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April 4th
On this day in history in ....
1969 - The Assassins (Jody Hamilton & Tom Renesto) defeats El Mongol & Louie Tillet in Atlanta, Georgia in a tournament final to win the NWA Georgia Tag Team Title.
1984 - Jack & Jerry Brisco defeat Wahoo McDaniel & Mark Youngblood for the NWA World Tag Team Title in Spartanburg, South Carolina, starting their third reign with the belts.
1993 - Wrestlemania IX took place. Mike Johnson penned the following:
WRESTLEMANIA IX
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: Cesar's Palace
Announced Attendance: 16,891
RESULTS
*Tatanka with Sherri Martel defeated WWF Intercontinental champion Shawn Michaels with Luna Vachon via DQ when Shawn struck referee Joey Marella. Vachon made her WWF debut here. Tatanka had been chasing Michaels for several weeks on Monday Night Raw.
*The Steiner Brothers, in their Wrestlemania debut, defeat The Headshrinkers when Scott Steiner hit Samu with a Frankensteiner.
*Doink the Clown (Matt Borne) pinned Crush (Bryan Adams in his second WWF guise as Crush, the first being a member of Demolition) after a second Doink (Steve Keirn) came out from under the ring and his Crush with a prosthetic arm. The original Doink had clobbered Crush with one on TV several weeks earlier to set up this match. The two Doinks mimmick each other's moves in a bit stolen from the Marx Brothers.
*Razor Ramon (later known as Scott Hall) pinned Bob Backlund with a cradle. This was a Wrestlemania debut for both men. Backlund looked like he stepped back in and returned from the chasm his disappeared into in the mid-1980s .
*WWF Tag Team champions Money, Inc. defeated "The Mega-Maniacs" Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake by DQ. Beefcake returned to the ring against DiBiase on Monday Night Raw for the first time since his parasailing accident several years earlier and was laid out and hit with Money Inc.'s metal briefcase. The attack was so evil that Money Inc.'s own manager Jimmy Hart saw the light and abandoned them, starting his long running associated with Hogan which continues to this day. Beefcake wore a special mask to protect his face in the ring. Hogan worked the show with a bad black eye, which was attributed to a jet skiing accident. Hogan looks way smaller than he did a year prior.
*The Narcissist Lex Luger pinned Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig after hitting him with a forearm with a metal plate planted inside it from a motorcycle accident that prevented Luger from posing during the WBF championships the prior year. Luger enters the ring with several women who all hold mirrors with sparklers blowing out of them for him to pose. Once Hennig is revived after the match, he goes looking for Luger, and ends up in a brawl with Shawn Michaels to start their program.
*The Undertaker defeated Giant Gonzales via DQ in one of the worst Wrestlemania matches ever. Undertaker came out in grand style with a vulture perched next to him on a cart he rode in. Just a bad match.
*Yokozuna, with Mr. Fuji pinned Bret Hart to win the WWF championship after throwing salt in Bret's eyes. Hart had been on a tear as the new WWF champion for the last several months while Yokozuna was undefeated. Hulk Hogan came out to check on his friend Bret Hart (so close they were never seen teaming or on camera together before this) and ended up challenged by Fuji to challenge for the belt right there. Hart tells him to go for it. 90 seconds and a legdrop later, Hogan ended a Wrestlemania as champion when he wasn't even advertised for the main event.
Celebrities: Um, None. Todd Pettingill interviewed singer Natalie Cole in the crowd, but that was about it.
Notes: What more can be said about the debuting Jim Ross, in his first WWF appearance, being dressed in a toga?....The actual theme of the show was to have the biggest toga party in the history of modern times but there are some things that not even wrestling fans were willing to do.....This show is memorable as the only Wrestlemania to be held in an outdoor venue, which was actually a tennis court dressed up as a recreation of the Roman Coliseum, complete with King Cesar and Cleopatra characters...They did grand entrances to open the show with Randy Savage on an elephant and Bobby Heenan backwards on a camel to play up Heenan's comedic character. Savage, Ross, and Heenan hosted the PPV....Yokozuna became the first man in the history of Wrestlemania to main event the show and win the WWF championship at the same time at this show....There were actual Wrestlemania-themed slot machines at Cesar's Palace, promoting the show with photos of Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart and Money, Inc...This was the first Wrestlemania of the "Raw era", taking place just four months after the debut of Monday Night Raw on the USA Network....In a dark match before they went on the air, Tito Santana pinned Papa Shango, who went from a run-in during the main event last year to dark matches this year....If you watch the crowd during the scene at ringside with The Undertaker and Giant Gonzales, you'll see future Men on A Mission manager Oscar sitting there. Folklore has it that he followed several WWF officials into an elevator that weekend and with a captive audience began rapping for them and ended up with a job. A year later, he was managing the challengers for the tag straps at Wrestlemania X.
Mike Johnson: This was a show that didn't seem to click at all, and if you were a fan who was into the big push (and great matches) Bret Hart was having at the time, by the end of the show you were wanting to strangle Hulk Hogan. Shawn Michaels had an OK match with Tatanka and The Steiners looked good but nothing really clicked on this show. This was during a major downturn in WWF business and they were struggling to recreate what they were using smaller, more athletic performers. It showed.
Jess McGrath: As Mike said, not a high point for the Mania series. It started off great, actually, as Shawn Michaels-Tatanka was really good, and the Steiners had a good match with the Shrinkers. But it went downhill from there. I was so disappointed when they moved the belt off Bret and onto Hogan of all people. It was one of those deals, much like when Michaels beat HHH for the title in the elimination chamber, where it sounded like a good idea on paper, and that night it got a great reaction, but the next day you had a hangover-like feeling as you wondered to yourself, "Did they really do that?" They set up an incredibly boring post-Mania feud between Bret Hart and Lex Luger with an angle, aired on the syndicated shows the week afterward, where Luger attacked Bret with the metal plate in his forearm (remember that whole deal?) during some Wrestlemania brunch. Yes, it was actually a feud built around "You attacked me during brunch, dammit!"
Dave Scherer: This show started out with two good matches and went way downhill from there. Jim Ross' debut in a toga is probably the biggest memory that I have of the show, and that says it all. The wrestling business in the US was in the toilet at this time, no doubt about it. When we complain about the product today, we should keep that in mind! On the bright side, we were just a few months away from ECW's first super show!
Buck Woodward: I remember being bummed that Tito Santana was given a dark match on this show, as he was neck and neck with Hogan for consecutive Wrestlemania appearances. If this match had aired, and he made it to the tenth, he would have had a ten year streak. ... I also thought it was ridiculous that they killed Bob Backlund's comeback streak with a four minute loss to Razor Ramon. Little did we know how far he was about to be pushed in the company. ... The Steiners-Headshrinkers and Tatanka-Michaels matches were the only real wrestling highlights of the event. ... The toga motif for the event looked ridiculous. ... I remember joking with a friend about how "Hogan can't hog the glory this year" and then he went and did it. ... This show just didn't impress me as being anything special.
1994 - Tatsumi Fujinami defeats Shinya Hashimoto for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in Hiroshima, Japan, the fifth of his record six reigns with the title.
1998 - Rob Van Dam defeats Bam Bam Bigelow for the ECW World Television Title in Buffalo, New York, beginning the longest ECW Title reign of any kind ever (one year, eleven months).
1998 - Tatsumi Fujinami defeats Kensuke Sasaki for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, for his record sixth reign (and to date, final reign) with the title.
2000 - Shawn Michaels comes out of retirement to defeat Texas Wrestling Alliance Champion Venom in a streetfight, the culmination of a long storyline between the two. Michaels would immediately vacate the belt and go back into retirement.
2001 - Nick Gage & Nate Hatred defeat Wife Beater & Justice Pain for the Combat Zone Wrestling Tag Team Titles.
2011 - Ring of Honor on HDNet airs its final episode. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Davey Richards & the Briscoes defeated ROH World Champion Roderick Strong & ROH World Tag Team Champions The Kings of Wrestling in the final ROH match on HDNet.
Mark & Claudio start, but Mark frustrates Claudio with some chain wrestling so Hero & Davey come in, and Hero outwrestles Davey and controls him with an armbar, and Davey counters out with an armbar but Hero is able to cradle him for 2. Hero with some kneestrikes and tags in Roderick and he also works over Davey's arm, but Davey kicks his way free and tags in Jay. They do a chain wrestling sequence but Roderick catches Jay in a front facelock and tags out to Claudio, who begins working Jay over with heavy blows. Jay gets a Frankensteiner and some hard forearms of his own, then takes Claudio to the corner and tags out to Mark, who quickly finds himself on the wrong side of the ring and the recipient of a double big boot from the KOW. Hero tags in and lays in some chops, but Mark hits a leg lariat for 2 and now Hero finds himself in the wrong corner and on the receiving end of triple teaming from Davey and the Briscoes.
Hero goes to the eyes and stomps on Jay's face, then tags out to Roderick and he and Jay do a chop exchange until Roderick goes to the eyes as well. Jay recovers and takes over on Roderick, and then tags out to Mark, who nails Roderick with Redneck Kung Fu and then whips Roderick into a hard clothesline from Jay. Jay hits a hard clothesline in the corner, snapmare, and running boot to Roderick's face for 2. Roderick with a roaring elbow and tags to Claudio, who nails Jay with a big standing dropkick and then eats a Flatliner into the second turnbuckle. Tag to Mark and the Briscoes double suplex Claudio and Davey hits a diving headbutt for 2. Davey with a Texas Sunrise but Hero and Roderick both come in and boot Davey in the head, so the Briscoes come in and Beel Claudio across the ring for 2.
Davey tries for the handspring enziguiri but Claudio catches him and hits the UFO for 2, then tags out to Hero, who comes in and unloads on Davey with heavy strikes. Roderick comes in and hits a gutbuster for 2 and then Claudio tags in and goes for a chokeslam, but Davey counters to a victory roll and turns that into an anklelock. Roderick comes in and nails Davey with a leaping enziguiri and allows Claudio to hit the chokeslam for 2. Hero tags in and boots Davey in the face and hits a senton for 2, then catches him in the Stretch Plum. Jay comes in and breaks it up with a superkick to Hero, but Hero tosses Davey to the floor where the rest of his crew beat Davey up 4-on-1.
The Briscoes run over and it turns into an all-out brawl on the floor. Back in the ring, Hero powerbombs Davey for 2 and then Roderick tags in and puts the boots to Davey and unloads with forearms but Davey fires back at him and hits the handspring enziguiri. Davey makes the hot tag and the Briscoes come in and clean house on the Kings Of Wrestling, hitting stereo backdrops and then catching Hero with the double football tackle. Double superkick for Claudio, followed by a Death Valley Driver from Jay and a top rope elbowdrop from Mark for 2. Mark goes for a dive out of the corner but Claudio catches him in midair and turns it into a windmill backbreaker for 2.
Hero tags in and hits a running forearm and goes for a moonsault, but accidentally lands on his head. He's okay enough to cover for 2 and then exchange blows with Mark until nailiing a roaring Yakuza Kick on Mark. Kings with a double hiptoss into a double parachute slam for 2, and then Hero drags Mark to the middle of the ring and tries another moonsault, Mark moves but Hero lands on his feet and Mark nails him and hits an Iconoclasm for 2. Davey tags in and hits a missile dropkick and a charging forearm in the corner and a running knee as well, then sets Hero up top and hits a top rope superplex for 2. Hero catches Davey with a Yakuza Kick and a roaring elbow to send Davey to the outside and then misses a dive to the floor, and Davey goes for his insane dive but Claudio nails him and hits a pop up European uppercut and then everyone winds up in the ring hitting big move after big move. Davey gets a backdrop suplex on Hero for 2, but Roderick comes in and nails Davey and then tags himself in, hitting a leaping kneestrike for 2.
Another crazy brawl breaks out as this becomes increasingly difficult to recap, with Jay hitting a somersaujlt dive over the top rope onto the Kings and hits the guardrail on the way down, and Mark tries one of his own but Sara Del Rey knocks him off the top rope and Claudio tries a bicycle kick but Mark moves and he nails Sara. Mark dumps Claudio to the floor and everyone winds up over the guardrail and Mark hits a dive into the crowd that wipes out both Kings. Davey and Roderick are alone in the ring and Davey hits an Alarm Clock and a roaring clothesline for 2, then they exchange several reversals until Roderick hits the Tylerkick and Gibson Driver for 2 and gets Davey in the Boston Crab. Davey reverses to an anklelock but Shane Hagadorn comes in and nails Davey. Davey no-sells and Hagadorn starts begging, and Truth Martini came in to hit Davey with the Book Of Truth but Davey moved and Truth nailed Hagadorn.
Roderick comes from behind with a rollup for 2, but Davey reversed to the anklelock and grapevines the leg and Roderick taps. Davey kicked the Book Of Truth to pieces and then the winning team raised their arms in victory to the crowd. This match was just unbelievable.
2011 - WWE signed Dragon Gate USA star Jon Moxley to a developmental deal. Moxley is now known as Dean Ambrose.
2011 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Atlanta, Georgia and your announcers are Jerry ‘They Terk My Win’ Lawler and Jim ‘Just like riding a bike’ Ross.
The show starts and would you like to play The Game? Triple H comes to the ring and he does his first GameFountain since losing last night to the Undertaker.
Hunter says that this is the most tired and beat up he has been in his entire life. Last night, 71,000 fans in the Georgia Dome, he stood in the ring at Wrestlemania against the Undertaker and his undefeated streak. He says that he has never been a nervous guy, an emotional guy, a guy who gets rattled; but he stood in the ring last night with 71,000 fans and when that gong hit and he came down the ramp, Hunter says that he almost hyperventilated.
Hunter says that he has wrestled Undertaker before, he wrestled him at Wrestlemania before but it has never been like that. The undefeated streak has become everything and Taker is willing to destroy himself to keep it intact. Hunter says that he hit Taker harder than any man in his life. He beat on Taker more than any man in his life and Taker kept coming.
They both left everything in that ring last night. Apparently for him, it wasn’t good enough. Hunter says that you can call him whatever you want but no man has ever walked through his stuff like that. He says that it must be willpower because what Hunter saw being carried out of the arena in a stretcher is a man. A man who is willing to destroy himself to keep that streak intact.
A lot of people are talking about how Taker was carted out and how he is just a man and will never be the same again. Hunter says that he will never be the same again. Some are saying that the Undertaker will not be back. Hunter says that if that is the case, he isn’t buying it, but he wants to say one thing.
Hunter takes off his sunglasses and he says ‘thank you Deadman’. He gave him the fight of his life. Thank you. Hunter says that he doesn’t believe that Taker won’t be back after what happened last night. He knows that Taker will be back and Hunter says that he will be waiting.
Jim Ross mentions that he never remembered seeing Undertaker being carted out. JR also mentions that there are rumors that Michael Cole is going to call Lawler out. Lawler says that he heard that rumor too and that is why he wore his gear.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it was not a dream, Jim Ross is still doing play by play. JR mentions that Steve Austin will be on tonight because Tough Enough debuts after Raw.
JR asks Lawler about his Wrestlemania debut and how he felt about it. Lawler says that he was happy with his performance.
The new Syracuse Orange interrupts Lawler and he says that despite overwhelming odds last night, history was made at Wrestlemania. Despite biased refereeing by Steve Austin, Team Cole emerged victorious. Cole says that he overcame every obstacle to defeat Jerry Lawler. When Wrestlemania, the world was not talking about the Rock or Taker’s undefeated streak. The world was talking about Michael Cole and how he stole the show. Cole points out that he is undefeated at Wrestlemania. With Shawn Michaels now in the WWE Hall of Fame, Cole says that he is Mr. Wrestlemania.
Lawler tells Cole to shut his pie hole. He says that Cole didn’t beat anybody. A stupid computer beat him. Lawler says that he made Cole tap out and he was crying like a little girl. Lawler tells Cole that in his record book, he might have gone down as the winner. Cole will forever be known as a worthless jackass.
Cole tells Lawler to get over it because he beat him. Even with Steve Austin, Lawler couldn’t win. He wants Lawler to admit that he is a better athlete and a better man. Cole has a proposition for Lawler and he suggests a rematch.
Lawler accepts the rematch and suggests that it happen right now.
Lawler and Cole walk to the ring but Cole tells Lawler that he isn’t talking about a Wrestlemania rematch. Cole says that he was talking about a rematch from last week’s Raw against Jack Swagger.
Match Number One: Jerry Lawler versus Jack Swagger
They lock up and Swagger backs Lawler into the corner and Swagger punches Lawler instead of giving a clean break. The referee warns Swagger. Lawler blocks a punch and Lawler with punches of his own. Lawler avoids a punch by Swagger and Jerry with another punch. Swagger with a shoulder in the corner and then he Irish whips Lawler but misses a charge into the corner. Lawler with a punch and then he backs up.
Swagger with a kick and a slam to Lawler. Swagger misses a leg drop and Lawler with a punch and he gets a near fall. Lawler with a punch to Swagger’s jaw but Swagger with a clothesline. Swagger with kicks to Lawler followed by an elbow drop. Swagger walks across Lawler’s chest. Swagger sets for the double jump Swagger Bomb and he misses when Lawler moves out of the way.
Lawler with jabs to Swagger followed by a drop kick. Lawler goes to the turnbuckles and the strap almost down. Cole gets on the apron and then Lawler goes after Cole. Lawler catches up to Cole and Lawler punches Cole.
Swagger puts Lawler in the ankle lock and Lawler tries to fight out of the hold but he taps out.
Winner: Jack Swagger
Swagger refuses to release the hold and the referee has reversed the decision.
Cole yells at the referee for reversing the decision and then Cole asks JR if he thinks it is funny. Cole goes into his crime scene and wonders why JR’s barbecue sauce is in his chamber of suck. Cole squirts the sauce in Cole’s face and JR goes after Cole.
Cole runs like a little girl to the back but JR is on the warpath.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that Wrestlemania 27 was the largest crowd for an entertainment show.
We go to a Moments Ago Moment of Michael Cole attacking Jim Ross with his own barbecue sauce because JR was in his seat (but Cole is in his own cubicle.
Cole is joined by Josh Mathews and Booker T (Devon . . . hit the selective mute button).
Match Number Two: Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio versus CM Punk and Cody Rhodes in a Pairing Opponents from two matches at the Pay Per View . . . You mean it was yesterday? Match
Cody and Orton start things off in a battle of former Legacy members. They lock up and Orton backs Cody into the corner but Cody reverses things. Cody with kick to the injured leg followed by a punch. Orton with a Thesz Press and punches to Cody. Rey tags in and he kicks Cody but Cody kicks Rey back. Cody with a snap mare and kick to the back.
Rey with a kick and then a snap mare and Rey tries to take off the mask. We go to commercial.
We are back and Orton with a snap mare to Rhodes and then he hits a knee drop to the face and Orton holds his knee. Orton gets a near fall and then he puts Rhodes in a front face lock. Rey tags in and Orton with a slam and Rey with a springboard leg drop for a near fall. Rhodes with a jawbreaker and Punk tags in.
Punk pulls Rey towards his corner and then he has something to say to Orton. Rhodes tags back in and they hit a double back elbow. Rey with an inside cradle for a near fall followed by a kick and Orton tags back in. Rhodes punches Orton and then he kicks Orton before he connects with forearms.
Orton with a kick but Rhodes with an Irish whip and Orton with a clothesline out of the corner. Orton goes after Punk but that allows Rhodes to recover and he kicks Orton and then he chokes Orton in the corner. Punk tries to work on Orton’s leg but Orton kicks Punk away. Rhodes clips Orton and then he focuses on the knee. Punk tags in and they make a wish with Orton.
Punk with boots to the knee and then he gets Orton up on his shoulder. Orton gets out of the GTS and Orton tries for an RKO. Punk gets loose and he clips Orton and gets another near fall. Punk kicks Orton and we go to commercial.
We are back and Punk has Orton in an Indian Death Lock but Orton punches his way out of the hold. Punk misses a punch and Orton hits a belly-to-back suplex but he holds his leg after hitting the move. Orton struggles to make the tag but Punk pulls Orton out of the corner. Orton is able to make the tag and Rey with the seated senton followed by a springboard moonsault for a near fall.
Rey with kicks to Punk followed by a snap mare and he misses a kick. Punk sends Rey into the turnbuckles and Cody chokes Rey. Orton takes care of Rhodes from the floor. Rey with the drop kick that sends Punk into the ropes. Rey tries for the 619 but Rhodes hits the springboard round kick. Punk gets a near fall and then Rhodes tags back in.
Rhodes with a kick to the midsection followed by kicks to the chest in the corner. Rhodes with a hard Irish whip. Rhodes pulls Rey back into the corner and Punk tags in and they toss Rey into the air and Punk gets a near fall.
Punk with an arm bar. Punk tries for a power bomb but Rey counters with a rana that sends Punk into the turnbuckles.
Orton and Rhodes tag in and Orton with clotheslines followed by a power slam. Rhodes goes to the apron and it is IEDDT time. Orton turns into the mat for the RKO push ups. Orton waits for Rhodes to get up but Orton sees Punk out of the corner of his eye. Orton with an Angle Slam to Rhodes but Punk breaks up the cover. Rey sends Punk to the floor.
Orton with a European uppercut and Rey with a 619 and then Orton hits the RKO for the three count.
Winners: Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton
Steve Austin is walking in the back and he sees Triple H. Austin tells Hunter that if it happens again, he will be there and he tells Hunter that he had a hell of a match. Austin continues to walk into commercial.
We are back with a Sin Cara video package.
In case you missed it, Undertaker is 19-0. Go to WWE.com to see their stories on the match.
Glass breaks and Steve Austin makes his way to the ring because Tough Enough debuts in about 75 minutes. Cole continues to talk about last night’s win and people are probably wishing Austin had his cement truck with him.
Austin gives a hell yeah. He says that Tough Enough premieres after Raw so he asks if people are ready for it, he wants a ‘Hell Yeah’. Austin brings out the contestants to see what they have.
They finally get to the ring and Austin asks them how they are doing. He says that he has 14 men and women. They are going to put them through the basics Stone Cold Style. Austin talks about his trainers, Booker T, Bill DeMott, and Trish Stratus.
Austin says that they are 14 fine human beings, but at the end, there will be only one and it will be Stone Cold’s choice. Austin says the he will let them introduce themselves.
They introduce themselves and Austin tells them to do it short and sweet. Not all of them listen to Austin.
Austin says that it takes a lot of commitment to make it in the square circle.
Speaking of Tough Enough, The Miz comes out and Cole makes you wish he wasn’t wearing spandex.
Miz tells Steve Austin that he is absolutely right. When he was on Tough Enough in 2004, people were telling him to go back to the Real World, but after last night, no one is telling him where to go. We see footage from last night’s match between John Cena and The Miz.
Miz says that he suffered a concussion that would end most people’s careers, but he continued his match and went on to retain his WWE Title. Miz says that the 14 people in the ring can dream of being as successful as him. He main evented Wrestlemania and beat John Cena. He says that he is the most Must See Champion in WWE. He says that he is the new face of the WWE. Miz enters the ring and tells Buckwheat to move. Miz tells them to soak it in because this is the closest they are going to get to a WWE Championship.
Miz looks at Austin and he asks Steve if he wants to hold his WWE Title belt too. Miz asks Austin if he has one more run. Miz asks Austin if he thinks he is ‘tough enough’. Miz asks Austin if they should clear the ring to see if he has one more match.
Austin looks at Miz and then he tells everyone to clear the ring.
Riley attacks Austin from behind and he punches Austin. Get your Stunner count down clock running because it is coming. Riley punches Austin but Austin opens a can of whoop ass on Riley. Riley punches Austin but Austin with a Thesz Press and he punches Riley and follows that with an elbow drop. Austin kicks Riley and the waiter gets Stunnered.
Austin wants something to drink and he gets some beers. Austin gives the beers to the contestants.
Austin walks to the crime scene and Austin decides to give Cole a shower.
We go to commercial.
We back and Did You Know that a lot of countries saw Wrestlemania in a lot of languages.
Match Number Three: Alberto Del Rio with Ricardo Rodriguez and Brodus Clay versus Evan Bourne
Del Rio with a kick to Bourne and then he backs Evan into the turnbuckles. Del Rio kicks and chokes Bourne in the corner. Bourne with a spinning heel kick followed by kicks to the leg. Bourne runs into a boot from Del Rio. Del Rio with a kick to the chest and Bourne goes to the floor. Del Rio sends Bourne into the ringside barrier. Del Rio sends Bourne back into the ring and he gets a near fall.
Del Rio with a chin lock on Bourne with his knee in Bourne’s back. Bourne with a kick but Del Rio with a knee. Bourne with a rollup for a near fall followed by more kicks.
Bourne with a leaping knee for a near fall. Del Rio with a kick but Bourne escapes a suplex attempt. Bourne with a kick when Del Rio charges and then Bourne goes up top and Bourne takes too long. This allows Del Rio to hit the step up enzuigiri and he puts Bourne in the cross arm breaker and Bourne taps out.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
We go to commercial.
We are back and in case you missed Wrestlemania, we see the Georgia Dome. Did you see what happened during Wrestlemania week in Atlanta?
Cole says that he is going to challenge Jerry Lawler in the Art competition.
Vickie Guerrero comes out and she says that Snooki beat LayCool and it was their fault they lost, not Dolph’s.
Dolph congratulates Morrison for his big Wrestlemania win, or should he be congratulating Snooki. Dolph makes a challenge to Morrison and Trish to come to the ring and do what they do best. That is not getting the job done.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero versus John Morrison and Trish Stratus
The men start off and they lock up. Ziggler with a knee and punches followed by a kick to Morrison. Morrison runs Ziggler into the turnbuckles and punches Ziggler. Dolph tags in Vickie and it is time for the women to entertain. Vickie does some stretching and a cartwheel but not too well. Trish with a rollup. Trish with the matrix and Vickie looks for Trish and Trish with a rollup. Trish with chops to Vickie and Vickie screams.
Dolph distracts the referee and Vickie takes Trish down to the mat. Vickie continues to use the hair to maintain the advantage and she gets a near fall. Vickie misses a leg drop and Morrison is tagged back in.
Morrison with a forearm and clothesline followed by a leg lariat. Morrison sends Ziggler into the turnbuckles but he misses the springboard round kick. Ziggler with a release German suplex and Dolph gets a near fall but Trish breaks up the cover. Trish slaps Dolph and Morrison hits the springboard round kick. Morrison sets for the corkscrew split legged moonsault and hits it for the three count.
Winners: Trish Stratus and John Morrison
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Sheamus versus Daniel Bryan in the This Couldn’t Have Made it onto the PPV United States Title Match
They lock up and Bryan with a hammer lock but Sheamus backs Bryan into the corner. Sheamus with an elbow followed by a biel and a double axe handle for a near fall. Sheamus with a short arm clothesline followed by kicks to the head. Sheamus with a hard Irish whip.
Sheamus with forearms across the chest with Bryan in the ropes. Sheamus goes to the apron and he connects with a knee to the head. Sheamus with a reverse chin lock and arm bar. Bryan runs Sheamus into the turnbuckles but Bryan runs into a tilt-a-while back breaker. Sheamus returns to the chin lock and then Bryan with kicks to the chest. Bryan with a flying clothesline or two.
Sheamus with an Irish whip but Bryan with a knee and a running knee to the head but he only gets a two count. Sheamus with a kick to the knee followed by an attempt at the uranage back breaker but Bryan counters and tries for the LaBell Lock. Sheamus with a back breaker followed by the pump kick for the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
After the match, Sheamus kicks Bryan to show that he is the king of the United States.
Sin Cara’s music plays and he comes out and points to Sheamus. Sin Cara runs to the ring and he flips into the ring. Sin Cara with a rana to Sheamus followed by a drop kick and Sheamus goes to the apron. Sin Cara with a kick to the head followed by a double jump cross body.
Sin Cara runs up the ramp to the stage and we go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that Wrestlemania trended well without any sponsoring.
It is time for the confrontation based on what we saw at the end of Wrestlemania. Wait, that was Rock and Miz. Here is the Rock and John Cena confrontation.
Cena says that there are a lot of people upset about a certain someone’s actions at Wrestlemania. Cena says that he would have been naïve if he didn’t expect something because that certain someone was going to Atlanta to kick some candy ass so he knew he wasn’t talking about Zack Ryder. John says that he was surprised that the certain someone got involved in the finish of the match.
However, if that person didn’t get involved, it would have been a draw and that would have sucked donkeys.
Cena congratulates Miz and says that he was able to walk into Wrestlemania as Champion and walk out as Champion. Cena says that Miz is still the most annoying person on the face of the Earth, but he says that after Miz’s showing tonight, he has earned all of our respect.
Now it is time to talk about the certain someone. Cena says that after hearing Rock speak for so long, he hasn’t earned Rock’s respect. It is obvious that Rock doesn’t like him. That certain someone is here tonight. Cena says that this certain someone was supposed to be the guest host but he got involved in business. HIS business.
That means that they have some business to settle right now.
Rock’s music plays and he is not wearing his warm up jacket tonight.
Rock tells Cena that he wants to be direct with him. He asks him what did he think was going to happen. He knows that payback was coming. If you poke a shark in the eye, you get swallowed whole. Has the Rock talked trash about Cena? You bet he has. He does it better than anybody. It is what the people love. Rock tells Cena that he is wrong about respect. Rock says that he respects Cena (and the fans boo).
Rock says that just because he has been gone, he doesn’t know what Cena has done. He says that he knows that Cena lives and breathes the WWE. He knows that it is because of that drive, he has become one of the greatest WWE Superstars and Champions of all time. It doesn’t change the fact that the Rock just doesn’t like Cena.
Rock tells Cena to look at each other. They are complete opposites. They look different, they talk different, they fight different, but they are very similar. It is because whatever they do, they want to do it the absolute best, better than anyone . . . period.
Rock says that he shops at department stores while Rock shops at Baby Gap.
Cena says that he appreciates fashion tips from the Tooth Fairy.
Cena reminds Rock that he is the People’s Champ so he tells Rock to listen to the people.
Cena says that people are standing not to see them talk, but to see . . . a match. Not just a match, but a match where generations collide. Only in the WWE would you see Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson in their prime. Only in the WWE would you see Michael Jordan versus Lebron James. It is obvious that it should be John Cena versus The Rock.
Cena wants to know if Rock wants to talk about it or Bring It.
Cena takes off his shirt and Rock stands there.
Rock tells Cena he has no idea what he just asked for. He says that Cena asks him to bring it and the Rock will bring it. Rock says that they make history and do something that has never been done before. They do the biggest match up of all time. They do it on the grandest scale of all time. They do it at Wrestlemania 28.
Rock says not in any matchup. It will be the People’s Champion with Team Bring It and the Millions . . . and Millions of his fans. It will be the main event of the People’s Wrestlemania. Rock asks Cena if he can smell what he is cooking.
Rock puts his hand out and Cena shakes it.
The Corre comes to the ring and they circle Rock and Cena. The Corre go after Cena and Rock with Gabriel and Barrett going after Rock while Slater and Jackson go after Cena.
Rock punches Barrett and Cena with the Blue Thunder Bomb to Slater.
Cena sets for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and he hits it.
Now it is time for the Rock to show what he can do. Rock with a spinebuster to Barrett and it is time for the People’s Elbow.
Cena gives Slater an Attitude Adjustment and Cena’s music plays.
The music stops when Rock hits a Rock Bottom on Barrett.
They shake hands again.
We go to credits.
2012 - WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are wild, young, and on the internet from Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Josh ‘Taz Chair’ Mathews and William ‘The Professor’ Regal. Your host is Matt ‘Hemme’ Striker, but is he here this week?
Match Number One: Percy Watson versus Tyler Reks with Curt Hawkins
Reks has something to say to Watson at the start of the match. They lock up and Watson with an arm drag. They lock up again and Reks with a waist lock but Watson with a standing switch and take down. Reks with an escape and hammer lock. Watson gets back to his feet and reverses the hold and applies a side head lock. Watson blocks a hip toss and hits a drop kick followed by a butterfly suplex for a near fall.
Watson with an arm drag into an arm bar and Reks goes to the floor. Reks and Hawkins have something to say to Regal before Reks returns to the ring. Reks sends Watson into the turnbuckles and kicks him. Reks with a hammer lock and slam followed by knees to the back. Reks with a leg drop to the arm for a near fall.
Reks with a key lock. Watson with punches followed by an Irish whip. Reks with a kick to the knee followed by punches and a slam. Reks with a kick to the back followed by a shoulder tackle. Reks slaps Watson in the head and kicks him while Hawkins stares at Regal.
Watson with punches but Reks pulls Watson to the mat. Reks with a key lock and then he runs Watson into the corner and connects with a few shoulders. Reks runs into a few boots from Watson and Watson with an enzuigiri for a near fall.
Watson with a drop kick or two followed by a flying clothesline. Watson with a hip toss throw followed by the Showtime Splash. Watson misses a splash into the corner but he is able to get the three count with a rollup.
Winner: Percy Watson
After the match, Watson is cornered by Reks and Hawkins.
William Regal gets on the mic and he tells Tyler and Curt that they just lost the match and they cannot blame anyone for the loss. Regal tells them if they lay a hand or anything else on Percy, they will be suspended for six weeks. Regal asks them if it is worth it for them to do anything. He tells them to go back to the dressing room with their tails between their legs.
We go to the back and Natalya is in the seamstress’ area. Michael McGillicutty tells Natalya if he can beat Derrick Bateman tonight, he gets a rematch against Tyson Kidd. Michael says that Natalya knows about being a third generation wrestler. Natalya tells Michael to keep her family out of this because it is between him and Tyson.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Tyson Kidd has joined William and Josh at the announce table.
Match Number Two: Natalya versus Kaitlyn
Natalya tries to be Kaitlyn’s bestie before the match and they shake hands. Natalya with a side head lock take down. Natalya with a rollup and Backlund bridge for a near fall. They lock up again and Kaitlyn with a side head lock and take down but Natalya with a rollup for a near fall. Natalya with a head scissors and Kaitlyn with an escape.
Natalya works on the arm and Kaitlyn with a rollup. Kaitlyn continues to work on the arm and wrist. Natalya with a reversal and a hammer lock. Kaitlyn with a reversal and Natalya with a fireman’s carry into an arm bar.
Kaitlyn with a forearm but Natalya with a slap and forearm to send Kaitlyn to the mat. Natalya with a near fall. Natalya pulls Kaitlyn by the hair and she applies an abdominal stretch. Nataly tries for a slam but Kaitlyn escapes and hits a cross body for a near fall. Kaitlyn with a cover but Natalya bridges out and applies the Sharpshooter and Kaitlyn taps out.
Winner: Natalya
We go to the back and Darren Young is talking to Titus about what he bought for Tamina. Tamina and Alicia Fox walk in the hall and Darren knows that Tamina has been busy running through his mind all day long. Tamina and Alicia walk away. Darren says that he made reservations for them at McDonalds. Titus laughs at Darren’s line to Tamina.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: The Usos with Tamina versus Darren Young and Titus O’Neil
Jimmy and Young start things off and Young with a waist lock take down and side head lock. Young with a shoulder tackle but Jimmy with a chop. Jey tags in and they hit a double back elbow and double elbow drop. Titus tags in and Jey with punches. Titus with a boot to the head and Jey goes down. Titus barks his approval.
Young tags in and he waits for Titus to get done kicking Jey. Young gets Jey on his shoulders and he hot shots Jey to get a near fall. Young punches Jey from the floor and tags Titus back in. Titus with a forearm across the chest and he sends Jey’s arm into the apron. Titus gets a near fall.
Young tags in and he punches Jey and Young with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Young with a body scissors and forearms across the chest before applying a chin lock. Jey gets to his feet and Young pushes him away. Jey with a power slam and both men are down. Jey tries to make the tag to his brother and he rolls into the corner.
Titus and Jimmy tag in and Jimmy with punches. Jimmy with a kick to the leg and to the head. Jimmy with a back body drop and he gets the crowd fired up before getting a near fall that is broken up by Young. Jey throws Young to the floor.
Titus with a knee to Jimmy and Titus wants to know what Darren is doing on the floor. Jimmy with a Samoan drop and Jey is tagged in and he hits the splash from the top for the three count.
Winners: The Usos
After the match, we see the replays of the finish of the match and William and Josh point out that Tamina was looking at Darren on the floor. Titus yells at Darren over the result of the match. He tells Darren to get his head in the game and he says that he doesn’t need anybody.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Raw Rebound.
We go to the back where Percy Watson is with Derrick Bateman and Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn asks them if they think he is awesome. Derrick says that they agree that she is awesome and then they talk about how Alex Riley got destroyed by Lord Tensai.
Maxine walks by and she is on the phone and she says that she wants it taken care of. Maxine yells at everyone and Derrick wants a moment to talk to Maxine.
Derrick tells Maxine that she is insane and she is stress eating.
Maxine says that her problem is Derrick. Johnny Curtis interrupts the conversation and says that he got a call from the kidnappers.
Tyson Kidd stops by and tells Derrick that he wants him to tear Michael McGillicutty apart because he will get a shot at Michael regardless of whether Michael earns the rematch for next week.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Johnny and Maxine are in the boiler room and they are alone. Johnny says that he took a fan down here before and things got weird. Johnny gets attacked by Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins.
Curt tells Maxine that they are the kidnappers but they will make it look like Curtis and Maxine did it. They tell Maxine that they better get her boy toy William Regal off of their case. Curt says that is blackmail.
Johnny says that they are not going to be intimidated by a couple of homeless looking people. Maxine says that things are going to get weird and Johnny agrees.
Match Number Four: Michael McGillicutty versus Derrick Bateman
They lockup and Michael with a forearm to the back followed by kicks. Michael with kicks in the corner followed by punches until the referee warns him. Derrick with punches and chops in the corner. Michael with a knee followed by a head butt and punch to the head. Michael with a chop of his own but Derrick chops back. Michael with aanother knee followed by an elbow to the head. Michael with a Hennig leap frog but Derrick with a drop kick and a clothesline that sends Michael over the top rope to the floor.
Bateman with a running drop kick off the apron and he connects. We go to commercial.
We are back and Bateman with a key lock but Michael gets to his feet. Derrick with a punch and Michael goes to the apron. Derrick tries to suplex Michael back into the ring but Michael blocks it and he connects with a head butt to the back of the head followed by a neck breaker using the ropes for extra impact. Michael with a kick to Derrick and then he chokes him in the ropes and connects with forearms.
Michael sends Derrick into the turnbuckles and he kicks Derrick until the referee pulls Michael out of the corner. Michael with a hard Irish whip and he gets a near fall. Michael with a reverse chin lock and Derrick gets to his feet. Derrick with a punch but Michael sends Derrick into the ropes. Michael with a running drop kick for a near fall. Michael rubs his forearm across Derrick’s face and then he returns to the reverse chin lock.
Derrick gets back to his feet but Michael with a knee and forearms. Michael with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Derrick with a side Russian leg sweep into the turnbuckles and both men are down. Bateman kicks Michael in the hamstring. Derrick with a DDT/STO combination and he takes Michael down a few more times followed by a back breaker. Derrick with a flip neck breaker for a near fall.
Derrick sets for a running clothesline into the corner and he connects. Derrick goes up top but he takes too long and Michael recovers and he avoids the cross body. Michael with the Sharpshooter but Bateman with an inside cradle for a near fall. Michael hits the running snap neck breaker for the three count.
Winner: Michael McGillicutty
After the match, Tyson Kidd comes out to the stage and he applauds Michael’s victory.
We go to credits.
2013 - WWE signed The Honkytonk Man to a multi-year legends deal.
2013 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Previously . . . on Impact . . . Bully Ray made Brooke Hogan hate him after betraying his new family. Hulk Hogan takes out his frustrations on Sting. Will Matt Morgan continue to criticize Hulk Hogan? What is next for AJ Styles? What will happen when Jeff Hardy faces Bully Ray next week for the World Title?
We are in Jonesboro, Arkansas and your announcers are Mike Tenay, Taz, and Todd Keneley.
Aces and Eights make their way to the ring. D’Lo is joined by Ken Anderson and Devon in the ring. Ken Anderson says that he has a special package and he tells AJ when he needed this company the most, what did they do to him? They turned their backs on him. Ken says that this cut is for him. He tells AJ that he hopes he makes the right decision.
Devon tells Bubba that the envelope he has is for Brooke. It will give a new meaning to changed relationship.
D’Lo says that he has his present, but that gift is not something that he gave. It was something he received. D’Lo shows us a letter he got from TNA World Headquarters. The letter contained his notice of termination from TNA. He says that with all of his years of hard work, he deserved more than a plain envelope. He did not get a phone call or meeting. He does not want anyone to text him or tweet him. He wants someone to tell him why he deserves to be fired. Who will confront him?
Kurt Angle’s music plays and he comes out and he tells D’Lo that he has something to say. He will say it to D’Lo’s face. He won’t do it by Twitter, Facebook, Social Media, or cell phone. He is going to get into the ring, look D’Lo in the eye and tell him what he has to say.
Angle takes D’Lo down and the members of Aces and Eights attack Angle. Members of the locker room make their way to the ring and we have a brawl.
Aces and Eight leave the ring and Angle stands tall with Eric Young, Samoa Joe, Joseph Park, and Magnus.
Joey Ryan sees Brooke in the locker room and he offers her a favor. Brooke says that she is still married.
Joey says that she has a need and he can fill it. She needs a referee for the Knockouts Match.
Brooke thinks it over and she tells him that he can take a lot of weight off her shoulders. Brooke tells Joey that he cannot touch the girls.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage from last week when Taryn Terrell attacked Gail Kim in the back.
Match Number One: Gail Kim and Tara ( with Jessie Godderz) versus Taryn Terrell and Velvet Sky
Before the match, referee Joey Ryan checks the ladies and he gives Velvet a tap on the rear end. Tara attacks Velvet before the bell and Tara with a chop but Velvet with clotheslines. Velvet with a side head lock and Joey gives Velvet a massage. Gail tags in and Taryn wants to be tagged in.
Gail puts Joey between them and she tags in Tara. Taryn with a back slide and rollup but Joey does not make the count. Taryn with a double leg take down and jackknife cover but no count. Taryn with an arm bar.
Velvet tags in and they hit a double shoulder tackle and then they blow a kiss to Tara and hit a double elbow drop. Velvet makes the cover and Joey looks at the pigeons. Gail attacks Velvet from behind and Tara kicks Velvet and sends her into Gail’s boot. Gail tags in and she connects with a forearm and she gets Velvet on her shoulders and then she drops Velvet on the mat.
Gail with the cover and Joey only watches. Tara tags back in and she sends Velvet into the corner and connects with shoulders and chokes Velvet. Joey pulls Tara out of the corner and that pisses off Jessie and he takes off his shirt.
Tara hugs Jessie and then Velvet with a rollup but Joey does not make the count. Tara with a clothesline and then she goes for the shimmy moonsault but Joey distracts her and Tara misses.
Gail and Taryn tag in and Taryn with clotheslines and a back elbow. Taryn with a suplex and she goes up top and hits a cross body and she slams Gail’s head into the mat. Tara hits Taryn from behind and then Velvet with a drop kick that sends Tara to the floor.
Gail hits Velvet from behind and Gail starts to flirt with Joey. Gail pushes Joey and Joey likes what she is doing. Joey takes off his shirt and Taryn with an O’Connor Roll while Joey oils up. Gail reverses and rolls through and Joey makes a quick three count.
Winners: Gail Kim and Tara
After the match, Joey realizes that Gail toyed with his emotions. He returns to the ring and he tries to plead his case to Taryn and Velvet. Velvet flirts with Joey while Taryn connects with the low blow to Joey.
Bobby Roode and Austin Aries walk in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and the two teams that will be wrestling for the Tag Titles next week are in the ring with Jeremy Borash.
Austin Aries says that they are not the World Tag Team Champions, they are a team of World Champions. Bobby Roode asks Chavo and Hernandez a series question. Have they been World Champions. The answer is no. Neither one of them can hold a candle to the in ring ability of Bobby Roode or Austin Aries.
Chavo wants to know what color the sky is in their world because he is a Guerrero. Hernandez is strong as a son of a gun. Chavo tells Hernandez to flex.
Jeremy wants them to sign the contract, but Aries stops him. He asks Chavo and Hernandez if they are bored with being beaten up. Those contracts are not iron clad.
Chavo wants to know if they are scared to sign.
Aries suggests some perks for the winners. Aries says that they are doing this for a fruit basket, green M&Ms and more money for the winners.
Chavo and Hernandez have a stipulation. Chavo tells them that the match is two out of three falls.
Bobby and Austin discuss another stipulation and it is if Chavo and Hernandez lose, they are done as a team.
Adam Pearce is in the back getting ready for his Gutcheck match. We have a video package. He says that he has been wrestling for 17 ½ years. He is not afraid of saying what he has to. He has accomplished so much. He says that people want to put people his age out to pasture. Now is the right place and the right time. You have your Jeff Hardys, Kurt Angles, and Samoa Joes and he has been in the ring with them. He is willing to do anything. He wants them to open the door a little so he can get a chance.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see Magno in the back and we take a look at him. He says that he is seen as a mysterious character but his mask is who he is. He has been wrestling for 15 years. He talks about the tradition of the mask in Lucha Libre. He says that he has a message for the fans. He says that he is here to make an impact.
Match Number Two: Adam Pearce versus Magno in a Gutcheck Match
Magno flips around and they lock up and Pearce takes Magno to the mat but Magno escapes and he applies a wrist lock. Pearce with a reversal. Magno with an arm drag. They lock up and Pearce with a take down and he works on the knee but Magno with a head scissors take down.
Pearce works on the wrist and he connects with a forearm and then he kicks Magno in the chest. Pearce with a punch to Magno. Pearce with an Irish whip and he runs into a boot. Pearce with a back body drop and he gets a near fall. Pearce with a forearm to the back of the head. Pearce with an Irish whip and Magno with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker after falling to the mat. Magno with a springboard splash for a near fall.
Magno with a cross body but Pearce catches him and hits a spinebuster for a near fall. Pearce punches Magno and then he connects with a forearm. Magno goes to the apron and he connects with a shoulder and a head scissors back into the ring followed by clotheslines. Magno with an enzuigiri and then he clotheslines Pearce over the top rope to the floor.
Magno goes up top and hits a moonsault onto Pearce. Magno sends Pearce back into the ring and then Pearce with a take down and his hands on the ropes for the three count.
Winner: Adam Pearce
We are back and AJ Styles is walking in the back and Ken Anderson and other members of Aces and Eights stop him. Ken says that they see a future for AJ in their organization. They give AJ some Aces and Eights clothing to try out.
Hulk Hogan is in the back and he is asked about Sting. Hogan says that Sting is not here. He needs warriors, not politicians. Hogan says that he is going to call out a warrior but he is not sure about their position right now.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Joseph Park enters Kurt Angle’s locker room and he says that he is here for a fight. Joseph says that he watched Kurt win the Gold Medal in 1996. Aces and Eights did him wrong so he will be by Kurt’s side.
Kurt tells Joseph to follow his lead. He tells Joseph to take an opportunity if it presents itself to him.
Hulk Hogan makes his way to the ring. He wants to cut to the chase. He says that he has talked a lot about past mistakes but that won’t happen again. He is going to lead with his gut and he is going to make decisions with his gut. The way that TNA is being held hostage, his gut tells him to call this man out.
Hogan wants AJ Styles to come to the ring.
AJ still has the Aces and Eights jacket.
Hogan wants to know if AJ has chosen Aces and Eights because if he has, they are way off the page. All of the personal crap that AJ has gone through, he understands. With the accusations last year, Hogan says that he gets that. Hogan understands the pressure that AJ was under. AJ became a different person and he turned into a different type of AJ. Hogan tells AJ that TNA is his family. He has never strayed from his family at TNA.
Hogan says that he is looking at a different AJ Styles and he is hoping that AJ is not going down that path. He wants the AJ Styles that is dangerous. Hogan says that they need help and they need someone who is dangerous. Hogan wants AJ to help him but they want the Dangerous AJ Styles.
AJ asks Hogan if he wants him to help them.
James Storm’s music plays and he comes to the ring. He says that he remembers the stipulation when AJ lost and cannot have a title match until Bound for Glory 2013. James says that we all lose big matches. What bothers him was last week when AJ stood there and watched when Aces and Eights jumped him. James is someone who has also been here since day one. Their backs built this company.
Every show that AJ has been on and every mile that AJ has driven, James has been there too. Storm says that every time they come down the ramp and get in the ring, they perform for the people because that is what they love to do. From the Asylum to Europe to San Antonio to Jonesboro, they did this. Now AJ wants to join them.
James tells AJ to go ahead and join Aces and Eight because he is not the same guy he remembers at the Fairgrounds. This is not the same guy they cheered day in and day out. He tells AJ to clock out before he gets knocked out.
AJ leaves the ring and we go to commercial.
We are back and Jason Hervey asks Hogan about AJ. Hogan says that AJ has one week to make his decision.
We are reminded that One Night Only will debut on Pay Per View tomorrow night and it is the X Division show.
Match Number Three: Sonjay Dutt versus Petey Williams versus Mason Andrews in an X Division Qualifying Match
Mason has something to say to Petey and Sonjay. Mason with a forearm to Petey and Sonjay with a side head lock on Andrews. Sonjay with a shoulder tackle to Williams. Williams with a near fall on Andrews. Sonjay with a near fall on Williams. Andrews goes to the apron and Dutt tries for a rollup on Williams. Dutt with a drop kick to Williams. Williasm with a drop toe hold to Sonjay followed by a drop kick to Dutt and a suicide dive onto Andrews.
Dutt tries for a pescado but Williams and Andrews move. Andrews with a forearm and he gets a near fall on Williams. Andrews with a kick to Williams. Andrews with a back breaker to Williams and then he knocks Dutt off the apron with a forearm. Williams with chops but Andrews with a chop and he connects with shoulders in the corner. The referee warns Andrews.
Andrews with a snap mare and he goes ot the turnbuckles and hits an elbow to the back of the neck and gets a near fall. Dutt with a kick to Andrews from the apron and Dutt with an abdominal stretch to Williams. Andrews sends Dutt to the apron. Andrews gets Williams on his shoulders but Dutt with a missile drop kick to both men. Andrews with an Irish whip but Dutt with a pendulum kick.
Dutt with a springboard dive onto Andrews for a near fall. Dutt tries for the Asai DDT on Andrews but Williams gets involved. Williams with a side Russian leg sweep and then he gets a near fall. Williams drops Dutt on the mat and then he sets for the Canadian Destroyer. Dutt with a kick to the thigh of Williams. Andrews with a leaping rana to Williams. Dutt with an Asai DDT and then he goes up top for the Phoenix stomp. Williams with the Canadian Destroyer to Andrews for the three count.
Winner: Petey Williams
We go to the Aces and Eights meeting room and Bully Ray is not in a good mood. It is Kurt Angle’s fault. He knows they will get the job done in the ten man tag match. They will represent.
Devon asks Bully if he is ready to deal with Brooke.
Bully says that he misses his wife. He says that he is going to look his wife in the eyes and hand her the envelope. They will all be able to move forward.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a video package about next week’s Full Metal Mayhem match for the Impact Wrestling World Title.
In addition to the two title matches, Gail Kim will face Taryn Terrell and we will find out what AJ Styles’ decision will be.
Match Number Four: Aces and Eights (Devon, Wes Brisco, Garett Bischoff, DOC, and Knux) versus Team TNA (Kurt Angle, Joseph Park, Magnus, Samoa Joe, and Eric Young)
Angle starts off for Team TNA but no one wants to start for Aces and Eights. Angle brings Brisco into the ring and Angle with clotheslines. Angle punches Brisco and chokes him in the corner. Angle with a suplex for a near fall. Brisco with a rake of the eyes and Bischoff tags in and Angle with a hip toss.
Angle with punches and kicks to Bischoff. Angle chokes Bischoff in the corner and Magnus tags in. Magnus tags in and he catches Bischoff and hits a suplex. Joe tags in and Joe with a reverse atomic drop and Magnus with a boot and Joe with a back senton splash.
Bischoff with a rake of the eyes and he tags in Devon. Joe with punches and then he Irish whips Devon and then hits a running splash and enzuigiri in the corner followed by a chop, kick, and knee drop. Knux tags in and he connects with a forearm to Joe’s back but Joe with a leg lariat.
Young tags in and he goes up top for a double sledge to the arm. Young with punches in the corner but Knux with a knee and clothesline. Knux with a forearm and Young goes down. Knux sends Young into the turnbuckles. Knux with a kick but Young sends him over the top rope to the floor. Young with a pescado onto Knux and both men are down.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Young gets a near fall on Knux. Knux with an elbow to Young and he sends Eric into the turnbuckles. Knux sends Young over the top rope to the floor. Knux punches Young on the floor and Devon sends Young back into the ring. Knux with a leg drop and he tags in DOC. DOC with an elbow drop and he sends Young into the corner and he punches Young. Devon chokes Young in the ropes while DOC deals with the referee.
DOC with a short arm clothesline followed by a splash for a near fall. Devon tags in and he punches Young and pushes him into the corner. Devon with punches to Young followed by a snap mare and a nerve hold. Young with elbows but Devon with a spinning back elbow to Young.
DOC tags in and he punches Young and tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Young lands on his feet and hits a jaw breaker. Knux and DOC take care of the members of Team TNA on the apron. DOC misses a charge into the corner and Young with an enzuigiri and both men are down.
Park is tagged in and he punches DOC and sends him over the top rope to the floor. Brisco charges at Park and bounces off Park. Park knocks everyone off the apron. Park with a slam and a splash for a near fall.
Everyone gets in the ring and we have lost control of things. Bischoff sends Young to the floor. Magnus sends Brisco over the top rope to the floor but Knux takes care of business. Joe clotheslines Knux over the top rope to the floor and then Devon comes behind Joe and Devon punches Joe. Joe with a suicide dive onto Knux. Devon with a spinebuster to Park and then he goes up top but misses a diving head butt.
Park goes to the turnbuckles and he takes care of Bischoff and Brisco instead. KOC with a low blow and he gets the three count on Park.
Winners: Aces and Eights
The Hogans are in the locker room and Hulk says that he doesn’t trust the situation. Brooke wants to finish the drama. She says that she will get Ronnie from Atlas Security. She figures that Bully will give her the divorce papers and end this. There will be no more drama.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Bully Ray makes his way to the ring. Ray says in seven days the biggest World Heavyweight Championship rematch in wrestling history. He faces Jeff Hardy in Corpus Christi, Texas in Full Metal Mayhem. Jeff has to be the stupidest person he has ever met. Why would he challenge Bully to a match that would involve tables, ladders, and chairs.
Tonight, Bully wants to take care of some personal business. Bully wants his wife Brooke to come to the ring.
Bully asks Brooke how she is doing and he wants to know why she doesn’t have her wedding ring on. He is wearing his and it is a sign of his love and devotion to her. He gives Brooke a pass for this week. He tells her to do what she is told and to wear her wedding ring.
Bully wants to know why Brooke has security. He says that they should be there to protect him. He says that Brooke was a crazed woman after Lockdown. She was yelling and screaming. He says that she was insane. She should have been happy that night because her husband became the World Champion.
She should have been hugging, kissing, and loving him and doing everything a good wife should have been doing. Bully says that she is insane but he forgives her.
Bully asks Brooke if she knows what is in the envelope. Bully tells Brooke he loves her. She is the wind beneath his wings and he couldn’t have done this without her. She is the woman behind him who makes him so great. He couldn’t have done this without Brooke.
Bully gives Brooke the envelope. It is a front row ticket for Corpus Christi. He wants her to be in the front row to watch him beat Jeff Hardy for the second time. He wants her by his side to cheer him on. He wants Brooke to look as beautiful as she possibly can. Lately, she has let herself go.
Brooke rips up the ticket and she slaps Bully. Bully laughs and he tells Brooke that he cannot help but laugh at her. She is pathetic. She just smacked him in the face and he is laughing at her. He is in her head so bad it is not funny. He has been in her since day one. What is Brooke going to do? Will she smack him again?
Jeff Hardy’s music plays and he interrupts the family discussion.
Jeff punches Bully but Bully punches back. Ray with a punch to the head and then he kicks Jeff in the thigh. Hardy punches Ray and then hits a forearm. We go to credits.
2013 - Big Time Wrestling promoted a Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels signing and Q&A Session. Billy Krotchsen filed the following report:
On Thursday 4/4, Big Time Wrestling held the first ever joint signing and photo session with Bret Hart and Shawn at the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City. This was the first ever signing the two had done together since the infamous Montreal Screwjob in November 1997.
Between the photo and signing session, Hart and Michaels took part in a Q&A Session with the audience:
They were asked about the vignette using a little person dressed like Bret Hart right after the Screwjob on Raw, who's idea was the angle and did it bother Hart. Michaels said it was a Vince Russo idea and that at that point, Michaels was willing to do anything that was asked of him. Hart said he saw it on TV and it bothered him because he wished he had a better ending in the company than that.
They were asked who should be in the WWE Hall of Fame. Both agreed that Randy Savage should be in and Hart brought up his brother Owen as well.
They were asked about dream opponent. Hart said he would have loved to have wrestled Kurt Angle and under his anti-American persona, he would have loved to wrestle John Cena. The crowd booed the mention of Cena. Hart said he would have given Cena the best match he ever had. Michaels said his dream match would have been names he grew up watching like Harley Race and Ricky Steamboat.
They were asked about the biggest obstacle they faced when they started in the business. Each said it was being given the first chance to show what they could do. Getting the first opportunity was the hard part.
Hart was asked if he really would have given up the belt the next night after Survivor Series if the Montreal incident had not happened. Hart said it absolutely would have happened and there would have been no reason not to do it.
Michaels was asked to name his defining moment and the favorite match of his career. Michaels said he can't pick an all-time favorite, but the ones that stick out are his debut, The Iron Man Match with Bret Hart and the Ladder Match with Razor Ramon. Michaels feels his defining moment was the ladder match because after that match, the company felt he could go on to greater things and higher responsibility.
Shawn was asked about his 2002 return and being a born again Christian, whether he turned down ideas. Michaels said he did because he didn't feel comfortable doing certain things, like cursing.
They were asked who they would want their opponent to be if they could and were wrestling this Sunday at Wrestlemania 29. Hart repeated John Cena, as long as he was bad guy Bret. Michaels said CM Punk or Daniel Bryan.
Hart and Michaels were asked their thoughts on the current state of WWE. Hart said they have too much talking and not enough wrestling. Michaels said that it's hard to stay fresh with so many other shows on TV, but to be honest, he doesn't really watch anymore because after so many years on the road, he's busy trying to catch up on all the TV series he missed when he was on the road.
A little kid asked Michaels if he was trying to make fun of Undertaker when he wore his white suit at Wrestlemania 25. Michaels said he did it to be the opposite of Undertaker's dark side, but you can't intimidate the Undertaker. He said it didn't work out too well for him, since he lost, and advised the kid to take a lesson from that.
The final question was what kept them motivated when they first started training to be pro wrestlers. Hart said gaining credibility and earning people's respect. Michaels said that he couldn't get enough of being in the ring, so he didn't need motivation.
2013 - PWS ran Metuchen, NJ. Stu Carapola filed the following report:
Sonjay Dutt vs Trent Baretta
Some fans start a USA chant, so another group starts an India chant, but Sonjay shoots them down since he's the heel. They tie up and go to the corner, Dutt breaks clean and goes back to jawing with the fans, they go to the mat for some chain wrestling and then go to the corner again where Baretta nails Sonjay with a chop. They trade wristlocks and reversals before going to the corner where Baretta tries another chop, but Dutt ducks under this one and struts to piss the fans off. Baretta chops him anyway, but sonjay hits the ropes and comes back with a flying headscissors that sends Baretta out to the floor where Sonjay takes him out with a dive. Dutt sends Baretta into the guardrail, then gets a chair and does something with it that I can't quite see from my vantage point. Baretta looks to be in pain as Sonjay rolls him back inside and covers for 2, then runs off the ropes and gets flapjacked by Baretta. Baretta with a charging forearm in the corner and a tornado DDT for 2. The crowd is solidly behind Baretta as he goes for an Air Raid Crash, Sonjay slips out and drills him with a Yakuza kick in the corner, followed by a T-Bone suplex and a springboard splash for 2. The lights, which the crowd had been yelling to the company to turn on the entire match, finally came back up and got a big pop, Sonjay thinks it's for him and celebrates with the crowd, leaving himself open to get nailed by Baretta. Sonjay superkicks him and hits Sliced Bread #2, but Baretta dodges a Hindu Press and hits a Jig & Tonic for the win.
Winner: Trent Baretta
Good opener, I think the fans were a little distracted by the lights being down, but this was a solid match to get things going.
PWS Tag Team Title Match: The Phat Pack vs Black Hollywood vs South Side Playaz Club vs D-Struction & Seduction
I'm not familiar with these guys and didn't catch their individual names during entrances, so I'll do my best to keep up. The crowd is big into Black Hollywood, but the one in hte ring finds himself on the short side of an exchange with one of the SSPC, who blocks his high flying moves and hits a hiptoss for 2. One of the Phat Pack comes in and whips Black Hollywood to the ropes, but D-Struction (I'll call him that since that's what his tights say) tags himself in and he starts beating the crap out of Fallah (member of the Phat Pack, so that's what I'll call him). Fallah tags out to Seduction, who now has to fight his partner. Everyone else drops off the apron when they go for tags, and someone yells "pin him and you'll both win!" which is actually a pretty good idea. They get irate with each other, then they make up and hug, then both get dropkicked out of the ring by the SSPC. Black Hollywood comes in for a series of double teams on the SSPC that get 2, then everyone else goes out to the floor and Black Hollywood hit stereo dives that take them all out. Oh wait, the Phat Pack weren't out there, and one of them hits a big (and I mean big) dive through the ropes that takes out all six opponents. Fallah puts Black Hollywood on the top rope for a superplex, the SSPC slam him out of the corner and go for a double suplex, but both Phat Pack come in and they do the Tower of Doom! The other member of Black Hollywood is still up and goes to the top rope, loses his balance and falls to the floor, but climbs right back up and splashes the member of the SSPC who was nice enough to lay there waiting for him. The Phat Pack is dominating the action and hit a double team uranage on Seduction, then they whip both members of the SSPC into the corner to try for splashes. They run into their boots which slows them down briefly, but Fallah takes them both out with a big crossbody. Now the girls who came out with the Phat Pack and the SSPC go at it in the ring (it looks like Shelly Martinez, Amber O'Neal and someone else, but I can't quite tell from where I'm sitting). D-Struction spears Maybe Shelly Martinez into next week, the Phat Pack takes the SSPC out to the floor to brawl, and Black Hollywood foils a double team by D-Struction and Seduction, and roll Seduction up for the win.
Winners and New PWS Tag Team Champions: Black Hollywood
I truly apologize to everyone in this match for the confusing coverage, but I really enjoyed this. I think the South Side Playaz Club have a great gimmick, the Phat Pack impressed me a lot with how well they move for guys their size, and the other two teams were solid as well.
Kevin Steen vs Dan Maff
Steen nails Maff on his way into the ring and pounds on him in the corner, throwing a thumbs up to the crowd as the fans start a Mr. Wrestling chant. Steen goes up in the corner for the ten punch count, but Maff slips out the back and gives Steen a neckbreaker off the second rope. Steen nails Maff as he comes in for the cannonball, but Maff no-sells a series of clotheslines, so Steen DDTs him instead and gets 2. Steen dumps Maff out to the floor, and nothing good ever happens when these guys go out there. They come back inside and start trading right hands, but Maff hits a pair of boots to the face and a running senton for 2. Steen battles back and hits a cannonball in the corner for 2, then he drags Maff out to the middle of the ring and heads up top. He tries for a swanton, but Maff gets the knees up and Steen rolls out to the floor where Maff wipes him out with a dive through the ropes. Maff hits the Burning Hammer, but Steen kicks out at 2 so Maff goes to a guillotine choke. He's got Steen trapped in the middle of the ring, Steen passes out in the hold and the referee calls it.
Winner: Dan Maff
Simon Dean comes out and says he's called everyone from Johnny Ace to his friend Stevie Richards (who he asked to defend the Extreme Rising Title) looking for an opponent, but nobody returned his calls, so it looks like he's going to have the night off. Not so fast, Simon Dean! A drunken pirate staggers down to ringside, and it looks like the open challenge is answered!
Simon Dean vs The Drunken Swashbuckler
The fans chant "he's got scurvy" as Dean ties up and takes the Swashbuckler to the corner. He breaks, shoves Swashbuckler on the break, and goes back and forth going "YEAH!" while Swashbuckler goes "ARRRR!!" Dean is stunned and backs off to the relative safety of the floor, then comes back in, boots Swashbuckler in the gut, and unloads with right hands. Swashbuckler hiptosses and armdrags Dean around, dropkicks him into the corner, and stomps a mudhole into your paragon of physical fitness. Dean gets whipped into the corner and pulls the referee in front of a charging Swashbuckler, and ducks out from behind with a quick kick to the gut and a top wristlock takedown. Now Dean's in firm control, brings a basketball into the ring, and tosses it at the Swashbuckler's head. Dean tortures the Swashbuckler with a top wristlock, but the Swashbuckler is apparently too drunk to feel the pain and fights his way out of the hold. The Swashbuckle runs Dean over with a series of shoulderblocks, he goes for a German suplex but Dean is holding onto his curling band things those fitness guys have. Swashbuckler lets him go and Dean elastics himself into the corner, Swashbuckler goes up and unloads several punches into the back of Dean's head,but Dean carries him out on his shoulders and kicks him low. The referee didn't see that, but sees Dean covering and counts the fall.
Winner: Simon Dean
Wait a minute, Hurricane Helms runs out and tells the referee what happens. The referee rings the bell to restart the match, and the Swashbuckler gets an O'Connor Roll for the win.
Real Winner: The Drunken Swashbuckler
This was interesting. Simon Dean hasn't lost his ability to work a crowd, that's for sure. They told a fun story with this one, even though it's too bad the Extreme Rising Title wasn't on the line. Maybe he can catch Stevie on XBox Live later.
PWS Tri-State Title Match: Alex Reynolds vs Starman
Starman wipes Reynolds out on his way to the ring and rolls him inside, but a guy in an evil Starman outfit comes out and attacks Starman, give him an ugly looking brainbuster variation, and takes the mask off to reveal that he's the real Alex Reynolds and the other guy was just a decoy. He covers Starman for 3.
Winner: Alex Reynolds
PWS Commissioner Big Van Vader comes out and agrees with the crowd that what we just saw was BS, and says that he's going to restart the match and make Reynolds earn it. Reynolds tries tossing his decoy at Vader, who bowls him over with a Vader Bomb and again tells Reynolds to earn it. The bell rings, and we're back to it!
Tri-State Title Match #2: Alex Reynolds vs Starman
Reynolds says he'll earn it all right, and hits a pump handle slam on Starman for 2. He picks Starman up, Starman gives him a brainbuster out of nowhere and makes a cover, and that's all she wrote.
Winner and New PWS Tri-State Champion: Starman
Not much to the match, but the Starman character was funny and this was really just an excuse to get Vader in front of the crowd and give him something to do.
Hardcore Scramble: Apollyon vs Devon Moore vs Lucifer Darkside vs Necro Butcher vs New Jack vs Matt Tremont vs Tommy Dreamer
Necro attacks Apollyon as soon as he makes his entrance, and I have my stuff in hand and ready to move if this comes over here, so I apologize if there's a gap in the coverage. New Jack's music hits, and he comes out with the trashbasket full of plunder. He and Tommy go at it, but then Tremont comes in and goes after New Jack, charging him in the corner and then getting his face gouged off by the Freddy Krueger claw he apparently didn't notice New Jack was wearing. Tremont's face is already gouged open, but being the kind soul he is, New Jack tries to soothe him by getting him in the head with a staplegun. Everyone else is fighting on the floor as New Jack brutalizes Tremont with a fork, then takes him out into the area where I am, followed by everyone else. Necro is destroying Apollyon with chairs until Darkside nails Necro with one, then he lays in a hard shot to Apollyon of his own. Dreamer puts Apollyon on a table, then New Jack and Dreamer climb the scaffold and fight each other until Tommy is knocked off. New Jack continues to the top of the scaffold and dives off onto a bunch of people, then Necro picks the table up and hits Tremont in the ribs with it. New Jack staples Tremont's face again, then does it four or five more times before stapling Tremont's nuts. Everyone heads back toward the ring where Apollyon catches Moore on a crossbody and powerslams him, then Darkside picks Apollyon up and hits a Samoan drop. Darkside puts a tash can on top of Darkside and moonsaults onto him, then Necro comes in and chokes Tremont with a chair until the referee stops the match.
Winner: Necro Butcher
New Jack gets a microphone and tells Necro Butcher that he can't run from him, he just drove in the opposite direction when he knew he was coming. Two things are going to happen tomorrow: New Jack is retiring right here in this ring, and Necro might have beaten Abdullah the Butcher and Terry Funk, but 8 track was in style a long time ago, and he doesn't care about winning or losing tomorrow, he's...well, he's going to (mess) him up right here tomorrow.
INTERMISSION
30 Man Rumble Match
I once again have to apologize, because I don't know a single person in that ring. They start off with about half of the competitors in the ring, and then everyone else comes in at 30 second intervals. I recognize a few of the faces like John Silver and Facade, but otherwise am drawing a total blank until Hurricane Helms comes in and cleans house, chokeslams The Big O (a huge, Batista-looking dude who had been dominating the match up to this point), and then wound up fighting Bonesaw on the ring apron. They battled out onto the ring apron and traded blows until Bonesaw booted Hurricane in the face and knocked him to the floor to win the match.
Winner: Bonesaw
Bonesaw now earns a shot at the PWS Title whenever he wants, and Hurricane comes back in to raise his hand. Big Van Vader comes back out and hands Bonesaw his bonesaw, congratulates him on his win, and asks the fans one last time tonight what time it is. Of course we all know the answer.
"The Pope" Elijah Burke vs John Morrison
They do some chain wrestling to start off, exchanging takedowns and armdrags, but Pope decides to take a powder and slow the action down to keep from playing Morrison's game. The crowd chants "you still got it" for some reason even though I don't think either of these guys are even 30 yet. They go back and forth for a bit before Pope again bails out to the floor to play mindgames with Morrison. Morrison goes out after Pope, so Pope rolls back in to furstrate him. Morrison gets in and finally gets a hole of Pope, taking him to the corner and going up top for a ten punch count. Pope slips out from underneath Morrison and trips him up, making Morrison hit the mat hard. Pope puts the mouth to Morrison before getting a snapmare and a Flair kneedrop. Pope unloads with a series of jabs in the corner, but Morrison fires back with right hands and gets a sunset flip for 2. Pope lays Morrison out with a big boot to the face, but hesitates before covering and only gets 2. Pope starts putting the mouth to Morrison again as he continues drilling him with right hands, then gets him in a chinlock and cranks on it tight. Morrison fights out of the hold, so Pope hits a really nice German suplex and then flattens Morrison with an STO. Pope starts arguing with the referee and gets into a shoving match with him, allowing Morrison to roll Pope up for 2. Pope shoots a double leg and gets a foldover cradle on Morrison for 2, then gets a seated version of the surfboard. Pope unloads with more hard shots, but Morrison ducks one and springboards off the ropes with a leaping enziguiri. Morrison's on the comeback trail now, hitting a pair of clotheslines and a leg lariat, followed by a standing shooting star press for 2. Pope catches Morrison in a small package for 2, Morrison gets an O'Connor roll for 2, then a running kneestrike to the face for another 2. Morrison sits Pope on the top rope and lands a right hand that leave Pope hanging upside down outside the ring, but he pulls Pope back up and gets thumbed in the eye. Pope leaps over him, hits a sole butt, and a Flatliner for 2. Pope appears to have hurt his knee while hanging from the ropes, but he slaps Morrison in the face and uppercuts him in the jaw. Pope goes for the running double kneestrike in the corner nonetheless, but Morrison moves out of the way, hits a leaping enziguiri to the back of the head, and finishes Pope with Starship Pain.
Winner: John Morrison
Really good match, I thought they told a good story with this one and the crowd seemed really happy with it.
Rock & Roll Express vs Jay & Mark Briscoe
The Briscoes have Uncle Jethro in their corner, but it doesn't seem to help them much at the start because Ricky and Robert wrestle circles around them, including one fun spot where Robert backdrops Jay while he has Mark in a side headlock and then gives him a flying headscissors while rolling Mark with the headlock as well. Ricky comes in and goes to work on Mark, but Mark drills Ricky with a hard shot and chokes him on the ropes. Mark gets Ricky in a bearhug, then knocks Robert off the apron to draw him into the ring so he and Jay can switch places behind the referee's back. Jay picks Ricky up and slams him hard, he whips Ricky into the corner and charges, but runs into Ricky's boot and Ricky rolls to the corner to tag in Robert. Gibson takes Jay out and gets Mark in a sleeper, Jay comes in to try and break it up but he's intercepted by Ricky, and they nail Mark with the double dropkick for the win.
Winners: Rock & Roll Express
Well, the match was all of about five minutes long, but what do you expect at ths point? It was just cool as a fan of tag team wrestling to see these two teams in there together.
PWS Title Match: Kevin Matthews vs Colt Cabana
Matthews informs Cabana that "this isn't Ring of Honor, bitch! This is my house!" to which Cabana replies "I got fired from Ring of Honor! I got fired from WWE, I got fired from ROH, I got fired from TNA..." and then Matthews says "Hey, I got fired from WWE too!" The crowd reacts with a "you got fired!" chant that I guess is a babyface pop for both guys. Matthews lays in a couple of hard shots, but Cabana does some of his European stuff and rolls him up for 2. Cabana catches a boot, trips Matthews, and gets him in a side headlock. Matthews headscissors his way out, Cabana maneuvers his way out of the hold and sits on Matthews' face for 2. Matthews seems frustrated and rolls out of the ring to catch a break while the fans chant for Matthews, who drags Cabana under the bottom rope and chops him. Cabana gets Matthews in a headlock and takes him around the ring so fans can rub his head, but Matthews shoves Cabana off into the barricade and rams his face into the ring apron. They go back inside as Matthews continues the punishment, choking Cabana in the corner with his boot and then snapmares him and gets a standing Dragon sleeper. Cabana escapes that, but eats a leg lariat and Matthews covers for 2. Matthews casually goes to the second rope, but leaps right onto Cabana's boots, and Cabana starts his babyface comeback, unloading with jabs and the flip, flop n' fly. Cabana hits the Flying Apple, punts Matthews headfirst into the second turnbuckle, then covers for 2. Cabana measures Matthews and goes for the lariat, Matthews blocks that and runs to the ropes, but runs right into a flying butt butt that gets 2 for Cabana. Cabana signals that he's ready to put Matthews away and goozles him, but Matthews breaks out of that, trips Cabana, and curb stomps him for 2. The fans start a Super Dragon chant even though Matthews appears to be marginally taller and more mohawked, and Matthews also appears to hit a twisting Flatliner for 2. Cabana connects with a series of chops, but Matthews hits another twisting Flatliner and holds the tights for the win.
Winner: Kevin Matthews
Solid match, and I liked how Matthews stayed serious and pissed off while Cabana tried all his funny stuff. Matthews starts to leave, then comes back to the ring to shake Cabana's hand.
Davey Richards vs Jushin "Thunder" Liger vs Tony Nese
Nese and Liger go at it to start, Nese knocks Liger to the floor and then goes at it with Davey, who dropkicks him in the face and then goes out to the apron to nail Liger with a running punt to the face. Liger gets up and trips Davey's ankle out from under him, then takes Davey out with a somersault senton off the apron. They go back inside where Liger slams Davey and then goes to the top rope, fights Nese off, then Davey goes up top and superplexes Liger. Davey with a running kneedrop to Liger's skull, then turns to the crowd and goes "There's your legend, huh?" Davey whips Liger to the ropes and drills him with a clothesline for 2, then boots Nese out to the floor when he tries to come back in. Liger gets a few chops, then Nese drags Davey out to the floor and rams him into the ring apron before rolling inside and covering Liger for 2. Nese slams Liger, then he and Davey agree to take Liger out so they can settle it with each other. Liger somehow maneuvers Davey into holding Nese and DDTing him when Liger dropkicks Davey, then Liger whips Davey to the corner and hits a forward rolling kick followed by a top rope Frankensteiner for 2. Liger nails Nese with a running double palmstrike in the corner and then plants himwith the Liger Bomb, followed by a top rope splash. Davey breaks the cover at 2 with a diving headbutt, then he trades hard strikes with Liger and nails him with a leaping enziguiri. Nese superkicks Davey, Liger forearms Nese, Davey clotheslines Liger, Liger suplexes Davey, and everyone is down. Nese is up first and he slams Liger, lands on his feet when Liger dodges a 450, but Davey victory rolls Nese into an anklelock, then changes it up to a Trailer Hitch. Liger repeatedly tries to stomp Davey to break the hold, but Davey trips Liger and gets him in an ankle lock while maintaining the hold on Nese. Davey finally breaks both holds and knockout kicks Liger, but Liger catches him with a cradle out of nowhere for 2. Liger dodges a charge from Davey and Nese nails Davey as he comes into the corner, Nese missile dropkicks Davey and gets a pump handle piledriver on Liger and nails him with the 450. Davey breaks the cover at 2, then Nese and Davey trade blows in the middle of the ring and give Liger a chance to breathe. Davey hits the Alarm Clock and charging forearm in the corner, Nese tries to twist Davey into a Tombstone, Davey reverses to a Tombstone of his own, then comes off the top rope with a double stomp for 2. Davey goes for a knockout kick, Nese ducks and rolls him up for 2, Davey escapes and kicks Nese out to the floor, but takes the Palmstrike from Liger, who follows up with the brainbuster for the win.
Winner: Jushin "Thunder" Liger
Great main event! Everyone worked hard and put together the best match on the show. This was a really fun event overall, I'm glad I finally made it to a PWS show and I recommend that anyone else who has the chance to come to one does so as well. Big thumbs up for a truly complete night of professional wrestling.
2014 - ROH held Supercard of Honor 8. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com’s live, ongoing coverage of Supercard of Honor 8 in New Orleans, LA!
Luke Hawx vs. Mike Posey vs. Corey Hollis vs. The Romantic Touch
Everyone shook hands with some Code of Honor action before the bell. There was a “Let’s go Luke Hawx” chant since he’s well known in these parts.
He and Posey started and went back and forth on the mat. Posey shoved him so Hawx shoved him down on the mat. They went back and forth and Hollis tagged in He and Posey went back and forth.
The Romantic Touch tagged uin and locked up with Hollis. Touch missed a charge in the corner but nailed an elbow out of the other. Posey tagged himself back in as Touch strutted around the ring. Posey nailed a series of legdrops. Hawx tagged in and pressed and dropped Posey.
Touch tagged in and charged Hawx. They had a nice exchange ending with a Hawx belly to belly suplex. Hawx did a quebrada fron the outside to the inside of the ring but missed. This started a nice sequence where everyone went for a big move but missed. Touch nailed a spinning back suplex. Hollis grabbed him for an airplane spin.
Hawx was kicked off by Hollis and picked him up for a shoulderbreaker and a fall away slam. He was drilled by Touch with a dropkick. He placed Hawx on the top but missed a rana attempt when Posey came underneath for a powerbomb. Hawx shoved Posey off the top and came off with a Blockbuster from the top for the pin.
Your winner, Luke Hawx!
Solid opener. There were some good sequences.
Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino came out to film an opening for a TV episode.
Cedric Alexander vs. Roderick Strong (with The Decade)
There was some nice back and forth wrestling with Alexander getting the better of him. Strong made a comeback and suplexed Alexander hard into the buckle for a two count. Strong worked him over, focusing on his neck and back. Alexander fired back with a series of forearms but was hit with a leg sweep and battered with strikes.
Strong rebounded off the ropes and nailed a boot to the face. Strong worked him over but Alexander mounted a coneback. Strong caught him with a kick and nailed an Olympic Slam for a two count. Strong nailed a running knee in the corner and another strike but was caught with a sunset flip variation for a two count.
Strong was on the defense but came back with a leaping knee to the face and a backbreaker for a two count. Strong went for a suplex but Alexander landed on his feet and hit a leaping enziguiri off the ropes. He nailed a running dropkick in the corner and a DVDR into a kick. He nailed Jimmy Jacobs off the apron and hit a flip dive to the outside.
He returned to the ring but was cut off by Strong and nailed with a suplex, being dropped across Strong’s knees as he came down. Strong covered him for the pin.
Your winner, Roderick Strong!
This was a great opener with some really good near falls and athletic moves.
Jimmy Jacobs took the mic and said that there was some great wrestling and that everyone can learn how not to do things by watching Cedric. He said that you can learn how people do things the right way by watching Adam Page. They said this was the house the Decade built. He challenged Andrew Everett and to come out and be taught some respect.
The Decade vs. Andrew Everett & Caprice Coleman & ACH
They all faced off in the ring. Jacobs pulled out a spike but was stopped. ACH and Jacobs started off. Page tagged in and he sent ACH into the ropes. ACH shoulderblocked him down and did some flips to mock him. They went into a nice back and forth exchange ending with several ACH hiptosses and deep armdrags before they faced off after stereo flips.
Whitmer tagged in, as did Coleman. Coleman got the better of him early so Jacobs tagged in and worked him over. Coleman caught him with several kicks and covered him for a two count. Everett tagged in and caught him with a handstand into a rana. Page attacked him but Everett flipped out of the way and caught him with a flip into a rana. He teased a dive but BJ Whitmer pulled him out.
This set up a series of dive sequences. The Decade worked over ACH for a long time. ACH came back and backdropped Whitmer way over the top rope. Coleman tagged in and cleaned house. Page cut him off with a big backbreaker. Everett and Page battled back and forth. Everett went for a move off the ropes but slipped and crotched himself. Page nailed him with a nasty belly to back suplex off the ropes.
Everett came back with the old Low Ki springboard kick off the ropes then hit a springboard shooting star press onto everyone on the floor as they fought. The Decade cut off Coleman and drilled him with their finish.
Your winners, The Decade!
A dynamite, hard fought six man tag match with some insane high spots and a really good story told.
Matt Taven came out. Truth Martini came out and said when Taven fired him, it was the biggest mistake of his career. He said that Taven means nothing without him and everyone knows that – the fans do, Martini does and deep down, Taven does. Martino called Kevin Kelly into the ring and says they never got into the final chapter. He starts to read but Taven grabs the mic and asks if anyone wants to see this and said he was going to kick Martini’s ass. Martini nailed him with the Book of Truth and left him laying.
RD Evans vs. Silas Young
Evans escaped a Samoan Drop attempt and kicked him in the face. Evans was nailed in the corner and ended up on the apron. Young went after him but was caught and they battled over a suplex. Evans got it and scored a two count. Young rolled out of the ring and chased Veda Scott around the ring. She sure can sprint.
Evans worked over Young but was caught and slammed off the top rope into the ring for a two count. Young choked him against the ropes. The crowd chanted, “F*** you Silas.” Young tied up Evans on the mat and drilled him with several boots to the mid-section, trying to wear him down. Young was kicked off as he charged Evans in the corner and then kicked off again. Evans grabbed him and snapped him backward against the ropes.
Evans nailed a several rights and went for a discus punch but Young blocked it. Evans nailed a dropkick. Evans nailed an elbow in the corner and a Jackhammer for a two count. Evans went to the top but missed a diving headbutt. Young caught him with an over the knee backbreaker, held him, and clotheslined Evans down for a two count.
They battled on the apron and Evans was sent into the ringpost. He was then slammed backward onto the apron. He was almost counted out by Evans dove back in at the last second.
Young argued with the referee was small packaged for a two count. Scott yelled at the referee and Evans tried to hit him with a belt. Young got it so Evans acted like he had already been hit and the referee threatened to DQ Young. Young went to nail Evans but hit the referee instead.
Young nailed an Arabian Press and a second referee counted three. The original ref had recovered and overruled it, so The Evans streak continues/
Your winner by DQ, RD Evans!
OK match. The crowd loved Evans.
Mark Briscoe vs. Michael Bennett (with Maria Kanellis) : No DQ
Briscoe dove off the apron and attacked Bennett before the bell. They fought on the outside and battled into the ring. Briscoe was on the offense but was back bodydropped over the top to the floor.
They brawled into the crowd and up into the bleachers. Bennett teased a powerbomb but was backdropped in the bleachers. Briscoe dove off the bleachers to the floor with a flying bodypress. They battled through the building and back into the ringside area. The crowd loved that.
Bennett nailed Briscoe as he posed standing on the railing and sent him into it several times. He brought Briscoe back in and wedged a chair between turnbuckles. Bennett nailed a spinebuster. He charged Briscoe but was shoved into the chair. He went to the outside and Briscoe nailed the Cactus elbow to the floor.
They battled up the apron and onto the stage. Briscoe chased Maria Kanellis to the ring and teased using a cane but Bennett nailed him. Maria grabbed the stick. Briscoe was hit with a Rock Bottom and a superkick. Bennett worked him over with a steel chair.. He used a Conchairto. Bennett locked on an Anaconda Vise on the unconscious Briscoe and the referee stopped the bout.
Your winner, Michael Bennett!
A fun brawl.
After intermission, Cheeseburger came out and asked who wanted free t-shirts. Matt Hardy came out and asked him to leave as he had something important to say. Hardy said that he was back in Ring of Honor and it was a good time to be at ROH. He said they are onto their biggest years ever. He said that everything has exploded and they are doing record numbers. He said that he was the person who single-handedly picked the man to carry the company and be the franchise, Adam Cole. Hardy ripped on the fans for not appreciating what he has done. He praised Cole and said he was going to be the greatest ROH champion in history. He called Cheeseburger back in the ring and laid him out.
RedDragon vs. Forever Hooliganz vs. Raymond Rowe & Hanson
Lots of good stuff early on. The Hooliganz teased they were mad at each other and ended up hugging. Fish took a great Bobby Eaton like bump on the apron when he was punched in the corner. There was a lot of cool power stuff with Rowe and Hanson as well.
There were some cool dive spots as well Akex Kozlov hit a great springboard swanton. Rowe caught Fish with a big spinning backdrop. Kyle O’Reilly was unloaded in the kicks but Hanson KILLED him with a lariat. They went into a really awesome dive sequence. O’Reilly came off the top for a bodypress but was caught and slammed by Hanson.
The insanity continued until RedDragon scored the pin. I didn't do a lot of PBP for this because there were so many people doing so much but holy hell, what an awesome match!
ROH TV champion Tomasso Ciampa vs. Jay Lethal
They locked up and Lethal was backed into the corner. They broke clean. They locked up again and this time, Tomasso was backed up. Another clean break. Ciampa shoulderblocked him down for a one count. Tomasso ended up on the outside and Lethal hit a pair of suicide dives to the outside. He nailed a third, sending Ciampa into the first row.
Ciampa comes back, drilling Lethal into the railing with a kick. He worked over Lethal, who made a comeback with a big elbow. Lethal ducked a clothesline and nailed a series of chops. Lethal went for the springboard elbow but was caught with a back cracker.
They battled back and forth over a suplex until Ciampa suplexed Lethal over the top to the floor, tumbling over with him. The crowd chanted, “Holy sh**.” They battled back and forth until Lethal nailed a German suplex for a three count.
Winner of the first fall, Jay Lethal.
Lethal attempted to score several pinfalls early in the second fall. Ciampa came back to cinch in the Rings of Saturn but Jay made it to the ropes. They battled back and forth with forearms and punches. Lethal went for another handspring elbow but Ciampa sidestepped it and caught him with an RKO.
Ciampa worked over Lethal and placed him on the top but Lethal fought him off and slipped underneath, nailing Project Ciampa for a two count. They battled back and forth and the referee was bumped. Ciampa did the German suplexes and the fans chanted “Chris Benoit.” A LOT of fans did it.
Truth Martini came to ringside. Lethal grabbed a knee brace and drilled Ciampa with it for a two count. Lethal nailed a flying elbow but Ciampa kicked up at one and went into a super human comeback. Lethal drilled him with several superkicks. Lethal nailed a handspring into a cutter for the pin.
Your winner and new ROH TV champ Jay Lethal!
Martini handed Lethal the belt. Lethal took the mic and said, “There is a house in New Orleans and it is the House of Truth.”
So, Lethal has turned.
Kevin Steen vs. Michael Elgin
Big reactions for both men. Lots of streamers for Steen. They began slugging it out immediately and went to the floor. Steen tossed Elgin into the railing. They brawled all over the floor and it was glorious.
They battled back and forth. Steen nailed Elgin with a boot to the head while he was draped on the ropes. Elgin came back, deadlifting Sreen up into a back suplex. Steen went for a Sharpshooter but Elgin slipped out and nailed a Black Hole Slam. He went to the top for a twisting senton splash but Steen rolled out of the way.
Elgin went for another deadlift suplex but Steen bit his hand. He worked over Elgin for a two count. Elgin came back with a powerbomb but Steen nailed an F5. They battled back and forth with a series of big punches and forearms. Elgin nailed a series of stiff forearms for a two count. He nailed a powerbomv on the ring apron.
Elgin sent Steen into the ringpost. He nailed a tombstone on Steen. Steen came back with a Package Piledriver for a two count. Steen went for a swanton but missed. Elgin nailed a powerbomb into the buckles, then a sitdown powerbomb for another near fall.
Elgin placed Steen on the top rope for a superplex but Steen turned it around into a Falcon’s Arrow in mid-air for another two count. Steen went for a Package Piledriver but was backdropped over. Elgin regained control and nailed a series of powerbombs. The fans chanted for “ROH.”
Elgin worked over Steen with a KILLER clothesline, a powerbomb and then Steen’s own Package Piledriver for the pin.
Your winner, Michael Elgin!
Elgin will now challenge IWGP champion Kazuchi Okada on 5/17.
There was a huge "Thank you both" chant and a huge reaction to the match. This was just a brutal, stiff bout. Really, really loved this.
Ladder War: ROH champion Adam Cole vs. Jay Briscoe
There are three ladders at ringside, including one massive ladder. They began brawling. Briscoe got the better of Cole and sent him to the outside. He went for a dive but was hit in the face with a chair. Cole then drilled him hard across the back with a steel chair.
Cole worked over Briscoe and nailed a DVDR across an open chair. Cole went to get a ladder but Briscoe dropkicked the hell out of it and sent him like a bullet into the guard. He tossed a ladder into the ring. Briscoe, who was bleeding hardway, headbutt Cole and nailed him a chair.
Briscoe wedged a chair in the corner and beat on Cole but missed a charge and drilled himself into the chair. Cole set a ladder leaning against the ropes and suplexed him across it. Cole nailed Briscoe with a ladder and then drove it into him again. That busted Briscoe open hardway.
Briscoe nailed Cole with a ladder and tossed him to the floor. They fought in the aisle and a second ladder was tossed into the ring, this time a larger one. They battled on the floor and Briscoe nailed Cole with a chair.
Briscoe bridged a ladder and placed Cole on it then hit a senton onto the ladder. He teased setting up a ladder to go get the belts but instead went for a table. Cole was placed on the table. Briscoe climbed a massive ladder but Cole nailed him. He brought Briscoe onto the apron and attempted to DVDR him to the table below but Briscoe battled back, culminating with a powerbomb onto a ladder in the corner.
They battled on the top and Cole superkicked Briscoe off the ropes, taking a back bump into a ladder. Cole was climbing the ladder but Briscoe came from beneath and placed him on his shoulders, then just threw him off onto the ladder. That was a sick looking spot. The crowd chanted. “This is awesome.”
Briscoe nailed a hangman’s neckbreaker. He set up several chairs in the ring and stomped the hell out of Cole. Briscoe placed a ladder atop of the chairs. Briscoe just dumped Cole down hard. He placed Cole across the ladder and went for a top rope splash, which missed.
They wielded chairs and Cole got the better of the exchange. Cole set up a ladder but Briscoe nailed him with a chair. The crowd chanted, “ROH.” They each climbed the ladder and battled atop of it. Briscoe punched him off the ladder and Cole took a big bump to the ring.
Briscoe climbed to the top where the belts were but saw Cole down there and changed his mind, going back to the ring. He nailed a Jay-Driller. He grabbed a chair but Matt Hardy dragged him out of the ring and nailed a Twist of Fate on the floor. He placed Cole on his shoulders and pushed him up the ladder. Mark Briscoe ran out and slipped under Hardy, powerbombing him and Cole into the ring at the same time.
Hardy was placed on a ladder outside and Mark climbed up to dive off but Mike Bennett ripped the ladder over. Jay and Cole returned to the ring and began battling back and forth. Briscoe killed him with a Jay Driller. He began climbing up but Bennett grabbed his leg. Jay fought him off and nailed another Jay Driller, this one on Bennett.
Briscoe climbed up but Matt Hardy pulled him down and went for the Twist of Fate. Briscoe blocked it and nailed the Jay Driller. Cole climbed the ladder and Jay met him at the top. They battled and Cole knocked him down. Briscoe tried to make his way up and shake Cole off but failed as Cole pulled the belts down.
Your winner and still the ROH champion, Adam Cole!
Just a super psycho main event. This was a fun show!
You will be able to order the VOD at www.ROHWrestling.com.The stream started 20 minutes after the scheduled start time and the show is apparently already in progress, so no idea if I missed a match.
Open The United Gate Title Match: Bravado Brothers vs Anthony Nese & Caleb Konley
Colt Cabana joins Lenny Leonard on commentary as Konley and Lancelot start us off with some bassic mat wrestling. Lancelot quickly takes Konley down and gets a Mexican surfboard, cradling Konley backward onto his shoulders for a 2 count. Nese tags in and takes Lancelot down to the mat with a crazy hold even I can't identify, but Harlen comes in and drills Nese with a dropkick before dropping a double elbowdrop for 2. Lancelot tries for a suplex, but Nese blocks and snaps Lancelot over instead, then tags Konley in to hammer Lancelot with a flurry of moves. Konley slams Lancelot into the corner, then tags Nese in to dish out some damage of his own. Konley is back in and takes Lancelot down with a fireman's carry and goes to a Fujiwara armbar that is quickly broken when Lancelot makes the ropes. Konley tries to leapfrom Lancelot, but Lancelot catches him in midair and powerslams him, then tags in his brother. Harlem is a house of fire as he rolls over Nese and drills him with a double stomp. Nese tries to escape to the floor, but Harlem takes both Nese and Konley out with a dive, then brings Nese back inside and gets a high crossbody for 2. Konley hits a missile dropkick on Harlem and then catches him with a leaping enziguiri for 2. Lancelot tags in and drills Konley with a series of kneestrikes and turns him inside out with a lariat for 2. Harlem has recovered and takes Nese out as Lancelot hits Konley with a TKO for 2. Nese finally tags in and takes out Lancelot's legs with a drop down, then moonsaults onto...nothing. He totally missed it. All four men wind up in the ring andtake each other out with big moves until all four men are down. They get up and schmozz it out until Nese and Konley hit a unique double team for 2. Mr A tries to come in and interfere, but Moose comes in and spears him, then stares Nese down until the Bravados grab him and hit the Gentlemen's Agreement for the win.
Winners: Bravado Brothers
Great opener! Nese chews out Mr A after the match, then Su Yung gets a microphone and challenges AR Fox to come out and start their match right now.
AR Fox vs Mr A
Fox dominates Mr A for the first several minutes until A catches him with a leg lariat as he comes off the top rope. Mr A hits flying shoulderblock, and Fox starts to come back with some stuff, but spends too much time screwing around doing flippy dips until Mr A just picks him up and chucks him across the ring before locking in an abdominal stretch. Su Yung jumps in the ring to try and confront Fox, but Ivalisse comes into the ring to neutralize the ensuing catfight. Fox nails Mr A with a pair of bicycle kicks in the corner, but Larry Dallas jumps on the ring apron and says he has a gift for everybody. Of all people, Teddy Hart comes out of the back and has a couple of girls hand him a cat. He comes in the ring and sits the cat on the top turnbuckle, then takes his coat off and gives Fox Project Ciampa. The referee is beyond distracted as Teddy takes out Fox and then gives Mr A a moonsault, then does it a third time just to land on his feet. Now that Hart beat both men up, Fox hits a series of bicycle kicks in the corner and a Swanton for 2. Mr A brings Fox outside and powerbombs him onto the ring apron, then goes inside and hits a spinebuster for 2. Mr A goes to the second rope, but people should know better than that in AR Fox matches because he just hit Lo Mein Pain and it's over.
Winner: AR Fox
I could really have done without the Teddy Hart portion of the match, but it was very good otherwise.
Biff Busick vs Rich Swann
They circle one another for a moment until Busick starts tying Swann up in tortuous looking submission holds. Busick tages Swann to the mat and controls him with a legscissors, Swann gets out and cradles Busick to his back for 2. Swann catches Busick with a flying headscissors and a dropkick, then they go out to the ring apron where Swann tries to German suplex Busick to the floor. Busick blocks that and drops Swann, then brings him inside and covers for 2. Busick backdrops Swann with such vigor that he does another half flip and lands on his face. Busick with a nasty looking sitout powerbomb for 2, but Swann quickly turns it aorund and hits an ax kick. Fast paced, back and forth sequence trading pinfall attempts until Swann winds up on top with a sunset flip for 3.
Winner: Rich Swann
Solid outing by these two, this was my first chance to see Busick and I liked his amateur wrestling-based style, plus he has great timing in the ring as well.
The Colony vs Drew Gulak & Chuck Taylor
Green Ant and Gulak start us off, Green gets the control early, but they tag out so Taylor can come in with Fire Ant and pop him over with a nice overhead suplex. They do a bunch of lucha stuff, giving Green Ant the advantage. He swings through the ropes with a modified 619, then gets Tasylor in a Fujiwara armbar right in the middle of the ring. The Ants come in and out and draw Taylor into accidentally chopping Gulak several times before dropkicking them out to the floor. Taylor finally gets an advantage by going to the eyes, and now Green Ant is trapped in the wrong part of town. Gulak gets 2 off a fallaway slam and then locks a hold on Green's arm, which as been a major focus of their strategy. Green finally makes it to his corner and tags in Fire Ant, who goes nuts taking on both Gentleman's Club members by himself. Gulak comes in and gets an ankle lock on Green, but Green gets out and they dump Nese to the floor. Taylor rams Fire into Green and then gives Red a sitout powerbomb for 2. The Ants come back with a series of superkicks, then get both Taylor and Gulak in the corner and hit a double charging baseball slide. They try another one and Gulak catches their legs and gets a figure four on both men. They won't submit, so Gulak tries to superplex Fire Ant, but Fire Ant knocks him off and sends Gulak to the floor. Taylor comes in and nails Fire and tries a moonsault, but Fire dodges and hits what I can only describe as an Alabama Driver for 2. Gulak is back in and hits a Billy Robinson backbreaker on Fire Ant for 2. Green Ant tries to help Fire Ant out, but Gulak takes Green to the mat and really cranks on an anklelock. Green won't tap out and fights his way free, then traps Gulak in a submission Lenny identifies as the CHIKARA special to force Gulak to tap.
Winners: The Colony
Very action packed match, and they did it without getting too far into that over the top CHIKARA flippy dippy territory. Taylor also really seemed to have worked hard on his body and added some muscle mass since the last time I saw him and it looked good on him. These two teams work real well together, but looks like we won't see a rematch because Gulak has had enough of Taylor and kicks the crap out of him after the match. Gulak gets a microphone and starts screaming at Taylor and I can't quite make out what he says because of the sound quality in the building, but I did catch the end where he said the Gentleman's Club is no more.
INTERMISSION
Low Ki vs Trent Baretta
The fans were really happy to see Low Ki as he made his entrance. Baretta very carefully circles Low Ki before going behind for a waistlock. Low Ki gets out by dropping to the mat and catching Baretta with a quick kick to the shoulder. Baretta backs Low Ki to the corner and smacks him in the face, which the fans react to by informing Baretta that Low Ki is going to kill him. Low Ki responds with a couple of quick strikes that send Baretta scurrying to the floor where he grabs Low Ki's jacket and throws it into the crowd before telling the fan who caught it to sell it on eBay. Baretta comes back inside and they work on the mat for a bit before going to a chop exchange that makes me cringe at its stiffness. They go back to the mat, then Baretta tries escaping to the floor only to be followd by Ki, who viciously hammers him with more kicks and chops and even tries to give him the Ki Krusher on the floor. Baretta finally does some damage by whipping Ki hard into the corner and wiping him out with a clothesline, but he only gets a 1 count off the pinfall attempt. Baretta again tries to ground Low Ki with a chinlock, then continues to work Ki on the mat before making the mistake of throwing chops. Low Ki responds in kind and then goes to the top rope, but Baretta grabs the leg and pulls Ki down chest first on the top turnbuckle. Baretta takes advantage with a missile dropkick for 2, but Low Ki flips through on a German suplex attempt, lands on his feet, and double stomps Baretta in the chest. Now Ki is coming back with kicks and hits the Tidal Krush for 2. Baretta hits the German suplex on the second try and gets 2, then hits a diving elbow in the corner. Ki responds with a shotgun dropkick, Baretta blocks the Ki Krusher and puts Ki on the top rope, but Ki catches him coming up and hangs him in the Tree of Woe. Low Ki goes for the top rope double stomp, but Baretta pulls him down by the tights and hits him with the running kneestrike to the back of the head. Baretta quickly cradles Ki and stacks his legs high for the 3 count.
Winner: Trent Baretta
Awesome, awesome match! These guys really left it all out there in the ring and the surprise win by Baretta was a great finish.
Lenny Leonard takes a moment to inform us that Dragon Gate USA and EVOLVE will be in California next year for Wrestlemania weekend, and they'll be the only company running within five miles of "that big event" we can't name.
EVOLVE Champion Chris Hero vs Masato Tanaka
They carefully feel each other out for a moment before going to the mat and exchanging pinning combinations. They both go for rolling elbows, then they fight over a surfboard before picking up speed as Hero wipes Tanaka out with a Yakuza kick as he comes off the ropes. Now Hero is in control and unloads on Tanaka with some hard shots, but Tanaka has been through this before and responds in kind. Tanaka fires himself up, sends Hero to the corner, and drills him with a running forearm. Tanaka just goes nuts hammering Hero with hard forearms until Hero just collapses to the mat. Hero tries to get up, but he's definitely had his bell rung as he stumbles right back to the mat. Hero catches Tanaka with a jab to the face that knocks Tanaka to the mat, but Hero only gets a 2 count before Tanaka is right back on his feet and flattening Hero with another clothesline. Tanaka is just destroying Hero with those forearms, but Hero finally sidesteps Tanaka and sends him to the ropes, then knocks him into next week with the rolling elbow. Now it's Hero's turn to pound the snot out of Tanaka, drilling him with a series of forearms, a charging elbow in the corner, and a rolling neckbreaker for 2. Tanaka runs Hero over with another lariat, then plants him with a DDT. Hero is up and hits a rolling elbow followed by the roaring Yakuza kick, but he only gets a 2 count. Tanaka no-sells repeated kicks to the head, so they go back to trading forearms and chops. Hero hits a leaping kneestrike and goes for a suplex, but Tanaka reverses to a brainbuster and comes off the top rope with a frogsplash for 2. Hero tries for a powerbomb, Tanaka blocks it, so Hero drills him with a roaring elbow and goes for the Awesome Bomb. Tanaka gets out of that, but Hero gets him right back up and hits a Liger Bomb for 2. Tanaka moves out of the way of a moonsault and flattens Hero with a lariat for 2. Tanaka hits a spinning backfist, Hero hits a rolling elbow, Tanaka gets one of his own, and Hero kicks out at 1. Hero unloads on Tanaka, Tanaka nails him with another lariat, and Hero again is out at 2. Tanaka hits the sliding lariat and Hero is out at 2, so he hits the sliding elbow and that's finally enough to put Hero down for the three count.
Winner: Masato Tanaka
Just an unbelievable match. This is an early contender for DGUSA/EVOLVE Match of the Year, no doubt about it. Total war that Tanaka didn't win, he survived.
It's main event time!
Open The Freedom Gate Title Match: Johnny Gargano vs Ricochet
Ricochet is currently the Open The Dream Gate Champion, the top title in Dragon Gate in Japan, and now he wants to add the Open The Freedom Gate Title to his collection since it's literally the only Dragon Gate-branded title he has yet to win. Gargano, meanwhile, has been the champion for nearly two and a half years and has shown no signs of slowing down. They go to the mat right from the start as Lenny talks about how far they've come since first appearing in Dragon Gate USA and EVOLVE. They briefly get back to their feet for a Greco-Roman knucklelock before going back to the mat. They pick up for a moment and do a Jackie Chan sequence before going for each of their finishers right off the bat, and Gargano rolls to the outside to catch a break after nearly getting caught by Ricochet. They go back inside and Ricochet takes over on the champion, working him over in the corner with chops and kicks. Ricochet gets a jackknife cradle for 2, then a crucifix faceplant for another 2. Ricochet gets a headscissors and a dropkick, but Gargano avoids the dive, so Ricochet does back handsprings to show off for the fans and doesn't see Gargano come in with the spear through the ropes. Really bad time to screw around.
Now Gargano is in control and proceeds to begin wearing Ricochet down before putting him in the Texas Sunrise. Gargano turns it into a cradle for 2, then just puts the boots to Ricochet. Ricochet sweeps Gargano's legs and tries for a standing moonsault, but Gargano sees it coming and kicks Ricochet off in midair. They go outside where Gargano dumps Ricochet face first on the ring apron, then rolls inside to try for a countout. Ricochet beats the count, so Gargano wedges Ricochet in the corner and charges in with a dropkick. Ricochet catches Gargano with an Ace Crusher, but is too worn out to follow right up. Gargano tries to escape to the floor again, but Ricochet runs and dives over the ropes to wipe Gargano out.
We go back inside where Ricochet hit a springboard splash for 2, and then I get knocked off the webcast for some reason. I come back in just as Gargano tries to slingshot over the ropes for a DDT, only to be caught in midair and dumped before Ricochet hits a brainbuster. Ricochet hits a Zig Zag, but Gargano dodges a running shooting star press and gets the Gargano Escape. Ricochet gets right out, so Gargano hits the ropes, Ricochet tries to hit a flying headscissors coming back, but Gargano countered to a sitout powerbomb for 2. Ricochet blocks the lawn dart and nails Gargano with a Pelle kick, then he quickly drags a dazed Gargano out to the middle of the ring before going to the top rope. Gargano is up and tries to stop Ricochet, but Richcoet catches him with a kick to the head and goes for a shooting star press. Gargano sees him coming and superkicks him on the way down (which Ricochet sells like a MFer), then hits the lawn dart for 2. Great sequence.
Gargano is frustrated and spits on Ricochet, but that only fires Ricochet up as they begin to trade shots in the middle of the ring. They go nuts hammering each other with superkicks and Yakuza kicks until they both go down. They wind up on the apron where they trade blows until Ricochet begins nailing Gargano with kicks to his chest. He steps into the ring to break the count, then comes out to the apron for a couple more. Gargano knocks Ricochet to the floor and tries a dive, but Ricochet catches him and counters to a death valley driver on the floor.
Gargano is out on his feet as Ricochet hauls him up and goes for his finish. Gargano tries elbowing Ricochet in the face to get out, but Ricochet literally carries him up the ropes and tries to counter to a Frankensteiner. Ricochet blocks, but Gargano hits it any way and then hits Hertz Donut. Gargano only gets 2, but goes right into the Gargano Escape. Ricochet tries countering to a cradle, but Gargano rolls right back into the hold. Ricochet tries to suplex out of the hold, but Gargano holds on and takes Ricochet right back to the mat. Ricochet picks Gargano up again and suplexes him into the corner. Gargano lands on his head coming down and is on another planet as Ricochet hits the 630 splash. He drags Gargano out to the middle of the ring and hooks both legs, but Gargano is still out at 2.
The crowd is on their feet doing a "this is awesome" chant as Ricochet is back to his feet and gets Gargano up on his shoulders again, but Gargano holds the ropes to save himself. Gargano pulls the referee in front of an IED dropkick from Ricochet, and he is out as Ricochet hits his version of Go To Sleep and covers Gargano. There's nobody to count (other than the fans who counted to 10 or so), and Ricochet goes to check on the ref as Gargano rolls out to the floor and grabs the belt. Ricochet sees it coming and ducks, but Gargano gets the belt up as Ricochet goes for a kick, hurting Ricochet's leg, and then whacks him with the belt and knocks him out. Gargano covers, but Ricochet is out at 2, so Gargano takes the tape off his wrist and chokes Ricochet with it. Ricochet gets out of that too and goes for Go To Sleep, but he has trouble completing the move and Gargano takes him down into an STF version of the Gargano Escape. Ricochet desperately crawls to the ropes, but Gargano drags him back out to the midle of the ring...and gets rolled up for a very close 2. Ricochet immediately picks Gargano back up and hits Go To Sleep again and covers Gargano to win the match and FINALLY end what was the longest title reign in modern wrestling history.
Winner and NEW Open The Freedom Gate Champion: Ricochet
What an awesome match! This tops Hero-Tanaka and is an even BIGGER contender for DGUSA/EVOLVE Match of the Year. The ring fills with wrestlers from the locker room coming to congratulate the new champion as the fans chant "you deserve it" at Ricochet. Chuck Taylor comes out to the ring and gives Ricochet a long, hard stare before hugging his longtime rival and raising his hand to the fans.
Lenny Leonard congratulates Ricochet and hands him a microphone, and the champion says the journey here has been a long and wild ride, but like a wise man once said: to be the man, you have to beat the man, and now he's the man. He holds both the Open The Dream Gate Title and the Open The Freedom Gate Title, and that makes him the best thing going today. The fans chant "best in the world" at Ricochet, and he says that if anyone wants a shot at either title, he'll be right here waiting for them. He then does CIMA's routine of asking the fans if they enjoyed the show, then thanks the fans and says he'll see them tomorrow.
This was an excellent, excellent show. The undercard was solid, everything after the intermission was a MINIMUM of awesome, and the main event blew me away. This is the kind of show an independent company hangs its hat on, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them try and top it tomorrow night.
2014 - Traditional Championship Wrestling closed out the Mid-South Legends Fanfest with a live event, featuring the following results:
John Saxon & Vordell Walker vs. Kincaid & Sigmon with Roosevelt The Dog
Kincaid pins Walker after Roosevelt hits Walker with his chain.
King Shane Williams vs. Bill Dundee
Dundee wins after Williams misses a top rope fist drop.
Matt Riviera presented a check for $1000 to Bobby Fulton of The Fantastics to help with medical expenses.
Steve Anthony vs. The Pope Elijah Burke
The Pope wins by DQ after Greg Anthony of The Empire runs in to interfere.
Lance Hoyt vs. The Masterpiece Chris Adonis
Hoyt beats Adonis with The Psycho Effect driver.
The hosts of Sirius FM's Busted Open presented Beautiful Bobby Eaton with the Workers Choice Award.
Miss Lexi Vs. Angelina Love
Love wins with The Beautiful Kick
The Empire- Matt Riviera, The Golden Boy Greg Anthony & Tim Storm w/Dark Journey vs. Andy Dalton, Americonos & Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer hits a Fireman's Carry but gets hit in the back of his head with a boot. The Empire win.
Genetic Perfection - Michael Barry & Alan Steel vs. THE Rock N' Roll Express- Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson for the TCW Tag Team Titles
Rickey & Robert hit a Double Drop Kick beat Genetic Perfection to become the new TCW Tag Perfection
JYD Memorial Battle Royal-The Pope came out wearing Thump tights & a dog collar in honor of JYD. The Pope eliminates Lance Hoyt to win the inaugural JYD Memorial Battle Royal.
I would estimate around 400-450 here for the wrestling.
So Cal Val was handling the announcing but lost her voice so during the intermission someone else took over.
2014 - The WWE Network broadcast "Legends of Wrestlemania" live on the WWE Network. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
With Wrestlemania a few days away, it is time to take a look back at some of the memories of the first 29 Wrestlemanias.
We are at Wrestlemania Axxess in New Orleans, Louisiana. Michael Cole is your host and he is joined by Ric Flair, Mick Foley, and John Layfield.
Michael says that we will get a sneak peak of what things will look like inside the Superdome.
Michael asks Ric what his first memory of Wrestlemania was. Ric mentions that he was the NWA Champion when Wrestlemania was announced. He knew it would be big with it being in the Garden with Hogan, Mr. T, Orndorff, and Piper. It was a place he wanted to be.
Mick says that he was angry that he missed the first few Wrestlemanias because he had to watch it at a closed circuit location because there was no WWE Network at the time.
John mentions that he was at Wrestlemania 12 and then he sees Shawn Michaels rappel from the ceiling.
Michael Cole mentions that you need a big attraction and Andre the Giant is that special attraction.
We have a video package for Andre the Giant. We get comments from John Cena talking about how Andre was an attraction that you had to see. They show footage from Wrestlemania 3 when Andre faced Hulk Hogan and Hogan slammed Andre.
Michael asks Ric about Andre. Ric says that Andre was training with Vern Gagne when Flair started. He was driving Andre throughout the Midwest. They stayed close through the years because he wrestled all over the world.
Mick mentions that he was in a few matches with Andre in Japan in 1991 when Andre teamed with Dory Funk Jr. Andre was still an overpowering force. He felt like he broke his sternum when Andre dropped the elbow.
John idolized Stan Hansen in Japan. Stan told John that he was trading punches with Andre and he said that made Stan in Japan.
Michael says he never met Andre but he mentions the life sized statue of Andre.
Flair says that he wrestled Andre five times for the title, but he probably wrestled him hundreds of times in tag matches. Andre was an awesome person who was safe beyond belief. He cared about the business. He made an effort to make Ric look good.
With the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, the winner gets the trophy. John says this will define the winner’s career.
Michael says that he talked to Hulk Hogan and they discussed Hogan’s friendship with Andre.
Michael asks Hogan what his favorite Wrestlemania moment was and Hogan says it was Wrestlemania III against Andre. Wrestlemania put them on the map and then they jitterbugged with Wrestlemania 2 in three venues. The scope of Wrestlemania III with 93,000 people. That led the company to greatness.
Michael says that a lot of people made their legacies at Wrestlemania.
Michael asks John about Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 14 when he faced Shawn Michaels with Mike Tyson in his corner. John says this changed the business. John says that they had trouble selling tickets and had to stop running certain venues. Austin would sell out venues and this is what sparked the Attitude Era.
Michael mentions that Austin will be a part of Wrestlemania.
Michael asks Mick Foley about Bret Hart and Yokozuna at Wrestlemania X. Mick mentions that Bret had to beat Owen before getting to Yokozuna. There are similarities to Daniel Bryan this year.
Michael mentions Triple H and his match at Wrestlemania X-8 when he won the Undisputed Title. Ric says that Hunter refuses to be anything but the best because of his work ethic. Hunter is a master of the business and he is dedicated.
Mick Foley is asked about the Rock and his match against Hogan at Wrestlemania X-8. Michael brings up the Rock and Sock Connection against Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista. Mick says he gave Flair a victory at Mania. Flair mentions that he did not get the fall but was the ping pong ball in the match. Rock always stepped up. Foley had a moment of doubt being in there with Ric Flair and he fells that he dropped the ball.
Michael mentions Wrestlemania 19 and the night that Brock Lesnar arrived on the scene. Michael mentions the shooting star press. John mentions that he was trained by the same person as Brock and that is where the similarities end.
John says that if anyone can beat the streak, Brock can be that man.
Michael talks about Wrestlemania 6 when Ultimate Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan. Flair says that night defined Warrior’s career. Ric is asked if he ever thought he would see Warrior in the Hall of Fame. John says that he is looking forward to the speech. Mick suggests that this speech could go anywhere.
Michael mentions John Cena at Wrestlemania 21 when he beat JBL for the title. John says that was the night that people knew that Cena had it. He told people that Cena was the guy after the match.
Flair says that when he saw Cena do a run in against Kurt Angle and stand toe to toe for five minutes and not get tired, he knew it because of Angle’s stamina. Mick says that when he makes his occasional forays into the company, he observes how John interacts with the new guys and he treats all people with the same respect. Flair says that John never puts him out there for being something he is not.
Mick says that he might get some flack for being a Cena fan, but he stands by it.
John brings up Flair’s comments from his book about Foley and Mick says that they are friends now and he points out that they are the only former champions who are custom made.
It is time for a video package about Mr. Wrestlemania, Shawn Michaels.
For him it was the opportunity to be on the biggest stage. Now it is everything that is good about the business and life. You cannot beat being in a huge stadium going wacky. He has been in there with a lot of good pros. The Ladder Match at Wrestlemania X stands out. Over time, it has become a special match. Wrestlemania XII when he won the title is also special.
Chris Jericho says that the chances Shawn takes and the drama is times 1000 at Wrestlemania. He has an X factor that no one else has. Shawn was born to be the star at Wrestlemania.
Hunter says that it did not matter where on the show he was, he would steal the show. Cena says that he was the staple at Wrestlemania and he will not forget his match with Shawn. Orton says that Shawn often has the match of the year and it takes place at Wrestlemania.
Michael says the fun part of Wrestlemania is not just the event. People will attend from every state and 37 countries. The set is something special and we will see the set later tonight.
Michael says that everyone wants to be a part of Wrestlemania, including the celebrities. Mean Gene says Wrestlemania made wrestling mainstream. Pete Rose says that you want to do a good job so you will be asked back. Mike Tyson says that it was amazing. Snooki talks about enjoying being there.
Michael says that Maria Menounous will be hosting the Red Carpet ceremony tomorrow night before the Hall of Fame.
Michael asks Flair who his favorite celebrity was and he says Mickey Rourke because he got to hang around with him and convinced him to appear. Mick says that Mike Tyson was his favorite because of the dawning of the Austin era and he does not know if it would have been as big without Tyson. Flair says that he is going to tell Shawn and Steve what Mick said. John joins in on the assault on Foley. Mick says that Mike loved Wrestlemania and enjoyed being there.
John says Shawn and Austin could have done that main event without Tyson. Flair says Austin is his favorite star of all time in the WWE, but Shawn Michaels is the greatest performer in the history of the business. Flair says it used to be Ray Stevens.
John says his favorite star was Pete Rose because of the respect he has for the business. Pete says that it was a tradition and something special. Michael says that his favorite was Mr. T. Michael reminds us that Mr. T will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Michael wants to talk about careers that have ended at Wrestlemania. Michael mentions that John’s final match was at Wrestlemania 25 against Rey. John says that he picked the time and person because of Rey’s affiliation with Eddie Guerrero. John says that he probably should have retired a year earlier but he wanted to do it in Texas. He mentions the Von Erichs being inducted along with Steve Austin.
He says he left that day on one of the greatest days of his career.
Mick is asked about Wrestlemania 22 against Edge. Mick says that he thought it might have been the last time he wrestled on that scale. Edge was a great performer and Edge called him out on not having a Wrestlemania moment. On that night, he brought his A Game. Michael says that people think it is one of the best matches and Mick says that they were out there to give their best effort. They knew they did something special when he kept hearing that it was a great match. Mick mentions that Flair let Mick use his shampoo.
Flair says it is not normal to roll around in thumbtacks and barbed wire. Then he falls from a 30 foot high cage. Flair says Mick overstayed his welcome.
Flair says that he didn’t want to go but he was told that he was done. Flair says that Michaels wanted to be the one to face him.
We take a look back at Ric Flair’s match at Wrestlemania 24 in Orlando.
Michael tells Ric that many times, matches become a blur but he will never forget the image of Shawn Michaels saying ‘I’m sorry’. He asks Ric if he knew if Shawn said that. Flair says that it was not something that was predetermined. Every time he sees that, he gets very emotional. Flair has said that if could ever have a weekend like he had that weekend from the Hall of Fame to Wrestlemania to the next night on Raw.
Ric mentions that Shawn said that he loved him. Ric mentions that his family was there and his son, who is no longer here, loved Shawn. He says that Reid asked him if he could do a moonsault because Shawn Michaels can. Michael and Ric talk about Charlotte. Ric says that she is ten times the athlete she is.
We see the footage of everyone congratulating Flair after the match. John says that it was probably like Babe Ruth leaving Yankee Stadium for the last time. People did not want it to end.
Ric says that he wrestled John for the first time and John told him that it was an honor to wrestle him after the match was over. Flair says that is something you really don’t hear. Ric says that he felt like he left his family.
Michael thanks Ric for being able to call some of his matches.
Michael says that careers may end at Wrestlemania, but will the Streak?
We have a video package where his opponents talk about the feeling of being in the ring with the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Show says that Taker rises like the Phoenix at Wrestlemania.
Michael mentions that Flair was victim number 10. Flair is asked if he thought the streak would continue. Flair says that he was hoping it would. Taker is up there with Austin. He does not want it to end.
Mick is asked if he thought the streak would get there. Mick says that together the three of them have 5 or 6 victories while Taker has 21. It has become bigger than the business and he does not want it to end. It is like a great book you don’t want to finish. Taker has been finding a way to win. Mick mentions he wrestled Taker in 1996 and he was told Taker was a done deal. You don’t get rich betting against the Undertaker.
Michael mentions that he is undefeated at Wrestlemania. John mentions that Michael’s match was voted the 287th best of the 287 matches at Wrestlemania. John has a video package for Michael to watch.
Mick says things don’t live up to your memories but that was as bad as he remembers. Cole jokes about how he was in shape for the match.
John is asked about his favorite Wrestlemania matches. His match at Wrestlemania X-Seven in Texas was something that was his favorite.
Mick says his favorite match was Steamboat versus Savage at Wrestlemania 3, a match he never got to see live. His other favorite match is Austin and Hart from Mania 13. He talks about how he was traveling with Zeb Colter and he saw a copy of the videotape for Mania 3 and he finally got to watch the match and it was as good as he heard.
Ric says that his favorite match was Wrestlemania 24. He was 59 years old at that time. He might have had better matches, but Shawn made him look good. He talks about his match against Race at Starrcade, but the match with Shawn was his favorite.
Michael says that his favorite match was the first Rock/Cena match at Wrestlemania 28 because it was built for a full year. Michael talks about the look on Cena’s face after the match.
John says that it was a battle of the ages.
On WWE.com, the fan’s favorite match was Shawn Michaels versus the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 25.
Michael asks who will have their Wrestlemania Moment this year.
John says it will be the Undertaker. He has never seen Taker not rise to the occasion. He has his perfect opponent in Brock and Taker has something to prove.
Mick says it will be the crowning moment for the Yes Movement with 75,000 people chanting Yes for Daniel Bryan.
Ric says that it will be Triple H. He has more to lose mentally. He says that time off is a wrestler’s worst enemy. Ric says that if he can get past Daniel, he could win the title.
Ric says someone told him that Jose Canseco was going to take over as the next Mickey Mantle. That man was Jim Herd.
Michael asks Mick if Daniel Bryan can win the title. Mick says that he will win the title. Mick says that there is no business like theirs where the people feed off the energy. Daniel will feed off the crowd and it will end on an emotional high.
John says that there will be a moment when 75,000 people will chant Yes, but he might not be the champion.
Ric mentions that he lost thousands of matches and people Wooooo 38 years later.
Michael Cole says that Bray Wyatt will have his Wrestlemania Moment this year. Ric says that Bray is going against the franchise. Mick says that it is like what Pat Patterson said about Jimmy Snuka that he is a different type of person. Mick mentions that Snuka could have left the cage against Muraco but he decided to climb the cage and go for the Superfly Splash. He would Mick says that Bray might not define his moment with wins or losses. Mick says that Bray is a different kind of cat who might not be ruled by wins or losses.
Mick says that a dark horse is Antonio Cesaro when the crowd should get behind him at Wrestlemania and Raw the night after.
We take a look at the set inside the Superdome.
Stephanie McMahon says that she saw her father’s vision at Wrestlemania 1. Now she stands here on the stage of the Superdome, proud to represent Wrestlemania 30. Hunter says Wrestlemania represents then, now, and forever. It is because of you that WWE is the global phenomenon.
They unveil the stage and it is the Wrestlemania XXX logo in the center of the stage.
Match Number One: Dolph Ziggler versus Titus O’Neil
Ziggler with a waist lock and Titus with a hip lock to get out of the hold. Ziggler goes for the leg but Titus stops him. Ziggler with punches but Titus sends Ziggler face first to the mat and Ziggler holds his forearm. Titus with a kick and punches to Ziggler. Titus slams Ziggler and follows with a leg drop for a near fall.
Titus slaps Ziggler in the head and he applies a reverse chin lock. Titus with a gutbuster to Ziggler and he barks. Titus runs into a boot from Ziggler and both men are down. Ziggler with a cross body and punches to Titus. Ziggler leaps into the corner and he punches Titus. Ziggler with a neck breaker out of the corner. Ziggler misses a Fameasser but Titus misses a kick.
Ziggler grazes Titus with a Fameasser but Titus with a boot to the head for a near fall. Titus with a boot to the head and then he slaps Ziggler. Titus with a back breaker to Ziggler and he holds on for another one. Ziggler gets to his feet and he hits the Zig Zag for the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
We go to commercial, but when we come back, Jerry Lawler and Renee Young will be in New Orleans at Wrestlemania Axxess.
We are back and we are at Wrestlemania Axxess with Renee Young and Jerry Lawler.
They show some of the exhibits and attractions at Axxess including the Undertaker’s Graveyard and the Superstar Entrance.
Renee asks Jerry about the Undertaker’s streak and if he has ever been as concerned as this year. Jerry says that he has seen every match during the streak, but this is the most worried that he has been about Taker continuing the streak.
We see the Paul Heyman produced Undertaker’s streak video.
We go to commercial.
We are back in New Orleans with Renee and Jerry.
They show the Slam City exhibit.
Renee mentions that the Legends of Wrestlemania will air on the WWE Network after Smackdown ends. Jerry says that you can still sign up for the Network.
We go to Michael Cole’s interview with Stephanie McMahon, who is a Principal Owner of WWE.
Michael congratulates Stephanie on the Network. Stephanie says that it is a great time to be a WWE fan, just like her dad said at the unveiling of the WWE Network.
Michael mentions that there has been a thorn in their side in Daniel Bryan. He asks what kind of example Stephanie and Hunter are making for the people coming up from NXT. She says that they exemplify leadership. No one else can appreciate that responsibility. Daniel Bryan’s popularity is not an issue. Daniel put people in danger when he let them get in the ring. There was a liability issue.
Daniel Bryan is setting the wrong example by putting people in danger. Michael mentions that this happened at SummerSlam in August. She says that Daniel Bryan is a B+ player and he has his spot on the roster. When he puts people in harm’s way, you have to be dealt with.
Michael asks Stephanie if Daniel Bryan defeats Triple H and 75,000 people are doing the ‘Yes Chant’ will she admit that she was wrong about Daniel Bryan. She says that Michael has been drinking the Daniel Bryan Kool-Aid. She mentions that Daniel is a pea compared to Hunter and he will squash him. She says that she feels sorry for the people whose hopes and dreams will be dashed on Sunday. Her husband will demolish Daniel Bryan and then he will go on to become the new WWE World Champion.
Jerry and Renee talk about the statue of Andre The Giant in the Memorabilia area and see how small you are compared to him. Renee mentions that she would love to try on Trish Stratus’ Maple Leaf jacket.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: John Cena attacking Bray Wyatt on Monday night.
We are in New Orleans and we see the exhibit for Legends’ House. Jerry says that if you are sitting with Mean Gene, Roddy Piper, or Jimmy Hart you will be lucky to get a word in.
We go to the Fruity Pebbles ring.
Renee mentions the John Cena and Bray Wyatt match. Jerry says that no one has been more intent on building a legacy than John Cena and Bray is trying to destroy it.
We have a video package for John Cena where he says that he respects his enemies and his friends. He has been building his legacy for 12 years. Bray Wyatt wants to destroy everything he worked his life to build.
We go to commercial.
We are back in New Orleans and Renee mentions that it seems like Randy Orton is lost in the shuffle with everything going on with Triple H and Daniel Bryan.
Jerry mentions that Batista comes back and wins the Royal Rumble. Then you have the Triple H and Daniel Bryan stuff and Orton remains in the shadows.
We go to an interview that Booker T did with the WWE World Champion Randy Orton.
Booker thanks Randy for answering a few questions. He asks Randy about becoming the first WWE World Champion. He says it was amazing and he talks about the road to get there. He wins Money in the Bank, cashes in to become the WWE Champion. Then he beats John Cena to become a 12 Time World Champion and the first WWE World Champion. He says that it is his time.
Randy is asked about being in a Triple Threat match and possibly facing his boss. Randy has a history with Triple H. They had their ups and downs and he knows him better than Bryan. Hunter is a great competitor and also a ruthless business who will do what it takes to get what he wants. If Hunter steps in the ring, he is not his boss. He is another body in the ring to be decimated.
Booker asks Randy about comments Hunter made about him. Randy says that he has never thought of himself as a technically gifted wrestler. Booker asks about needing to have his hand held by Hunter. He takes the technically gifted comment as a compliment.
Booker asks about Daniel Bryan. Randy says that Daniel and the chanting of the one syllable word is a fad. It is funny for him to see someone who struggled to get to the top while it was so easy for Randy.
Randy says that Triple H and Daniel Bryan will be beaten down going into the main event. The winner of that match will not be 100%.
Booker asks Randy about Batista. Randy says they have a history. Randy says that Batista was the first guy he met in the business. They were friends. They got better together. When Batista went to do the movie thing, you cannot get those four things back. Randy talks about the reaction Batista got and the skinny jeans. The people want nothing to do with the big guy. Back in the day, Batista would have been an opponent for him, but not so much today.
Booker asks Randy what to expect at Wrestlemania. Randy says that he will be standing tall when the smoke clears and the dust settles and will be the champion. Randy says that he is better than all of the guys. It does not matter who he faces, he will have both titles in his hand.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Fernando and Diego (with El Torito) versus Cesaro and Jack Swagger (with Zeb Colter)
Fernando and Swagger start things off and Swagger with knees to the midsection and he continues after the referee warns him. Fernando with a kick and punch but Swagger with a knee. Fernando with an Irish whip and Fernando does a head stand on the turnbuckles. Fernando leaps over Swagger but Fernando with an arm drag.
Cesaro tags in and he tries for a suplex but Fernando tries for an O’Connor Roll. Fernando with a drop kick and arm drags into an arm bar. Fernando with a head scissors and Diego tags in. Colter yells at Cesaro and wants to know what he is doing. Colter slaps Cesaro and Swagger gets between them before the Swiss lose their neutrality.
Swagger tells Cesaro to focus and he hits a drop kick on Diego followed by a series of European uppercuts and a few running European uppercuts in the corner. Cesaro hits six of them and he follows with a dead lift side salto.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Cesaro pushes Diego into the turnbuckles and Swagger tags in. Diego with punches but Swagger and Cesaro catch him. Diego with a double DDT and everyone is down. Swagger is able to pull Diego into the corner and he kicks him. Swagger sends Diego to the mat. Cesaro tags in and they hit a double suplex.
Cesaro with a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Cesaro with a European uppercut and Swagger tags in and Swagger assists Cesaro into the corner for a splash and then Cesaro sends Diego to Swagger for a clothesline and a near fall.
Swagger with a front face lock on Diego. Diego with punches and he kicks Swagger when Jack charges at him against the ropes. Both men are down but Cesaro tries to interfere. Diego drops down but Diego is stopped by Swagger. Diego kicks Swagger away and Cesaro pulls Fernando off the apron.
Swagger with a clothesline into the corner and a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Swagger with the Swagger Bomb and Cesaro tags in and hits the leap frog Double Stomp for a near fall. Cesaro with another near fall. Diego punches Swagger and Cesaro but Swagger is tagged in and they try to stop Diego.
Diego with a kick to Swagger and then he back drops Cesaro and Swagger to the floor. Diego crawls across the ring and he makes the tag to Fernando. Fernando with a few flying shoulder tackles followed by a chop. Fernando with a rana to Cesaro followed by a springboard back elbow for a near fall.
Cesaro with a European uppercut but Fernando avoids a suplex and he hot shots Cesaro into the turnbuckles and then Fernando goes up top and hits a corkscrew senton for a near fall. Swagger is sent to the floor and Diego goes to the apron but Cesaro kicks Diego off the apron. Cesaro runs into knees from Fernando but Cesaro catches him off the turnbuckles and puts him in the Giant Swing followed by the Gotch Style Neutralizer for the three count.
Winners: Jack Swagger and Cesaro
We go to commercial.
We are back in New Orleans with a look at the WWE Superstore.
Renee mentions the Shield and their match against the New Age Outlaws and Kane. Jerry says that it was a shock to see the Shield laid out in the ring by Kane and the Outlaws.
Dean says that last year’s Wrestlemania was a dream. Seth says that is all he wanted to do. To say that they were underdogs was a major statement. Roman says that a win like that immortalizes you.
Dean says they were the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team. This year, they are the Yankees and Lakers.
Seth says they got ambushed and that does not happen very often. Kane had some tricks up his sleeve and they paid the price for not being any wiser. At the end of the day, they didn’t get the job done because they are sitting her talking and they are still walking, so they are in trouble.
Dean says that he was a fan when he was younger. He is looking forward to putting them out to pasture in New Orleans. Seth says that they came here with one goal in mind. Knock down the doors and take control. It does not matter what kind of legacy you have, you have to go. Roman says that Kane made the biggest mistake. They may bend, but they will not break.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Renee mentions that Triple H unveiled the Bruno Sammartino statue at Axxess. Bruno says that he is grateful for the support of the fans.
Jerry brings up the ‘Bootista’ chants and the reaction the fans have given him since his return. Jerry and Renee talk about how this was not the match that Batista thought he would have at Wrestlemania.
Booker T had a chance to talk to Batista.
Batista says that he has been saying that he will walk out of Wrestlemania as the champion. He was asked about how it felt to come back after four years. Batista says that he wishes it was someplace better than Dayton but it was good to be back. Booker says the fans might not have accepted him the way he thought. Batista says they did for the first two minutes.
Batista says that he never cared about being cheered or not. If people dislike him, he will give them more. The more they booed him, the more he did things out of spite.
Booker asks him what Wrestlemania XXX means to him. It is hard to put into words what it is like to perform at Wrestlemania. Booker asks him about being in a Triple Threat match. Batista says the thing that bothers him about the match is that he can lose without being beaten. He is so focused and he does not see himself losing.
Booker mentions that things have changed since Batista left. Booker reads a quote from Hunter that was aimed at Batista. Batista says that he thought Hunter was talking about The Rock, but then he felt flattered that Hunter thought he was a movie star. He does not see Hunter as a threat and he needs to stay behind his desk. Daniel Bryan is the flavor of the month. Batista says that he will squash Daniel Bryan. The Yes Movement is a fad. He says that people can live vicariously through Daniel because he looks like him.
Batista says that Randy Orton is the biggest corporate suck up he has ever seen. Batista says that he does not have to suck up to anyone. He just needs to hurt people. Booker asks Batista what can we expect from the match. Batista says that at the end of the match, he will be holding gold while the fans boo him and he will feel great about it.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we are back in New Orleans. Renee mentions that the Hall of Fame Ceremony and Red Carpet will be on the Network. Jerry talks about how much he loves the Hall of Fame because he is hosting as well as the people who will be inducted. Renee mentions the Legends of Wrestlemania show after Smackdown on the WWE Network.
We go back to Raw for footage from the main event and the return of Daniel Bryan.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Hulk Hogan makes his return to Smackdown.
Hogan tells everyone in the building something . . . BROTHER. He says that it feels great to be back on Smackdown after all of these years and to do it in the Nation’s Capital. Wrestlemania is a few days away and he is so pumped for Wrestlemania that he feels like the WWE Champion.
Hogan says that he has a lot of Wrestlemania memories. At Wrestlemania 1, him and Mr. T tore down the Garden. At Wrestlemania 18, he went one on one with the Great One. At Wrestlemania 3 in front of 93,000 people when he pressed Andre over his head and slammed him was the big one for Hogan.
Hogan says that is why he is excited to be the one to hand the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Trophy to the winner. That thing is spectacular and beautiful. One of those thirty Superstars has a chance to link themselves to immortality by winning the battle royal.
Hogan wants to know WHATCHA GONNA DO when Hulkamania and the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal run wild on you.
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