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May 7th
On this day in history in ....
1914 - Stanislaus Zbyszko defeats Americus (Gus Schoenlein) to win the World Heavyweight Title in Kansas City, Missouri.
1948 - Danny McShain defeats Miguel Guzmán for the Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas, ending Guzmán's second reign.
1954 - Bull Curry defeats Ray Gunkel to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas, ending Gunkel's third reign.
1955 - Lord James Blears and Gene Kiniski defeat Ben and Mike Sharpe for the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title, ending the Sharpes' ninth reign.
1956 - Larry Chene and Herb Freeman defeat Jack O'Reilly and Kurt Von Poppenheim to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.
1963 - The WWWF ran TV Taping at the Bridgeport, CT Arena with the following results:
-Skull Murphy & Brute Bernard defeated Pete Sanchez & Tony Martinelli in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0.
-Skull Murphy & Brute Bernard fought Vittorio Apollo & Pat Barrett to a double disqualification,
-Arnold Skaaland defeated Miguel Torres in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0.
-The Shadow defeated Paul Reinhart in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0.
-Vittorio Apollo defeated Boris Malenko.
-Pat Barrett defeated Joe Quinones.
1964 - Louie Tillet defeats Jerry Kozak to win the NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Title in Austin, Texas, ending Kozak's second reign and beginning Tillet's second.
1964 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Greensboro, NC at Coliseum, drawing 7,604 fans witnessing the following results:
-Brute Bernard pinned Alex Medina after a series of knee drops at the 12-minute mark.
-Skull Murphy pinned Bob Boyer at the 11-minute mark after a headbutt.
-George Becker defeated Tommy O'Toole via submission with an abdominal stretch at the 7-minute mark.
-George & Sandy Scott defeated Pedro Godoy & Frank Valois in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0.
Johnny Weaver & Haystacks Calhoun defeated the Great Bolo & Bolo in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 1-0; fall #1: Weaver defeated the Great Bolo at the 36-minute mark with the sleeper; fall #2: the 60-minute time-limit expired.
1965 - Owen Hart is born in Calgary, Alberta.
1965 - The WWWF ran West Hempstead, NY, headlined by WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino & Haystacks Calhoun battling Gorilla Monsoon & Bill Watts to a draw.
1966 - WWWF held a TV taping in Baltmore, with Johnny Rodz, Vittorio Apollo and Waldo Von Erich among those appearing.
1967 - Vento Castella defeats Karloff Lagarde for the NWA World Welterweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, ending Lagarde's second reign.
1967 - The WWWF ran Scranton, PA, headlined by WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino defeating Gorilla Monsoon. Other results of the event saw:
-Victor Rivera & Earl Maynard defeated Bull Ramos & Homer O'Dell.
-Prof. Toru Tanaka defeated Angelo Savoldi.
-Hans Mortier & Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Carlos Colon & Arnold Skaaland.
-Crybaby Cannon defeated Bill Miller.
1970 - Jerry Christy defeats Abdullah the Butcher for the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta. This began Christy's second reign and ended Abdullah's third.
1970 - Terry Funk defeats Ricky Romero for the NWA Western States Heavyweight Title in Amarillo, Texas.
1970 - The WWWF ran Washington, DC at the National Arena featuring the following results:
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Karl Kovacs.
-Arnold Skaaland defeated the Red Demon in a Best 2 out of 3 falls, winning his first fall via disqualification.
-Crusher Verdu defeated Lee Wong.
-Mario Milano defeated Frank Hickey & Phil Rita in a handicap match.
-John L Sullivan defeated Mike Conrad in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0.
-Dominic DeNucci fought Karl Kovacs to a draw in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 1-1; fall #3: the match went to the curfew draw.
1973 - WWWF ran Allentown, PA with the following results:
-Manuel Soto defeated Juan Caruso.
-Mr. Fuji defeated Ben Ortiz.
-Arnold Skaaland defeated Vicente Pometti.
-Moondog Mayne defeated Gorilla Monsoon via count-out.
-WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales defeated Prof. Toru Tanaka.
1974 - Mike Dubois and Fred Sweetan defeat The Beast and Bobby Kay to win the Eastern Sports Association International Tag Team Title in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1975 - George Gulas and Jerry Jarrett defeat Don and Ron Wright for the NWA Tennessee Tag Team Title in Nashville, Tennessee. At the same event, Luke Graham wins the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title from Don Kent, ending his third reign and beginning Graham's second.
1975 - Giant Baba & Samson Kutsuwada defeated WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino & Mike George in Enu, Japan.
1976 - The Super Destroyer defeats The Mighty Canadian (Gene Kiniski) to win the Amarillo NWA International Heavyweight Title in Amarillo, Texas, beginning his third reign.
1977 - José Miguel Perez defeats Hurácan Castillo in a tournament final for the vacant WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
1977 - WWWF World Champion Superstar Billy Graham defeated Billy White Wolf in the main event of a WWWF event in New Haven, CT.
1979 - Bill Dundee and Robert Fuller defeated The Assassins in a loser leaves town match in Memphis, Tennessee to win the AWA Southern Tag Team Title.
1979 - Blackjack Mulligan wins his second Amarillo NWA International Heavyweight Title in Odessa, Texas, ending Dory Funk, Jr.'s third reign.
1979 - The WWWF ran Steubenville, Ohio with the following results:
-Dominic DeNucci defeated Butcher Vachon.
-Johnny Rodz fought Johnny DeFazio to a draw.
-Dino Bravo defeated the Red Demon.
-Ivan Putski, Larry Zbyszko, & Haystacks Calhoun defeated George Steele, Stan Stasiak, & Strong Kobayashi.
1981 - Rufus R. Jones defeats Bobby Jaggers for the NWA Central States Television Title in Kansas City, Kansas
1981 - The WWF ran Vandergift, PA with the following results:
-Johnny DeFazio defeated Pete Mitchell.
-The Carolina Kid & Farmer Jerome defeated Sky Low Low & the Chocolate Kid.
-Rick Martel defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
-The Red Demon defeated Billy Berger.
-Dominic DeNucci & SD Jones defeated Moondog Rex & Lou Albano via disqualification.
1982 - Timothy Flowers and Adrian Street defeat Chris Adams and Ringo Rigsby to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title.
1983 - La Galactica defeats Jaguar Yokoto for the WWWA World Singles Title in Kawasaki, Japan.
1983 - WWF ran Springfield, MA at The Civic Center, drawing 2000 fans who witnessed:
-Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Mac Rivera.
-Jose Estrada defeated Barry Hart.
-Baron Mikel Scicluna pinned Frankie Williams.
-Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Ray Stevens.
-Jimmy Snuka defeated Samula.
-Iron Mike Sharpe defeated Tony Garea.
-Rocky Johnson defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Don Muraco via disqualification.
-WWF champion Bob Backlund defeated Afa.
1984 - World Class Championship Wrestling ran Fort Worth, Texas, headlined by NWA World champion Kerry Von Erich pinning Terry Gordy in 16:17 when Gordy nailed a bodypress off the ropes but the momentum rolled Von Erich over on top, where he scored the pinfall. Underneath, Killer Khan defeated Kelly Kiniski for the World Class Television Title.
1984 - Tommy Gilbert defeats Johnny Rich to win the NWA Southeast United States Junior Heavyweight Title in Birmingham, Alabama.
1984 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Kingston, NC with the following results:
-Kurt Von Hess fought Doug Vines to a draw.
-Jesse Barr defeated Vinnie Valentino.
-Pez Whatley defeated Bob Orton Jr.
-NWA World Tag Team Champions Wahoo McDaniel & Mark Youngblood defeated NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard & Jesse Barr.
-Jimmy Valiant defeated Adrian Street.
1984 - The WWF ran two live events with a split crew.
In Rochester, NY:
-Rene Goulet defeated Jose Luis Rivera.
-David Schultz defeated Chief Jay Strongbow.
-B. Brian Blair defeated Ron Shaw.
-Rocky Johnson & Tony Atlas defeated Tiger Chung Lee & Mystery Man.
-Sgt. Slaughter defeated the Iron Sheik.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana defeated Paul Orndorff.
Scranton, PA:
-The Tonga Kid defeated Tony Colon.
-Terry Daniels defeated Israel Matia.
-Samula defeated Rudy Diamond.
-Buzz Sawyer defeated Steve Lombardi.
-Greg Valentine defeated Salvatore Bellomo.
-Ivan Putski defeated Afa.
1985 - Jerry Oske defeats Randy Savage to win the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky.
1985 - Florida Championship Wrestling ran Tampa, FL at the Sundome with the following results:
-Jay Youngblood defeated Jack Hart.
-Tiger Conway Jr. defeated Dale Veasey.
-Scott McGhee defeated Mike Golden.
-Brian Blair fought Rip Rogers to a time-limit draw.
-Southern Heavyweight Champion Hector Guerrero defeated Bill Irwin.
-Bugsy McGraw defeated the Missing Link.
-Wahoo McDaniel & Blackjack Mulligan defeated Jesse Barr & Bill Irwin, who was substituting for Rick Rude.
-Kerry Von Erich defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair via disqualification at 31:39 after Flair attacked an interfering Scott McGhee.
1986 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Rhonda, NC, headlined by The Rock N' Roll Express defeated NWA World Tag Team champions The Midnight Express in a non-title match.
1986 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Wheeling, WV with the following results:
-Nelson Royal defeated Jim Lancaster.
-Sam Houston defeated Al Snow.
-Manny Fernandez & Hector Guerrero defeated Baron Von Raschke & Thunderfoot.
-Jimmy Valiant defeated Shaska Whatley via disqualification.
-Ron Garvin defeated Tully Blanchard via disqualification.
-Nikita Koloff defeated Magnum TA in a Russian chain match.
1987 - Kid McCoy defeats Steve Grey for the British Lightweight Title in Adwick le Street, England, ending Grey's fifth reign.
1987 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Raleigh, NC at the Dorton Arena:
-Thunderfoot #1 & #2 defeated Ricky Lee Jones & Mark Fleming.
-The Italian Stallion defeated John Savage.
-Denny Brown defeated John Savage.
-Laser Tron defeated Nelson Royal via disqualification.
-Jimmy Valiant defeated Gladiator #2.
-The Rock N' Roll Express defeated The Midnight Express.
-NWA World TV Champion Tully Blanchard defeated Ole Anderson in a steel cage match.
1988 - The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll and Scott Peterson) defeat Avalanche (P.N. Newz) and Mike Golden to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Portland, Oregon, beginning their second reign.
1989 - WCW, under the NWA banner, held the first-annual WrestleWar pay-per-view event, subtitled "Music City Showdown", at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The results were:
- The Great Muta (with Gary Hart) pinned Doug Gilbert (with NWA United States Tag Team Champion Eddie Gilbert) after a moonsault. Gilbert was substituting for the advertised Junkyard Dog.
- Butch Reed pinned Ranger Ross after shoulderblock off the top rope.
- Dick Murdoch pinned Bob Orton, Jr. (with Gary Hart) in a bullrope match after two elbowdrops after he hogtied Orton.
- The Dynamic Dudes (Johnny Ace and Shane Douglas) defeated The Samoan Swat Team (Fatu and Samu (with Paul E. Dangerously)), when Douglas pinned Fatu after a missile dropkick from Ace.
- Michael Hayes (with Hiro Matsuda) pinned NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger to win the title, ending Luger's second reign. Both men ran into referee Nick Patrick. While the referee was out, Terry Gordy came out and put Hayes on top of Luger, and pushed Luger's foot off the bottom rope during the count.
- NWA World Television Champion Sting defeated The Iron Sheik (with Rip Morgan) by submission with the Scorpion Deathlock to retain the title.
- Ric Flair pinned NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ricky Steamboat by reversing a bodyslam into an inside cradle to win the title, beginning his seventh reign. Judges at ringside to decide the match in the event it went the full hour time limit were former champions Terry Funk, Pat O'Connor and Lou Thesz. After the match, Funk attacked Flair after Flair turned down a future title match with him, piledriving him on a ringside table. Flair would be "out of action" until the July 1989 Great American Bash PPV against Funk.
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk (with Paul Ellering)) defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions The Varsity Club (Mike Rotunda and Steve Williams (with Kevin Sullivan)) by disqualification, when Dan Spivey knocked guest referee Nikita Koloff out of the ring. The Varsity Club retained the title, but were stripped of the title just after the match for their actions.
- NWA United States Tag Team Champions Eddie Gilbert and Rick Steiner (with Missy Hyatt) defeated The Varsity Club (Dan Spivey and Kevin Sullivan), when Gilbert pinned Sullivan after Steiner clotheslined Sullivan behind the referee's back, to retain the title.
-The show also featured a musical performance by The Oak Ridge Boys.
1990 - Navajo Kid defeats Steve Gatorwolf for the American Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title in Chinle, Arizona.
1992 - WCW drew 1,100 fans in Wichita, Kansas, with the following results:
-Van Hammer pinned JT Southern.
-Ron Simmons pinned Cactus Jack.
-WCW U.S. Tag Team Champions Greg Valentine & Terry Taylor defeated Tom Zenk & Marcus Alexander Bagwell.
-Ricky Steamboat pinned Steve Austin.
-Nikita Koloff (substituting for WCW World Champion Sting) & the Great Muta defeated Big Van Vader & WCW U.S. Champion Rick Rude via disqualification.
-WCW World Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton.
1993 - The Sicilian Stallions (Guido Falcone and Vito Mussolini) defeat The Ebony Experience (Booker T and Stevie Ray) to win the GWF Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas, ending the Ebony Experience's third and final reign before leaving for WCW.
1993 - Madusa Miceli defeats Jamie West for the International World Class Championship Wrestling Women's Title in Southampton, New York.
1998 - Damiancito el Guerrero defeats El Oriental to win the vacant Mexican National Lightweight Title in Guadalajara, Mexico.
1998 - WCW ran Omaha, Nebraska with the following results:
-Bobby Eaton defeated Steve Armstrong.
-Yuji Nagata defeated Ernest Miller.
-Konnan defeated Marty Jannetty.
-Silver King & Juventud Guerrera defeated Psychosis & La Parka
-WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho defeated Disco Inferno.
-Lex Luger defeated Scott Norton.
-Sting defeated WCW World Tag Team Champion Scott Hall.
1998 - The WWF ran Ft. Myers, FL, drawing a sellout 7,234 with the following results:
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Godfather defeated Goldust.
-Jerry Lawler defeated Test.
-Bob Holly & Val Venis defeated Brian Christopher & Scott Taylor.
-The Big Show defeated Mideon.
-Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett defeated Edge & Christian.
-WWF Hardcore Champion Al Snow & Tori defeated D-Lo Brown & Ivory in a mixed tag match.
-The Rock defeated Billy Gunn.
-Mankind defeated Bradshaw.
-The Undertaker defeated Ken Shamrock in a casket match.
-WWF champion Steve Austin defeated the Big Bossman.
1999 - Nick Dinsmore defeats Rob Conway to win his third OVW Heavyweight Title in New Albany, Indiana.
1999 - The Ultimate Fighting Championship held UFC 20: Battle for the Gold at the Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama. The results:
- In a preliminary fight, Ron Waterman defeated Chris Condo by TKO (strikes) at 0:28.
- Laverne Clark defeated Fabiano Iha by TKO (cut) at 1:31.
- Marcelo Mello defeated David Roberts by TKO (strikes) at 1:23.
- Wanderlei Silva defeated Tony Petarra by knockout (knee) at 2:53.
- Pete Williams defeated Travis Fulton by submission (armbar) at 6:28.
- Pedro Rizzo defeated Tra Telligman by knockout at 4:30.
- Bas Rutten defeated Kevin Randleman by split decision after 21:00 to win the UFC Heavyweight Title. The title had been vacated in January 1998, when Randy Couture was stripped due to a contract dispute.
1999 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran York, PA at Memorial Hall, drawing 800 fans with the following results:
-Rhino defeated Tony Devito.
-Nova defeated Lance Diamond.
-Little Guido defeated Mosco de la Merced.
-Danny Doring & Roadkill defeated Skull Von Krush & Rod Price.
-Chris Candido defeated Chris Chetti.
-Tommy Dreamer pinned Steve Corino.
-Super Crazy defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri.
-ECW World Tag Team Champions Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley defeated Jerry Lynn & Spike Dudley and Justin Credible & Lance Storm in a Three-Way Dance; Lynn pinned Credible; Spike was pinned with 3D.
-ECW World TV Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Balls Mahoney
2000 - WCW held the eighth-annual, and final, Slamboree pay-per-view at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. The results were:
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Candido (with Tammy Lynn Sytch) pinned The Artist (with Paisley) after a diving headbutt to retain the title.
- WCW Hardcore Champion Terry Funk defeated Norman Smiley and Ralphus in a handicap match, by pinning Smiley with a small package, to retain the title.
- Shawn Stasiak pinned Curt Hennig with a fisherman suplex.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner (with Midajah and Shakira (Kim Kanner)) defeated Captain Rection to retain the title.
- Mike Awesome fought Kanyon to a no-contest after Kevin Nash, Billy Kidman, Vampiro, Chris Candido, Shane Douglas, Ric Flair, and Sting all interfered.
- Lex Luger defeated Buff Bagwell by submission with the Torture Rack.
- Shane Douglas pinned Ric Flair after David Flair hit Ric with a baseball bat.
- Sting pinned Vampiro after a Scorpion Deathdrop.
- Hulk Hogan (with Horace Hogan) defeated Billy Kidman (with Torrie Wilson) after Kidman missed a splash and went through a table. Eric Bischoff was the guest referee.
- Jeff Jarrett defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion David Arquette and Diamond Dallas Page in a triple-tier steel cage match to win the title, beginning his second reign. Jarrett grabbed the belt at the top of the structure to win, after Arquette, who Page had been helping throughout the match, hit Page with a guitar, knocking him down to on top of the second level. After the match, Mike Awesome attacked Page, with Kanyon attempting to make the save. Awesome threw Kanyon off the second cage onto the entrance ramp, breaking it.
2000 - Los Villanos (III, IV and V) defeat Cyborg Cop, Maniacop and Vader Cop to win the IWRG Intercontinental Trios Title in Naucalpan, Mexico.
2000 - Abismo Negro and Electro Shock defeat Hator and The Panther for the Mexican National Tag Team Title in Monterrey, Mexico.
2000 - Takehiro Murahama defeats Super Delfin to win the Osaka Pro Wrestling Singles Title in Osaka, Japan.
2001 - Justin Starr defeats Drew McDonald for the British Heavyweight Title in Weymouth, England.
2001 - WWF taped Monday Night Raw and Jakked at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island. The taping became infamous for a match taped between Perry Saturn and Mike Bell for Jakked. After a spot went awry, Saturn stiffly worked over Bell, including brutally throwing him out of the ring where Bell struck his head. WWF sent Saturn home the next day as punishment.
The taping featured the following results:
Dark Matches:
- Sho Funaki (with Taka Michinoku) pinned Yoshihiro Tajiri at 5:50 with a reverse DDT from the middle turnbuckle.
-Dave Taylor pinned Scotty Vick with a butterfly suplex.
Jakked:
-Steve Blackman defeated Prince Nana via submission with a dragon sleeper at 3:01.
-Perry Saturn (w/ Terri) pinned Mike Bell with the spinning fisherman suplex at 3:17.
-Billy Gunn pinned the Inferno Kid with the One and Only at 2:29.
-Essa Rios pinned Low-Ki with the moonsault at 3:37.
Raw:
-Bradshaw defeated Kurt Angle via count-out when Angle left the ring to find Chris Benoit at WWF NY and regain his gold medals.
-Edge, Christian, & Rhyno defeated Eddie Guerrero, WWF European Champion Matt Hardy, & Jeff Hardy after Guerrero pushed Lita out of the way of Rhyno's Gore, having himself suffer the blow instead.
-WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lynn defeated Crash Holly, Grandmaster Sexay, and Taka Michinoku by pinning Crash with a Tornado DDT.
-Chris Jericho defeated William Regal in a steel cage match by escaping over the top and kicking the door in Regal's face on the way down.
-Lita pinned Molly Holly with the moonsault.
-Spike, Bubba Ray, & D-Von Dudley defeated X-Pac, Albert, & Justin Credible in a tables match when Spike sent Albert through the table with the Dudley Dog after Raven interfered and hit Albert with a cane.
-WWF World Champion Steve Austin pinned Rikishi with the Stunner in a non-title match after Vince and Stephanie McMahon distracted Rikishi.
2002 - WWE announced that Scott Hall had been released following the company's infamous "plane ride from Hell." It would be the last time Hall would be employed by the company as a wrestler. They would later induct Hall, under his Razor Ramon persona, into the WWE Hall of Fame.
2003 - Ultimo Dragon held a press conference in Japan to discuss signing with WWE, a longtime goal for him.
2003 - TNA held its 44th weekly pay-per-view event at the TNA Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. Pre-PPV results were:
Xplosion:
- Jimmy Rave defeated Joey Idol.
- The Harris Brothers (Ron and Don) defeated Chad and Jason Dubbins.
- Erik Watts defeated Frankie Capone.
- Mike Sanders defeated Shawn Daivari.
Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
NWA: Total Nonstop Action for May 7th began with a recap of events from last week.
Mike Tenay and Don West opened the show from the ring, and explained the rules for the Anarchy In The Asylum match later tonight, and explained that four slots in the match would be filled by the winners of other bouts on the card tonight.
D'Lo Brown & AJ Styles defeated Elix Skipper & Low Ki in 9:03. Very good match, with both sides getting their share of offense in. Towards the end, Brown was fighting with Skipper on the floor, while Low Ki went for a handspring kick on AJ. Brown slid back into the ring as Low Ki jumped up in the air, and grabbed him, delivering a Sky High spinebuster (as AJ added a neckbreaker to the move). Brown then covered Low Ki for the pin. Brown and Styles gain entrance in the Asylum match later one.
Backstage, Glen Gilberti told SEX that tonight there was an "I" in team. He said he wanted to be the number one contender, and that he needed SEX behind him tonight. Gilberti said he was focused tonight, and that to prove it, he was going to go beat the "living s***" out of Jeff Jarrett right now.
Don West and Mike Tenay discussed the other qualifying matches for tonight.
Glen Gilberti walked through the crowd and headed up the ramp to the TNA dressing room. The camera man appeared to be trying to stop him. Gilberti busted into Jarrett's dressing room, and Jarrett was there with a knee brace and crutches. Gilberti attacked him, blasting him with the crutches and dragging him out of the building. Gilberti blasted Jarrett with chair shots, until security finally pulled him away.
Sabu defeated New Jack and the Sandman in a three way match in 6:10. New Jack came out first, and got on the mic. New Jack said Sabu forgot about his days in ECW when he would be "drunk and on pills" with him and Sandman with a bunch of "buck nekkid midgets". Jack said Sabu forgot when that "c***sucker" Paul Heyman bounced checks on them, and Jack remarked that he still hasn't made good on them. New Jack said they still haven't gotten paid for their action figures. Jack said Sabu went down on the ship with the rest of them, but he forgot about that. Jack accused Jeff Jarrett of bringing Sabu in because he doesn't want to face Jack or Sandman. Sandman did his traditional pre-match beer drinking, wearing an ECW T-shirt, while Jack and Sabu started the match in the ring. After Sabu sent Jack from the ring, Sandman entered and Sabu went at it with him. We saw during the match that Glen Gilberti had attacked Jeff Jarrett backstage again. In the ring, Sabu was fighting a two on one battle, but managing to keep control of the match. New Jack turned the tide by using a staple gun on Sabu. New Jack used a fork on Sabu. Sabu battled back with a spike. Sandman set up a table outside the ring. Sabu went to put New Jack through a table with a triple jump, but Sandman caned him as he jumped up. Sandman caned Sabu in the ring. They showed security escorting Jeff Jarrett into a van. New Jack, Sandman and Sabu were fighting into the crowd. We learned that Jarrett was headed to the hospital. Sabu was being double teamed by Jack and Sandman and put on a table. New Jack got on a scissor lift, and raised it as high as it would go, which was higher than even the balcony that Sandman had climbed to. New Jack jumped off, but Sabu moved, and went through the table alone. Sabu then covered New Jack on the floor for the pin. Sabu moves on to the Anarchy match.
Backstage, Tracy (the woman who attacked Lollipops last week) was complaining to Bill Behrens that no women were in the Anarchy match tonight. Tracy promised to "make it worth his while" to Behrens if he got her in the match. Behrens remarked to Goldylocks that she should be more like Tracy.
A video package on America's Most Wanted and their recent problems aired. They were then interviewed by Goldylocks. They played off the problems, and said that they were going to remain friends, but tonight was about getting a shot at the NWA World title.
James Storm defeated Chris Harris in 7:35. Mostly scientific match, with both men getting some near falls. At the end, Harris hit a stunner off the ropes for a two count. Harris hit a DDT, then went to the top rope, but missed the flying elbowdrop. Storm hit the Eight Second Ride for a two count, and yelled at the referee following the cover. Storm yelled for Harris to get up. Storm missed a kick, and Harris slingshotted him into the corner. Storm jumped on the ropes and went for a dive, but Harris speared him for a two count. The two then slugged it out. Harris went for a sunset flip, but Storm sat down on it, hooking the legs and getting the pin. Storm moves on to the Anarchy match. Harris walked off after the match, but came back and shook hands with Storm.
Goldylocks interviewed Erik Watts, who acted very upset over Jeff Jarrett being hurt. His phone rang, and he acted like he was talking to someone about being the "NWA Director of Operations". He asked Goldylocks for a moment of silence for Jeff Jarrett.
Tracy vs. Trinity vs. Desire (accompanied by David Young and Sonny Siaki) was held, with the winner gaining entrance into the Asylum match. Kid Kash came down before the match could begin. Kash ripped on Trinity for focusing on her own career, rather than taking care of him. He totally heeled her, and gave her the option of either taking a beating, or getting on her knees and apologizing to her. Trinity gave Kash the finger, and Kash slapped her around. Kash handcuffed Trinity to him and tossed her around by her hair and yanked her from ringside. Kash threw Trinity onto the ramp, with security yelling at him. In the ring, Desire kicked Tracy from the ring, then badly missed a dropkick through the ropes. Desire jumped off the steps and clotheslined Tracy on the floor, then dropped her on the rails. Tracy had some blood on her leg. After some more fighting, Tracy hit Desire with a Bombs Away off the top, but Siaki distracted the referee. David Young got in and Desire grabbed Tracy. Young went to hit her, Tracy ducked, and Young hit Desire by mistake. Tracy then covered Desire for the pin after about 2:41 of action (the bell actually rang before the whole Kid Kash promo). Tracy moves on to the Anarchy match.
They did the "Interrogators" bit with the Harris Brothers. They picked Japan over Mexico because there was more money. When asked between Clay Akins or Ruben Studder (who are these people?), one of the Harris brothers asked "which one is the white guy?" They called a lot of wrestlers "p******", and ended the segment by calling announcers "a*******".
The events leading to Jerry Lynn & Amazing Red vs. Christopher Daniels in a handicap match was shown.
Goldylocks interviewed Amazing Red and Jerry Lynn. Red said he had learned a lot from Jerry Lynn. Lynn reminded Red of how Ron Killings' attack helped him with the X-Division title. Lynn made it clear that after this week, Lynn was looking for an X-Division title match with Red.
Christopher Daniels defeated Jerry Lynn & Amazing Red in a handicap match in 6:50 to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. Two minutes into the match, Low Ki and Elix Skipper got on the ring apron, allowing Daniels to use a chair on Red, sweeping out his leg. Daniels put Red in a single leg crab, but Lynn broke it up with a right hand. Daniels continued to work on the leg, but missed a double jump moonsault. Red hit a sunset flip style powerbomb and tagged in Lynn. Lynn hit the TKO on Daniels, then knocked Ki and Skipper off the apron. Daniels shoved Lynn into the referee, knocking him down. Red was knocked off the top rope to the floor by Low Ki. Lynn dropkicked Skipper away, and took out all three members of XXX with chairshots. The referee saw Lynn using the chair, and disqualified him. As a result of a rule change announced a few weeks ago, but never used until now, the titles change hands. So Daniels won the tag titles by himself.
The Anarchy in the Asylum match was next. Wrestlers enter the ring every 90 seconds, and are eliminated by pinfall, submission or being thrown over the top rope to the floor. Falls count anywhere, until the final two men, at which point the fall must take place in the ring.
Brian Lawler was out first, and D'Lo Brown was second.
Lawler attacked before the bell, but Brown took over for most of the period, until Lawler hit a low blow and a powerbomb from the corner. Lawler missed a top rope legdrop.
Sonny Siaki was out next.
Siaki went after Brown, breaking up his pin on Lawler. Siaki and Lawler were downed with a double clothesline from Brown. Lawler kept hitting low blows on Brown.
James Storm was out next.
Storm helped Brown. David Young ran in and gave Storm a spinebuster. Chris Harris ran in to help Storm, and accidentally avalanched him in the corner. Siaki knocked Storm over the top rope.
James Storm is eliminated.
Storm glared at Harris on the floor. Young was ordered from the ring by the referees.
Kid Kash was out next.
Kash went after Brown, hitting him with a headscissors. Brown was triple teamed. Kash hit a top rope bodypress on Brown, and everyone piled on for a two count. Lawler then choked Siaki, while Kash worked on Brown. Lawler hit a low blow on Kash.
Rick Steiner was out next, to a big pop.
Steiner cleaned house on everyone. Steiner tossed Kash over his head in a backdrop. Steiner powerslammed Siaki and Steinerlined him from the ring.
Sonny Siaki is eliminated.
Brown suplexed Kash.
Mike Awesome, with a table, was out next.
Awesome went after Steiner, then clotheslined Kash. Brown and Lawler went at it in a corner. Steiner attacked Awesome with punches, and got a two count with an elbowdrop. Kash hit Brown with a low blow. Steiner hit a German suplex on Awesome.
Justin Credible, with a Singapore cane, was next.
Brown went after Credible. Steiner hit a Steinerline on Kash. Lawler went at it with Awesome. Awesome and Credible went through the ropes and started fighting on the floor and into the crowd. Brown whipped Kash into a Steinerline.
Ron Killings was out next.
Killings went after Brown, kitting an axkick. Stiener booted Killings down. Awesome and Credible were still going at it in the crowd. Brown went after Killings, until Lawler hit him with a low blow. Awesome blasted Credible with a chair on the floor. Steiner hit a German suplex on Killings. Credible backdropped Awesome on the floor for a two count.
Tracy was out next.
Lollipop attacked Tracy on the rampway, and they had a catfight. Kash pulled Lollipop off of her and tossed Tracy into the ring. Credible and Awesome made it back into the ring. Kash went after Tracy, but Steiner picked him up and rammed him into the corner. Kash came back and hit the Moneymaker on Tracy to eliminate her.
Perry Saturn was out next.
The mystery luchador ran in and tossed Kash over the top rope, then ran back out.
Kid Kash is eliminated.
Saturn went after Rick Steiner in the corner. Awesome and Killings tried to eliminate Brown, while Lawler worked on Credible.
Glen Gilberti was out next. The Harris Brothers accompanied him.
Gilberti went after Steiner. The Harris Brothers ran in and tossed Steiner over the top rope.
Rick Steiner is eliminated.
The Harris Brothers tossed Ron Killings out.
Ron Killings is eliminated.
The other wrestlers went through the ropes to avoid the Harris Brothers. Steiner threatened to come back in, but the referees stopped him.
Konnan was out next.
Konnan hit rolling clotheslines on Gilberti and the Harris brothers. Konnan and Gilberti started slugging it out on the floor and into the crowd. The other wrestlers fought back into the ring. Konnan was outnumbered on the floor by the Harris Brothers and Gilberti. The Harris brothers, after two tries, chokeslammed Konnan through a table. Gilberti pinned him.
Konnan is eliminated.
Buff Bagwell was out next.
Ron Killings fought with the Harris Brothers right out of the building. Buff hit the Blockbuster on Credible. Bagwell backdropped Lawler over the top rope, and Gilberti clotheslined Bagwell over the top rope.
Brian Lawler and Buff Bagwell are eliminated.
Awesome hit a top rope splash on Credible.
AJ Styles was out next.
Mike Sanders ran in, knocked Mike Awesome over the top rope, then superkicking him off the apron and through his own table.
Mike Awesome is eliminated.
Ron Killings was still fighting outside the building with the Harris brothers, I guess, and the announcers discussed whether he was eliminated or not. Don Harris said he was eliminated.
Sabu, the final entrant, was out next.
Sabu immediately tossed Credible from the ring.
Justin Credible is eliminated.
AJ missed Saturn with a springboard dropkick, and knocked Brown over the top rope to the floor.
D'Lo Brown is eliminated.
Sabu hit Saturn with a springboard DDT. Sabu went for a headscissors on Saturn, and both men fell over the top to the floor. The referee ruled that Sabu was not eliminated, since it was his own momentum that took him out of the ring.
Perry Saturn is eliminated.
Sabu, Gilberti and Styles fought through the ropes and into the crowd. Sabu blasted Styles with a chairshot. Gilberti was busted open. Sabu, after a false start, went for a triple jump dive to the floor, but missed both opponents. Styles and a bloody Gilberti fought back into the ring. Styles hit a rana and a series of punches on Gilberti. Styles rolled up Gilberti for a two count. Styles hit a clothesline and went for the Styles Clash. Gilberti blocked it, and backdropped Styles over the top rope to the floor.
AJ Styles is eliminated. It was down to Sabu and Glen Gilberti.
Sabu attacked Gilberti with his spike, stabbing at his head. Sabu went for Air Sabu, but Gilberti pulled the referee in front of him. Sabu threw a chair at Gilberti, then hit a Triple Jump moonsault. Raven ran in, and hit Sabu with a chair. Raven then DDT'd Sabu. Raven left, and Gilberti rolled onto Sabu for the pin.
Glen Gilberti is the winner, and the number one contender for the NWA World Heavyweight Title. The other members of SEX came in to celebrate as the show ended.
2004 - Shane Holmes defeats Gibby Guerro and champion Pyro in Winnipeg, Manitoba to win the Canadian Wrestling Federation Junior Heavyweight Title. At the same event, Kerry Brown defeats Rob Stardom for the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title.
2004 - Dreamstage Entertainment and ZERO-ONE's HUSTLE-3 was held at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, drawing an announced 12,057 fans.
The main event of the show featured Shinya Hashimoto & Naoya Ogawa defeating the reunited Outsiders, Scott Hall & Kevin Nash in 7:37 when Ogawa pinned Hall after "the Oregotokarire".
All Japan Pro Wrestling Triple Crown champion Triple Crown champion Toshiaki Kawada pinned beat Mick Foley in 12:56 after a series of kicks to the face. Foley was dressed and worked as Cactus Jack. The finish of the bout saw Foley latch on Mr. Socko (making his Japanese debut I guess) on Kawada, who became outraged and responded with a series of kicks. Foley tried to use a barbed wire bat during the match. I was told this is a fun match. This was Foley's first "All Japan" match since April 1991 when he teamed with Hoss the Terminator against Dory Funk Jr. and Doug Furnas. The bout was Foley's first Japanese bout since an FMW event in 1997.
Other results of the show saw Kaz Hayashi & Leonardo Spanky defeated TAKA Michinoku & Low Ki....In a Lucha 8 man, Oscar Sevilla & Cynthia Moreno & Pimpinela Escarlata & Mascarita Sagrada beat Gran Apache & Fabi Apache & Polvo de Estrellas & Mini Abismo Negro....Dusty Rhodes pinned Steve Corino with an elbow....Mystery Man Tiger Jeet Singh defeated Zebra Man....Riki Choshu beat Adamonster (King Adamo).... Mark Coleman & Dan Bobish beat Shinjiro Ohtani & Wataru Sakata....Sabu & Kintaro Kanemura & Mike Awesome beat Masato Tanaka & Tetsuhiro Kuroda & Tomoaki Honma after an Awesome bomb through a table on Honma.
2005 - ROH held Manhattan Mayhem at the New Yorker Hotel in New York City, New York. Mike Johnson filed the following live report for the company's debut in NYC:
This past Saturday evening, Ring of Honor took one of the most important steps in its three year plus run, running an excellent show in the heart of Manhattan, New York City. Whether it was a fan who had religiously followed the promotion through its highs and lows or a fan who was coming to his first wrestling show in some time (and I saw a lot of old faces I hadn't seen at shows since the demise of ECW), everyone left the show on a high, which is the best way to debut and the best way to get paying fans to come back.
There's a lot of irony to that fact, as this may be the first time in recorded history where a venue change actually helped spur ticket sales. The original venue, located far up in Washington Heights actually turned off a number of potential customers since it wasn't in the most inviting neighborhood and would have required a train ride far uptown. With the move to West 34th Street and 8th Avenue, ROH put themselves within a 1-8 block walk of every subway line as well as every train from Long Island, New Jersey, Upstate New York and Connecticut. If you wanted to go to this show, you had no excuse not to make it to the building.
There’s no denying that ROH had a rough 2004 and were forced to rebuild much of the company. Some of the characters and storylines have taken off, some haven’t been as successful, but the one defining factor through it all has been the work rate of the company, from the ring crew all the way up to the top performers of the company. ROH has for the most part stuck together and created a unique team.
Walking into the venue on Saturday, it was almost like watching a graduation for that team, as they moved up to the next class. Everyone on the roster (minus a few of the older workers, who were taking it as business as usual) all knew this was important and you could feel the excitement in the voices of everyone involved in the company. They were in a real venue in a real market, as opposed to a suburb of Boston or an Armory in Northeast Philadelphia. They were two blocks from Madison Square Garden. They were in NYC, the top market anywhere in the world. With the possible exception of Tokyo, every wrestler deep down wants to work in NYC.
The NYC fans, meanwhile, seemed to take immediately to the company. There were fans lined up in the lobby of the New Yorker Hotel before ROH management even arrived at the venue. There were faces I haven’t seen since ECW stopped running the Elks Lodge in Queens. There were fans who had devoted hours to taking bus trips, ecstatic ROH was now in their hometown. There were fans from Canada and all over the Eastern seaboard, some visiting NYC for the first time, who came because ROH was in town. Looking down on this motley crew of characters, I couldn’t help but think back to the days of ECW packing them in at the Elks, especially since there were many, many fans who paid for the chance to stand and watch the show once seating was gone. There were fans who rather than stand, chose to pay more for ringside seats, because they wanted a good view of the show. This wasn’t just your fly by night indy show – this was a destination event to these fans.
In the end Ring of Honor drew an estimated 700-800 of these fans to their Manhattan, New York City debut at the New Yorker Hotel on Saturday 5/7. The end result was a show that some described to me as the best top to bottom ROH event since the days of running the intimate Murphy Rec Center in Philly, with a boisterous NYC crowd inside.
The show opened with Dunn and Marcos coming to the ring for their scheduled Three-Way match, only for the Carnage Crew, who were hiding under the ring, to return to ROH by attacking them with hubcaps. The Crew piledrove Marcos off the apron through a table, then turned heel ripping on the fans for not caring about them being out for 90 days. They ended up using the catch phrase that they were “drunk and p*ssed off.” The crowd didn’t seem to know the Crew but once they got a piledriver through a table, they chanted “Holy sh*t” and the show was off and running. Obviously this is going to set up a new feud, with the Crew back to their throwback brawling ways similar to the old school Moondogs, right down to the hubcaps.
With Dunn and Marcos out, it turned into a traditional tag with Izzy & Deranged (now dressing like some kind of lounge lizards with bright shirts and suit jackets) defeating Dixie & Azrieal in a match where the losing team had to split up. It was another of their really good matches. One can see Azrieal is ready for the slot of undercard babyface trying to build his way up.
Nigel McGuinness pinned Colt Cabana in a decent match with some good wrestling and comedy. Cabana has this great likeable personality and pulls out some goofy references in his promos to the point that you can’t help but want to like the guy. He’s like that friend who always knows exactly the right corny thing to say – that’s the key to his persona. McGuiness is a British worker who’s really come into his own in the last year, upping his physique and looking really strong and fluid in the ring. I wouldn’t be shocked to see WWE pick him up down the line. This was another solid bout based off the pair’s tenuous tag relationship. In the afternoon prior to the show, ROH filmed a “Good Times, Great Memories” segment (Cabana’s “talk show”) with Cabana walking around the streets of NYC, asking people what they thought of McGuiness.
James Gibson forced Black Tiger (a masked Rocky Romero) to tap out with a front choke. At this point, the former Jamie Knoble may be the most fluid performer in the company, which is really high praise. A really good back and forth wrestling match with submissions in that New Japan vein.
ROH Tag Team champions BJ Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs defeated Roderick Strong & Jack Evans in a very good match. This was a tremendous back and forth match although it may be quietly overlooked due to some of the top matches on the show. That said, everyone involved deserves a huge amount of credit for this. The ROH Tag belts’ credibility have been diminished left and right for various reasons over the last year, but these four worked their tails off to bring fans into the match and give them some awesome false finishes. The crowd was really into Evans’ at the onset. Evans may be one of the most gifted aerial performers I’ve ever seen in my life – on par with Sabu, Rob Van Dam and the earlier work of Low Ki. Roderick Strong continues to improve both his look and his work, reminding me of Dean Malenko with his variety of backbreaker combinations. BJ Whitmer is that great worker who never gets the acclaim because he’s not flashy, but he’s an old school kickass performer. Jimmy Jacobs brings some pizzaz to Whitmer’s work, pulling off his Bruiser Brody-style “Huss” silliness without disturbing the credibility of his work. When you get to see the tape, don’t skip past this match or you will miss out on a real diamond in the rough.
Gary Michael Cappetta came to the ring and put over the NYC debut and the fans, before announcing that Matt Hardy would debut on 7/16 in New Haven, CT for Hardy’s first independent wrestling appearance.
Samoa Joe pinned Jay Lethal in an excellent match to win the ROH Pure championship. From the second he came out, it was obvious Joe owned the crowd as they saw him as a true star. I can only equate it to an ECW event in Middletown, New York when The Sandman came out before the show to introduce a band that would be playing a pre-show concert. The crowd went nuts for him, to the point I suddenly realized that Sandman wasn’t just an indy guy from Philly anymore, but a bonafide star. When Joe hit the ring with the crowd rapping along to LL Cool J’s “I’m Gonna Knock You Out” I knew ROH was changed forever with this night. The match itself was a great, great Pure Wrestling bout between teacher and student. Jay Lethal is someone who a lot of fans have taken to in the last year and with good reason. He’s got great facials, he’s got tremendous hard hitting offense, and he’s got an entire underdog dimension partially due to his loudly cheering family at the shows. There were some excellent back and forth matches and another insane table spot. Lethal had a sleeper on Joe while both were stationed on the apron of the ring. Unable to fight it out, Joe ran and threw himself and Lethal through a table at ringside, almost like an ode to Taz vs. Bigelow. The crowd ate it up. When Joe finally scored the pin and his “The Champ is Here” music began to play the crowd popped like they saw a Super Bowl win, jumping up and down and singing the song they have been wanting to sing since he lost the belt in December. All was right in the ROH world.
Until The Rottweilers came to the ring. It was perfect timing with their music hitting. The second they came out, the mood was changed, like they had truly taken a great moment and crapped all over it. ROH had the fans in the palm of their hand and it was everything that a good wrestling angle was supposed to be. With Joe distracted, Monsta Mack returned, attacking him from behind. The Rotts all beat down Lethal and Joe with Ki doing an awesome job on the mic. Low Ki warned that NYC was their turf and if ROH wasn’t going to book them, they were going to take matters into their own hands. Forcing Joe to watch, Ki revealed he was the one who had attacked Lethal several shows ago backstage and continued the beating now. The entire segment harkened back to the days of the Fabulous Freebirds as the gang not to be messed with in Texas. It was just plain awesome as it should have been, Homicide and Ki weren't going to get shown up in NYC.
After intermission, Fast Eddie Vegas pinned Davey Andrews with a Fall Away Slam Moonsault. Andrews is a graduate of the ROH school and while green, has a look of a wrestler as opposed to someone who paid money to play wrestler on the weekend. Vegas is a really fun undercard guy who has some flashy moves and has gotten better continuously since I first saw his work.
Jimmy Rave pinned CM Punk in a Dog Collar Match. Punk came out wearing a Candido shirt. Again, the crowd treated Punk like a star. The Embassy reminds me of Raven’s nest with Prince Nana always trying to pull some scheme and this unique cast of characters surrounding him. This time, it was attempting to replace Rave with Mike Kruel because Rave was sick from drinking out of a water fountain in the NYC subways. That bit cracked me up. Nana is a really good talker, but the crowd saw right through him, chanting “Eddie Murphy” at him, noting Murphy’s “Coming to America” film. In one of those, only in wrestling small world deals, that was actually written by Beyond the Mat director Barry Blaustein. Punk bled a gusher, to the point it was ridiculous. They were working hard here to get Rave over to the next level and I think the crowd that was here it worked, because they were popping for all the false finishes and were buying Rave’s shining wizard as the real deal. Rave killed Punk with a series of chair shots to set up the win, with the crowd cringing at each one. After the win, The Embassy beat down Punk afterwards with Colt Cabana, James Gibson and others making the save. Punk laid in the ring for a long time selling, which is one of those little things that seem to be missing from wrestling today that always adds a great dimension of reality to the show. When he returned to the locker room, he headed for a bathroom, stalking right past me in a bloody and exhausted daze and I couldn’t help but think of Terry Funk or Tommy Dreamer and think, “Now that’s wrestling.”
ROH champion Austin Aries pinned Alex Shelley. Aries has a great looking entrance set to “Personal Jesus.” I wasn’t sold on this match as the main event only because in my opinion, they aren’t seen as top tier guys by the fans. Well, the fans proved me wrong as they were into both guys and all the false finishes. Another solid bout.
Low Ki and Homicide immediately came out and confronted Aries, teasing Ki going for the belt. Instead, Aries walked out just as Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal hit the ring looking to exact a beating and some revenge. This set up an impromptu main event....
Homicide and Low Ki defeated ROH Pure champion Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal as Homicide pinned Lethal with the Cop Killer after Low Ki hit his top rope double stomp into Lethal’s groin to increase the force of the move. An awesome match to send the crowd home on an extremely big high. If the rest of the show was a good concert, this was the encore to send you out of the show going “Wow.” Awesome work by everyone involved, including the always tremendous Julius Smokes at ringside. After the match, Samoa Joe promised to hunt the Rotts down after the match on the mic and stated that he “Samoa Joe is Pro Wrestling” which is the tag line he says on promos. If he keeps doing it before the crowd, it’ll get over within a few shows and the crowd will be reciting it for him.
Throughout the show, the ROH crew didn’t just take their paycheck and get out. They remained watching the show from the balcony, and when their fellow workers returned to the makeshift locker room, compliments were exchanged, followed by ideas of ways to improve the matches and their work. It wasn’t a locker room of people looking for their spots to be safe, it was a team looking to better the whole company. That’s one of the unique traits (along with fans that buy the company as the real deal) that will take ROH farther then anyone involved in the company likely even suspects they can go.
With the end of their debut came the start of a new chapter for Ring of Honor. They have their core names who fans see as “ROH stars.” They have a hard working crew who try to inspire each other to improve at the same time they are ribbing each other. They have an influx of new names coming in this summer, including AJ Styles, Matt Hardy, possibly Rhyno, and possibly (OK, likely but no one will admit this) Christopher Daniels. Most importantly, they have fans, real fans, who see ROH as their personal home town team. That in itself, is the greatest asset of a promotion already filled with talented individuals and will be the key to the future of the company.
2005 - NWA Midwest held an event at the Park District Recreation Center in Streamwood, Illinois. The results were:
- NWA Illinois Heavyweight Champion Marco Cordova defeated Jayson Reign to retain the title.
- Brad Bradley defeated Silas Young.
- NWA Midwest Tag Team Champions The Centerfolds (Matt Longtime and Eric Priest) defeated Danny Dominion and Mike Venom to retain the title.
- Ryan Boz defeated Chad Collyer.
- Jason Dukes defeated Hardcore Craig.
- NWA Midwest X Division Champion Matt Sydal fought Delirious and Puma to a 30-minute time-limit draw in a three-way match to retain the title.
- MsChif defeated NWA Midwest/IWA Mid-South Women's Champion Daizee Haze to win the title.
- The Black and the Brave (Tyler Black and Marek Brave) defeated The All-Stars (Bryce Benjamin and Chandler McClure), The BJ Xpress (NWA Indiana Heavyweight Champion Brandon Thomaselli and Josh Abercrombie) and The Usual Suspects (Chris Chaos and Diego Corleone) in a four-way elimination match to become #1 contenders to the NWA Midwest Tag Team Title.
- NWA Heartland State Heavyweight Champion Danny Daniels defeated Tracy Smothers to retain the title.
2006 - Brent Dail defeats Stefano to win the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico, to begin his seventh reign.
2006 - Billy Roc defeats Shawn Cook for the Central Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title in Lafayette, Indiana, ending Cook's second reign.
2007 - Former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harold "Sonny" Myers passes away in St. Joseph, Missouri at age 83, after a long illness.
2007 - WWE held a live RAW at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania, which got a 3.6 rating on USA Network. The results were:
- In a dark match, Chuck Palumbo pinned Viscera after a big boot.
Heat:
- Jim Duggan and Eugene defeated Scotty Charisma and Xavier, when Duggan pinned Xavier after a running clothesline.
- Val Venis pinned Sean Reynolds with the Money Shot.
- Cryme Tyme (JTG and Shad) defeated Kenny Dykstra and Johnny Nitro, when JTG pinned Dykstra after the G9.
RAW:
- Candice Michelle and Mickie James defeated WWE Women's Champion Melina and Victoria, when Candice pinned Melina after a spinkick.
- WWE Intercontinental Santino Marella pinned Chris Masters with a roll-up to retain the title.
- Umaga defeated The Highlanders (Robbie and Rory McAllister) in a handicap match by pinning both men after a splash off the top rope.
- The Great Khali defeated Shawn Michaels in a no-disqualification match after the referee stopped the match due to Michaels being unable to continue, after Khali gave Michaels a tree slam through the announce table. With the win, Khali earned a shot at John Cena's WWE Title at Judgment Day.
- World Tag Team Champions The Hardys (Jeff and Matt) defeated The World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas), when Matt pinned Haas after Jeff hit the Swanton.
- Edge pinned Mr. Kennedy after a spear, and attacking him from behind on his way to the ring and hitting him with a television monitor, to win the Money in the Bank contract.
- WWE Champion John Cena fought Randy Orton to a no-contest after The Great Khali came out and hit Cena with the title belt.
- In a dark match after the show, WWE Champion John Cena defeated Edge.
2007 - Word came out that Ken Kennedy was out injured with a major elbow injury that would require major time off. Kennedy, at the time, was holding the Money in the Bank and was slated for a huge push. The injury would cause Kennedy to lose the briefcase to Edge. Unfortunately for Kennedy, as it would turn out, the injury was nowhere near as serious as first thought, but the loss of the briefcase would spell the end of Kennedy's biggest push - he would never ever return to that level of the company.
2007 - Team 3D announced plans to open a wrestling academy in Florida.
2008 - While touring his home country of India, The Great Khali defended WWE matches as legitimate competition, in an interview with ZeeNews.com, commenting, "Everything whatever you see out there is real. Sometimes wrestlers receive serious injuries, and even die on the ring. There is no way of manipulation by media."
2008 - Larry Zbyszko's autbiography "Adventures in Larryland" is released.
2008 - Kurt Angle was hired to host a SpikeTV reality series pilot "Caught in the Action." The pilot never sees air.
2009 - In regard to a request for comment on the status of the Konnan vs. TNA lawsuit, TNA Wrestling issued the following statement to PWInsider.com:
As has been reported in the press, TNA Entertainment, LLC filed a lawsuit against Charles "Konnan" Ashenoff regarding various disputes, and Ashenoff filed a counterclaim asserting various claims against TNA.
This release serves to notify the public that TNA and Ashenoff have agreed to dismiss their respective claims against each other. Richard Krumholz, TNA's attorney in the case and a Partner at Fulbright & Jaworski, indicated that "after depositions of Mr. Ashenoff and Dixie Carter, both sides determined it was best to put this case behind them."
Cary Ichter, Ashenoff's counsel, confirmed that "the parties have agreed to drop their suits."
Ms. Carter, the President of TNA, added that "TNA is happy to resolve these long standing disputes with Ashenoff. We all wish him the very best."
2009 - WWE signed Fred Sampson, a New Jersey-based independent talent, to a developmental deal. Sampson would debut on WWE television as Darren Young in the first season of NXT and would be one of the founding members of The Nexus.
2009 - WWE reversed their decision to cancel a planned tour of Mexico due to swine flu. With the dates back on, several Alabama dates that were announced were pushed back to November 2010.
2010 - NASA Astronaut Buzz Aldrin's website announced he would be the guest host for the commercial free 5/17 Monday Night Raw in Toronto, Ontario.
2010 - Dragon Gate USA debuted in Canada in Windsor, Ontario. Mike Cramwell filed the following live report:
I attended the DGUSA "Open The Northern Gate" show last night. Apparently the weather heard the show's name and decided to open the northern sky, as the weather in Windsor and area was awful. I would put attendance at approx. 225 people, and based on the seating arrangement, 250 people max.
Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw vs. Gran Akuma & Akira Tozawa
The only part of this match that I saw was Quack hitting a great topé con hilo. Akuma & Tozawa won, my friends said it was "a great match."
FIP World Heavyweight Title
Jon Moxley defends vs. Phil Atlas
Moxley won this match, a good one, though a little shorter than I had hoped it would be. Both are quality workers, and have a future in the industry if they want it. Moxley also has a big enough frame, and between that and his heel mannerisms, I'd be shocked to not see him with a WWE or TNA contract within 18 months.
Special Challenge Match
CIMA vs. Jimmy Jacobs
CIMA took this one with his double-knees to the head from the top rope move that will surely shorten his career. Also, it's worth mentioning that during intermission, CIMA and Doi, among others came out to sign autographs and take pictures, and CIMA is tremendous at interacting with the fans, especially the young children. The perfect ambassador for DGUSA.
Bonus Main Event Match
Naruki Doi vs. Masaaki Mochizuki
This was the pre-intermission main event, and after a slow start, really picked up in the second half. Great DG-style finishing stretch without overkill on the finishers. Mochizuki won with the axe kick square in Doi's forehead.
Maximum Pro Wrestling Tag Team Attraction
Tyson Dux & Jon Bolen vs. Brad Martin & Xtremo
Seeing Dux play a great white-bread babyface for RoH in Toronto in March, and then seeing him play an (established) heel here only furthers my belief that this guy also has a future if he wants one. He's just money. Dux and Bolen took this, although Brad Martin was beyond impressive. Mixes the European style with a couple of impact suplexes, he's another one to watch out for in the future.
2/3 Falls Match
Dragon Kid vs. Masato Yoshino
When a 25 minute match feels like it went 12, you know you've seen something special. If you've seen these two before, you know what the moves are. It was the story that made this good. And if you haven't seen these two before and you're reading this, then buy the DVD when it comes out, it's worth it for this alone. Yoshino takes the 3rd fall for the victory.
The Main Event
Open The Freedom Gate Champion BxB Hulk & PAC
vs.
Open The Dream Gate Champion YAMATO & Shingo
I don't know what was better in this match: Hulk and PAC's incredible athletics, or Shingo's "This is the best I can do" mustache, which looked like the kind you'd see on a 14 year old. Great stuff. Another tremendous match that featured - of all things - some really strong brawling outside the ring. YAMATO and Hulk put together an excellent finishing stretch that saw ODG Champion YAMATO pin OFG Champion Hulk, which certainly opens up some new directions for the company to take the main event scene in.
If you're into athletic wrestling and DGUSA is within driving distance, you owe it to yourself to go and see this company do what they do.
2010 - WWE aired Smackdown, headlined by Jack Swagger vs. Kane. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV Report:
We start off tonight’s show with a look back at last week’s Jack Swagger Lifetime Retrospective which was interrupted by Teddy Long and Jack’s opponent at Over the Limit, the Big Show.
We are live on tape from Charleston, South Carolina and your announcers are Matt ‘Fort Sumter’ Striker and Todd ‘Happy Siete de Mayo’ Grisham.
Matt Hardy makes his way to the ring and Striker and Grisham mention that Hardy is not medically cleared to wrestle at this time after what Drew McIntyre has done to him.
Matt says that he is here tonight whether he should or shouldn’t be. He shows us the footage of the attack by Drew McIntyre two weeks ago during a tag match. Then we go to the footage from last week when Drew attacked Matt in the interview area.
Matt repeats Drew’s comments about never wanting to see him again. Matt says that he does not care what Drew has to say as Drew’s music plays and he comes to the ring. Matt says that he is not going away and he tells Drew to make him go away.
Drew says that Matt doesn’t get it because nine months ago, Vince McMahon, the chairman of the WWE and Matt’s boss, looked him in the eye and told him that he was the future of his company. Drew says that makes him ‘the Chosen One’. That makes him completely untouchable.
Matt tells Drew to come to the ring to see how ‘untouchable’ he is. Drew says that Matt isn’t getting the message so he will have to beat it into him.
Matt wants Drew to come to the ring and Drew obliges and Matt attacks Drew as he enters the ring and then Matt takes Drew to the canvas and he attacks Drew some more. Referees come out and they pull Matt off Drew and hold him with his back to Drew. That allows Drew to hit Matt from behind and he works on Matt’s head. Drew punches Matt while other officials come to the ring to separate them. Matt rolls out of the ring and Drew escapes the officials and Drew punches Matt while others pull him off. Drew with a kick to Matt and then Drew with a running knee and Matt’s head hits the ringside barrier.
Teddy Long comes out and he warns Drew and tells him to stop. Drew continues the attack and Teddy suspends Drew. They restrain Drew again but he escapes and continues the attack. Teddy strips Drew of the Intercontinental Title. Drew is held back and then he kicks Matt a few more times and Teddy fires Drew from Smackdown and demands that Drew be escorted from the building. Drew grabs Teddy and then he punches Matt one more time since Teddy can’t do anything else to him. Drew says that he is ‘untouchable’ as he is taken to the back.
We go to the back where the officials tell Drew to leave and they tell him that he did this to himself. Drew says that we’ll see who is fired.
We return to the ringside area and Matt is being helped to the back by the medical staff and we go to commercial.
We are back and Josh Mathews stops Teddy Long in the back and he wants to know what Matt Hardy’s status is. Teddy says that he hopes Matt is okay and that the doctors are with him right now. Josh asks Teddy about Drew’s behavior and Teddy says that he has never experienced anything like that before. Josh asks Teddy about the Intercontinental Title and Teddy does not know what is going to happen with the title. Josh wants to ask one more question, but Teddy has to leave.
Match Number One: Montel Vontavious Porter versus Luke Gallow with CM Punk and Serena
Luke punches Porter as the bell rings and Porter punches back. Luke with an Irish whip and Porter floats over and hits a running clothesline for a near fall. Porter with more punches but he misses the running boot into the corner when Gallows moves. Porter is knocked off the apron and Gallows goes after Porter and punches him before Porter is rolled back into the ring. Gallows with a double underhook and Gallows with a knee followed by a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Gallows punches Porter and puts him in a waist lock. Porter with an elbow but Gallows with an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Gallows with an uppercut followed by a splash for a near fall. Gallows returns to the waist lock. Porter with elbows but Gallows with an Irish whip and he runs into an elbow. Gallows with a kick and Irish whip. Gallows misses a splash and Porter with a clothesline and flying forearm followed by a double thrust and facebuster. Porter sets up for the Ballin Elbow and hits it. Porter waits for Gallows to get up but Serena gets on the apron to distract Porter from hitting the Playmaker. Gallows with a clothesline and he gets a near fall. From out of nowhere Rey Mysterio attacks Punk and hits a DDT on the floor and he leaves through the crowd. Gallows gets distracted and Porter hits the 305 for the three count.
Winner: Montel Vontavious Porter
We go to commercial.
We are back and CM Punk is in the ring with Luke and Serena. Punk is still holding his neck as he says that Rey Mysterio is a coward who attacks people from behind because he does not have the ability to deal with people face to face. Punk says that he wants Rey to come out because he injured him and cost Luke his match.
Rey comes out and he stands on the stage. Rey wants to know what is wrong with Punk. He asks if it was because he came from nowhere and attacked him from behind like the mystery man who attacked Rey week after week. Rey says that he was giving Punk a taste of his own medicine. Rey asks Punk where the masked man is and wonders if he is going to attack Rey again.
Punk calls Rey a coward because he attacked him from behind. Punk says that he doesn’t know what Rey is talking about with a ‘mystery man’. Punk wonders if Rey has been painting the inside of his mask with hallucinogenic drugs because he is seeing things now. Punk says that this is an extension of Rey finding excuses for his losses. Punk says the real reason Rey is out here and that is because Rey wants to be saved and join the Straight Edge Society.
Rey says that only one person is hallucinating and that is Punk. Rey says that he came out to shave Punk’s head. Punk reminds Rey that he won the match at Extreme Rules. Rey reminds Punk that Punk lost at Wrestlemania so they are even and it is not over. Rey suggests another match at Over the Limit. Rey says that if he loses, Rey becomes a part of the Straight Edge Society. If Punk loses, he has his head shaved by Rey.
Punk says that Rey is having a moment of clarity because Rey realizes that he has a problem and needs help. Punk says that he would welcome Rey into his crusade with open arms so Rey is on.
Rey suggests that they don’t need to fight at Over the Limit when Rey says that he could walk into the ring and raise his hand nice and high to pledge to the Straight Edge Society tonight. That is if Punk shaves his head right now.
Punk says that is not going to happen tonight. Rey tells Punk that there is one thing he doesn’t understand about the Straight Edge Society. He talks about the concepts of straight edge and he likes the message, but the messenger is bad. Rey says that everyone wearing a Rey Mysterio mask represents the good in the message. Rey says that if Punk cares about saving people, they can work together. Rey tells Punk to lead by example and shave his head.
Punk thinks about it and he tells Rey that it has nothing to do with Punk shaving his hair because his hair is a symbol of purity. Punk says that he is better than everyone.
Rey says that Punk can shave Luke and Serena’s head but why is Punk better than him? He says that Luke and Serena have protected him and done most of the work in the Straight Edge Society, but why isn’t Punk bald. Rey says that Punk doesn’t care about them and all he cares about is himself. Rey says that there is nothing that Punk can do to be saved from the 6-1-9.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that MVP is a spokesperson for the National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe program?
We see footage from Superstars when Kelly was ‘welcomed’ to Smackdown by Michelle, Layla, and Vickie only to be stopped when Beth Phoenix and Tiffany entered.
Match Number Two: Kelly Kelly and Tiffany versus Michelle McCool and Layla with Vickie Guerrero
Michelle and Tiffany start things off and they lock up. Tiffany with a clean break but Michelle pie faces Tiffany. Tiffany with a drop toe hold followed by a reverse atomic drop and back elbow. Tiffany with an Irish whip and she hits a monkey flip but Michelle lands on her feet. Michelle celebrates her landing and then Tiffany with another monkey flip. Michelle goes to the floor and Tiffany goes after her but she is blocked by a wall of Vickie Guerrero and Layla. Michelle sneaks in and his a baseball slide on Tiffany when she returns to the ring. Michelle rolls Tiffany back in and Michelle with knees to Tiffany. Michelle gets a near fall. Layla tags in and slams Tiffany to the mat by her hair and then Layla tries for a splash but lands on Tiffany’s knees. Kelly tag in and connects with a shoulder followed by drop kicks. Kelly tries for the handspring back elbow but Layla with a knee to the back to counter. Kelly with a neck breaker and Tiffany is tagged in and she hits a cross body for a near fall. Kelly distracts the referee and that allows Michelle to hit the kick to the back of the head and Layla with the neck breaker for the three count.
Winners: Michelle McCool and Layla
We go to the back where Josh Mathews is with Teddy Long and he has the Intercontinental Title belt. Teddy says that since the title is now vacant, he has chosen four men to contend for the title. Two matches will be held tonight with the winners wrestling next week. One match will be Christian versus Cody Rhodes. The other match will be Dolph Ziggler versus Kofi Kingston.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage from Dolph Ziggler’s sleeper on Hornswoggle two weeks ago.
Match Number Three: Kofi Kingston versus Dolph Ziggler in an Intercontinental Title Tournament Match
They lock up and Ziggler with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Kofi with a few leap frogs followed by a leaping back elbow for a near fall. Ziggler with a knee and then he tries to throw Kofi out of the ring but Kofi bounces off the ropes. Kofi with a drop kick and Kofi clotheslines Ziggler over the top rope to the floor and Kofi with a suicide dive. Kofi rolls Ziggler back in and Ziggler with a kick to Kofi’s head as he returns to the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler has Kofi with a reverse chin lock but Kofi with an arm drag to escape. Kofi misses a splash into the corner and Ziggler hits a reverse exploder suplex for a near fall. Ziggler with a kick to Kofi and he follows that with punches. Ziggler chokes Kofi in the ropes. We see Cody Rhodes in the locker room watching the match.
Ziggler with a drop kick to Kofi for a near fall. Ziggler with a camel clutch and Kofi gets to his feet. Kofi punches Ziggler but Ziggler sends Kofi into the mat. Ziggler with a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Kofi with a forearm and Ziggler responds with a kick to the leg. Ziggler with a reverse chin lock to prepare for the sleeper. Kofi with elbows to Ziggler followed by forearms. Kofi with the SOS for a near fall. Kofi runs into a boot from Ziggler. Ziggler uses the ropes for a leverage on a cover but he can only get a near fall. Ziggler with an X Factor for a near fall. Ziggler with a reverse chin lock and then he works on Kofi’s back. Kofi with a jawbreaker to escape the hold. Ziggler misses a splash in the corner. Kofi with chops to Ziggler followed by a drop kick and the leaping clothesline. Kofi with the Boom drop and he sets for Trouble in Paradise but Ziggler gets out of the way. Kofi leaps onto the turnbuckles and Ziggler moves. Kofi with a cross body but Ziggler rolls through and gets a near fall. Ziggler tries for the sleeper and Kofi tries his best to block it but Ziggler locks in the hold. Kofi gets to his feet and he runs Ziggler into the ropes and Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
We go back to the video package that opened tonight’s show.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a run through the card for Over the Limit.
Match Number Four: Christian with Heath Slater versus Cody Rhodes
Rhodes with a forearm to the back and side head lock and shoulder tackle. Rhodes with a kick and forearm followed by an elbow to the head. Christian with a flying forearm for a near fall. Christian puts Rhodes in the ropes and he leaps onto Cody’s back and then he slingshots to the floor but Rhodes gets out of the way. Christian throws Rhodes over the top rope to the floor and he hits a baseball slide and then he goes for the springboard cross body but Rhodes moves out of position and Christian lands on the mat. Rhodes sends Christian into the ring steps. They return to the ring and Rhodes with kicks to the back. Rhodes with a hard Irish whip and he punches Christian in the corner. Rhodes with a boot to the chest for a near fall. Rhodes chokes Christian in the corner and Christian responds with a sunset flip for a near fall. Christian with a punch but Rhodes with an Irish whip and drop kick to the back and Christian hits the bottom rope. We go to commercial.
We are back and Rhodes with a gourdbuster to Christian. Rhodes with a Ric Flair knee drop and he gets a near fall. Rhodes with a surfboard followed by a forearm to the back of the head for a near fall. We see Kofi watching in the back since he will face the winner.
Christian goes up top but Rhodes with a forearm and he hits a superplex and both men are down. Christian with an inside cradle for a near fall. Rhodes with kicks to the back. Christian with a punch and a clothesline that sends both of them over the top rope to the floor. Rhodes uses the ring steps for extra leverage on a spin kick. Rhodes gets a near fall. Rhodes goes to the turnbuckles but Christian with a punch to the midsection and Christian with more punches. Christian with the pendulum kick followed by a missile drop kick from the second turnbuckle for a near fall. Christian with a drop toe hold that sends Rhodes into the ropes and Christian stands on his back and then slingshots to the floor and connects with a punch. Christian goes up top but misses a frog splash. Rhodes with a rollup for a near fall. Rhodes blocks the Killswitch and then tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Christian lands on his feet and Christian with an inverted DDT for a near fall. Rhodes sends Christian into the turnbuckles and Christian tries for the turnbuckles again but Rhodes pulls him off. Rhodes goes up top for a moonsault and he hits it and gets a near fall. Rhodes mocks Christian but Christian sends Rhodes into the turnbuckles and Christian hits the Killswitch for the three count.
Winner: Christian
We take a look at the end of the Shiz and Big Show’s move into the number one contender spot for the World Title.
Jack Swagger is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with a look at what Drew McIntyre did to become a former Smackdown superstar.
Before his match, Jack Swagger comes to the ring to tell us some more fun facts about his life. Jack says that before everyone hears what they came here for, Jack has some stuff to talk about. He says that he was the first high school athlete who was nominated for an ESPY. In 2002, he was under consideration for the Heisman Trophy. Jack talks about his prowess in tennis on the high school level. He also talks about his chess playing ability as we go to commercial.
We are back and Jack is still talking. He asks how many people can say that they were a member of the National Honor Society. Jack says that he was president too. Jack asks where was Big Show during all of this. Jack says that Show was taking a special education class and riding the short bus to school. At Over the Limit, he will take the World’s Largest Athlete to school.
Match Number Five: Kane versus Jack Swagger in a Non Title Match
Swagger with a waist lock but Kane with an elbow. Swagger goes for the legs but Kane with a front face lock. Swagger gets back to his feet and he shows his frustration.
Big Show’s music plays and Show comes out in a snazzy suit as he joins Matt and Todd at the announce table. Swagger and Kane stop their match to watch Show walk to the announce table.
Swagger with a kick and punches to Kane. Swagger with more punches in the corner and the referee warns him. Kane with an uppercut and then Kane with kicks and more punches. Kane with a snap mare and a drop kick as Kane gets a near fall. Kane with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Swagger with a float over into a front face lock as he takes Kane to the mat. Kane puts Swagger on the top turnbuckle and he connects with an uppercut. Swagger with punches and he comes off the turnbuckles but Kane with an uppercut. Kane with clotheslines followed by an Irish whip and running clothesline followed by a side slam for a near fall. Kane goes up top and he hits the flying clothesline. Kane sets for the choke slam but Swagger with elbows to counter. Kane sends Swagger into an exposed turnbuckle and then Swagger repeatedly sends Kane into that turnbuckle and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Kane by disqualification
Swagger with a clothesline into the corner followed by a boot to the head. Swagger leaves the ring and holds up the title belt close to the announce table. Swagger returns to the announce table area and Show gets up. Swagger turns around and walks into a boot from Kane. Kane rearranges the announce table but Swagger sends him into the ring post. Show grabs Swagger and choke slams him through the table.
Show goes to the ring and he puts the title belt on his shoulder and asks how he looks as we go to credits.
2011 - TNA ran Hot Springs, Arkansas. James Cohorn filed the following report:
JB came out & promised backstage passes but Jeff Jarrett says no.
Abyss vs. Crimson- Abyss was still working with his teeth missing that were knocked out. Abyss used a chair on Crimson to no avail & also brought Janice from under the ring. Crimson wins with a sit-down powerbomb.
Velvet Sky vs. Sarita- Velvet wins with a small package.
Scott Steiner vs. Eric Young-Steiner was way over with the crowd when came out but that quickly changed. Steiner invited the hot chicks to go back to his hotel room but all he saw was nasty, ugly bitches. Steiner gets the win.
JB got a text that read "Tell all the morons in Hot Springs that I will make Mr. Anderson tap out in record time, sincerely Jeff Jarrett."
Matt Hardy comes out and informs the crowd that he has a mystery tag-team partner that knows James Storm well. It turns out to be "Wildcat" Chris Harris.
Matt Hardy & "Wildcat" Chris Harris vs. Beer Money-Beer Money get the win with The DWI and retain their TNA Tag straps.
Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer vs. AJ Styles & Devon- Bully Ray said that Tommy never liked the fans and that he only used them for the money. Ray challenged all the tough guys to a fight. He started mouthing to an overweight woman. He told her that she wasn't too big, she was 3 big. Ray was gold on the mic. Devon used an artificial leg from a fan on Bully Ray which the crowd popped huge for. Devon and AJ do The The Wassup on Ray. AJ hits The Pele on Dreamer and Devon connects with a sidewalk slam on Bully Ray for the win. After the match, Devon said that Bubba got his ass whopped by a one-legged man.
Jeff Jarrett vs. Mr. Anderson-Anderson said that there are many a******s here but there is one douchebag to Jarrett. A kid said Mr. Kennedy during Anderson's introduction. Anderson said that guy is dead from the train wreck that is on USA. He said that you see the same five guys doing the same five damn maneuvers. Jarrett threatened to leave if the fans didn't stop disrespecting him. Jarrett attempted The Stroke but Anderson slipped out and hit the Green Bay Plunge but the ref was kicked by Jarrett's foot. Jarrett used a low-blow and then set up a chair in the ropes, Anderson reversed & Jarrett went head first into the chair. Anderson picked up the win with The Mic Check.
2011 - WWE Smackdown ran Pensacola, FL. Robert Jolley filed the following results:
I went with some friends from school and we had a good time. Here's what happened.
Cody Rhodes beat Yoshi Tatsu. Yoshi actually wrote about it on his Twitter account.
Natalya made Rosa Mendes submit to the Sharpshooter.
Trent Barreta beat Brodus Clay. Some fans were yelling "You miss Alberto" after the match.
Kane teamed up with Ezekiel Jackson, now a babyface, to beat Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater.
Sgt. Slaughter was the host for the night. He did a dance off with fans and a woman won to get to go backstage.
Wade Barrett beat Daniel Bryan to retain the Intercontinental Title.
Sin Cara beat Chavo Guerrero, who appeared to be doing in-ring tutoring.
Randy Orton beat Christian and Sheamus in a three way match to retain the World Heavyweight Title. Sheamus took the fall and Orton and Christian shook hands after the match. Orton was, by far, the most over guy on the show.
2011 - WWE Raw ran Macon, GA. Robert Kolpak filed the following report
1st match
Evan Bourne vs. Dolph Ziggler---Nice match between the two, Evan wins with the Shooting star press. After the match R-Truth came out and attacked Bourne which led to Rey Mysterio coming out for the save.
This prompted the Dragon Ricky Steamboat to come out and state he was sent a e-mail from the Raw GM stating he was the guest host for the show and to handle any situations that might arise. He ordered a match later in the show between Rey and R-Truth.
2nd Match
Mason Ryan vs. Primo--lots of missed spots, seems like Ryan needs more experience…lots of boring chants. Mason wins after Primo jumps off the top rope and misses Ryan.
3rd Match
Zach Ryder vs. Chris Masters--Chris Masters wins with the master lock, Chris showed good emotions and kept the crowd in the match. The last time I saw Master live(2006) he appeared robotic, huge improvement.
4th Match
Percy Watson vs. Jack Swagger-- Swagger wins when Watson taps out to the ankle lock.
During intermission they picked 4 kids out of the crowd for a contest to meet they favorite Raw Superstar. Once in the ring they told the kids it would be a dance contest, one kid left the ring immediately, the other three kids tried hard, the winning kid chose to meet Cena.
5th Match
Bella Twins vs. Eve---lots of switching out between the twins and in the end the Bella’s won. After the match Kharma came in and implant busted Eve.
6th Match
R-Truth vs. Mysterio--Great match, R-Truth is getting over huge as heel, Rey wins after using all of his patented moves.
7th Match
Alberto Delrio & CM Punk VS Big Show and Kofi Kinston--Great match between the four men, Kofi took almost all of the abuse, Big Show got the hot tag and the pin for his team. Del Rio and Punk were excellent in their roles.
8th Match
The Miz w/ Alex Riley ringside vs. John Cena--Another Great Match between the two, great promo prior to the match by the Miz. Back and forth match between the two, Alex got caught by the ref while interfering and was ejected from ringside, towards the end of the match the ref was knocked down and Alex came back to interfere, it backfired and Cena caught Miz in the Attitude Adjustment and scored the pin.
The 2nd level of the arena had lots of open seats, my wife out about the event from a John Cena tweet on twitter around 530pm, if not for that the event would have had two less people.
Miles Glanville sent this report.
Evan Bourne beat Dolph Ziggler in the opener. You read that correctly. R-Truth attacked Bourne after the match and Rey Mysterio made the save. Guest Host Ricky Steamboat made a Truth vs. Rey match for later in the night.
Mason Ryan beat Primo in a one-sided match.
Chris Masters beat Zack Ryder with The Masterlock.
Kofi Kingston and The Big Show beat CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio in a good match. Show pinned Punk.
They did a dance off and a fan got to meet John Cena.
Brie Bella, with Nikki, beat Eve Torres to retain the Divas Championship. Kharma took Eve out after the match.
Rey Mysterio beat R-Truth. Truth got a lot of hear.
John Cena beat The Miz to retain the WWE Championship. They had a really good match.
2012 - WWE broadcast Raw. Mike Johnson filed the following TV report:
Following the angle where Brock Lesnar "broke" Triple H's arm and John Laurinaitis attacked John Cena, we'll see how WWE handles the next chapter in the road to Over the Limit 2012. Here we go!
We see a video feature on the attack on John Cena last week.
WWE Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis comes to the ring. Laurinaitis said that he was the authority on Raw and he won't let anyone undermine that. He said that last week, John Cena publicly insulted him and called him an idiot and a corporate jackass. Ace said that last week, he lost his temper and when he does, he goes into a fit of destruction that no one can handle. He said that Brock Lesnar injured John Cena's arm and he hurt Cena's pride. At Over the Limit, he's going to finish what Lesnar started and will show the entire world how dangerous he can be. Laurinaitis said he's not going to apologize for what he did and bragged that he wasn't reprimanded by the WWE Board of Directors, because they realize that he is tough but fair. He announced that Cena was not there tonight so he can do therapy on his elbow to be ready for the PPV, but will be doing an interview via satellite.
Ace said that Cena will apologize for making fun of his voice and anyone who makes fun of his voice will get what Cena got. He said that his voice was injured against Dr. Death Steve Williams in Japan. They showed photos of Ace in All Japan with Williams, Patriot, Terry Gordy and Giant Baba. Man, do I miss that company. That made me sad. He claimed to be the biggest star in Japan (HAHAHAHAHAHA) and was the Hulk Hogan of Japan (HAHAHAHAHAHA). He claimed he turned down a WWE deal but when his career was over, he came to WWE. He said that for one night only, John Cena vs. Big Johnny. He tried to finish up but out came WWE champion CM Punk.
Punk said that while Ace talks about being behind People Power but still doesn't have a clue what the people really want. Punk said he was going to help by telling him what the fans don't want to see - Ace. He said they don't want to see him and his bucket list and his revisionist history in Japan. Punk said this is all really about the fact that Ace put all his chips on Brock Lesnar and Lesnar lost. So, he attacked an already injured John Cena. He said the reason Johnny Ace had to go to Japan to wrestle because there wasn't a territory or single fan that would pay him to wrestle. He said Ace was a joke then and came back and is still a joke. Laurinaitis told him to be careful. Punk said, "I'll be careful Mr. Rooney." (SAVE FERRIS!)
Ace asked him if he was finished and Punk said he wasn't. Punk said he was stupid, ugly and has no friends. He called Ace a giant toolbox and said that now he was finished. Ace said that if he wasn't training, he would pummel Punk. Punk laughed. Laurinaitis said that since he needs to be taught a lesson, he'll face Lord Tensai. Punk said that he had a good idea Ace would do that since he hides behind bigger man his entire career. He said that he looks forward to the Tensai, just like he looks forward to seeing Cena tie up Ace like a pretzel and making him tap out at Over the Limit.
Good opening segment. Punk was super over and did a good job getting over himself and the Cena vs. Laurinaitis feud at the same time. Laurinaitis claiming he was a huge star is ridiculous but that's what his character should be doing. I popped for the photos of Doc and Gordy. What awesome workers they were. I really miss the glory days of All Japan.
After commercial, John Laurinaitis was walking and texting. He walked into Big Show and yelled at him to get out of the way when he sees his boss walking towards him. He stormed off. Show mocked him. Eve Torres saw him doing it and caught his eye. She's added the sexy secretary glasses. Show sneered at her and walked off.
WWE Intercontinental champion Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show.
They reviewed how Show lost the IC title to Cody at Extreme Rules. Show takes the fight to Rhodes and chops the hell out of him, then gives him a monster Beel across the ring. The massive chops and throws continued. Show worked him over in the mid-section. Rhodes came back with a Beautiful Disaster kick, which sent Show to his knees. Show came back and Rhodes grabbed his belt and tried to walk off. Show tossed him back in the ring but Rhodes scrambled back out and walked away, The referee counted him out.
Your winner by countout, Big Show!
Show took the mic and told him to come back and not to take the coward's way out. Show warned him that it was going to be worse if he had to come find him.
Eve's music began and she walked towards the ring. She demanded Show apologize for what he said about John Lauirinaitis and for mocking his voice earlier. Show said he was just playing around. She demanded he apologize to everyone. Show shrugged and said, "OK, I'm sorry." She told him that he was told to apologize, not say he was sorry. He said that there was no call for a big, 400 lb. freak outside of the WWE and instructed him to apologize again. Show looked at her and apologized, but wasn't happy about it. He walked out as Eve looked back at him, smirking in a condenscending way.
Just an angle. The match itself was complete nothing, although if this is the start of building to a stip where Rhodes is "trapped" in the ring with Show at the June No Mercy PPV, it makes sense to establish that now.
WWE Tag Team champions Kofi Kingston (with R Truth) vs. Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero & Jack Swagger)
They started out with Kingston working over Ziggler's arm. Ziggler reversed. They showed Abraham Washington and his new charges, Rosa, Epico and Primo backstage watching on a monitor. Ziggler nailed Kingston with a dropkick for a two count. Mason Ryan came up to Washington backstage. Kingston made a comeback with a series of right hands and a leaping clothesline. He nailed the Boom Drop. Swagger got on the apron and was nailed. Ziggler went for the Zig Zag but Kofi tossed him off and nailed the SOS for a two count.
Swagger nailed Kingston as Vickie distracted the referee. Ziggler nailed the Zig Zag and scored the pin.
Your winner, Dolph Ziggler!
Nothing of note to the match, although they were working at a nice pace.
Michael Cole interviewed John Cena via satellite. Cena was asked about the condition of the arm. Cena said he was medically cleared but he has to get his elbow drained several times a day. He said that he's been advised not to wrestle for the next few months but nothing is going to stop him from getting in the ring to face John Laurinaitis. Cena said that the Board of Directors didn't contact John Laurinaitis because they contacted him and Cena told them don't do a thing to Ace until after Cena gets the chance to get his hands on him at Over the Limit. Cole said he's been watching footage of Laurinaitis and wonders if Cena is scared of getting in the ring with him. Cena admitted that he is scared - scared that Laurinaitis is so bad he'll hurt himself before Cena gets his hands on him. Cena said that in 13 days, Ace can't ban him from the building or stop him from wrestling or anything else, because he's going to be Cena's opponent and Cena is going to kick his ass.
Good promo with Cena playing the old school babyface role of a wronged man who wants to take care of his business. They've done a good job of positioning him as someone fans can be sympathetic to in recent weeks.
WWE Divas champion Layla El & Kelly Kelly vs. Maxine & Natalya
Beth Phoenix was at ringside and deflected a question about her ankle.
Layla ducked a clothesline and nailed one on Maxine. Natalya tried to interfere. Layla saw her coming and yelled at her to get out but was grabbed and attacked from behind by Maxine. Kelly pulled Natalya off the apron. Layla came back and nailed Maxine with a hangman's neckbreaker, taking time to stare at Phoenix before she nailed it.
Your winners, Layla & Kelly Kelly!
Again, a nothing match as there was no time for them to really do anything.
Phoenix stood up at stared at the challengers to end the segment.
Chris Jericho & Alberto Del Rio vs. Randy Orton & World champion Sheamus
Oh, please give this time. This could be a kickass bout.
Del Rio and Orton locked up. Orton shoulderblocked him down for a one count. Orton whipped Del Rio into the corner but Alberto went up and over. Orton still nailed him for another near fall. Del Rio kicked up and contolled Orton, then tagged out to Jericho. Jericho worked him over but Orton made a comeback.
Orton worked over Jericho's arm and tagged in Sheamus. Sheamus hammered away with shots to different parts of the body. He shoulderblocked Jericho down. Jericho chopped him and whipped him into the corner. Jericho tried to kick him off but was sent up and over to the apron. Sheamus peppered his chest with hard shots. He went to nail Jericho, who ducked, but got Del Rio instead. Jericho attacked him from behind and sent Sheamus into the ringpost.
Sheamus went to the floor, where Del Rio sent him into the post as well. Sheamus was struggling to recover as they went to commercial.
When we returned to the ring, Jericho held Sheamus down, working over his shoulder to force a submission. Sheamus fought back and nailed a series of back elbows in the corner. He escaped Jericho but was hurt and unable to make the immediate tag. He finally made a hot tag. Orton cleaned house on Del Rio with a powerslam. He set up for the hanging DDT and nailed it.
Ricardo got up on the apron and distracted Orton, allowing Del Rio to nail a kick to the head for a two count. Jericho tagged in and continued working over Orton, scoring several two counts. Jericho cinched in a side chinlock on Orton, who struggled to find a way out. Orton fought his way out but was cut off. Jericho mocked him and Sheamus.
Alberto tagged in and continued working on Orton's arm with a keylock. He drove Orton's shoulder down into the mat to weaken it for the rolling cross armbreaker. He went for it but Orton slipped out and nailed the backbreaker. Sheamus tagged in and nailed Del Rio, then hit a running high knee on Jericho. He went for the the High Cross but Jericho slipped out. He nailed the Irish Curse but Del Rio nailed a dropkick to break it up. Orton nailed Del Rio with an RKO.
Sheamus went for the Brogue Kick on Jericho, who moved and Orton was nailed. A shocked Sheamus was hit with the Codebreaker and pin.
Your winners, Chris Jericho & Alberto Del Rio!
Jericho made a big deal out of pinning the World champion. Sheamus helped up a woozy Orton, who told him he was OK, then nailed the champion with the RKO. The announcers noted that while Sheamus hit him by accident, Orton didn't feel that way. Lawler said that its easy to forget that just because they team up, that doesn't make them friends.
Good tag match. From an athletic and entertainment standpoint, this was far and away the best thing on the broadcast at this point, plus it opened the doors to a number of new rivalries.
Backstage, John Laurinaitis told Eve Torres that he felt Big Show's apology was insincere. She agreed and went to go speak to him. Jericho showed up and demanded the next World title shot since he defeated Sheamus. Alberto didn't like that and got in Jericho's face. Orton showed up and Jericho told him to get lost. He slugged Jericho. They double teamed him. Sheamus returned and all four brawled. In the end, Orton and Sheamus were left standing. Orton demanded to know what the hell happened. Sheamus told him he told Orton it was an accident. Orton said there were no accidents in the ring and challenged him for the belt. They were pulled apart. Sheamus was left with Ace who told Sheamus he was going to defend in a Four Way at the PPV.
Brodus Clay vs. The Miz
They had a clip of Clay reminding everyone it's Mother's Day this weekend and to call their Momma. They announced the dancers as a the Funkadactyles. Miz cut a promo as he walked to the ring, saying it was a joke he was fighting Clay and not the WWE champion. He said if he wanted to fight King Hippo, he'd play Mike Tyson's Punchout. Dated but funny.
Clay worked over Miz early, then chased him around the ring. Miz cut him off returning to the ring and stomped the hell out of him. Miz covered Clay after a kick to the head for a two count. Miz hit a running clothesline in the corner and went to the top. Clay was nailed with an axehandle for a one count.
Miz locked Clay in a side chinlock. Clay was sent into the corner and was caught with a DDT as he staggered out of the corner. Miz began working over Clay's back. Clay fired back with a series of punches to the mid-section. Miz cut him off with a dropkick to the legs. Easily the longest and most competitive bout Clay has had on TV to date.
Miz locked in the rear chinlock again. He got up on Clay's back, but Clay turned it into a sideslam of sorts and drilled Miz down. Clay hit the Rhino battering ram. He went for the running Avalanche but Miz cut him off with a boot. He went off the ropes but was caught and tossed with a suplex. Clay splashed him and covered Miz for the win.
Your winner, Brodus Clay!
Easily the biggest win for Clay to date. Match was OK.
They aired a video piece on Brock Lesnar injuring Triple H. The announcers discussed that it was a complicated injury with a break as well as a lot of tendon tears. HHH will be back next week. They offered to let Lesnar come on this week but were told that his legal representatives would be here instead.
Brock Lesnar's music played and out came Paul Heyman. There were some ECW chants. The crowd woke up when he came out. I wouldn't say he got a pop but there was definetly reaction and surprise. Heyman said that he was there as a representative for Lesnar. He said Lesnar has been booed and unappreciated by WWE fans and management since day one. He said today's WWE is different from what it was when he repped Lesnar ten years ago. He said that it's too image conscious.
Heyman said that John Laurinaitis signed Lesnar to a legitimate contract. Laurinaitis then agreed to some reasonable demands, creating an addendum to the contract, in public, which makes the fans party to the situation. He said that Lesnar feels betrayed by WWE and the fans and shouldn't feel that way. He ran down Lesnar's accolades and said that above and beyond that, Lesnar is an honest man.
Lesnar said he said he was an asskicking machine and he was. He said that he was going to hurt people and he did. Lesnar asked Heyman to come to Raw and read his official statement to the fans.
"I came back to bring legitimacy to WWE. That's exactly what I did. How was I rewarded? The same corporate BS and politics that led me to leave ten years ago."
Lesnar's statement said that he didn't regret anything he did to Cena or HHH. HHH lasted an hour with Undertaker but couldn't last a minute with Lesnar in a fight. WWE broke their word to Lesnar, so Lesnar broke his arm. Lesnar said that he doesn't care about WWE, the fans or anything else, because he is never coming back.
"I, Brock Lesnar, quit."
Big Show was talking to the stars of the new USA Network. They said what Cody Rhodes did was sleazy. They said what happened with Eve and John Laurinaitis was terrible. They said they were sexy detectives and should start an investigation into how he can keep his job. They started mocking his voice. Eve was watching. Show was laughing and when he saw her, he just looked down dejected. OK, now they are making him look like a total puss. Lame!!
WWE champion CM Punk vs. Lord Tensai & Daniel Bryan
As Punk came to the ring, John Laurinaitis announced it was now a handicap match with Tensai and Daniel Bryan.
Tensai used his power to work over Punk early, flatterning him with several shoulderblocks and elbows. Bryan tagged in and kicked Punk with a series of kicks, yelling "Yes!" with each one. Bryan scored several near falls. Punk and Bryan exchanged chops. They crisscrossed the ring and nailed each other with bodypresses at the same time.
Tensai tagged in and held a hesitation butterfly suplex. He tossed Punk to the outside, then ran him into the ringpost. Tensai locked in the trapezious nerve hold. Punk fired back but was nailed and sent to the mat. Tensai slammed him and nailed a back senton splash.
Bryan tagged in and went to the top for a flying headbutt. Punk rolled out of the way. Bryan catapulted Bryan into the corner and nailed a big clothesline and a heel kick to the jaw. Punk nailed a rolling neckbreaker. He nailed the running knee on Bryan, followed by the bulldog. Punk called for the GTS but Bryan slipped out and Tensai made a blind tag.
Tensai drilled Punk. Punk tried to go for the GTS but he was too big. Punk avoided the Avalanche and kicked him in the jaw. Punk went for the flying elbow but Bryan nailed him. Tensai slammed Punk and locked in a claw after spewing mist at his hand. He covered Punk and scored the win.
Your winners, Daniel Bryan and Lord Tensai!
We go off the air with Bryan stomping the hell out of Punk, then locking on the Yes Lock. Bryan screamed at Punk that he isn't better than Bryan. He let Punk go and celebrated, then went back to the Yes Lock.
Main event was fine for setting up challengers for Punk and specifically for building the Bryan vs. Punk PPV bout.
2013 - Northeast independent wrestler and Taz protege Smith James announced via Twitter, "The next 2 months will be my last indy shows for the foreseeable future (hopefully longer) as I was offered a WWE developmental contract."
James credited former ECW World champion Taz's training with making it possible for him to get signed as James went to Taz's finishing school in Long Island.
Taz responded to the news, writing, "official congrats to a future player in WWE, @BigGameJames12 pleasure training u & pleasure being friends with u! Kick ass bro!"
James is now in WWE developmental under the name Bull Dempsey.
2013 - Referee Matt Bennett, who broke into the business for Jersey All Pro Wrestling, was signed to a WWE deal and reported to developmental. He is now working on the main roster.
2013 - ECW documentary "Barbed Wire City" was picked up by its first film festival, the 10th Annual SouthSide Film Festival in Bethlehem, PA.
2014 - Stephen Ketcher, who wrestled for WWF in the 1980s in a low level position on house shows as "Steve Gatorwolf", turned himself in to Colorado authorities and was arrested on seven counts of sexual assault on a child and seven accounts of sexual assault. The victim was the daughter of a woman Ketcher knew, with the abuse allegedly taking place over several months.
Charges against Ketcher were filed this past March, at which point he went on the run. Authorities had been looking for him in the Jacksonville, Florida area as he had connections there. Earlier today, they began a media campaign alerting locals that Ketcher may be in the area.
Ketcher then surrendered at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office in Green Cove Springs, Florida just a few hours later, according to radio station KOVK 104.5 in Colorado.
Ketcher, as Steve Gatorwolf, worked for the WWF and AWA as a wrestler in the mid-1980s often losing preliminary matches on television and house shows. His most prominent match was teaming with the late Jay Strongbow as his partner in a tag team battle royal that headlined Madison Square Garden in October 1986.
Gatorwolf made appearances for both companies through early 1990 and then went on to promote independent wrestling events in the Southwest. He also promoted MMA events in the same region.
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