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January 28th
On this day in history in ....
1949 - Wild Red Berry defeats Dizzy Davis to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas, ending Davis' second title reign.
1984 - The Super Medicos defeat Hercules Ayala & King Tonga (Haku/Meng) to win the WWC World Tag Team Title in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico for the second time.
1986 - At a WWF television taping at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, Roddy Piper announced that his bodyguard, Cowboy Bob Orton, had been forced to remove his arm cast, which he had been wearing for well over a year. Piper then introduced Orton as "Boxing Bob Orton" and announced an open challenge for him to have a boxing match with any wrestler. Jose Luis Rivera accepted the challenge, and was knocked out by Orton. Later in the taping, in another edition of Piper's Pit, Hulk Hogan appeared and signed Mr. T to the open contract to face Orton in a boxing match. This was the beginning of the storyline that would result in Piper vs. Mr. T at Wrestlemania 2.
1988 - The World Class Texas Tag Team Title was held up following a controversial match between champions John Tatum & Jack Victory and challengers The Fantastics. The belts were held up, and the dispute was settled several weeks later, believe it or not, when the teams drew from a deck of cards. Victory and Tatum drew the high card, so they got the belts back.
1991 - The fifth, and final, edition of "The Main Event", WWF's prime time specials on NBC, was taped at the Macon Coliseum in Macon, Georgia (it aired on February 1st). The show would earn a 6.7 broadcast rating (by comparison, the first Main Event, featuring Hogan vs. Andre, was aired live and did a 15.2 broadcast rating). The specials would move to Fox. Here are the results of the show:
- Hulk Hogan & Tugboat defeated Dino Bravo & Earthquake when Hogan pinned Bravo with a legdrop.
- Hacksaw Jim Duggan defeated WWF World Heavyweight Champion Sgt. Slaughter via disqualification when Slaughter used a chair. Hogan tried to make the save, but was also beaten down with the chair by Slaughter and manager General Adnan.
- The Legion Of Doom defeated The Orient Express (Pat Tanaka & Kato) when Hawk pinned Kato after the Doomsday Device.
- WWF President Jack Tunney announced that Hulk Hogan was the number one contender for the WWF World Title, and would be facing Sgt. Slaughter at Wrestlemania VII. Hogan then gave an interview about how he was going to win the title and dedicate it to the U.S. Troops involved in Operation Desert Storm.
On the same show where The Main Event was taped, WWF held their syndicated television taping, which included the debut of Paul Bearer (Percy Pringle) as the manager of the Undertaker. It also featured the final edition of The Brother Love Show, as the Ultimate Warrior destroyed the set and beat up Brother Love after Love claimed Randy Savage would defeated The Warrior at Wrestlemania.
1995 - Jerry "The King" Lawler defeats Tony Anthony in Knoxville, Tennessee to win the Smoky Mountain Wrestling Heavyweight Title, ending Anthony's third reign with the belt.
2002 - During an edition of Raw from the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia, Vince McMahon revealed that if Ric Flair did not sell his half of the WWF to him, he would be forced to "inject the poison" into his "creation" and bring in the NWO. This set the stage for the first appearances of Kevin Nash and Scott Hall since 1995 in the then-WWF and Hulk Hogan's return for the first time since June 1993.
2008 - WWE began requesting that fans turn off their cell phones while at events, trying to curb the number of video being shot via advancing technology.
2009 - A report by the Associated Press announced that Mickey Rourke had pulled out of Wrestlemania 25.
2009 - The Associated Press is reporting that former heavyweight contender Scott LeDoux has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. LeDoux challenged Larry Holmes for the heavyweight title in 1980, losing by 7th-round TKO. In a career that spanned from 1974-83, LeDoux fought some of the biggest names in boxing. He drew with Ken Norton and Leon Spinks. He was knocked out by George Foreman in 1976. In one of his more famous incidents, LeDoux sparked a mini-riot after a fight that was televised on ABC. In the chaos, Howard Cosell's hair piece came off. A lifelong resident of Minnesota, perhaps LeDoux's biggest bouts were against fellow Minnesotan Duane Bobick. The heavyweight contenders fought twice and each bout generated record gates in Minnesota. LeDoux retired with a record of 33-13-4 (21 knockouts) and went on to do work with the AWA.
2010 - TNA ran Coventry, UK. Charlie Greenfield filed the following results:
TNA Maximum Impact Tour Coventry results 28th January
TNA Wrestling continued with its TNA Maximum Impact Tour in Coventry in the United Kingdom. This was a show that had a fan interaction at the start of the event. I attended the fan interaction, 2 hours before the actual house show started and got to see the likes of Kurt Angle, The Pope, Amazing Red, Brutus Magnus, Doug Williams, Earl Hebner, Chris Sabin, Taylor Wilde and Sarita. I got their autographs and spoke to a couple of the stars. Chris Sabin was a nice guy willing to chat to everyone. The Pope was acting in his gimmick and loves the fans. Kurt Angle seemed really tired but told him, he is the best wrestler in the world. All of them seemed happy to interact and talk to the fans, but Earl Hebner did not seem interested and looked miserable.
The Coventry show was held in the Coventry Sky Dome that holds 3,000 fans, was attend by about 1,600. This is way down when they last attended Coventry back in 2008, which was a complete sell out. However the audience was really into the action and they were really happy to see TNA. They were very loud throughout the show and really enjoyed seeing the likes of Kurt Angle and AJ Styles.
Dixie Carter was really happy to be there and she gave a speech during the intermission thanking the fans for attending the event and said that Coventry was where it all started in the UK for TNA, when they first started touring the UK.
The audience gave the biggest reaction to Kurt Angle and was the wrestler everyone wanted to see and they also gave a big reaction to Team 3D. The matches on the show were very good and really enjoyed the show, better than a regular Impact show. The better matches were AJ Styles Vs Samoa Joe, Desmond Wolfe Vs the Pope. My favourite match of the night was Kurt Angle and Hernandez Vs Rhino and Daniels, the reason for this is because Kurt Angle was well over and he made the match strong. They did a match where Hamada faced Amazing Red, which was a bit strange, but it was a good match and Hamada really worked her socks off. Doug Williams was holding the X Division title during the show and Rob Terry was announced as the TNA Global Champion. Overall a very good show and was well worth the money.
The results of the show are as follows:
Suicide defeated Chris Sabin.
The Beautiful People (Madison Rayne and Velvet Sky) defeated Taylor Wilder and Sarita.
The Pope D’Angelo Dinero defeated Desmond Wolfe
Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) and Beer Money (Robert Roode and James Storm) defeated British Invasion (Rob Terry, Brutus Magnus, and Doug Williams) and Eric Young. This was a tag team gauntlet match.
Amazing Red defeated Hamada.
Kurt Angle and Hernandez defeated Rhino and Daniels.
TNA World Title Match: AJ Styles defeated Samoa Joe.
2010 - TNA broadcast Impact. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off tonight’s show with a recap of the issues between Mick Foley and Eric Bischoff, leading to Foley’s firing. Then we see a look at Ric Flair unveiling A.J. Styles as the next ‘Nature Boy’. Remember when Hulk Hogan threw a stipulation out the window to give Kurt Angle another title match . . . only to see Kurt Angle think that Hogan was behind the Cast Member Screw Job. What will happen as we get closer to the start of 1998?
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike ‘Finger Poke of Doom Redux’ Tenay and Taz.
If it is the start of the show, it must mean that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are going to come to the ring. Hogan tells Bischoff that it is wide open in the Impact Zone brother. He says that he wants to bring out Mick Foley right now, brother.
The fired former Executive Shareholder comes to the ring. Hogan thanks Foley for coming into the Impact Zone brother. Hogan says that he wants to work out things right now between Bischoff and Mick Foley. Eric tells Hogan that there is no situation because he fired Hogan last week after being beaten half to death. Hogan says that a lot of buttons have been pushed and he says that he never had a chance to work with Foley or any of his incarnations, brother. Hogan says that he sees a lot of good things that are on the money. Hogan says that there are a few things that need to be dialed in so Foley can be an asset, brother. Bischoff reminds Hogan that Foley laid his hands on Eric and could have put him in the hospital.
Foley says that he wishes he would have put his hands on Bischoff but he didn’t do it. Bischoff says that it doesn’t matter because last week he came out covered from head to toe (or from the hairline to the eyes) in blood. Foley says that he couldn’t have laid a hand on Bischoff because Eric would have been taken out in an ambulance.
Hogan tells Mick Foley that they need to bring things under control because brother, you need to work it out or walk out. We hear music and Hogan repeats himself.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Bubba the Love Sponge escorts Jeff Jarrett into the Impact Zone and he doesn’t want Jeff to screw him over. Jeff says that he can trust him and they can do it without lawyers.
Christy Hemme is in the interview area with Ken Anderson and Ken tells Christy that it is Mr. Anderson. He wants Christy to show him some respect. Ken says that he has to do everything himself. Since he doesn’t have a match, he has to book himself. He makes an open challenge to anyone in the locker room. He doesn’t care who it is, even Christy Hemme. He is begging that Abyss answers the challenge. He says that it doesn’t matter because the only name that people will remember at the end of the name is Mr. Anderson.
Mike and Taz talk about the 8 Card Stud Tournament at Against All Odds.
Match Number One: Desmond Wolfe with Chelsea versus Sean Morley in an 8 Card Stud Qualifying Match
They lock up and Morley works on the arm and puts Wolfe in a hammer lock. Wolfe with a reversal but Morley makes it to the ropes. Wolfe kicks the ropes before Morley moves away from them. Wolfe chokes Morley in the ropes and then he breaks. Wolfe has a discussion with the referee and he turns around into a few clotheslines and a chop. Morley with a Val Venis knee on an Irish whip and then Wolfe with a hammer lock DDT to Morley. Wolfe works on the wrist and then he drops a knee on the arm and he gets a near fall. Wolfe bridges back but Morley escapes and he kicks and punches Wolfe. Wolfe with an arm wringer and then he runs into a boot. Morley with a back elbow and Wolfe misses a clothesline. Morley with punches and a swinging neck breaker for a near fall. Morley with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot. Morley with an uranage and then he goes up top but Wolfe hits the ropes and it crotches Morley. Wolfe hits the Tower of London for the three count.
Winner: Desmond Wolfe
In the back, Jeff Jarrett enters the Brother Bischoffice. Eric wants to know where Jeff’s attorney is and Jeff says that he doesn’t want to deal with attorneys. He wants to tell Hogan that he is looking at things differently. Jeff says that he might have broken people’s trusts and he wants to repair it. Hogan says that he wants the Jeff Jarrett that he knew when he started working with Jeff’s family. Jarrett says that he is willing to start at the bottom of the ladder and work his way up. Hogan says that they need help immediately. Eric says that he has an idea. Eric suggests that Jarrett be the man to accept the Ken Anderson Challenge. Eric says that he knows that they can have an excellent match in the main event. Eric says that Jeff will be just fine since he is a great athlete. Jarrett says that he will get ready. Eric wishes Jeff luck.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to talk about the Soundstage Screw Job starring Earl Hebner. We see footage from last week and the aftermath.
We see Ric Flair and A.J. Styles admiring a female and his suits since he has 30 days off. Flair says that he needs a friend as well.
Match Number Two: Daniels versus Hernandez in an 8 Card Stud Tournament Qualifying Match
Daniels attacks Hernandez while he poses on the turnbuckles and then he sends Hernandez into the turnbuckles and connects with an elbow and kicks. Hernandez does not move when Daniels tries for an Irish whip and Hernandez with a knee and a delayed vertical suplex. Daniels tries for a sunset flip but Hernandez does not go over and he suplexes Daniels by the neck. Daniels with an enzuigiri that takes Hernandez to the mat and he gets a near fall. Daniels with a cravate but Hernandez with elbows and Daniels with an STO followed by a quebrada for a near fall. Daniels sets for Angel’s Wings but Hernandez with a back body drop. Daniels with a flying knee to the back and Hernandez goes to the floor. Hernandez with a shoulder followed by the slingshot shoulder and a clothesline. Hernandez with a back body drop and a Stinger Splash and then he takes off his shirt to biel Daniels across the ring. Daniels avoids a charge into the corner and Daniels with a forearm. Hernandez with a kick and then he pulls himself up to the turnbuckles but Daniels with a palm thrust. Daniels tries for a superplex but Hernandez pushes him off. Hernandez misses a frog splash and Daniels with a rollup and he tries to use the ropes but he can only get a two count. Daniels with palm strikes but Hernandez with a shoulder toss to Daniels and then he hits the Dominator for the three count.
Winner: Hernandez
We go to commercial.
Velvet is stretching with Madison while Lacey is standing there. We go back to commercial.
Mike Tenay is in the ring and he talks about the battle of the awesome tag teams that will take place at Against All Odds. Out first are the Nasty Boys. Out next are Team 3D. Security tries to keep Team 3D away from the ring. Ray tells the Nastys that they waited until they were in Japan to show up in TNA and mess up their locker room. Then the following week, they waited to blast them in the back of the heads like a couple of punks. Ray reminds them that they used a couple of chairs on them last week. Ray wonders where the Nastys have been for the last ten years. Security holds Team 3D on the ramp.
Sags talks about how nasty they are.
Devon tells them what they have been doing during the ten years that the Nasty Boys have been retired. Devon talks about the companies that they won titles in and mentions ECW, WWE, All Japan, and New Japan in addition to TNA. Devon says that nobody has accomplished what they have done.
Knobs mentions the Road Warriors, Hart Foundation, Steiners, Hall and Nash, and Harlem Heat to mention the teams who felt the wrath of the Nasty Boys. He says that Team 3D are on their chopping block. On Valentine’s Day (February 14th in case you didn’t know), they won’t be giving Team 3D any flowers or chocolates. They will be beating up Team 3D.
Ray says that they can take jabs at each other all day long, but everyone wants to see these two teams beat the crap out of each other. Ray tells Knobs to shut up.
Christy is in the interview area with Lacey Von Erich, Velvet Sky, and Madison Rayne and she wants to know what they think about the return of Angelina Love. Velvet says that she is sick of hearing about them. She knows that everyone wants to be part of the group, but not everyone can do it. Madison says that Angelina is so 2009 and they have moved on to bigger and better things. Madison says that they are going to show everyone where Knockouts Gold belongs. Lacey says something before they hold up something shiny to quiet her.
We see Jeff Jarrett up close as we go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for Bobby and Eric to talk about his current status. He wants to know if Bobby’s flight was okay. Eric tells Bobby that after looking at things, Bobby is fired despite having the guts to not let his wife talk for him. Bobby is escorted out by security.
Match Number Three: Madison Rayne, Lacey Von Erich, and Velvet Sky with their Dance Party USA routine versus Hamada, Awesome Kong, and Tara with Poison
Madison and Hamada start things off and Madison doesn’t take things seriously and Hamada with kicks and chops followed by a head butt and another chop. Hamada with another head butt and a chop. Hamada works on the arm and then does a Spoiler homage with an arm drag. Madison with a kick and then she tags in Velvet. Velvet works on the arm and then she tags in Lacey. Lacey works on the arm and then she tags in Madison who continues to work on the arm. Hamada tries to escape but Madison holds on. Hamada with a drop toe hold and then Tara is tagged in and she punches and slams Madison followed by the shimmy moonsault for a near fall. Tara with a chop and Velvet with a kick to the back and Madison with a clothesline for a near fall. Velvet tags in and she runs Tara into the turnbuckles with shoulders. Madison chokes Tara while the referee is distracted. Velvet rakes the eyes and then Tara and Velvet pull each other down by the hair. Madison and Kong tag in and Lacey joins in with a clothesline that does nothing. Kong with a double clothesline and Hamada tags in with a drop kick to Madison. Madison with an Irish whip but she runs into a kick and then she hits a roundhouse kick on Lacey and Velvet. Tara with a slam to Lacey followed by a moonsault but the referee deals with Velvet and Tara. Madison hits Hamada with the ugly stick and gets the three count.
Winners: Velvet Sky, Lacey Von Erich, and Madison Rayne
After the match, Lacey and Madison attack Tara. From out of nowhere, Angelina Love comes into the ring and she is almost completely dressed. Angelina attacks Madison and Lacey and pushes Lacey out of the ring.
We go to Hogan’s office and he has Earl Hebner in his office wondering why he called for the bell. Earl says that Angle tapped out when he reversed the hold. Hogan says he saw what happened. After 30 years in the business, you know when things happen. He says that it wasn’t time to ring the bell. Hogan says that Earl did this 12 years ago in Montreal. Hogan says that he is his friend and he wants to know the truth. Earl tells Hogan that he screwed Bret and he screwed Angle for the money. He got a check from Flair. Hogan says that is disgusting and as his friend, he doesn’t know what to say. He tells Earl that he is suspended.
We go to commercial.
We see Kurt Angle walking in the back and he will still be walking as we return to commercial.
We are back and Flair is talking to A.J. about the new TNA and there are more women in the dressing room and Flair is in shock. Flair takes one and A.J. is with the other three. Flair woos for a while.
Mick Foley is in the back and Bubba the Love Sponge says that he knows that Bischoff is going to call him into his office. Foley calls Bubba a ‘glass half empty’ person while Foley says that he is a ‘glass half full’ person. He says that things will be resolved.
Kurt Angle comes to the ring to discuss his part in the Theme Park Screw Job last week. Kurt tells A.J. Styles that their match at Genesis is a match that they will never forget. He says that it was the greatest match of his life. That is why he is confused, disappointed, and pissed off. He reminds A.J. that they shook hands to determine who the greatest wrestler in the world was. He says that was supposed to be a match that will be talked about for generations. Angle says that A.J. disappointed him, the boys in the back, and most of all he disappointed the TNA wrestling (cast members) fans. Angle says that A.J. went from a hero to a punk a** b**ch. Angle talks about last week and he says that he didn’t see it coming. He tells A.J. that Flair doesn’t care about him. He says that Flair is the dirtiest player in the game and he wants to know if that is how A.J. wants his legacy to be. Angle talks about his qualifying match and he says that when he wins the tournament, it will be them one more time and A.J. will not get by the greatest wrestler who ever lived.
Hulk Hogan’s muzak plays and he comes to the ring. Hogan says that Angle accused him of something that he didn’t do when they were in the office. Hogan says that years ago, things would have been different. Hogan says that as the leader of TNA, he functions on a whole different level. After last week, when Kurt spit in his face, that is unacceptable. As the leader of TNA, if it ever happens again and Angle crosses the line, he can consider himself unemployed. Hogan wants to know if they have an understanding.
Kurt tells Hulk Hogan that he apologizes for what he did. He says that it was inexcusable. Angle reminds Hogan that he is leading TNA. That means that everything that happens in the ring is Hogan’s responsibility. Angle apologizes and shakes Hogan’s hand.
From out of nowhere, Sean Waltman attacks Angle and he is joined by Scott Hall. Hall punches Angle and Waltman with a snap leg drop to Angle. We go to commercial.
We are back with a moments ago handshake moment followed by the attack by the two guys who aren’t part of the company.
Hall and Waltman are by the door and security pushes them out and Hall says that he will see them next week.
Match Number Four: Brian Kendrick, Alex Shelley, and Chris Sabin versus Generation Me and Amazing Red
Kendrick attacks Red before the match starts and then he connects with forearms. Kendrick misses a charges into the corner and then Red with a drop kick to the back followed by a drop kick and Sabin and Shelley attack Red. Shelley goes into a boot and then Red with a spin kick to Sabin off Shelley’s back. Generation Me come into the match and they go after Shelley and they hit a double thrust kick followed by an alley oop drop kick to Shelley that sends him to the floor. Sabin comes off the ropes for a springboard move and he is caught and is given a gutbuster followed by a swinging neck breaker for a near fall. Sabin with a running knee to Max followed by an Irish whip and running back elbow. Shelley misses a splash into the corner and Max with a rollup on Sabin for a near fall. Jeremy tags in and he tries for a springboard move but he is caught by Shelley who hits a reverse atomic drop followed by a drop kick from Sabin and then Shelley holds Jeremy’s head up for Sabin to complete the dream sequence with another drop kick. Sabin gets a near fall. Jeremy with an elbow and he tags in Red who hits a rana and drop kick followed by a back kick. Red sets for Code Red, but he takes too long and Shelley hits a super kick. Sabin with a drop kick off Shelley’s back to knock Max off the apron. Sabin and Shelley hit a double team spike dominator but Kendrick makes the blind tag and Kendrick with a kick to the head for the three count.
Winners: Brian Kendrick, Alex Shelley, and Chris Sabin
After the match, the referee checks on Red and the British Invasion come to the ring and they have Rob’s X Division brief case. They attack Red in the ring while the referee waves near them. Terry with a choke slam to Red. They have a discussion about the briefcase while Red is able to recover. We go to commercial.
We are back and we have an X Division Title match.
Match Number Five: Doug Wiliams playing the part of Rob Terry versus Amazing Red for the X Division Title
Red hits a tornado DDT for a near fall. We see footage from during the break when Williams got the opportunity to have the match and Williams hits Chaos Theory to get the three count.
Winner: Doug Williams
After the match, Williams and Magnus celebrate in the ring and Terry is not too happy.
Jeff Jarrett is pacing in his locker room as we go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for Foley/Bischoff II: Electric Boogaloo. Foley wants to know who busted Eric open last week or if Eric did it himself. Eric says that they need to work this out and let the past go. Foley wants one more stroll down memory lane. Foley says that he talks about a bowel movement his son made six years ago at a birthday party. Foley says that he would rather pick up crap than work in TNA for a guy like Bischoff. Eric gets a chuckle out of Foley’s story. He says that he can respect Foley’s opinion, there are two people who want Foley in this company. They are Abyss and Jeremy Borash. Eric says that he has their careers in the palm of his hand and he can do what he wants with him. Eric tells Mick to have a nice day and then he leaves with the camera man.
Eric is walking in the back and he walks by A.J. Styles’ dressing room and Flair is wooing as Bischoff opens the door. A.J. asks the women which one wants a shot at the title tonight. Flair says that they are off for 30 days. Eric tells Flair that he will get to that shortly. Eric congratulates Flair because they are stuck with him. He says that Flair was smart enough to have his contract signed before Hogan and him got to TNA. Eric says that it is the Hogan/Bischoff regime. He tells Flair that A.J. doesn’t have 30 days off. He tells them that everyone in the company needs to be ready 24/7 so he better not make any travel plans.
Jeff Jarrett and Ken Anderson are walking in the back and they are separated by a TNA logo as we go to commercial.
Jeff Jarrett has stopped walking and he is thinking about his match against Ken Anderson and we go back to commercial.
Match Number Six: Ken Anderson versus Jeff Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett is starting so far down that he doesn’t even have entrance music or pyro.
They lock up and Anderson backs Jarrett into the corner and he tries to punch Jarrett but Jarrett moves and he punches Anderson. Anderson wants a time out. Jarrett with a side head lock and shoulder tackle or three. Jarrett swings but Anderson falls away and goes to the ropes. Anderson with a knee and then he connects with forearms to the back. Anderson sends Jarrett’s head into the turnbuckles and he punches Jarrett. Jarrett with a hip toss or two followed by a drop kick. Jarrett clotheslines Anderson over the top rope to the floor. Instead of maintaining the advantage, he does the Jarrett strut and we go to commercial.
We are back and Jarrett is on the apron and Anderson kicks Jarrett and then he sends Jarrett into the ring post. Anderson punches Jarrett as the referee warns him. Anderson slams Jarrett’s hand onto the ring steps. Anderson with a hammer lock and then he hits a hammer lock throw on Jarrett and gets a near fall. Anderson with an arm bar. Jarrett with a punch but he runs into a boot after an Irish whip. Anderson with a single arm DDT but he can only get a near fall. Anderson with a forearm and then he puts Jarrett into a sleeper for a second and then he puts Jarrett in a key lock. Jarrett punches Anderson but Anderson with a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Anderson goes up top and he tries for the Kenton Bomb but Jarrett moves (and Anderson overshoots Jarrett anyway). Jarrett gets a second wind and he punches Anderson. Anderson sets for the Mic Check but Jarrett tries for the Stroke. Anderson with a low blow and a three count with an inside cradle.
Winner: Ken Anderson
We see Eric Bischoff in an insert saying that this was great.
After the match, Anderson with a double sledge from the apron onto Jarrett and then he punches Jarrett. Anderson rolls Jarrett back into the ring and he waits for Jeff to get up. Anderson sizes him up and then he hits the Mic Check.
We go to the Bischoffice and he says that it is going to be a long, hard climb for Jarrett.
2011 - WWE announced that Donna Goldsmith will leave her positions as Director and Chief Operating Officer of WWE effective 2/28.
2011 - Ring of Honor ran Los Angeles, CA as part of WrestleReunion at the Hilton LAX. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider's live coverage of ROH in Los Angeles as part of WrestleReunion!
Pre-Show Notes:
*Adam Pearce, Nick Jackson and Alison Danger are backstage since they are in town for the convention. Dave Lagana is also here.
*There was a pre-show meet and greet with ROH champion Roderick Strong and TV champion Christopher Daniels.
*Promoter Sal Corrente announced that WrestleReunion will return to Los Angeles again next year. He thanked everyone for their support and noted last year, he asked everyone in LA to show their support and everyone was shocked at how much support they've received this year. He thanked everyone in ROH for wanting to come out again we are off to the races.
Ring of Honor's return to Los Angeles opened with the ROH Tag Team champions The Kings of Wrestling coming to the ring. Chris Hero said that a year ago, they were here in LA as the uncrowned Kings and now a year later, they are not only the ROH champions but they've held the belts longer than anyone else. He noted that they've taken the belts to Japan, South America, Canada and Europe.
Hero pointed out all the teams they have beaten and said that on September 11th, they even beat the World's Greatest Tag Team, which tells him that Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin are overrated. Claudio Castagnoli said that Los Angeles knows all about being overrated since it's the home of the Los Angeles Lakers and the best basketball is played in Europe. He then ripped on Disneyland and put over Euro Disney.
Hero said that everyone wants to know who's going to end their title reign, but truth is that the reign is not going to stop because the Kings reign supreme. A hell of a promo from Hero and Claudio's lines were pretty damn funny.
The Bravados vs. Kaleb Konley & Cedric Alexander
They had some nice back and forth wrestling early. Konley tried to clothesline one of the Bravados over the top but it didn't work out and the crowd jumped on them. The Bravados worked over Alexander with chops and kicks. Alexander made a comeback with a leaping enziguiri and tagged in Konley, who hit some good offense. He kicked one Bravado down, using the momentum to hit a torndo DDT on the other for a two count.
One of the Bravados caught Konley with a kick to the back of the head and the other then snapped him with a German suplex for a two count. Alecander broke it. He lifted one of the Bravados over his shoulder for Konley to come off the ropes but Konley was shoved off the top. The Bravado pushed his brother off and Alexander was caught in a pinning position.
OK opener.
Colt Cabana vs. Jay Briscoe
There was a big "Man Up" chant before they locked up. Cabana was clowning around a little bit early. Fans did the dueling chants for both. They locked up and ended up in the corner. Colt broke clean, then did some comedy with his towel.
They locked up and took turns working on each other's arms. Cabana did his European based moves to keep Briscoe off guard and gain several two counts. Briscoe grabbed him around the waist, but Cabana turned that into a headlock takedown. Briscoe escaped and drilled Cabana with a leg lariat, then slammed his head into the turnbuckle. Briscoe cut Cabana off and scored a two count with his legs on the ropes.
Briscoe took Colt down with a running clothesline. He began working over Colt with right hands. Colt ducked another clothesline attempt and drilled Briscoe with some clubberin'. He nailed an elbow to the head for a two count.
Cabana went foir the flying a**hole but missed. Briscoe shoulderblocked him for a two count. He went fior the Jay-Drilla but Cabana backdropped him over. Cabana went for the flying a**hole but was cut off and nailed with the Jay Driller. Fun stuff.
The Cutler Brothers vs. The All Night Express
The Express attacked the Cutlers before the bell. Kenny King and Rhett Titus worked one of them over. Brandon Cutler came back with a backdrop on King. The Express ended up on the floor, where one of the Cutlers hit a plancha. The Cutlers nailed a stereo somersault into a shoulderblock on King. They worked him over in the corner with punches and then antagonized Titus, allowing them to work over King as the referee kept Titus from interfering.
The Express took over, nailing a Hart Attack style clothesline on one of the Cutlers. Titus drilled the Cutler with a kick for a two count. Titus whipped him intoi a King clothesline. The Express continued working him over. The Cutlers mounted a comeback and drilled King with an Ace Crusher for a two count. King came back to snap his throat over the top ropes. The Express drilled him with a series of back and forth kicks.
The Cutlers made a comeback Titus ate a dive to the floor. One of the Cutlers nailed him with a top rope elbow for a two count. They went for a double leaping tombstone but King tackled one. The Express nailed one of the Cutlers with a varation on the old Demolition finisher, except Titus came off the top rope with a flying knee.
Good back and forth match.
Davey Richards vs. TJ Perkins
They shook hands at the bell. They did some nice back and forth wrestling early and ended up in the ropes. They went to the mat and had some nice matwork. Fans began chanting for Richards.
Perkins grabbed Richards in a waistlock but Richards slipped out and began focusing on Perkins' arm. Perkins tried to use a series of kicks but Richards blocked them. Perkins finally took him down to the mat and began tying up Richards on the mat with several pinfall attempts.
Richards came off the ropes and shoulderblocked Perkins down. Perkins came back with a leapfrog into a sunset flip, then leapt and drilled him knees into Richards. Richards retreated to the floor. Perkins cut him off as Richards returned to the ring and kicked away at him. Perkins snapmared him over for a two count.
Perkins kept trying to maneuver Richards into pinfall situations and then used a Dragonscrew variation on Richards' leg. Perkins worked him over in the corner with an uppercut. Richards came back to shock him with a cross armbreaker but Perkins made it to the ropes.
Richards picked up Perkins for a back suplex, hammerlocking the arm so Perkins couldn't try to slip out. Richards locked on an armbar. Perkins slipped out ans they exchanged blows in the center of the ring. Richards caught him with a snap suplex, then nailed the swandive headbutt off the top rope for a two count.
Richards went right back to tying up Perkins on the mat. He began drilling elbows into Perkin's arm and cinched in another armbar. Richards stiffly kicked Perkins in the chest, then elevated and slammed Perkins. He suplexed Perkins over the top to the floor and both were nearly counted out.
Back in the ring, they exchanged punches and kicks. Richards got the better of it. Perkins caught himself in the ropes to avoid Davey and was dropkicked hard by Richards while hanging. Perkins made a comeback with some stiff strikes and kicks. Richards returned with a brutal series of kicks to the chest.
Davey tried to elevate Perkins again but Perkins stopped him and instead elevated Richards, took him down and nailed a Dragon Screw Legwhip. Richards killed him with a series of kicks. He locked in a submission but let it go. He drilled Perkins with an enziguiri and a superplex where both men were standing on the top rope for a two count.
Perkins recovered first and locked in a Sharpshooter on Richards. They kicked each other in the face back and forth,. Perkins picked up Richards for a TKO into a kick to the head. Richards went for a suplex but Perkins small packaged him for a two count. Richards murdered him with several clotheslines and forced Perkins to tap with a Falcon' s Arrow into a armbreaker.
Really great, hard hitting bout.
After the bout, Richards took the mic and said that while he was making his name in ROH, he was also coming to PWG and if there was someone with the heart and soul that worked as hard as anyone, it was TJ Perkins. He said that there are a lot of wrestlers in California that wouldn't be anywhere as good as they are without Perkins. Richards said that he was focusing on the ROH World title, but anytime Perkins wants a rematch, Richards would love to go at it again. The crowd loved this.
ROH TV champion Christopher Daniels vs. Mark Briscoe
In a nice blast from the past, Alison Danger accompanied Daniels. Daniels and Briscoe shook hands before the bell. They locked up and worked their way aroun the ring. They went back and forth before facing off.
Briscoe began to control the pace of the match, holding Daniels in a side headlock. Daniels fought his way out of it but was nailed with a spinning kick for a two count. Daniels came back with a side suplex.
Daniels began to work on Briscoe's back with hard shots, then snapped his neck. Daniels whipped him intio the corner hard. He began chopping away at the back and neck of Briscoe as he was dazed in the corner/
Daniels drilled Mark with a swinging neckbreaker for another two count. He controlled Briscoe on the mat with a side chinlock but Mark fought his way out with a series of elbows. He charged Daniels, but was caught on his shoulders and slammed down.
Daniels was soon caught in a series of strokes and a clothesline. He went to the floor but was nailed with a tope con hilo to the floor. Briscoe began nailing palm thrust and strikes. He nailed an enziguiri for a two count.
Briscoe nailed a top rope sunset flip and then a powerbomb for another near fall. He ascended to the top rope but missed a flying elbow. Daniels locked on a Kokina Clutch but Briscoe made it to the ropes.
Daniels cut off Briscoe in the corner and placed him on the ropes. He nailed a palm thrust and took down Briscoe. Daniels called for Angel's Wings but Briscoe fought his way out. He chopblocked Daniels.
Briscoe went for the burning hammer but Daniels escaped. He avoided a charge and drilled Marc with an Uranage. Briscoe was caught with a kick and then nailed with Angel's Wings for a two count. Daniels then hit the BME and scored the pin.
Your winner and still TV champion, Christopher Daniels!
ROH Tag Team champions The Kings of Wrestling vs. Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin
Castagnoli shoulderblocked Haas down and they went back and forth. The Kings quickly gained control of the match and worked over Haas. He made a comeback with a deep armdrag on Claudio.
Benjamin tagged in and controlled. Claudio and Hero took over on Haas, running his face over the ropes and taking turns kicking and beating him down. They tied up Haas in the ropes and worked him over in the ropes. Haas was whipped into the barricade on the floor.
Claudio tossed Haas back in the ring, where he was nailed with a big kick and tossed into the buckles. Hero and Claudio took turns working him over in the corner. They nailed Benjamin with a double boot, sending him off the apron.
Hero cinched in an armbar on Haas, working him over and antagonizing Benjamin by acting like Haas was almost close enough to tag, then mocking him. He whipped Haas hard into the buckles, then tagged in Claudio. Claudio locked in a hammerlock variation but Haas made a comeback with several chops and an Olympic Slam.
He made the tag to Benjamin who cleaned house on Hero with stomps and a Stinger Splash. He nailed Hero off the apron, then hit an exploder for a near fall. Benjamin whipped Claudio into the corner but was kicked off. Hero held Haas for Claudio to come off the ropes with a flying uppercut. Hero drilled him hard from behind with an elbowsmash.
Hero cinched in a Dragon Sleeper on Benjamin then nailed a suplex for a two count. Benjamin came back with Diamondust out of the corner on Claudio. Haas tagged in and cleaned house on Hero.
Haas hit a stun gun on Hero but Claudio drilled Benjamin as he charged to nail a move. The Kings worked over Haas but Benjamin returned to catch Claudio in a small package for a two count.
Claudio nailed the big swing on Haas, complete with Hero dropkicking him during the swing for a two count. They continued back and forth with fast two counts. Haas caught Hero in the Haas of Pain. Benjamin fought off Claudio and finally Hero tapped.
Your winners, Benjamin and Haas! They battled back and forth early with some good mat and counter wrestling. Generico caught Strong with some hard hitting moves but Strong controlled the flow and the pace, breaking him down methodically.
Genericho went to the ropes but was crotched. They went to the floor and battled on the floor, nearly getting counted out as they whipped each other into the barricades. They battled on the apron and Generico came charging with a running kick, sending Strong to the floor. Genericho then hit a huge dive out of the ring to the floor. Fans chanted "ROH".
Genericho came off the top with a flying bodypress but Strong kicked out. Generico nailed a spinning power bomb for a two count. Generico charged Strong in the corner but missed and bounced hard. Strong killed him with three stiff kicks but Generico kept kicking out.
Strong locked on the Boston Crab. Generico escaped but Strong tied him up and tried to pin him. Strong began stiffing the hell out of Generico, who fed off it and tried to build a comeback. Both men were down as the referee began counting and fans were chanting that "This is awesome."
Generico came back with Boston Crab of his own. They kept going back and forth with pin combinations and near submissions. Great stuff. Generico ended up absorbing a ton of blows but still kicked out. Strong kept kicking away. Talk about a war of attrition.'
Strong killed Generico with a running kick, then a suplex into a lungblower for another two count. Strong went for a suplex but Generico reversed it into a hard suplex. Generico nailed the brainbuster and everyone thought that was the finish but Strong kicked out.
Strong tossed a chair in trhe ring and as the referee was removing it, killed Generico with the ROH title belt and nailed the running leg lariat and the Gibson Driver for the pin.
Your winner and still ROH champion Roderick Strong!
Strong took the mic and bragged about still being the champion, ripping on those who were really over. He ripped on the talents he had beat, leading to The Briscoes, Chris Daniels and Davey Richards coming out. Strong walked out as Daniels and the Briscoes and Richards all cut promos on him, then put over the legends working at Wrestlereunion this weekend.
Notes: They set the building for 900 and it appears they filled it...Edge, The Young Bucks, Raven, Sean Morley, Superstar Graham, Traci Brooks, Jackie Gayda-Hass, DDP, ODB, Adam Pearce, Mike Graham and Shane Helms were all at the show watching....
2011 - Dragon Gate USA held their United NYC event at BB Kings in where else, New York. Stu Carapola filed the following live report:
-Preshow Notes: BB Kings makes for a great, intimate atmosphere for a wrestling show. I have to give Dragon Gate USA credit for continuing to find unique venues to run shows in. They've already announced a return date for Sunday, June 5th. They're going to start at 7pm sharp and run straight through without an intermission.
-Reby Sky started the show by coming out to unveil the Open The United Gate Tag Team Title belts, and then we went right into the first match.
-Akira Tozawa defeated Sami Callihan in an unbelievably stiff match. They started off with a stiff chop exchange and then wiped one another out with a double clothesline before exchangeing more stiff chops. They then took turns missing flying moves off the ropes until Tozawa caught Callihan with a senton for 2 and then Callihan rolled out to the floor and Tozawa went for a dive, but Callihan moved and Tozawa hit the barricade. Callihan hit an exploder suplex on the floor and rolled Tozawa inside for a 2 count. Callihan continued working Tozawa over in the corner and went up top, but Tozawa knocked him to the floor and hit a dive through the ropes, then got back in and hit another one. Tozawa took control on Callihan and went for a superplex but ended up fighting with Callihan on the top rope. Callihan knocked Tozawa off and hit him with a missile dropkick that was like a shotgun blast and then they exchanged chops and forearms that would have had Atlas running for cover. Tozawa hit a quick series of strikes and a lightning fast enziguiri, but Callihan dumped him on his head with a backdrop suplex, then Tozawa responded with one of his own, and they exchanged backdrop suplexes until they started charging at each other with hard running forearms. Callihan with a kick to the head, and then deadlifts Tozawa into a backdrop suplex, Tozawa responds with a deadlift suplex of his own and both men are down. Callihan takes the straps down and they exchange Yakuza kicks and then Callihan knocked his jaw into the next room with a running forearm for 2. Callihan goes for a running powerbomb but Tozawa rolls through and hits a Shining Wizard for 2, then hits another Shining Wizard and deadlifts Callihan into a bridging German Suplex for the win. This was just ridiculous in the sheer stiff violence we saw.
-Jon Moxley gets the mic after the match and says that Akira Tozawa is a winner, unlike the Yankees or the Jets, or the Notorious 187 Homicide, who isn't here tonight defending his turf because he's home in Brooklyn bitching about Vince Russo. Reby Sky comes in and grabs the mic out of Moxley's hands and says that he's lucky that Homicide isn't here because he would kick Moxley's ass, and tells her on behalf of everyone here to shut up. Moxley says that she's obviously got a crush on him, and Reby slaps him, so Moxley says that it's 2011 and he made a resolution not to hit anymore women, but he changed his mind and grabs Reby by the hair. Suddenly, Jigsaw runs in to make the save and jump start their match.
-Jon Moxley defeated Jigsaw by submission with a crossface chickenwing. Jigsaw opens up on Moxley with chops but takes a charge and gets dumped to the floor where Moxley Russian legsweeps him into the guardrail and then sends him back into the ring where he hits an elbowblower and cranks on the arm with a hammerlock. Moxley with a stiff clothesline and then a release vertical suplex and puts on a Kimura Lock. Jigsaw escapes so Moxley sits him up on the top rope and goes for a superplex, but Jigsaw picked him up and dumped him into the ring and came off with an elbowdrop for 2. Jigsaw begins to rally back and goes for the Jig And Tonic, but Moxley escapes and rolls Jigsaw up for 2. Jigsaw with a leaping enziguiri and a brainbuster for 2, then comes off the ropes and Moxley rips his head off with a clothesline and then goes for a Tiger Suplex, but Jigsaw counters to a victory roll for 2. Jigsaw with a superkick then goes up top and hits a double stomp for a very close 2. Jigsaw argues with the referee but Moxley hits the Ace Crusher out of nowhere for 2 and then locks in the crossface chickenwing, but Jigsaw makes the ropes. YAMATO comes out to ringside as Jigsaw nails Moxley with a superkick and YAMATO drags Jigsaw out to the floor and rams him into the guardrail. YAMATO tosses Jigsaw back in the ring and Moxley reapplies the crossface chickenwing for the submission win.
-Moxley asks if we're all enjoying the first part of the show like he is, then introduces the next Open The Freedom Gate Champion, YAMATO. He said he knew that all New Yorkers were quitters, and Jigsaw is afraid to show his face just like Homicide. BxB Hulk's music hits and he comes out to confront Moxley and YAMATO. He tells Moxley to shut up, but YAMATO nails him from behind, and Moxley says he thinks Hulk said he wants to defend the title right now and tells the referee to ring the bell.
-YAMATO defeated BxB Hulk to win the Open The Freedom Gate Title. YAMATO continues his surprise attack, working Hulk over with hard forearms and choking him on the ropes, and suddenly Julius Smokes comes out of the crowd and attacks Jon Moxley and they brawl all the way out of the room. Hulk starts coming back with fast kicks and they do a fast paced sequence as Smokes and Moxley fight back through the room and to the back. Hulk takes YAMATO out with a series of dropkicks, then gets a three quarter nelson and peppers YAMATO with kneestrikes and then hits a diving dropkick for 2. Hulk hits a running Shooting Star Press for 2 and then unloads with kicks but YAMATO catches his heel and trips him into a heel hook. Hulk escapes that and YAMATO charges him in the corner, then ties Hulk's ankle around the top rope and kicks him in the knee, then ties Hulk's arms in the ropes and hits a running dropkick to send Hulk to the floor. YAMATO gets a mouthful of water and spits it in Hulk's face and then stands on his throat. They head back into the ring and YAMATO ties up Hulk's leg in another submission, then lets him out and kicks him right in the face and gets a figure four. Hulk makes the ropes so YAMATO goes for a vertical suplex but Hulk blocks and comes off the ropes and runs right into a hard spear from YAMATO, who follows that right up with an ankle lock. Hulk goes for an enziguiri but YAMATO ducks and gets a half crab but Hulk again made the ropes so YAMATO takes him to the corner and lays in some hard chops. YAMATO tried to whip Hulk across the ring but Hulk's knee went out and he just collapsed. YAMATO breaks into a big grin and continues nailing him and hits a Hot Shot onto the top turnbuckle, but tries a charge and Hulk gets a boot to YAMATO's face and a springboard dropkick. Hulk kips up and unloads on YAMATO with a series of fast kicks and hiits a twisting senton for 2. Hulk clobbers YAMATO with a spinkick to the face but YAMATO gets a sunset flip and rols that right into a high angle half crab. Hulk makes the ropes so YAMATO nails him with a running forearm and goes to the second rope, but Hulk runs in with a leaping spinkick and puts YAMATO up top and hits a moonsault powerbomb. THAT was awesome. Hulk hits a running Yakuza kick in the corner and hits more kneestrikes to the head and a leaping scissor kick for 2. Hulk goes up top but YAMATO hit a leaping dropkick and then hit a superplex where Hulk nearly hit one of the lights. They exchange forearms in the middle of the ring and then exchange kicks until Hulk hit a Guile Kick and a hard clothesline. YAMATO responds with a leaping enziguiri but Hulk hit another series of kicks and the EVO but only got a very close 2. Hulk goes for a second EVO but YAMATO slips out and goes for the sitout piledriver, but Hulk escapes that and kills him with a series of kicks and a superkick to the face for another VERY close 2. Hulk goes for a twisting Phoenix Splash but didn't have enough clearance and fell short, coming down bad on his knee. He hit several more kicks and went for the EVO again but YAMATO slipped out and caught Hulk in a choke. YAMATO suplexed him out of the choke and hit a superkick to the face for 2, then went for the sitout piledriver and the move didn't come out quite right, but Hulk sold it anyway and YAMATO pinned him to become the second DGUSA Champion. Excellent match, though I was a little surprised to see Hulk drop the title on the first night out.
Jimmy Jacobs comes in and says that it looks like YAMATO is at the end of his road to the DGUSA Title, and shakes YAMATO's hand and tells him to enjoy it while it lasts. Jacobs says his road begins here and asked for the biggest and baddest, and tells Brodie Lee to come out right now.
-Brodie Lee defeated Jimmy Jacobs. Brodie tosses Jacobs around like a rag doll and Jacobs goes for a series of chops, but Brodie no-sells and lays in one of his own, so Jacobs goes to the eyes and comes off the ropes right into a dropkick from Brodie. Jacobs knocks Brodie to the floor and tries a dive but Brodie catches him and rams him into the ringpost. They head back into the ring and Brodie picks him up for a big vertical suplex where Jacobs' feet nearly touch the ceiling before dropping him. Brodie continued to work Jacobs over with power moves but Jacobs ducked and dodged until Brodie hit a superkick and Jacobs reversed a Boss Man Slam to a sunset flip attempt, and Brodie yanked him up by the neck and Jacobs countered to the End Time. Brodie slipped out so Jacobs dropkicked him ot the floor and went for a dive, but Brodie moved and then gave Jacobs a running powerbomb onto the stage. They head back in and Brodie rips Jimmy's head off with a clothesline for 2, but missed a running boot in the corner and Jacobs rolled him up for 2. Jacobs with a springboard Ace Crusher and then hits a top rope senton for 2. Brodie immediately recovered and hit a sitout powerbomb for the win.
-Ronin comes out dancing while Rich Swann does an a capella rap and they get in Blood Warriors' faces. Chuck Taylor tells them that tonight, they'll prove that they belong in the ring with the DGUSA wrestlers and they belong in Japan, and challenge them to get the tournament started right now.
-In a first round match in the Open The United Gate Title Tournament, Johnny Gargano & Chuck Taylor defeated Naruki Doi & Ricochet. They did the usual back and forth opening stuff but Gargano hit repeated curb stomps on Doi and a dropkick to the face. Ricochet tags in and goes at it with Taylor in a fast paced sequence but gets Taylor in the Blood Warriors' corner and he and Doi tag in and out on Taylor. They spend several minutes working Taylor over until Taylor rammed Ricochet into Gargano's feet and then they took control. Ronin hit a windmill backbreaker/Shining Wizard combo for 2 and then Gargano got Ricochet in a double guillotine. Ricochet escaped and went for a standing moonsault, but Gargano got the feet up and tagged Taylor, who slammed Ricochet and yelled that he was going to go for a moonsault, but instead just dropped straight backward into a senton for 2. Gargano ran over and nailed Doi, but Ricochet dumped Taylor and then hit a leaping enziguiri and made the hot tag to Doi. Doi dropped Gargano into the ropes and hit a running splash against the ropes. Taylor slammed Doi and went for a moonsault, but Doi nailed him and hung him upside down, then tripped Gargano into him in the corner and followed that up with a Doi/Ricochet double dropkick for 2. Taylor caught Doi with a Blockbuster but Ricochet came in with a big flying headscissors on Taylor and then went for a Guile Kick moonsault, but Taylor caught him and darted him into a Gargano Ace Crusher for 2. Now Doi comes in and nails Taylor and goes to the ropes, but Gargano hit a spear through the ropes and then Ricochet hit Gargano with a flying something off the top for 2. Ricochet hit Gargano and Taylor with the Space Flying Tiger Drop, but Gargano nailed Ricochet as he went for a moonsault off the stage and Ronin hit a Doomsday Device on the floor. Ronin tosses Ricochet back in and they hit an insane combo I can't even describe but Doi comes in and breaks up the fall. Taylor hits Sole Food on Doi but Ricochet catches him with a cartwheel into an inverted Frankensteiner, and thenDoi hits Doi Fives and the sliding kick but Gargano breaks up the cover. Ricochet and Gargano exchange blows in the middle of the ring and Gargano goes for the spear through the ropes, but Ricochet catches him and Doi hits the assisted top rope senton, followed by a Lionsault from Ricochet for 2. Doi with a sitout powerbomb and Ricochet misses a twisting sention, and Gargano hits a superkick and then dives onto Doi on the floor as Taylor hits the Awful Waffle on Ricochet for the win. Awesome match, tons of action and it could have gone either way. Ronin goes up 2 points.
-Gargano grabs the mic and says that they just proved how awesome they are and that they should be in Japan. Rich Swann grabbed the microphone and called them the best group in the world and called out Austin Aries. Aries came out and Swann made the mistake of turning his back to Aries, and Aries hit him with a missile dropkick to jumpstart their match.
-Austin Aries defeated Rich Swann by submission. Aries went right to work on Swann and caught him with the Last Chancery right off the bat, but Taylor and Gargano pulled him out of the hold and Swann was able to nail him. Swann piefaced Aries in the corner and went for a chop, but poked him in the eyes instead. Aries fought back with a chop and ear clap as Swann yelled that he was sorry, but Aries showed mercy by continuing to chop him. Swann goes to the eyes again and runs from Aries, leapfrogging him a pair of times but Aries stops short on the third and Swann just turns around and slaps Aries in the face, then snapmares him and hits an indy kick for 2. Now Aries starts leapfrogging Swann and goes to slap him but just grazes him, so he slaps him again for a more pleasing sound. Aries misses a crossbody out of the corner, but nails Swann with a roaring forearm to send him to the floor and goes for the Heat Seeking Missile, but Swan catches him with a superkick as he came through the ropes. Aries tries to whip Swann into the stage but Swann cartwheels onto the stage, superkicks Aries in the face, then goes for a running Frankensteiner, but Aries catches him and powerbombs him into Taylor, then heads back into the ring and hits the Heat Seeking Missile on all three members of Ronin. Aries rolls Swann onto the apron and hits a slingshot double axhandle, then comes back in with a slingshot senton for 2. Aries gets an STO and the Pendulum Elbow for 2 and then a diving back elbow for another 2. Aries with a figure four stump puller, but Swann escapes and finally gets the advantage with a hanging DDT and a big leaping splash for 2. Swann with a leaping boot to the face but Aries started firing back and Swann hit a spinkick to the ribs and a spinkick in the corner. Swann whips Aries to the corner but Aries dodges the carge and starts firing away with fast rights and lefts. Swann conutered and got Aries in a weird bridging Muta Lock and then set Aries on the top rope, Aries knocked him off but Swann hit a leaping enziguiri for 2, then a running shooting star press for another 2. Swann ran Aries over with a running clothesline and Aries acts like he legitimately hurt himself and rolls to the floor holding his shoulder. Aries takes a moment to walk around the ring and then heads back in where Swann starts working on the arm, but tries a charge and Aries hits a Japanese armdrag and then the kneebreaker/suplex combo. Aries with the IED in the corner and then goes to the Last Chancery, but his shoulder gives out and he has to release the hold so he hits the brainbuster instead and then goes up for the 450 but Swann moves and spikes Aries with a spinning flying headscissors. Swann hits a brainbuster for 2 and goes for the standing 450 but Aries blocks and puts Swann up top for a top rope brainbuster and then locks in the Last Chancery and Swann taps. This was a really good and athletic match, and while there were a couple of spots where Swann's timing was off, Swann looked really good and like he belongs in the ring with guys on Aries' level. He carries himself well and has a ton of athletic ability, and he's only going to get better the more he's in the ring with veterans like Aries.
-CIMA and Naruki Doi come out to confront Ronin after the match, and Taylor said that he'll speak for Swann, and after their earlier win and Swann's great match with Austin Aries, he says they believe they belong in Japan with CIMA. CIMA tells Taylor that what just happened to Swann proves that Ronin doesn't belong in Japan, but Taylor responds that tomorrow in Philadelphia, he and Gargano will face CIMA and Dragon Kid in the second round of the tournament, and after they beat them, CIMA will know damn well that they belong in Japan. CIMA asks Taylor if he's stupid, but then Yoshino's music hits and he and PAC come out for the main event.
-PAC looks like he's put on a lot of muscle mass. He and Dragon Kid do a chain wrestling sequence to start with neither man getting an advantage. They do a test of strength and Dragon Kid turns it into a wristlock and takes PAC down. PAC reverses to a three quarter nelson and goes for a snapmare but Dragon Kid flips through and gets a flying headscissors but PAC lands on his feet and nailss Dragon Kid. CIMA and Yoshino tag in and they do a back and forth sequence until Yoshino hits a flying headscissors and then he and PAC hit a double clothesline to wipe CIMA out. PAC springboards off Yoshino into a twisting sention and then Yoshino tags in and gets a headscissors. CIMA slips out and tags Dragon Kid in, and the rivalrly is back on! Kid with a snapmare and leaping kneedrop for 2, but Yoshino tags out to PAC and PAC holds Kid's arm for a top rope double stomp from Yoshino. Dragon Kid comes back quickly with a spinkick to PAC and then tags CIMA, who comes in with a slingshot senton and traps PAC in an abdominal stretch. CIMA and Kid hit a double dropkick on PAC and Kid follows that with a corner dropkick and a diving dropkick in the corner. CIMA hits a drop toehold on PAC and then taunts Yoshino into the ring and gets him in an upside down stretch thing while keeping PAC trapped in an Indian Deathlock, and then Dragon Kid comes in and dropkicks PAC in the face. Yes, it was that difficult to describe. CIMA gives Kid an assisted senton onto Pac and then hits a senton of his own for 2, and catapults PAC into the bottom rope. He steals some fan in the front row's chair and wedges it under the bottom rope, then catapults PAC into it. Now THAT was an innovative move! PAC and CIMA had a fast paced sequence as PAC tried to escape and finally hit a leaping enziguiri and made the hot tag. Yoshino and Dragon Kid come in and they move faster than I can type, so I'll do my best. Yoshino takes out both Dragon Kid and CIMA, and PAC dropkicks Kid from the outside. Dragon Kid goes for a springboard move but Yoshino nails him and charges and Dragon Kid caught him with a Blockbuster Cutter and a spinning Stunner for 2.CIMA trips Yoshino from the floor and holds him for a Dragon Kid dive, but PAC nails Kid so CIMA comes in and goes at it with him, and that ends with CIMA hitting a double stomp and a somersault senton. CIMA with the Venus Punch and Iconoclasm, but PAC catches him with a slingshot Ace Crusher and then a slingshot dropkick. Yoshino comes in and nails Dragon Kid and they double team CIMA in the corner but Yoshino misses a missile dropkick and accidentally nails PAC. Now CIMA hits a running double kneestrike in the corner on PAC, followed by a running leg lariat from Kid and then a double top rope bulldog from CIMA. Yoshino goes up top and CIMA tries to block, and Yoshino ends up on CIMA's shoulders where Dragon Kid hits a mega Frankensteiner, followed by CIMA hitting the 2K1 Bomb and that only gets 2. CIMA with an enziguiri on Yoshino and then superkicks Yoshino into a crucifix bomb from Dragon Kid for 2. CIMA superkicks PAC as he tries to go for a leapfrog and Dragon Kid hits a windmill DDT for 2. Kid goes up top but misses whatever he was trying and then Yoshino goes for Ghanarea but Kid blocks so PAC hits a slingshot move from the outside and finishes with a twisting 450 splash for the win. There was way more going on here than I was able to keep up with, but this is what you would expect out of a DGUSA main event in terms of just the sheer anarchy of so much going on in the ring. Excellent match to end the show, and Ronin comes back out afterward for a staredown with the two teams that just wrestled. CIMA said that they're better teams than Ronin, and that Ronin doesn't belong in Japan.
So the final tally for Night One of the Open The United Gate Title Tournament is:
2-Chuck Taylor & Johnny Gargano
2-Masato Yoshino & PAC
0-Naruki Doi & Ricochet
0-CIMA & Dragon Kid
Terrific show overall, and a really strong start to their three day tour of the Northeast. My personal favorite match was Hulk vs YAMATO both because it was a great match, but mostly because of the shock title change, and that was the only thing that put it above the tournament matches because all three matches were excellent. There was nothing bad on this show, and it'll be interesting to see how the title change tonight will affect the way Hulk's remaining matches against Moxley and Tozawa play out. DGUSA kept the show to a manageable length, and made maximum use of their airtime by having one segment flow seamlessy into the next with no downtime between matches or intermissions. I thought the format of the show was an improvement over their last iPPV in October, and hopefully gofightlive.tv didn't experience any technical issues during the internet broadcast because everything else came together really well.
Thank you for following PWInsider.com's coverage of United: New York, and I again apologize for the fragmented nature of the updates, I didn't have a good internet connection and couldn't do segment-by-segment updates like usual. We'll be back tomorrow night in Philadelphia with a better internet connection for Night Two of United Weekend.
2013 - Pro Wrestling Superstars ran an event in Los Angeles, CA as part of WrestleReunion. Mike Johnson filed this live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of Pro Wrestling Superstars' debut in Los Angeles as part of this weekend's WrestleReunion festivities.
Sal Corrente opened the show welcomed everyone and said he had a friend that helped him start out WrestleReunion, so he wanted to bring him out and he has a friend as well. Out came Mick Foley with Mike Tyson. Tyson did the DX chop when he came to the ring. Foley said that he's refereeing tonight and if anyone gets out of line, he usually gets physically involved. Tonight, he's going to referee The Steiners vs. The New Age Outlaws but he doesn't want to get physically involved because he's going to work the Royal Rumble and he doesn't want to be hurt even more than he already will be. He said Mike Tyson was going to be watching his back tonight.
Tyson said he's humbled to be here and had a great time. He mentioned spending time with Superstar Graham, Sid Vicious and Brutus Beefcake. He said he was re-living his childhood and started cutting a Billy Graham style promo. That was great.
They have a Titantron video playing graphics and clips for the wrestlers.
Adam Page vs. Arik Royal
They shook hands and locked up. Royal began working over Page's arm, but he did a flip to escape. Royal grabbed a side headlock but was sent into the ropes. He shoulderblocked Page down. They went into a hot sequence with a number of reversals before facing off. The crowd loved that.
Royal nailed a spinkick and a stiff dropkick in the face for a two count. Royal went to come off the middle turnbuckle but was caught with a dropkick. He went to the outside. Page hit a twisting flip to the floor.
Big Van Vader's music hit and he made his way to the ring. The entire place chanted for him. Vader threw a chair into the ring and then entered. Royal whipped Page towards Vader, who wiped him out. Vader then clotheslined Royal. Vader worked over Page in the corner with punches.
Royal nailed Vader and he and Page worked him over in the corner. They tried to double suplex Vader but he fought them off. Vader was grabbed by Royal and Page worked him over. Page went to the top but Vader fought off Royal and caught Page in the air. He nailed the World's Strongest Slam and nailed the Vader Bomb splash off the center turnbuckle. He then chokeslammed Royal for good measure.
Vader powerbombed Page. It was brutal.
The Steiners vs. The New Age Outlaws with Mick Foley as the special guest referee.
BG James did the entire Outlaws entrance and ring introductions. Gunn then did a funny bit where he didn't remember his line and did The Rock and Steve Austin's catch phrases. The place loved it. The Steiners came out to their OLD early 1990s WCW theme "Steinerized", which popped Mike Epsenhart HUGE.
The crowd did dueling chants for each team. Scott Steiner took the mic amd said he didn't need any f****s from Los Angeles cheering for him. He told a fan "f*** you" for taking his picture. Steiner went to the floor and someone threw a beer in his face. THAT IS THE DUMBEST IDIOT EVER BORN. Steiner got in his face but somehow the guy lived. The heat for all this was incredible.
Foley said that he has a redeye plane to catch and the guy outside is the dumbest man alive. He wanted to call for a substitute referee but was reminded he was a hardcore legend by Gunn, so he said he would stay and "cower in the corner."
Scott and Gunn started out. Rick is doing his whole Dogfaced Gremline antics. Scott worked over Gunn, slamming him into the buckles and chopping him. Gunn fired back with several stomps and punches, then tagged out to Road Dogg. They went for a double clothesline but Scott held onto the ropes. Rick hit the ring and clotheslined both. The Steiners did their trademark pose.
The Outlaws regrouped on the floor. Road Dogg and Scott faced off in the ring, but Rick tagged in and started running around in circles. He bit Roadie in the rear end. Dogg went to the outside, rang the ring bell and said it was over. He took the mic and said, "I'm as progressive as the next guy, but when you stick your tongue up my ass, I draw the line. I'm not saying we can't have a drink later and talk about it, but right here in this ring, No." Foley then announced it was Los Angeles, so he was authorizing tongue in the ass. Tongue in the ass was then chanted by the crowd. We have our first nominee for the 2012 chant of the year award.
Gunn tagged in but was worried about locking up with Rick. Rick grabbed him in the corner and tried to pull Billy's tights down. Foley reached in and pulled them up. Gunn missed a charge in the corner so Steiner bit him in the rear. Gunn ran to Road Dogg and hugged him around the waist. Roadie tagged in, but didn't want any part of Rick. He asked for Scott. Rick refused, so they locked up. Rick locked him up and tagged Scott, who unloaded with several rights.
Road Dogg ducked a clothesline and nailed him with a series of his trademark right hands and danced before dropping an elbow for a two count. Scott kicked off a charge in the corner and nailed a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Scott argued with Foley, allowing Rick to choke Roadie against the ropes. Foley tookthe mic and said, "Mike Tyson for the love of God, where are you?"
The Steiners worked over Roadie for several near falls. Roadie kicked off Steiner and tagged Gunn, who cleaned house. Gunn missed a splash in the corner and was nailed by Scott with an overhead belly to belly suplex or a two count. Scott didn't like the count Foley gave him and shoved Foley. Foley pulled out Socko but when Steiner turned around, Mick tossed it to the floor. Gunn attacked Scott and nailed the Famouser and pinned Scott.
Your winners, The New Age Outlaws!
A really fun match. It was one of those "you had to be here to get it" type of deals with all the comedy and nostalgia. I don't know whether it will hold up on tape but it was entertaining as hell here.
World of Sport Rules: Three Five Minute Rounds: Colt Cabana vs. Dave Finlay
They have cornermen with towels and buckets working the corners.
Round One:
They locked up and Cabana was muscled to the ropes. They had a clean break. Finlay grabbed a side headlock and muscled him back into the corner. Finlay grabbed a leg but Cabana used the ropes to force a break. Finlay worked him to the mat and drilled him with an elbow to the nose. Finlay tied him up on the mat then covered him for a one count before Cabana got his shoulder up.
They locked up and Finlay controlled the early going until Cabana was able to back him into the corner. The referee called for a clean break and Cabana finally let him free. They began working over each other's arms with different variations of wristlocks and armbars. They ended up in the corner and when the referee instructed Finlay to back up, he slapped Cabana.
They locked up again and Cabana used a side headlock takeover. Cabana worked him over with the side headlock as the round ended.
Cabana continued holding the headlock after the round ended, which pissed off Finlay. Cabana did some silliness in between the rounds. It was great.
Round Two:
Finlay came out strong with several forearms and whipped Cabana hard into the buckles. He drilled Cabana with an elbow for a two count and stomped Cabana's hands and face. Finlay threw Cabana through the ropes to the floor. Cabana did some silliness where he had his cornerman slap him to psych him up. Cabana tried to grab Finlay's legs and pull him out but Finlay stepped back. Cabana kept reaching more but Finlay kept stepping back.
Finlay went to the floor. Cabana instructed his cornerman to slap Finlay. He smartly didn't want to do it. Back in the ring, Cabana grabbed a side headlock and drilled Finlay with several shots. He began working over Finlay's arm but Finlay nailed him so hard Cabana went to the floor. Finlay followed and worked him over there. Back in the ring, Finlay locked on a crossface varation. He maneuvered Cabana into position where he could apply additional torque to the arm, then cinched in a hammerlock while Cabana was pulled into Finlay's body. The bell rang.
Finlay refused to release the hold after the bell rang.
As Cabana drank water in the corner, Finlay charged and attacked him.
Round Three:
Finlay worked him over the mat. Finlay began beating him down, targeting Cabana's shoulder for damage. Finlay tied his arm in the rope and worked it over. Cabana tried to fight back but was cut off and whipped hard into the corner. Finlay tied him up and worked over Cabana's wrist and arm. He drilled Cabana with a short arm clothesline but was shocked with a sunset flip for a two count. Cabana came to life with a series of rights, the flying a**hole in the corner and a big elbow.
Finlay rebounded off the ropes but was nailed with the Butt Butt. Finlay sent him into the ringpost shoulder first twice, then nailed his finisher, scoring the pin.
Your winner, Dave Finlay!
A really good wrestling match with equal parts matwork and Cabana silliness until it began getting more serious as they went on. Truly entertaining from start to finish.
Yoshihiro Tajiri & Mikey Whipwreck vs. Caleb Konley & Cedrick Alexander
This was the first time Tajiri and Mikey have teamed since 2001. The fans chanted "ECW." Whipwreck and Konley started out. Big "Mikey" chant. They locked up and Konley grabbed a wristlock. Mikey shoulderblocked him down and nailed several hiptosses, then a flying head scissors. The fans chanted, "You still got it" and Mikey acted like he was being humble.
Alexander and Tajiri both tagged in. Huge pop for Tajiri. They locked up and did some nice back and forth counters and matwork. Tajiri cinched in an armbar. Tajiri unloaded with his signature kicks. Mikey came in and he and Tajiri did ALL their signature tag spots.
Whipwreck hit a flip dive over the top to the floor on both of his opponents. The fans chanted for Tajiri to do one but he instead bowed and gestured like, "Thanks but that's OK." Back in the ring, Konley locked a sideheadlock on Mikey. Tajiri tried to sneak in but was caught by the referee so he backed up backwards. That was funny.
Alexander and Konley double teamed on Mikey but Tajiri broke up the pin. Alexander tried to go at Tajiri and intice him to come in so he could inflict more damage on Mikey. They nailed a double Russian Legsweep on Mikey for a two count. Alexander worked over Mikey and whipped him into the corner. He charged but was kicked off. Mikey went for a tornado DDT out of the corner but Alexander landed on his feet. Mikey nailed him with a superkick.
Tajiri and Konley both tagged in. Tajiri tagged each of them with kicks and nailed the handspring elbow on Konley. Tajiri was awesome. Whipwreck nailed a Frankenmikey on Alexander. Konley went to the top but Mikey whipped Alexander into him. Tajiri sprayed mist in Konleys' face. Whipwreck hit the Whippersnapper off the ropes and Tajiri scored the pin.
Your winners, Mikey Whipwreck & Tajiri!
Great tag match! Everyone looked really good and even Mikey pulled out all his old tricks. So good.
Mascarita Dorada vs. DEMUS 316
They locked up and Dorada did a series of Lucha reversals to ward off DEMUS. The crowd chanted for Dorada. DEMUS snapmared him and used several Lucha armdrags to wear him down, then played to the crowd. Dorada pulled himself up and shook off the effects. Dorada used a headscissor takedown to send DEMUS flying.
They doing matwork. DEMUS powered out and lifted Dorada on his shoulder but Dorado flipped him over. Dorada was muscled up but again flipped him, this time sending DEMUS to the aisle. Dorado hit a dive to the floor. They met in the center of the ring, where Dorada nailed DEMUS and lifted him on his shoulders, which was quite the sight, and slammed him. Dorado hit a moonsault off the ropes but DEMUS got his knees up on the second.
DEMUS worked over Dorada and slammed him hard. DEMUS sent him to the floor and pressed him over his head and teased throwing Dorada into the crowd. He intead slammed him into the ringpost. DEMUS returned to the ring, dragging Dorada with him. DEMUS whipped him into the ropes, then caught and slammed him.
DEMUS lifted up Dorada and flung him across the ring, turning him inside out in the process. That was sick. Dorada avoided a charge in the corner and nailed a springboard dive into the ring. He peppered DEMUS with a series of knee strikes and a flurry of crazed spinning Lucha moves that sent him out to the floor. Dorada then did a back senton splash to the floor. That was nuts!
Dorada hit a springboard into a bodypress back into the ring and then hit the same series of spinning Lucha moves into a pinfall combination for the pin.
Your winner, Mascara Dorada!
If you like Lucha, you'll really enjoy this as it was a crazy blend of reversals and dives. The crowd loved this a ton.
No DQ, No Countout: Tommy Dreamer vs. Kevin Steen
This is their first meeting in any form. They locked up and they traded headlocks. Dreamer was sent into the ropes and they nailed shoulders but neither man budged. Steen grabbed a waistlock but Dreamer reversed it. Steen backed him into the corner. Steen called for a clean break then nailed Dreamer low and questionable. He worked over Dreamer with a series of rights against the ropes.
Steen choked him against the ropes and bit him, then nailed a right hand and beat Dreamer down in the corner. He nailed a chop across the chest. Dreamer reversed an Irish whip and nailed Steen with a big kick. Steen went to the floor. Dreamer hit a flip off the apron onto him, then nailed him with a water to the face. They battled around ringside. Dreamer called for tossing him into the crowd but was cut off and nailed with an atomic drop on the railing. They brawled through the crowd. Steen nailed Dreamer with a crutch. They brawled into the hard cam position and Dreamer was punched off, landing on the table we are doing coverage from. The table and Dreamer bounced over painfully.
They brawled through the crowd and returned to the ring, where they tossed weapons into the ring. They wedged a plastic bin in the corner and Steen whipped Dreamer into it. Steen began beating Dreamer with a cane. Dreamer came back with a sunset flip but Steen kicked out and turned it into a Sharpshooter. Dreamer made it to the ropes and Steen was forced to break it. Sreen worked him over, ripping off his shirt. Dreamer fired back but missed a charge into the corner, nailing his shoulder on the ringpost.
Steen nailed him with a stop sign in the corner then nailed a flip bump into the corner onto Dreamer and the sign. Steen continued working on Dreamer. Steen went to the top but Dreamer cut him off and went for a superplex. He nailed it. They fought to their feet and battled back and forth with punches. Steen whipped Dreamer into the ropes but Dreamer caught him and went for a piledriver. Steen lowblowed him and nailed a DDT for a two count.
Steen went to the top for a moonsault but Dreamer nailed him and tied him to the tree of woe. He dug a cane into Steen's privates, then placed the stop sign in his face for the 'ECW' running dropkick. Dreamer went to the back and brought out a guard rail section. He placed it into the center of the aisle and tried to suplex Steen out to the floor. Steen broke free and nailed a superkick, Dreamer bumped to the apron and the floor.
They battled on the apron, where Dreamer DDT'd him. Dreamer brought the guard rail into the ring. Dreamer placed the ring bell onto Steen's privates, then took a giant Thor like hammer and nailed him with it. Dreamer yelled, "Triple H's hammer ain't f***ing sh**." Steen nailed Dreamer and sent him into the rail. Steen hit a senton onto the rail for the pin.
Your winner, Kevin Steen!
Great brawl!!!
Steen took the mic and told Dreamer that he didn't know what to expect when they announced this match. He said that he didn't expect this and that Dreamer is one of the toughest men alive. Raven hit the ring and tripped Steen, then grabbed Dreamer and DDT'd him. Steen, when he recovered, called Raven an "a**hole" and that Dreamer is one of the toughest motherf***ers alive.
We are at intermission!
We are back! Sal Corrente pointed out some of the legends in attendance, including Superstar Graham, Destroyer Dick Beyer and then some of the other talent who are in attendance, including Sunny, who took the mic and said she was happy to be here for the third year in a row. Corrente then introduced Kevin Von Erich, who got a huge reaction. The crowd chanted, "Thank you Kevin."
Roderick Strong vs. Jake Manning
They did some nice back and forth matwrestling to open the match. They went back and forth until Strong nailed a leg lariat and worked over Manning with a series of chops in the corner. Manning was nailed with a back suplex but kicked up at two. Strong ripped at Manning's face and worked him over but Manning fought back.
Strong chopped away at him in the corner. He whipped Manning into the corner but was kicked off. Manning nailed an elbow for a two count. He controlled Strong and drilled him in the corner with a shoulderblock. Strong kicked back but Manning got the better of it. Strong rolled to the outside. Manning followed but was drilled with a series of hard chops. Manning battled back with his own and slammed Strong facefirst into the apron.
Back in the ring, Manning covered him for a two count and locked in a side chinlock. Strong fought his way out but was caught with a sunset flip for a two count. They went back and forth into a series of near falls. Strong drilled him with a stiff leg lariat. Strong nailed several suplexes but Manning kept kicking out. Strong went for a Fireman's Carry but Manning escaped and used an Airplane Spin for a two count.
Manning nailed a backdrop into an over the knee backbreaker for a pinfall but Strong had his foot on the rope. Strong nailed a top rope sunset flip for a two count. He kicked off a Manning charge and nailed the Olympic Slam for a two count. Strong went for the Boston Crab but was kicked off. Strong used a jackrabbit rollup for a two count but was drilled with a kick and nailed with a running leg lariat for the pin.
Your winner, Roderick Strong!
Solid back and forth match.
Davey Richards vs. Harry Smith
Richards didn't have the ROH title with him. They locked up and stared going back and forth with counters and reversals. They went to the mat but started going back and forth and finally returned to their feet. They did a long Japanese style build for a long match with tons of great counters and reversals before finally facing off. It was great stuff.
Smuthg grabbed an armbar and worked over Richards' arm for a long time. He slammed Richards down for a two count and whipped him into the corner, then brought him back down and worked on the wrist and arm. Richards finally ran and sent Smith to the floor. Richards ran across the apron with a sick kick to the face then hit an inside suicide dive to the outside.
Back in the ring, Richards nailed a Japanese style missile dropkick on Smith. Smith tried to kick him off from several charges but Richards finally scored with a dropkick to the knees in the corner. Richards began focusing on Smith's knee, working him over with a leglock. Smith fought to his feet but missed a kick. Richards drop a leg onto him. Smith tried to roll him up for a two count. Richards went right back to working over Smith's leg with a one-legged crab, then cinching in a crossface as well.
Smith finally kicked him off into the corner and rolled him up, then nailed a powerslam for a two count. Smith placed him on the top and went for a superplex. Richards battled back and they fought but ultimately, Smith nailed a standing verticle superplex off the top. That was nuts and it was only good for a two count.
They recovered and battle back and forth with forearms and chops. Richards nailed a series of kicks and a hard clothesline, but it only served to fire Smith up. Richards nailed another but that only led to Smith nailed a killer superkick for a two count. Smith nailed a drop down powerbomb for a two count. Harry charged Smith but was caught with an anklelock. Richards came off the top with a sick double stomp for a two count. Richards nailed a stiff kick to the head and locked in another anklelock. The crowd chanted for Harry to break free. He fought for the ropes, then rolled through, sending Richards into the turnbuckle.
Richards went after Smith's leg but Smith rolled through with an armbar. Richards reversed it into an anklelock. Smith reversed it into one of his own and scissored Richards' leg. Richards turned it into a Sharpshooter. Smith reversed it into one of his own. Richards small packaged him for a two count. Smith kneed Richards in the face for a two count. The place chanted, "This is awesome" and they were right.
Smith went for a powerbomb but Richards rolled through and covered Smith for the pin.
Your winner, Davey Richards!
Really great wrestling match that harkened back to the era of Liger, Benoit, Malenko, Guerrero, Hase, etc. from the glory era of New Japan. The perfect mix of hard hitting strikes, dives and great, great, great matwrestling and reversals. So great.
Richards took the mic after the match and said, "How stupid are they up North for letting someone like you go, eh?" He pointed out the differences between them but said they also have their similarities. He said that they have let their wrestling talk for them and earned their place to be in the ring. He thanked Harry for being like him and for the match they just had.
The crowd chanted, "Thank you Harry." Harry took the mic and said that it was great to hear the fans chanting his name. "Better than hearing Michael Cole every Monday night." He said that no matter whether he moves into MMA, pro wrestling will always be number one for him.
Smith and Richards embraced and raised each others' arms. Great stuff.
Sadly, I somehow deleted and lost the coverage of the next match when I needed to rebootbut El Generico & Great Sasuke defeated The Young Bucks in a super back and forth tag match that was everything you'd expect it to be. Just great stuff.
The Legends WrestleRoyal.
Ken Shamrock is a special enforcing referee.
The first man out is Matt Classic. The second is Lanny Poffo. Classic worked over Poffo early and put on the claw. Classic went to the top, then down to the middle and finally the bottom turnbuckle for a splash but missed. Poffo nailed a moonsault. Poffo tried to take off Classic's mask but Classic fought back.
The third man was Rock Riddle!
Riddle strolled out, taking his time. Classic dared him to get in the ring but Riddle stayed on the floor with his female companionship.
The fourth man out was Carlos Colon!
Colon hit the ring and locked Poffo in a headlock. He nailed Poffo and Classic. Riddle finally entered the ring and worked over Poffo as Classic and Colon battled.
The fifth man out was Gangrel!
Gangrel began beating on Poffo with headbutts. Colon took down Riddle. Gangrel nailed Classic with a thrust to the throat and tried to bite his neck.
The sixth man out was Jesse Hernandez.
He went at it Classic. Hernandez got a big pop since he still runs EWF here. He and Gangrel worked over Riddle. Colon tried to throw out Poffo.
The seventh man out was Mando Guerrero.
Guerrero went right after Classic. Everyone battled.
Next out was Kevin Sullivan, who started attacking everyone with a stick. Classic tried to shake his hand but was nailed with it as well. Colon got the stick and worked over Sullivan with it. The battle continued.
Next out was Piloto Suicida, who went right after Lanny Poffo; Everyone battled each other.
The tenth man in was Tommy Dreamer. Poffo was eliminated as Dreamer and Gangrel traded blows. Dreamer and Classic battled in the corner. He tried to force Classic out but Gangrel attacked him from behind.
The eleventh man out was Robbie E of TNA fame. E took the mic and said he was going to make history tonight because he's going to be the youngest legend to ever win the Legends Battle Royal. Dreamer did a fist pump for him and tossed E out. That was pretty funny.
Number 12 was Virgil. He came out to Ted DiBiase's music, so he got a big pop, then everyone turned on him. Dreamer tossed out Mando. Carlos Colon was tossed.
Number 13 was Greg Valentine. Everyone battled while Classic did squats in the corner.
Number 14 was Konnan. Konnan was dressed in his WCW era gear and did the most terrible somersault clothesline ever on Dreamer but hey, he's only got one hip.
Number 15 was Dan Severn. Number 16 was Jimmy Hart. Number 17 was the Godfather who came out with the entire Arenachicks roster as his Hos. Gangrel saw them and jumped out of the ring to get one, eliminating himself. Everyone in the ring was cracking up.
Number 18 was the man who taught the British Bulldogs psychology, Brutus Beefcake. Jimmy Hart was tossed out.
Number 19 was a guy who won an Ebay auction to enter. He was booed out of the place. Classic placed him over the top but he slipped back in, Beefcake put him to sleep and cut his hair. Severn tossed Virgil. Beefcake nailed the fan and tossed him over
Number 20 was Raven. He refused to enter the ring and gave Dreamer the finger. Kevin Steen attacked him and tossed Raven into the ring, Dreamer DDT'd him and tossed him out, then went over the top to follow and they brawled to the back. Dan Severn and Ken Shamrock had words. Everyone started getting tossed out left and right.
It came down to Godfather and Beefcake. Beefcake was tossed, so Godfather wins and dances with all the Hos. Godfather said it's been awhile since he did this and asked everyone to do it with him. He did his while spiel from the Godfather era and led the crowd to say "Pimpin' ain't easy!"
Well, once again we had the most ridiculous Royal Rumble style match with a million insanely bizare and strange combinations battling it out but it was entertaining and fun. It was, well, WrestleReunion excellence.
2014 - The Allentown Morning Call reported that a grand jury will be investigating the 1983 death of WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Snuka's girlfriend, Nancy Argentino.
While the 1983 death remained an open case in Allentown, PA, there had been no movement on it in decades and her family had not aware that the case was still considered open.
Renewed interest in the case was brought about by both the anniversary of her passing last June and Snuka openly stating his side of Argentino's passing for the first time in his autobiography, which was published last year.
According to Snuka's account, Argentino (described as his road girlfriend on the East Coast; Snuka was married at the time to his second wife) was driving him to a TV taping in Allentown when she stopped to relieve herself on the side of the road. Snuka has claimed she slipped while returning to the car and hit her head on the side of the road. They continued on to their hotel, where she complained of a headache and he left her sleeping when he left for the taping. When he returned, he realized she was having trouble breathing and called for the police. Argentino passed away hours later from complications of a head injury.
Argentino's family claims of Snuka's behavior before her passing - including an scary incident involving the couple in Upstate New York where several police officers with canine dogs had to be called to quell and arrest Snuka - as well as changes in Snuka's statements about the circumstances of Argentino's passing over the years leave at the very least, a major question mark over the hows and whys of what happened.
The Morning Call article did not note why the case was now, after all these years, going to be investigated by the grand jury.
PWInsider.com was issued the following press release by the office of James B. Martin, the Lehigh Country District Attorney in Pennsylvania:
SEVENTH INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY IN LEHIGH COUNTY TO REVIEW 1983 DEATH OF NEW YORK WOMANIf you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
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