off with the Snowplow.
-ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness defeated El Generico to retain the title. Nigel looked pretty dominating in this match, and even though Generico got in a bunch of hope spots and even had Kevin Steen interfere and attack Nigel with the title belt when the ref had his back turned, Nigel came through and pinned Generico with a jackknife rollup for the win. Interesting to note that Nigel really kept the lariats to a minimum this weekend, and didn't win either match with the rebound lariat.
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-After a second intermission, it was the main event of Steel Cage Warfare, pitting Austin Aries and the Briscoes against Age Of The Fall members Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black, and Delirious, and also the Necro Butcher entered on his own. Necro was the first one eliminated, which didn't go over well with the crowd, and then Age Of The Fall teamed up to hit a bunch of big moves on Austin Aries to eliminate him. The Briscoes then came back to eliminate Delirious with a Doomsday Device, and then Mark hit the cutthroat driver on Jacobs while Jay simultaneously hit the Jay Driller on Black to eliminate both and win the match. There was one spot where Tyler gave Mark an Awesome Bomb on a barbed wire table, and there was another table spot on the outside, though I couldn't see it from where I was sitting.
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Overall it was a good show, though like I said at the top, not quite what I was expecting. I plan to have a hotline up sometime Sunday in the Elite section expanding on my live impressions of this past weekend, so you Elite members may want to check that out as well.
2009 - Big Show signed on for the WWE film "Knucklehead".
2009 - Ed Ferrara, D'Lo Brown and Pat Kenney all returned to TNA in backstage roles. Ferrara would later leave the company again but the others remain with the company.
2009 - TNA presented their No Surrender 2009 PPV. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live coverage of the 2009 TNA No Surrender PPV from Orlando, Florida. With TNA's new creative team in place, it should be interesting to see the direction the company takes from here on in. Here we go.
Taz and Mike Tenay are your announcers, their first TNA PPV together. They welcomed us to the PPV and immediately discussed how each Knockouts tandem made it to the finals of the Tag Team championship tournament.
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Tournament Final: The Beautiful People vs. Sarita & Taylor Wilde
Madison Rayne and Velvet Sky are The Beautiful People. Mike Tenay said Angelina Love was gone due to "business issues" and broke out the "best in her future endeavors" line. They treated it like it was perfect timing for Rayne to reunite with the BP on Impact this last Thursday.
Earl Hebner came out and threw Slick Johnson out of officiating the match since he was obviously biased. I liked that twist.
Sarita and Velvet started with Sky kicking out of several near pinfall attempts. Rayne broke up the last one. Wilde and Sarita nailed a double elbow. Sarita flipped Wilde backwards onto Sky for a two count. Sarita and Wilde tagged in and out, working over Rayne. Rayne avoided a kick and slammed Sarita to the mat, head first by grabbing her hair. The BP crossed Sarita's arms and slammed her back. Sky began working over Sarita, flipping her to the mat by her hair.
Sky used an inverted curb stomp on Sarita's face. Rayne tagged in and hit a swinging neckbreaker on Sarita. Sarita finally came back with a float-over DDT. Wilde made the hot tag and dropkicking Sky. Sarita dropkicked Rayne, allowing Wilde to hit a German suplex and score the pin.
Your winner and first TNA Knockouts Tag Team champions, Sarita & Taylor Wilde!
Decent opener but probably too short for a match designed to introduce new belts. There were a few moments where they had some slight miscues and that hurt the bout. They were trying to push Wilde and Sarita as the female version of the Rock N' Roll Express.
Tenay and Taz ran down the lineup for the rest of the card.
Lauren caught the new champs backstage. Wilde said that she knew they would win the belts. Sarita cut a promo saying she's had hundreds of tag team matches and that no one worked better with her more than Taylor. She then cut a quick promo in Spanish about being champs.
Jeremy Borash interviewed The World Elite and Eric Young. Young was in a suit, even though he was scheduled to wrestle next. They did a gimmick where Young wouldn't respond to Borash until Kiyoshi "translated." Young said that Hernandez knows what it's like to be an outsider and they cared about him. He promised Hernandez would join them tonight. Homicide said if Hernandez didn't join them, it would be his blood on his hands. Young said he wasn't dressed to wrestle because he wanted to prove to Hernandez he was there for him. He said if Hernandez raised his hands to him, he would take it to prove himself to Hernandez.
Hernandez vs. Eric Young
Young came out alone wearing his suit. An angry Hernandez came to the ring and forearmed Young. He clotheslined him, then shoulderblocked Young, who took a bump over the ropes to the floor. Hernandez tossed him back in the ring, then nailed a headbutt to the chest. He picked up Young and nailed the Border Toss, then pinned him. Total squash. Hernandez walked out, looking furious.
This was perfect for what it was designed to do - make Hernandez look like a pissed off monster while getting over Young's new character.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed Matt Morgan. Borash said it would be every man for himself tonight in the TNA championship bout. Morgan said tonight, the mystery was over and there were no more fun, games or head games. He promised unadulterated violence. Morgan said that with all due respect to Sting and AJ Styles, this was about him and Kurt Angle. He said they were both bred to compete and tonight, it was what the world was waiting to see - Morgan vs. Angle. He said that he can feel the burn in his hand from the torch he is going to rip out of Kurt Angle's hand. He promised the future is now. Good promo.
TNA X-Division champion Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels
Some fans tried to start an "X-Division" chant early. Daniels opened up with dropkicks and chops early but they had no effect.  Joe drilled him, then began working him over with punches in the corner. Daniels was put on the top for an attempted muscle buster but fought Joe off, then hit a rana off the top. Joe went to the floor, where Daniels hit a dive through the ropes on him.
Back in the ring, Daniels took Joe down and dropped a kneedrop across the back of the head. He attempted to get a pin but Joe kicked up at two. Daniels nailed Joe with several punches but was shoved off. Daniels returned and knocked Joe out of the corner. He came off the middle rope but was caught in mid-air with an uranage. Joe drills him with several knees for a two count.
They were comparing Samoa Joe to Bobby Lashley as a hybrid athlete since Joe has a MMA background as well. Joe locked in a nerve hold. Daniels battles to his feet and rebounds off the ropes but is caught with a powerslam for a two count. Fans began the back and forth chanting. Daniels returned to his feet and they traded chops and strikes. Daniels nailed Joe with a leg lariat off the ropes. He bulldogged Joe out of the corner, then hit an Alabama Jam off the top. Joe rolled out of the ring.  Daniels hit an Arabian Press off the ropes onto Joe.
Daniels had a hard time getting Joe back into the ring, but it turned out to be Joe playing dead. He slammed Daniels into the ringpost and the ring steps.  Daniels climbed up to the ring apron and Joe charged him and clipped Daniels' left knee from behind. Back in the ring, Joe grabbed Daniels and dropped him down knee-first. Taz called it a kneebuster and the announcers agreed they had never seen such a thing before. Daniels, who had one of his knees taped, began grabbing at the knee. Joe locked a leglock on Daniels' knee, but Daniels made it to the ropes.
Joe powerbombed Daniels for a two count. When Daniels kicked out, Joe used the momentum to turn him into a STF in the center of the ring. Joe then turned it into a Boston Crab. Daniels made it back to his feet. Joe nailed him with several kicks to the legs. Daniels caught him with a neckbreaker. Both men fought to their feet. Daniels caught him with a clothesline and a spinkick. Daniels charged Joe and ducked a kick. He went to the top and nailed a clothesline for a two count.
Daniels hit a codebreaker to Joe's face for a two count. Daniels went for a back suplex but Joe was too heavy. Joe caught Daniels hit a half-nelson Tazplex for a two count. Daniels came back with a STO and the Best Moonsault Ever. Daniels' knee hindered him and Joe nailed him with a kick. Joe went for a muscle buster but Daniels escaped and tried for Angel's wings. Daniels went for the Kokina Clutch but Joe locked in a Tazmission in the center of the ring. Daniels fought for the ropes but finally tapped out.
Your winner and still X-Division champ, Samoa Joe!
Real good match. This may have been the best Joe match in awhile and it was nice to see them given some time as he and Daniels have always worked well together. They told a nice story around Joe going after Daniels' knee. I liked the fact there was a clean finish as well. I'm hoping we'll see more of these two. It never gets old.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed Mick Foley. Foley was angry someone had smashed a picture of himself and Jeremy Borash. Borash said he can get another copy. Foley said that it was special and you can't just recreate it. He said it would be like taking a few Mick Foley mannerisms and acting like you are a new hardcore legend. That had to be a shot at Abyss. Foley said he would be looking into the person responsible (who I am going to predict was Foley himself) after he announces Abyss vs. Kevin Nash later.
The storyline is that due to fan outcry after Impact, they added the Falls Count Anywhere.
Lauren interviewed D'Angelo Dinero backstage. He tried to claim that as the Pope, TNA can't tell him what to do. He got all worked up, so he said he needed to re-energize. He took a sip of Stacker 2 energy drink (sponsor of the PPV) as Suicide snuck from behind and attacked him...
Suicide vs. D'Angelo Dinero - Falls Count Anywhere
The referee ran backstage. They were brawling outside the Soundstage. Dinero put Suicide on boxes used for production equipment, then hit an elbow off a higher position. Suicide made a come back and small packaged him on the ground for a two count. Suicide slammed his head into a vise outside. Dinero put Suicide in a chair and drilled him with a series of rights.
Dinero went for a headbutt but Suicide nailed him and backdropped him into a dumpster. He covered Dinero for a two count. Suicide dumped the dumpster over. They battled near a small crane. Dinero found a golfcart backstage and began driving it backwards. Suicide avoided it. Dinero charged him with it, but Suicide grabbed him and dragged him off. They continued to battle outside. Dinero tried to climb a fence and got de-pantsed with a full moon for the audience. Suicide pulled him down and covered him for a two. Taz said it was like calling a Ric Flair match.
Suicide dragged him around and put him on a wheeled cart, then splashed him. Suicide followed Dinero back into the Impact Zone. As Suicide followed, Dinero nailed him with a water bottle. He grabbed the timekeeper's bell and rang it over Suicide's head.  He went to slam Suicide's head into the ring but it was blocked and Dinero was tossed into the ring.
Suicide nailed a springboard dropkick for a two count. Dinero went to the floor. Suicide hit a slingshot dive to the floor. Dinero made his way back to the ring as Suicide went for a table. Dinero went for a kick through the ropes but the table messed up the continuity. He then kicked the table and Suicide. Dinero set up the table near the entrance ramp.  Dinero suplexed Suicide on the ramp for a two count.   He dragged Suicide over towards the table and attempted a suplex. Suicide escaped and they battled to the stage. Suicide nailed him for a two count on the stage.
They continued to slug it out on the stage in front of one of the entrance. Dinero teased something but was nailed with a dropkick on the stage. Suicide went backstage and returned with another table. He set the table up. The battled and Suicide tried to nail a running Death Valley Driver on the table. Dinero escaped but was caught and Suicide nailed it on the stage. Suicide put Dinero facefirst on the table and scaled the entrance set, standing above the tunnel for an entranceway. He went for a legdrop but Dinero rolled off the table. Suicide crashed through and scored the pin.
Your winner, D'Angelo Dinero!
I wasn't a fan of this one at all. Watching this, all I could think of was all those hardcore matches in WCW and WWE that meant nothing in the long-run and how guys were doing dangerous things. The stuff with the car was indeed dangerous and added nothing to the bout. I didn't care for the leap off the entrance either, but at least you can say it was the finish. These guys took a lot of brutal bumps and did a lot of dangerous stuff, so I certainly hope it's not ignored tomorrow by TNA. It has to mean something and fans have to buy that its done to hurt someone, not be a stunt show. They both worked really, really hard and I give them credit for it, but if they were going to do such a bout, I wish they had at least built to it instead of adding it with twenty minutes' notice to the fans. We'll know based on how TNA promotes the aftermath of this bout. Kudos to the wrestlers, but I felt they were put in a bad situation.
ODB vs. Cody Deaner for vacant TNA Knockouts championship
This needs to be short and over fast, PLEASE.
ODB rubbed Deaner's hat and shirt in her privates. She worked him over with chops in the corner. Deaner missed a chop and got nailed with another.   He shoved her away and continued chopping him. He went for a lowblow but she, you know, has no testicles.
She nailed him again and Deaner went to the floor. ODB dove off the top to the floor. She slammed his head into the apron. Deaner tried to walk out but ODB dragged her back and slammed him into the apron again, then tossed him into the ring. Deaner reversed an Irish whip but was caught with a kick. ODB slammed him into the turnbuckles but Deaner nailed her for a two count. He teased nailing her with a punch, but instead choked her against the ropes.
Deaner slammed her down and grabbed ODB's flask. He took a drink and mocked ODB's mannerisms. He went for a double sledgehammer off the ropes but was caught with a testicular claw. ODB began slamming his head into the turnbuckles with the dirty dozen. She nailed the Thesz Press for a two count.
Deaner grabbed ODB with a double leg takedown and put his legs on the ropes but the referee caught him at two. He and Deaner argued and ref Andrew Thomas shoved him into an ODB roll-up. Somewhere, Tommy Young is smiling. ODB nailed a sunset flip but Deaner got to the ropes. Deaner called the ref and idiot, so he kicked Deaner's hands. Two count. Tommy Young is definitely smiling.
ODB was drilled with Deaner's knockout punch but got her shoulder up at two. Deaner went to the top rope but missed a diving headbutt. ODB nailed a TKO and scored the three count.
Your winner (thankfully) and new Knockouts champion, ODB!
The shenanigans were fine for what it was. I'm hoping this is the end of men wrestling for the Knockouts division. There are more than enough talented females for that.
Lauren interviewed ODB on the entrance ramp. ODB said she might not like all the broads in the back, but they've all worked hard to create a title that means something. She said let the party begin in all the trailer parks and prisons all over the world. That cracked Taz up.
Jeremy Borash interviewed TNA champ Kurt Angle and asked if he's got more than he can handle tonight in Matt Morgan. Angle said that even if that was the case, he wouldn't admit it. Angle said Morgan is all height and no brains. He said if height mattered, Morgan would already be champion. Angle said he could have made Morgan something but instead, he'll just be a statistic. In regard to Sting and Styles, Angle said that he loves fairy tales as much as anyone, but when it comes to his World title, "It's real, damn real."
TNA Legends champ Kevin Nash vs. Abyss
Nash is going for the bounty on Abyss' head. Mick Foley came to ringside to announce carrying a barbed wire bat. Angle time?
Abyss and Nash battled back and forth in the center. Nash got the better of him and nailed him with kicks and punches in the corner. Nash used his boot to choke Abyss in the corner.  Nash drilled him with several kicks and clotheslined Abyss over the top to the floor. Nash slammed his head into the ring steps.  Nash grabbed a chair at ringside and slammed it but Abyss moved. Abyss slammed his head into the railing outside the ring, then into the ring steps.
Dr. Stevie came out on the stage and sat down in a chair to watch the proceedings.
Nash nailed Abyss with a boot, then measured Abyss with a back elbow in the corner. Fans tried to rally Abyss as Nash used his boot to choke Abyss against the ropes. Nash dropped an elbow. Abyss came back to duck a right hand and hit a flying clothesline while rebounding off the ropes. Abyss nailed a sideslam on Nash.
Dr. Stevie came towards the ring but the referee met him in the aisle. Daffney, looking HOT, hit the ring and tried to taser Abyss but was caught with the Black Hole Slam. Abyss teased using the Taser but Stevie grabbed it and ran off. Nash nailed a distracted Abyss with a chair to the head and covered him for a two count. Nash went for a powerbomb but Abyss escaped and nailed a chokeslam for a two count.
Abyss called for Mick Foley to give him the barbed wire bat. Foley pointed out there was a referee there, then said OK, he would. The referee stopped Foley from giving him the bat. Foley still slowly handed it to Abyss, allowing Nash to taser Abyss in the leg and cover him for the pin.
Your winner and still TNA Legends champ Kevin Nash!
Nash grabbed the bounty money but Stevie said no because he didn't destroy Abyss. Big Daddy Cool then powerbombed Big Stevie Cool and took the money anyway.
Match was OK but not memorable in the least. I hated the taser finish. Too hokey. The idea here is to obviously build Abyss vs. Foley as a feud.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash interviewed TNA Tag Team champions Scott Steiner and Booker T. Steiner said they don't like anyone from any other country and told Borash to inform the British Invasion to stay out of their way. Booker T said Harlem Heat and The Steiners were the best tag teams ever and everyone else - where have all those bums been? Booker said if they want to lock them in a cage, they'll take everyone else out.
Lethal Lockdown: TNA Tag Team champs Booker T & Scott Steiner & IWGP Tag Team champs The British Invasion vs. Beer Money Inc. & Team 3D
Doug Williams was first out. Second out is James Storm, so they are starting this off with a pretty good match-up on paper. Williams charged him on the ramp but Storm spits beer in his face. He hiptossed Williams on the ramp, then slammed him into the railing. He then tossed Williams into the cage. Storm came off the turnbuckles, spinning Williams down back first. Williams caught him with a jawbreaker and then choked Storm with a t-shirt. They battled over a suplex attempt. Storm clotheslined Williams as they announced there was a minute left in the first segment. Williams nailed several uppercuts. Storm came back with a shot into the turnbuckles and began choking him with his boot.
The next out was Brutus Magnus, so it's two on one. As Magnus got to the cage door, Storm kicked it into Magnus, but Magnus avoided it. Williams slammed Storm into the cage. The Invasion doubleteamed Storm, who was busted open.
Next out was Robert Roode, who hit the ring quick and began cleaning house. He backdropped Williams and hit a spinebuster on Magnus. Williams caught him with an elbow as he was charging but Beer Money quickly cut off the Invasion and laid them out. The crowd was into Beer Money. Magnus slammed Storm into the cage. Roode caught him with an inverted atomic drop. Roode then slammed Williams into the cage.
Next out was TNA Tag Team champ Scott Steiner. Steiner began suplexing Beer Money. He nailed Roode with a top rope Frankensteiner. He ran Roode into the cage like a battering ram. The Invasion then did it to Storm. The heels worked over Beer Money until the segment ended.
Brother Devon was out next to even the odds. He nailed the British Invasion and shoulderblocked Steiner down. Devon nailed a Thesz Press on Magnus, then drilled him with rights. Devon continued to work over Steiner.
Competitor number seven was Booker T, who took his time coming out to the ring. He nailed Roode with a back kick, then kicked Devon. The Invasion took turns nailing Storm. Steiner used the cage door to crush Roode's head.
Brother Ray came out to finish out the babyface side but as he made his way to the ring, Big Rob Terry attacked him. He slammed Ray into the railing, then nailed him with a chair. Terry then forced a TNA crew member to lower the weapons and the roof before Ray could enter the ring. Ray was out on the floor.
The heels began using the weapons to batter Beer Money and Devon. Ray made his way to his feet and avoided a Rob Terry chairshot, then KILLED Terry with one. Rey hit the ring with the chair to make the save. Fans chanted "3D." The babyfaces grabbed weapons for themselves and it was all weapons shots. Ray put a trash can over Booker, then slammed it with a crutch.
Brutus Magnus made his way to the top of the cage. James Storm followed him up and they battled on the roof. They teased Storm being knocked off the cage. Roode followed them up and nailed Magnus with a crutch. Beer Money hot a double suplex on top of the cage. That looked BRUTAL. Steiner was nailed with 3D in the ring but Booker hit the Dudleys with a trash can. Booker nailed Bubba with The Bookend. Fans chanted, "This is awesome" live.
Beer Money returned to the ring and worked on Booker. Roode hit the neck snap. Beer Money hit the DWI on Doug Williams and scored the pin.
Your winners, Beer Money and Team 3D.
Entertaining match. The suplex on the top of the cage was insane. Ray's chairshot on Terry was nuts. Â
Backstage, Lauren asked Rhino if he had any comments on stepping in the ring "with one of the best MMA fighters in the world." They really said that. OK, come on, that was stupid to say. He's looked good but you just insulted anyone who knows anything remotely about MMA.
Rhino said that real men put on boots and wrestle. He asked Lashley if he saw an Octagon. He said, No, you see a six sided ring. He said that Lashley was in his world. He said that Rhino was going to bring him violence right to his face. He said that he won't quit and he doesn't submit. Rhino said he doesn't feel pain and tonight, he was going to rip Lashley in half with a gore. Real good Rhino promo but seriously, to try and claim Lashley is a top MMA fighter is hilariously bad, storyline or not. That never should have been stated.
Rhino vs. Bobby Lashley.
They acted like this was a major moment for TNA by having Lashley wrestling and MMA at the same time. Rhino tried to get in the first shot but Lashley caught him and began beating him in the corner with strikes. Lashley suplexed Rhino. Rhino caught Lashley as he charged in the corner.   Rhino went to the floor to regroup but Lashley followed. They battled outside near the ramp.
Rhino whipped Lashley into the railing. He worked over Lashley on the floor. Back in the ring, Rhino nailed a spinebuster for a two count. He slammed Lashley into the turnbuckles, then nailed him across the back.  Rhino dropped a knee over Lashley's back and smothered him with a choke. Rhino continued to work over Lashley's back.
Rhino continued to control the bout with right hands, then locked on a rear chinlock. Rhino misses a charge and Lashley began cleaning house. He whipped Rhino into the corner and nailed a series of shoulderblocks. Lashley went for a spear but Rhino moved and the referee got killed. Rhino nailed the gore and a second referee counted two.  Rhino charged Lashley but was nailed with a right hand knockout punch and pinned.
Your winner, Bobby Lashley!
Match was OK. I didn't get the impression the fans live were really into Lashley. Match was fine.
Jeremy Borash interviewed AJ Styles and Sting. Borash noted that Styles went from wanting to retire to being in a World title bout with his mentor Sting. Styles said that when he got out of his funk, he made a promise to himself - no more excuses. He said he was going to leave the building TNA champion. Sting asked him if he was ready and Sting said it was showtime then. He said that it was time for one of them to make tonight the first night in the rest of their lives. Styles had a good serious promo. Sting was Sting.
TNA champ Kurt Angle vs. Sting vs. Matt Morgan vs. AJ Styles
As Jeremy Borash introduced TNA champ Kurt Angle, Hernandez came out and announced he was cashing in his TNA championship match. Angle was pissed about it. Angle yelled at Hernandez and punched him in the face. Hernandez shoulderblocked Angle and then flung him across the ring. Hernandez picked up Angle for a high vertical suplex. Everyone else just stood there watching. He dropped Angle and then clotheslined him over the top. TNA then rang the bell and everyone began wrestling.
Hernandez slammed Angle into the announcer's table. Styles and Sting began working over Morgan. Hernandez hit a suplex on Angle outside on the ramp. Morgan backdropped Styles over the top top the floor. Hernandez and Angle battled on the ramp and went for the Border Toss on the ramp but Eric Young nailed him from behind in the legs with a baton. Young then hit a piledriver on the stage. The announcers pointed out Hernandez' neck surgery.
Back in the ring, Morgan and Sting took turns ping ponging Morgan with punches. They nailed a double suplex on Morgan. Sting and Styles faced off as the trainers checked out Hernandez on the stage. Styles drilled Sting with a dropkick. Styles dove off the apron onto Angle and Morgan. Morgan recovered first and dragged Sting out of the ring.
All four battled outside. Morgan tried to build an alliance with Angle as they agreed to pair off on Styles and Sting. Sting tossed Morgan into the railing outside. In the ring, Angle went for a piledriver but Styles reversed it. Angle caught Styles with an anklelock but Styles escaped and rolled him up for a two count. Styles pulled Angle out of the ring, flipping him with a rana-esque move.
Back in the ring, Sting was caught by Morgan with a kick. Morgan began peppering him with back elbows in the corner. Morgan teased a sideslam on Sting, then dropped him and covered him for a two count. Outside, Angle nailed a tilt-o-whirl backbreaker on Styles on the floor, then returned to the ring.
Angle and Morgan began working over Sting together. You know that won't last long! Morgan held Sting for Angle, who began nailing him in the gut.  They continued to work over Sting. Styles returned with a dive off the top on Morgan. Morgan grabbed him with a Fall Away Slam. Sting began nailing Morgan with a series of kicks. Sting turned his attention to Angle and clotheslined him over the top but turned into a kick by Morgan. Morgan covered him for a two count.
Styles began working over Morgan but was caught with an overhead belly to belly suplex by Angle.  Angle slammed Styles. Morgan then scooped up Styles and tossed him far across the mat. They took turns stomping Styles. Styles escaped an Angle charge but was caught with a Morgan kick.
Morgan nailed a sideslam on Styles for a two count. Styles avoided a Morgan big boot. Morgan crotched himself on the ropes and Styles nailed the Pele Kick. Angle drilled Styles with a German suplex. Sting nailed a missile dropkick on Angle, but grabbed his left shoulder, which the announcers noted. Sting began punching Morgan and Angle. He slammed each of them and hit the Stinger Splash on them. Sting began punching Morgan in the corner.
Angle grabbed Sting with the Angleslam but Styles broke up the pin at two. Styles went for the Angleslam but Styles reversed it and hit the Styles Clash. Morgan kicked Styles in the mush at two. Styles caught Morgan with a kick to the head. Morgan whipped Styles into the corner. Styles kicked him off but was caught with a clothesline as he leaped off the ropes. Morgan hit the Hellavator but Sting broke up the pinfall attempt.
Sting hit the Scorpion Deathdrop on Morgan but Angle broke up the pinfall. Angle whipped Sting into the corner but missed a charge. Sting locked on the Scorpion Deathlock but Angle turned it into an anklelock. Morgan nailed the Carbon Footprint, turning on Angle. He charged Sting, who dropped down and Morgan went to the floor. He began grabbing at his thigh.
This left Sting and Styles in the ring. Sting looked at Styles, then left the ring and dove on Morgan. Styles hit a 450 springboard splash and scored the pin on Angle clean in the middle.
Your winner and new TNA champion, AJ Styles!
TNA dropped confetti as Christopher Daniels hit the ring to hug him. TNA fans hit the ring to celebrate with Styles. TNA had staffers recruiting fans to do that before the show and it created a pretty nice moment to close the show. The story of Sting "giving" Styles his chance to win the World title is an interesting one. Jeremy Borash was in the ring to get a promo from Styles afterwards but you couldn't hear the audio. Tenay said it would air on the TNA website.
We closed with a PPV promo for Bound for Glory, which certainly looks to be Styles vs. Sting based on the advertising.
2010 - Chyna was rushed to the hospital with alcohol poisoning. She would make a full recovery.
2010 - Hulk Hogan was hospitalized again due to his continued back problems.
2010 - Chris Jericho made his final appearance, to date, as a wrestler for WWE during a double taping of Raw. In his final appearance, he is carted off after being punted by Randy Orton.
2010 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live (according to USA) from Indianapolis, Indiana and your announcers are Jerry ‘Suit Up’ Lawler and Michael ‘What is the Intersect’ Cole.
The new WWE Champion, Randy Orton makes his way to the ring after being introduced by Justin Roberts.
Sheamus comes out fella and interrupts things. He says that for the sake of the WWE Universe, he cannot let this happen. Sheamus says that Orton does not deserve this moment. Sheamus says that twice he has been champion and twice it has been stolen from him. The first time was in the Elimination Chamber and the second time was last night in the Six Pack Challenge. Sheamus says the fans are happy now. Sheamus tells Randy that he has never beaten him one-on-one for the WWE Title. Sheamus says that he will not stand back and watch after last night. He calls Orton’s win pathetic.
Orton tells Sheamus that considering he won the title in a Fatal Four Way with Nexus’ interference and the last time they met one-on-one, Sheamus got disqualified. Orton says that since Sheamus has never beaten him, the only thing that is pathetic is him. Orton says that Sheamus is entitled to a rematch. Orton tells Sheamus to get it quickly because if he gets in his face any more, it won’t be a rematch he will be getting, but a punt to the skull.
Sheamus asks Orton if he is afraid after the look on his face and when he acts like a snake. Sheamus says that he isn’t afraid when it looks like Orton has a tantrum. If Orton tries, he will kick his head off.
We have a clanky noise and Michael Cole gets up and he quotes, Randy Orton and Sheamus will have their one-on-one championship match. When it is over, there will be no question over who the champion is. The match will have no disqualifications, no count outs, no escape, and no excuses. The match will take place inside Hell in a Cell in a little less than two weeks.
Sheamus says that is magic and even though he has never been in a Hell in a Cell, but he did end Triple H’s career with his bare hands. Sheamus tells Orton to give him back his gold. Sheamus wants his WWE title back. He tells Orton that he didn’t beat him one-on-one. He tells Orton that if he can win at Hell in a Cell, he will give the title back to Orton.
Orton tells Sheamus that he is not an honorable man. He has hospitalized many men. Some deserved it and some were just in the way. Orton says that he would RKO his grandmother if it meant that he would keep the title. Orton then says that he would RKO Sheamus’ grandmother to see the look on his face. Orton says that he is the champion and he is the only one who carries the title. Orton tells Sheamus that if he really wants to do it and wants it that bad, he tells Sheamus to take it from him.
Orton tosses the belt to Sheamus and he hits an RKO. Orton takes the belt back.
Orton starts to talk to the back but then he looks at Sheamus still down in the ring and Orton decides to give Sheamus one for grandma. Orton goes for the kickoff but Sheamus recovers and gets out of the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith are at ringside. Cole asks them if they listened to Celine Dion songs after losing the title.
Match Number One: Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes versus Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov
Santino and Cody start things off. Santino misses with a punch and leg sweep. Santino goes for a leg but Cody with a kick. Santino kips up but Cody with a punch and then he tags in Drew. Drew with a kick and then he pushes Santino and he wants Kozlov tagged in. Drew with a kick and punch into a front face lock. Kozlov with an arm drag. They lock up and Drew with a kick but Kozlov with a fireman’s carry. Kozlov with a front face lock and Santino with forearms. Santino with a split and hip toss. Santino winds up the Cobra but Drew with a boot to the head but he can only get a two count.
Drew sends Santino into the corner and Cody is tagged in. Cody punches and kicks Santino and then he hits a front suplex on Santino. Cody with a rolling knee drop. Drew tags in and he stomps on Santino’s chest and head. Cody tags back in and he punches Santino. Santino escapes a slam attempt and Kozlov tags in and hits a head butt to the midsection on Drew followed by kicks. Santino with a power slam but Rhodes breaks up the cover. Cody throws Santino out of the ring and Kozlov kicks Rhodes to the floor. Drew with a kick to the knee and then he hits the Future Shock on Kozlov for the three count.
Winners: Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes
After the match, Tyson tells everyone that they will exercise their rematch clause next week on Raw.
Cole and Lawler take some time from Cole insulting former tag team champions to discuss the upcoming DVD release of Legendary.
We see highlights from last week’s match between John Morrison and Sheamus.
John Morrison is doing some pushups with help from the wall. Then Morrison does his swashbuckling pose as we go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that WWE has been working with Make-a-Wish for more than 25 years.
Edge is in the locker room and he is not in a good mood. Zack Ryder enters and it gets worse. Zack says that they can hang out and chill together again. He says that they can go to clubs again. Edge says that they aren’t friends. Edge says that he should be the Champion. Edge says that the GM won’t give him a match so he is screwed.
Daniel Bryan enters and he asks Edge and Zack to keep it down. Edge says that Bryan lucked his way into the US Title and now he can ask him to be quiet. Edge tells Bryan that he picked him on the wrong night. Edge tells Bryan that if he has the guts, he can face him tonight. Bryan accepts the challenge. Ryder calls Bryan a loser and Edge tells Ryder the ‘L’ is backwards.
Match Number Two: Chris Jericho versus John Morrison
Morrison with a kick and punches and then Jericho goes to the floor to avoid Morrison. Morrison goes to the floor and he chases Jericho but when they return to the ring, Morrison with a leg lariat. Morrison with more punches. Jericho with an Irish whip but he misses a splash into the corner and Jericho goes to the floor. Morrison vaults over the turnbuckles and hits a pescado. We go to commercial.
We are back and Morrison is punching Jericho in the corner. The referee distracts Morrison and Jericho with a forearm and enzuigiri. Jericho knocks Morrison off the apron and Morrison hits the ringside barrier. Jericho goes to the floor and he hot shots Morrison on the ringside barrier. Morrison makes his way back into the ring but he struggles and Jericho helps him with a suplex from the apron. Jericho with kicks to the ribs to affect Morrison’s aerial ability. Jericho with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Morrison punches Jericho and Jericho goes down. Jericho with a drop kick and then he puts Morrison in the ropes.
Jericho stands on Morrison’s back and chokes him in the ropes. Jericho tries for a slam but Morrison counters with an inside cradle for a near fall. Jericho with a clothesline for a near fall. Jericho with a reverse chin lock. Morrison with punches but Jericho with a chop. Morrison with a kick to Jericho followed by punches. Morrison with a flying forearm and clothesline followed by a drop kick. Morrison with punches followed by an Irish whip but he runs into a boot. Jericho with a bulldog and then Jericho tries for the Lionsault but Morrison moves and Jericho lands on his feet. Morrison tries for the springboard round kick but Jericho blocks it and tries for the Walls of Jericho and he locks it in. Morrison looks like he is going to tap but instead he reaches for the rope and gets there.
Jericho talks to the referee and then Jericho charges at Morrison and Morrison with a rollup. Jericho and Morrison with a series of near falls. Jericho tries for the Walls but Morrison rolls out of the hold. Morrison with a Shining Wizard followed by the Split Legged Corkscrew Moonsault for the three count.
Winner: John Morrison
After the match, Chris Jericho has the same look on his face after being eliminated in the Six Pack Challenge. Jericho leaves the ring.
We go to John Cena’s locker room door and we go to commercial.
We are back and John Cena has entered the hall with Josh Mathews. Josh asks John if he is disappointed he did not leave Night of Champions as the Champion. John says that things were good. He won his fantasy football week and the recession is over. Cena says that Randy Orton is the champion. He liked seeing Randy Orton give Wade Barrett an RKO. Cena reminds us that he is taking care of Nexus. They started at eight and are now at five. Cena says that if he takes out the leader, the group will fall to pieces. Cena says that the winds of change stop.
The Miz comes out and he is not as awesome as he should be. Miz says that for the record last night at Night of Champions, he did not tap out. Miz says that Daniel Bryan did not beat him. Miz says that what they don’t know is yesterday morning, Miz had a tender medial collateral ligament. Miz says that the doctors begged him not to compete. Being the true champion he is, he competed. He did what none of the people would have done, even ‘fatso’ in the front row. Unfortunately during the match, the injury became so aggravated that he had to protect himself from future surgery. Miz says that he can and he will regain his United States Title. He tells us that he is the Miz and . . . he did not tap out.
Miz joins Cole and Lawler at the announce table as we go to commercial.
We are back and Michael Cole drools over Miz as he tries to justify Miz’s loss to Daniel Bryan.
Match Number Three: Edge versus Daniel Bryan
Edge punches Bryan as soon as the bell rings and he kicks and chokes Bryan. Bryan with punches but Edge with a knee and forearm. Edge chokes Bryan in the ropes and then he hits a cross body into the back. Edge goes to the floor and he brings Bryan to the floor and sends him into the ringside barrier. Edge sends Bryan back into the ring and he kicks Bryan in the head. Bryan with kicks to the chest but Edge with an Edge-o-Matic for a near fall. Edge with a waist lock and Bryan with elbows. Bryan with a knee to Edge. Bryan flips over Edge and then hits a flying clothesline and then he tries for the Lebell Lock but Edge counters. Bryan with a jawbreaker followed by a Yakuza Kick for a near fall. Bryan goes up top but Edge with a kick as Bryan comes off. Edge sets up for the spear as he pulls at his hair. Bryan gets to his feet slowly and then he side steps Edge and applies the Lebell Lock but Miz’s new manservant Alex Riley gets on the apron and then Miz drops Bryan against the ropes allowing Edge to hit a spear for the three count.
Winner: Edge
After the match, Edge celebrates in the ring but the General Messenger has something for Daniel Bryan’s number one fan to read. And he quotes, due to outside interference by the Miz, he is reversing the referee’s decision. The winner of the match by disqualification, the United States Champion Daniel Bryan.
Edge gets on the mic and he says that he is sick of the stupid beeping and the general manager. Edge says that he is sick of Michael Cole. Edge points out that this is his career.
After the mathc, Miz and Riley attack Daniel Bryan and they kick him. Miz with a boot to the head a few times. Miz has Riley pick Bryan up and Miz with more kicks and punches. Miz tells Riley to hold him and not let go. Miz slaps Bryan and tells him that he isn’t a champion and that he is nothing. Riley picks Bryan up again while Miz slaps him in the head and then he gives Bryan the Skull Crushing Finale.
Miz gets on the stage and applauds the United States Champion, but I don’t think he meant it.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Michelle joins Cole and Lawler at the announce table and she tells them that they are both the champions.
Match Number Four: Layla with Michelle McCool versus Melina for the Unified Women’s Title
Melina with a forearm and elbow. She sends Layla into the turnbuckles and Melina with forearms. Melina tosses Layla to the mat and connects with a screaming elbow drop. Layla with a knee and she throws Melina to the floor. Melina with a clothesline for Layla and then Melina goes over the announce table and after Michelle. Melina forgets that she is wrestling Layla, but Layla’s attack does not work. They return to the ring and Melina with the Matrix followed by an elbow and snap mare. Melina with punches and forearms. Melina puts Layla on the turnbuckles but Layla with a kick and then she hits a flip Stunner for the three count.
Winner: Layla
We go to commercial.
We are back and highlights on WWE.com are viewed 10 million times a month.
We see Nexus in the back and they discuss their plans for Wade’s match with John Cena or maybe they are discussing dinner plans.
Josh Mathews says that Chris Jericho has an announcement to make. Jericho says that he has a three disc compilation of the greatest wrestler. This DVD proves that he is the best in the world at what he does. He says that he is not someone to rest on his laurels. As great as he has been in the past, he continues to get better. Jericho says that he has the IP address of Cole’s computer so he is going to expose the general manager to the world. Jericho says that he is going to blackmail the general manager and he demands a title match against the winner at Hell in a Cell.
Randy Orton appears and he tells Chris that he hears him loud and clear. Orton suggests that they face next week. If Jericho wins, he gets his title match whenever. Jericho wants to know what the catch is. Orton says that he is sick of hearing Jericho’s voice. He is sick of Jericho’s face. Orton says that if he gets his way in the match, we won’t see Jericho’s face for a long time. Jericho says that he has made a career of beating and embarrassing guys who have underestimated him.
Match Number Five: R Truth and Eve Torres versus Ted DiBiase and Maryse
The men start off the match and Truth lets out a few What’s Ups for the crowd and then he shimmies. Truth with punches to Ted followed by a kick. Truth with a float over and split followed by a leg lariat and he tags Maryse into the match so it is time for the women. Before Eve gets involved Truth dances for Maryse and she slaps Truth. Eve with a spear and we have screaming from Maryse. Maryse with a slap and then she slams Eve’s face into the mat. Maryse chokes Eve in the ropes while doing her pose. Eve with a forearm but Maryse responds with one. Maryse misses a kick and Eve with a leg sweep followed by a flip leg drop and Ted pulls Eve off. Truth sends Ted over the top rope and then Truth with a pescado. Maryse tries for the DDT but Eve with a swinging neck breaker for the three count.
Winners: R Truth and Eve
After the match, Maryse argue with Ted over what happened. There is a message on the TitanTron that says ‘Will Have You’ and the ‘o’ is a heart. Ted does not look happy while Maryse continue to yell at Ted.
John Cena and Wade Barrett are doing the vintage split screen walk in the back for the main event.
We are back and members of the Indianapolis Colts, a team that actually won a game on Sunday are in the front row.
We get confirmation that Randy Orton will face Chris Jericho next week on Raw.
Before our main event starts, Wade Barrett gets on the announce table and he tells John Cena that there is a change in plans. Since Cena wants to take apart Nexus one by one, Cena will want to face them in a gauntlet match. Barrett says that if Cena can get through the other four, he faces Wade Barrett. Barrett gives Cena an alternative that they can all face him at once and kick his teeth in.
Match Number Six: John Cena versus Nexus in a You Asked for it you got it Gauntlet
First Victim: Heath Slater
Cena with a side head lock to Slater followed by a knee and gutwrench suplex for a near fall. Cena charges into a boot and Slater with a punch. Slater with a running forearm into the corner followed by a drop kick. Slater gets a near fall. Slater with a reverse atomic drop and neck breaker for a near fall. Slater punches the mat in frustration before he punches Cena in the head. Cena with punches but Slater with a flapjack for a near fall. Slater goes up top but he takes too long and Cena rolls through on a cross body and he gets Slater on his shoulders and hits the Attitude Adjustment for the three count.
We go to commercial before David Otunga gets in the ring.
Victim Number Two: David Otunga
The match is joined in progress and Otunga with shoulders followed by an uppercut. Otunga with a suplex while Barrett continues to pay tribute to Dead Poet’s Society on the announce table. Otunga with another suplex and he gets a near fall. Otunga takes too long for another suplex and Cena with an inside cradle for the three count.
Victim Number Three: Michael Tarver
Tarver punches Cena in the corner and he adds some kicks. Cena with a kick to the head and he puts Tarver in the STF and Tarver taps.
Victim Number Four: Justin Gabriel
Justin Gabriel with a spin kick for a near fall. Gabriel with a kick to the leg and midsection. Gabriel with a jumping back kick and he gets a near fall. Gabriel goes to the apron for a slingshot senton but he can only get a two count. Gabriel waits to connect with a forearm. Gabriel with a forearm but Cena with punches and a standing drop kick that connects for a near fall. Cena goes up top but Gabriel punches Cena. Gabriel with a forearm and then he hits a superplex and both men are down. Gabriel gets a near fall. Gabriel goes for a top rope quebrada and hits it but he can only get a two count. Gabriel stands over Cena and then he tries for a suplex but Cena blocks it and hits a suplex of his own. Cena gets a near fall on Gabriel.
Cena punches Gabriel but Gabriel responds with punches of his own. Gabriel with an STO but he can only get a near fall. Gabriel with a cross body into the corner and then he goes to the apron for a springboard move but Cena moves. Cena with the two flying shoulder tackles followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb and then it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena sets for Attitude Adjustment but the members of Nexus interfere.
They all go after Cena but Cena takes the chair from Barrett and Nexus leaves the ring because one man and a chair is not as effective as five men.
John Cena gets on the mic and he tells Barrett that he owes him. They end it now.
Barrett tells Cena that is quite the offer, but to be perfectly honest, he doesn’t gain anything for laying him out one more time. Barrett says that he wants something to sweeten the deal.
Cena accepts the deal sweetener.
Barrett says that Cena will put everything on the line for the WWE. Barrett says that he tried to recruit him in the past and has had it thrown in his face. Barrett says that he is taking the choice out of his hands. Barrett says that he will fight Cena at Hell in a Cell on one condition. Cena wants Barrett to cut to the chase. Barrett says that if he beats Cena, John becomes a part of Nexus. No ifs, no buts, no maybes, no excuses, and no escape clauses.
Cena says that he isn’t going to back down from a fight and the match is on. Cena interrupts Barrett and he says that if we are going to make this big, they need to make it big. If Cena is going to put his lifeblood on the line, Barrett can’t just show up. Cena says that if he wins, Nexus is done. Cena says that he doesn’t mean Nexus is weakened or the foundation is shaken. He says that Tarver goes to Macy’s selling women’s fragrances. Gabriel goes back to the Twinkie factory as a cream filler. Otunga goes back to mooching off his wife, but that is what he is doing now. Slater goes back to working at Wendy’s as ‘The Chick from Wendy’s’. Wade Barrett goes down in history as the winner of NXT Season One. The man with the golden opportunity but flushed it down the toilet. Cena wants to know if the stakes are too big for him.
Barrett says that he is on.
We go to credits.
2011 - Former WWE and TNA star Matt Hardy was arrested on 9/14 following a search warrant being executed on his home in Cameron, North Carolina, according to a statement issued by the Moore County Sheriff's office.
During the search, Deputies seized 20 vials of Anabolic Steroids, 1 "dosage unit of MDMA" (aka Ecstasy), $1,961.00 (which given the amount of money Hardy has made in his career, isn't surprising amount to have on hand) as well as unnamed drug paraphernalia.
Hardy has been charged with possession with intent to sell/deliver schedule III controlled substance (the steroids), possession of schedule I controlled substance (the Ecstasy), maintaining a place to keep controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hardy is scheduled for a court appearance in this case on 9/29. He was released from Moore County's Detention Center upon signing a statement that he would appear in court, according to the report, which was written by the Sherriff's Office's Lane Carter.
Yesterday, Hardy posted a Youtube video announcing he would be undergoing a three month rehabilitation program sponsored by WWE, which provides such services to formerly contracted talent.
Hardy has court dates scheduled for 9/28 in Moore County (the Driving While Impaired charge that led to his TNA dismissal), 9/29 in Moore County in regard to these new drug charges, a 10/11 court date in Wake County, NC (reckless driving charges), and 11/30 also in Wake County, NC for the Driving Under the Influence charge after being pulled over and arrested at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, after he allegedly almost hit multiple vehicles.
2011 - WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Dayton, Ohio and your announcers are William ‘I will not leave this seat if it means Michael Cole returns’ Regal and Jack ‘Filling the shoes of Todd Grisham proudly’ Korpela.
We start off with Percy Watson who is wearing a suit tonight. Regal wonders what is going on with this. The ring has a couch in it and a seat for Percy as well. He throws out an ‘Oh Yeah’ and he welcomes everyone to NXT Redemption. He reminds us who he is and he says that this is Show Time. He brings out a friend of his who has taken over this season of NXT. He says that this man has gone from redemption to utter domination. He brings out Titus O’Neil.
Titus barks once he picks up a mic and he throws out another bark. Titus says that he is proud that his buddy Percy has his own show. Titus says that this has been a long twenty-nine weeks of Redemption. He has seen a lot of people on NXT but none are as athletically impressive as Percy. Titus says that he is going to win NXT and then they are going to go after the Tag Titles.
JTG and Darren Young come out and JTG tells them to pump the brakes because he wants to make sure that he is not hearing Percy and Titus calling themselves a tag team. Darren tells Titus and Percy that JTG is a tag team specialist. JTG says that the woof woof man is not dominating NXT. Darren Young is dominating.
JTG and Darren talk about how they put Striker and Regal in their place last week.
Titus says that he has this for Regal, but Regal tells ‘sunshine’ not to speak for him. Titus reminds JTG and Darren that the Usos took care of them.
JTG calls everyone haters because they aren’t him.
Percy talks about how him and Titus dress and then he compares them to the way that Darren and JTG are dressed.
Darren says that they are better than them and they accept their challenge.
Titus tells JTG and Darren to get stepping, but apparently Darren and JTG want to start a fight and Titus and Percy take care of JTG and Darren and the less elegantly dressed team goes to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We see footage from last week when Maxine tricked AJ into thinking that Hornswoggle was with the Bellas before their match in which Maxine earned the victory. Regal gives us an interesting fact about a member of Maxine’s extended family.
Match Number One: AJ Lee versus Maxine
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They lock up and Maxine pushes AJ away. AJ with a kick followed by a drop kick. AJ with forearms to Maxine but Maxine sends AJ into the turnbuckles. Maxine with a neck breaker followed by a rear chin lock and Maxine turns it into a reverse chin lock. AJ with forearms to the ribs but Maxine sends AJ to the mat by the hair and gets a near fall.
Maxine with a Liontamer and she stands on AJ’s hair. Maxine slams AJ’s head into the mat again and AJ with a rollup for a near fall when Maxine tries to return to the Liontamer. Maxine gets another near fall. Maxine with a surfboard and her knee in AJ’s back.
Maxine chokes AJ in the ropes and then she continues to work on the back. Maxine chokes AJ in the ropes one more time. Maxine pulls AJ back into the center of the ring but AJ kicks Maxine away. Maxine with a forearm followed by a reverse chin lock. Maxine is sent into the ring post with her shoulder and AJ with a running knee into the corner.
AJ with a running drop kick into the corner. AJ with a spin kick for a near fall. Maxine pushes AJ into the ropes and Maxine with a chop and then she tries for the butterfly drop but AJ with a Shining Wizard for the three count.
Winner: AJ Lee
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound.
Maxine is walking in the back and she sees Hornswoggle with a note for AJ. Maxine reads it and he tells Hornswoggle that Titus kept her company last week and got up extra early to see how she liked her eggs.
Maxine keeps walking and Derrick and Tyson are talking strategy. Maxine wants to know where Derrick was for her match. Derrick says that he is learning the secret of the Hart Dungeon. Maxine yells at Derrick and she tells him to get the big picture and she tells him to look up. She tells Derrick that they are so close to breaking up AJ and Hornswoggle. Maxine says that she is the best at strategizing and then she kisses Derrick as we go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Yoshi Tatsu versus Derrick Bateman with Tyson Kidd
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They lock up and Yoshi backs Derrick into the corner and Yoshi with a waist lock take down for a near fall. Yoshi works on the wrist and arm. Yoshi with a kick to the midsection and he goes for an arm bar. Derrick with a knee to the midsection followed by chops. Derrick with an Irish whip but Yoshi with kicks to Derrick and then he goes up top and hits a chop to the top of the head. Yoshi with a kick followed by a snap ebow drop for a near fall. Derrick goes to the floor and he shows his frustration. Yoshi goes to the floor and he chops Derrick a few times. Yoshi misses a chop and Bateman sends Yoshi groin first into the ring post.
They return to the ring and Bateman gets a near fall. Derrick with a boot to the midsection. Yoshi with chops but Derrick with a clothesline for a near fall. Bateman with a sit out gourdbuster for a near fall. Bateman with a waist lock as he continues to work on Yoshi’s midsection.
Derrick with a knee to the midsection and he gets a near fall. Bateman with an abdominal stretch on Yoshi and he grabs the hand for a wrist clutch back breaker for a near fall. Bateman tries for another abdominal stretch but Yoshi applies one instead. Bateman with a hip toss but Yoshi kicks Bateman and sends him to the floor.
Yoshi chops Derrick when he gets back into the ring. Yoshi throws a few kicks and then Yoshi sets for a running boot into the corner followed by a spin kick for a near fall. Yoshi goes up top and he hits a cross body but Bateman kicks out.
Yoshi with another cross body but Bateman rolls through and gets a near fall. Yoshi with a round kick and Kidd comes into the ring and he kicks Yoshi in the head. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Yoshi Tatsu by disqualification
Kidd punches Yoshi and then he hits a corkscrew brainbuster on Yoshi and he stands over Yoshi.
AJ is walking in the back and she is stopped by Trent Barreta. Titus congratulates AJ on her win. AJ says that she is looking for Hornswoggle and Titus says that she should go see Hornswoggle. AJ says that she isn’t sure about the photos but Titus reminds AJ about what Maxine can do. Titus says that he is going to get ready for his match and she should look for Hornswoggle. Titus hugs AJ and Hornswoggle walks by and he doesn’t know the context of the hug. AJ sees Hornswoggle when Titus walks away and Hornswoggle refuses a hug from AJ. Hornswoggle walks away while AJ isn’t sure what to think.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Titus O’Neil and Percy Watson versus JTG and Darren Young
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Watson and Young start things off and they lock up. Percy with a wrist lock but Young with a fireman’s carry and arm bar. Watson with a forearm but Young with an Irish whip. Watson floats over and then he hits a butterfly suplex and gets a near fall. Titus tags in and they hit a double shoulder tackle.
Titus works on the arm and shoulder. Young with forearms but O’Neil picks up Watson and drops him to the mat. Titus with a front face lock and Watson tags in and he connects with punches. Young with a forearm and European uppercut. Watson with a back elbow for a near fall. Watson with a key lock on Young.
Titus tags back in and he kicks Young and hits a European uppercut but Young runs Titus into the corner and JTG tags in. O’Neil with elbows to Young and JTG and he gets out of trouble. Titus with a forearm followed by a shoulder breaker. Young tags in and he tries to pull Titus to the floor. Titus pulls Young to the apron and he brings Young back into the ring. Titus with a punch to Young.
Titus with an Irish whip that sends Young over the turnbuckles and to the floor as we go to commercial.
We are back and Titus with a slam and leg drop. Watson tags in and he snap mares JTG and hits a sliding clothesline followed by a kick and he gets a near fall. JTG punches Percy but Percy with a flying clothesline followed by a drop kick for a near fall. JTG slides to the floor on an Irish whip and he has something to say to Regal but he does not see Watson come at him for a baseball slide that knocks JTG down.
Watson sends Percy back into the ring and JTG distracts the referee to allow Young to kick Watson and JTG with a baseball slide. JTG rolls Watson into the ring and he gets a near fall. JTG with elbows to the back of the neck and he gets a near fall. JTG tags in Darren and he sends Percy into Darren’s boot. Young gets a near fall. Young has his knee on Percy’s back and he slaps Watson in the head and then he puts Percy in a rear chin lock and then he rakes the face. Young with a knee drop to the head followed by an elbow drop.
JTG tags in and he connects with a forearm to the back. JTG sends Watson into the turnbuckles and then he punches Watson and follows it with an Irish whip and then JTG runs into boots from Watson. JTG knocks Titus off the apron to prevent Percy from making the tag. JTG gets a near fall but the referee was dealing with Titus and he only gets a near fall.
Young tags back in and he connects with a head butt to the midsection and he does it a second time. Watson with a punch but Young punches back and gets a near fall with a jackknife cover. Young with a near fall. JTG tags back in and he punches Percy. Percy with knees but he misses a clothesline. JTG with a waist lock take down and elbow drop for a near fall. Young with a rear chin lock on Watson and Percy with elbows and a belly-to-back suplex.
Titus tags in and he connects with a shoulder tackle and then he knocks JTG off the apron. Titus with a reverse atomic drop followed by a clothesline and he shakes the ropes and barks at the same time. Titus with a power slam for a near fall but JTG breaks up the cover. JTG forces Watson to the floor but Titus with a boot to JTG. Young with a clip to the back of the knee and Young with a gutbuster from a fireman’s carry for the three count.
Winners: Darren Young and JTG
After the match, Young and JTG celebrate in the ring but the Usos makes their way to the ring and they hit super kicks on Young and JTG. They go up top for stereo Superfly splashes on Young and JTG.
We go to credits.
2012 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live coverage of Open Fight Night on Impact Wrestling!
We start off with a video package looking back at all the grudges that have cropped up recently in TNA, and anyone can challenge anyone else tonight because it's OPEN FIGHT NIGHT! Hulk Hogan bumps into Shaq backstage (I guess he just happened to be back there), and Shaq said he'll be watching Hogan's back tonight if Aces & Eights decides to get rowdy.
AJ Styles and Kurt Angle come out to say that they used to be champions, but got screwed by Daniels & Kazarian. They got screwed again at No Surrender, but last week, AJ defeated Kazarian to earn a title shot. However, Chavo Guerrero Jr defeated Christopher Daniels to earn a title shot for himself and Hernandez as well, so since it's Open Fight Night and the fans want to know who the REAL #1 contenders are, they're calling Chavo and Hernandez out to determine the one and only #1 contenders to the World Tag Team Title.
#1 Contender Match: AJ Styles & Kurt Angle vs Hernandez & The Man Who Invented Lying, Stealing And Cheating
AJ andChavo do a feeling out process to start, but neither man can get an advantage, so they tag out and Angle starts beating on Hernandezbefore the big man bowlsAngle over with a shoulderblock and covers for 1. Chavo tags in and does Eddy's slingshot senton on Angle, Angle tries firing back but Chavo gets a drop toehold and goes to a side headlock as Taz talks about calling Angle's matches with Eddy. Angle with a belly to back suplex and some European uppercuts, then pops Chavo into the next zip code with an overhead release suplex. Daniels & Kazarian show up at the top of the ramp and applaud the action as we go to commercial.
We're back as AJ has Chavo down in a rear chinlock and we look back at AJ taking Chavo out with a dropkick during the commercial. Chavo escapes and backdrops AJ before finally making the hot tag to Hernandez, who slingshots in with a shoulderblock on AJ and then takes Angle out with a clothesline. Hernandez nearly Pounces AJ out of the ring, and Angle and AJ momentarily get an advantage and try a double clothesline, but Hernandez takes them out with a double clothesline instead. Chavo tags in and comes off the top with a dropkick on AJ before doing that shoulder shaking thing Eddy used to do. AJ knocks Chavo into next week with a spinkick to the face and then tags out to Angle, who German suplexes both members of LAX 3.0. Angle gets the anklelock on Chavo, Hernandez saves, and AJ takes Hernandez out with a leaping enziguiri. Chavo with a rolling front kick on AJ and tries a sunset flip on Angle, but Angle rolls through and gets an anklelock right in the middle of the ring. Chavo lasts longer than he's ever survived in any submission hold and kicks Angle into AJ, who tags in and springboards into the ring to take Chavo out with a forearm. Hernandez gets a crazy slam on Angle, Angle hits the Angle Slam on Hernandez, then Chavo does Eddy's Three Amigos move on both opponents before going up top to do the frogsplash he doesn't do as well as Eddy. Hernandez clotheslines Angle and they both go over the top rope to the floor as Chavo misses the frogsplash he doesn't do very well, then AJ takes him out with the Pelle Kick and goes for the Styles Clash. Daniels and Kazarian run in and attack both men to cause a cheap DQ finish.
NO CONTEST
Hernandez chases the champs off and we still don't have a single #1 contender to the World Tag Team Title. Come on, we all know where this one's going. Hulk Hogan's music hits and he comes out with baseball bat in hand to have a word with the champs. He says he's got 99 problems and Aces & Eights is the biggest one. He also tried to decide who would get the shot at Daniels & Kazarian at Bound For Glory, but the champs helped him make his decision as they will now defend against both teams.
The annoying cameraman is backstage asking Al Snow how long it's been since he got a haircut. Snow said it's been about 12 years and his wife didn't like it, but he gives his thoughts on this week's Gut Check contestant before moving on to Joey Ryan. He doesn't feel like he crossed the line because he gave Ryan an opportunity and he backed down, but Snow's getting called to the Principal's office now, so we'll see if he's right.
Hulk is now backstage on the phone with Joseph Park, who apparently has the evidence he was hoping for. He's going to send a security escort out ot get him, and he wants Park to come right to him when he gets in.
Time for a Bound For Glory memory, and this time we go to 2008 when Samoa Joe made his insane dive down the stairs. We then take another look at the video package introducing this month's Gut Check contestant, Evan Markopoulos.
Dixie Carter is backstage complaining to Bruce Prichard about how distracting this Aces & Eights thing has become, and they have to find out who they are. Prichard says they're doing what they need to do for this, and then Dixie takes off so Prichard and Snow can watch this month's Gut Check.
We go to the ring as Jeremy Borash introduces Evan Markopoulos and introduces his opponent...
Evan Markopoulos vs Doug Williams
Evan's dad is at ringside to watch his son get torn apart by Williams. Williams takes Markopoulos down with a hammerlock and just lets him go and allows him back to his feet. Williams takes Markopoulos to the corner and slaps him in the face,and an irate Markopoulos takes Williams to the corner, Williams slaps him in the face but he slaps Williams back and gets kicked in the nuts for his trouble. Williams with a headbutt to the ribcage and a European uppercut, then grabs Markopoulos by the hair and yells at him to stay down. Markopoulos tries a sunset flip, but Williams rolls through and connects with a kneelift to the cheek and a slingshot kneedrop off the ropes. Markopoulos gets a dropkick and a crossbody, but doesn't even get 1 before Williams kicks out and takes Markopoulos out with a clothesline. An angry Williams puts the boots to Markopoulos, who fires some weak right hands before getting nailed and taking a vertical suplex. Williams misses a charge in the corner and Markopoulos gets some right hands, but hesitates and gets beaten to hell by Williams, who kicks him in the nuts again, takes him over with a side headlock, and taps Markopoulos out to a modified Anaconda Vice.
Winner: Doug Williams
He showed some fire and a real desire to make a good impression, but I still think he looked way to green to be in there.
James Storm is backstage, and he's...WALKING!
James Storm comes out to the ring and says he likes talking trash and is real good at it, but he backs it up. This thing with Roode has gone from being personal to him wanting to beat the crap out of Roode and have his blood on his hands. Storm wants Roode to know this isn't going to be a wrestling match, it's going to be him kicking a coward's ass. Roode's music hits, but he comes out to the ring in a suit and wants to make sure he heard Storm right about wanting him to come down to the ring and fight him. He's a little overdressed and not ready to fight, but he wants Storm to know that no matter how hard he tries, he's never going to be as good as Roode and will never duplicate his success. As long as the It Factor is around, Storm will never be a World Champion, but if Storm wants to fight him on Open Fight Night, he's barking up the wrong tree because he's not going to fight him. Roode considers this done and he's never going to face Storm again, and says that if he wants to fight, he can fight someone else. Hulk Hogan catches Roode backstage and says Roode obviously doesn't understand the concept of Open Fight Night, but if he wants the night off, he can have it...and the week, month, and year off and there will be no more money coming in. Roode's got three minutes to decide if that's what he wants.
We're back from commercial and Storm is still calling Roode out, and here comes an exremely reluctant ex-champion. Roode slowly makes his way down the ramp and takes his shirt off, but Storm loses patience and goes after Roode, beating him down and choking him with his own shirt. They fight their way up onto the stage where Storm continues beating on Roode, ramming his face into a column and drilling him with a very loud right hand. They fight past the broadcast booth and Storm tries to jump off the stage with a double axhandle, but Roode nails Storm coming down and rams his face into the side of the stage. Roode batters Storm back to the ring and rams him into the barricade, then rolls him into the ring and the bell finally rings to start the match.
James Storm vs Bobby Roode
Roode briefly gets some offense, but Storm nails him and they go right back out to the floor. Storm grabs Roode and rolls him back inside, but takes a charge and gets backdropped out to the floor. Now Roode goes after Storm on the floor and unloads with right hands, but Storm reverses an Irish Whip and sends Roode crashing into the ring steps. Roode blocks when Storm tries to ram him into the steps again and instead sends Storm crashing into the barricade, then whips him across the ringside area into the opposite side of the rail. Roode grabs Storm's beer out from under the ring and goes after Storm with it, but Storm nails him, takes the beer, and pours it down a fan's throat. Roode rams Storm into the post and tries to hit him with a chair, but Storm moves and Roode cracks the post with the chair. A bunch of fansput their feet up on the rail, so Storm obliges by ramming Roode's face into their feet. A bunch of ringside fans yell the F word at Roode over and over until Storm grabs Roode and rams him into those fans' boots again. Storm tries to suplex Roode on the floor, but Roode blocks and suplexes Storm instead. They finally go back into the ring where Roode takes Storm out with a clothesline, then shoves the ref when he tries to admonish Roode about all the violence. Roode dumps Storm back out to the floor and goes after him, but now Storm shoves the ref away and goes back after Roode, and the referee finally throws the match out.
NO CONTEST
So let me get this straight: the referee doesn't mind them spending 90% of the match on the floor, but giving him a couple of light shoves constitutes an actionable offense? Regardless, Storm and Roode go through the rail and fight through the crowd. Storm rams Roode into a wall, and the ref gets shoved out of the way again as he tries to get betwen them. Storm smashes Roode into the door and I guess they're headed outside.
Hulk Hogan is backstage talking to the security guy, and he's concerned as Joseph Park has apparently not made it into the building yet. His cell phone rings and it's the guys from Aces & Eights, who appear to have taken Park captive. Hogan says he'll play with them, then says he'll think over some proposition they apparently made him.
Austin Aries comes up to Jeff Hardy to have a word with him, and says he'll take his sunglasses off if Hardy opens his eyes. He feels like everybody's looking at it like Hardy is coming for what he has, but Hardy actually has something Aries wants. They're around the same age, but Hardy has accomplished way more than he ever has, and he wants the mindless sheep to follow him, he wants the money, and he wants the fame, and the way he's going to do that is by beating Hardy at Bound For Glory. It's not about Hardy chasing him, it's about Aries chasing Hardy and everything that he's accomplished. He tells Hardy he can close his eyes again since he looked so peaceful.
Tara comes out to the ring and asks for a microphone and says he's heard everyone asking why he did what he did to Miss Tessmacher Everyone used her so they could hold up their signs and get themselves on TV, and it took someone really special (her new boyfriend who lives in Hollywood where he's a huge star) to open her eyes and remind her that she's the best female wrestler there is. Brooke used her too so she could get at the Knockouts Title, so since it's Open Fight Night, she's going to call out her opponent tonight...Christy Hemme. Christy looks surprised, but Tara says she can challenge anyone and wants Christy to get her ass in the ring now and not let her fans down. Christy tries to explain that she's not a wrestler and asks her not to do this, but Tara tells Christy that she needs to show some respect. She asks Christy who her favorite Knockout it, and Christy says it's Miss Tessmacher. Tara grabs her by the hair and asks who her favorite Knockout is now, and Brooke comes running in and Tara bails. Brooke calls Tara a lying bitch and Tara makes angry faces at her before backpedaling up the ramp.
Hulk Hogan is backstage, and he's...PLODDING!
Brooke Hogan is backstage asking Tara what just happened out there, and Tara said she just wanted to teach Miss Tessmacher some respect. Brooke says she's disappointed in Tara, and there will be repercussions next week.
Rob Van Dam's favorite Bound For Glory memory is when he faced Abyss at one Bound For Glory, but then there was also his match with Jerry Lynn from last year's show because the big shows are the only place we're going to see a Van Terminator.
Hulk Hogan comes out to the ring and says it's getting so red hot in here that he's going to break the spraypaint out and paint everyone...uh...TNA dead. Okay. Hogan informs us that Aces & Eights has taken Joseph "Parks" hostage, and as long as he knows the rules, he doesn't mind playing. If Aces & Eights wants him to step into their world and go to their clubhouse next week, he'll play their game, brother. Even though they're bottom feeders, they stick to their word, and he wants them to release Joseph Parks now that he's agreed to step into their clubhouse. Aces & Eights comes up on screen to thank Hogan for accepting their invitation, but he wants to warn him that when he comes to their clubhouse, it's clubhouse rules. Joseph Park is just doing his job, but it's bringing him a little too close to Aces & Eights business, so they decided to bring him for a visit at the clubhouse. They took a look at his computer and decided to do some computer work of their own, and one of them smashes his laptop with a hammer. Joseph Park (bloodied and covered in sweat) says they just destroyed weeks of work, but he's still got it all in his head. They say they'll fix that right now,and another one of the goons knocks Park out with a hammer.
We see a video package of Jeff Hardy talking about how huge winning the Bound For Glory Series was, and how winning the World Title will be the final chapter of his redemption.
Austin Aries comes out to the ring and gets a microphone, saying that was a nice video package we just saw of Jeff Hardy, and it's nice of the producers to put that on right before he came out. Everyone's focused on Jeff Hardy and that's fine, but he's the hunter at Bound For Glory and Hardy's the target. He also wants to prove that anything Hardy can do, he can do better, and one thing Hardy's done twice in the last month is beat a big, bad bully...the same bully who said that both of them beating him was nothing but luck. Aries calls Bully Ray out because he's about to learn that it's not luck, it's skill, so he wants Bully to bring his calves out to the ring right now. Bully can't seem to believe that he just heard his name called out, but he comes out and asks if he'scorrect about Aries calling him out. Bully says not to be smart because he beat him up once, and he'll do it again. Aries says that might be, but he'll have to. Bully says you don't just call him out like that because people don't call him out, hecalls people out. He stops to have words with a fan at ringside, Aries makes fun of him too,but then cuts off Bully's yammering by wiping him out with a dive through the ropes. Aries puts on Bubba's hatt and puts the boots to him at ringside and drills him with repeated left hands. Aries rolls Bubba inside, and we're off!
World Champion Austin Aries vs Bully Ray
Aries just destroys Bubba with a flurry ofp unches and kicks and goes up top, but Bubba shakes the ropes to knock Aries down to the apron, and then Bubba boots him into the guardrail as we go to commercial.
We're back as Bubba is gouging at the face of Aries while yelling at him for calling him out. Bubba puts Aries in a modified surfboard, but Aries escapes with a questionable kick to the inner thigh/groin area. Bubba quickly lays Aries back out and hits a big splash for 2, then slams Aries for another 2. Bubb with a big elbowdrop for 2 and then drops elbowsmashes to the head of Aries before dropping another big elbow and proclaiming "Damn, that was TIGHT!" Bubba covers for 2, then yells at the referee about how much he sucks as a referee because he's old and he sucks. Earl Hebner starts yelling back at Bubba as Aries hits a couple of chops and some forearms, but a big right hand from Bubba floors Aries. Aries pops up and goes after Bubba again, but another shot from Bubba drops Aries. Aries pops up and goes back after Bubba, rocking him with a roaring elbow, he charges Bubba and gets backdropped to the apron, but snaps bubba's neck over the top rope and comes off the top with a missile dropkick for 2. Aries tries a sunset flip, Bubba tries to counter by dropping his posterior on Aries' chest, but Aries moves and goes back after Bubba. Aries tries an Irish whip, Bubba reverses and Aries crashes into the referee and knocks him out. Aries dropkicks Bubba's knee out from under him and gets the Last Chancery, but the referee's out. Bubba gets his chain and wraps it around his fist as Aries check on the referee, then uses it to knock Aries out as he comes in for the IED. The referee revives as Bubba covers Aries and gets 3.
Winner: Bully Ray
Bubba is so happy that he crawls on top of Earl Hebner and hugs him while telling him what a great ref he is. Aries is out as Bubba is on cloud nine because he just beat the champ. Bubba gets Aries' title belt and holds it up in the air, but Jeff Hardy comes in and takes Bubba out before he can knock Aries out with it. Now Hardy picks the belt up and holds it in the air before Aries snatches it back and shoves Hardy, and they go face to face as we call it a week.
2012 - TNA issued the following press release, confirming the story we broke last week in the PWInsider.com Elite section:
TNA “IMPACT WRESTLING†TO REMAIN LIVE ON THURSDAY NIGHTS THROUGH THE END OF 2012
New York, NY – September X, 2012 – – Spike TV’s highly-rated weekly series “IMPACT WRESTLING†will continue to run LIVE in its current 8:00pm timeslot through the end of 2012, it was jointly announced today by Dixie Carter, President, TNA Entertainment, and Kevin Kay, President, Spike TV.
The move to broadcasting LIVE has been a ratings boon and has provided a significant rise in the show’s social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Spike TV began airing “Impact Wrestling†LIVE, instead of its traditional taped format, on May 31 from Universal Studios on Thursday nights. As a result the change, Spike’s 8-10pm timeslot has grown +33% in households, +47% in Men-18-49, and +35% in viewers.
Details for “IMPACT WRESTLING†production plans for 2013 will be announced at a later date.
About TNA ENTERTAINMENT, LLC
TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately held sports entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee that specializes in events, products, numerous TV properties, merchandise and music, as well as, the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. The roster features such greats as Hulk Hogan, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Sting, James Storm, Bobby Roode, Rob Van Dam, Brooke Hogan, the lovely and lethal Knockouts and many more through its highly successful TNA IMPACT WRESTLING weekly broadcasts on SPIKE TV. In addition, TNA produces monthly PPV events and over 100 live shows a year. The product is the world’s most innovative experience in professional wrestling and is broadcast in over 120 countries. For more information, please visit www.impactwrestling.com.
About Spike TV:
Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
2013 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
This week’s show starts off with a look back at what happened at Night of Champions and then on Raw when we saw a champion crowned and then forced to abdicate his throne by the King of Kings? What will be the fallout?
We are in Cincinnati, Ohio and your announcers are Michael ‘Johnny Bench’ Cole and John ‘Cesar Geronimo’ Layfield.
Vickie Guerrero is in the ring and she welcomes us to Smackdown after Excusing herself. She says that she has the most astounding, most thrilling, most entertaining show ever for Smackdown tonight. First, she is here to introduce the laughing stock of the WWE. It is not Hornswoggle. This man has gone from hero to zero. Vickie mentions that Bob Backlund held the WWE Title for 2,135 days. CM Punk held the WWE Title for 434 days. This man won the WWE Championship at SummerSlam and held it for 5 minutes and 25 seconds. He did a little better at Night of Champions when he stole the title and held it for 21 hours 34 minutes and 32 seconds.
Vickie wants everyone to welcome the man who got caught red handed on Raw . . . Daniel Bryan.
Daniel makes his way to the ring.
Daniel says that he would much rather be champion for only one day than to be a shrill corporate suck up for his entire life.
Vickie reminds Daniel that she is his boss and she will give him one opportunity to come clean tonight.
Daniel says that he did nothing wrong.
Vickie says that anyone who has half a brain can see that Daniel Bryan and Scott Armstrong conspired against Randy Orton.
Daniel says that if Vickie wants the truth, he kneed Randy Orton in the face and the referee counted to three. It might have been fast, but the referee could have counted to 20 because Randy was knocked out. He does not know why Scott Armstrong did what he did. Daniel says that he should still be the WWE Champion.
Vickie calls Daniel a liar. She says that Triple H might have promised him a match at Battleground, but she would have fired Daniel. She hopes that Daniel does not become the face of the WWE.
Daniel says that the people should be glad that Vickie does not have any power.
Vickie mentions that ten people came to the ring to help him. These people will be eliminated tonight. Vickie shows us who the ten men who will be suffering a similar fate as Daniel Bryan. All eleven men will be eliminated because we are going to have an 11 on 3 handicap gauntlet match. The Shield will be in the ring at all times while one man faces the Shield until they are defeated. The Hounds of Justice will run through each and every one of you.
Vickie tells Daniel that she is saving him for last and then she cackles in Daniel’s face before leaving the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Natalya is with Michael and John at the announce table.
Before the match starts, we get comments from AJ in the Goldman Box. She says that as the woman who single handedly redefined the Divas Division, she will single handedly defeat every Total Divas Diva, starting with Naomi.
Match Number One: Naomi (with Cameron) versus AJ Lee in a Non Title Match
AJ with a kick and then she tries to send Naomi to the floor but Naomi lands on the apron and she kicks AJ. Naomi tries for a springboard move but AJ with a spinning heel kick and she gets a near fall. AJ with a cravate. Naomi with elbows but AJ with a back elbow and she gets a near fall.
AJ chokes Naomi in the ropes. AJ returns to the cravate and she gets Naomi to her knees. Naomi with a jawbreaker to escape. Naomi with an enzigiri followed by a rollup for a near fall. Naomi with a drop kick and a flip clothesline. AJ misses a clothesline and Naomi with an atomic drop followed by the leaping butt bump for a near fall.
Naomi tries for a slam but AJ escapes and she applies a sleeper. Naomi backs AJ into the corner to get out of the hold. Naomi tries for a back breaker but AJ counters into the Black Widow and Naomi taps out.
Winner: AJ Lee
After the match, AJ sits in the ropes and she taunts Natalya, who gets up from her position at the announce table.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Zeb Colter is in the ring with Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger. Zeb mentions that Jack’s opponent tonight is a foreigner, an immigrant, an Italian by the name of Santino Marella. He tells Santino to take the ravioli out of his ears so Zeb can give him a ‘pizza’ his mind.
How did Santino get into this country? Did he sneak across? Did he swim across? Are his papers legitimate? The last time he looked, it was illegal to own a pet reptile without a permit. The real problem he sees is that the Real Americans are the only people in the building who will ask these tough questions.
Match Number Two: Santino Marella versus Jack Swagger (with Antonio Ceasro and Zeb Colter)
Swagger lets Santino make the first move and he goes for the leg but Swagger with a forearm and then he runs Santino into the corner and connects with a knee followed by a biel. Swagger with a short arm clothesline.
Swagger traps the arms but Santino gets to his feet but Swagger sends him into the turnbuckles and connects with a forearm. Swagger with punches. Santino with punches but Swagger with knees to Santino. Swagger tries for a biel but Santino with a cartwheel. Swagger blocks the hip toss but Santino is able to get Swagger in a backslide and he gets the three count.
Winner: Santino Marella
We see Ryback, Curtis Axel, and Paul Heyman moving through the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and before our next match, Paul Heyman introduces himself and he says that he can tell that we already know the big news that he is the Best in the World. Admittedly, it is uncharacteristic that he would give credit to his opponent, but CM Punk gave everything in the ring. When two men engage in combat in that squared circle, only one man can emerge victorious. On Sunday, that man was not your hero CM Punk, the winner of that match was Paul Heyman.
Paul says that he could not have done it without his hero, Ryback.
Ryback takes the mic and he tells Paul that he is a gracious and appreciative man. He does not deserve to be picked on by a bully like CM Punk. Ryback says that he cannot stand bullies.
Ryback mentions the man in the ring. Paul told him that Nick refused to sign a little kid’s autograph. Then he intimidated the kid in the parking lot. Ryback tells Nick to try to intimidate him. What he is going to do to this guy is what he is going to do to CM Punk the next time that he sees him.
Match Number Three: Ryback versus Nick Nardone
They lock up and Ryback sends Nick face first into the mat. Ryback says that he is sorry but Nick backs away from Ryback. Ryback grabs Nick by the throat and then he says that it is too easy. Nick with forearms but Ryback with a clothesline and then he picks up Nick and hits the marching muscle buster for the three count.
Winner: Ryback
Randy Orton walks in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Randy Orton makes his way to the ring.
Randy has a mic and he says at Night of Champions, Daniel Bryan and Scott Armstrong conspired to take the WWE Title from him and they succeeded. With a lightning fast three count, the title was taken away from him. Randy says that it was his fault.
Randy says that he never should have been in that position. For the last two years, he has been suppressing who he is down inside because of the people. He went to Anger Management and he locked away the viper that was void of morality. He did it because he thought that was everything the people wanted.
On Monday night, Triple H and Stephanie showed him what he should be. Orton says that he ripped that door open and that is why he made an example of the Miz in his home town of Cleveland. He did it so everyone would know who he really and truly is.
We see footage from Monday night.
Randy tells everyone that is a warning for anyone who tries to get in his path. There is no champion right now and there is nothing he can do about it. He is not looking to win. He is looking to annihilate. He says that it will be scorched Earth. He will end it once and for good. He promises that he will be your . . . not your. He will be his WWE Champion.
The Shield make their way to the ring for their Gauntlet Match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Vickie Guerrero is at ringside to watch the Gauntlet.
Match Number Four: Shield versus Friends of Daniel Bryan Gauntlet Match
Part One: Shield versus Darren Young
The Shield attack Young as he enters the ring. They punch Young while Young tries to fight back but the numbers advantage is too great. They kick Young while Rollins whips him with his shirt. Rollins and Ambrose hold Young for Reigns to hit the spear for the three count.
Part Two: Shield versus Titus O’Neil
They attack Titus as he enters the ring but Titus fights off Reigns, Rollins, and Ambrose for a moment. Ambrose with a sleeper while Rollins holds the leg. Reigns with a running shoulder tackle and then they kick Titus while Rollins applies a guillotine choke. Rollins and Ambrose hold up Titus for Reigns to hit the Cerberus Bomb and the three count.
Part Three: Shield versus Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler appears to think of a strategy before entering the ring. Ziggler goes after Ambrose and hits a Thesz Press. Ziggler takes Rollins down but Reigns runs Ziggler into the turnbuckles but he misses a splash in the corner. Ziggler punches Reigns but Rollins and Ambrose pull Ziggler from the turnbuckles to the mat. Ambrose with punches and Rollins with kicks.
Ambrose stands on Ziggler’s head while Rollins and Reigns work over Dolph. Ambrose punches Ziggler and then Rollins holds Ziggler and Reigns with a punch. Ambrose holds Ziggler up and Rollins with a punch.
Ambrose holds Dolph while Reigns punches him. Ambrose punches Ziggler while Rollins holds him. Reigns and Rollins hold Ziggler while Ambrose taunts him and then he punches Dolph. Ambrose continues to taunt Ziggler.
Ziggler with a punch to Ambrose and then he kicks Rollins. Ziggler with an elbow to Reigns. Ziggler with a clothesline to Rollins and then he drops down when Reigns charges at him and Reigns goes over the top rope to the floor.
Ziggler with a drop kick to Ambrose followed by a kick and Fameasser to Rollins. Ziggler with a Mick Foley clothesline to Ambrose. Ambrose holds the leg and Rollins with a running drop kick that sends Dolph to the floor. Reigns with a spear and Ziggler is down for the ten count.
Part Four: Shield versus Kofi Kingston
Reigns goes after Kofi on the floor but Kofi leaps over him and then Kofi drops Rollins and Ambrose on the top rope. Kofi with a springboard cross body to Rollins and Ambrose. Kofi with clotheslines to Rollins and Ambrose followed by drop kicks. Kofi with Trouble in Paradise to Reigns but Ambrose breaks up the cover.
Ambrose punches Kofi while Rollins holds the leg. Rollins punches Kofi while Ambrose holds him. Ambrose with the Dean Driver for the three count.
Part Five: Shield versus Rob Van Dam
Rollins and Ambrose punch Van Dam when he gets into the ring. Van Dam blocks a kick from Ambrose and he sends Dean’s leg into Seth’s midsection. Van Dam with a clothesline to Ambrose followed by a thrust kick to Rollins and a spinning heel kick to Ambrose. Van Dam with a corkscrew drop kick on Rollins and then he rolls through into a monkey flip on Ambrose.
Rollins tries to send Van Dam into turnbuckles but Van Dam blocks it and he connects with a kick to the head. Van Dam with a springboard thrust kick to Reigns to knock him off the apron. Van Dam with a spinning kick to the head followed by Rolling Thunder on Rollins.
Van Dam goes up top for the Five Star Frog Splash but Triple H comes out and he tells them to shut this down.
No Contest
Roman Reigns pushes Rob Van Dam off the turnbuckles.
Triple H wants to know what Vickie is doing. Hunter tells Vickie to go to his office right now. He asks her if she knows what she has done.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Triple H is in the office with Vickie Guerrero.
He wants to know what Vickie was doing. He says that ten guys ran in to help Daniel Bryan. When you do what you did tonight, it will be ten more guys. Then you will get a full scale revolt.
Vickie says that she thought that was best for business.
Hunter says that the best thing for business is to be fair. They need honest competition. They need to feel safe and that they are in a competitive environment. The Shield will be in a Six Man Tag Match against The Usos and Daniel Bryan. He tells Vickie to make the match.
We have the Raw Rebound with a look at Dusty Rhodes’ appearance on Raw.
Triple H is in his office with Zack Ryder and Justin Gabriel. Hunter asks how they are doing and he apologizes for Vickie putting them in the handicap match. It is unfair to put them in a match with the Shield.
Justin appreciates Triple H’s compassion and Zack says that they were looking for competition . . . bro. Hunter tells them to go to the ring so they can face some competition.
Match Number Five: Justin Gabriel and Zack Ryder versus Erick Rowan and Luke Harper (with Bray Wyatt)
Harper and Ryder start things off and Harper runs Ryder into the ropes and he punches Ryder. Ryder with a face buster and a drop kick. Harper with an Irish whip but Ryder with knees. Ryder leaps over Harper but Harper with a boot to the chest for a near fall.
Gabriel breaks up the cover and Rowan goes after Gabriel but Justin with a series of kicks and a leaping back heel kick to Rowan. Rowan blocks a kick and Rowan sends Gabriel over the top rope to the floor.
Ryder tries for the Rough Ryder but Harper catches him and hits a buckle bomb followed by a lariat for the three count.
Winners: Erick Rowan and Luke Harper
After the match, Wyatt enters the ring and he looks at Ryder and then he grabs Ryder for Sister Abigail, but before he does anything, Rowan kicks Gabriel off the turnbuckles. Wyatt hits Sister Abigail.
Wyatt takes the mic and he says that when he makes a promise, he always keeps it. If they are going to keep lining them up for them, he promises that they will continue putting them down. He says that they are doing this all for Abigail.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the medical staff checks on Rob Van Dam. Triple H enters and wants to know how he is doing. He wants to apologize to Rob for what Vickie did and he also gives Rob a rematch for the World Title at Battleground.
Triple H leaves and Alberto Del Rio attacks Rob while getting treatment. Alberto sends Rob into the wall and continues to work on the head and neck. Del Rio with a super kick to Van Dam. Del Rio throws a case on Van Dam.
Michael Cole questions the timing of Triple H giving Rob Van Dam his rematch right before Alberto Del Rio attacks him. John disputes what Cole says.
Match Number Six: R Truth versus Alberto Del Rio
Del Rio goes after Truth, but Truth with punches and forearms. Truth with an Irish whip and Stinger Splash. Truth with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Truth misses a scissors kick and Del Rio with a lungblower for a near fall. Del Rio with punches to weaken Truth. Del Rio chokes Truth in the ropes. Del Rio with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall.
Del Rio with a rear chin lock followed by a head butt. Del Rio taunts Truth and then he pie faces Truth. Truth with a leg lariat followed by clotheslines. Truth with a kick and he hits a sit out gourdbuster for a near fall. Del Rio with a step up enzuigiri for a near fall.
Del Rio with a kick to the head and then he signals for the cross arm breaker but Truth rolls through and he hits the Scissors Kick and he gets a near fall. Truth tries for the suplex into a stunner but Del Rio lands on his feet and he kicks Truth in the knee and then he hits a super kick and applies the cross arm breaker. Truth taps out.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
We go to commercial.
Match Number Seven: Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns versus Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, and Daniel Bryan
Bryan and Rollins start things off and they lock up. Bryan with kicks in the corner followed by a knee to the midsection and he drops a knee to the chest and he gets a near fall. Bryan with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Rollins tries for a leap frog but Bryan grabs the leg and he sets for the surfboard.
Bryan applies it and then he tags in Jimmy who hits a flying clothesline and gets a near fall. Rollins with a kick and punches before he tags Ambrose into the match. Ambrose sends Jimmy into the turnbuckles and he punches him. Jimmy with an Irish whip and back body drop. Jimmy with a punch and he tags in Jey. Jey with a flying clothesline for a near fall. Jey with a hammer lock.
Jimmy tags in and he hits a forearm followed by a snap mare and diving head butt for a near fall. Jey tags in and they hit a double back elbow and a double elbow drop for a near fall. Jimmy with a front face lock but Ambrose gets to his corner and Reigns tags in and he punches Jimmy and connects with a head butt and kicks.
Reigns with punches to Jimmy. Jimmy with a kick and a rollup for a near fall. Bryan tags in and he kicks Reigns. Bryan with more kicks. Reigns with a back elbow and he tags in Ambrose. Ambrose with kicks and punches to Bryan. Ambrose with a snap elbow drop for a near fall. Rollins tags in and Seth kicks Bryan in the chest.
Rollins chokes Bryan and applies a Million Dollar Dream. Bryan with a belly-to-back suplex to escape and he tags in Jey. Jey with a punch but Rollins with a drop kick and he tags in Ambrose. They make a wish with Jey and Dean gets a near fall.
Ambrose stomps on the hand and we go to commercial.
We are back and Rollins with a rear chin lock. Jey with a kick and enzuigiri and both men are down. Jey tags in Jimmy and he connect with clotheslines and a savate kick. Jimmy with a Samoan drop and he knocks Ambrose off the apron. Rollins escapes a Bubba Bomb and hits an enzuigiri.
Reigns tags in and he gets a near fall. Reigns sends Jimmy into the turnbuckles and he tags in Ambrose. Ambrose with a head butt and forearms across the chest. Ambrose with a snap mare and a reverse chin lock. Jimmy with a jawbreaker but Ambrose with a knee to the midsection followed by a slap and drop kick with Jimmy in the ropes. Ambrose gets a near fall and he tags in Rollins.
Rollins with a slingshot senton and he gets a near fall. Rollins chokes Jimmy in the ropes. Ambrose kicks Jimmy and Reigns tags in and he punches Jimmy in the midsection. Reigns with an elbow drop to the chest and he returns to the reverse chin lock. Jimmy with punches but Reigns with a back elbow and flying clothesline for a near fall.
Reigns with a reverse chin lock on Jimmy. Reigns with a head butt to Jimmy followed by a belly-to-back suplex attempt but Jimmy lands on his feet and he takes care of the three members of the Shield momentarily. Rollins tags in and he cuts off Jimmy from his corner. Jimmy with a Bubba Bomb and both men are down.
Jimmy crawls to make the tag but Ambrose tags in and he takes care of Jey. Bryan is tagged in and he hits a double drop kick on Reigns and Rollins on the apron. Bryan punches Ambrose. Ambrose with an Irish whip and Bryan flips over. Ambrose knows what is coming next but he misses a clothesline and Bryan hits a flying clothesline of his own.
Bryan with a running drop kick into the corner and then he hits a second one. Bryan with kicks in the corner and then he puts Ambrose on the turnbuckles for a super rana and he gets a near fall. Reigns goes after Jimmy but Jimmy drops down and Roman goes over the top rope to the floor. Jey with a plancha onto Reigns.
Rollins with a corkscrew plancha onto Jey and Reigns. Jimmy with an Arabian Press onto Rollins. Ambrose with a clothesline to Bryan but Bryan applies the Yes Lock. Ambrose gets to the ropes. Jimmy and Jey with a double super kick from the floor. Bryan waits for Ambrose to get up and he hits the flying knee for the three count.
Winners: Daniel Bryan, Jimmy Uso, and Jey Uso
We go to credits.
2013 - Adam Cole captured the ROH championship at Glory by Honor in Philadelphia, PA. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
We are live in Philadelphia, PA at the National Guard Armory for coverage of Death Before Dishonor XI!
As it turns out, ROH is streaming this show for free on www.gfl.tv so head there if you want to check the show out. You will have to sign up for a free GFL account in order to watch the stream.
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Before the show and during a student match, Steve Corino entered the venue with a sign and lackies demanding his reinstatement into the company. Both times he was ejected from the building.
Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness came out. The crowd chanted, "Thank you Nigel" followed by chanting for Kelly.
The show went on iPPV and out came former ROH champion Jay Briscoe with the belt, which as announced, he will have to hand over to the new champion tonight. Briscoe took the mic and said that if you want to be successful in life, you have to put hard work in. He says that a company is only as good as how hard their employees work. He said that 11 years, ROH was born at the Murphy Rec Center. Jay said he was on the first show and he was 18 then, so he's spent his entire adult life busting his ass trying to make this company grow. The fans chanted, "Yes you did."
He said when Kevin Steen and SCUM were trying to take down the place, Jay Briscoe kicked his ass and took the title. He said that according to the higher-ups, he has an injury and isn't allowed to defend the title and is stripped. He asked Nigel why when he was the ROH champ, he was allowed to defend the title hurt but Jay can't. He said that he knows Nigel is just the messenger but from the bottom of his heart, this is bullshit.Â
Briscoe said that his daddy told him not to look back but look ahead. He said if the winner of the tournament wins like a man, like Jay won the belt, he's going to have to come down and hand the belt over. He said he doesn't want to but he will. He said when he's cleared to wrestle, he's going to return and take the belt back but tonight he's got no choice but to hand it over.
Good promo!
Before the show and during a student match, Steve Corino entered the venue with a sign and lackies demanding his reinstatement into the company. Both times he was ejected from the building.
Bobby Cruise announced to the live crowd that they are returning to iPPV and will be streaming live. He announced to the crowd that a VOD version of the show will be available to Ringside Members for free this weekend as well. He said that ROH appreciates the patience and cooperation of their fans as they have dealt with their iPPV issues over the last several months. That was a nice, classy move.
Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness came out. The crowd chanted, "Thank you Nigel" followed by chanting for Kelly.
The show went on iPPV and out came former ROH champion Jay Briscoe with the belt, which as announced, he will have to hand over to the new champion tonight. Briscoe took the mic and said that if you want to be successful in life, you have to put hard work in. He says that a company is only as good as how hard their employees work. He said that 11 years, ROH was born at the Murphy Rec Center. Jay said he was on the first show and he was 18 then, so he's spent his entire adult life busting his ass trying to make this company grow. The fans chanted, "Yes you did."
He said when Kevin Steen and SCUM were trying to take down the place, Jay Briscoe kicked his ass and took the title. He said that according to the higher-ups, he has an injury and isn't allowed to defend the title and is stripped. He asked Nigel why when he was the ROH champ, he was allowed to defend the title hurt but Jay can't. He said that he knows Nigel is just the messenger but from the bottom of his heart, this is bullshit.Â
Briscoe said that his daddy told him not to look back but look ahead. He said if the winner of the tournament wins like a man, like Jay won the belt, he's going to have to come down and hand the belt over. He said he doesn't want to but he will. He said when he's cleared to wrestle, he's going to return and take the belt back but tonight he's got no choice but to hand it over.
Good promo!
Jay Lethal vs. Silas Young
Big pop for Lethal as the fans chanted his name. They shook hands at the bell but Young did so in a way that showed aggression.
Lethal and Young tied up and they ended up in the corner. Jay broke clean. They went back and forth. Young cut off Lethal as he went for a dive. He worked over Jay, who came back with a dropkick. Jay tossed him to the outside and hit a series of dives. The crowd went nuts and chanted his name.
Lethal went for a sunset flip into the ring on Young but he was stomped in the chest. Young worked him over with a series of shoulderblocks. Lethal made a comeback and worked over Silas. He went to the top for the flying elbowsmash. Young cut him off and went for a superplex. Lethal fought him off and went for the elbow. Young rolled out of the way.
Young nailed Lethal as he went to grab him and drilled him with a backbreaker and a clothesline. He grabbed Lethal for a DVDR but Jay slipped out and drilled him. He went for the springboard elbow off the ropes but was caught and nailed with a belly to back suplex.
Young drilled Lethal with a knee to the face. He went for a double springboard Arabian Press but Lethal moved out of the way. Lethal hit a elbow and scored the pin.
Your winner, Jay Lethal!
Good back and forth opener.
Former ROH announcer Sugar Shawn Price is in attendance visiting.
ROH Title Tournament Semi-Final: Adam Cole vs. Tomasso Ciampa
Ciampa came out strong attacking Cole and stomping the hell out of him. Cole came back with a boot to the face and a superkick that sent Ciampa off the apron to the floor. Cole nailed him with a dive.
They battled on the floor but it was out of my sightlines. The crowd was really into it, however. They battled on the floor for a bit.
They returned to the ring and trashed each other. Ciampa went for a move off the top but Cole slipped out and superkicked his knee while he was on the ropes, hurting him. Cole went to the outside and worked over Ciampa's knee. He continued working him over but was caught in a small package for a two count. Cole then locked on a figure four leglock.
Ciampa broke the hold and they battled back and forth with strikes and chops. Cole nailed a running knee for a two count. Cole went for another but was caught. Ciampa went for a powerbomb but Cole slipped out and nailed a Yakuza kick. Ciampa came back with a big kick of his own for a two count.
This is an awesome match.
Cole caught Ciampa with a brainbuster, driving his knee into Ciampa's head for a two count. Ciampa came back with an armbar.  Cole, trapped, began kicking at him. Cole KO'd Ciampa and scored the pin while still trapped.
Your winner, Adam Cole!
Just a great match.
Ciampa got a nice ovation on the way out.
ROH Title Tournament Semi-Final: Michael Elgin vs. Kevin Steen
The fans tossed streamers for Steen.
They did some power spots early, testing the other.  Elgin went for a powerbomb but Steen pulled himself out of the ring to prevent it.  When he returned, Elgin challenged him to a test of strength.   They locked up and Steen was forced to his knees. He kicked Elgin and worked him over in the corner. He ref tried to make him break but was told he has until five. Sounds familiar.
Elgin battled back and drilled Steen with a series of shoulderblocks in the corner. He worked over Kevin with a series of right hands. Steen thumbed him in the eye and drilled him with chops.   Elgin came back with the Black Hole Slam. Elgin was on the apron and nailed Steen but was caught and drilled to the mat as he returned.
Steen stomped away on Elgin and went to the top rope.   Elgin cut him off with a big right hand.  He went for a superplex but Steen bit him on the face. Elgin fell into the ring. Steen hit a flying bodypress off the top for a two count.
Elgin went for a pump kick but Steen faked him out and avoided it. They charged each other and clunked heads. The referee counted them down but they returned to their feet and exchanged clotheslines. Neither went down. Elgin nailed a big lariat, taking Steen down.  He covered Steen for a two count.Â
Elgin dead lifted Steen into a suplex but Steen fought him off. Elgin drilled him with a series of stiff forearms across the chest. Steen cut him off and went for a Sharpshooter but was cut off. He charged Elgin but was sent shoulder first into the ring post.
Elgin went for a suplex off the apron into the ring. Steen fought him off and went for a swanton, but Elgin pulled his knees up. The Philly chant had dueling chants back and forth. Elgin worked him over and went for a twisting moonsault but Steen pulled his knees up. Steen nailed a DVDR for a two count.
Steen went for a cannonball in the corner but Elgin moved out of the way. Elgin deadlifted him into a belly to back suplex for a two count. Elgin locked on a Crossface for a submission but Steen make it to the ropes.   Steen began selling his shoulder.
Elgin drilled Steen with a series of strikes but Steen fought back. They went back and forth with some stiff strikes. Elgin was caught and powerbombed. Steen went for a Sharpshooter but Elgin escaped and powerbombed Steen twice, the second time into the corner. Steen caught himself, took Elgin down and locked on the Sharpshooter. Elgin made it to the ropes.
Steen worked over Elgin but was caught in a crossface. They went into a series of reversals and near falls. Steen nailed a clothesline and a big back suplex for a two count. This is nuts. They went back and forth until Elgin killed him with a stiff clothesline.
Steen cut him off and went for the package piledriver but was caught in the crossface. Steen finally tapped.
Your winner, Michael Elgin!
So, it's Cole vs. Elgin for the ROH title tonight.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team champions The Forever Hooligans vs. The American Wolves
Alex Kozlov demanded everyone stand for the Russian National Anthem. The crowd chanted "USA."
Eddie Edwards and Rocky Romero started and went back and forth with some awesome wrestling. Davey Richars tagged in,, as did Kozlov.  Richards took him to the mat and cinched in a leglock. He made it to the ropes. The crowd chanted 'USA' while others chanted "Russia." Finally, the crowd chanted "Rocky IV."
They battled back and forth. Edwards nailed a leaping knee and sent Romero into the ropes. He held on like a spider. He tossed the Wolves to the outside but they came back with stereo kicks sending them to the floor and then hit stereo dives. The crowd chanted "USA." Good stuff so far.
The Wolves worked over the Hooligans in the corner. They picked up Romero and drove him into Kozlov in the corner, then dropped him back with a suplex for a two count. The Wolves used a double headbutt to continue the assault.
The Hooligans cut off Edwards and took turns working him over. Edwards tried to battle out of the corner but was tripped by Kozlov as he rebounded off the ropes. Richards tried to help but was trapped in a stretch while Kozlov used the ropes to assist with a bow and arrow.
The Hooligans worked over Edwards. Kozlov got annoyed that Romero wasn't letting him get in any offense and they argued and teased fighting but hugged. That was funny.
They continued working over Edwards until he caught Romero in the corner and nailed him with a running jawbreaker. Richards tagged in and nailed a big Japanese style dropkick off the top followed by a series of kicks to the chest on Romero.
Richards scored several two counts and went for a belly to back suplex, only to be attacked by Kozlov. The Hooligans nailed some awesome double team maneuvers on Richards but Kozlov was tied to the tree of woe and nailed with a dropkick. Richards dumped Romero with a German suplex.
Richards went to drill Romero with a leaping kick but hit Edwards but accident instead. The Hooligans worked over Richards. Kozlov nailed the Bolshoi Kick over and over but Richards kept kicking out. Richards finally fought his way out and tied up
Richards went for a superplex in Kozlov but was fought off...only for Edwars to come charging with an awesome kick. The Hooligans regained control and Kozlov scored a two count with a top rope frog splash.    Richards came back with a top rope double stomp on Romero for a two count.Â
The Wolves doubled up on Kozlov.  Edwards had Kozlov on his shoulders and they went over the top to the floor. Romero nailed a top rope rana on Richards but Edwards broke it up. They then nailed a flying knee on Richards as he was held in a Torture Race for the pin.
Your winners and still IWGP Junior Tag champs, The Forever Hooligans. Good stuff!
RD Evans came out with Veda Scott. Scott began cutting a promo and the crowd immediately began chanting "Shut the f*** up." She said she's here to represent Evans after what Homicide and Eddie Kingston did to him. She told that Nigel McGuinness would answer. Evans cut a mic but Adam Page came out and told him he's an angry little man but if he wants to fight, they can do it right now.
They had a match. Page chopped him hard several times and worked over Evans. He nailed an inverted atomic drop and then a traditional one. He nailed a third. Evans' face during this was great.
Evans nailed a knee to the gut and put on Page's hat to mock him.  Page saw it and caught him with a powerslam and a Kryptonite Krunch for the pin.
Your winner, Adam Page!
OK match to spotlight Page and get the crowd back into the show.
Ricky Marvin vs. Roderick Strong
They shook hands at the bell. Marvin looked a little heavier than I recall.
They locked up and Strong took him down but Marvin leapt to his feet.  They locked up again and went into a test of strength.  Strong powered him down but Marvin monkeyflipped him over.
They went back and forth and Marvin used a scissors takeover to send Strong to the outside. He missed a sliding kick to the outside and charged. Strong backdropped him into the ropes and he rebounded and came back with a head scissors takedown.
Back in the ring, Strong peppered him with right hands and forearms. He dumped Marvin over the knee with a backbreaker for a two count. Strong backed up Marvin into the corner and chopped away at him.  Marvin came back with a handspring elbow and scored a two count on Strong.
Strong was sent to the floor. Marvin hit a double springboard twisting dive to the floor. The crowd chanted "Holy sh**." Marvin went back to the top and nailing a running springboard into a dropkick, sending Strong into the corner.
Strong cut him off with a knee and an Olympic Slam for a two count.  Strong nailed a kick to the face in the corner for a two count. Strong nailed a running kick in the face. Marvin returned the favor and they went back and forth until Marvin laid him out.
Strong and Marvin battled back and forth with strikes. Marvin nailed a twisting DDT, a la Bray Wyatt for a two count. Marvin went to the top but Strong cut him off and nailed a superplex into the ring for a two count. The crowd rallied both men.
They battled back and forth. Marvin came up on Strong's shoulders and nailed a reverse rana, then a clothesline. He picked up Strong and drilled him down for another two count.  Marvin went for a move off the top but was caught and drilled by Strong with a series of moves. Strong nailed the Gibson Driver for the pin.
Nigel McGuinness came out and brought out BJ Whitmer. He gave a speech talking about his injuries and thanked his original trainer Les Thatcher, to Gabe Sapolsky for giving him his original ROH job and to Cary Silkin for all he's done for ROH. He thanked everyone he's worked with and announced that he's made the decision to end his in-ring career. He said that last time he left he didn't get a chance to say goodbye, so he wanted to take that moment.Â
The crowd gave Whitmer a standing ovation and chanted "Thank you BJ." Whitmer, who was crying, then said that he knows that Nigel won't like this but he knows that Jimmy Jacobs is here and asked him to come out. Whitmer began breaking down as he talked about their blood feud, before noting that Jacobs has checked on him every single day. He told Jacobs that it was an honor to fight with him and to share the ring with him.
Whitmer then said that he has one thing left to ask, and that's that Nigel McGuinness give Jacobs a chance to prove that he is honorable. He said that ROH was built on the guys with the heart like Jimmy Jacobs and ROH needs a guy like him here. He said that Jacobs stopped SCUM from setting the ring on fire. He said one career ended tonight, and asked Nigel not to make it two.
Nigel said that he's been caught off-guard. He turned to Jacobs and said seven years ago, they faced off in a tent outside this building.  He said that he will give him a chance and he can start tomorrow at the TV taping. Jacobs shook Whitmer's hand and they hugged.
ROH Tag Team Champions reDRagon (Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish) & World TV Champion Matt Taven & Michael Bennett with Maria Kanellis & Truth Martini vs. Adrenaline RUSH (ACH & Tadarius Thomas) and C&C Wrestle Factory (Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander).
Big chant for ACH. God damn, Scarlett Bordeaux is a sight to see.
 They started out fast with a lot of tags in and out and near falls. Good flurry of action early.   There was a lot going on and with so many people on the apron, hard to see
Taven missed a dropkick on ACH.  ACH was sent to the floor, where all of the villains worked him over. Taven nailed a suplex on him for a two count. Â
Bobby Fish worked over ACH for a long time.  Kyle O'Reilly and Fish tagged in and out as they wore him down. Cedric Alexander finally made the hot tag and looked good cleaning house on everyone.  Caprice Coleman joined in with elbow after elbow.
The heroes ran everyone out of the ring and built up to a big dive. All the women grabbed their legs so they were pulled up on the apron. The heels tried to roll up everyone from behind for a two count.
It broke down from there with lots of big moves. ACH hit a dazzling, awesome dive over the top to the floor that blew the crowd away. RedDragon worked over Caprice but Cedrick made the save. Cedric hit a top rope rana and scored the pin on O'Reilly.
Your winners, Adrenaline RUSH (ACH & Tadarius Thomas) and C&C Wrestle Factory (Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander).
The lights went out and out came Homicide and Eddie Kingston to a big pop.  Kingston took the mic and said that ROH is back in its home. Tonight is a huge night because they are crowning a new champion. He said that the real champion never lost the belt.  He said that whoever gets the belt, they are on notice because the Outlaws are coming,
ROH Tournament Final: Michael Elgin vs. Adam Cole
Nigel made a speech before the match pointing out they were down to the final two competitors.
Elgin's neck is hurt from the earlier match.
They shook hands at the bell/
Elgin sent Cole into the ropes several times for shoulderblocks and finally drilled him hard enough to send him to the outside. A wary Cole returned to the ring. Elgin controlled the early portion of the match, outpowering Cole.
Elgin continued the control with an overhead powerslam an leg lariat for a two count. The crowd clapped to rally Cole.  Elgin held up Cole for a delayed suplex but took too long and Cole slipped out and dropkicked him for a two count.
Cole worked over Elgin, focusing his attack on the neck in an attempt to wear down the bigger man. The crowd chanted for Cole while a smaller portion chanted for Elgin. He locked in a side chinlock but Elgin fought out of it and nailed a belly to back suplex for two count.
Elgin sent Cole into the ropes but was nailed with DDT for a two count. Cole cinches in a rear chinlock. Cole worked him over but was almost caught with a suplex. Cole escaped and kicked Elgin hard into the buckles.
Elgin powered back with some brutal clotheslines to the front and back of Cole's body. He went for a move but Cole slipped behind. Elgin avoided him and nailed a Black Hole Slam for a two count.
Elgin went for a belly to back suplex but Adam slipped out and nailed a Yakuza kick for a two count.  Cole went for the figure four leglock but was kicked out of the ring to the floor. Elgin went to follow but was kicked in the face. Cole returned to the apron but Elgin stopped him and nailed a belly to back suplex into the ring for a two count.
Elgin went for a powerbomb but Cole escaped, only to be kicked down. Cole came back and nailed a DVDR across the knee for a two count.  Cole went for the figure four but Elgin kicked him away. They battled back and forth with strikes and forearms.
Elgin drilled Cole again and again across the chest. Elgin nailed a back suplex and clotheslined Cole with a massive lariat for a two count.  Elgin pulled Cole to the top for a delayed superplex. Cole fought him off and nailed a sunset flip powerbomb. Cole kicked him and scored a two count.
Elgin picked up Cole for a suplex and dropped him down with a scary looking DDT like move for another two count.  Cole went for a springboard move but was dropkicked off the ropes to the apron. Elgin deadlifted him up into a superplex, turning and slamming him down for another two count. Elgin powerbombed Cole into the corner but he came back with a big kick. Elgin clotheslined him right out of the ring,
They battled back and forth on the apron. Cole teased a back suplex off the apron to the floor. They ended up with Cole being suplexed off and he turned as they went, both crashing through a table to the floor.   They teased a countout but both returned to the ring before the 20 count. The crowd was clapping as both pulled themselves to their feet to battle.
Cole kicked Elgin and nailed a back suplex for a two count.    Cole placed him on the top rope and went for a belly to back superplex. Elgin elbowed him off but Cole returned as Elgin turned himself around. Elgin nailed a sit-down powerbomb off the top. They went into an awesome series of near falls and reversals. Elgin went for a twisting powerbomb but wiped out the referee and there was no one to count. He plead his case to Nigel on commentary, Cole knocked Elgin to the outside, where he was made his way back to the apron but was dropkicked in the knee.
Cole locked on the figure four. Elgin made his way to the ropes.    They went back to the outside to battle and returned to the ring, where Cole scored another two count.  Cole came off the ropes and nailed a Canadian Destroyer for a two count. Everyone thought that was it. Great stuff.
Cole pulled up Elgin but was backed into the corner hard. Cole kicked him and went for another Destroyer but Elgin sat down on his chest for a two count.  Cole missed a superkick and was nailed with a backfirst. Cole ducked a clothesline and nailed a German suplex. Cole finally scored the pin.
Your winner and new ROH champion Adam Cole!
Great main event.
The crowd chanted for Cole.
Jay Briscoe came out and held the belt for a good, long while. He kept staring at it and handed it slowly to Cole. Cole took it and they faced off before shaking hands. Briscoe stared at Nigel. Cole superkicked him while his back was turned and drilled Briscoe with the belt, turning heel. He held the belt up, celebrating.
2013 - WWE ran Lexington, Kentucky. Terry Hall filed the following results:
Zack Ryder beat Damien Sandow.
The Funkadactyls beat AJ and Layla.
Sami Zayn beat Jack Swagger. Zayn looked great.
The Wyatt Family beat The Usos and Kofi Kingston.
Rob Van Dam beat Alberto Del Rio by DQ so Alberto retained the World Title.
Ryback destroyed Santino Marella.
CM Punk beat Curtis Axel in a Non-Title match.
Daniel Bryan pinned Randy Orton. The fans were totally into Bryan.
It was a very good show!
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