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May 11th
On this day in history in ....
1944 - Frankie Talaber defeats The Great Mephisto for the Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio, ending Mephisto's second reign and beginning Talaber's third.
1945 - Jules Strongbow defeats Hans Schnable to win the Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas.
1949 - Martino Angelo defeats Billy Fox in Columbus, Ohio for the MWA World Junior Heavyweight Title, to begin his fifth reign.
1953 - The New York State Athletic Commission lifts a ban on tag team wrestling.
1954 - Rocky Brown and Leo Nomellini defeat Ben and Mike Sharpe to win the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title in San Francisco, California, ending the Sharpes' eighth reign.
1961 - Paul Diamond is born in Croatia.
1962 - Czaya Nandor and Sandor Kovacs defeat Aldo Bogni and Alexis Bruga to win the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta.
1964 - The WWWF held and event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The results were:
- Tony Maniro fought Miguel Perez to a 15-minute time-limit draw.
- Klondike Bill defeated Matt Gilmore.
- Bill Watts defeated Magnificent Maurice.
- The Kentuckians (Luke Brown and Grizzly Smith) defeated Hans and Max Mortier by disqualification.
- Bobo Brazil and Ernie Ladd defeated Dr. Jerry and Luke Graham.
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino fought Gorilla Monsoon to a draw after 70 minutes, due to the New York state 11:00pm curfew rule.
1965 - WWWF ran Harrisburg, PA at Zembo Mosque with the following results:
-Argentina Apollo pinned Arnold Skaaland at 14:00.
-Bill Watts pinned Don McClarity at 22:38.
-Wahoo McDaniel & Chief White Owl defeated Magnificent Maurice & Tony Newberry in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0; fall #1: 15:42: fall #2: 9:10 to retain the U.S. Tag Team Titles..
-WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino pinned Waldo Von Erich at 19:20.
1966 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Smasher Sloan in the main event of a Philadelphia, PA event.
1967 - The Blue Infernos defeat Billy and Jimmy Hines for the Mid-America NWA World Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to begin their second reign.
1967 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino & Spiros Arion defeated Tank Morgan & Bull Ortega in the main event of a Washington, D.C. event.
1968 - The WWWF held an event at the Boston Garden in Boston, Masschusetts. The results:
- Crybaby Cannon defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Hans Mortier defeated Louis Cerdan.
- Bette Boucher and World Women's Champion The Fabulous Moolah defeated Judy Grable and Helen Norton.
- Gorilla Monsoon defeated Bill Miller.
- Toru Tanaka fought Édouard Carpentier to a draw.
- Homer O'Dell and Bull Ramos defeated Earl Maynard and Victor Rivera by disqualification
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Virgil the Kentucky Butcher in a Texas Death match.
1972 - Don and Johnny (Greg Valentine) Fargo defeat Dominic DeNucci and Tony Parisi to win the National Wrestling Federation Tag Team Title in Cleveland, Ohio.
1974 - Billy Kidman is born in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
1974 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Nikolai Volkoff via count-out in the main event of a Providence, Rhode Island live event.
1976 - The Executioners (Killer Kowalski and Big John Studd under masks) defeat Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi for the WWWF World Tag Team Title in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1976 - Seiji Sakaguchi defeats Pedro Morales via countout to win the 3rd Annual New Japan Pro Wrestling World League. Morales was actually well ahead on points in the round robin portion of the tournament, but lost this final match to Sakaguchi.
1976 - Killer Karl Kox and Bob Sweetan defeat Ted DiBiase and Dick Murdoch for the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1977 - Bobby Roode is born.
1978 - Giant Baba and Jumbo Tsuruta win their third NWA International Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan, defeating Kim Duk and Kintaro Ohki, ending their second reign.
1978 - WWF champion Bob Backlund defeated Spiros Arion in Poughkeepsie, NY at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. The undercard results of the show featured:
-Johnny Rodz defeated Joe Turco.
-Gypsy Rodriguez defeated Steve King.
-Tank Patton defeated Mark Tendler.
-The Yukon Lumberjacks defeated Haystacks Calhoun & Larry Zbyszko via count-out.
1979 - Hector Guerrero and Barry Orton defeat The Twin Devils for the NWA Americas Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California.
1979 - WWF ran Harrisburg, PA at Zembo Mosque with the following results:
-Tito Santana defeated Johnny Rodz.
-Nikolai Volkoff defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
-Cowboy Lang & Tiny Thumb defeated Little Tokyo & Butch Cassidy.
-Hussein Arab defeated SD Jones.
-Ivan Putski defeated Bulldog Brower.
1980 - Former CZW Champion Nick Berk aka Nicky Benz is born.
1980 - The Iron Sheik defeats Jim Brunzell for the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title in Charlotte, North Carolina, ending Brunzell's second reign.
1981 - Ernie Ladd defeats Kerry Von Erich to win the World Class American Heavyweight Title in Fort Worth, Texas.
1982 - WWF taped several episodes of Championship Wrestling in Allentown, PA at Ag Hall wiith Jimmy Snuka, Pedro Morales, The Strongbows, Tony Garea, Blackjack Mulligan, Greg Valentine and more appearing.
1983 - NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated Roddy Piper via reverse decision in Seattle, Washington.
1984 - NWA World champion Kerry Von Erich pinned Ric Flair in a non-title match in Dallas, Texas in the main event of a World Class Championship Wrestling event at around the 11:30 mark with an abdominal stretch into a roll up. After the bout, Flair attacked Von Erich but the champion eventually gained the upper hand and cleared Flair from the ring.
1985 - The WWF's very first edition of Saturday Night's Main Event airs on NBC, scoring an 8.8 rating. This was the first time that a network aired wrestling in 34 years. The show was taped the previous night in Uniondale, New York at the Nassau Coliseum. The results were:
- Ricky Steamboat and The U.S. Express (Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham) (with Lou Albano) defeated George Steele and WWF Tag Team Champions The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff (with Freddie Blassie), when Windham pinned Steele with a roll-up after Sheik and Volkoff refused to tag Steele.
- Paul Orndorff was the guest of Roddy Piper in Piper's Pit, during which the partnership between the two broke down.
- WWF Champion Hulk Hogan (with Mr. T) defeated Bob Orton, Jr. (with Roddy Piper) by disqualification, when Piper punched Hogan from the floor while Hogan had Orton pinned after hitting the legdrop. Orton and Piper attacked Hogan and Mr. T, with Paul Orndorff making the save.
- WWF Women's Champion Wendi Richter pinned The Fabulous Moolah, by reversing a slam into a small package, to retain the title.
- The Junkyard Dog (with his mother) pinned Pete Doherty after the Thump.
1985 - Rick Davis and Ole Olsen defeat Mike Dupree and Sonny Myers to win the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Cloverdale, British Columbia.
1985 - Billy Jack Haynes and Ricky Vaughn defeat Mega Maharishi (Ed Wiskoski) and Kendo Nagasaki for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Portland, Oregon.
1985 - New Japan Pro Wrestling ran Katatsu, Japan in front of 2,150 fans with the top results featuring The Masked Superstar defeating Strong Machine #1 via disqualification, Jimmy Snuka & Iron Mike Sharpe defeating Tatsumi Fujinami & Syunji Kosugi and a six man tag that saw Antonio Inoki, Seiji Sakaguchi, & Kengo Kimura fighting Andre the Giant, & International Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis, & Dick Murdoch to a double countout.
1985 - The WWF held an event at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The results:
- Winona Little Heart defeated Donna Christanello.
- The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) defeated Bob Bradley and Special Delivery Jones.
- Les Thornton defeated Charlie Fulton. Fulton replaced David Sammartino, and was originally scheduled to face Powerhouse Powers.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Moondog Spot.
- Big John Studd defeated George Wells.
- The Junkyard Dog defeated Bob Orton, Jr.
- WWF Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Roddy Piper by disqualification.
1985 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Charlotte, NC at the Coliseum with the following results:
-The Barbarian defeated Sam Houston.
-Buddy Landell defeated Johnny Weaver.
-Dusty Rhodes defeated Scott Irwin.
-National Tag Team Champions Ole & Arn Anderson defeated Buzz Sawyer & Pez Whatley.
-NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard defeated Manny Fernandez.
-Jimmy Valiant defeated Superstar Billy Graham in a New York streetfight.
-NWA U.S. Champion Magnum TA & Dick Slater fought NWA World Tag Team Champions Ivan & Nikita Koloff - no finish known.
1986 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran the Omni in Atlanta, GA with the following results:
-Shaska Whatley defeated Sam Houston.
-Wahoo McDaniel defeated Jimmy Garvin via count-out.
-Robert Gibson fought NWA TV Champion Arn Anderson to a draw.
-Ron Garvin defeated NWA National Heavyweight Champion Tully Blanchard in a taped fist match.
-Baron Von Raschke, Ivan & Nikita Koloff defeated the Road Warriors & Paul Ellering.
-NWA World Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey defeated Dusty Rhodes & Magnum TA via disqualification.
-Ricky Morton defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair via disqualification.
1987 - Lince Dorado is born.
1987 - Jeff Jarrett defeats Moondog Spot in Memphis, Tennessee to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title. At the same show, Mark Starr and Billy Travis defeat Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka) for the CWA/AWA International Tag Team Title.
1987 - WWF ran two events in California, with the following results:
Modesto, CA at Grace M. Davis High School Gym in front of 2,500 fans:
-Nick Kiniski pinned Jimmy Jack Funk with a sunset flip.
-Tom Magee defeated Terry Gibbs via submission with a backbreaker.
-Lanny Poffo pinned Iron Mike Sharpe with the moonsault.
-B. Brian Blair & Jim Brunzell defeated Don Muraco & Bob Orton Jr. after a Bee pinned Orton after a mask switch.
-WWF Women's Champion The Fabulous Moolah pinned Velvet McIntyre.
-Tito Santana pinned Butch Reed with a small package.
Oakland, CA at The Coliseum in front of 7,900 fans:
-Paul Roma pinned Steve Lombardi.
-Demolition defeated the Islanders.
-Nikolai Volkoff pinned Cpl. Kirchner.
-Brutus Beefcake defeated Johnny V (substituting for Adrian Adonis) via disqualification.
-Rick Martel & Tom Zenk defeated the Shadows.
-Kamala defeated George Steele via disqualification.
-Billy Jack Haynes (substituting for Jake Roberts) pinned The Honkytonk Man.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage in a Steel Cage match.
1988 - WWF ran a marathon Wrestling Challenge taping in Rochester, MN with the following results:
-Koko B. Ware defeated Bobby Heenan.
-Brutus Beefcake defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion the Honkytonk Man via disqualification.
-Jake Roberts defeated Rick Rude.
-Andre the Giant defeated Jim Duggan via countout.
-WWF World Champion Randy Savage pinned Ted DiBiase.
-Jake Roberts pinned Steve Lombardi at 1:32 with the DDT.
-Bad News Brown pinned Chris Zarna at 2:37 with the Ghetto Blaster.
-Paul Roma & Jim Powers defeated Tom Stone & Rick Gantner at 3:20 when Roma pinned Stone with a dropkick off the top.
-Hercules (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Bill Bowman via submission at 1:53.
-The Junkyard Dog pinned Terry Gibbs at 1:57 with the powerslam.
-Ken Patera defeated Dino Bravo (w/ Frenchy Martin) via disqualification in a tug of war contest when Bravo attacked Patera and choked him out with the rope.
-Jacques & Raymond Rougeau defeated Rick Renslow & Dave Wagner at 2:15 when Raymond pinned Wagner.
-Rick Rude (w/ Bobby Heenan) pinned Jim Evans at 1:43 with the Rude Awakening.
-Bret Hart pinned Pete Sanchez at 2:21 with the piledriver.
-Ron Bass pinned Ricky Ataki at 1:49.
-The Ultimate Warrior pinned Terry Gibbs at 1:34 with the press slam / splash combo.
-Greg Valentine (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Mike Richards via submission with the figure four leglock. This match featured the debut of Valentine's shin guard, the Heartbreaker, which set the stage for a feud with Ronnie Garvin.
-Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov (w/ Slick) defeated Buck Zumhoff & Warren Bianchi at 1:38 when Volkoff pinned Bianchi with a backbreaker and kick to the face.
-Koko B. Ware pinned Rick Renslow with the Ghostbuster at 3:50.
-Danny Davis (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Brady Boone with a sit-down splash off the top at 3:13.
-WWF Intercontinental champion the Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned JT Thomas with the Shake, Rattle, & Roll at 2:07; Danny Davis stayed at ringside with Jimmy Hart for the duration of the bout.
-Jim Duggan pinned Chris Curtis with the running clothesline at 1:22.
-Ken Patera defeated Barry Horowitz via submission with the full nelson at 2:48.
-Don Muraco (w/ Superstar Billy Graham) pinned Larry Simpson with the tombstone at 2:02.
-WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition (w/ Mr. Fuji) defeated Tim & John Yates when Ax got the pin after the Decapitation at 2:05.
-Brutus Beefcake defeated Pete Sanchez via submission with the sleeper at 2:09.
-Ted Dibiase (w/ Virgil) defeated Brady Boone via submission with the Million $ Dream at 3:28.
-Sam Houston pinned Barry Horowitz with a bulldog at 2:15.
-Greg Valentine (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Louie Spicolli via submission with the shin guard-assisted figure-4 at 1:41; Spicolli had to be carried out of the arena after the match.
-Tito Santana & Rick Martel defeated Terry Gibbs & Steve Lombardi when Santana pinned Lombardi with the flying forearm at 3:37.
-Jake Roberts pinned Billy Anderson with the DDT at 2:43.
-Dino Bravo (w/ Frenchy Martin) pinned Scott Casey with the side suplex at 1:58.
1990 - WWF ran the Nassau Coliseum, drawing 8,000 fans to Uniondale, Long Island for the following results:
-Al Perez defeated Jim Brunzell.
-Koko B. Ware defeated Black Bart.
-WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition fought Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart to a double disqualification.
-The Warlord defeated Tito Santana.
-Brutus Beefcake defeated the Genius.
-Paul Roma pinned Frenchy Martin.
-Sensational Sherri pinned Sapphire.
-Dusty Rhodes pinned Randy Savage after hitting him with Sensational Sherri's purse.
1991 - Brad Anderson defeats Ricky Santana to win the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, ending Santana's second reign.
1991 - Charlie Norris defeats Golden Idol (subbing for Terminator Rigs) for the Pro Wrestling America Heavyweight Title in Shakopee, Michigan, beginning his third reign.
1994 - WWF ran Sapporro, Japan at the Gekken Green Dome, drawing 2,300 fans with the following results:
-The Smoking Gunns defeated the 1-2-3 Kid & Nobukazu Hirai at 7:15 when Billy Gunn pinned Hirai.
-Jinsei Shinzaki pinned Doink the Clown at 7:58.
-Bob Backlund pinned Rick Martel (subtituting for Shawn Michaels) at 12:45.
-Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Masashi Aoyagi at 7:25.
-WWF Women's Champion Alundra Blayze pinned Kyoko Inoue with the German suplex at 10:37.
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers defeated Tatanka & Owen Hart at 15:54 when Samu pinned Tatanka.
-The Undertaker pinned Adam Bomb with the tombstone at 8:35.
-Genichiro Tenryu pinned Randy Savage at 12:29.
-WWF World Champion Bret Hart defeated Yokozuna via disqualification at 9:34.
1995 - Steve Austin made his final appearance for WCW at a WCW Saturday Night taping in Atlanta, GA at Center Stage. While competing in a tournament for the WCW U.S. Championship Tournament, Austin was pinned by Randy Savage in 2:19 with a bodyslam and the flying elbowsmash. Austin would tear his triceps and eventually be famously fired over the phone by Eric Bischoff, inspiring the venom that would lead to classic promos in the original ECW and Austin's eventual WWF hiring.
1996 - The Death Dealer defeats Skull Ganz for the vacant Great Lakes Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Westland, Michigan.
1996 - AAA held TripleMania IV in Chicago, IL at the International Amphitheater, drawing 2,676 fans with the following results:
-Karis la Momia, Arunyo, & Killer defeated Blue Demon Jr., Torero, & Mascara Sagrada Jr. in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at the 14-minute mark; Torero pinned Momia and Sagrada pinned Arunyo at the 6-minute mark; Momia forced Sagrada to submit and Killer forced Torero to submit at the 10-minute mark; Killer pinned Demon.
-Jerry Estrada & Juventud Guerrera defeated Pantera & Super Calo in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at the 20-minute mark; Calo pinned Guerrera; Guerrera pinned Calo at the 14-minute mark; Guerrera pinned Pantera.
-Picudo, Cibernetico, & El Mosco defeated Octagon, the Ultimo Dragon, & La Parka in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at the 23-minute mark; fall #1: Octagon, Dragon, & Parka won; fall #2: Octagon submitted and Mosco pinned Dragon; fall #3: Picudo pinned Dragon and Cibernetico pinned Octagon.
-WCW U.S. Champion Konnan & Perro Aguayo defeated Pierroth Jr. & Cien Caras at the 17-minute mark in a lumberjack match when Aguayo pinned Caras and Konnan pinned Pierroth.
1996 - ECW held "A Matter of Respect" in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the ECW Arena. The results:
- El Puerto Ricano and Damien fought to a no-contest.
- Damien Kane and Devon Storm defeated The Dudley Boyz (Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von) by disqualification.
- The Full-Blooded Italians (Little Guido and J.T. Smith) defeated Hack Meyers and Axl Rotten, when Guido pinned Meyers.
- Taz defeated Beef Wellington by submission.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion Raven defeated Pitbull #2 and The Sandman in a three-way dance to retain the title. Raven pinned both men.
- Chris Jericho defeated Mikey Whipwreck.
- Shane Douglas defeated ECW World Television Champion 2 Cold Scorpio to win the title, ending Scorpio's fourth reign.
- Rob Van Dam defeated Sabu in a bout where the loser would have to announce his respect for the winner. Sabu did and then crumpled into a stretcher due to the effects of RVD's Fisherman's Buster.
- Tommy Dreamer and The Gangstas defeated Brian Lee and ECW World Tag Team Champions The Eliminators when New Jack pinned Saturn.
1996 - WCW ran Johnson City, TN at Freedom Hall, drawing 4,400 fans with the following results:
-Alex Wright defeated Disco Inferno.
-The Booty Man defeated Arn Anderson.
-Chris Benoit defeated Eddie Guerrero.
-The Nasty Boys defeated Public Enemy in a streetfight.
-WCW World TV Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion Lex Luger defeated Jim Duggan.
-Randy Savage defeated Ric Flair.
-WCW World Champion the Giant defeated WCW World Tag Team Champion Sting via disqualification.
1997 - The WWF held its 15th In Your House pay-per-view, subtitled "A Cold Day in Hell", at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia, which got a 0.57 buyrate. The results were:
- In a match that aired on the Free for All, Rockabilly pinned Jesse James after a DDT.
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley (with Chyna) pinned Flash Funk after the Pedigree.
- Mankind defeated Rocky Maivia by submission with the Mandible Claw.
- The Nation of Domination (Crush, Faarooq and Savio Vega) defeated Ahmed Johnson in a gauntlet match. Johnson pinned Crush after a spinning heel kick, Vega got disqualified for hitting Johnson with a chair, and Faarooq pinned Johnson after the Dominator.
- Ken Shamrock, making his WWF pay-per-view debut, defeated Vader in a no holds barred match by submission with the Ankle Lock.
- WWF Champion The Undertaker pinned Steve Austin after a Tombstone piledriver to retain the title. The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Jim Neidhart and Brian Pillman) were sitting ringside during the match. Austin hit the Stone Cold Stunner on The Undertaker and was about to go for the pin, when Pillman rang the ring bell, distracting Austin long enough for Undertaker to hit the Tombstone. Immediately after the pinfall, the Hart Foundation jumped the rail and got in the ring to attack the champion, but Austin saw Bret all alone, went over the railing and turned Bret's wheelchair over. Austin and Undertaker fought the Hart Foundation off, but Austin gave Undertaker a second Stone Cold Stunner to close the show.
- In a dark match after the pay-per-view, The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions - WWF European Champion The British Bulldog and WWF Intercontinental Champion Owen Hart by disqualification, when Bulldog tried to hit Hawk with his European title belt but hit Owen instead by accident. Bulldog and Owen retained the title.
1998 - The Monday Night War continued, with WWF RAW is WAR and WCW Monday Nitro having a rare tie in the ratings, both earning 4.3 ratings. Both shows were live, RAW in Baltimore, Maryland at the Baltimore Arena, and Nitro at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri.
RAW results:
- Vader pinned Barry Windham (with Jim Cornette and NWA World Tag Team Champions The New Midnight Express (Bodacious Bart and Bombastic Bob) with the Vader Bomb.
- 8-Ball pinned Road Warrior Hawk.
- Jeff Jarrett defeated Faarooq.
- Sable pinned Marc Mero after the Sable Bomb.
- WWF European Champion Triple H fought Owen Hart to a no-contest.
- Terry Funk and Scorpio fought Kaientai (Funaki, Teioh and Togo (with Yamaguchi-San)) to a no-contest.
- WWF Champion Steve Austin and Vince McMahon (with Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson) fought D'Lo Brown and WWF Intercontinental Champion The Rock to a no-contest, when Brisco, McMahon, Patterson and Dude Love all attacked Austin.
Nitro results:
- Disco Inferno defeated Barry Horowitz.
- Kidman (with Reese) defeated Juventud Guerrera.
- Scott Norton defeated Yuji Nagata (with Sonny Onoo).
- Hugh Morrus (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Jim Powers.
- Ultimo Dragon defeated Johnny Swinger.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Goldberg defeated Len Denton to retain the title.
- Perry Saturn defeated Jerry Flynn.
- WCW World Television Champion Fit Finlay defeated Kaos (with Rage) to retain the title.
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Lenny Lane.
- Glacier defeated Sick Boy.
- Chris Benoit defeated Booker T.
- Randy Savage defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hulk Hogan (with The Disciple) by disqualification. Hogan retained the title.
1999 - WCW ran a TV Taping in Cape Girardau, MO, featuring WCW World TV champion Booker T defeating Bobby Eaton among the highlights.
2000 - Air Paris defeats Mike Rapada to win the NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Fairview, Tennessee, ending Rapada's fourth reign.
2000 - Katsumi Usuda defeats Minoru Tanaka in Tokyo, Japan for the Independent World Junior Heavyweight Title.
2001 - FMW held a pay-per-view event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The results:
- Flying Kid Ichihara defeated Banji Takada.
- Asuza Kudo, Shinjuku Shark and Naohiro Yamazaki defeated Satoshi Makita, Tomokazu Morita and Yoshito Sasaki, when Kudo pinned Morita.
- Kyoko Inoue and Emi Motokawa defeated Genki Misae and Yuka Miyazaki, when Motokawa pinned Miyazaki.
- Kodo Fuyuki and WEW Hardcore and Hardcore Tag Team Champion Kintaro Kanemura fought WEW Tag Team Champions Goemon and Onryo to a 30-minute time-limit draw.
- Jun Kasai defeated Chocoball Mukai.
- Ricky Fuji, Hayabusa and Hisakatsu Oya defeated Mr. Gannosuke, WEW Heavyweight Champion Tetsuhiro Kuroda and Mammoth Sasaki, when Hayabusa pinned Kuroda.
2001 - Dash Riproc defeats Samir in the finals of a one-night six-man tournament to win the NWA Texas Junior Heavyweight Title in North Richland Hills, Texas.
2001 - Spanky defeats Tyler Gates to win the Memphis Championship Wrestling Light Heavyweight Title in Coldwater, Mississippi, starting Spanky's third and final reign as champion.
2002 - CZW held "High Stakes" at Viking Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Greg Matthews and Rockin' Rebel defeated The Super Heavyweights (Hurricane Kid and Towel Boy).
- Ruckus defeated Derek Frazier.
- Ruckus defeated Chris Hero (with Dave Prazak).
- Lacey defeated Rain.
- The Irish Drinking Team (Ian Knoxxx and Chris Stylz) defeated The New School (Chris Cash and GQ) and The Softcore Connection (Nick Berk and Ty Street) in a three-way match.
- Danny Rose defeated Max Fury and Z-Barr in a three-way match.
- The Backseat Boyz (CZW World Junior Heavyweight Champion Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere) defeated M-Dogg 20 and Josh Prohibition.
- The H8 Club (Nick Gage and Nate Hatred) defeated CZW World Tag Team Champions VD (Eddie Valentine and Jon Dahmer) to win the title.
- CZW World Junior Heavyweight Champion Trent Acid defeated Jerry Lynn to retain the title.
- The Messiah and Nick Mondo defeated CZW World Heavyweight Champion Justice Pain and CZW Iron Man Champion Adam Flash in a tag team scaffold match, when Messiah pinned Pain and Mondo pinned Flash, to win the respective titles. This began Mondo's third Iron Man Title reign, and ended Justice Pain's second World Title reign.
2002 - Ai Fujita defeats Kayo Noumi to win the WWWA World Super Lightweight Title in Tokyo, Japan. Fujita was the first champion after the title moved from AJW to ARSION.
2002 - L.A. Cash and J-Money defeat Damien and Joe Storm in Burlington, North Carolina for the Carolina Wrestling Federation Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.
2002 - Michiko Omukai defeats Lioness Asuka to win the Queen of ARSION in Tokyo, Japan.
2002 - WWE ran Quebec City, Quebec in Canada. Christian Berube filed the following live report:
Attendance was 4,000-5,000 for the Smackdown house show, without Hogan Rock or HHH.
Tajiri pinned Billy Kidman.
Chavo Guerrero Jr. pinned Funaki.
Christian pinned Sylvan (more on him later).
Mark Henry, Val Venis and The Hurricane beat Albert, Godfather and Lance Storm.
Tazz beat D Von via submission.
Bob Holly beat Randy Orton, with Orton being booed out of the building. He was visibly shock by it.
Billy and Chuck, with Rico, beat Al Snow and Maven when Chuck pinned Maven. Maven was bleeding from the nose in the bout.
Torrie Wilson beat Stacy and Ivory in the swimsuit challenge. Torrie won about 60-40/55-45 over Stacy.
Chris Jericho pinned Rikishi.
Edge beat Kurt Angle in a steel cage match. Edge escaped via the door, even after a run in by Jericho.
Crowd was popping like crazy for everything this being the first time they were here since Feb. 1997 (they had 3,500 back then for Bret vs. Austin and Sid vs. Undertaker).
Sylvan is a French Canadian billed from Montreal who supposedly attended the last WWE tryout camp or will be going to the next one, trained by Pat Patterson. The pressure was on for the kid tonight as Dave Hebner, Fit Finlay Dean Malenko and Johnny Ace were all taking notes and watching the match from up close they left and returned backstage right after his match.
2003 - Taiji Ishimori defeats Super Crazy in Mexico City, Mexico for the vacant UWA World Welterweight Title.
2003 - WWE Raw ran Bethlehem, PA at The Stabler Arena. Adam Nystrom filed the following live report:
Just got back from an excellent RAW house show at Stabler Arena in my hometown of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The crowd added up to probably under 1,000, but no big deal since it's quite a small arena. The crowd was ten times better than our last Smackdown house show, where it was more like a funeral than a house show. Here are the results:
The Hurricane and Maven defeat Lance Storm and Sean (Chief?) Morley
For some reason, Morley was still announced as Chief, but this of course is WWE, where continuity is never safe. Hurricane won the pinfall with a spinning DDT on Morley. Hurricane is great at a live show, and before the match started, he gave his mask to a young fan in the front row.
Rodney Mack defeats Tommy Dreamer
Before the match started, Theodore Long issued another White Boy Challenge, and also asked why there were only white people in the front row, and the black men had to suffer from the nosebleed section (funny stuff). Chris Nowinski came out, and praised Long's efforts, saying he himself was a victim of "the man". Long stayed after the match to announce Jazz's entrance for the next fight.
Jazz defeats Trish Stratus and Victoria, Triple Threat, to retain the Women's Championship
Surprisingly, not a single "puppy" chant could be heard from the crowd. Excellent effort by all three ladies, and funny antics from Steven Richards and Theodore Long on the outside.
La Resistance defeats Test and Scott Steiner
I wish I could have heard Sylvan and Rene's promo, but the crowd was so heated against them it was impossible to listen. I resisted the temptation to boo Steiner; since Bethlehem is such a patriotic town, an implied cheer for the French (Canadians) would have meant my untimely death.
Spike, D-Von and Bubba Ray Dudley defeat Rico and Three Minute Warning in a Tag Team Table Match
Originally, Rico was scheduled to face Spike one-on-one, and a tag table match between the other two Dudleys and 3MW was to take place, but they combined it into one six-man match. Rico is absolutely my favorite wrestler to see at a house show, because no matter what anybody yells at him, he always answers back. A fan across the row from myself began to heckle him, and Rico yelled back, "Shut up, I'm busy!" All six men looked good, and Jamal took the 3-D through the table. After the match, Bubba and D-Von picked a lucky young fan to come into the ring and take a home a piece of the broken table. Spike took a picture. Always great to see the wrestlers do little yet significant things like this.
15 minute break for intermission.
Kane defeats Christian
Not a whole lot of offense from either man, but I don't blame them, considering Christian has a cage match tomorrow night against Goldberg. Still a fun match to watch, and I was one of two people in the entire arena cheering for Christian.
The Hurricane defeats Chris Jericho, Impromtu Match
Booker T was not able to make it to the show due to being hospitalized with severe flu conditions (he will most probably miss Raw tonight), so Chris Jericho came out and called out The Hurricane to do a Highlight Reel segment. Hurricane accepted, and was able to catch Jericho with the "It's my Hurripowers, By-atch!" line. He then insulted Jericho's manhood, or as Hurricane insisted, lack thereof, and Jericho issued a challenge. Hurricane accepted, and within ten seconds, chokeslammed him and pinned him. Jericho was irate, and as Hurricane walked away, insisted on "Five more minutes! Just five more minutes!" Hurricane obliged, and when he got back into the ring, Jericho continued, "I want five more minutes...tomorrow," and slid out of the ring and walked away. By far, one of the best segments I've seen at a house show.
Howard Finkel plugs Judgment Day.
Triple H wins by disqualification over Kevin Nash to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
Unfortunately, the night ended on a bad note. The only overall subpar match was the main event. About halfway through, Earl Hebner took a spill when trying to pry away a chair from Triple H, and looked like he hurt his knee, but seemed okay a few minutes afterward. Kevin Nash used a chair right in front of Hebner at the end of the match, and it was one of the most pathetic chair shots I think I've seen in person. It barely grazed HHH's head, which was already protected by his hands. I hope they were saving their energy for next Sunday, becuase if this is any indication of what is to come, not only are we going to be reminded of why Smackdown is a better show, it also makes you wonder what is in store for Badd Blood, featuring only RAW wrestlers.
Overall, still an excellent show, and I look forward to attending RAW tomorrow night in ECW territory.
2003 - WWE Smackdown ran Sheffield, England at the Hallam FM Arena. Will filed the following live report:
The Hallam FM Arena was a near sellout for the event, only a few tier seats were empty.
First off Tony Chimmel and a local radio presenter came to the ring. The local Hallam FM presenter tried to hype the crowd but was mostly jeered. Chimmel went through the normal rules and soon started the show
Chris Benoit vs. The Big Show
Big Show got a huge pop as he was the first person to come out, but Benoit topped that when he came out. A good match with a lot of holds, no German suplexes (surprise!) but a flying headbutt. Big Show tapped to the Crippler Crossface. After the match Benoit received a standing ovation.
Winner: Chris Benoit via submission
WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match: Matt Hardy w/ Shannon Moore vs. Jamie Noble w/ Nidia
A very good match between the two with lots of interference from Nidia. Matt was way over with the crowd and also got an ovation after the match. The finish saw Shannon hit Noble with Matt’s autobiography book and a Twist of Fate later Matt had retained.
Winner: Matt Hardy via pinfall
Brian Kendrick vs. A-Train
A-Train played chase for a while as Kendrick was racing around the ring. Kendrick looked very good and was way over with the crowd especially when he grabbed A-Train by the “man-fur” also there were lots of “shave your back chants”. For the win A-Train countered the Sliced Bread #2 and mid-air whilst holding Kendrick on his shoulder twisted him onto his back and hit the Train Wreck. A very impressive power move.
Winner: A-Train via pinfall
Sean O’Haire vs. Tajiri
O’Haire sat on the turnbuckle whilst Tajiri entered, Tajiri then mocked O’Haire by sitting on the opposite turnbuckle whilst scratching his chin, which made O’Haire smile. Another good match with lots of kicks by Tajiri which got the crowd going. O’Haire used a lot of holds to slow the match down but this added to the match. Both looked good throughout the match. O’Haire won via the reverse DVD.
Winner Sean O Haire via pinfall
WWE Championship Match: Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena
Cena got on the mic to start and ripped on the U.K and football. During the match Cena took the ring post pad off and whilst the ref had his back turned putting the pad back on hit Lesnar with the belt for a near fall. A good long match which Brock won after hitting the F5.
Winner: Brock Lesnar via pinfall
15 Minute Interval.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Team Angle vs. Rhyno and Rey Mysterio
Rhyno and Rey came out first, Rhyno got on the mic and said he loved Sheffield. Team Angle drew huge heat for the first five minutes after they and ripped on the chanting, U.K and football. When the match started Team Angle tried to walk away from the match but the ref got on the mic and told them they had a count of ten to get back in the ring or they would forfeit the titles. Lots of offence by Team Angle with a few good moves. For the pin Haas hit a German suplex on Mysterio with a bridge whilst Benjamin gave Mysterio a superkick, another impressive move. Post match there was a Gore and a 619 to an ovation.
Winners: Team Angle via pinfall
Torrie Wilson vs. Nidia
Winner: Torrie Wilson def Nidia via pinfall. Sable attacked Torrie after the match.
Eddie and Chavo Guerrero and Rikishi vs. F.B.I (Nunzio, Stamboli and Palumbo)
Lots of action in this one with a lot of interference by F.B.I. Eddie hit the Frog Splash and Rikishi hit the Bonzai drop for the win.
Winners: Eddie and Chavo Guerrero and Rikishi via pinfall
Post match Team Angle and Nidia came for the beatdown of the faces. Soon after Torrie, Mysterio and Benoit made the save. All of the heels left except for Nidia and she decided that she was going to dance, which wasn’t nice. The faces decided she was going to get a stinkface, Jamie Noble tried to make the save but both ended up getting stinkfaces. Eddie was taken backstage by a ref and was limping holding his hamstring.
Then Steve the local security guy was brought into the ring to dance. Chavo danced, Benoit hilariously tried to dance with his hands behind his head. Torrie gave us some hot moves and Mysterio performed the worm. Then Rikishi danced before they all danced together to finish off the event.
Another great event.
2004 - John Tenta publicly announced that he was battling bladder cancer and would be retiring from the ring to devote his time to battling the disease.
2004 - WWE announced that Grandmaster Sexay, aka Brian Christopher had been released following an incident where he was held at the Canadian border for attempting to bring contraband over. Christopher would not return to the company until 2010 when he appeared in an angle to further Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole.
2004 - WWE taped the May 13 SmackDown! and May 15 Velocity at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada. The results:
Velocity:
- Scotty 2 Hotty pinned Akio (with Sakoda) after a backbreaker.
- Mark Jindrak (with Theodore Long) pinned Spike Dudley after the Mark of Excellence.
- Billy Kidman and Paul London defeated The Basham Brothers (Doug and Danny), when Kidman pinned Doug after the Shooting Star Press.
Smackdown!:
- D-Von Dudley (with Bubba Ray Dudley) pinned Rob Van Dam after a hanging DDT from the top.
- Chavo Classic (with Chavo Guerrero) pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jacqueline.
- Booker T defeated The F.B.I. (Nunzio and Johnny Stamboli) in a handicap match, by pinning Stamboli after a scissors kick.
- Hardcore Holly (with Billy Gunn) pinned WWE Tag Team Champion Rico (with WWE Tag Team Champion Charlie Haas and Miss Jackie) when Rico rolled through a Holly crossbody.
- WWE United States Champion John Cena pinned Sakoda (with Akio) after the FU.
- John "Bradshaw" Layfield pinned Rey Mysterio after the Clothesline from Hell.
2006 - Damien and Pierre Vachon defeat Trooper Gilmore and Corporal Johnson to win the NWA New England Tag Team Title in Fall River, Massachusetts, beginning their second reign.
2007 - World Wrestling Entertainment announced this afternoon that 2 Cold Scorpio had been released from the company. Scorpio, a former WCW and ECW star under that ring name and known as Flash Funk during a previous WWF stint in the late 1990s, was signed last year but never used beyond a European tour.
2007 - World Wrestling Entertainment announced the release of Rob Conway as well. He was "fired" from an on camera role by Vince McMahon the previous Monday Night Raw, but had since teamed with Sylvan Grenier in dark matches. Conway had been on the main WWE roster since 2000. As a member of the La Resistance tag team, Conway held the WWE Tag Team championships on three occasions. An attempt to package him as a singles star was never really sustained by the company.
2007 - WWE issued two press releases, announcing that Stephanie McMahon Levesque has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Talent and Creative Writing, and John Laurinaitis has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Talent Relations. It was more a change of titles than anything else, as their job descriptions weren't changing much, other than Stephanie now managing the talent relations department with Laurinaitis reporting directly to her.
Here are the press releases:
WWE(R) Promotes Stephanie McMahon Levesque To Executive Vice President
Friday May 11, 4:49 pm ET
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. today announced the promotion of Stephanie McMahon Levesque to Executive Vice President, Talent and Creative Writing. In her new role, she is responsible for overseeing the creative writing process for all television and pay-per-view programming and manages the talent relations department.
Stephanie began her career with WWE as an Account Executive for the WWE sales office in New York City, while at the same time becoming a television personality on WWE programming. She ultimately moved behind the camera to also write, produce and direct. Her most recent position was Senior Vice President, Creative Writing.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
Trademarks: All World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ECW is a trademark of WWE Libraries, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
WWE(R) Promotes John Laurinaitis to Senior Vice President
Friday May 11, 5:02 pm ET
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. today announced the promotion of John Laurinaitis to Senior Vice President, Talent Relations. He reports to Stephanie McMahon Levesque, Executive Vice President, Talent and Creative Writing.
Laurinaitis has served as WWE's Vice President, Talent Relations since June 2004. Prior to that, Laurinaitis was Director of Talent Relations. Prior to joining WWE in 2001, Laurinaitis worked for World Championship Wrestling(TM) ("WCW") in talent relations and operations from June 2000 until WWE's acquisition of certain assets of WCW in March 2001.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
2007 - Fight Sports Midwest held "Chapter Two" at the Camelot Sportsplex in Portage, Indiana. The results were:
- Jigsaw defeated Gran Akuma.
- Metal Master defeated Shane Hollister.
- The Phoenix Twins (Dash and Tweek) defeated The Iron Saints (Sal and Vito Thomaselli (with Kimberly Kash)).
- Josh Abercrombie defeated Human Tornado.
- Alex Shelley defeated Low Ki.
- Threat Level Midnight (Trik Davis & Billy Roc) defeated Marek Brave & Ryan Epic, Truth Martini & C.J. Otis and The North Star Express (Darin Corbin and Ryan Cruz) in a four corners NWA Indiana State Tag Team Title Tournament first round match, to qualify for the 2007 Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup Tournament.
- NWA World Women's Champion Amazing Kong defeated Ann Brookstone in a falls count anywhere match to retain the title.
- Eddie Kingston defeated Joey Ryan.
- Arik Cannon defeated Joey Mercury.
- Marty Jannetty defeated Tyler Black (with Jimmy Jacobs).
- Mike Quackenbush defeated NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Tiger Mask IV to win the title.
2007 - The International Wrestling Cartel held "Super Indy VI" at The Palisades in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. The results:
- HENTAI defeated Brother Runt in a Super Indy Tournament first round match.
- Shiima Xion defeated Ruckus in a Super Indy Tournament first round match.
- Michael Facade & Johnny Gargano defeated The Cleveland Mafia (J-Rocc & Raymond Rowe), IWC Tag Team Champions The Gambino Brothers (Marshall & Mickey), The Heartbreakers (Romeo Roselli & Antonio Thomas), The Hollywood Balds (Jimmy DeMarco & Vendetta) and Sexual Harassment (Justin Idol & Eric Xtasy) in a gauntlet match to win the title. Sexual Harassment defeated The Heartbreakers, then The Cleveland Mafia went through Sexual Harassment, The Hollywood Balds and The Gambino Brothers before falling to Facade and Gargano.
- Larry Sweeney defeated Jay Lethal in a Super Indy Tournament first round match.
- Azrieal defeated Sonjay Dutt in a Super Indy Tournament first round match.
- Shiima Xion defeated HENTAI in a Super Indy Tournament semifinal match.
- Larry Sweeney defeated Azrieal in a Super Indy Tournament semifinal match.
- Dennis Gregory defeated Brent Albright and IWC World Heavyweight Champion Ricky Reyes in a three-way match to win the title.
- Larry Sweeney defeated Shiima Xion to win the Super Indy Tournament, and the vacant IWC Super Indy Title.
2008 - TNA held their Sacrifice PPV in Orlando, Florida. Mike Johnson filed the following report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live coverage of TNA's 2008 Sacrifice PPV from Orlando, Florida at the Impact Zone.
A brief pre-show live note: Richard Trionfo sent word that Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan, who is a huge wrestling fan, was introduced to the live crowd by Jeremy Borash.
The PPV opened with a video feature based on Scott Steiner vs. Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle for Joe's TNA title.
They went to video from 7:07 PM of Kurt Angle arriving via limo to the Impact Zone. Jeremy Borash said he was in Korea when Kurt was injured and asked Angle for an update. Angle said his doctor, Dr. Jho has advised him not to wrestle tonight due to the injury. Angle said that if it was up to him, he would wrestle, but he can't afford to do so because he has three cracked vertebrae and two herniated discs in his neck. He said he won the Olympics with a broken neck and headlined Wrestlemania with a broken neck, but he's not 25 years old anymore and if his doctor tells him not to compete, he can't.
They then went to video of Scott Steiner arriving earlier today. Lauren asked Scott his thoughts on Angle not being able to wrestle. Scott said that he didn't know anything about Angle being hurt. He said that he was originally supposed to wrestle Samoa Joe in a singles bout, so it's interesting to see what was gone down, but he still doesn't trust Angle. Lauren was surprised to see not just Rick Steiner but Kevin Nash emerge from Scott's care.
They went to footage of Jeremy Borash catching Samoa Joe as he arrived at the venue. When asked about Kurt's injury, Joe said that he had heard rumors but now that it's official, it's a shame when anyone goes down to injury, even someone he has issues with. Borash asked Joe what he thought about Nash arriving with the Steiners. Joe looked stunned, then walked off.
Mike Tenay and Don West welcomed everyone to the PPV.
Sting & James Storm vs. Team 3D - Deuces Wild Tournament
James Storm opened up with Devon, who charged him and worked him over with punches. Storm cut him off, but was hit with a flying shoulderblock off the ropes. Devon caught him with a running clothesline in the corner, then slammed him in the ropes. Devon dropped an elbow for a two count.
Ray tagged in and suplexed Storm for a two count. Storm kicked Ray when he ducked his head, but was cut off. Jacqueline got into Ray's face in the ring, so he slapped her in the rear end. Storm went to tag Sting, who reluctantly tagged in. Sting and Ray went back and forth. Sting cleaned house on him before clotheslining Ray to the floor.
Devon tagged in and caught Sting with a side headlock. They charged and Sting got the better of it, shoulderblocking Devon down. Sting and Storm had words when Storm wasn't happy with the follow-up, allowing 3D to attack Sting. Devon choked Sting and dropped a series of elbows, but Sting kicked up out of an attempted cover. Storm sat on the apron drinking a beer, because he has no interest in being Tag Team champion, I guess.
Devon continued working over Sting and nails a headbutt off the ropes. Devon went back to the ropes, but missed a second attempt. Sting began to fire back, while the story was whether Storm cared enough to tag in. Sting went for the the Stinger Splash on Devon, but Ray got into the ring. Sting worked over Ray but missed a Scorpion Splash on Devon.
3D worked over Sting. Devon brought a table into the ring but Sting nailed 3D with a double clothesline. Sting positioned the table but 3D got in his face. Storm sat on the top turnbuckle waiting to see what would happen next. 3D looked at Sting and Storm, then walked away. Sting grabbed Storm and powerslammed him off the top through the table. 3D pinned Storm.
Wow, they are doing dissension bits in the first match?
Your winners, Team 3D!
Nothing memorable. OK bout, but unless they are adding Sting to the World title match, what a waste.
Lauren asked Frank Trigg about Kurt Angle's injury. Trigg said he was concerned about the injury because Angle is someone who is known for taking risks and working with injuries, but after suffering the injury and trying to guy through it with rest and workouts, Angle had to pull out. It was a case of not giving the fans his best and being out for months, as opposed to hopefully just being out a few weeks. Lauren asked Trigg what he thought the outcome of the TNA title bout would be now. They were linking Trigg and Angle as friends as Trigg said that he was concerned about Angle's injuries after all Angle has done to help him prepare for MMA bouts. He predicted Joe.
Rhino & Christian Cage vs. Robert Roode & Booker T - Deuces Wild Tag Team Tournament
Roode was furious when he found out Booker was his partner and security had to get between them, so it's two straight matches with dissension among partners, Christian and Roode went back and forth to open the bout. Roode took control and they put over that Roode didn't want to tag Booker, preferring to control the bout himself. Roode caught Cage in the corner with a clothesline, then hit the rolling snap mare.
Booker offered to tag and Roode ignored him. That led to Cage starting to fire back, but being caught with a spinebuster. Booker finally tagged in and went for the Axe kick but Cage avoided it and slammed him on the back of his head. Rhino tagged in but Booker caught him with a leg lariat. Roode blindtagged in as Booker was clotheslined to the floor. Roode took over on Rhino and went for the Payoff, but Rhino avoided and caught him with the gore for the pin.
Your winners, Christian Cage and Rhino!
Cage embraced Rhino and Booker after the bout and raised their arms, then attacked them with a steel chair, leaving them both laying. I didn't see that coming. They were playing up that Booker's had a new attitude due to the frustration of the Roode feud and Sharmell being laid out.
Match was OK. I sure hope the later rounds provide better matches.
Backstage, Scott Steiner was having words with Kevin Nash. Steiner was trying to get Nash to help him against Joe. Nash openly said Joe was his meal ticket. Wow, Joe looks like such a loser if he doesn't tell Nash to hit the bricks after that aired. Steiner offered Nash the first title shot. Nash said he would consider it. So, the storyline isn't about who's better but which side Nash will end up with - his admitted meal ticket or the guy who wants him to turn on the meal ticket.
Matt Morgan & Kip James vs. - LAX - Deuces Wild Tournament
Hector Guerrero came to the ring with LAX. No Salinas. There's some intrigue to Hernandez vs. Morgan, but poor Homicide being paired with Kip. Kip grabs Homicide and drops him on the top turnbuckle. He turns his back and when he turns around, Homicide hits a missile dropkick. Hernandez takes out Kip with a shoulderblock into the ring. Kip goes to the floor, when Homicide hits the tope con hilo.
Morgan grabs Homicide and tosses him through the ropes back into the ring. Morgan tags in and overpowers him. Morgan goes to the ropes and does the Undertaker Old School rope walk. Kip tagged back in (didn't he and Morgan hate each other?) and unloaded with rights, then missed a splash in the corner. Homicide tagged in Hernandez, who nailed a running charge in the corner.
Morgan hit the ring without a tag and they start going back and forth. Hernandez hits a flying shoulderblock after rebounding taking him down. Kip attacked Hernandez, who came back to pin Kip.
Your winners, LAX!
Some decent spots with LAX. Morgan does a lot of things a guy his size shouldn't.
Jeremy Borash asked AJ Styles what his strategy was against Awesome Kong. Styles said he didn't know because she was a woman, he thinks. Kurt Angle barged in demanding to know whether Styles was seeing Karen Angle or not. Styles said he wasn't. He reminded Styles he was still his boss and was mad that AJ didn't check on him when he hurt his neck. He asked again whether he was seeing Karen. AJ said, "I'm not going to answer that. Take care of your neck." Uh, didn't he say he wasn't?
AJ Styles & Super Eric vs. TNA Knockout champ Awesome Kong & BG James
Styles and Eric worked over BG, who tagged in Kong. Styles and Kong faced off. They locked up and Styles pushes Kong into the corner. He gave her a clean break and shoved her hair back. Kong shoved him back and scored two close near counts. Kong nailed the spinning back fist. Styles grabbed the ropes to keep from falling, then kicked her. Kong grabbed Styles' crotch. She tagged into BG, who hit an inverted atomic drop.
BG locked in a bear hug, but AJ broke it. Kong tagged in and teased an Awesome bomb, but Styles rolled through for a sunset flip attempt. BG tagged in. He controlled Styles, who came back with the Pele Kick. Super Eric got involved and slammed Kong onto BG. Nothing like totally ruining your top female star's gimmick. Styles went for a springboard forearm but slipped and crashed into the ring. He regained his bearings and small packaged BG for the pin. Young dove on Kong while this was going on.
Your winners, AJ Styles and Super Eric.
I hated this. They really hurt Kong's invulnerability by having the comedy opening match guy bodyslam her. AJ and Eric are being pals? It was completely ridiculous for the commentators not to mention the circumstances of the belts being vacant during this match when Eric Young, the catalyst, was involved here and even sillier to refer to Young as AJ's "super hero buddy." Absolutely hated how this one was laid out and presented. The center piece of the Knockouts came out far weaker than she walked in, in my opinion.
Mike Tenay said Jim Cornette will have a special announcement about the main event later tonight.
They are setting up the Terror Dome.
Lauren interviewed Rick Steiner asking why he was there tonight. Steiner said his brother had a huge TNA title match tonight and Scott asked him to be there for him, so he is. Lauren said every time the Steiners are together, there's trouble and wondered what type of support he was there to provide. Steiner said he was just there to be there for his brother and starting barking. Lauren looked like she had no idea what in the world he was doing. That was hysterical, in the wrong way.
Terror Dome Match: Curry Man vs. Consequences Creed vs. Alex Shelley vs. Jay Lethal vs. Chris Sabin vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Shark Boy vs. Jimmy Rave vs. Kaz vs. Johnny Devine
You have to escape the top of the dome in order to win the match and get an X-Division championship bout in the future if you win. The Terror Dome is bright red and isn't especially pleasant to see on camera. You can't really see inside the cage when they are on the hard camera shot.
All of the competitors are wearing gloves to help them climb, explained by the announcers as protection from the sharp pieces of steel in the structure.
Jim Cornette came out and announced that the winner of the Terror Dome would get the third spot in tonight's main event in the Joe vs. Steiner match. I actually think this is a great way to springboard someone to the next level, so works for me.
Everyone brawled or tried to climb the cage. Creed hit a somersault clothesline on Curry. Rave threw Dutt into cage. Kaz hit a kryptonite krunch on Devine. The Machineguns worked over Lethal with some double team moves. They are smartly sticking to handheld camera shots.
They did a cool spot where Creed, hanging upside down from the cage, swung Kaz off the top into an Alabama Jam on Rave. Creed then took out Kaz. Lethal and Dutt helped each other against the Guns. They did a cool looking Tower of Doom spot. There's a lot of cool spots here, way too much to follow.
Dutt tried to climb up but Curry grabbed him and they battled. Shark Boy began climbing up but Sabin followed. Shark hit a stunner off the ropes. Everyone ended up in the center of the ring, setting up a Curry powerbomb of Dutt onto everyone. Crowd loved the move but they sort of gave it away with a camera shot of everyone standing there. They might want to edit that shot when they release the DVD.
Rave tried to climb the cage but Curry caught him with the Spice Race off the top. That was awesome. The crowd was chanting, "This is awesome" so I guess they agree. Curry kicked off Kaz as he tried to scale the cage. Kaz caught up to him again and hit what they called a reverse Flux Capacitor.
Kaz continued to scale up the cage but Devine met him on the top rope. He hit a backcracker off the ropes onto Kaz. Devine nailed Devine Intervention on Creed. It looked sick as hell. Devine made his way to the ceiling, but Kaz yanked him down onto everyone in the ring, who went down like bowling pins.
Kaz continued to climb across as everyone tried to grab him and finally escaped. Kaz is going to the main event tonight.
This started out looking like a Wrestlecrap moment but really, really took off as it evolved. Tons of crazy spots. This was easily the best thing on the show up until this point and adding the World title stipulation was a nice addition.
Jeremy Borash interviewed TNA champion Samoa Joe. Joe said that Kaz earned his spot, but Joe promised to retain his championship. Borash asked him about Nash and Joe cut a a great promo saying he hasn't seen or spoken to Nash and doesn't care. He said they can bring Scott, Rick, Nash or an army because he was going still be World champion.
Deuces Wild Semi-Final: Team 3D vs. Christian Cage & Rhino
They played up that Rhino and Cage were still suffering from the effects of Booker's attack. Ray took over on Cage immediately, going right after the back of his neck. Rhino finally tagged in and got some offense on Devon, but Ray grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head backwards onto the mat. 3D continued to beat on Rhino's neck and head. Rhino came back with a spinebuster on Devon.
Cage tagged in. 3D retreated to the floor, where Cage hit a high cross bodyblock off the top to the floor. Ray threw Cage into the ring steps, which were set up sideways on the floor. Cage fought his way to his meet but Devon took him back down with a neck vice. Cage bit Devon's hand to break the hold. Ray tagged in and struck him in the head again. Ray backdropped him and Ray told the cameras it was about to be 2 down, 1 to go. He went to the turnbuckles but Rhino distracted him, allowing Cage to cut him off and hit a hurancanrana off the top for a two count.
Cage made the hot tag to Rhino, who clotheslined Devon and nailed an elbow. Rhino shoulderblocked him in the corner, then nailed a belly-to-belly suplex. Ray hit Rhino, then knocked Cage to the floor. Devon went to the top for the Wazzup headbutt but Cage shoved him off. Rhino almost pinned Ray who kicked up. Johnny Devine ran to ringside with a Singapore Cane.
Rhino and Devon battled inside the ring. Rhino hit an over the shoulder powerslam on Devon. Cage and Ray ended up on the floor. Devine handed the Cane to Ray. Rhino gored Devon but Devine jumped on the apron and half-entered the ring to distract the referee. Ray nailed Rhino with the cane and scored the pin.
Your winners, Team 3D!
Match told a decent story but none of the tag team tournament bouts have been memorable to me so far. One would think they are going with 3D vs. LAX but it's TNA so who knows.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Kevin Nash. Nash scoffed at the idea that Samoa Joe should be upset he got a ride from the airport from Scott Steiner. Borash said Joe wanted to choke him out and said he would do that to Nash if they crossed paths tonight. Nash said, "Let's go cross paths with Joe and see if he chokes me out" and went off to find Joe.
Deuces Wild Semi-Final: Super Eric & AJ Styles vs. LAX
They claimed Styles hurt his mid-section during the finish of his opening match. Salinas was out for this match. Styles and Homicide started the match. They did some nice back and forth wrestling early - actually the best of the show thus far. It ended with both attempting a high cross bodyblock at the same time and colliding in mid-air.
Eric and Hernandez tagged in. Since Young is a Super Hero, Hernandez sold for him like he was a super heavyweight. He knocked Hernandez through the ropes and teased a dive, but when he went for it, Hernandez hit a shoulderblock into the ring. Super Eric asked for a test of strength, which Hernandez won early, but Eric bridged off the mat. Hernandez ended up on the floor and Young dove to the floor from the top.
Styles tagged in. Hernandez powered Styles onto the apron but Styles nailed a flying springboard forearm. Styles and Young began tagging in and out fast as they worked over Hernandez. Styles locked on a rear chinlock. Hernandez broke it. Eric and Homicide both tagged in. Eric evaded some moves but Homicide nailed a hiptoss. Hernandez returned to the fray and LAX double-teamed Eric, nailing the Drive-By. Heeey champ.
Hernandez held Super Eric for a delayed vertical suplex as Homicide locked on an STF on Styles. Eric kicked up. Styles nailed a great looking spinkick on Homicide and went for the Styles Clash. Homicide fought it off and nailed the Ace Crusher. Eric hit a sledgehammer off the ropes on Homicide. Hernandez took Young out with a clothesline.
Styles rolled up Homicide with a small package. Salinas distracted the referee, allowing Guerrero to lie, cheat and steal by turning Homicide over. The referee counted the pin, although Styles' shoulder was off the mat the entire pinfall.
This was the best tournament match all night, even with the botched pinfall.
Lauren interviewed "members of Samoa Joe's kin." They said that Joe had the support of the entire Samoan Nation. They noted that they weren't wrestlers but would get involved if needed. BAD IDEA. The last thing we need is a Samoan version of the "Latino Nation."
TNA Knockout Makeover Battle Royal Ladder Match: ODB vs. Gail Kim vs. Salinas vs. Roxxi vs. Velvet Sky vs. Angelina Love vs. Christy Hemme vs. Jacqueline vs. Rhaka Khan vs. Traci Brooks
The winner will get a TNA Knockouts title shot while the final loser will get their head shaved. TNA has a barber chair at ringside. Everyone battled at the bell. When you really think about this one, wouldn't you want to jump out of the ring to save your hair?
Salinas was tossed first, although the cameras missed it to the point even the announcers weren't sure at first. Velvet Sky was tossed out of the ring to the apron by Traci Brooks, and battled to return. She ended up knocked off the apron. Angelina Love then tossed out Brooks.
Rhaka Khan tossed Hemme out, dropping her on the apron (on her hip no less) and Hemme dropped to the floor. Some of the Knockouts worked over Khan. ODB charged her in the corner. Jacqueline nailed her with a missile dropkick. They finally tossed Khan out of the ring. Jacqueline and ODB were tossed. Angelina was tossed out, leaving Kim vs. Roxxi in the ladder match.
The ruling was that since Gail Kim has immunity, if Roxxi wins, Angelina will be shaved bald. Love was forced into the barber's chair so she can't escape. They began the ladder match. Roxxi nailed Kim and went for the ladder. Angelina tried to stop her but Roxxi laid her out with it. Kim dropkicked the ladder into Roxxi on the floor and dragged it into the ring.
Kim set up the ladder but was caught by Roxxi, who went for a powerbomb. Gail turned it into a hurancanrana, then slammed the ladder on Roxxi's head. Kim and Roxxi exchanged forearms. Kim was sandwiched into the ladder.
Roxxi set the ladder in the corner but was monkeyflipped into it by Kim. Angelina shoved a second ladder into the ring with the idea she wanted Kim to win, since it would save her from a haircut. Kim climbed to the top but Roxxi met her. Kim slammed her head into the top of the ladder, then hit a sunset flip powerbomb into the ring.
They battle in the ring and Roxxi nails Kim with a spinebuster on the ladder. Velvet Sky hit the ring to attack Roxxi, but was laid out. Roxxi climbed the ladder but Angelina shoved it over and Roxxi hit the ropes. Kim climbed the ladder and retrieved the contract, so Roxxi has to get her head shaved.
Your winner, Gail Kim!
Kim, realizing what happened, attacked Love, with the idea that she was going to force her to get her head shaved. Sky and Roxxi joined the fray. They finally forced Roxxi to shave her head. As it turns out, she was busted open as well, with a gash on her forehead. The other babyface Knockouts looked on in horror.
The crowd chanted "Fire Russo" during the headshaving. As they shaved her head, a bloody scalp was obvious, probably from a shot Roxxi took during the ladder match. The crowd chanted "You're still sexy" and Roxxi's name when they were done.
Kevin Nash entered Samoa Joe's locker room. Nash said he was still on Joe's side. Joe told Nash to go to hell and told Nash that he didn't need him. Nash tried to tell Joe that he was pulling an old school trick by getting inside Steiner's head because Joe using his body and kicking people's asses will only lead to Joe burning himself out. He said Joe needs to use his brain. Joe didn't want to hear it, saying he knows how Nash operates. Nash said he would stay in the locker room until Joe gave him the sign to come out. Joe told Nash that if he came to ringside, he was on the other side and Joe would break him.
They showed rock band "Saving Abel" at ringside.
Deuces Wild Tag Team championship Final: LAX vs. Team 3D
Salinas and Hector Guerrero were both with LAX. No Devine.
They brawled at ringside to open the match. Homicide was tossed into the ring steps. They finally rang the bell when everyone returned to the ring. Homicide got a near fall on Devon. Devon went to the floor and Homicide teased a dive, but Ray shoved him back into the ring. Ray nailed an elbow on Homicide. Team 3D tagged in and out and worked over Homicide.
Hernandez finally got the hot tag and unloaded with clotheslines and lariats. He hit a crazy running tope over the ropes to the floor on 3D. Devine ran to ringside and pulled a table out. Hector Guerrero attacked Devine and laid him out on the table. Guerrero went to the top and hit a double stomp (called a kick) through the table.
Ray charged Hernandez, who got a boot up. He went to the top but Ray chopped him. Ray tried a superplex and nailed it. Homicide and Devon battled but Hernandez caught him with the Border Toss. Homicide hit a top rope frog splash and scored the pin.
Your winners and new TNA Tag Team champions LAX!
This was a good bout with decent back and forth face-heel action. I think the crowd was burnt out on seeing so many guys so many times because I expected a far bigger pop for this. In fact, the setting of the PPV was a major step backwards in a lot of ways after the last few PPV broadcasts.
Mike Tenay and Don West were talking about the main event when Eric Young showed up and said he was going to Memphis, TN (site of Slammiversary, well sort of) to look for Elvis.
TNA champ Samoa Joe vs. Scott Steiner vs. Kaz
They started off hot. Joe nailed Steiner with an enziguiri, then nailed Kaz with a kick. He clotheslined Steiner down. Kaz tried to fire off the ropes with a bodypress but Joe just walked off. Joe locked on a one-led Boston Crab. Steiner charged but Joe saw him coming and grabbed an armbar. Kaz went after Joe and got caught with a Dragon Screw legwhip.
Joe clotheslined Steiner over the top to the floor then began jabbing at Kaz. Steiner tripped Joe as he rebounded off the ropes and dragged him to the floor. He whipped Joe into the guard rail, then clotheslined Kaz on the floor. Steiner suplexed Joe on the ramp but didn't really get him over all the way and Joe looked to have smacked the back of his head on the ramp.
Steiner tossed Kaz back into the ring and worked on him. He saw Joe returning to the ring, so he knocked Joe back to the floor. Steiner hit a Fall Away Slam on Kaz but Joe broke up the pinfall. Joe whipped Steiner into the corner but Steiner got his boot up. Steiner hit a belly to belly overhead suplex on Kaz. Steiner drilled Kaz into the top turnbuckle. He locked in the Steiner Recliner on Joe. Joe fought his way to his feet with Steiner on his shoulders. Kaz, who was still on the top, hit a missile dropkick on Steiner.
Joe and Steiner recovered first. They exchanged punches. Joe caught Steiner with a snap powerbomb. Steiner was knocked to the floor. Joe went for a dive out of the ring but Steiner nailed him with a lead pipe, hurting Joe's shoulder. Kaz nailed a dive out of the ring on Steiner.
Kaz tossed Steiner back into the ring for a two count. He springboaded into the ring, nailing a DDT on Steiner. Kaz hit a sweet dropkick on Steiner. Kaz went to the top but Petey Williams crotched him on the ropes. Frank Trigg got off a great line saying, "Ref didn't see it, I didn't hear it." Steiner hit a top rope Frankensteiner on Kaz. He covered Kaz and Joe just barely made the save, returning to the ring to break up the count.
Joe caught Steiner with an elbow then nailed a leg lariat on Steiner. He hit a front leg whip on Kaz, followed by a senton. He hit the snap slam on Steiner for a two count. Joe locked in a choke on Steiner. Kaz tried to hit a leaping kick but Joe moved then slammed Kaz. Joe and Steiner battled on the apron. Steiner tried to suplex him off the apron but Joe stopped it and put Steiner on the top rope. Kaz knocked Joe to the floor, then tried to go for the Flux Capacitor. Steiner battled him off and they fell into the ring with Steiner on top. Kaz kicked up out of a pinfall attempt.
They battled back on top and Steiner shoved Kaz to the floor. Joe grabbed Steiner from the top and nailed the muscle buster for the clean pin.
Your winner and still TNA champion Samoa Joe!
A good match. All three really worked hard and you could see they were doing everything they could to end the show on a good note. Joe sold the shoulder after the match.
Compared to last month's PPV, a big step down. Obviously Kurt Angle being hurt really caused their plans to be scrapped and changed. This felt more like a show setting up the new storylines and putting players into place than a major PPV event.
2008 - WWE ran a Smackdown live event in Dayton, Ohio. Terri Bey filed the following live report:.
This was a great Mothers Day for me. I am a quote, unquote mother to a beagle as I have no kids of the two legged kind, and unfortunately my own mom is no longer with me. However, the WWE Smackdown crew gave me a great show:
Pre Show: Got to see some of the Smackdown Superstars arrive. MVP jawed at us fans. A lot of the fans were cheering him for him to come and sign and he yelled back that two hours later we would be booing him. Shelton Benjamin drove the car. We saw the Edgeheads drive in and John Morrison. We saw Natalya and Cherry come together. Victoria and Chuck Palumbo arrived together I believe.
I usually RARELY mark out, but when my favorite Smackdown Superstar (and one of my favorite wrestlers ever) Edge showed up, I went bonkers. It was great. He had his hair in a ponytail, and a coffee mug in his hand and waved at us with his finger. Then, like the heel he is, pretended to come to us as if he was going to sign and then quickly turned and went inside. :) I love it. LOL
Big Show arrived and he signed for the fans. I didn't get a signature because I had met him several times and wanted others to get theirs.
The Show:
Finlay w/ Hornswoggle and Jamie Noble defeated the Edgeheads in a pretty fun match. I enjoyed it. One point in the match, Hornswoggle juggled balls and then hit the Edgeheads with them. Funny spot.. I thought it was a pretty decent opener.
Ted DiBiase, Jr. defeated Tommy Dreamer in an ok match. Nothing particularly special about this match stood out for me.
Kofi Kingston defeated Mike Knox in a decent match. Kingston looked like he was having a good time out there to me. Again, a decent match, nothing special though.
Victoria and Natalya defeated Michelle McCool and Cherry. I enjoyed the match. I think the women worked very hard. I think Natalya is going to be very good, just like her dad. Good match.
CM Punk defeated Shelton Benjamin in a pretty good match. Benjamin is very athletic. He should be featured more. I enjoyed the finisher that Punk uses, the Go To Sleep. Very cool move.
The Big Show defeated Mark Henry in an ok match. It was alright. Nothing special. Henry ripped up someones sign. I was like It is Mothers Day, that is not nice, Henry. I was having a blast watching Henry go nuts on that sign.
Matt Hardy defeated MVP for the US Title Match. I liked the match a lot. Very good match. MVP got booed like crazy. Before they started, each guy held up the belt. It was a hoot. Anyway, Hardy and MVP did a great job and Hardy has a heck of a move in the Twist of Fate.
The Miz and John Morrison defeated Jesse and Festus for the Tag Belts. Match was good. Morrison and Miz did some pre match antics like gyrations and pretending to throw their shirts at the screaming girls. The match itself was good. There was a funny part where Jesse and Festus were imitating Miz and Morrison by gyrating themselves. Trust me, you did not want to see Festus gyrating. LOL Regardless, I enjoyed the match.
The Undertaker defeated Edge in the Main Event in a No Disqualification Match (by the vote via text message). Oh , man, I thought the match was a VERY good match. I think Taker and Edge have great in ring chemistry. I really liked the match. Edge has incredible heel heat. Real heel heat. When he came out, the boos were just so LOUD. I could barely hear his music. Anyway, he is jawing with the crowd and tearing up peoples signs. It was great. On the other hand, when Taker came out, the crowd was going nuts.
The match itself was very good. Edge did a lot of stalling at first, but once it got going, there was a lot of action outside the ring. They fought all the way to the back and back to the ring. They got their signature moves in, of course. The Edgeheads try to interfere of course, but to no avail. Taker wins by I believe a low blow and the Tombstone Piledriver, and the Edgeheads get Edge to the back.
2009 - WWE broadcast Monday Night Raw from Columbus, Ohio. The show did a 3.3 cable rating with the first hour scoring 3.14 and the second hour rising to 3.44. Ed Sherriffs filed the following report:
The May 11th edition of Monday Night Raw comes to us live from Columbus, OH, home of THE hated Ohio State University. It follows an edition of Raw where we found out SuperShane's kryptonite is steel ring steps, Jared from Subway is no Lillian Garcia, and where the Miz hilariously blasted Cena again, only for the segment to end in Big Show demolishing the former World Champion.
Randy Orton is introduced to start the show and he is flanked by Legacy. He says the McMahons pride themselves on listening to the audience. That stretches the suspension of disbelief. He says they shouldn't listen to the audience because they are a bunch of cowards who have been beaten down by life. He insults them for paying to watch people like Orton. No argument there. Replay of SuperShane being taken out. We are spared his 10 minutes of offense on three guys under 30 years old.
He says they need to recognize the company revolves around him. Batista needs to realize this, too. Apparently, we are back to the no contact between the main eventers rule. He invites Batista out for a talk. Dave complies and enters the ring. Orton tells Batista he won't be winning the title, so he gives him an opportunity. He offers Batista a chance to become the first non-second generation wrestler to join Legacy. DiBiase says getting kicked in the skull was a wake up call. He was going nowhere and now he is a member of the most elite group in professional wrestling.
Orton reminds Batista how unstoppable they were in Evolution, held back only by HHH, who has been taken out. He claims Legacy will be the biggest faction of all time with Dave in the fold. He brings up Arn Anderson, the Enforcer, and offers Dave the same role. Dave says it's a great opportunity, but he despises Orton. No, wait...he LOATHES Orton! He will never be his back up. He wants to hurt Orton. Orton says it's the biggest mistake of Batista's life. Dave is tired of listening to Orton and Vickie, and tired of waiting. He plans on destroying Orton tonight. Vickie comes out and waives the no physical contact rule. What? She doesn't care what condition they are in, but they will be defending the title at Judgment Day. Batista will be facing Rhodes and DiBiase in a handicapped match. If they win, it's a three on one handicapped match. If Batista wins, he gets Orton tonight. Oh and the handicapped match starts now. Commercial. Long segment for a predictable outcome.
Batista vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase
Back from the break, Batista is spearing DiBiase in the corner. DiBiase makes it over to Rhodes, but Coyote is quickly taken down. Vertical suplex to Rhodes gets two. DiBiase distracts Batista and Rhodes clips him. DiBiase works the leg and applies a leg lock. Rhodes back in and they wishbone Batista. Rhodes with some stomps. DiBiase is kicked off, but Rhodes tags back in. Batista battles out of the corner and clotheslines Rhodes. Back body drop to Cody. DiBiase is kicked to the floor. Cody comes from behind, but Batista kicks him down to the mat. Cody gets a chair, but Batista picks it up. Batista swings at, but doesn't hit, Rhodes. The referee disqualifies Batista. Kind of lame.
Your winner, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase!
Quizno's Recap is Mickie James beating Maryse clean. Maryse is in the ring speaking French. I could watch her talk all day long. If she wasn't Maryse, she would want to be. Her act is legit great.
Mickie James & Kelly Kelly vs. Maryse & Jillian Hall
Jillian and Kelly lock up. Jillian with a wristlock, but Kelly gets out and applies her own. Jillian with a forearm. Kelly backflips out of the way and knocks Jillian down, then takes her to the mat with headscissors. Kelly punches Jillian in the corner, but a distraction by Maryse lets Jillian retake the advantage and cover for two. Maryse and Jillian double team Kelly. Camel clutch applied by Maryse, who has great facial expressions. Kelly fights out, but Maryse pulls her to the mat by her hair Maryse with a cheap shot to Mickie. Kelly kicks Maryse and tags Mickie in. Mickie comes in with some clotheslines. She blocks a charge in the corner and hits a rana. Mickie to the top. She hits a Lou Thesz Press and covers for two when Jillian breaks the pin up. Kelly takes Jillian out. Mickie hangs on to the ropes to block a DDT. Mickie hits her DDT and covers Maryse for the second week in a row.
Your winners, Mickie James & Kelly Kelly!
Standing by in the back is Josh Mathews. He's interviewing Orton about what happened with Batista. DiBiase comes up and says he can't find Cody. Interview is over. Commercial.
Recap of Big Show beating Cena down. In the back, Chavo is maneuvering for power again. He and Big Show think Cena should be forced to compete in an exhibition match. Vickie likes his thinking. She selects the Miz as his opponent. Chavo wishes her Happy Mother's Day.
Randy and Ted are looking for Cody. He was just talking to a Diva. They go back to look for Ted, who had gone to look down another hallway. It didn't take long for Batista to get him. Commercial.
Carlito vs. The Brian Kendrick
For a minute, I thought this was last week's Raw. Kendrick disrespects TBK. Carlito with a dropkick. TBK crawls to the ropes and gets a cheap shot. He kicks Carlito, then chokes him. Kendrick with a charging forearm in the corner. He comes off the middle rope, but Carlito kicks him. Knee lift, clothesline, and leg drop for two. Carlito goes to springboard, but Kendrick pulls him down by the hair. He goes for The Kendrick and Carlito shoves him off, but Kendrick has him scouted after losing last week. He throws Carlito into the corner, then rolls him up for the win. Good, short match that played off last week's match.
Your winner, The Brian Kendrick!
TBK gets on the mic and says he is looking for THE partner to help take the tag belts away from Carlito.
The Big Show comes out before the exhibition match.
Before the match, Miz has more insults. He says it's just an exhibition, but unlike 12 Rounds, people will actually see this. He plans to be 3-0 after this because he is awesome.
John Cena vs. The Miz
Cena takes Miz down with a waistlock. Front facelock as Cena keeps his eye on Big Show. Cena applies a headlock. Miz gets out and gives Cena a back suplex. More suplexes from Miz. He stomps Cena in the back and works on him in the corner. Charging clothesline by Miz. More stomps, as Miz wants Cena to look at him, not Big Show. Cena avoids another corner clothesline attempt and hits some flying shouldertackles. Blue Thunder from Cena and the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Vickie has Cena nough. She says it's obvious he has no chance against the Big Show. Miz wasn't listening and he DDTs Cena, claiming he is now 3-0. Big Show smirks.
Rhodes and Orton are in the back. Rhodes suggests they go after Batista. Orton agrees and says Rhodes must prove himself by finding Batista and taking him out. Commercial.
Chavo is bragging about how well the Exhibition Match went. Santina interrupts. She wants to know if it is true if (s)he called her swine like. Santina plays dumb. Chavo tries to get Santina to fess up. Vickie calls Rosa and Beth in. Rosa Mendes is ordered to give Santina a good luck kiss. Santina gives her a big smack on the lips. Santina admits that...(s)he is a lesbian.
Cody is lurking about in the back with a pole. He hears a noise, but it's Hornswoggle in a closet. Batista comes from behind and throws Cody into the closet and shuts the door. I don't think the are playing seven minutes in heaven. Haven't we seen all this with Triple H?
Beth Phoenix vs. Santina
Santina soaks in the cheers. Beth knocks Santina out of the ring with a clothesline. She throws her opponent against the apron and then lifts Santina up with a military press. Beth applies an abdominal stretch. Santina escapes, but walks into a Full Nelson. Santina breaks the hold for a moment, but Beth reapplies. Santina escapes, but Beth trips her and pounds away. She says Santina has embarrassed her too much. Santina surprises her with a small package for the win. Oh, Beth...you deserve better.
Your winner, Santina Marella!
Josh Mathews intercepts John Cena and asks how the ex-champ will be able to compete on Sunday. Cena says he is going through hard times, but that doesn't make him different from anyone else. People find a way to adapt and overcome. Cena says he must adapt and overcome (new catchphrase?). Cena isn't going to compete against The Big Show, he is going to win.
VIP Lounge. I miss MVP's old intro. Sit back and enjoy the view, the VIP Lounge is for people...better than you. Last week, Regal got involved in MVP's match, and took MVP's leg out. MVP says he is still hood to his heart and tells Regal to come to the ring. Regal is disappointed that MVP has come to his precious RAW. He has fought his way back from being deposed as RAW GM, but then the draft picks ignored his tenure. MVP understands and says MVP is miserable. MVP says he isn't waiting for his turn...he is the United States Champion. Regal with an anti-America spiel. He takes off his robe, but Matt Hardy interrupts.
Hardy has his own grievances. He's been forced to compete with a broken hand two weeks running. He says no one has defeated MVP more than he has, so he deserves first crack at the US Title. He starts to jaw with Regal, but Kofi Kingston attacks from behind. Chavo has ordered that the ring be cleared for the next match...Kofi & MVP vs. Matt & Hardy.
Kofi Kingston & MVP vs. William Regal & Matt Hardy
The match is underway after the commercial. MVP with a belly to belly suplex on Regal. Kofi tags in and gets two with a cross body off the top. Kofi drives Regal to the mat and hits his leg drop to the chest for two. Kofi hops onto Regal in the corner, but Matt hits him with his cast. Regal covers for two.
Matt tags in and kicks Kofi. Scoop slam by Hardy. Another scoop slam gets two. Abdominal stretch is applied to Kofi. Kofi escapes, but Matt kicks him in the gut and tags Regal in. Regal attacks Kofi's midsection. Knees to the gut and a T Bone Suplex from Regal for two. Hardy tags back in and applies another abdominal stretch. Regal back in and he keeps the assault going on Kofi. Dragon Sleeper on the mat. Kofi starts to come back an tags MVP in. MVP with a flurry of punches to knock Regal down. Facebuster to Regal. Ballin' elbow drop for two. Kingston takes Hardy out of the ring. Regal dumps Kofi. Matt walks to the back. MVP with a kick in the corner and The Playmaker for the win.
Your winners, Kofi Kingston & MVP!
Another recap of Shane's ankle taking a beating.
Orton says Batista has made his point, but it would be pointless for them to wrestle tonight. Orton says he will be leaving the ring, but Dave comes out before Orton can finish.
Randy Orton vs. Batista
Orton with a kick to the gut and early RKO attempt. Batista pushes him off and clotheslines him. Orton tries to escape, but Batista puts him back in the ring and hits a couple of spinebusters. Batista gets a chair and slams Orton with it.
Your winner, Randy Orton!
Batista is just looking to hurt Orton and he continues to blast Orton with the chair, including some shots to Orton's ankle. Batista gets one of the steel steps and puts it in the ring. Another chair shot to Orton's ankle. Batista gets the ring stps, but Cody Rhodes runs out. Batista gives him a Batista Bomb. DiBiase attacks from behind. Batista blocks an RKO. He knocks DiBiase down and goes for a Batista Bomb on Orton. DiBiase interrupts, so he gets speared. Orton goes up the aisle. Batista throws the steel stop at him. Orton is sitting on the ground...and Batista doesn't go after him? Batista poses in the ring to end the show.
2008 - WWE ran East Lansing, MI at The Breslin Center, drawing 3,500:
-Super Crazy pinned Santino Marella with a sunset flip; after the bout, Snitsky attacked Crazy, with William Regal then appearing and stating Crazy was the first victim for the night.
-WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Cody Rhodes pinned Snitsky with the DDT.
-WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Hardcore Holly pinned Nic Nemeth with the Alabama Slam.
-Cryme Tyme defeated Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch when Shad pinned Murdoch with a boot to the face; after the match, Murdoch began singing Garth Brooks' "Friends in Low Places" until Cade cut him off and left ringside.
-WWE Women's Champion Mickie James (w/ a young girl from the crowd) pinned Beth Phoenix with a Thesz Press off the top.
-ECW World Champion Kane pinned Chavo Guerrero Jr. (w/ Bam Neely) in a No DQ match with the chokeslam; the fans picked the stipulation by text messaging over a Best 2 out of 3 falls match and a falls count anywhere match.
-WWE World Champion Triple H & Shawn Michaels defeated John Bradshaw Layfield & Umaga when Triple H pinned Umaga with the Pedigree after Umaga sustained Michaels' superkick.
2009 - WWE ran a combined Smackdown/ECW show in Evansville, Indiana. Thomas Green filed the following live report:
The place was barely 2/3rd's of the way packed, which was strange considering the recent reports of houses being up at the live events. You were able to get seats down towards the floor the day of the show. One noticeable thing was, like the recent trends, kids/families made up the majority of the crowd, and you rarely saw a kid not wearing a CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, or Jeff Hardy shirt. It was weird in a way, as it was more like going to see something like Rugrats on Ice or another traveling entertainment show from a popular television product, in that the crowd pretty much played sing-along for the sections they knew they needed to (not just signature spots, but even particular sections of the formula of your average match that sometimes don't get a reaction if executed poorly were reacted to exactly as you'd want even if they weren't timed at the right time or executed well, but it was just calm enough to where you could tell something about it was unnatural).
1) Evan Bourne d. Tyson Kidd. Short, to the point opener; same basic match as the other weekend shows where Bourne's arm got worked over before he got a short comeback and hit the Shooting Star Press. Bourne got the "first star of the night" reaction, but seemed to be legitimately over enough that Tyson Kidd, who you could hear people asking amongst themselves about who he was, got booed from his entrance on just because he was Evan Bourne's opponent.
Angela Fong, the ring announcer for the weekend, pitched to Maria, who did the usual trivia question to a family in the cheap seats (and considering this family was sitting alone at the top of the building, it looked kind of minor league for WWE). The family's young son knew that Melina was the Women's Champion, so they got moved down to the front row.
2) Vladimir Koslov d. Finlay. Same match as the other house shows; about as absurdly basic as possible and it was beautiful in many ways. Seeing Koslov try to play a more traditional heel who yells at the people and shows a bit of character at the house shows is kind of amusing. They worked a bearhug for what seemed like over half of the match, but Finlay's timing and the way he sold kept the crowd into it the whole time. Koslov won after hitting his bootleg Rock Bottom after a nearfall with Finlay hitting Koslov with the shillelagh behind the referee's back.
3) John Morrison pinned Shelton Benjamin after turning a flying headscissors into a tornado DDT. Despite the abruptness of his turn and the automatic demotion from Chris Jericho to Shelton Benjamin, the people seemed to, at least in Evansville, be legitimately into Morrison (especially the ladies) as a real superstar, as while it wasn't nearly as loud, he got the same type of rock star-esque reaction that Hardy usually gets for his entrance. The match featured lots of acrobatics, though some timing issues caused the heat to die off towards the middle of the match. However, with some polish, this could be replicated into a really good TV match sometime soon.
4) Gail Kim & Eve Torres d. Natalya & Layla. You could blatantly tell at moments that this was the experienced workhorse girls trying to teach the green girls on the job. The execution wasn't the best at times, but this was when it became obviously clear that only the best guys on your average independent show (if that) are as sound as the worst workers in WWE, as this was the worst match on this show, but this was technically fine, in terms of the timing and pacing of things. There was one really scary moment towards the finish where Layla was late breaking up a neckbreaker spot and threw a dropkick anyway, landing on Gail Kim's head in a similar fashion as when Chris Nowinski took the double dropkick at Royal Rumble '03 that concussed him.
5) CM Punk d. Umaga via DQ after Umaga beat Punk down with the Money in the Bank briefcase. After the match, Punk got the briefcase and hit Umaga hard enough to knock him out of the ring, though Umaga barely sold the shots since they were to the head, and well, he's Samoan. Punk was easily the third most over guy on the show, behind Rey and Jeff, but people didn't really seem to be into Umaga. The match wasn't anything much and Punk, at moments, looked sloppy as heck (at one point, he botched a springboard bodypress so bad that even scattered little kids were groaning).
Maria brought some kids into the ring and they threw t-shirts out into the crowd. Cue intermission.
6) Christian & Tommy Dreamer d. Mark Henry & Jack Swagger. Unlike the other house shows this weekend, they just announced it as a tag instead of morphing it from a singles match. Christian, by leaps and bounds, was the hardest working guy on the entire show. At the house shows, a lot of guys rely on stalling, posturing, and taunting the crowd for reactions; Christian didn't do much of that but, by the end of the match, went from a semi-cold babyface judging by his entrance pop, to getting the second-biggest reaction of the night for getting the pin. Of all the guys on the entire show, him and Morrison seemed like the only ones with huge upward momentum, and Christian's was entirely through hard work from bell to bell. Also noticeable through this match is that Jack Swagger is really fantastic at working the corner during a tag match, moreso than you'd think, given his experience and lack of tag match experience. After the match, Dreamer literally jumped in the air, having Christian catch him in a hug that fell apart comically, then both posed for almost the entire length of Christian's music, teasing that Dreamer was going to hit Christian with the ECW belt at one point before putting it on Christian's shoulder.
7) Rey Mysterio d. Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental belt. Jericho was fantastic as usual, setting up the finish perfectly in his promo by mocking that the people of Evansville were only smart enough to put together three numbers (6-1-9) and that he couldn't be hit by it. It was teased 4-5 times throughout the match, including Jericho, at one point, avoiding it by leaping out of the ring and running halfway up the bleachers (and avoiding a lady in the crowd who had to be held back from hitting him). There was a lot of that dramatic stalling that WWE's top heels are using very often, but I can't complain much since it worked for Jericho, as his heat only got more and more intense as the match grew. The finish was really clever, as Jericho brought a chair into the ring, but the referee grabbed it and put it back outside. As Jericho yelled at the ref, his head was between the ropes. They gave the people enough time to realize the positioning, then Rey popped up from selling and hit the 6-1-9, followed by a quick springboard splash for the win.
8) Edge d. Jeff Hardy for the World Title after Jeff hit his head on an exposed turnbuckle (the pad was removed by Edge a minute earlier), stumbling right into Edge's spear. Edge, much like Jericho, stalled a ton and I can't fault him since it still worked, but it felt like the master of the tactic (Jericho) was followed by a guy who was trying to be as good as him at the exact same thing. Hardy's crowd reaction was something else; everything people say about him being like pro wrestling's rock star is true times ten; he would slap hands with young girls and they'd then begin to turn to their parents or friends and begin to cry in happiness. When Jeff was selling, you could see kids running up the stairs to one of the exits with money in their hands and come back with Jeff Hardy armbands, like they thought showing their support in that way would help Jeff win this battle. It was an awesome site to behold. The match itself was unspectacular and at times boring, but observing this crowd and how strongly they felt about Jeff Hardy was incredible. After the match, Edge missed a belt shot on Jeff, who downed Edge and hit the Swanton Bomb to send people home happy.
2010 - Ring of Honor announced Lance Storm would be coming out of retirement in July 2010 for their Canadian events in Toronto.
2010 - WWE broadcast an episode of NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following report:
We start off with a video package showing the rookies and pros and some of the problems that exist between the pros and rookies while some get along well. We also see highlights of the rookie challenges. Who is getting eliminated tonight?
We are live on tape from Buffalo, New York and your announcers are Josh ‘Jim Kelly’ Mathews and Michael ‘I have my Brett Hull sweater on’ Cole and your host is Matt ‘Norwood’ Striker.
Matt is at ringside and he welcomes everyone to a very special NXT. Matt brings out the eight NXT rookies and they stand next to the ring. Matt says that he knows their hearts are racing. Matt mentions what the rookies did last night on Raw when they worked together to defeat the team of John Morrison, Santino Marella, Yoshi Tatsu, and Goldust when Daniel Bryan pinned Santino.
Striker shakes Bryan’s hand and then Matt wants the crowd to give them an ovation for winning a match. Matt says that he asked everyone who they thought should have been eliminated. Striker asks Tarver if he remembers what he said last week. We see the video in case Tarver didn’t. Striker says that if a superstar doesn’t believe in themselves, so how can anyone believe in a superstar. Matt says that Tarver is eliminated and Matt wishes him luck before he tells Tarver to leave the arena.
Tarver backs up the ramp and then he returns to the ringside area and he says that it was his show and he was held back on the show. Tarver takes off his shirt and throws it into the crowd. Tarver does the double handed ‘phooey on you’ gesture before we return to ringside.
Matt Striker reminds Daniel Bryan about what he said last week. We go to the video tape when Bryan said since he didn’t win a match, it should be him. Matt tells Daniel that he has been eliminated and Matt wishes him luck.
Daniel looks at the ring and then he goes up the ramp and to the back.
Matt tells the remaining six that management threw them a curveball. Matt says that the pros are convening now and one of the remaining six will face elimination tonight.
Matt tells Heath and Wade that they will be wrestling next.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: Heath Slater versus Wade Barrett
They lock up and Slater with a side head lock followed by a drop kick and then Slater clotheslines Barrett over the top rope to the floor. Slater slingshots to the floor and he lands on his feet. Barrett with a clothesline and then he sends Slater into the ringside barrier before Barrett sends Slater back into the ring for a near fall. Barrett with a knee to the back as he puts Slater in a surfboard and then he connects with knees but Slater with a knee and punches. Slater with punches to Barrett and a flying forearm and clothesline. Slater drives Barrett into the mat and gets a near fall. Barrett gets Slater up but Slater with elbows to escape followed by a neck breaker for a near fall. Slater goes up top and he tries for a cross body but Barrett catches him and hits the fireman’s carry slam for the three count.
Winner: Wade Barrett
Matt Striker is in the back with Michael Tarver. Matt asks if he thinks the ruling was fair. Tarver asks if Striker knows what it is like to sleep in a car or not know how you are going to care for your children. Tarver says the ruling was fair, but the contest was not fair. Striker mentions the way that Tarver handled the challenges and wants to know if that was a way to get noticed. Tarver says that he has taken crumbs and turned it into a feast. Striker asks Tarver what is next for him and Tarver walks away. Striker wishes Michael the best in his future endeavors.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Skip Sheffield with William Regal versus Darren Young
They lock up and Sheffield backs Young into the corner and Sheffield with a clean break. Young with a forearm but Sheffield with a back elbow. Young with a kick and uppercut. Young with punches in a corner but Sheffield pushes Young into the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall. Sheffield with forearms to the back and he gets a near fall. Sheffield works on the neck. Young with elbows but Sheffield sends Young to the mat and gets a near fall. Sheffield with a reverse chin lock. Sheffield with a slam and then he misses a splash when Young moves out of the way. Sheffield runs into a boot and Young with a reverse atomic drop or two. Young with a clothesline and a flying shoulder tackle for a near fall. Sheffield gets Young up for the Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder and gets the three count.
Winner: Skip Sheffield
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Smackdown Rebound and a look at what happened to Drew McIntyre when he pummeled Matt Hardy. Make sure to watch Friday when a new Intercontinental Champion is crowned when Kofi Kingston faces Christian.
We take a look back at the elimination of Michael Tarver. We then see the elimination of Daniel Bryan.
We have Daniel Bryan in the back with Matt Striker. Matt asks Daniel if the process was fair. Bryan says that he never makes excuses and if the pros think he is one of the worst, they can eliminate him. Striker asks Bryan if he made a mistake leaving the independent scene. Bryan says that Daniel Bryan never wrestled on the independent scene. There was a guy who was called the best technical wrestler in the world and wrestled all over the world. Daniel Bryan says that he is gone because he cannot beat rookies. He says that who knows what is coming for Bryan Danielson.
We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that NXT has been the highest rated Tuesday night show on Syfy?
We see footage from last week’s match between Otunga and his pro R Truth.
Match Number Three: David Otunga versus Justin Gabriel
They lock up and Gabriel with a fireman’s carry and single leg take down followed by a drop kick. Gabriel wit a cross body into the corner and then he goes to the apron and Otunga pushes Gabriel on the ropes and gets a near fall. Otunga with a knee to the midsection or two. Otunga sends Gabriel into the air and he lands on the mat and Otunga gets a near fall. Otunga kicks Gabriel and then he connects with shoulders. Otunga with an abdominal stretch after Gabriel tries to block it. Gabriel gets out of the hold and Gabriel with a series of kicks. Otunga with another knee but Gabriel with a spin kick as he gets a near fall. Otunga goes to the apron and Gabriel tries to suplex him into the ring but Otunga blocks it and drops Gabriel on the ropes and kicks him in the chest. Otunga with a spinebuster for a three count.
Winner: David Otunga
We go to commercial.
We are back and the remaining six rookies are at ringside and Matt Striker is with them. Matt talks about everything they have done for this moment. One will win this contest and get a pay per view title match. But that will be dashed in moments for one person.
Matt asks everyone who they think should be eliminated. Darren Young says that Wade Barrett should be eliminated. Heath Slater says that David Otunga should be eliminated. Heath says that Otunga doesn’t belong here. We are reminded that Justin Gabriel has immunity. Justin says that he doesn’t care but then he says that Otunga should be eliminated. Gabriel says that Otunga has an attitude problem. Skip Sheffield says that it is time to separate the men from the boys so David Otunga should go home. Matt asks Skip why he thinks Otunga should be eliminated. He says that Otunga doesn’t belong here with him. David Otunga says that everyone should be eliminated because they don’t match up to him. Otunga chooses one and he says that it should be Heath Slater because Slater is a wannabe and copies his style. Slater calls Otunga a chump. Wade Barrett says that it doesn’t matter because they will all drop in the end but if he has to choose one person it is David Otunga.
It is time for the next poll and Wade Barrett is now in first place. David Otunga is now number two. Justin Gabriel is now number three. Heath Slater is number four.
We are down to Darren Young and Skip Sheffield and they are asked to step forward. We are about to find out who the council has spoken for as we find out who has had a bad day and does the walk of shame as they pack their knives.
Darren Young is in fifth place and Skip Sheffield is eliminated.
Skip says that from day one he has been misguided. Skip says that we have not seen the real Skip Sheffield. He does not blame William Regal. Skip says that things happen for a reason and he says that he will be back.
Matt tells the remaining five rookies that one more rookie will be eliminated.
2011 - New Japan Pro Wrestling stars began arriving in the United States for a three night tour, the first time the promotion had run a tour in the States.
2012 - WWE issued the following:
WWE and Full Sail University are combining forces to make entertainment history! The WWE franchise NXT is moving full-time to Full Sail University and Thursday, May 17th, 2012 will be its inaugural event. A powerhouse night of hard-hitting action returns to the Full Sail Live Venue as WWE invades the Full Sail University campus!
The night will feature a special appearance by WWE's own Triple H and includes a WWE Superstar Showdown with World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus going against Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship and Kofi Kingston and R-Truth going against Epico and Primo for the World Tag Team title!
Want to sit ringside? Wear your favorite WWE shirt and bring your most creative wrestling sign and you could find yourself closer to the action than you ever imagined.
This event is free to all Full Sail students and staff with a valid Full Sail ID. Please send your ticket request to events@fullsail.com for tickets!
2012 - EVOLVE 12 was held via iPPV. David Tees filed the following PPV report:
Welcome to the PWInsider.com live coverage of Evolve 12, live from the Metrolina Tradeshow Expo in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Match #1: Caleb Konley vs. Adam Page vs. Jake Manning w/Johnny Fairplay & Amanda
The match begins with Manning getting the early advantage on Page before Konley jumps in, Page then takes over on both Manning and Konley with arm drags. Manning then pretends to team with Konley before dumping him on the arena floor, Page then takes Manning down with a drop kick. Konley then trip Manning before bringing him to the arena floor, Page then does a dive onto both of his opponents. Page goes back into the ring before nailing a diving Konley with a spin kick, Manning recovers to take over on Page and Konley with some stomps. Manning then nails Page with an elbow drop to the back, Manning then goes for a suplex on Page and Konley drop toe holds him down before catching him with a senton bomb. Manning then nails Konley with an STO that then forces him to DDT Page, Manning then gets a butterfly suplex on Page. Page fights back by nailing both of his foes with chops and inzaguri’s, Page then hits Manning with a standing shooting star press. Konley then brings Page to the top rope before getting shoved off, Manning then trips Page to keep him on the top rope. Konley recovers to miss a moonsault on Manning after hitting him with a super kick, Manning then catches Konley with a flat liner for the three count.
Winner: Jake Manning
Match #2: Alex Reynolds vs. Mike Cruz
The next match begins with Cruz grabbing a hold of Reynolds, Reynolds quickly reverses to get wrist control on Cruz. The pace picks up with Cruz taking Reynolds down with a monkey flip, Reynolds then flips Cruz up to the middle rope before getting nailed with a high cross body. Cruz then knocks Reynolds out of the ring before catching him with a suicide dive, they fight back into the ring until Reynolds knocks Cruz back out of the ring and into the ring post. Reynolds then brings Cruz into the ring for a near fall, Reynolds then takes Cruz down with a hard Irish whip. Cruz then ducks a few clothes lines from Reynolds until he gets nailed with a knee lift, Reynolds then hurts Cruz further by clobbering him with a rope assisted back suplex. Reynolds then takes a rest by applying a modified abdominal stretch on Cruz, Cruz eventually stands up and he nearly catches Reynolds with a roll up. Cruz then gets the edge back by nailing Reynolds with a flying fore arm and running hip attack, Cruz then drops Reynolds in the corner to catch him with a running drop kick. Cruz then goes to the top rope and Reynolds meets him up there, Cruz then shoves Reynolds off of him before missing a high cross body. Reynolds then nails Cruz with a double knee to the rib cage, both wrestlers exchange knee strikes while in the suplex position. Reynolds then captures the pin on Cruz after winning the battle of roll ups.
Winner: Alex Reynolds
Match #3: Low Ki vs. Jigsaw
This battle begins with Ki forcing Jigsaw into the corner, Ki then trips Jigsaw to work over his leg and Jigsaw quickly escapes. Jigsaw then trips Ki himself before working over his arm, Jigsaw then releases the hold for a clean break and Ki chops him. Ki then goes to work the arm of Jigsaw and the ropes are grabbed, Ki then grapples with Jigsaw and he winds up in a guillotine choke. Ki quickly escapes to chain wrestle with Jigsaw and he gets the advantage, Ki then brings Jigsaw to the ground before locking on a modified cross face. Ki then trips Jigsaw to the ground again before attempting a single leg crab on him, Jigsaw breaks the hold and he quickly applies the abdominal stretch to Ki. Jigsaw then uses his speed to nearly pin Ki with a sunset flip, Ki then looks for some offense off his back and Jigsaw instead grabs a hold of him to lock him in a single leg crab. Ki eventually breaks the hold by nailing Jigsaw with a few elbow strikes, Ki then takes Jigsaw out with a running soccer kick. Ki then grabs a hold of Jigsaw in a bear hug like way, Jigsaw escapes and rolls Ki up quickly for another near fall. Ki again brings the match to the ground and he applies the body scissors on Jigsaw, Jigsaw retreats to the corner and Ki nails him with some stomps. Ki continues to work over Jigsaw in the corner with chops and European uppercuts, Ki then misses a charge in the corner and Jigsaw starts a chop battle with Ki. Ki quickly returns to the advantage by kicking Jigsaw in the leg and chopping him, Jigsaw finally slows Ki down with a drop kick in the corner. Jigsaw then nails Ki with a top rope high cross body, Jigsaw then lifts KI up and he places him on the top rope. Jigsaw then takes Ki down with a leaping hurricarana for a near fall, Jigsaw then goes for a super kick and Ki drop kicks him in the knee. Jigsaw then nearly rolls up Ki a few times after countering a Ki Krusher, Ki then catches Jigsaw with a double stomp and Ki Krusher for the victory.
Winner: Low Ki
After the match, Low Ki grabs the microphone to tell the crowd that Jigsaw gave him a good fight and then Ki criticized him for dressing like a luchadore. Ki then said he is tired of these kids in his profession and its time for real men to be competing in pro wrestling.
Match #4: Fit Finlay vs. Jon Davis
This contest starts off with the wrestlers testing each other with some lock ups, Finlay then trips up Davis before locking him in the cross face. Finlay then drops Davis again and he tries to work over his leg, Finlay then takes over a Davis by nailing him with an elbow to the head. Davis tries to get the edge on Finlay by taking him down with a top wrist lock, Davis then attacks the elbow of Finlay with some stomps. Davis then works a wrist lock on Finlay and he takes him down again after some resistance, Finlay breaks the hold by grabbing the ropes and he shoulder rams him afterwards. Finlay then drops Davis to the ground and then stomps on his fingers for good measure, Davis powers himself up and then Finlay gets shoved into the corner. Davis then takes the chance to pound on Finlay, Davis then brings Finlay to the center of the ring to continue working on his arm. Finlay then trips up Davis and he works over his leg some more, Davis breaks free and he goes for a pin on Finlay. The wrestlers stand up and Finlay trips Davis before nailing him in the leg with a leg drop, Finlay then locks Davis in a leg submission that is broken after the ropes are grabbed. The wrestlers have a stare down that ends with Finlay tripping Davis and stretching his already hurt leg out, Davis eventually gets Finlay off of him after catching him with multiple kicks. Davis tries to fight back and Finlay tosses him to the arena floor, Finlay then attacks Davis on the arena floor before resting inside of the ring. Davis is eventually let back in the ring by Finlay after he blocked his entrance a few times, Finlay quickly grounds Davis to work over his leg some more. Davis finds a way to escape before catching Finlay with a kimura and then an arm bar, Davis then brings Finlay to the corner to wrench his arm along the top rope. Finlay regains the advantage by tripping Davis and he locks in a modified Indian death lock, Finlay rolls outside the ring to smash the leg of Davis on the ring apron edge and ring post. Finlay returns to the ring and he targets Davis with stomps to the leg, Finlay then tries to lock Davis in another submission that Davis attempts top break with a cross face. Finlay releases the hold to only apply a single leg crab on a hurt Davis, Finlay then transitions the hold into a step over toe hold. Finlay then just completes the hold by applying the STF to Davis, Finlay releases the hold to attempt the pin and Davis counters to lock him in an arm bar. Davis then rolls outside the ring to smash Finlay’s arm on the ring post, Davis returns to the ring to pound on the shoulder of Finlay. Davis then drags Finlay to the ground to continue punishing the wrestlers injured arm, Davis then clobbers Finlay with a back suplex. Finlay then counters a running power slam by applying the sleeper hold to Davis, Davis finds a way to get to the ropes to get the hold broken. Davis wakes up to catch an incoming Finlay with a spine buster, Davis follows that up by nailing Finlay with a running boot. Davis then brings Finlay to the top rope, Finlay escapes by crotching Davis on the middle rope before smashing him back first on the mat. Finlay then plants Davis with a tombstone pile driver for the three count.
Winner: Fit Finlay
Lenny Leonard interviews Fit Finlay, who says that the Evolve wrestlers are getting tougher and then he says that Sami Callihan needs to get his stuff together. Sami Callihan quickly hits the ring to tell Finlay to mind his own business and Finlay says that Callihan has something inside of him that needs to come out.
-Intermission-
Match #5: DGUSA Open the Freedom Game champion Johnny Gargano & Samuray Del Sol vs. Chuck Taylor & Silas Young w/Jake Manning & The Swamp Monster
This match features Gargano and Young starting this off, Young quickly jumps Gargano after a handshake was offered. Gargano quickly regained the advantage until Taylor and Young knock him out of the ring, Del Sol hits the ring and he nails Taylor with a head scissors. Taylor and Young regroup, then take out both of their opponents, Taylor and Young then start focusing on Del Sol. Young then goes solo and he nails Del Sol with a pump handle back breaker, Young then stretches the hurt Del Sol on his knee. Del Sol then takes Young down with an arm drag and drop kick, Young regains the edge for his team after Taylor interferes. Taylor comes in legally to nail Del Sol with a head butt and drop kick, Young gets the tag and he just starts taunting Del Sol. Young then nails a tiring Del Sol with a full Nelson bomb and then an actual full Nelson, Taylor gets tagged in and he continues to work over Del Sol. Del Sol finally gets the chance to tag Gargano in after he nailed Taylor with a satellite DDT, a double tag comes and Gargano cleans house of his opponents. Gargano misses a move on Young and then nails him with a rope assisted spear as he recovered, Gargano then catches Taylor with a suicide dive. Gargano then catches Young with a springboard DDT, Del Sol and Gargano then hit their foes with double super kicks and other double team maneuvers. Taylor eventually stops the momentum by dumping Del Sol out of the ring, Taylor then hits a returning Del Sol with a half crab that is broken up by Gargano. Gargano then responds by locking Taylor in the Gargano-escape, Young breaks up the hold and he then brawls with Gargano. Gargano gets back at Young by launching him face first into the turnbuckle, Taylor then attacks Del Sol and that sets up Young for his moonsault. Gargano gets to Young by nailing him with a super kick, Del Sol does a dive onto Young that takes them both out. Taylor then catches Gargano with the Awful Waffle for the three count.
Winners: Chuck Taylor & Silas Young w/Jake Manning & The Swamp Monster
Lenny Leonard interviews Chuck Taylor, who says that the stipulation for his next match with Johnny Gargano will be a DGUSA Open The Freedom Gate Title Match.
Match #6: Ricochet vs. El Generico
Our semi-main events kicks off with Ricochet tries working over the arm of Generico, Generico quick responds by doing the same to Ricochet. The chain wrestling continues on and Generico takes Ricochet down with an arm drag, Ricochet the counters Generico with a reversal into an arm drag. The competitors have another battle of reversals that ends with Generico catching Ricochet with a leg lariat, Generico then starts stomping on a dazed Ricochet before nailing him with a back breaker. Ricochet recovers to hit Generico with a head scissors and then a rope assisted hurricarana, Ricochet then starts working over the neck of Generico. Ricochet then starts stretching the arms of Generico, Generico and Ricochet then start exchanging a series of chops. Ricochet regains the edge by locking Generico in a modified abdominal stretch, Richochet then trips Generico before nailing him with a standing 450 splash. Generico eats a spin kick from Ricochet before nailing him with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker, Ricochet avoids the big boot from Generico to nail him with an inzaguri that knocks him out of the ring. Ricochet follows that up with a suicide dive on Generico. Ricochet gets Generico back into the ring to hit him with a springboard lariat, Generico recovers to spike Ricochet with a tornado DDT. Generico follows that up by destroying Ricochet with a blue thunder bomb, Ricochet then avoids the big boot again to nail Generico with a reverse hurricarana. Generico recovers with just enough time to hit a running Ricochet with a michinoku driver, Generico then clobbers Ricochet with a running boot to the head. Generico then brings Ricochet to the top rope, Ricochet escapes the brain buster to drop Generico face first on the turnbuckle. Rico then nails Generico with his finisher for a near fall that shocks the building, Ricochet goes to the top rope and Generico meets him up there. Ricochet again knocks him off the top rope and nails him with the 630 for the three count.
Winner: Ricochet
Lenny Leonard interviews Ricochet, who says that he spends way to much time in Japan according to the fans and he challenges Low Ki to a match and they seal the deal with a handshake. Ki then addresses a downed El Generico and he questions his motives as a wrestler in Evolve.
Main Event: Evolutions End Match – AR Fox vs. Sami Callihan
The main event begins with Callihan immediately jumping Fox and stomping him in the corner, Fox reverses things by shoulder smashing Callihan in the corner. Fox then knocks Callihan out of the ring before nailing him with a suicide dive, Fox then drapes Callihan on the ring apron before hitting him with a guillotine leg drop. Callihan then nails Fox with a chair as he was going for another dive, Callihan then starts hitting Fox with multiple steel chairs. Callihan then starts working over the arm of Fox with the chairs, Fox recovers to assault Callihan with chair shots. They then battle on the ring apron and Callihan catches Fox with a bicycle kick, Callihan then nails Fox with a springboard lariat that puts him on the arena floor. Callihan then resumes his steel chair attack on Fox, Callihan and Fox then start brawling into the North Carolina crowd. Callihan then suplexes Fox onto an opened up chair, Callihan then brings out a barbed wire chair and he slams Fox onto it. Callihan then grabs a loose piece of barbed wire and he chokes Fox with it, Callihan then starts working over the leg of Fox with the chairs. Callihan then drags a hurt Fox to the time keepers table to hit him with the ring bell, Callihan attempts to bring a ladder into the ring and Fox dropkicks it into him. Fox then kick flips the ladder onto a downed Callihan, Fox then nails Callihan with a rope assisted drop kick and then an inverted senton bomb. Fox then goes to the top rope and Callihan meets him up there with a running inzaguri, Callihan then climbs up the ropes and he head butts Fox several times. Fox then tosses Callihan to the ring mat below, Fox then goes outside of the ring and he sets the ladder up. Fox then climbs the ladder and Callihan superplexes him from the ring ropes as Fox was on the top of the ladder. The wrestlers get to their knees and they exchange strikes, Callihan then starts getting the edge and he slaps Fox multiple times. Fox gets pissed and he catches Callihan with a running barrel roll/swanton bomb combination, Fox goes back to the ropes and Callihan drop kicks him from behind. Callihan then goes for the stretch muffler and Fox rolls him up for a near fall, Fox then nails Callihan with a springboard ace crusher. Fox then goes outside of the ring and he sets a table up and then a ladder as well, Fox then enters the ring and he misses a springboard senton. Callihan then destroys Fox with a lariat for a two count, Callihan then goes to the top rope and Fox meets him up there. Callihan then grabs a hold of him to nail him with a top rope German suplex, Callihan then immediately locks in a stretch muffler and then a single leg crab on Fox. Fox then tries to slow Callihan down with a few boots to the face and a super kick, Fox then catches Callihan with a springboard uranage. Callihan then wanders outside of the ring near the table, that move allows Fox to dive over the rope and ladder to put Callihan through the table. Fox then drags Callihan into the ring and he nails Callihan with a springboard 450 splash for the three count.
Winner: AR Fox
Lenny Leonard interviews AR Fox, who says that he has finally ended the war with Sami Callihan and he now wants the DG USA Open The Freedom Gate Title.
2012 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off with a look back at the tag match from Raw when Sheamus and Randy Orton faced Alberto Del Rio and Chris Jericho. We see Sheamus accidentally give Orton a Brogue Kick, allowing Jericho to hit a Codebreaker to pin Sheamus. Then we see Orton giving Sheamus an RKO. Chris Jericho and Alberto Del Rio argue their case and so does Orton. What will happen now that we have a Fatal Four Way at Over the Limit?
We are live on tape from Roanoke, Virginia and your announcers are Michael ‘Ralph Sampson’ Cole, Booker ‘Jeff Lamp’ T and Josh ‘Charles Oakley’ Mathews.
Match Number One: Sheamus and Randy Orton versus Chris Jericho and Alberto Del Rio with Ricardo Rodriguez but no car
Orton tells Sheamus that he will start and he faces off with Jericho. Jericho with a forearm and punches until the referee warns him. Orton puts Jericho in the corner and punches and kicks Jericho. Jericho with an Irish whip and Orton bounces out and hits a clothesline. Orton tags in Sheamus by hitting him in his injured shoulder and they stare each other down.
Sheamus with a back elbow and then he tags in Orton the same way. Orton with a kick and European uppercut. Jericho with kicks and then he tags in Del Rio. Orton with a hip toss and then he tries for a leaping knee but misses. Del Rio with a single arm DDT and a kick for a near fall. Del Rio with a key lock but Orton with punches and a kick.
Sheamus tags in and hits a double sledge. Sheamus with forearms in the corner but Del Rio with an elbow. Sheamus with a fireman’s carry slam for a near fall. Jericho pulls down the ropes and Sheamus goes over the top rope to the floor. Jericho with a kick to the shoulder from the floor. Sheamus rolls back in and Del Rio with a kick. Jericho tags in and he stops Sheamus from making the tag.
Jericho with a hammer lock. Jericho with a knee but Sheamus with a forearm and both men are down. Del Rio and Orton reach for the tag and Orton comes in and clotheslines Jericho and then he avoids a clothesline before hitting a power slam. Orton with the IEDDT and then it is time to set for an RKO. Jericho avoids the RKO and Orton with a drop kick but Del Rio breaks up the cover.
Sheamus attacks Del Rio and Jericho goes after Sheamus.
The referee calls for the bell.
No Contest
Sheamus punches Jerihco while Orton and Del Rio go to the floor. Jericho is sent over the top rope while Orton sends Del Rio into the crowd.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of the post match activities.
Eve has announced that Randy Orton will face Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus will face Chris Jericho.
Match Number Two: AJ Lee versus Kaitlyn
AJ with a Thesz Press and she punches Kaitlyn. AJ takes Kaitlyn down again and punches Kaitlyn. AJ with a drop kick to the knee and a running knee to the head for the three count.
Winner: AJ Lee
After the match, AJ attacks Kaitlyn and then Daniel Bryan’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring Yesing his way down the ramp.
Daniel has a mic and he tells AJ wow and that he was impressed with her passion and gusto. He didn’t know that she could be so . . . ruthless. With her best friend nonetheless. If she wanted to send him a message he got it. He is seeing AJ in an entirely new light. Daniel tells AJ that there has been so much angst and tension between them since Wrestlemania. He is ready to move past it all.
After he becomes the new WWE Champion at Over the Limit, he is really looking forward to moving on.
Daniel tells AJ that he will be looking forward to moving on . . . to Kaitlyn. Daniel chuckles at his comment while AJ’s look could penetrate through steel.
AJ leaves the ring and goes to the back.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Daniel Bryan versus Big Show
Show backs Bryan into the corner and he punches Bryan as they go around the ring. Show with a chop followed by an Irish whip. Show charges into a knee and then Bryan with a knee off the turnbuckles. Show blocks a kick and he chops Bryan. Show with a running butt splash but Bryan with a drop kick to the knee when Show was going for the running shoulder tackle.
Bryan with kicks to the knee. Bryan applies the Yes Lock and the bell rings even though Show did not tap out.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
John Laurinaitis announces that Daniel Bryan is the winner of the match.
Bryan goes to the back and John enters the ring. John says that he heard that Show was making fun of him and his voice. He asks if Show thinks that is funny.
Show says that he doesn’t think it was funny.
John wants Show to say the magic word.
Show tells John ‘No sir’.
John says that Show did not mean his apology. Since there is not much demand for a seven foot tall forty year old freak outside of the WWE, he is going to apologize to him on Raw and it better be a good one.
John Laurinaitis says that Brock Lesnar revolutionized the WWE at Extreme Rules. In nine days, People Power will shake the foundation of this company.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Heath Slater is in the ring and he wants to talk about his opponent. Physically, he might look like the epitome of evolution. To him, he looks like a caveman with a little pea brain. When you stand beside him, you can hear the rattle. Who has he beaten? He hasn’t beaten anyone of the caliber of himself.
Match Number Four: Heath Slater versus Ryback
Slater says something to Ryback but Ryback pushes him back. Slater with forearm and punches but he tries for a neck breaker but Ryback stays on his feet. Ryback with shoulders in the corner and then he hits a power slam and then winds up for the lariat. Ryback hits the muscle buster for the three count.
Winner: Ryback
We go to commercial.
We are back and Lillian Garcia introduces Teddy Long and he is not in a dancing mood. He is here to do the introduction for his ex-girlfriend’s new paramour, Antonio Cesaro.
Match Number Five: Alex Riley versus Antonio Cesaro with Aksana
Cesaro with a waist lock take down and then he rubs Riley’s face into the mat. Cesaro with a forearm and head butt. Cesaro with a running boot into the corner for a near fall. Cesaro with a cravate but Riley with a punch. Riley misses a drop kick and Cesaro with a delayed side salto followed by a kick to the back. Cesaro with head butts to the clavicle as he stretches Riley.
Riley with a punch but Cesaro with knees. Cesaro with an Irish whip but Riley with a running forearm and clothesline. Riley tries for a spinebuster but Cesaro with a European uppercut followed by the Gotch Style Neutralizer for the three count.
Winner: Antonio Cesaro
After the match, Aksana tell Teddy no hard feelings. They were just friend. Antonio is her lover. Antonio kisses Aksana right in front of Teddy, and if you play it back, and pause it at the right time, you can see Teddy’s heart break.
We go to a John Cena video package showing him granting wishes for Make a Wish.
Alberto Del Rio and Randy Orton walk in the back as we go to commercial.
Match Number Six: Randy Orton versus Alberto Del Rio
Del Rio with a kick to the knee and he backs Orton into the corner. Orton with forearms to the back but Del Rio with kicks and punches. Orton sends Del Rio into the turnbuckles and punches him. Del Rio with a punch to the head and then he sends Orton into the turnbuckles. Del Rio misses a charge into the corner and Del Rio hits the turnbuckle hard. Orton with kicks and then Orton with a slingshot into the bottom throat and Orton gets a near fall.
Del Rio drops Orton’s arm on the top rope and Del Rio with a kick to the shoulder for a near fall. Del Rio with a forearm to the back and then he wraps Orton’s arm into the rope and Rodriguez helps out Del Rio.
Del Rio with a hammer lock power slam for a near fall. Del Rio with a key lock but Orton fights to get back to his feet. Orton punches Del Rio and Del Rio punches back. Orton with clotheslines but Del Rio misses a clothesline and that means it is power slam time. Del Rio goes to the apron and Orton gets ready for the IEDDT but Del Rio gets into the ring and he sends Orton to the apron and hits a step up enzuigiri. Del Rio gets a near fall.
Del Rio with kicks to the arm and then Orton hits a back breaker and Orton gets a near fall. Del Rio with a kick to the arm and an arm breaker. Del Rio sets for the float over into the cross arm breaker but Orton sends Del Rio into the turnbuckles. Orton with an inside the ring IEDDT and then he looks for the spot to turn into the push ups.
Ricardo goes to the top turnbuckle and Orton gives Ricardo an RKO. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Randy Orton by disqualification
Del Rio sends Orton shoulder first into the ring post and then he applies the cross arm breaker until officials come to the ring to separate the two men.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Seven: R Truth with Kofi Kingston versus Jack Swagger with Vickie Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler
They lock up and Swagger backs Truth into the corner and he connects with elbows to the head and then he punches Truth. Swagger with an Irish whip but Truth floats over and hits a hip toss and then he does a split before a leaping leg drop.
Abraham Washington, Rosa Mendes, Epico, Primo, and Mason Ryan watch from the back.
Swagger with a wheelbarrow suplex. Swagger follows with a forearm and then he applies an arm bar. Truth with a kick and DDT. Swagger misses a splash into the corner and Truth with clotheslines followed by a rollup for a near fall. Truth with a punch after a pelvic thrust. Truth with the Truth Detector for a near fall but Ziggler goes into the ring.
Truth punches Ziggler and then Kofi with a leaping forearm from the ring steps onto Ziggler. Swagger with a clothesline to Truth on the floor and then he rolls Truth back in. Truth with a punch and Swagger was stuck in the ropes and Kofi with Trouble in Paradise from the floor followed by the Little Jimmy for the three count.
Winner: R Truth
We take a look at John Cena’s comments from Raw about John Laurinaitis.
We go to the Goldman Box for comments from Zack and Santino. They introduce each other. Zack calls them Team CoBro while Santino calls them Team Maryder.
Match Number Eight: Santino Marella and Zack Ryder versus Titus O’Neil and Darren Young
Titus and Santino start things off. Santino tries to determine the height difference. Santino leaps for a side head lock and Titus with a shoulder tackle. Santino with a waist lock but Titus with a slam. Young tags in and he tries to punch Santino but Santino blocks it. Santino with a split to avoid Young but Young with a neck breaker and elbow drop.
Young with a belly-to-back suplex and he tags Titus back in. Titus with a gourdbuster of Young onto Santino. Titus tosses Santino around the ring and then he tags Young back in and hits a leg drop. Young with a reverse chin lock but Santino with punches and a sit out stunner. Ryder tags in and he hits a running forearm and clothesline. Ryder knocks Titus off the apron and then he hits the Broski Boot on Young.
Ryder gets a near fall. Titus grabs the leg and that allows Young to hit a clothesline. Santino pulls out his hand puppet and Young with a clothesline. Ryder with a kick to Titus and then he brings Young back into the ring. Ryder with punches in the corner but Young trips Young on the ropes. Titus with a back breaker and Young with an elbow drop from the turnbuckles for the three count.
Winners: Titus O’Neil and Darren Young
After the match, Titus tells Lillian Garcia to announce the winners of the match again.
Titus says that they are the future WWE Tag Team Champions. Darren says that the difference between them and the other tag teams in the WWE. Millions of Dollars.
Damien Sandow is in the interview area with Matt Striker and Matt wants to know about the era of enlightenment as the intellectual savior to the masses. He asks Damien about why he did not wrestle last week.
Damien tells Matthew that he apologizes if his vernacular confused him last week and then Damien points that he is surprised that Matt was once an educator. The essence of his message undoubtedly flew over Matt’s head like the rare Arctic bird, the Tundra Bean Goose. These people yearn for enlightenment but who can they turn to. Who do they have to place on a pedestal so that they may bask in the glow of their own essence? The answer is no one. There are some who try to appeal to the unwashed masses, but they are nothing more than false prophets whom he will expose. He is the bright beam of enlightenment who will serve as the avenging sword of taste and decency. This concludes their interview.
Damien tells Matthew that he is welcome.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Nine: Brodus Clay with Funkettes versus Hunico with Camacho
Camacho attacks Brodus from behind and then Hunico and Camacho make a wish.
The referee finally calls for the bell once he sees Brodus shimmy. Hunico with a chop but Brodus with a head butt to the chest. Clay with punches in the corner followed by an Irish whip. Hunico with a kick but Brodus with a back body drop and then he knocks Camacho off the apron. Clay hits the Sheeeeplex and then he hits the Brodus Splash for the three count.
Winner: Brodus Clay
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound of a surprising return to Raw on Monday night.
Match Number Ten: Chris Jericho versus Sheamus
Jericho and Sheamus with punches and Sheamus sends Jericho into the turnbuckles. Jericho with forearms but Sheamus with punches of his own. Sheamus with an Irish whip but Jericho with a boot to the injured arm. Jericho with punches to the head but Jericho misses a splash into the corner. Sheamus stops Jericho on the apron and Sheamus with the ten forearms across the chest and then he knocks Jericho off the apron with a shoulder tackle.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus with the slingshot shoulder tackle but it was with the injured shoulder and he gets a near fall. Jericho kicks Sheamus in the chest and then he connects with a forearm to the head. Sheamus with a shoulder using the injured arm. Jericho drops Sheamus’ arm on the top rope and then he hits a springboard drop kick into the injured shoulder.
Jericho goes after Sheamus on the floor and he kicks him in the shoulder and then sends the injured arm into the ring post. Jericho continues to work on the arm with kicks and punches before applying a hammer lock. Sheamus punches Jericho but Chris with a drop kick. Jericho tries for the Lionsault but Jericho lands on his feet when Sheamus moves. Sheamus with a double sledge and a running knee lift. Jericho avoids the power slam and Jericho with a double leg take down. Sheamus avoids the Walls of Jericho. Jericho with forearms but Sheamus catches Jericho for the fireman’s carry slam but Jericho punches Sheamus’ arm and Jericho locks in the Walls of Jericho.
Sheamus gets to the ropes despite Booker’s proclamation that he could not get there. Sheamus sends Jericho over the top rope to the floor. Alberto Del Rio comes to the ring and he sends Jericho into the ring steps and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Chris Jericho by disqualification
After the match, Del Rio attacks Sheamus and applies the cross arm breaker. Orton comes to the ring and he attacks Del Rio. Sheamus pushes Orton off Del Rio. Orton and Sheamus argue and that allows Jericho to take the spotlight and he hits a Codebreaker on Del Rio. Jericho goes to the floor. Orton gives Del Rio an RKO. Sheamus sees the RKO and raises it a Brogue Kick. Orton and Sheamus stare each other down and we go to credits.
2013 -
Kenta Kobashi, one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time, officially retired today. He had pulled himself out of the ring some time ago due to injuries so the final match was more of an official ceremony than anything else.
In his final bout, held on Kobashi teamed with Jun Akiyama, Keiji Mutoh, & Kensuke Sasake to defefeated KENTA, Go Shiozaki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Shuhei Taniguchi with Kobashi pinning Kanemaru with a final Moonsault in a 40 minute bout.
Among those making appearances for the farewell were Toshiaki Kawada, Hayabusa, Akira Taue, Hiroshi Hase and Masa Chono, as well as video messages from John Laurinaitis and Stan Hansen.
Kobashi, who only made a few appearances ever in the Unted States, including a classic ROH bout against Samoa Joe, was one of the best of all time, period. His work ethic in the ring was at the level of a Ric Flair or Shawn Michaels, although he worked a much more demanding, physical style in the ring in comparison.
2013 - WWE Smackdown ran Odessa, Texas. Chris Collier filed the following results:
They announced that Dolph Ziggler wouldn't be there due to his concussion. A lot of people actually booed the announcement. Unreal.
The Great Khali and The Usos beat 3 Man Band in a comedy match.
Ted DiBiase beat Corey Graves. People chanted "Who Are You" at both guys during the match.
Cameron and Naomi beat The Bellas.
In a crowd picks match, Alberto Del Rio beat Jack Swagger in a Street Fight.
Brodus Clay and Sweet T beat The Rhodes Scholars.
Wade Barrett beat Justin Gabriel to retain the Intercontinental Title.
Randy Orton beat The Big Show in the main event.
It really is time for WWE to stop doing two live events. They are so thin on talent.
2013 - WWE Raw ran Beaumont, Texas. Allen West filed the following results:
Sin Cara, Bo Dallas and Adrian Neville beat The Prime Time Players and Michael McGillicutty.
Bray Wyatt beat Zack Ryder.
Kaitlyn kept the Divas Title by beating Tamina.
Dean Ambrose beat R-Truth.
Team Hell No beat the other two Shield members by DQ.
Kofi Kingston beat Antonio Cesaro to retain the US Title. The fans got to pick the match and they chose No DQ.
Fandango beat Chris Jericho.
John Cena and Sheamus beat Mark Henry and Ryback. The crowd was really into Cena and Sheamus and cheered all of the babyfaces all night.
2014 - Ring of Honor broadcast their TV series. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in New Orleans, Louisiana and your announcers are Steve ‘Right now I am in Toronto’ Corino and Kevin ‘I hope JR doesn’t take my spot in Toronto’ Kelly.
Match Number One: Mike Posey versus RD Evans (with Veda Scott and Ramon)
As Evans comes to the ring, we see the sign from Ramon with the current streak at 99 matches.
Posey has a kick blocked and Evans slaps Posey in the face. Posey goes to the floor and he avoids a punch. Posey drops Evans on the top rope and then he misses a slingshot leg drop. Evans with an atomic drop but he misses a charge into the corner and Evans hits the ring post with his shoulder. Posey with shoulders in the corner and then he sends Evans into the turnbuckles with a hammer lock and then he gets a near fall. Posey misses a leg drop.
Posey with a neck breaker for a near fall. Posey with a chin lock and a drop toe hold but he misses a slingshot leg drop to the apron. Evans with a splash off the apron. Evans rolls Posey back in and he goes up top and hits a shoulder tackle. Evans with a running elbow into the corner. Evans with a boot and a spear. Evans signals that it is over and he gets a near fall with an inside cradle.
Evans puts Posey on the turnbuckles and he signals again that it is over. Evans goes up for a superplex but Posey with a head butt and Evans falls to the mat. Posey hits the Alabama Jam but Evans kicks out at two. Evans with a rollup for a near fall. Evans with a wraparound clothesline and then he goes up top and hits a leg drop for the three count.
Winner: RD Evans (The Streak is at 100)
Ramon brings tinsel and streamers into the ring to celebrate.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for a live episode of The Fish Tank with Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly.
Kyle says hello Cleveland to the people of New Orleans. He says that he is so excited and he is Kyle O’Reilly. He welcomes everyone to the Fish Tank. He introduces the host and everyone’s friend, and a friend of the environment.
Bobby thanks Kyle for the warm introduction. He would like to say to Kyle that this Fish Tank is a very special Fish Tank. He asks Kyle if he knows WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY this is a special Fish Tank. Kyle does not know. Bobby says that this is the first live Fish Tank from NEW YORK CITY.
Kyle reminds Bobby that they are in Cleveland.
Bobby mentions Super Card of Honor and he asks Kyle to fill everyone in with what happened. Kyle says that they beat Forever Hooligans and the team of Hanson and Rowe to earn an ROH Tag Title Match.
Fish says that the Young Bucks will be where they do not want to be . . . across the ring from reDRagon and they will get their titles back.
Kyle introduces their guest and says that he earned a future title shot in New York as well. Bobby says that Elgin has never met a tank top he didn’t like. Kyle says that he might be Unbreakable, but he is not Unlovable.
They bring out Michael Elgin.
Kyle welcomes Mike and says that he is probably super excited. Kyle says that they ask the tough questions and they don’t pull any punches. He asks what kind of conditioner he uses because the mullet is hypnotizing.
Bobby has a multiple choice question: Best Mullet of all time: Billy Ray Cyrus, Chuck Norris, or Fit Finlay?
Kyle is interrupted by Michael. He has a few questions. He asks Kyle if he helps Bobby fit into those pants. Michael asks what is more embarrassing, Bobby wearing that scarf; Kyle wearing those suspenders; or losing the Tag Titles?
Michael says enough talking. He is the type of man that appreciates a good fight and he thinks the ROH fans appreciate a good fight. Michael says that he talked to Nigel McGuinness and he appreciates a good fight. Michael says that Nigel says that if Bobby and Kyle appreciate a good fight, they can have one right now.
Kyle says you bet your tight little ass that he appreciates a good fight. Bobby says that Elgin signed his death warrant.
Kyle and Bobby get ready for their fight and we go to commercial.
We are back and Fish and O’Reilly prepare to fight Michael Elgin, but Michael gets on the mic and he says that he just wanted to know if Bobby and Kyle liked to fight. It would not be against him, it will be against Hanson and Raymond Rowe.
Match Number Two: Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly versus Hanson and Raymond Rowe
Fish tries to get out of the ring, but Rowe stops him and hits a belly-to-belly slam. Hanson with a spinning slam on the floor to O’Reilly. Rowe punches Fish and then he tosses Fish to Hanson and Hanson tosses him back. Rowe with a German suplex for a near fall. Hanson and Rowe pick up Kyle and toss him into the air and he lands on the mat. Rowe with a forearm to Fish.
Rowe with a punch and then Fish goes to the floor and he runs around the ring and back in. Kyle makes the tags and he applies a sleeper but Rowe with clotheslines to Fish and then he sends Kyle to the mat with a snap mare. Rowe sends Kyle into Hanson’s boot. Hanson with a knee to the midsection. Kyle floats over but Hanson does not charge into the corner. Kyle with a drop toe hold and then Kyle with a guillotine after he pulls the suspenders down. Hanson with a back drop.
Fish tags in and he connects with a forearm. Hanson with a cartwheel to avoid them. Hanson with a clothesline to Fish and O’Reilly. Rowe goes up top and Kyle and Bobby go to the floor and head up the ramp.
Elgin appears from the curtains and he forces Fish and O’Reilly back to the ring. Kyle and Bobby go into the crowd and the referee gets to twenty and he calls for the bell.
Winners: Raymond Rowe and Hanson
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage of Kyle and Bobby leaving the arena as they look for Kyle’s mom’s van. Fish climbs through the passenger’s window as Kyle drives away.
We have a video package for tonight’s main event.
Match Number Three: Adam Cole, Matt Hardy, and Michael Bennett (with Maria Kanellis) versus Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe, and Kevin Steen
All six men brawl s the bell rings. Mark sends Bennett to the floor while Steen sends Cole into the guardrails. Jay with a head butt to Hardy. Mark chokes Bennett and Steen throws a kangaroo at Bennett and Mark with an elbow onto Cole. Steen sends Bennett groin first into the ring post. Mark sends Cole into the guardrails. Jay bites Hardy in the head.
Steen and Cole get into the ring while Mark sends Hardy into the guardrails. Steen with a chop to Cole but Cole with a kick. Steen with a back elbow and then he sends Cole into the turnbuckles and connects with shoulders. Steen with a chop and head butt. Cole with a jawbreaker but Steen with an elbow and then he punches and kicks his way out of the corner.
Cole with an enzuigiri and Bennett tags in and he kicks Steen. Bennett and Steen exchange punches and Hardy tags in. Hardy with a kick to the ribs and he chokes Steen in the ropes. Hardy with a splash to the back. Hardy with a near fall. Steen with a forearm but Hardy with a Side Effect for a near fall.
Hardy waves his arms if he is going to go for a Twist of Fate but Steen blocks a kick and he connects with a clothesline. Mark tags in and he chops Hardy. Mark lands on his feet on a back body drop attempt and Mark with chops. Mark with a palm thrust and belly-to-belly suplex.
Mark goes to the turnbuckles but Bennett pushes Mark off the apron. Cole sends Mark into the guardrails and we go to commercial.
We are back and Mark with punches to Bennett but Bennett with a drop kick and he gets a near fall. Briscoe runs Bennett into the corner but Cole tags in and he kicks Mark. Briscoe with forearms but Bennett with a Death Valley neckbreaker for a near fall. Hardy tags in and hits a leg drop for a near fall. Bennett tags in and he punches Briscoe and sends him into the turnbuckles. Bennett with an Irish whip and clothesline.
Cole tags in and he drops a knee and applies a reverse chin lock. Briscoe with punches and chops. Cole with a kick to the knee but Briscoe with a rolling Death Valley Driver but Hardy punches him in the corner and both men are down. Jay and Bennett tag in and Jay with clotheslines and a back body drop. Jay kicks Hardy and Cole off the apron. Jay with jabs to Bennett and then to Hardy.
Jay with a kick to Bennett and punches to Hardy. Jay with a flying forearm and then Steen hits a cannonball to Bennett. Jay with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Jay calls for the Doomsday Device and he tags in Mark. Jay gets Bennett on his shoulder and then Cole tries to stop Mark but Steen comes in and he gets Cole on his shoulders for a double Doomsday Device but Hardy breaks up the cover.
Hardy with a Twist of Fate on Steen. Jay punches Hardy and then Hardy pulls Jay to the floor. Jay and Hardy exchange punches on the floor. They fight by the entrance and near the bleachers. Mark with a punch to Bennett and he goes up top but Bennett moves and Cole with a super kick and Florida Key for the three count.
Winners: Matt Hardy, Michael Bennett, and Adam Cole
After the match, Bennett and Cole attack Mark. Steen fights off Bennett and Cole. Steen tries for a package piledriver on Bennett but Cole with a super kick to the back of the head. Hardy grabs his belt and he tries to hit Steen but Steen moves and Hardy hits Bennett. Steen sends Hardy over the top rope to the floor. Steen with a pop up power bomb on Cole and then he hits a power bomb onto the apron. Steen destroys an inflatable kangaroo at ringside. Steen power bombs Cole onto a ringside table two times. Steen picks up the World title belt and stands over Cole as we go to credits.
Thanks to www.thehistoryofwwe.com for their assistance with archival results.
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