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On this day in history in ....
1922 - Sam Hanna defeats Kid Ross to become the first Canadian Welterweight Champion in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada.
1937 - Lou Thesz defeats Everett Marshall for the National Wrestling Association and Midwest Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Titles in St. Louis, Missouri. Thesz would also be awarded the vacant American Wrestling Association (Boston) World Title shortly after.
1955 - Fritz Von Erich and Karl Von Schober defeat Whipper Billy Watson and Ilio DiPaolo for the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Title in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, beginning Von Erich and Von Schober's second reign.
1955 - Bob Geigel defeats Roy Heffernan to win the NWA Southwest Heavyweight Title in Amarillo, Texas.
1956 - Ben and Mike Sharpe defeat Enrique Torres and Ron Etchison in Fresno, California to win the San Francisco version of the NWA World Tag Team Title for the 13th time.
1960 - Tiny Mills and Stan Kowalski defeat Whipper Billy Watson and Ilio DiPaolo for the NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Title in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, ending Watson and DiPaolo's fourth reign.
1961 - Don Curtis defeats Karl Krauser (Karl Gotch) to win the NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio.
1964 - Tarzan Tyler defeats Bob Orton in Tampa, Florida to win the Florida version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Orton's second reign.
1967 - Bob Kelly defeats Don Carson for the NWA Tri-State Louisiana Heavyweight Title in Lafayette, Louisiana, ending Carson's third reign.
1968 - Curtis Iaukea wins his fourth NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.
1972 - Rick Gibson defeats The Wrestling Pro for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title in Dothan, Alabama.
1972 - Buddy Colt wins the Georgia version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title for the second time, defeating Bob Armstrong in Atlanta, Georgia.
1973 - Moondog Mayne defeats Pat Patterson for the San Francisco version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title in San Francisco, California, ending Patterson's third reign.
1973 - Don Greene and Bearcat Brown defeated The Interns (Tom Andrews and Jim Starr) to win the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1974 - Fritz Von Erich defeats Blackjack Lanza for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas, beginning his 13th reign as champion.
1974 - The Crusaders (Dewey Robertson and Billy Red Lyons) defeat The Love Brothers (Reginald and Hartford Love) to win the Toronto version of the NWA International Tag Team Title in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, beginning and ending both team's second reigns.
1974 - Ron Fuller won a tournament final for the vacant Mid-America version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1985 - The National Wrestling Alliance and American Wrestling Association hold their third joint-promoted "NWA/AWA Star Wars" event at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The results:
- Ron Bass defeated J.J. Dillon.
- NWA World Midgets' Champion Little Tokyo defeated Cowboy Lang to retain the title.
- AWA World Women's Champion Sherri Martel defeated Debbie Combs to retain the title.
- Carlos Colon defeated Konga the Barbarian.
- Jake Roberts defeated Paul Ellering by disqualification.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton) defeated The Long Riders (Bill and Scott Irwin) to retain the title.
- Sgt. Slaughter defeated Chris Markoff and Boris Zhukov in a handicap match.
- NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum T.A. defeated Tully Blanchard to retain the title.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes by disqualification to retain the title.
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) defeated Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khruschev.
- Stan Hansen defeated AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel by submission to win the title. Hansen had Martel in the Brazos Valley Backbreaker (Boston Crab) and when Martel would try to power out of it, Hansen would press his head against the middle turnbuckle to keep the hold on. Martel eventually submitted.
1986 - Adrian Street defeats Wendell Cooley in Birmingham, Alabama to win the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Title for the fourth time, ending Cooley's second reign.
1990 - Askari El Gringo defeats El Hijo del Black Shadow for the World Wrestling Association World Lightweight Title in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico.
1991 - Baron Von Raschke and Ken Patera defeat The Punishers (Sledge and Hammer) to win the Pro Wrestling America Tag Team Title in St. Paul, Minnesota.
1991 - WCW holds the ninth-annual "Starrcade" event, the first under the WCW name, at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia. This event featured the first of two Starrcades with "The Lethal Lottery", a random drawing to pair 16 tag teams, with the 16 men on the eight winning teams competing in a two-ring "BattleBowl" battle royale. The results were.
- Marcus Bagwell and Jimmy Garvin defeated Michael Hayes and Tracy Smothers, when Bagwell pinned Smothers.
- Steve Austin and Rick Rude defeated Big Josh and Van Hammer, when Rude pinned Hammer.
- Richard Morton and Dustin Rhodes defeated El Gigante and Larry Zbyszko, when Rhodes pinned Zbyszko.
- Bill Kazmaier and Jushin Liger defeated Mike Graham and Diamond Dallas Page, when Liger pinned Page.
- Todd Champion and Ricky Steamboat defeats Cactus Jack and Buddy Lee Parker, when Steamboat pinned Parker. Abdullah the Butcher attacked Parker in the locker room before the match.
- Arn Anderson and Lex Luger defeated Terrance Taylor and Tom Zenk, when Luger pinned Taylor.
- Abdullah the Butcher and Sting defeated Bobby Eaton and Brian Pillman, when Sting pinned Eaton.
- Mr. Hughes and Big Van Vader defeated The Nightstalker (subbing for the injured Diamond Studd) and Rick Steiner, when Vader pinned Nightstalker.
- Thomas Rich and Ron Simmons defeated Steve Armstrong and P.N. News, when Simmons pinned Armstrong.
- Sting won the "BattleBowl" battle royale, last eliminating Lex Luger.
1991 - Two Pro Wrestling America titles change St. Paul, Minnesota. Jerry Lynn defeats Ricky Rice to win his third PWA Light Heavyweight Title, and Ken Patera and Baron Von Raschke defeat The Punishers (Sledge and Hammer) for the PWA Tag Team Title.
1995 - ECW made its New York City debut, with "Holiday Hell" at Queens' Lost Battalion Hall. The results:
- Taz defeated Koji Nakagawa by submission with the Tazmission.
- Hack Meyers pinned J.T . Smith.
- Mikey Whipwreck pinned ECW World Television and World Tag Team Champion 2 Cold Scorpio, after Cactus Jack double-arm DDT'd Scorpio while the referee was knocked out, to win both titles. After the match, Whipwreck tried to return the Television Title to Scorpio, saying that he didn't want to win it that way, before Cactus clotheslined Scorpio to the floor. Cactus Jack became co-holder of the title. This began Jack and Whipwreck's second reign as tag champs, Whipwreck's second as TV champ, and ended Scorpio's third TV Title reign.
- The Eliminators (Saturn and Kronus) defeated The Pitbulls when Saturn pinned Pitbull #2 after Total Elimination.
- Stevie Richards, The Blue Meanie and Beulah McGillicutty came to the ring and told Tommy Dreamer that Raven broke his leg the night before and couldn't wrestle, so Dreamer would have to face Meanie instead. Dreamer pinned Meanie in 12 seconds after a DDT, and pinned Richards in the same fashion in 12 seconds. Dreamer attempted to piledrive Beulah when Raven attacked Dreamer and they had their scheduled match. Raven pinned Dreamer after a DDT on a chair, earning an ECW World Heavyweight Title match later in the show.
- Bruiser Mastino pinned El Puerto Ricano after a powerslam. After the match, Mastino continued to attack El Puerto Ricano before 911 chokeslammed Mastino. Bill Alfonso came out and shoved 911 until Tod Gordon jumped Alfonso. Taz then came out and pulled Gordon off Alfonso. 911 hit a second chokeslam on Mastino before a stare-down with Taz.
- Buh Buh Ray Dudley pinned The Blue Meanie after a top-rope splash.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion The Sandman pinned Raven to retain the title after a top-rope facebuster slam.
- The Gangstas (New Jack and Mustafa Saed), who subbed for The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray was still in ECW, but Tom Prichard had gone to the WWF to become Zip of the Bodydonnas), defeated The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) when Saed pinned Rock with a roll-up after New Jack hit Rock with a chair. Before the match, the crowd chanted "please don't go" towards Public Enemy, but after the match chanted "you sold out" before eventually applauding them. Public Enemy would wrestle two more matches for ECW before leaving for World Championship Wrestling in January 1996.
- Sabu pinned ECW Tag Team Champion Cactus Jack when Cactus failed a bodyslam and Sabu fell on top for the win. Before the match Cactus Jack said the match would be contested under Olympic rules and brought out NCAA wrestling referee John "Pee Wee" Moore, who then proceeded to go through amateur rules, before 911 came out and chokeslammed Moore, and declared himself the referee.
1996 - WCW holds the 14th-annual "Starrcade" event at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. This would be the last Starrcade in the Music City, where the previous two events were held. The remaining four Starrcades would be held in Washington, DC. The results were:
- In a Mexican Minis dark match, Octagoncito and Mascarita Sagrada defeated Jerrito Estrada and Piratita Morgan, when Sagrada pinned Morgan.
- J-Crown Champion The Ultimate Dragon pinned WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko with a Tiger Suplex, to win the WCW title. Dragon's eight J-Crown titles were also on the line.
- Akira Hokuto pinned Madusa after a Brainbuster in a tournament final to become the first WCW Women's Champion. The eight-woman tournament began on November 4, and also included Malia Hosaka, Reina Jabuki, Kaoru, Sonoka Kato, Meiko Satomura and Zero. Hokuto defeated Satomura and Kaoru before defeating Madusa. Madusa defeated Jabuki and Zero. Hokuto would be the only person to hold the title, as she returned to Japan after making her last defense of the title at the 1997 Great American Bash, where she also defeated Madusa in a Title vs. Career match.
- Jushin Liger pinned Rey Misterio, Jr. after a Liger Bomb.
- Jeff Jarrett pinned Chris Benoit after Kevin Sullivan came out and hit Benoit with a chair.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions The Outsiders (Scott Hall and Kevin Nash) defeated The Faces of Fear (The Barbarian and Meng), when Nash pinned Barbarian after a Jacknife Powerbomb.
- In a tournament final, Eddie Guerrero pinned Diamond Dallas pinned Page after a Frog Splash to win the vacant WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. The title had been vacated in September when champion Ric Flair suffered a shoulder injury.
- Lex Luger pinned The Giant after hitting him with Sting's baseball bat.
- Roddy Piper defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hulk Hogan by TKO with a Sleeper hold in a non-title match. This was Hogan's first clean loss since his loss of the WWF World Title to the Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI in 1990.
1997 - The Monday Night Wars continued, WCW Monday Nitro's 4.6 rating defeated WWF Monday Night RAW's 3.6 rating. RAW in Uniondale, New York featured Owen Hart defeating WWF Champion Shawn Michaels by disqualification when Triple H broke one of his crutches over Hart's head while he had Michaels in the sharpshooter. Nitro was just over 200 miles away in Baltimore, Maryland, and featured Ultimo Dragon defeating WCW Cruiserweight Champion Eddie Guerrero by submission to win the title for the second time, Booker T winning his first of a record six WCW World Television Titles from Disco Inferno, and a main event of WCW World Champion Sting defeating Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
1998 - Mankind (Mick Foley) defeats The Rock to win the WWF World Title at a RAW is WAR taping in Worcester, Massachusetts. The show would air on the following Monday, January 4, 1999. That night Tony Schiavone would reveal the result during WCW Monday Nitro, airing live that night, noting that Mankind as champion "ought to put a lot of butts in the seats." Schiavone would later claim Eric Bischoff fed him that line to say.
1998 - Doug Basham defeats Rip Rogers to win the OVW Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky, beginning and ending each's second reign.
1998 - Luis Ortiz defeats Tre for the NWA New England Cruiserweight Title in Somerville, Massachusetts.
2000 - Paul E. Smooth defeats Mark Wolf in Charlestown, Indiana for the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Title, beginning Smooth's second reign.
2001 - Jimmy Hart's short-lived X Wrestling Federation holds an event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The company would hold just three more events after this. The results:
- Hail defeated Greg Valentine.
- Drezden defeated Big Vito.
- XWF Cruiserweight Champion Kid Kash defeated Josh Mathews.
- Vampiro and Johnny B. Badd defeated Buff Bagwell and Curt Hennig.
- Jim Duggan defeated The Wall.
- Ian Harrison defeated Norman Smiley.
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) defeated XWF Tag Team Champions The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) in a non-title match.
2001 - One day after they were defeated for the titles in Deland, Florida at am event held by Dusty Rhodes' Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, The New Heavenly Bodies (Casanova Chris and Vivacious Vito) win their second NWA World Tag Team Title, defeating Glacier and Jason Sugarman in Live Oak, Florida.
2001 - Eddie Brown defeats Madd Maxx to win the Carolina Wrestling Federation Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title in Graham, North Carolina.
2001 - Dirk Ciglar defeats Brandon K for the NWA East Triple Crown Heavyweight Title in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, ending Brandon K's second reign.
2001 - Jack Hammer and Latin Tornado defeat Spazman Anthony and Jake Davis for the House of Pain Wrestling Federation Tag Team Title in Hagerstown, Maryland.
2001 - Johnny Angel defeats Don Vega to win the South Coast Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Fall River, Massachusetts, ending Vega's second reign and beginning Angel's sixth. At the same event, "Portuguese Princess" Ariel defeats The Crazy Mexican for the vacant SCCW Women's Title.
2001 - Big Cliff and Overkill defeat J.C. Derksen and Dean Ricktor in St. Boniface, Manitoba for the Canadian Wrestling Federation Tag Team Title.
2002 - Kevin Cannon defeats Bobby Collins in Winnipeg, Manitoba to win the Canadian Wrestling Federation Hardcore Title.
2002 - Los Barriquas defeat The Solution to win the Jersey Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in Paramus, New Jersey.
2003 - Rising Son defeats Scorpio Sky for the Revolution Pro Wrestling Junior Heavyweight Title in South Gate, California.
2003 - Danshoku Dino defeats O.K. Revolution to win the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Title in Tokyo, Japan. This ended and began each man's sixth reign. At the same event, Hero! and Kudo defeat Tomohiko Hashimoto and Seiya Morohashi for the DDT KO-D Tag Team Title.
2005 - Sonny Siaki and Elix Skipper defeated The Naturals (Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens) to win the vacant NWA Wrestle Birmingham Tag Team Title in Irondale, Alabama. The title was vacated on October 8 when Jimmy Golden, who held the title with Robert Fuller, lost a loser leaves town match to The Bullet (Bob Armstrong). That ended Fuller and Golden's second reign.
2006 - HARASHIMA defeats Toru Owashi for the DDT KO-D Open-weight Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2010 - On an edition of ECW on SyFy from East Rutherford, New Jersey, Tommy Dreamer wrestled his last match for WWE's version of ECW, facing Zack Ryder in a match where Dreamer promised to leave ECW if he lost. Here is the original report from the show:
Match Number Three: Tommy Dreamer versus Zack ‘Attack’ Ryder with Rosa Mendes in a Could this be it for Dreamer Match
They lock up and Ryder with a side head lock take down but Dreamer with a head scissors and Ryder escapes. Dreamer with a side head lock take down and Ryder with a hip toss but he misses an elbow. Dreamer with a hip toss and arm drag into an arm bar. Ryder punches Dreamer but Dreamer with an Irish whip and bulldog for a near fall. Dreamer catches Ryder when Ryder tries to float over and Dreamer hits a running power slam for a near fall. Dreamer with a pump handle suplex and Ryder rolls to the floor. Ryder goes to the apron and he hits a cannonball off the apron. Ryder hides behind Rosa and then he punches Dreamer and sends Tommy into the ring post. We go to commercial as Ryder continues the attack and they return to the ring.
We are back and Ryder with an arm bar and then he slams Dreamer’s arm into the mat and Ryder stomps on the arm. Ryder returns to the arm bar and Rosa screams her approval. Dreamer catches Ryder on a cross body attempt but Ryder counters with a divorce court and gets a near fall. Ryder with elbows to the head. Ryder punches Dreamer in the head and then Dreamer misses a charge into the corner and hits the ring post. Ryder with a baseball slide as Dreamer hangs in the corner. Ryder kicks Dreamer in the head and then he measures for the running kick in the corner but Dreamer moves out of the way. Dreamer with a neck breaker and then he drives Ryder into the mat. Dreamer with a Lo Down and he gets a near fall. Dreamer goes up top but Ryder stops him and crotches Dreamer after a punch. Ryder with a superplex attempt but Dreamer knocks Ryder off. Dreamer is met with a kick and Ryder tries for the Zack Attack, but Dreamer counters with a near fall. We get a series of near falls by Ryder and Dreamer. Ryder with a leg lariat for a near fall. Ryder goes up top but he does it slow enough that Dreamer is able to recover and he puts Ryder in the Tree of Woe and we get the E . . . C . . . W baseball slide into the corner and it was vintage. Dreamer with a DDT but Ryder has his foot under the rope despite the three count. Dreamer thinks that he won the match but the referee tells him the match must continue. Dreamer pulls Ryder from the ropes and then hits an elbow drop but Dreamer almost gets pinned from too casual a cover. Dreamer puts Ryder on the turnbuckles again and Dreamer tries for a belly-to-back suplex off the turnbuckles but Ryder counters with a cross body and gets the three count.
Winner: Zack Ryder
After the match, Dreamer has the mic and he says the first time in this building he was sitting in the building at the second time he ever saw a WWE show. He says that he saw a live Piper’s Pit. He says that there are so many people he wants to thank. He thanks everyone from the original ECW and the new ECW. He says that this has been his dream since he was nine years old. This proves that if you have passion for what you do, you can make it anywhere. He says that he made it in ECW and he made it in the WWE. He says that there are so many great people in this organization that he is going to miss. Dreamer starts to cry despite his claim that he would not cry. Tommy says that the three letters mean so much to him. He has always considered the fans his family. He talks about how his daughters have a list that says what their parents do. One daughter says that his daddy falls down a lot, but his other daughter says that he gets up a lot. Tommy says that he fell down a lot but the fans made him get up. He says that life is hard but you have to keep fighting and trying. He says that he will miss everyone and thanks everyone.
Dreamer takes off his ECW shirt and leaves it in the center of the ring before he leaves the ring. He goes over to his wife and children and brings his daughters over the ringside barrier and then he goes up the ramp and does his signature pose one last time before going to the back.
2011 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We begin this week’s episode of Impact with a look back at the Jarretts being sent packing by Sting. Then we see Madison Rayne setting up a ‘match’ between Tara and Brooke Tessmacher only to see them attack Madison.
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike ‘It’s the End of the Wrestling Year as we Know It . . . and I Feel Fine’ Tenay and Taz.
Gail Kim and Madison Rayne make their way to the ring. Madison wants Tara and Tessmacher to get to the ring using as few pronouns as possible.
They make their way to the ring and they stand across the ring from Gail and Madison. Madison says that she is going to cut to the chase because they longer they drag this out, the longer her and Gail are susceptible to the diseases that Brooke and Tara are carrying. Madison told them that if they screwed with her last week, they would both be FIRED. Since they SCREWED with her, they’re FIRED.
Sting’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring.
Madison tells Sting he doesn’t have to be out here because she has everything under control.
Sting says that it isn’t over until he says it is over. Karen was the VP because she had a legally binding contract. He tells Madison that she has no power and Madison screeches at a decibel level that breaks glass.
Sting says that he is in charge and he tells Gail that she will be defending the Knockouts Title tonight.
Gail’s opponent makes her way to the ring and it is Mickie James.
Sting says that he will be watching Madison tonight.
Scott Steiner is in the back talking to Abyss talking about how they are going to be the best team out there and he tells Abyss to be a monster.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see the highlights from the first round matches from the two teams in our next match.
Match Number One: Abyss and Scott Steiner versus A.J. Styles and Kazarian in a Wild Card Tag Team Tournament Match
Steiner and Abyss discuss who should start the match while Kazarian starts for his team. Steiner poses as we wait for the wrestling to start. Steiner argues with Styles and they Steiner and Kazarian finally lock up and he sends Kazarian to the mat. Steiner with kicks followed by a hard Irish whip.
Steiner with a punch followed by a chop. Kazarain with a crucifix cover for a near fall. Kazarian with forearms followed by a kick and a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Styles tags in and he punches Steiner followed by a forearm. Styles runs into a back elbow but Styles with a drop kick.
Abyss tags in but Styles gets away from Steiner so Abyss cannot take advantage of the situation. Styles with kicks to the leg followed by chops. Abyss sends Styles into the turnbuckles but Styles with a kick. Styles runs into a boot from Abyss. Abyss with a forearm to the back. Styles escapes a slam attempt and he hits an enzuigiri.
Steiner hits Styles in the back with a forearm and Abyss hits Shock Treatment but he does not try to cover Styles. Abyss chokes Styles and then he snarls at the referee. Steiner tags back in and he kicks Styles and hits a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Steiner with a punch to the back followed by another chop. Styles with a sunset flip for a near fall and an inside cradle for a near fall.
Steiner with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and he waits for Styles to get to his feet. Steiner misses a clothesline and Styles hits the Pele kick and both men are down. Styles tries to get to his corner and Steiner tries to stop him but Abyss and Kazarian tag in. Kazarian with a springboard back elbow followed by a drop kick but Abyss stays on his feet. Abyss misses a splash into the corner and Kazarian with a springboard drop kick.
Kazarian with a springboard DDT for a near fall. Kazarian comes off the turnbuckles and Abyss grabs him by the throat and tries for a choke slam but Kazarian with a rollup for a near fall. Abyss with a choke slam to Kazarian and then Abyss sends Styles off the apron.
Steiner wants to tag in and Abyss stares at him and then Steiner says that they are a team. Abyss with a Black Hole Slam to Steiner and Abyss puts Kazarian on top of Steiner for the three count.
Winners: Kazarian and A.J. Styles
After the match, Bully Ray comes to the ring to check on Steiner and find out from Abyss what is going on.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ray tells Abyss that he is sick of Abyss pushing him and Steiner around. He asks Steiner if he is okay. Ray tells Abyss that he is the bully. He calls this a load of crap and there was no reason for Abyss to do that to Steiner. Ray tells Abyss that they got him girls because Abyss couldn’t do it on his own. Ray wants to know if Abyss needs money. Ray stammers a bit and Abyss takes the mic. Ray wants to know what it will take to get Abyss back into Immortal.
Abyss asks Ray if he really wants to know what he wants. Abyss says that he wants Ray one-on-one at Genesis. Abyss tells Ray that if he beats Abyss at Genesis, he will rejoin Immortal.
Abyss then tells Ray to look at him when he talks to him. He tells Ray that the match at Genesis is going to be by his rules in a Monster’s Ball Match.
Sting stops Kurt in the back and he laughs about what Kurt Angle did last week. Angle says that he cowboyed up. Sting tells Angle that he could have a match tonight. Angle says that he needs a warm up match for Genesis. Sting suggests someone who can kick people in the face. Sting says that it is someone who kicked Angle so hard it split his face from ear to ear. Angle says that he is not going to do it but Sting says that it will happen. Angle does not want to wrestle Rob Van Dam, but Sting tells him it will happen.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ric Flair is in the back with Gunner and he talks about how they are trying to make Gunner into a bad man because he is injuring people. Gunner says that if you ask a stupid question, you get a stupid answer. Gunner says that this is the third time we have seen the ambulance and the third time we will see someone get carried out. Gunner says that he is a killer.
Austin Aries joins Mike and Taz at the announce table to watch our next match.
We see the highlights from the first two matches.
Match Number Two: Tony Nese versus Zema Ion in a Contract on a Pole Match
They circle each other and then Ion heads for the pole but Nese blocks the path. Ion does the same to Nese. They lock up and Ion with a kick and forearm and then he goes to the turnbuckles but Nese stops him. Ion floats over and Nese with a kick and he climbs to the top turnbuckle but Ion pulls Nese off the turnbuckles. Ion with kicks but Nese with a matrix move followed by a back heel kick.
Ion grabs the ankle and Nese with forearms to Ion. Ion tries for a kick but Nese blocks it and he kicks Ion and then Nese with a running boot to the head. Ion with a running drop kick to the back when Nese heads to the corner with the pole. Ion punches Nese but Nese punches back.
Ion with a shoulder to the midsection but Nese pushes Ion back and then Nese drops down when Ion charges at him and Ion goes to the floor. Ion pulls Nese to the floor and they fight up the ramp. Nese with an elbow and then he does a moonsault off the apron. Nese gets to the pole and he climbs and is within reach but Ion pulls Nese down and crotches him.
Ion climbs over Nese but Nese grabs Ion and hits a German suplex while Nese hangs from the turnbuckles. Nese climbs the pole while Ion struggles to stop Nese and Ion pushes Nese off the turnbuckles and to the floor.
Ion climbs the turnbuckles and he gets the contract to win the match.
Winner: Zema Ion
We go to commercial.
We see Gunner’s recent run of injuries.
Match Number Three: Douglas Williams versus Gunner with Ric Flair
Gunner with a double leg take down but Doug escapes. Gunner with forearms and then he sends Williams into the turnbuckles. Williams with European uppercuts and then he kicks Gunner in the thigh. Gunner with a forearm to the back. Gunner chokes Williams in the ropes followed by a snap mare and crossfaces.
Williams with more European uppercuts and then he tries for Chaos Theory but Gunner sends Williams shoulder first into the turnbuckles. Gunner sends Williams to the floor and then he throws the referee out of the way and he calls for the bell.
Winner: Douglas Williams by disqualification
After the match, Flair punches Williams while Gunner holds him. Flair moves the mats on the floor and Gunner gives Williams a DDT on the floor.
Bobby Roode walks through the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with the Bobby Roode has shamed his family by becoming the champion that they expected him to be at Bound for Glory.
Bobby Roode makes his way to the ring. He says that a lot of people have expressed their opinions on him. Some of those people are his family and friends. There was one friend who took the time to come on the show and say something about him. That person said that Bobby was selfish. He says that he is selfish because he is the leader of the selfish generation. He reminds us that he is the World Champion. Bobby says that he flew his friend to the Impact Zone from Toronto so he could come into his world and come onto his show to tell him face to face and man to man exactly how he feels about it.
Bobby brings Tracy Koleski to the ring. He is a friend of Bobby’s for over twenty years. He says that Tracy was in his wedding and he is an athlete who played lacrosse.
He makes his way into the ring and Bobby apologizes for not answering his calls or texts because he has been busy as the World Champion. Bobby says that he wants Tracy to tell him how he feels.
Bobby gives Tracy a mic and he wants to know how he feels about him. Tracy tells Bobby that him and Bobby’s family have been trying to call him. They don’t know who this person is. He says that Bobby is the least selfish person he knows. He wants to know what happened to the Bobby Roode that he knows. He says that he misses his buddy Bobby. He says that Bobby’s wife, parents, and kids miss him too. He tells Bobby to come home and make it right.
Bobby tells Tracy that he is wearing a $3,000 suit and a $25,000 piece of gold over his shoulder. There is nothing wrong with this picture. The fact is that in high school, Tracy was his lackey. Bobby says that he was the better athlete, he was more popular, and he got all of the girls. Bobby says that his parents want to say that they miss him now, but where have they been his entire life. They want his money and fame. Bobby says that his sister has been nowhere his life. Bobby tells Tracy never to talk about his kids. They have all had their fifteen minutes of fame. Bobby says that time is up and he has things to do.
Bobby takes Tracy to the mat by his throat and then he kicks him.
Jeff Hardy’s music plays and he slides into the ring while Roode escapes.
Eric Young is with ODB and they talk about their match tonight. Eric talks strategy and then he starts to ramble on.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Angle says that he is being forced to face a guy who doesn’t know how to wrestle. Now Angle has to worry about protecting his jaw and his face. He says that Sting has not been fair dealing with him. Angle says that he is a wrestler and he is better than everyone. He doesn’t have to prove anything to James Storm or Rob Van Dam. He wants people to wrestle him.
We see highlights from the first round matches for the teams in the next match.
Match Number Four: Samoa Joe and Magnus versus Eric Young and ODB in a Wild Card Tournament Match
Young starts off with Magnus but Young thinks about tagging in ODB and she starts things off. Magnus checks out ODB before locking up and then ODB checks out Magnus. She slaps Magnus and chops him in the chest. ODB tries for a splash but Magnus moves and ODB tries to smother Magnus with her chest. ODB with a Thesz Press and they roll around on the mat.
Young tags in and he yells at ODB before doing anything. Young removes his pants and then he takes Magnus down and punches him. Young does the Flair flip to the apron and then he slides in and hits a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Joe with a kick to the back and then Magnus with a kick to the chest.
Magnus with a running elbow into the corner and Joe is tagged in. Joe with jabs to Young followed by a running back elbow and enzuigiri. Joe rolls Young and Magnus with an elbow drop from the turnbuckles. Joe gets a near fall. Joe with a punch to Young followed by a clothesline for a near fall. Joe with more punches and an Irish whip.
Young with a forearm and he gets a near fall. ODB drop kicks Magnus to the floor and then she takes a drink before facing off with Joe. Magnus attacks ODB from behind and sends ODB into the turnbuckles to stop Young. Joe with a muscle buster for the three count.
Winners: Magnus and Samoa Joe
We are back and Mickie is asked for her thoughts on her match with Gail. Mickie says that she knows what kind of competitor Gail is. She says that she knows how she works in the ring and she knows what type of tactics she will resort to in order to retain the title. Mickie says that she knows that she is better than Gail. Mickie says that she gives 150% every time she goes out there, regardless of the match.
Match Number Five: Kurt Angle versus Rob Van Dam
Angle shields his face before they lock up and Van Dam with a side head lock. Van Dam with a shoulder tackle and Van Dam sets for a kick but Angle goes to the floor. Angle returns to the ring and they lock up. Angle backs Van Dam into the corner and Angle rakes the eyes followed by a punch. Van Dam misses a round kick and Angle blocks another one but Van Dam with a body scissors rollup. Van Dam with a kick and then he hits a twisting drop kick into the corner.
Van Dam with a kick to the head followed by Rolling Thunder for a near fall. Van Dam with a kick to the head followed by a punch. Angle with punches of his own but Van Dam with a kick to the ribs. Van Dam with an Irish whip and a running round kick into the corner. Angle with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and both men are down.
Angle with a suplex for a near fall. Angle with a waist lock but Van Dam with elbows. Angle with an Irish whip but Van Dam with a corkscrew kick when Angle charges into the corner. Van Dam with punches and clotheslines. Van Dam with an Irish whip and he tries for a monkey flip but Angle counters with an Olympic Slam for a near fall.
The straps come down and Angle sets for a super kick but Van Dam avoids it and then he hits a step over spin kick. Van Dam misses a Five Star Frog Splash and Angle applies the ankle lock. James Storm makes his way into the ring and then he hits a super kick on Angle.
The referee looks at what just happened and about five seconds later, he calls for the bell.
Winner: Kurt Angle by disqualification
We go to commercial.
We are back and Rob Van Dam says that he wanted to win the match. He did not need James Storm to come to the ring to interrupt the match. Angle says that Storm is messing with the wrong guy. The Last Call is not a wrestling move, it is a bar fight move. You don’t kick people in the head, you wrestle and Storm doesn’t know how to do it. James Storm says that he doesn’t like people messing with his family and Angle got a quick taste of what happens when you taste the Cowboy’s boot.
Angle says that the first one didn’t count because he only had ninety minutes to get ready. The next one will matter.
Match Number Six: Mickie James versus Gail Kim for the TNA Knockouts Title
Mickie with a rollup for a near fall and then a jackknife cover for a near fall. Mickie wih a forearm but Gail with a kick. Mickie with a Thesz Press and punches to Gail. Mickie with forearms but Gail runs into an elbow. Mickie with a head scissors take down but Mickie with a drop kick that sends Gail to the floor.
Mickie tries for a baseball slide but Gail moves out of the way. Mickie hits a neck breaker on the floor and both women are down as we go to commercial.
We are back and Gail with a kick. Gail and Mickie exchange forearms. Gail with a drop kick to try to knock Mickie off the apron but Mickie holds on. Gail kicks Mickie to the floor. Mickie struggles to get back into the ring and Gail with kicks as she brings Mickie back in face first.
Gail sends Mickie face first into the middle turnbuckle. Gail sends Mickie across the ring into the opposite turnbuckle. Gail with a kick to the leg after Mickie pushes her away. Gail with a clothesline for a near fall. Mickie with forearms to the midsection but Gail pulls Mickie down by the hair.
Gail with a hammer lock submission and Mickie is able to escape with an arm drag. Gail with a running double axe handle and Mickie is dazed. Gail slaps Mickie across the face. Mickie with punches and then she tries for a rollup out of the corner but Gail holds on and then she applies an octopus and Mickie goes to her knees. Mickie struggles to get to her feet but Mickie falls to the mat but Mickie rolls into the ropes. Gail with a forearm but Mickie with an Irish whip. Gail with an elbow.
Gail tries for another octopus but Mickie backs Gail into the turnbuckles. Gail holds on but Mickie is able to get Gail’s shoulders onto the mat for a near fall. Gail with a kick to the head and Mickie is back to the mat.
Gail with a forearm followed by an Irish whip and cross body into the corner. Gail goes up top for a missile drop kick and she hits it but she can only get a two count. Mickie avoids Eat Defeat and Mickie with a back heel kick and both women are down. Gail misses a charge into the corner and Mickie with forearms and she sends Gail into the turnbuckles followed by a few clotheslines.
Mickie with a flapjack and a kip up. Mickie goes up top but Gail rolls to the floor. Mickie with a Thesz Press to the floor. Mickie is limping when she gets up and she rolls Gail back into the ring. The referee is down for some reason and someone comes into the ring and hits what appears to be Madison’s finisher on Mickie. Gail returns to the ring and she gets the three count.
Winner: Gail Kim
2012 - Extreme Rising held their "Card Subject to Change" iPPV in Philadelphia, PA at the National Guard Armory. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
We are live at Extreme Rising in Philadelphia, PA at The National Guard Armory!
The official show title is "CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE." The live crowd booed that!
There looks to be about 1000 here so far. There had a live band playing before the show.
PRE-SHOW
Rough & Wild (Outlaw Matt Lancie & Hotshot Blake Wilder) vs. Rush Hour (Buku Dao & Bolt Bradley)
All four are students of Luke Hawx's Wildkat Wrestling Academy.
Wilder forced Dao into the corner Bradley tagged in and went back and forth with Wilder, then locked on a surfboard. Bradley hit a great rana on Wilder. Rush Hour hit a series of tag team maneuvers.
Lancie tagged in but missed a running charge in the corner. He backdropped Dao over the top to the apron. Dao landed on his feet but was kicked by Wilder. Lancie hit a powerbomb onto the top of the buckles and then a big clothesline in the corner. He whipped Dao out onto a Wilder spinkick.
Wilder hit a hangman's neckbreaker for a two count. Dao was worked over but finally hit a dropkick on Wilder. Lancie tagged in and worked him over. Dao was placed on the top but hit a tornado DDT off the ropes. Both men were out but fought to recover. Bolt made the hot tag and cleaned house with a ton of hot offense. He nailed a double codebreaker to the chest of both men.
Dao and Bradley hit stereo dives to the outside of the ring. That got an "ECW" chant. Lancie returned to the ring and clotheslined Bradley to the outside. Rough & Wild hit a double sidewalk slam on Dao for a two count. Bradley returned and hit a SOS on Wilder for the pin.
Your winners, Rush Hour!
Good solid match. They were all obviously very young in their careers and it showed but their work won over a decent portion of the crowd.
They announced a 4/4 return here at the Armory.
Azrieal & Bandido Jr. vs. The Slophunters (Alex Reynolds & John Silva) vs. Matt Tremont & Brian XL
Azrieal and XLstarted out and went back and forth until XL nailed a leg lariat. Silva and Tremont tagged in. Tremont caught him during an attempted head scissors and slammed him down. Silva came back with a bodypress off the ropes for a two count.
Bandido tagged in and nailed a spike bulldog that drove Silva onto the top of his head. Reynolds tagged in but got sent to the floor, where Bandido hit an insane dive to the outside. Silva then hit a dive on Bandido. Azrieal and XL went for dives but Tremont killed them with lariats.
Tremont nailed a suplex on Bandido for a two count. XL tagged in and worked over Bandido. Reynolds tagged in but Tremont made a blind tag and killed Bandido with another lariat.
Bandido fought his way out of a chinlock and fired back against Tremont. Reynolds blind tagged in and locked him in a swinging pendulum. Azrieal hit the ring and broke it up. Reynolds and Silva worked over Bandido with double team moves. Azrieal hit the ring and nailed a series of strikes and drilled Tremont with a top rope double stomp.
They went into an awesome series of moves. That led to a melee in the ring. Reynolds was left with Azrieal and Bandido, who nailed a double kick in the corner and draped Reynolds off the ropes for a double stomp. Tremont and XL cleared the ring and killed Reynolds with a sitdown powerbomb.
Your winners, Matt Tremont and Brian XL!
Really good tag match where all six got over with the crowd. Reynolds and Silva I've been singing the praises off forever as they are just great workers. Tremont and XL had a unique pairing. Azrieal and Bandido come off really polished.
Balls Mahoney and Blue Meanie came to the ring. Mahoney said that they sat back there and watched every second of that match. He asked the fans what they thought and the crowd popped. Meanie said he really liked it too. Mahoney said it's a waste to have them on the pre-show as they show what's right about Extreme Rising. He said it's not just about the originals, but about new talents who come out and wrestle with their hearts and soul.
Mahoney said it's their lucky day, since no one wants to get in the ring with them so if they have the cajones, they challenge Tremont and XL to face them on the main show tonight.
Tremont took the mic and said they are taking the challenge and would see them later.
They started the official show. Robby Mireno came out and the crowd was all over him, asking him to shut the f*** up. Nice reaction from the hometown. Joel Gertner came out and got a big reaction.
Extreme Rising Title Tournament: Luke Hawx vs. Stevie Richards.
They went back and forth. They took turns hitting suplexes. Hawx locked on body scissors around Richards' torso, working him over. Richards made the ropes and fought back. Hawx cut him off and after overcoming Richards' defense, locked on an abdominal stretch. Richards broke free and they battled back and forth with chops.
Richards clotheslined Hawx over the top to the floor. He followed Haw outside but was grabbed and whipped into the barricade. Hawx drilled him hard over the back. Richards fired back with hard chops of his own on the floor but was drilled across the back with something.
Luke rolled Richards back into the ring and returned himself with a slingshot into a DDT for a two count. Hawx grabbed him in a Fireman's Carry and slammed him down. He went for an Asai Moonsault into the ring but missed.
Richards came alive with a series of clotheslines and drilled Hawx with a series of knees to the gut. Richards hit a Side Russian Legsweep. Hawx tried to fight him off but was caught with a sit-down powerbomb for a two count.
Richards went to the corner for the Steviekick but Hawx ducked and nailed a spinning sit-down powerbomb for a two count. Richards nailed the Steviekick for another two count.
Richards locked in a submission hold and Hawx finally tapped.
Your winner, advancing, Stevie Richards!
Good solid match. Hawx grows on me every time I see him. These guys had really good chemistry together and the near falls were really good. It's nuts how great Richards is in the ring.
Reby Sky came to the ring and distracted Hawx. Matt Hardy hit the ring from the crowd and tried to attack Hawx, stemming from Hawx shoving him off the ropes to the floor in Pittsburgh. Security and the officials pulled them apart.
The crowd chanted, "You tapped out."
Extreme Rising Title Tournament: Rhino vs. Crowbar.
The crowd chanted "F*** him up Rhino, F*** him up!" at the bell. They locked up and Crowbar grabbed a side headlock. Rhino sent him into the ropes and shoulderblocked him down. Rhino worked over Crowbar in the corner, then hiptossed him.
Rhino went for the Gore but Crowbar rolled to the outside. He went into the aisle. Rhino followed and they brawled back towards the ringside area. They battled onto the apron, where Rhino was snapped throat-first across the ropes. Crowbar hit a splash into the ring for a two count.
Crowbar nailed a low legdrop in between Rhino's legs and locked on a camel clutch. Rhino tried to power out but Crowbar came down with his weight atop of Rhino's back. Crowbar choked him in the corner but Rhino powered back with a series of right hands. He whipped Crowbar into the corner and went for a running charge but missed.
Crowbar rolled to the outside and retrieved a pair of chairs from the crowd. He drilled Rhino in the chest with them and slammed it over his back. He went for a Northern Lights suplex on the chair but Rhino broke free.
They battled to the outside, where Crowbar nailed him with a chair on the floor. Crowbar sent him into the railing and went to the apron. He dove off and drilled Rhino again.
Crowbar went to the outside and bridged it from the ring to the railing. He sent Rhino into it, then brought the railing into the ring, setting it up on chairs. He went to suplex Rhino from the apron into the ring but Rhino broke free and tried to piledrive Crowbar outside on the apron. They battled back and forth until Rhino hit a Uranage off the apron through a table. ECW chant.
They battled back into the ring, fighting back and forth with strikes. Rhino nailed a belly to belly suplex and called for the Gore. He went for it but Crowbar sent him into the buckles. Crowbar went to the top rope and hit a big splash for a two count.
Crowbar sent Rhino into the corner and went to the ropes but was caught and hit a powerbomb onto the railing. Rhino nailed the Gore, killing him, and scored the pin.
Your winner, advancing, Rhino!
Good match, especially if you are a fan of plunder spots. They seemed to lose the crowd for a minute setting up the bridged spots but there was a lot of stiff shots and good brawling. Fun stuff.
Crowbar received a big ovation and a "thank you" chant on the way out.
Jay Bradley vs. Facade.
Bradley muscled Facade down to the mat early. They went back and forth on the mat with some nice reversals. Facade went to the floor frustrated. When he returned, Facade hit a springboard kick. He went for a handstand into a move on the top but Bradley just trashed him with a big boot to the face, sending Facade crashing to the floor.
Bradley argued with the crowd and slammed Facade into the guard rail. Bradley sent Facade crashing into the crowd and worked him over in the audience. He brought Facade back to the ring and trashed him in the corner, then tossed him back to the floor. Facade cut his hand somewhere along the way and used duct tape to tape it up.
Facade finally rolls back in, where Bradley kicked him into the corner. He went to the ropes and came off with a knee, smashing Facade down to the mat for a two count. Facade made a comeback with some kicks and nailed a walking the ropes springboard dropkick, sending Bradley to the floor.
Bradley recovered on the floor but was hit with a springboard into a twisting dive. Facade rolled him back into the ring. Out of nowhere, Facade rammed him hard into the buckles and rolled him up into a three count.
Your winner, Facade!
Decent match. Bradley really worked well as a heel and had some good spots. Facade had a good series of highspots. I was surprised by the finish as Bradley had a lot of the offense for a good portion of the bout.
Blue Meanie & Balls Mahoney vs. Matt Tremont & Brian XL
They did some silly comedy stuff early. Meanie actually did a play off of the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Tremont and XL double teamed Meanie. XL hit a springboard splash. Tremont tagged back in and choked Meanie.
Balls tagged in and cleaned house with Meanie. He nailed the Nutcracker Suite on XL. Meanie went to the top for the Meaniesault but the Slop Hunters hit the ring and nailed a double Side Russian Legsweep off the ropes on him.
Tremont covered Meanie for the win.
Your winners, Matt Tremont & Brian XL!
All four worked over Meanie and Balls. Gary Wolfe's music hit the ring and he cleaned house on all four to save Blue Balls.
Papadon vs. Little Guido
Before the bout, Papadon to be announced as the wrestler who retired Tony Mamaluke and would retire Guido.
Papadon went for a kick but Guido caught his leg and sent him down to the mat. They went into a test of strength. They went into a series of near falls and faced off, which the crowd gave a nice round of applause for.
Papadon drilled Guido hard against the ropes and chopped him. Guido was sent into the ropes, rebounded and took Papadon down to the mat. They grappled back and forth until Guido backdropped him into the corner.
Guido charged him but Papadon kicked him as he was coming in and covered him for a two count. They battled back and forth with a nice pace until Papadon went to the floor. Papadon tried to call time out but Guido kicked him through the ropes into the apron.
The fans began chanting, "Where's my gyro?" at Papadon, who is Greek. Papadon took over on Guido, scoring several near falls. He set up Guido in the corner for a suplex. Guido sent him off the ropes to the floor but Papadon rolled forward and sprung up with an uppercut.
Papadon locked a side chinlock on Guido in the center, trying to wear him down. He nailed a big back suplex for a two count. Papadon went to the top for a headbutt but missed. Guido evaded a splash in the corner and kicked Papadon low as he went for a leapfrog.
Guido came off the ropes with a dropkick for a two count. Papadon went to the ropes but Guido swept his feet out from under him. They went to the floor, where Guido slammed him into the rail and rolled Papadon back into the ring.
Papadon fired back with an uppercut off the ropes and drilled Guido with a kick to the chest. Guido came back and went for a Tomakaze but Papadon sent him into the ropes and hit a tiltowhirl backbreaker. Papadon nailed a slingshot suplex then hit a shining wizard for the pin.
Your winner, Papadon!
Really good back and forth match with some nice exchanges and back and forth wrestling. I really enjoyed the matwork here. Papadon is one of my favorite guys to work right now, as he's sort of a throwback to the type of workers you'd see in Jim Crockett Promotions who get better as the match goes on. Guido still works as well as he did 15 years ago.
Jerry Lynn vs. Homicide
This match is Lynn's Philadelphia farewell match. Fans threw streamers and shot party blasters. Big "Jerry" chant. Homicide tried to attack Lynn but he evaded it. Lynn sent Homicide to the floor and hit a dive to the floor.
They battled on the floor, where Lynn backdropped Homicide into the first row. Lynn hit a running dive over the railing onto Homicide. That got an "ECW" chant.
Lynn tossed Homicide back in the ring, where he tried to call for a time out, then stuck a thumb in his eye. Homicide worked over Lynn with a pair of elbows to the back of the neck. He worked over Lynn in the corner as the fans were all over him.
Lynn fought back but missed a charge into the corner. Lynn battled back but was smothered in the corner by Homicide's boot. Homicide tossed him to the floor.
When he brought Lynn back into the ring, Homicide worked him over with a series of knees and cinched in a rear chinlock. Lynn fired out with a series of elbows. Homicide went for a back suplex but Lynn turned it around into a body press for a two count.
Homicide teased using a chair but tossed it to the outside. He ripped at Lynn's face in the corner. Lynn was whipped into the ropes and drilled with an elbow as he rebounded. Homicide went back to the mat, using an armbar.
Homicide continued working on Lynn, who refused to stay down. He slapped Lynn and shoved him in the face. Lynn refused to back down and made a comeback with a series of right hands and a clothesline. He nailed a somersault into the corner and poke Homicide in the eye.
Homicide cut him off in the corner and worked him over with a series of right hands. Lynn slipped out from under him and nailed a series of him own. The fans counted in Spanish to mock Homicide. Lynn nailed a suplex for a two count.
Lynn went for the cradle piledriver but Homicide slipped out. Homicide nailed a cutter for a two count. Homicide worked him over in the corner and nailed a Facewash in the corner. He pulled Lynn into the center of the ring for a pinfall, but instead argued with the fans.
He went to the top but Lynn caught him with a top rope rana. He nailed a TKO for a two count. He went for the cradle piledriver but Homicide backdropped him and went for a pin. Homicide and Lynn both went for clotheslines but Lynn nailed him and hit the Cradle Piledriver for another two count. The audience thought that was the finish.
They battled to the corner, where Homicide hit a Ace Crusher off the ropes. Homicide hit the CopKiller but Lynn kicked out at two. Homicide pulled the exhausted Lynn up but was caught with an inside cradle for a two count.
Homicide took the mic and mocked him for being the "New Fn' Show" and asked, "Seriously?" He dared the crowd to chant for him. He went for the Cop Killer but Lynn turned it into a tombstone piledriver and scored the pin.
Your winner, Jerry Lynn!
Good solid match that told a nice story in the ring. The crowd was really into Lynn's farewell.
The fans chanted "Thank you Jerry." Someone yelled for one more year and Lynn joked, "Do you want me to die?" He said mentally he could do it but physically, he couldn't. He joked "One more beer?" The crowd chanted, "You still got it." He bowed to all four sides. He said that physically after 24 years, he's tired but thankful because without the fans, he wouldn't have had a job he's loved for 24 years.
Ring announcer Stephen DeAngelis took the mic on behalf of the company and said that the fans have the ability to see him perform in the ring but everyone in the locker room has the chance to see him in the back. He praised him for being a gentleman and for being selfless in selfish times. He praised his work and his history in Philly. Homicide recovered and told DeAngelis to leave the ring, then shook Lynn's hand and raised his arm. He led the crowd in a "Please don't go" chant.
Best of Three Falls: El Hijo del Rey Misterio vs. Bestia 666
This is Hijo's Philadelphia debut. There are a lot of families with kids wearing Lucha masks, so it appears the local promotion may have led to people thinking it was the WWE Rey Mysterio.
FALL ONE
They shook hands at the bell. They battled back and forth, exchanging holds. They did some nice back and forth Lucha reversals and pinfall attempts early, then faced off.
They exchanged chops. Bestia went for a move off the shoulders but Rey spun around and hit an awesome head scissors, sending him to the floor. Rey then hit a dive over the top to the floor.
Rey came off the top but Bestia caught him with a dropkick and scored a two count. Rey missed a charge in the corner and was placed on the top. He nailed a muscle buster and scored the pin.
Your winner of the first Fall, Bestia 666!
FALL TWO
As they started up, Bestia placed Rey on the top and ripped at his mask. He snapped him down and covered him for a two count Rey went up and over after being sent into the corner and drilled him with a clothesline.
They went back and forth until Rey nailed a twisting Lucha spot into a DDT for a three count.
Your winner of the second Fall, El Hijo del Rey Misterio!
FALL THREE
They battled back and forth. Bestia dropkicked Rey off the apron to the floor. Bestia hit an awesome twisting dive to the floor. It looked like Bestia drilled Rey in the head.
Bestia grabbed a chair but didn't use it. Misterio sent him to the floor with a great twisting move. He went for a dive but Bestia threw a chair in his face. Bestia went for a dive but Rey drilled him HARD in the face with the chair. That woke the crowd up and they chanted "ECW."
Rey drilled Bestia with another chair to the head for a two count. Bestia came back with a swinging side slam for a two count. Bestia went for a 450 splash but missed. Rey killed him with a chair and went to the top. He hit a 450 splash off the top and scored the pin.
Your winner, El Hijo del Rey Misterio!
Solid Lucha bout. I wouldn't say it was a classic but for a debut, Rey looked really strong and Bestia worked hard too. The crowd got really into the chair spots and there were some nice dives. Fun stuff.
This match will NOT be on the iPPV.
Steel Cage: BLK OUT vs. Mystery Team
BLK OUT came out to the ring. Ruckus took the mic and told the crowd to shut the f*** up He said that everyone came to see them beat up The Gangstas, but they didn't show up, so the fans are stuck with the "realest motherf**ers in the building." He said that they showed up and they run "this b**ch."
The Gangstas' theme song began playing but no one came out. Someone who was supposed to be Mustafa came out but was stopped. New Jack hit the ring from the crowd and attacked them. They overpowered him and worked him over.
Los Dramaticos' music hit and they hit the ring and began brawling with them. The crowd began booing them as a substitute. Jack was carried to the back, which the crowd didn't love.
Everyone began brawling on the floor. They brawled into the ring. When they locked the cage, everyone began booing that was the match. They began chanting "Bullsh**."
BLK OUT rammed The Dramaticos into the cage.
The Briscoes' theme song began playing and the Briscoes came in from the front door. The Briscoes began working over everyone. The crowd popped.
Mark drilled Jeez with a series of rights and a big boot. Mark, wearing a Santa hat, began throwing Ruckus into the cage. The crowd chanted, "We want blood."
The Briscoes controlled the match but the Dramaticos hit stereo enziguiris on them. The larger Dramatico (Joel Maximo) hit a moonsault off the top of the cage onto everyone.
Mark Briscoe killed Ruckus with a big boot. Jeez went to the top but Mark followed him And they battled on top of the cage. One of the Dramaticos rammed Jay into the cage. He then suplexed Mark into the cage for a two count.
They all brawled out of the cage and into the crowd. They battled all over the building and ringside. As they returned, a table was brought into the ring. Mark whipped out some red neck Kung Fu. The bigger Dramatico hit a back suplex on Jay Briscoe.
Mark went to the top of the cage and dove off through a table on the outside. The battle went on until BLK OUT scored the pin with a double stomp on one of the Dramaticos.
Your winners, BLK OUT!
Awesome brawl through the building. The Briscoes was a nice surprise.
Jeez took the mic and told the crowd to stop their applause. He said that there is no team anywhere, in any company that can step to them. He said if anyone wants to try they will get taken out.
We are now at inrermission.
Raven came out and cut a promo saying he wanted to explain to the degenerate monkeys why he has a problem with this promotion. He mocked the promotion for letting too many people backstage, which was a shoot. He said the sound system was "ass", which the crowd popped for. He told them not to cheer him, so they chanted, "You fat f***." Raven said he was stealth and the fans were "stupid f***s."
Raven said his mission statement is that this is a cheap copy of something from a glory that passed them by. He said the fans were just trying to re-live something they really weren't a part of anyway because they were just fans and had nothing to do with the product. He promised to make life hell for whoever won the Extreme Rising title and said he would take the title and do disgusting things to it, control the company, only allow certain people in, have wrestlers bleed all over them and force the company to wither and die.
He then walked out.
Matt Hardy vs. Sabu.
They said this was a first time ever meeting. That is the case for singles but they worked at least one tag match in the early 1990s for promoter Greg Price if I remember correctly.
They had a feeling out process early. Hardy shoulderblocked Sabu down and began working over his arm. Sabu brought a chair into the ring but Hardy nailed him in the back with it. He wedged it in the corner but Sabu drilled him with a right hand and sent Hardy into it.
Sabu nailed Air Sabu off a chair into the corner for a two count. Sabu went for a splash off the chair oin the corner but Hardy kicked him off. Hardy nailed a elbowdrop for a two count. He went for the Twist of Fate but Sabu slipped out and used a drop toe hold. He cinched in a Camel Clutch.
Sabu and Hardy battled to the floor. Sabu laid him out in the crowd, then hit a springboard dive off a chair into the crowd on Hardy. Sabu went for an Asai Moonsault but Reby Sky distracted her.
Hardy attacked Sabu but Sabu came back with a Arabian Facebuster and a triple jump moonsault. He covered Hardy for a two count. Hardy drilled Sabu with a chair to the chest. He pulled a table into the ring.
Hardy set up the table but Sabu worked him over. He placed Hardy on the table but Reby went after him. The referee stopped her so she grabbed him by the groin. The ref shoved her down so Hardy put him on the table. Sabu and Hardy both went for legdrops off the top through the table and ref Mike Kehner but Sabu slipped and Hardy didn't break the table. Sabu apologized and they did it again destroying Mike Kehner. None of this made any sense, but OK.
Another referee hit the ring as Kehner was carted out. Sabu and Hardy continued to battle. Sabu brought another table in. He and Hardy went back and forth. Sabu placed Hardy on a table. Homicide and Luke Hawx hit the ring and attacked Sabu. Reby jumped on his back. Reby was hit with a Fall Away Slam.
Hardy hit the Side Effect on Hawx. Sabu nailed a legdrop through a table on Luke. Hardy nailed a Twist of Fate on Sabu and pinned him.
Your winner, Matt Hardy!
OK match. It got a little too wacky as it went on for my taste. The run-in does make sense from a storyline basis with Hardy vs. Hawx. The work itself was fun but I wasn't a fan of the booking.
Extreme Rising Championship: Rhino vs. Stevie Richards
The crowd was solidly behind Richards. They began slugging it out in the ring. Rhino tossed him to the floor and then into the crowd. They brawled into the bleachers and all over the venue.
As they returned to the ring, a lot of the wrestlers from the promotion began coming out of the locker room watching. Raven sat in the aisle in a chair.
Rhino worked over Richards with a series of stomps. He was sent into the corner and Richards went for a leaping move but Rhino moved and Richards ate the turnbuckles. Rhino choked Richards with a chair. The crowd chanted back and forth with dueling chants for each man.
Rhino hit a belly to belly suplex and set up for the Gore. He nailed it and covered Richards, who kicked up at two. Rhino nailed another belly to belly suplex. He set up for the Gore again but Stevie nailed the Steviekick. He nailed a second, then a third.
Rhino was trapped in a submission hold and tapped out.
Your winner and first Extreme Rising champion, Stevie Richards!
All of the babyfaces and Shane Douglas hit the ring to celebrate with Richards as he was presented the belt. The crowd chanted for Stevie and gave him a standing ovation as he put the belt around his waist. The babyfaces all pounded the apron.
The crowd called for a speech so Stevie took the mic. He thanked everyone in the crowd. They chanted, "Thank you Stevie." He said that he wanted to say something he's something for the last 22 years - "I'll show you, you'll see." He said that tonight, everyone showed the world he can be a World champion. He thanked everyone and celebrated in the ring.
Nice ending to a marathon show. I thought it was a fun overall night, although some of the booking was a little erratic.
2013 - WWE ran Hershey, PA.
Frank Boris sent this report:
Had the pleasure of sitting second row for WWE's Hershey Live Event 12/29/13 - I was a little surprised, the building was nearly full - only the highest section was not filled, and the crowd was electric, which made the event a lot more fun!
*Opening match saw the reunion of Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara teaming up to take on The Real Americans - great back & forth match here and the crowd was really into all four guys! Mysterio & Sin Cara won when Sin Cara hit Cesaro with a top rope plancha... great efforts by all four wrestlers.
*Justin Gabriel defeated Tyson Kidd. They teased a Kidd heel turn at the end, when Tyson refused to shake hands with Gabriel, but he eventually hugged him anyway.
*Ryback beat Zack Ryder. Ryback had a lot of heat with the Hershey crowd!
*The crowd voted for Natalya VS. A.J. Lee to be a Divas Championship match instead of a Dance Off, but A.J. Lee refused to defend the title. After a good, Divas match, Natalya won when A.J. submitted to the sharpshooter!
*The Big Show defeated Kane inside of a steel cage - this match was a little slow and didn't have a lot of big spots. One highlight was Kane hitting a flying clothesline off the top rope, another being Big Show hitting a chokeslam off the second rope. Big Show knocked Kane out with the fist punch for the win.
*Los Matadores (with El Torito) defeated 3MB with Ricardo Rodriguez - the kids love Los Matadores, 3MB was a little ridiculous - Brad Maddox introduced them as "New Year's Babies" and McIntyre & Mahal came out wearing diapers? Rodriguez was wearing some kind of sumo suit with a diaper as well. McIntyre's diaper created a wardrobe malfunction - it didn't stay on through the whole match and he ended the match in his underwear. Kind of silly, but the kids really loved this match.
*Special Referee Booker T. was introduced for Dolph Ziggler VS. Alberto Del Rio. Man, Del Rio had nuclear heat with the Hershey crowd! While Del Rio was jaw-jacking with some rowdy fans, Ziggler was way over, and so was the referee Booker T. To everyone's delight - Ziggler won after Booker T. gave Del Rio a scissor kick. Booker T. then invited ring announcer Justin Roberts into the ring for a Happy Birthday song - and of course, spineroonie's, which he didn't do too bad a job of! Happy Birthday, Justin Roberts!
*Main Event - John Cena VS. Randy Orton - the crowd was really anti-Orton, and about 75%-25% in favor of John Cena. He received a lot of cheers, but there were pockets of fans who were booing for Cena - very few cheering Orton, though. Good match that saw Orton dominate, and using quite a few head locks... Cena eventually rebounded but Orton was disqualified when he low-blowed Cena. Cena then gave Orton the Attitude Adjustment and sent the kids home happy.
Overall - a very fun show, and the crowd loved it!
Match of the night: Dolph Ziggler VS. Alberto Del Rio.... I was surprised, but this really stole the show! Honorable mention; Mysterio/Sin Cara VS. The Real Americans.
Worst Match of the night: Steel Cage Match, Kane VS. Big Show - just not enough action, crowd wasn't really into it.
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