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June 20th
On this day in history in ....
1953 - Sugi Sito defeats Tarzan Lopez to win the NWA World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, beginning his second reign and ending Lopez's fourth.
1957 - WWE Hall of Famer James "Koko B." Ware is born in Union City, Tennessee.
1960 - Tor Yamata and Mr. Moto defeat Mike Clancy and Oni Wiki Wiki for the Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Birmingham, Alabama.
1969 - Pat O'Connor defeats Dick Murdoch to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title in St. Joseph, Missouri, beginning his third reign.
1969 - The Chain Gang (Jack and Frank Dillinger) defeat Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher for the WWA World Tag Team Title in Indianapolis, Indiana, ending Bruiser and Crusher's third reign.
1970 - Beauregard and The Claw defeat Moondog Mayne and Frankie Laine for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.
1971 - Aiko Kyo and Jumbo Miyamoto defeat Masked Killer and Masked Lee to win the American Girls' Wrestling Association International Tag Team Title in Toride, Japan. This began Kyo and Miyamoto's sixth reign and ended Killer and Lee's fifth.
1978 - Dos Caras defeats Canek for the Mexico National Light Heavyweight Title in Pachuca, Mexico.
1979 - Ricky and Robert Gibson defeat The Twin Devils to win the NWA Americas Tag Team Title, ending the Devils' third reign.
1981 - The WWF runs at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- Johnny Rodz and Curt Hennig fought to a draw.
- Larry Sharpe defeated Tony Altimore.
- Strong Kobayashi defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna.
- Angelo Mosca defeated Tony Garea.
- Sgt. Slaughter defeated Rick McGraw.
- WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund defeated George Steele.
- The Moondogs defeated Dominic DeNucci and Special Delivery Jones.
- Don Muraco defeats Pedro Morales to win the WWF Intercontinental Title.
1981 - Les Thornton wins his third NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title, defeating Terry Taylor in Richmond, Virginia.
1982 - Paul Orndorff defeats Buzz Sawyer for the Georgia National Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia. A month later, Orndorff would vacate the title so he could "train" for a NWA World Title match with Harley Race (which he ended up losing).
1982 - Halcon Ortiz defeats Herodes to win the Mexico National Heavyweight Title in Guadalajara, Mexico.
1983 - Man Mountain Link defeats Jerry Lawler in Memphis, Tennessee for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Lawler's 25th reign.
1986 - Wayne Farris defeats Bad News Allen in Calgary, Alberta to win the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title, ending Allen's fourth reign. The title would be vacated on August 29 when Farris left Stampede Wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation, where he would become known as The Honky Tonk Man.
1987 - Bill Watts' UWF holds a tournament to crown the first NWA Western States Heritage Champion in Houston, Texas. The results:
- Barry Windham defeated Chris Adams in a first round match.
- Shaska Whatley and Buddy Roberts fought to a draw in a first round match. This gave Windham a bye to the finals.
- Rick Steiner and Terry Gordy fought to a double disqualification in a first round match.
- Black Bart defeated Sting in a first round match to receive a bye to the finals as a result of Steiner and Gordy's double DQ.
- No semifinal matches occurred.
- Barry Windham defeated Black Bart to become the first NWA Western States Heritage Champion.
1987 - The Hunters (Dale Veasey and Bob Brown) defeat Miguel Perez, Jr. and Tony Atlas in San Juan, Puerto Rico to win the WWC North American Tag Team Title.
1991 - The Bruise Brothers (Ron and Don Harris) win their second NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title, defeating Steve Doll and Jimmy Jack Funk in Portland, Oregon.
1992 - WCW's Beach Blast Pay-per-view took place at the Civic Center in Mobile, Alabama, earning a 0.4 buyrate. There would be two Beach Blast events, then Beach Blast would be replaced with Bash at the Beach in 1994. This Pay-per-view is best remembered for several very good matches, and the ridiculously stupid Bill Watts rule that top rope maneuvers were an automatic disqualification. Watts, who was the WCW Vice President at the time, has since claimed that he was banning the moves to make them seem "more special" when he would later allow them. His claim was that top rope moves were not "special" because they were overused. Coming on the heels of a great series of matches between Brian Pillman and Jushin Liger, the decision to ban the top rope just came across as dumb. Here are the results:
- In a match not shown on the Pay-per-view broadcast, Junkyard Dog, Tom Zenk & Big Josh defeated Tracey Smothers, Richard Morton & Diamond Dallas Page.
- Scotty Flamingo (Raven) defeated Brian Pillman to win the WCW Light Heavyweight Title when Pillman missed a dive from the ring, crashing into the entrance ramp, and Flamingo rolled Pillman back into the ring and hit a second rope kneedrop for the win.
- Ron Simmons defeated Terry Taylor with a powerslam.
- Greg Valentine defeated Marcus Bagwell via submission with the figure four leglock.
- WCW World Champion Sting defeated Cactus Jack in a non-title Falls Count Anywhere match with a top rope clothesline from the ring to the entrance ramp. This was Cactus' favorite match during his WCW run.
- Ricky Steamboat defeated Rick Rude in a 30-minute Ironman Match.
First Fall: Rude pinned Steamboat after a knee to the face of a charging Steamboat.
Second Fall: Rude pinned Steamboat with a Rude Awakening neckbreaker.
Third Fall: Rude is disqualified for jumping off the top rope to hit a kneedrop (top rope moves were now a DQ in WCW).
Fourth Fall: Rude pinned Steamboat with a small package immediately after the top rope DQ.
Fifth Fall: Steamboat pinned Rude with a tombstone piledriver.
Sixth Fall: Steamboat pinned Rude with a backslide.
Seventh Fall: With thirty seconds remaining, Steamboat kicked off the turnbuckles as Rude applied a sleeper and rolled Rude into a pinning position.
- Dustin Rhodes, Barry Windham & Nikita Koloff defeated Arn Anderson, Steve Austin & Bobby Eaton via disqualification when Anderson was disqualified for hitting a top rope axhandle on Windham, who had just superplexed Austin (from the second rope).
- Missy Hyatt defeated Madusa in a bikini contest. Missy's bikini was missing when she went to change, so she took Jesse Ventura's scarves and "made" a new suit.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner vs. Terry Gordy & Steve Williams ended in a 30-minute draw.
1997 - The Dudley Boyz (Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley) defeat The Eliminators (Perry Saturn and John Kronus) in Waltham, Massachusetts to win the ECW World Tag Team Title, ending the Eliminators' third reign and beginning the Dudleys' second.
1998 - The Brooklyn Brawler defeats Gene Austin in Tecumseh, Michigan to win the NWA Michigan Heavyweight Title, ending Austin's second reign.
2000 - At a SmackDown! taping in Memphis, Tennessee, Rikishi defeats Chris Benoit for the WWF Intercontinental Title, ending Benoit's second reign.
2000 - The Doc defeats Hyjinx in Hagerstown, Maryland to win the House of Pain Wrestling Federation Cruiserweight Title, ending Hyjinx's third reign and beginning The Doc's second.
2001 - Klondike Kate defeats Sweet Saraya to win the British Women's Title in Barking, England, ending Saraya's third reign and beginning Kate's fifth.
2002 - Two years after jumping to WCW with Ed Ferrara, Vince Russo returns to WWE as head television writer. He would leave the company again three weeks later, heading to the newly formed Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
2003 - Major League Wrestling holds "Hybrid Hell" at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida War Memorial Coliseum before 1,536 fans. The results:
- Jerry Lynn pinned Kid Romeo.
- Homicide pinned Michael Shane.
- The S.A.T. (Jose and Joel Maximo) defeated The Samoan Island Tribe.
- Christopher Daniels pinned Billy Fives.
- Kenzo Suzuki pinned Norman Smiley.
- C.W. Anderson and Simon Diamond defeated Steve Williams and D'Lo Brown, when Anderson pinned Brown, to retain the MLW Global Tag Team Title.
- Sabu defeated Mikey Whipwreck by submission.
- CM Punk pinned Raven.
- Mike Awesome pinned Satoshi Kojima to win the MLW World Heavyweight Title.
- Steve Corino pinned Mike Awesome to win the MLW World Heavyweight Title.
- Terry Funk pinned MLW World Heavyweight Champion Steve Corino in a non-title No-Rope Barbed Wire match.
2003 - Duke Durrango defeats Bruce Hart to win the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta, ending Hart's seventh reign.
2003 - Octagon and La Parka, Jr. defeat Electro Shock and Chessman for the Mexico National Tag Team Title in Veracruz, Mexico.
2003 - Kory Williams defeats Mike Woods for the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Nashville, Tennessee, beginning his second reign. At the same event, Chris Sanders defeats Arrick Andrews to become the first NWA Mid-America X Division Champion.
2004 - AAA holds TripleMania XII at El Toreo in Naucalpan, Mexico. The results:
- Oscar Sevilla, Pimpinella Escarlata, Cynthia Moreno and Mascarita Sagrada defeated Gran Apache, Polvo de Estrellas, Fabi Apache and Mini Abismo Negro.
- Octagon, Heavy Metal and Intocable defeated Pirata Morgan, MS1 and Espectro, Jr. by disqualification
- Mr. Aguila pinned Zorro to win the UWA World Light Heavyweight Title.
- Latin Lover, Hector Garza and Gronda defeated Abyss, Chessman and Abismo Negro, when Lover and Gronda pinned Abyss.
- Charly Manson pinned Electro Shock in a Retirement match.
- La Parka pinned Cibernetico in a Hair vs. Hair match.
2004 - Puerto Rican IWA wrestler and then-Hardcore Champion Victor the Bodyguard dies of a heart attack at an IWA event in Yauco, Puerto Rico.
2005 - Carlito is drafted to WWE RAW via the Draft Lottery and defeats Shelton Benjamin to win the WWE Intercontinental Title in Phoenix, Arizona. This edition of RAW also featured the attempted wedding of Edge and Lita, which was thwarted by Kane.
2006 - Kohei Sato and Ryouji Sai defeated Y2P-160kg and Steve Corino to win their second NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Title in Kanagawa, Japan.
2006 - G.Q. Gallo defeats Khan Kussion in Tempe, Arizona for the Ultra Championship Wrestling Zero Ultra-X Title.
2007 - Konnan flies himself home from Orlando, Florida after skipping a scheduled appearance at a TNA Impact taping. Konnan had changed his scheduled flight home to an earlier flight, and while he had not yet received an official release from the company, was done with TNA. He had been making noises privately and publicly about his unhappiness with the company over a variety of issues. Konnan would later end up filing a lawsuit against the company over working conditions, which would later be settled.
2010 - WWE held the first (and only) Fatal Four Way PPV in Long Island, NY. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
Welcome to our coverage of WWE Fatal Four Way. We will update this page throughout the evening with results from the show, so check back often.
The opening video package focused on the main events, but then switched into a package on Kane's search for the Undertaker's attacker and his promise of "vengeance" tonight.
Vince McMahon came out to open the show. Vince apologized for starting the show on a "somber note" and said Raw General Manager Bret Hart would not be here tonight. They showed the Team NXT attack on Hart from last week's Raw. Vince said he was meeting with "Bret's representatives" later to determine when Bret would be able to return to his duties, and what action would be taken against Team NXT. There was an audible "Daniel Bryan" chant during Vince's promo.
Drew McIntyre came out and shook hands with Vince McMahon before heading to the ring. The McIntyre-Long match from Smackdown this past week was recapped.
Vince McMahon was shown getting in his limo and leaving, so I guess the meeting isn't taking place at Nassau Coliseum.
Drew McIntyre got on the mic and said that Teddy Long, under orders of Mr. McMahon, has to come out right now. Long came out, while McIntyre insulted him, calling him "pathetic" and said he had "no pride" but at least he still had a job. McIntyre said when he wins back "his" Intercontinental Title, Long would have to hand it to him.
Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Drew McIntyre.
Kofi looked angry coming out, and the referee had to hold him back during the introductions. Kofi immediately began throwing kicks at the legs and body at the bell. McIntyre fought back with punches and threw Kofi down by the hair and stomped his head. They slugged it out, then Kofi hit a monkey flip and a dropkick. Kingston clotheslined McIntyre to the floor. Kofi hit a tope, then rolled him back in the ring. McIntyre rolled back out, then clipped Kofi's leg as he came out after him. Back in the ring, McIntyre threw Kofi shoulder first into the ringpost and got a two count. McIntyre pounded Kofi with forearms, then pulled him across the ring apron and pounded him across the chest. Kofi kicked Drew from his back, and they fought on the outside, with Drew whipping Kofi's arm into the ringpost.
Back in the ring, McIntyre got a two count, then applied an armbar. Kofi armdragged out of it, then slid under McIntyre, but Drew hit him with a shoulderblock. Drew stomped the arm, and Kofi tried to fight back, but Drew stomped him down in a corner. Drew flipped Kofi to the mat with an armwringer, then applied a overhead wristlock. Drew yanked Kofi to the mat by the hair and continued to work on the arm. McIntyre mocked Kofi's "Boom" claps, and it allowed Kofi to throw some kicks from the mat, but Drew pounded him back down. Drew returned to the armbar, but Kofi fought up and went for a sunset flip. Drew tried to punch out of it, but Kofi moved and Drew punched the mat. Drew came right back with a kick to the injured arm for a two count.
Drew clotheslined Kofi twice in the corner. Drew went for a short-arm clothesline, but Kofi floated over it and hit a DDT. Kofi elbowed Drew, then hit some kicks to the legs. Kofi punched Drew in the head, then hit a series of chops and a dropkick. Kofi missed a clothesline, then Drew missed with one and Kofi rolled up Drew for a two count. Kofi hit a reverse bodypress out of the corner for a two count, but Drew hit the arm again and delivered a neckbreaker on the knee for a two count. Drew went for a slam, but Kofi floated out of it and hit a legsweep. Kofi hit the Boom Drop legdrop, then began to clap. Drew backed away from the Trouble In Paradise kick, and backdropped Kofi to the ringapron. Drew hit some punches and went to back suplex Kofi into the ring, but Kofi shifted his weight and landed on top of Drew for a two count.
Drew hit a running kick on Kofi, then went for the Future Shock DDT, but Kofi broke out and hit a Tornado DDT off the middle rope. Drew got his foot on the bottom rope to stop the count. Kofi mounted Drew in the corner for punches, but Drew walked out of it with a powerbomb on Kofi for a near fall. Drew complained about the count. Drew picked up Kofi off the mat, but Kofi hit the SOS for a two count. McIntyre tripped Kofi into the turnbuckles, but Kofi grabbed a headscissors. Drew stood up in the headscissors and threw Kofi into the referee, knocking him out.
Drew threw Kingston shoulder first into the ringpost and hit the Future Shock DDT, but there was no referee to count. McIntyre tried to revive the referee, then went outside and threw Teddy Long in the ring, demanding he make the count. McIntyre even ripped the shirt off the unconscious referee and ordered Long to put it on. Long did so, and McIntyre made the cover. Long counted two, then stopped and shook his head no. The fans chanted for Long. McIntyre glared at Long, and backed him in a corner. McIntyre told Long he needs to count him, or he would "drop him." McIntyre went to pick up Kofi for another DDT, but Matt Hardy ran in from the crowd and gave McIntyre a Twist Of Fate. Long just watched. Kofi then gave McIntyre a Trouble In Paradise kick and Long counted the pinfall for Kofi at the 17-minute mark.
Winner: Kofi Kingston.
Backstage, Savannah interviewed the Hart Dynasty, who apparently are wrestling in a six-person tag team match on the show. Natalya said it was a tough week, but they would make Bret proud tonight. Kidd said they were going to take care of the Usos tonight in the ring. Smith said Bret has been like a father to him, and that he signed the Usos so the Hart Dynasty would have to earn everything they achieve. He said tonight they would fight.
Divas Champion Eve vs. Alicia Fox vs. Maryse vs. Gail Kim.
Eve and Maryse paird off at the bell, while Kim and Alicia did the same. Gail got kicked in the shin by Fox, who then hit a Northern Lights suplex, leading into a sequence where everyone was breaking up pins and going for covers. Fox gave Kim a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Eve gave Maryse and Fox forearms and dropkicks. Fox and Maryse double-teamed Eve. Kim got on the apron and gave Fox a headscissors while Eve put Maryse in an armbar. Kim let go of her headscissors to break up Eve's hold on Maryse. Kim put Maryse in an armbar of her own, then Fox broke it up and she put Maryse in an armbar. Maryse escaped to the floor. Eve put Fox in a camel clutch, while Kim put Fox a Boston Crab at the same time. Maryse tossed Eve and Kim out of the ring, leaving her to face off with Fox.
They argued, then Fox shoved her. Maryse hit some forearms and a side kick for a cover, but Eve broke it up. Kim came in and dropkicked Eve and Maryse. Kim hit Maryse with a shoulderblock, then a missile dropkick for a one count, as Eve broke it up. Kim got yanked down off the apron by Alicia, who dropped her face first on it Eve gave Maryse a neckbreaker in the ring, then went to the top rope and hit a moonsault. Fox broke up the cover, throwing Eve to the floor, and Fox covered Maryse for the pin at the six minute mark.
Winner and new Divas Champion: Alicia Fox.
Backstage, Rey Mysterio was praying. Big Show said that while Rey is a "man of faith" some things are "too big" to overcome. Rey said he is a former World Champion with 20 years experience, and he is always the underdog, but he will be champion again. Show said they are friends, but he will knock him out of he has to, holding up his fist. Rey said his heart is bigger than Show's fist. Rey walked off, and Show wished him luck.
Chris Jericho came out and cut a promo about how he is the reason fans watch WWE, which got an ovation from the New York crowd. Jericho said he is not getting the attention he used to, noting that even his rookie Wade Barrett gets more attention than him. Jericho said that the reason is because his whole career he has been trying to knock someone else off the mountain, and now he was on the top of the mountain with others trying to knock him off. Jericho said he has a target on his back. Jericho noted that last week on Raw, Evan Bourne gave him a shooting star press after their match was over, and he didn't deserve it. Jericho said he wants restitution, and has challenged Bourne a match tonight. Jericho ripped on Bourne, saying his career would "fade away" like a shooting star tonight. The fans seemed mostly pro-Jericho, even when he called them parasites.
Chris Jericho vs. Evan Bourne.
There was a loud "Y2J" chant at the start. They locked up, and Bourne shoved Jericho. Jericho whipped Bourne into a corner and clotheslined him. Jericho punched Bourne, calling him "Shooting Star" while hitting him. Bourne ducked a clothesline and hit a rana, then a dropkick to the face for a two count. Bourne ran the ropes, but Jericho hit a clothesline for a two count. Jericho pounded Bourne in a corner. Jericho missed a charge and fell to the floor. Bourne went to the top rope and hit a bodypress on Jericho on the floor. As they got back in the ring, Jericho kicked Bourne on the apron, then hit the springboard dropkick, knocking Bourne to the floor.
Back in the ring, Jericho kicked Bourne in the gut. Bourne fought back with some kicks, but Jericho floored him with a dropkick for a two count. Jericho snapmared Bourne and kicked him in the back. Jericho put Bourne in a chinlock, but Bourne fought up in it. Jericho went for a back suplex, but Bourne floated over it and hit some kicks to the body, then a spinkick. Bourne hit a running elbow, then a dropkick in the corner for a two count. Bourne hit some kicks to the leg, but missed a roundhouse and Jericho hit a German suplex for a two count. Jericho put Bourne in a corner and went for a whip. Bourne reversed it, but Jericho hit a back elbow. Jericho got on the second rope, but Bourne leaped up and pulled him down with a rana for a two count.
Bourne went for his double kneedriver, but Jericho caught it and slowly dropped to the mat, rolling Bourne into the Walls Of Jericho, to a pop. Bourne struggled in the hold, and made the ropes for a break. Bourne got up on the apron, and Jericho shoved him off the apron and into the announce table. Jericho went outside and rammed Bourne into the table. Jericho went for a clothesline on the floor, but Bourne dodged it and tripped Jericho into the ringsteps. Back in the ring, Bourne hit a top rope kneedriver for a two count. Bourne hit a kick, but Jericho blocked one and hit a double underhook backbreaker. Jericho went for a Lionsault, but Bourne moved. Jericho landed on his feet, and Bourne kicked him. Bourne went for a Shooting Star Press, but Jericho moved out of the way. Bourne landed on his feet, but Jericho hit a Codebreaker. Jericho covered, but Bourne got his foot on the ropes. Jericho yelled "Stay down you idiot!" and pounded him in the corner.
Jericho missed a charge in the corner, and Bourne rolled up Jericho for a two count. Jericho grabbed the legs and went for the Walls Of Jericho, but Bourne hooked his head. Jericho stood up with Bourne holding onto his head, and Bourne swung around into a DDT. Bourne went to the top rope, but Jericho met him there. They fought on the ropes, and Bourne punched Jericho to the mat. Bourne got ready to jump, but Jericho got back up and crotched Bourne on the top rope. Jericho went for a superplex, but Bourne tossed Jericho back to the mat, gourdbuster-style. Bourne hit the Shooting Star Press to Jericho's back and got the pin at the 12-minute mark.
Winner: Evan Bourne.
A video package on the Undertaker situation and the World Title Fatal Four Way match was shown.
World Champion Jack Swagger vs. Big Show vs. Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk.
Big Show came out first, then CM Punk, who sent Luke Gallows & Serena to the back after hugging them on the stage. Rey Mysterio then entered, then Jack Swagger, and they did the big match introductions.
At the bell, no one went for the immediate lockup. Swagger and Punk then went after Rey, but Big Show grabbed them and tossed them away. Show chopped Swagger, and Punk jumped on Show's back for a sleeper, but he flipped him off. Rey dropkicked Punk and went for his mask. Rey used a headscissors to send Punk out of the ring. Show tossed Swagger out of the ring, leaving Rey and Show to face off. Rey went on the attack, but Show shoved him away. Show got ready for a punch, and Rey slid to the floor. Show reached out of the ring and pulled Rey back in, then threw him into Swagger, who was on the apron. Show covered Rey, but Punk broke it up. Show chopped Punk down and covered him, but Swagger broke it up. Show dominated, just knocking people around.
Show held Rey for a slam with one arm, and pushed around Punk and Swagger with the other, until Rey hit Big Show with a DDT out of the slam. There was a sequence where everyone tried to cover Show and pulled each other off. Swagger gave Show a splash out of the corner, but Punk and Rey pulled him off and kicked him. Rey and Punk kicked Show out of the ring, then began going at it with each other. Swagger knocked Punk out of the ring and focused his attack on Rey, hitting a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Swagger put Mysterio in a double chicken wing, but Rey fought out of it. Rey set up Swagger for a 619, but Punk hit Rey with a springboard bodypress for a two count, then covered Swagger for a two count.
Punk shoved Swagger out of the ring and worked over Mysterio in a corner. Punk hit a backbreaker on Rey for a two count, then pulled Swagger into the ring and blasted him with a spinning backfist. Punk kicked Rey in a corner, then gave Swagger a jumping knee in the opposite corner. Punk went for a German suplex on Rey, but Swagger grabbed Punk and we had a double German suplex. Swagger covered both men, but couldn't get a pinfall. Swagger went for a powerbomb on Punk, but Punk blocked it. Punk kicked Swagger in the head, but Rey hit a headscissors on Punk and went for a 619. Big Show, from the floor, grabbed the attempt and dropped Rey face first on the announce table.
Big Show got in the ring and pounded Swagger and Punk, including an avalanche on both men and a double clothesline. Swagger and Punk bailed out to the floor. BIg Show went out after Punk, but Rey kicked the ring steps into Show's legs. Mysterio gave Show a 619 around the ringpost. Punk hit a springboard dive on Show on the floor. In the ring, Rey went for a bodypress on Swagger, but Swagger kicked Rey down. Punk ran in and gave Swagger a GTS, but apparently hurt his knee on the move.
The lights turned red, and Kane came out, wheeling a casket. Kane went after CM Punk and threw him out of the ring. Kane chokeslammed Punk into the casket and went to close it, but Punk used his leg to keep it open. Luke Gallows ran out and kicked Kane, then helped Punk to the back, with Kane in pursuit.
In the ring, Rey gave Swagger a 619 and a springboard splash for the pin at the ten minute mark.
Winner and new World Champion: Rey Mysterio.
Backstage, Josh Mathews interviewed John Cena. When asked about Team NXT attacking, Cena talked about how it has "solidified" the WWE locker room, and that there is an "unspoken agreement" to work together if they show up. When asked about the odds in a Fatal Four Way match (we've had two title changes already), Cena said whoever walks out the champion tonight, will have to earn it.
They reviewed how Miz won the U.S. Title in a Fatal Four Way match on Raw last week.
Miz came out, and did a version of R-Truth's entrance music with new lyrics about himself, replacing "What's Up" with "The Miz". Truth then came out to the original version.
U.S. Champion The Miz vs. R-Truth.
They locked up at the bell, then Truth hit a shoulderblock. They locked up again, and Truth hit another shoulderblock, then a third. Truth ducked a clothesline and hit another shoulderblock, sending Miz to the floor. Truth clotheslined Miz on the floor, then tossed him into the ring for a two count. Truth went for a leapfrog, but Miz kicked him in the gut, then stomped him in the gut. Miz hit some elbows, then applied a trapped arm chinlock. Truth elbowed out of it, then hit a hiptoss. Truth was backdropped to the apron, but he slugged Miz and rammed him into the top turnbuckle. Miz rolled to the apron as well, then shoved Truth into the ringpost. Truth fell to the floor, and Miz told the referee to count for a countout.
Truth got in the ring at nine, and Miz stomped him. Miz worked over Truth with bodyshots in the corner. Miz hit the through the ropes clothesline and got a two count. Miz applied a bodyscissors, but Truth turned over in it and hit some punches to break the hold. Truth was favoring the ribs. Miz hit a kick to the head for a two count. Miz stretched Truth in the ropes and pounded him with forearms. Truth punched and kicked for a comeback, but Miz landed a knee to the ribs, then stepped on his face. Miz hit a kick to the ribs, then they exchanged punches. Truth got the better of it, but Miz hit a back elbow and went for an armbar, while driving an elbow into the ribs. Miz then applied a modified bow and arrow, but Truth broke out and hit a back suplex for a two count.
Miz kicked Truth in the head and stomped him, then hit a vertical suplex. Miz played to the crowd, and it allowed Truth to hit some punches and a gourdbuster for a two count. Miz grabbed Truth by the pants and pulled him face first into the turnbuckles. Miz punched Truth on the ropes and went for a superplex, but Truth knocked him away and hit a second rope dropkick. There were some "This is boring" or "Miz is boring" chants. Truth rallied with punches and kicks, then hit a flapjack. Truth hit a Flatliner for a two count. Miz kicked Truth, but Truth returned fire and hit a suplex stunner for a two count. Truth charged Miz, and Miz dropped him gut first on the top rope. Miz hit a backbreaker/neckbreaker combo for a two count.
Miz missed a clothesline in the corner, and got tangled in the ropes. Truth legdropped him out of the corner and got a two count. Miz hit a shot to the gut and threw Truth out of the ring. Truth landed on the apron and went to the top rope. Miz stopped him and they battled on the ropes. Truth knocked Miz into the ring, but missed a top rope bodypress. Miz went to pick him up off the mat, but Truth grabbed a small package for two. Miz went for a running kick, but Truth rolled him up for two. Miz whipped Truth into the ropes, but Truth grabbed a bodyscissors and went into a Victory Roll, but Miz dropped down on it and got the pin at the 14-minute mark.
Winner: The Miz.
Todd Grisham interviewed Edge. Edge talked about how John Cena had to watch every other Four Way match end in a title change, how Randy Orton can't be recovered from his shoulder injury, and that Sheamus knows he doesn't belong in the ring with men who have main evented Wrestlemania. Edge said the only thing on his mind was winning the WWE Title.
The Hart Dynasty (Tyson Kidd & David Hart Smith & Natalya) vs. Jimmy & Jey Uso & Tamina.
Tamina started off with Natalya, with Tamina shoving Natalya. They traded holds, with Natalya getting a two count with a cradle. Smith and Jey Uso tagged in and Smith took Jey down with a keylock. Smith tripped him and grabbed a jackknife rollup for two. Smith armdragged out of a hiptoss attempt and hit a belly to belly suplex. Smith put Jey in the Tree Of Woe, then whipped Kidd into him with a dropkick. Kidd scored a two count on Jey, then applied a side headlock. Jey backed him into his corner and tagged Jimmy, who slammed Kidd. Kidd springboarded out of a wristlock and hit a spinkick, but Jimmy hit a back elbow.
Jimmy tossed Kidd to the floor, then went for a dive, but Kidd kicked him from the apron. Back in the ring, Kidd battled both Usos from the apron, but got caught while diving on Jimmy and was Samoan Dropped on the floor. Jey rolled Tyson into the ring and put him in a chinlock. Tyson kicked away a backdrop attempt, but Jey hit a side kick for a two count. Jimmy tagged in for a double back elbow, then a double elbow drop. Jimmy suplexed Tyson Kidd and put him in a chinlock. Tyson armdragged out of it and went for a tag, but Jimmy stopped it and hit a right hand for a two count.
Jey tagged in and hit a running posterior shot in the corner for a two count on Kidd. Jimmy tagged in for a top rope kneedrop for a two count, then another chinlock. Jimmy choked Kidd down in the corner, but missed a charge. Jey tagged in and stopped a tag at first, but Natalya got the tag, forcing Tamina in the ring. Natalya suplexed Tamina and dropkicked her in the back. Natalya hit a driver, but Jimmy broke up the cover. The match broke down, with the men on the floor. Kidd hit a springboard somersault dive on both Usos. In the ring, Tamina hit Natalya with a Samoan Drop, but missed a superfly splash. Natalya hit the discus lariat for the pin at the nine minute mark.
Winners: The Hart Dynasty.
A video package on the main event was shown.
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Sheamus vs. Randy Orton vs. Edge.
They did the "big match" introductions after all the entrances were done. They all stared at each other at the bell, then Cena went after Sheamus and Orton went after Edge. Edge and Sheamus were thrown out of the ring, and we had Cena and Orton facing off. Orton missed a punch, then both men teased their finishers before Edge pulled Orton to the floor and Sheamus ambushed Cena from behind. Sheamus pounded Cena, then Edge joined him, having disposed of Orton on the floor. Edge and Sheamus hit a double back elbow on Cena. Loud "Cena Sucks" chant. A "Let's Go Cena" chant started up in response.
Sheamus and Edge took shots at Cena, with Sheamus landing a clothesline. Edge then rolled up Sheamus from behind for a two count. Sheamus clotheslined Edge and began punching him in a corner. We saw some of the babyfaces in the back watching on a monitor. Edge fought back against Sheamus and hit a clothesline for two. Cena broke up the cover, but Edge tossed him out of the ring. Edge went to the top rope, but Orton ran in and crotched him. Orton went for a superplex on Edge, but Sheamus stopped it. Sheamus went to powerbomb Orton out of the corner, but Orton slugged him away. Orton got off the ropes. Edge went for a bodypress, but Orton ducked and Edge hit Sheamus. Orton broke up the cover.
Edge kicked Sheamus out of the ring, then Orton clotheslined Edge out of the ring. Cena was on the ring apron, and Orton suplexed him back in. Orton worked over Cena with kicks, then stomped him. Orton missed a kneedrop, and Sheamus ran in and hit Orton with a double axhandle. Sheamus and Cena slugged it out, and Cena hit a vertical suplex. Cena went for an Attitude Adjustment, but Sheamus elbowed out and hit the Irish Curse backbreaker for a two count. Sheamus went for a crucifix bomb, but Edge ran in to break it up with a spear. Sheamus sidestepped it, sending Edge back to the floor after hitting the ringpost. Cena rolled up Sheamus, but he kicked out and hit a clothesline. Orton then hit Sheamus with a clothesline, and Orton hit a double elevated DDT on Sheamus and Cena. Orton covered Sheamus and got a two count. Edge blasted Orton with a kick to the head.
Edge measured Cena for a spear, but Cena moved out of the way and Edge hit the corner. Cena hit the shoulderblocks and back suplex, then did the "You Can't See Me" and hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop. Orton came in and hit Cena with a neckbreaker, then gave Edge a powerslam. Orton measured Edge for an RKO. Sheamus came in and tried to pump kick Orton, who dodged it, but Sheamus managed to throw Orton to the floor. Sheamus stomped Edge, then punched Cena. Cena backdropped Sheamus to the floor.
Cena punched Edge, then went after Sheamus on the apron. Orton tripped Sheamus off the apron, sending Sheamus to the floor and clotheslining Cena on the top rope. Orton got on the apron, but Edge shoulderblocked him off. Edge grabbed Cena, but Cena tripped him and applied an STF. Edge struggled in the hold, and almost had the ropes, but Cena pulled him back away and reapplied the hold. Sheamus broke up the hold, then covered Edge for a two count. Sheamus kicked Cena, then pulled him across the apron and elbowed him repeatedly in the neck. Sheamus then went after Edge, hitting a short arm clothesline for a two count.
Orton got on the apron, but Sheamus knocked him back down. Sheamus then knocked Cena off the opposite apron. Sheamus went to slam Edge, but Edge floated over and hit a headcrusher. Sheamus rolled to the floor. Cena got in and went to give Edge an Attitude Adjustment, but Edge escaped and Orton slid in and hit Cena with an RKO. Sheamus ran in and shoved the referee away to break up the count. Orton kicked Sheamus out of the ring, but Edge nailed Orton with a spear. Sheamus got back in and hit Edge with a pump kick, sending him from the ring. Sheamus covered Orton, but Orton kicked out. Edge pulled Orton to the floor, but Orton unloaded with right hands. Sheamus came outside, but Orton shoved him into the announce table, ending the announcing for the night. Edge speared Orton on the floor, into the guardrail.
Backstage, the NXT rookies attacked The Hart Dynasty, Evan Bourne and R-Truth. They also wrecked the set and the monitor.
In the ring, only Cena was in the ring, seeing what was happening. The NXT guys headed to the ring, beating up production people along the way. Darren Young hit the ring first, and Cena gave him an Attitude Adjustment, but the rest of the NXT rookies ambushed him. Edge then started to fight with them on the floor, and he got beaten down. All of the NXT guys were on the floor beating on Edge, so Sheamus rolled into the ring and covered Cena for a three count at the 17-minute mark.
Winner and new WWE Champion: Sheamus.
Sheamus immediately ran off into the crowd after his pinfall. The NXT rookies went back to beating on Cena in the ring. Sheamus emerged on the stage with the WWE Title, then the NXT rookies chased after him into the back.
They showed Cena down in the ring, Edge down on the floor, and Orton (from the Edge spear) down on the floor. There was no announcing, and as all the top stars were laid out, all you could hear was the fans chanting "Daniel Bryan".
That ended the show at 10:36pm.
2011 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Baltimore, Maryland and your announcers are Michael ‘Why do people want to keep giving me crabs’ Cole, Jerry ‘King of Old Bay Seasoning’ Lawler, and Booker ‘Air Raid Alert System’ T
CM Punk makes his way into the arena and he has something to say to the people, who are going to be so important on tonight’s show.
Punk sits down in the center of the ring and he says ‘power to the people’ and he says that he would not trust any of them with the content of this television program. What terrible decisions could they make because they live in Baltimore. Punk says that no one can do anything tonight that will guide Punk’s career. He says that he is the best wrestler in the world. He says that he soundly defeated Rey Mysterio at Capitol Punishment. He soundly defeated John Cena last Monday night on Raw. Punk says that wins and losses do matter. Punk says that he is now the Number One Contender for the WWE Championship. He says that this is not a debate or an argument. It is a fact based on his accomplishments over the last two weeks.
Punk wants the anonymous Raw General Manager to send Michael Cole an e-mail to make him officially the Number One Contender to face John Cena at Money in the Bank in his home town of Chicago.
Punk tells the Gender unidentified General Manager that he is not going to leave the ring until he is declared the Number One Contender.
The Ding Dong sounds and so does the computer. Punk mirrors Cole’s announcement and he wants the announcement that he is the number one contender made. Cole quotes that he understands Punk’s demands and he will take them under consideration. He asks Punk to leave the ring.
Punk tells Cole that he loves him and knows that Cole is doing his or her job and they are asking Punk to leave the ring.
The computer tells Cole to tell Punk that he leave the ring now.
Punk says that he is not going to leave the ring until he is made number one contender, but he is going to do snow angels.
The general manager says that he was going to name Punk the number one contender later, but now Punk will have to face Alberto Del Rio.
Punk says that Del Rio has a fluke victory over the Big Show.
The match is now a Triple Threat Match. CM Punk will now face Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio. This causes the first of what will be many Booker T warning alarms tonight.
It is time to find out the first thing the people get to determine. Who will Brie Bella face for the Divas Title: Eve, Kelly Kelly, or Beth Phoenix.
We go to the back where Eve, Kelly Kelly, and Beth are standing.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to see who will face Brie Bella tonight. The results are:
Eve: 11 %
Beth: 36 %
Kelly: 53 %
Match Number One: Brie Bella with Nikki Bella versus Kelly Kelly for the Divas Title
They lock up and Brie is warned about pulling the hair. Brie goes to the floor and Kelly is distracted by Nikki on the floor and Brie knocks Kelly off the apron. Brie rolls Kelly back into the ring and then she sends Kelly into the turnbuckles. Brie chokes Kelly and then she kicks Kelly. Brie chokes Kelly in the ropes again. Brie gets the first near fall of the match. Brie with a chin lock on Kelly.
Brie with a rear chin lock on Kelly. Kelly with a snap mare and then Kelly kicks Brie and she slams her head into the mat. Kelly with a Thesz Press and punches from Kelly. Kelly with a bulldog for a near fall. Brie with a kick and a neck breaker for a near fall. Kelly with a boot to Brie and then Kelly tries for a victory roll. Brie is able to get a near fall when she doesn’t go over. Kelly gets the three count.
Winner: Kelly Kelly
After the match, Jerry Lawler goes into the ring and he interviews the new Divas Champion. Jerry asks Kelly if she is liking the power to the people. Kelly thanks everyone for voting for her and how this is her first title. She says that she will make everyone proud.
We have an Evan Bourne video package.
Who will Evan Bourne face: Jack Swagger, Mason Ryan, or Sin Cara?
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that a lot of WWE videos are seen.
Here are the results for the next match:
Sin Cara: 30
Jack Swagger: 19
Mason Ryan: 51
Match Number Two: Evan Bourne versus Mason ‘Almostista’ Ryan
Ryan yells at Bourne before they lock up and Bourne moves around Ryan to figure out what to do. Bourne with a kick to the leg but Ryan sends Bourne into the corner but Bourne escapes. Bourne goes for the leg but Ryan stays on his feet and Ryan with a forearm and shoulders in the corner.
Ryan with an Irish whip as the Batista chants start. Ryan tries for a press slam but Bourne lands on his feet. Bourne with two drop kicks that do not move Ryan. Ryan with a clothesline followed by a back breaker. Ryan with another back breaker and a fallaway slam. Ryan chokes Bourne in the ropes.
Bourne with a series of kicks in the corner followed by a forearm and a leaping knee into the corner. Ryan presses Bourne over his head and he slams him while Booker ‘wows’ during the descent to the mat. Ryan puts Bourne on the top turnbuckle. Bourne kicks Ryan off and then he leaps over Ryan and then he hits a savate kick and he gets a near fall with an inside cradle.
Bourne tries for a punch off the turnbuckles but Ryan catches Bourne and hits an uranage for the three count.
Winner: Mason Ryan
What will be the stipulation between Kane and Mark Henry: Body Slam Match, Arm Wrestling Match, or Over the Top Rope Match?
Mark Henry walks through the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and we see fans texting in the crowd. Hope they don’t spoil anything.
We take a look at what happened on Friday night between Big Show and Mark Henry. Then we go to last night when Mark Henry gave Big Show the World’s Strongest Slam through the announce table.
Mark says that we now see what happens when the World’s Largest Athlete faces the World’s Strongest Man. Someone gets punished. There are two fundamental differences between them. When Big Show walks the Earth, the Earth shakes. When Mark Henry walks the Earth, all the people who say what . . . they shake. Bigger is not always better. Just like his music says, when you’re dealing with the World’s Strongest Man . . . somebody’s gonna get their ass kicked.
Here are the results for the next match:
Body Slam Match: 13%
Arm Wrestling Match: 52%
Over the Top Rope Match: 35%
Match Number Three: Mark Henry versus Kane in an Arm Wrestling Match
They get set up but Henry pulls away from the table. The fans are not big fans of this arm wrestling match because they are calling it stupid.
They are finally ready to go and it looks like Kane is going to go over the top, but Henry hits Kane and he is disqualified. Henry with a head butt but Kane with an uppercut. Kane grabs Henry but Henry gets free and he hits a clothesline.
Henry picks up the arm wrestling table and he hits Kane with it. Kane rolls to the floor. Henry goes to the floor and Henry continues to batter Kane and he runs Kane into the ring post. Mark remembers to remove the monitors from the announce table before sending Kane through it. Henry with another World’s Strongest Slam through the announce table.
The medical staff wants to check on Kane, but he tells him to get away so Kane can suffer.
It is time to take a look at the recent beverage history with R Truth and John Cena. We see what Truth did last week with a water bottle. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to see the sights of Baltimore.
It is time for an ‘R Truth is Crazy’ video package. I think it was produced by Little Jimmy.
R Truth makes his way to the ring and he has something to say to the Jimmys and Jennys. Truth says that he can see that the people of Baltimore have no home training so he will let them continue to act like the animals they are. Truth wants to know if they are happy that they are in charge.
Truth says that he made a call to himself in his head. He says that he did not think this out clearly last night. He asked himself and he wanted to know who would get him. Would it be the computer? Would it be John Cena? Truth says that he got okey-doked by Little Jimmy. He says that he got got by Little Jimmy. Truth says that he knew it was a Jimmy Conspiracy.
Christian comes out after interrupting the Jimmy Conspiracy. He tells Truth that he feels where he is coming from. Power to the people? Power to the People is a complete joke. He has been in this business for seventeen long years and then he finally became the World Champion. Only to have it stolen from him five days later when he wasn’t 100 percent because the people decided that he should face Randy Orton. Christian says that he has had his opportunities but he has had his setbacks. Christian says that it isn’t his fault. Christian blames horrible audiences just like the one in Baltimore. He blames a horrible general manager as well as a horrible referee. Christian wants Truth to look at the footage from Capitol Punishment and we see that Christian’s foot was under the bottom rope so the three count never should have happened.
Christian says that he is demanding that justice be served. He says that he only needs one more title shot. Truth says that at least Christian was a champion. Truth says that he had his first title match and he got got by Little Jimmy.
Christian asks who Little Jimmy is and Truth says that maybe there aren’t Little Jimmys in Canada.
Miz makes his way to the ring and he has a series of reallys for the men in the ring. Miz calls them whiners and crybabies. Christian wants to complain about a referee problem and Truth wants to complain about a Little Jimmy. Miz says that a referee should not be involved in a match. Riley had a match handed to him on a silver platter.
Christian says that things are different in Miz’s match. Christian points out that Truth and him were in title matches while Miz was facing his apprentice.
We get a How Dare You Off in the ring. Then it escalates to Reallys. Then it gets to Randy, Riley, and Jimmy. Duck Season. Rabbit Season.
The Smackdown invasion is almost complete because Teddy Long is making his way into the arena. Teddy says that people don’t want to see them blabbering in the ring. The fans want to see them in action. Teddy says that in the main event, the three of them will be in a six man tag match and the people will choose the type of match. Their opponents will be Alex Riley, Randy Orton, and John Cena. That announcement gets the Booker alarm to go off again.
We will see Dolph Ziggler defend the US Title against Kofi Kingston in a 2 out of 3 falls match, a Vickie Guerrero Banned from Ringside Match, or a Submission Match.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Photos of Dolph Ziggler winning the United States Title last night.
Vickie Guerrero introduces the new United States Champion.
The results for this match are:
Two out of Three Falls Match: 51%
Vickie Guerrero Banned from Ringside Match: 31%
Submission Match: 18%
Match Number Three: Dolph Ziggler versus Kofi Kingston in a Two out of Three Falls Match for the United States Title
Fall Number One
The first fall starts off with Kofi kicking Dolph as he shows a lot of aggression. Dolph goes to the floor and Kofi continues the attack. Kofi with a forearm and then he sends Dolph back into the ring. Dolph with a forearm but Kofi with a forearm of his own. Kofi with boots to Ziggler and Dolph is forced back to the floor.
Kofi sends Dolph back into the ring and he gets a near fall. Kofi with a suplex to Ziggler and he gets a near fall. Dolph with a kick and punch to the head and he tries for a neck breaker but Kofi with a back slide for a near fall. Kofi with a double leg take down. Dolph kicks Kofi away and then Kofi dives at Ziggler but Dolph moves out of the way and Kofi goes to the floor as we go to commercial.
We are back and the action has returned to the ring and Ziggler with a reverse chin lock. We are told that the first fall took place and we see Ziggler hitting a Zig Zag and then he got the three count.
Ziggler 1 Fall; Kofi 0 Falls
Fall Number Two
Ziggler with a drop kick and a near fall. Ziggler with an arm bar as he tries to get the sweep. Kofi with punches to Ziggler and Ziggler with a kick and a Fameasser for a near fall. Kofi blocks a punch and gets a three count with an SOS and Booker sets off a three alarm wow.
Ziggler 1 Fall; Kofi 1 Fall
Fall Number Three
Kofi picks up Ziggler but Ziggler with a kick and a neck breaker for a near fall. Ziggler with a reverse chin lock. Ziggler with kicks while Kofi connects with punches. Kofi blocks a drop kick from Ziggler and he catapults Ziggler into the ring post. Kofi with chops to Ziggler followed by a drop kick. Kofi with a sunset flip and a leaping double stomp for a near fall.
Ziggler with a rollup and he tries to get some extra leverage with the tights but he can only get a near fall. Kofi with a drop kick and then he goes to the second turnbuckle for Shadows over Hell for a near fall. Dolph rolls to the floor and he takes his title belt and he is going to walk away. Ziggler tries to hit Kofi with the belt but Kofi misses it. Kofi with Trouble in Paradise and Ziggler is out.
Kofi gets Ziggler back into the ring but Ziggler grabs the rope to stop the count. Ziggler goes to the floor again and he takes something from the ring announcer and Kofi goes after him. Ziggler hits Kofi with the mic and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Kofi Kingston by disqualification
After the match, Dolph sends Kofi back into the ring and Dolph tries to take advantage but Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise again and Dolph goes down in a heap.
Michael Cole blames everything that happened tonight on Steve Austin. We go to last week’s Raw when Austin made the announcement followed by the Stone Cold Stunner on Cole.
The stipulations for the match between CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio, and Rey Mysterio are: No Disqualification, Falls Count Anywhere, or Submission Match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Shawn Michaels will be at Raw next week.
Alberto Del Rio drives into the arena and he tells us who he is . . . but we already knew that. He says that he is teaching people about destiny. What happened between Big Show, Ricardo Rodriguez, and his car was an accident. Del Rio says that was not an accident. It was destiny. He also told Big Show that bad things happen to bad people. Alberto says that his victory last night over Big Show was not an accident, it was destiny. He says that he will destroy CM Punk and Rey Mysterio. It will not be by accident, it will be pure destiny.
It is time for the stipulation for the Number One Contender Match:
No Disqualification: 23%
Falls Count Anywhere: 66%
Submission: 11%
Match Number Four: Alberto Del Rio versus CM Punk versus Rey Mysterio in a Falls Count Anywhere Match to determine the Number One Contender for the WWE Title
Rey with a rollup on Punk and then he tries for one on Del Rio. Del Rio with a kick to Rey and then he stomps on Rey. Rey with a kick to the leg and then he punches Punk. Del Rio kicks Rey and then Del Rio gets back body dropped to the floor. Punk gets a near fall on Rey. Rey lands on his feet and Punk gets sent into the ropes and Del Rio with a clothesline when Rey goes for a 619 way too early and Del Rio gets a near fall.
Punk sends Del Rio to the apron and then Punk tries for a sunset flip power bomb to the floor and he hits it and gets a near fall on the floor. Rey with a senton splash onto Punk as he comes off the apron and Rey gets a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Rey with a head scissors to Punk and a drop kick to Del Rio’s knees. Rey falls victim to a tilt-a-whirl back breaker from Del Rio and he gets a near fall. Punk punches Del Rio and he gets Del Rio on his shoulders but Del Rio escapes. Del Rio with a single arm breaker using the knees. Del Rio with kicks to Punk and then he sends him into the turnbuckles. Del Rio kicks Rey on the apron and tries to send him into the ring post. Rey goes up top with a head scissors and he sends Del Rio into the ropes. Punk gets sent into the ropes and Punk grabs Rey as he tries for the 619. Punk tries for the Go To Sleep but Del Rio with a kick. Punk kicks Del Rio when he tries for the cross arm breaker and Punk gets a near fall that is broken up by Rey.
Punk puts Rey on the top turnbuckle but Del Rio goes up and he hits a power bomb on Punk while Punk hits a superplex on Rey. Del Rio gets a near fall on Rey and then he gets a near fall on Punk. Rey with a kick to a charging Del Rio. Rey tries for a wheelbarrow but Del Rio with a German suplex for a near fall.
Punk kicks Del Rio in the shoulder. Del Rio with an Irish whip and a shoulder into the corner. Del Rio tries for a shoulder on Rey in the corner and Rey moves. Del Rio goes into the post. Punk gets Rey on his shoulders and he hits snake eyes. Punk with an Irish whip but Rey kicks Punk as he charges into the corner. Rey with a somersault splash onto Punk and then he dives through the ropes and hits a suicide dive onto Del Rio.
Rey adjusts his knee brace before he returns to the ring. Rey goes up top and hits a seated senton splash and gets a near fall on Punk. Rey tries for a springboard cross body and Punk channels Samoa Joe and walks away from the cross body since Rey spend so much time in the air.
Punk goes up top but Rey stops him. Rey tries for a super rana but Punk holds on to the turnbuckles. Del Rio with the cross arm breaker but Punk with a leg drop from the turnbuckles and he gets a near fall.
Del Rio with an Irish whip into the corner followed by a running enzuigiri to Punk and Punk goes to the floor. Rey with a head scissors that sends Del Rio into the ropes. Rey hits the 619 and Rey goes up top and hits the dive but Punk picks up Rey and sends him into the ring post. Punk covers Del Rio and gets the three count.
Winner: CM Punk
After the match, CM Punk gets the mic and he takes a seat in the ring. He says July 17, 2011 will be the most historic day, not only in the career of CM Punk, but for the WWE as a whole. Not only is July 17th the second annual Money in the Bank pay per view. It is the night that he defeats John Cena for the WWE Championship.
Now it is time for Punk to be brutally honest. Punk says that July 17th is the day that his contract with WWE comes to an end. Punk says that means that when the clock strikes midnight and the 17th becomes the 18th. When Sunday bleeds into Monday, he is leaving. Punk says that he is leaving with the WWE Title.
What will the people choose for Cody Rhodes versus Daniel Bryan? Paper Bag Match, No Count Out Match, or Collegiate Rules Match.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Daniel Bryan defeating Cody Rhodes on Smackdown last month.
The results for the next match is:
Paper Bag Match: 43%
No Count Out Match: 51%
Collegiate Rules Match: 6%
Match Number Five: Cody Rhodes versus Daniel Bryan in a No Count Out Match
Rhodes with kicks and punches to Bryan but Bryan with a back body drop to the floor. Bryan with a suicide dive to Rhodes followed by a kick. They go up the ramp and Bryan with a kick to the chest and a suplex on the ramp. Rhodes runs up the stage and Bryan stops him. Bryan with kicks to the chest but Rhodes is able to avoid a kick and he runs away.
They return to the ring and Bryan with a missile drop kick for a near fall. Bryan with a European uppercut. Bryan flips over Rhodes but Rhodes with a knee to the midsection. Rhodes with a springboard round kick to the head and he gets a near fall. Rhodes with a kick to the head after the referee checks for blood.
Bryan tries for a LeBell Lock but Rhodes sends Bryan into the turnbuckles. Rhodes with an inside cradle for a near fall but Bryan is able to get the three count with an inside cradle.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
After the match, Rhodes goes after Bryan and Bryan tries for the LeBell Lock. DiBiase comes to the ring to help Rhodes and go after Bryan. Rhodes with an Alabama Slam followed by Cross Rhodes. Cody takes a bag from a deserving fan at ringside and then he puts it over Bryan’s head.
Michael Cole is doing jumping jacks because one of the announcers is about to have a dance competition against an announcer.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that WWE has a lot of followers on Twitter?
We run though the decisions of the people and they did not start off too well. They caught their momentum for the Kofi Kingston/Dolph Ziggler match.
Matt Striker is in the ring with Vickie Guerrero. Before Vickie gets to dance, she reminds everyone that her man became the United States Champion. Vickie says that she will win the Dance Off. She says that she has fifteen years of dance training. She talks about what she has experience in and she tells everyone that her stage name is ‘Peaches’. Vickie quotes Sable. Vickie gets Matt to join in the dancing.
Who will dance against Vickie Guerrero:
Michael Cole: 47%
Jerry Lawler: 39%
Booker T: 14%
Michael Cole goes to the ring and he reminds us why disco is dead.
The winner of the contest is Michael Cole because people hated him more.
Vickie slaps Cole and she claims that Cole cheated.
The stipulations for the main event are: One Fall to a Finish, 20 Minute Time Limit, or Elimination Match.
We go to commercial.
The stipulation for the main event is
One Fall to a Finish: 15%
20 Minute Time Limit: 6%
EElimination Match: 79%
Match Number Six: R Truth, Christian, and Miz versus John Cena, Alex Riley, and Randy Orton in an Elimination Match
Miz and Cena start things off and they lock up. Miz with a side head lock but Cena works on the arm. Miz rolls through and reverses things and puts Cena back in a side head lock. Cena escapes the hold and Cena with punches followed by an Irish whip and bulldog for a near fall. Cena tags in Orton and Randy with a kick. Orton sends Miz into the turnbuckles and then connects with an uppercut. Miz with an Irish whip but you don’t Irish whip Orton into the corner because he will hit you with a clothesline. Orton with a knee drop for a near fall.
Miz with a kick to the head as he goes to the concussed body part. Miz with more kicks and Christian is tagged in. Christian kicks Orton but Orton punches back. Christian with a knee to the midsection and he gets a near fall. Christian with punches in the corner and the referee warns Christian. This allows Miz to punch Orton while the referee was not looking.
Christian stands on Orton’s chest. Christian hits a neck breaker to work on the head and he gets a near fall. Christian with punches to the head. Orton punches Christian but Christian with punches of his own. Truth is tagged in and he kicks Orton in the ribs. Truth with a reverse chin lock and Orton tries to get to his corner to make the tag. Truth turns the chin lock into a sleeper but Orton gets back to his feet and then he hits a belly-to-back suplex.
Christian tags in and he tries for the Killswitch but Orton pushes Christian away. Orton tries for an RKO but Christian with an inverted DDT and he gets a near fall. Christian sets for a spear as Orton struggles to get to his feet. Orton with a power slam as Christian charges at him.
Riley tags in and he takes Christian down with a tackle and then he hits double forearms to the throat followed by a spinebuster. Riley knocks Truth and Miz off the apron. Riley sets for the DDT on Christian but Miz stops him. Christian and Miz attack Riley. There is pandemonium and Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale on Riley and Christian gets the cover to eliminate Riley.
Alex Riley is eliminated/i>
We go to commercial.
We are back and Miz gets a near fall on Orton. Miz with forearms across Orton’s chest and then he waits for Orton to get up so he can hit the Awesome Clothesline. Miz runs into the corner and he is met with a clothesline from Orton before Miz can hit the Awesome Clothesline.
Cena tags in and he this the two flying shoulder tackles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb and then it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Miz gets out of the Attitude Adjustment and Miz hits the Reality Check but Cena kicks out.
Miz is able to hit the Awesome Clothesline into the corner and then he goes up top but Cena avoids Miz and Cena puts Miz in the STF. Christian punches Cena while the referee tries to deal with Orton.
Truth punches Cena while the referee checks on Miz. Christian tags in and he kicks Cena in the ribs. Christian with a chin lock on Cena and he turns it into a sleeper. Cena with a kick to the midsection followed by a back elbow and Christian gets a near fall. Christian chokes Cena and then he tags Truth back in. Truth mocks Cena and Truth punches Cena and hits a sit out gourdbuster for a near fall.
Cena blocks a suplex from Truth and Cena hits a suplex and both men are down. Truth tries to stop Cena from making the tag and Cena kicks Truth away. Miz tags in and he stops Cena from making the tag. Miz with a kick to Cena’s head. Miz tries for the Skull Crushing Finale and then Cena hits the Attitude Adjustment on Miz to eliminate him.
Miz Eliminated
Truth kicks Cena and gets a near fall. Cena with a back body drop to Truth. Christian tags in and he stops Cena from making the tag. Cena gets Christian up but Christian with a rake of the eyes and he hits an inverted DDT. Christian goes up top for a frog splash but Cena rolls out of the way.
Orton and Truth tag in and Orton with clotheslines followed by a power slam. Orton with the IEDDT to Truth. Orton twists into the RKO push ups and Christian tries to interfere but Orton clotheslines Christian over the top rope. Truth with a kick and he misses the scissors kick. Orton with an RKO for the three count.
R Truth Eliminated
Christian hits a spear on Orton to pin him.
Randy Orton eliminated
The referee does not see Orton hit an RKO on Christian and John Cena makes Christian tap to the STF.
Christian Eliminated
Sole Survivor: John Cena
Winners: John Cena, Randy Orton, and Alex Riley
After the match, the World Champion and WWE Champion celebrate in the ring and they shake hands.
2012 - TNA filed a lawsuit in Nashville, TN against Scott Rechsteiner, professionally known as Scott Steiner, stemming from the attacks Steiner has made against the company, Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff and Bruce Prichard, among others, via Twitter.
In the lawsuit filed in Chancery Court for Davidson County, TNA noted that Steiner signed a contract with the company on 12/23/10 to appear exclusively for the promotion. A copy of that contract, including Steiner's payroll for his appearances ($2000 for events, $2500 for PPV, plus royalties to be paid 90 days later) was filed in court, including:
*An agreement that Steiner would not "make any statements or provide information, written, verbal or otherwise, which directly or indirectly disparages or casts in a negative light any TNA officers, employees, representatives, affiliates, shareholders, licensees and/or past or current TNA talent."
*An agreement that Steiner would not use online social media or media appearances to discuss TNA without TNA's prior written consent in each instance.
TNA is claiming that Steiner violated the terms of that contract and is currently in breach for his online rants against the company. The company claimed that they contacted him on 5/10/12 asking him to cease the behavior but "Steiner, however, has ignored TNA's demands and has continued to breach the Agreement."
TNA is asking that they be allowed to recover their damages as well as court and attorney's fees. They are claiming the breach has caused the company "irreparable harm, which cannot be adequately measured by monetary relief."
TNA is also seeking a temporary and permanent injunction from the court to prevent Steiner from continuing to speak out against them.
Steiner eventually counter-sued, which was thrown out of the court when he rescinded the suit. TNA's portion of the suit is still ongoing.
2013 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the Impact Wrestling Report here on PWInsider.com! We're live in Peoria, Illinois for the return of Open Fight Night!
We open with a video package looking back at the history of the Bound For Glory Series to hype this year's edition, then we go to the ring where Hulk Hogan has ten of the twelve participants in this year's BFG Series in the ring. We kick off the BFG Series tonight, and Hogan brings out the final two participants and the previous two winners, Bobby Roode and Jeff Hardy so we can find out who the fans voted to get the first challenge on Open Fight Night. Jeff Hardy wins with two thirds of the vote to not my surprise, but Austin Aries interrupts before he can make his choice and says that the fans voted for him, but they cheer Aries' name every time he comes to town. Daniels interrupts Aries and says it might be a good idea to challenge Aries or anyone else in the BFG Series because he'd start the series with the most demoralizing defeat of his career if he faced Kazarian or himself. Hardy says they all make good cases, but Bobby Roode made it personal last week so he's calling him out. Before that match can begin, a big brawl breaks out with all twelve men fighting it out in the ring. We go to commercial while TNA officials try to get this sorted out.
We're back,and just so everyone's 100% clear on the scoring, here is how points are awarded (or lost) in each match:
Submission: 10 points
Pinfall: 7 points
Countout: 5 points
DQ win: 2 points
Draw: 2 points
DQ loss: -10 points
So obviously you want to go for the decisive wins, and avoid doing anything that will get yourself disqualified. Ken Anderson comes out first and says that he wants to face Joseph Park...Park for an easy W.
Bound For Glory Series: Ken Anderson vs Joseph Park
Anderson toys with Park to start, zipping around him and actually feeding Park a side headlock so he can easily escape. Anderson easily controls the match until Park suddenly starts chain wrestling circles around Anderson. This only serves to piss Anderson off, and he dropkicks Park's knee out from under him then starts unloading with right hands. Park gets a quick schoolboy rollup for 2, but Anderson smacks him right back down. Park dodges a swanton and starts a comeback. Park gets Anderson in a Boston crab, he lets go of the hold when Doc runs down to ringside to distract him and Anderson gets a rollup for 2, Doc nails Park with a boot from the outside and Anderson hits the Mic Check for the win.
Winner: Ken Anderson
Anderson wins the first match in this year's BFG Series, and is currently at the top of the leader board with 7 points.
Speaking of the BFG Series, the rest of the participants are backstage, and they're...GETTING PSYCHED! We'll find out who challenges who next after commercial!
Aces & Eights is in the locker room and Anderson is gloating over his win, saying he deserves to be the new VP. Doc says that Anderson was skating backward until he came out to help him, but Bully Ray gets between them and says that the VP will be decided by a group vote.
Jay Bradley is in the ring and says he's not hiding from anyone, and he wants the man who won the TNA World Title last year during the BFG Series, and tells Austin Aries to get out here so he can get Boomsticked.
Bound For Glory Series: Jay Bradley vs Austin Aries
They start fighting before the bell, go out to the floor briefly, then go back inside where Bradley backdrops Aries to the apron and then boots him out to the floor. Bradley starts unloading on Aries with heavy shots, but misses a boot in the corner and allows Aries to connect with a series of punches and the IED. Aries hits a missile dropkick and goes for another IED, but Bradley gets the boot up and goes for the Boomstick. Aries blocks, but Bradley picks Aries up and hits a backbreaker and goes for another Boomstick. Aries counters to the crucifix bomb, hits another IED and finishes Bradley with the brainbuster.
Winner: Austin Aries
Aries wins this one between two first-time BFG Series competitors, and is now one step closer to a chance to regain the TNA World Title.
We go to a video package looking at Sting getting hung out to dry against Aces & Eights, and his subsequent announcement that he's bringing back the Main Event Mafia. Speaking of Sting, he's backstage and tells the cameraman that he has a sit down meeting tonight and promises that the Main Event Mafia is back and it's growing.
Chavo Guerrero, Jr is backstage giving Hernandez a pep talk, saying that he's out there by himself tonight and nobody's worked harder than he has, and to go get some points. Hernandez comes out to the ring and says there's one loudmouth who's really been pissing him off, and tells Christopher Daniels to come down and get his ass kicked.
Bound For Glory Series: Hernandez vs Christopher Daniels
Daniels starts the match off by dropkicking Hernandez' knee out from under him, then he mostly manages to avoid the power spots while getting his shots in. Hernandez finally nails him and hits the charging shoudlerblock from the ramp, but Daniels catches him with a Flair uppercut when Hernandez tries to German suplex him. Daniels quickly hits the BME for a very quick win.
Winner: Christohper Daniels
Well, Daniels sure made that look easy.
Brooke Hogan is backstage, and she's...WALKING!
Sting is somewhere deep backstage at the arena asking some mysterious figure if he's in (presumably meaning the Main Event Mafia), and the figure wordlessly shakes Sting's hand.
We're back and Frankie Kazarian is in the ring, he says we just saw the beginning of the domination of Bad Influence, and now he wants to continue that by calling out someone everyone calls a rising star, including Dixie Carter who thinks he's so cute (tee hee), and tells Magnus to come out and face him.
Bound For Glory Series: Frankie Kazarian vs Brutus Magnus
They go at it and go right out to the floor where Kazarian rams Magnus into the ring apron, then brings him back inside and tries to ground Magnus with a chinlock. Magnus gets free and connects with a series of clotheslines, Kazarian tries a springboard crossbody but Magnus catches and slams him for 2. Kazarian dodges a corner charge and goes for a missile dropkick, but Magnus catches the legs and gets him in a Texas cloverleaf. I feel like they should call it something like the Kent Cloverleaf or something when Magnus uses it, but Kazarian taps out regardless.
Winner: Brutus Magnus
Magnus now leads the pack with 10 points.
Hulk Hogan is backstage chit-chatting on his cell phone, Bully Ray walks up behind him with a hammer and Hogan turns around, grabs him by the collar, and slams him into a wall and tells him to go ahead and take his best shot. Bully says he would never hit someone in the back of the head with a hammer, he's just here to talk to his wife. Hogan says Bubba and Brooke are done, but Bubba asks him why Brooke would stop Hulk from hitting him with the hammer a couple of weeks ago if they were done. He tells "dad" he'll see him later and walks off on the consternated Hogan.
Brooke Hogan comes out to the ring and does the usual Hogan blahblah stuff, then says there are some things she needs to address and asks the Knockouts to come out to the ring for the State of the Knockouts Division Address. Mickie gets her own "special" intro because she's the champion, and she comes out with a mic and says it's great that she's gotten the opportunity to carry the division, get music videos, and be a spokesperson in a commercial. Carrying the division on her back is easier than Velvet carrying it on her knee, but Brooke cuts her off because she has some business to get to. She asks Eric Young (who came out with the Knockouts Tag Team Titles with ODB) if he remembers what they talked about a year and a half ago, and EY admits that he's not a woman, but he's the toughest dude in the ring. He hands the Knockouts Tag Team Title belts back to Brooke, then says the good news is that it's National Kissing Day and makes out with ODB. They head to the back to do whatever they do, and she tells Velvet she's proud of her for being the toughest person in the division. She knows that Velvet wants her rematch, but Mickie says the pigeons aren't going anywhere because she's still hurt. Brooke spoke directly to Velvet's doctor, so they can do the rematch next week. Gail Kim interrupts and says Brooke forgot about her rematch, and she wants what belongs to her now. Brooke puts over the match Gail and Taryn Terrell and says that Gail will get her rematch...in a ladder match when they get to Las Vegas. Mickie looks totally unfazed by all this as she heads to the back with a big celebrity smile on her face.
We look at some "earlier tonight" stuff, then we go to the garage where Hulk Hogan tells Brooke that she did great out there, but he wants her to leave now because Bully Ray wants to turn this into a circus. Brooke protests, but gets in the limo and leaves after she and Daddy say they love each other.
AJ Styles comes out to the ring and cuts a great promo saying that it's not about Aces & Eights or TNA, it's about the money. Everyone is looking for a hero, but just to repeat what he said earlier for anyone who didn't hear him, he's tired of trying to do the right thing. TNA is no place for a hero, and now he's just out to win the TNA World Title for himself.
Bound For Glory Series: AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe
They slowly feel each other out before Joe backs AJ to the corner and unloads on him. AJ takes Joe to the mat with a side headlock, then he ties Joe up in the ropes and kicks at his legs before hammering him with stiff forearms. AJ flattens Joe with a clothesline and then dumps him on his head with a backdrop suplex, but Joe catches AJ with a boot that sends him out to the apron, then Joe goes out to the floor and sweeps AJ's legs out from under him, causing AJ to fall face first on the apron as we go to commercial.
We're back and Joe is still working AJ over, but AJ connects with a sweet dropkick to send Joe to the floor, then drills him with a baseball slide under the ropes. AJ rolls Joe inside and hits a springboard forearm for 2 as Christy tells us we only have two minutes left in the time limit. Mike Tenay informs us that these are the only two men who have been in all three BFG Series as Joe gets AJ in a cross armbreaker, but AJ gets to the ropes to force the break. Joe puts AJ on top and tries to superplex him, but AJ shifts his weight and comes down on top of Joe. He's too hurt to cover and both men are down, AJ is up first and hits a combo of nice strikes but Joe just drills him with kneestrikes until AJ gets his new submission (I think it's called the Cow Killer?), Joe reverses to the Kokina Clutch, and AJ rolls over his shoulders for 2. They trade punches as Christy tells us there's thirty seconds remaining, Joe takes AJ down with a double leg and tries to get something as the time limit counts down, but they run out of time before Joe can get anything.
TIME LIMIT DRAW
The crowd chants to let them fight and five more minutes, but rules are rules and they each get two points.
Bully Ray is on the phone with Brooke asking where she went, and he says he needs to see her tonight and asks her to come back so he can talk to her. He finishes the call and tells some of his guys to make sure she gets to the arena okay, then tells everyone else to watch his back as he goes off to conduct a little business.
Hogan
It's main event time!
Bound For Glory Series: Jeff Hardy vs Bobby Roode
Roode jumps Hardy on the ramp as he makes his entrance, and they fight their way back to the ring where Roode gets him in a crippler crossface right in the middle of the ring. Roode starts working over Hardy's throat, choking him on the top rope and then working it over on the floor as well. They head back inside where Roode hits a kneedrop for 2, Roode continues to methodically work Hardy over but gets caught with a boot in the corner and a second rope splash for 2. Roode counters the Twist of Fate to a spinebuster, Hardy counters a Perfectplex attempt to the Twist of Fate the second time around, Roode dodges the swanton and gets the crippler crossface again. Hardy hangs on and rolls Roode into a cradle for 2, then hits the Twist of Fate for the win.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
So there you have it, Hardy wins the battle of the two previous Bound For Glory Series winners. Just to summarize, Brutus Magnus is leading the pack with 10 points after week one and Jeff Hardy, Ken Anderson, Austin Aries and Christopher Daniels are tied for second with 7 apiece.
Sting is backstage and the dumbass cameraman asks if he's done for the night, and Sting says not quite yet.
Bully Ray says the BFG Series is underway for a chance to face him at Bound For Glory, and three guys are fighting for the X Division Title next week for a chance to face him in July, and that's 15 guys trying to bring him down. He'll do whatever it takes to keep his title, and says that what he did to Hogan and Sting is an example of what happens when you face him. It's Open Fight Night and he wants to call someone out, but not to fight because he's a lover, not a fighter. He asks his beautiful wife Brooke to come out to see him, Brooke doesn't come out right away so Bully asks him to come out again but instead, the Main Event Mafia music hits and Sting comes out in his dapper suit. Sting says Bully inspired him to go back to his family, Bully says he beat Sting and he can never challenge for the title again, but Sting says that doesn't mean he can't get his retribution here tonight. Bully says Sting has nothing left in his tank and starts running Sting down, but Sting casually takes his tie and jacket off as Bully says all he needs to do is snap his fingers and his guys will come out and snap his neck. Sting starts to unbutton his shirt, and Bubba says if he doesn't believe him, that's his choice and tells Aces & Eights to come on out. They don't come so Bubba calls them again, and again they don't come as Sting throws his shirt in Bubba's face. Bubba calls them a third time, and we go to the video screen where we see the entire gang laid out in their clubhouse as Sting nails Bubba and starts to chase him up the ramp. Bubba backs away from Sting and turns around right into Kurt Angle, who takes Bubba down and puts him in the anklelock. Bubba taps on the ramp (I hate when they do that) as Sting gets right in his face and yells stuff at him as we call it a week.
Thanks for reading the Impact Wrestling Report, I'll be back tomorrow to discuss Impact and more with Dave Scherer on the Stu & Pid Show!
2013 - WWE announced that Matt Striker was done with the company and that the company will not be renewing his contract.
The official announcement read:
"WWE.com has learned that WWE has chosen to not renew Matt Striker’s contract. As of today, June 20, 2013, Striker will no longer be working with WWE. WWE wishes him the best in all his future endeavors."
Striker noted on his Twitter account that he is now available for appearances, signings seminars and for independent wrestling bookings. He can be contacted at ForMattStriker@gmail.com.
Striker was signed to WWE in 2005 after several years wrestling on the independent circuit in the Northeast. His big break ironically came when news that the New York City Board of Education had caught him taking personal days from his job as a teacher to work dates in Japan and elsewhere was picked up by the NYC media. The feeling within WWE at the time was that he was being railroaded because he was a wrestler, so the company picked him up as a way to play off the publicity as well as "help one of their own." It was a Vince McMahon call to bring him in.
During his run, Striker was moved into a top heel position in the new ECW brand before sliding over into an announcer's role, commentating, hosting DVDs, hosting house shows and handling backstage interviews.
Behind the scenes, Striker had also worked quite a bit in developmental and had also been working the gorilla position at TV tapings.
Striker had worked that week's TVs and was filming material in WWE's studio as late as the day before.
2013 - WWE broadcast Superstars. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in Grand Rapids, Michigan and your announcers are Matt ‘See you next week’ Striker and Tony ‘which one will be the seven minute match and which will be the five minute match’ Dawson.
Match Number One: R Truth versus Darren Young (with Titus O’Neil)
Truth wants to know what’s up while Titus blows his whistle and Darren does his hair. They lock up and Truth backs Young into the corner but Young with a clean break and he says something to Truth but Truth messes with Young’s hair and then he punches Young in the corner.
Young with a forearm to the back of the head followed by a punch. Truth with a shimmy and then he hits the hip toss and then he does a split before hitting the spinning dancing leaping leg drop but he is able to a near fall. Truth with an arm drag into an arm bar.
Truth works on the arm and he takes Young down with an arm drag and top wrist lock. Truth with an arm bar and he connects with forearms to the ribs. Truth with another arm drag and arm bar. Young puts Truth in the corner and he connects with a knee. Truth floats over on an Irish whip and Truth with another arm drag and arm bar.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Truth with a punch to Young and Young goes to the apron. Truth gest distracted by Titus and Young with a back drop driver on the apron. They return to the ring and he rakes Truth’s eyes and then he hits a belly-to-back suplex and he gets a near fall. Young with a reverse chin lock.
Truth with punches and forearms to Young but Young with a Northern Lights suplex and bridge for a near fall. Young backs Truth into the corner and he gives Truth a hard Irish whip and Titus and Darren taunt Truth. Young with another hard Irish whip and then he does the Millions of Dollars Dance. Young with a boot to the abdomen.
Young with a seated splash to the back and then he stands on the back. Truth with punches but Young with a knee to stop him. Truth with a leg lariat and both men are down. Truth with punches and clotheslines followed by a sit out gourdbuster for a near fall. Titus gets on the apron but the referee sends him back to the floor. Truth knocks Titus off the apron. Darren gets Truth on his shoulders but Truth escapes and he hits the Lie Detector for the three count.
Winner: R Truth
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at Mark Henry’s retirement speech and ‘That’s What I Do’ World’s Strongest Slam.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to look at the Daniel Bryan versus Randy Orton match from Raw. They will wrestle on Smackdown.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Layla El and Natalya versus Cameron and Naomi
Layla and Naomi start things off and they lock up. Naomi with a wrist lock but Layla with a reversal into a hammer lock. Naomi with a fireman’s carry into an arm bar but Layla with a head scissors but Naomi escapes. Layla with a side head lock but Naomi with punches.
Layla with a shoulder tackle and then she dances. Layla with an arm drag into a rollup for a near fall. Layla spanks Naomi and then she goes for the leaping butt bump. Naomi shows how to do it and she gets a near fall. Cameron tags in and Naomi with a flying clothesline and Cameron with a flip senton onto Layla for a near fall.
Natalya tags in and she gets a rollup for a near fall. Natalya with a front face lock but Cameron escapes and applies a wrist lock. Natalya with an arm wringer and arm bar. Cameron with a head scissors but Natalya escapes. Natalya with a head lock but Cameron with a side head lock take down. Natalya with an Irish whip but Cameron floats over and she slaps Natalya.
Cameron dances a little and Natalya considers that a lack of respect and she slaps Cameron and everyone gets in the ring. The referee holds Natalya back and then he wants everyone to calm down. The referee wants Natalya and Cameron to shake hands. They reluctantly do it and Natalya tags Layla back in but Cameron hits Natalya from behind before she goes to the apron.
Layla with a round kick to the head for the three count.
Winners: Natalya and Layla El
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at what happened to CM Punk on Monday night.
We go to credits.
2014 - WWE ran Providence, Rhose Island. Art Mahr filed the following results:
In the opener, Dolph Ziggler beat Alberto Del Rio.
Bad News Barrett beat Rob Van Dam and Kofi Kingston to retain the Intercontinental Title.
Emma, Paige and Santino Marella beat Layla, Alicia Fox and Fandango.
The Usos beat Erick Rowan and Luke Harper to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.
Adam Rose and The Miz had a Dance Off, which led to them brawling.
Stardust and Goldust beat Rybaxel.
In the main event, John Cena beat Bray Wyatt in a Street Fight.
2014 - Maryland Championship Wrestling ran Baltimore, Maryland. Mike Specian filed the following live report:
Maryland Championship Wrestling held a show in Baltimore, Maryland on June 20, 2014 as part of its Friday Night Fights series. Here’s how it went down.
RESULTS
MCW Champion Matt Hardy def. “The King of Maryland Wrestling” Ryan McBride with the Twist of Fate in 13:14. After a schmoz between factions, McBride got cocky and took a selfie of himself with his cell phone. As this video shows, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnqvIVPdz80, Hardy got the drop on him and retained his title.
Christopher Daniels and “The Greek God” Papadon def. The Hell Cats in 7:46 after Papadon hit a brainbuster and Daniels hit the BME. Christopher Daniels looked like he was having a lot of fun. He did so many arm drags that he inadvertantly arm dragged the referee and then almost did the same to Papadon. The match was too short to be anything special.
MCW Rage Champion Chuck Lennox (w/ Amber) pinned Christian York. Lennox preened, stalled and played a good heel. York looked good with his typical fluid offense. York went for a suplex near the ropes, Amber grabbed his leg and Lennox stole the pin.
MCW Tag Team Champions Napalm Bomb and Solo (representing Blackwallstreet with Chuck Lennox) defeated Rikishi and Nui in 11:16. While this wasn’t a very good match technically, they got an excellent crowd reaction by hitting the right notes at the right times. Rikishi got the crowd into it with Uso chants. Napalm Bomb low blowed Rikishi when he tried the stinkface and then Solo hit Nui in the head with the title belt. This allowed Blackwallstreet to do a cool double team move and pin Nui. After the match Rikishi worked up the crowd to a fevered pitch, stinkfaced Lennox and he and Nui danced. Rikishi asked the crowd to chant so loud that “WWE hears it.”
Ruckus def. Ken Dixon (Ryan McBride’s bodyguard) in 8:53 with a top rope moonsault into a banzai drop. Ruckus looked good.
The Bruiser tapped out Drolix in about 6 minutes.
Reby Sky def. Jessie Kaye with the Twist of Fate in about 6 minutes. This was too short to really develop into anything meaningful.
The Radd Army (Sam Radd, G-Fed and Buck Chyld) def. MAD, Mitch Miller and Paul White (with JT Callahan). The match started with pairs of them trading sequences. Sam Radd made the hot tag after, I kid you not, a purple nurple. The Radd Army hit a triple suplex and Sam Radd speared Mitch Miller for the pin.
The Appalachian Outlaws (Bo Nekoda & Hoss Hagood) def. The New Age Scumbags (Adam Flash & Ronnie Zukko) in an unremarkable opener in 7:22. The Scumbags laid Nekoda over one of their knees while the other hit a top rope leg drop for the pin.
IMPRESSIONS
Overall this was an enjoyable show that kept the crowed excited and engaged throughout. As an in-ring wrestling fan, I was disappointed that there were no “must-see” matches as nothing went longer than about 12 minutes. The wrestlers severely limited their high-flying arsenals and there were very few dives to the outside. I’m not sure whether this was accidental or by design. It seemed to me that Rikishi got the biggest pop of the night. I thought that the main event of McBride vs Hardy was the match of the night with a number of good near falls and a fun melee at the end.
NOTES
MCW ran the show in a very cool outdoor venue in Baltimore’s Greektown neighborhood. The space was about 40 yards by 40 yards situated on a church festival grounds. Production equipment was set up on the stage under a bandstand on the corner of the property. Wrestlers entered by descending stairs from the church center which led to the entrance way.
I estimate the attendance at about 300 people. There were lots of kids and a number of people had to stand.
The guy who was shocked that Undertaker lost at Wrestlemania (http://bit.ly/1svwmmT) was in attendance. The ring announcer pointed him out to the crowd and fans took photos with him. It was funny to note that he was wearing a T-shirt with his own image on it. Ah, memes.
During the Ruckus match about 60 motorcycles took a solid minute to loudly drive past the venue. They received a big ovation from the crowd.
MCW announced that they’ve started a wrestling school. Interested parties can find out more at www.marylandwrestling.com.
The fans like Matt Hardy in MCW. He even slammed a tomato.
Ryan McBride has the “it” factor. He carries himself like a star and has a ton of charisma. His entrance theme, When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin, adds a lot to his presentation. After his bodyguard’s match he grabbed the mic just to say, “I want you to know that I hate each and every one of you.” He then walked away from the ring while doing a double thumbs down. Good stuff.
Rikishi did a pretty good job despite the fact that he can barely move. His offense consisted of standing in one place, chopping, punching and giving headbutts. But his timing was great and he leveraged his classic moves well. His stinkface/dancing sequence got the biggest pop of the night.
Chuck Lennox has a fun, light-hearted swagger. He reminds me a bit of Rich Swann. That’s a good thing.
The Bruiser is a big dude with good presence. He carried himself with the toughness of an Arn Anderson.
Because of the sound system and volume of the fans, you could hear the show several blocks away from the venue. People in houses across the street from the venue set up chairs on their roofs to watch the show for free.
Rikishi set himself up on the bandstand during intermission to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.
2015 - Samoa Joe bid farewell to Ring of Honor after signing with WWE to joins the NXT brand at a live event in NYC at Terminal 5. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of Ring of Honor's TV Taping at Terminal 5 in NYC.
Dark Match:
*A team named "Nuclear Casserole" defeated former EVOLVE champ AR Fox (making his ROH in-ring debut) and a partner who's name I didn't catch. Solid match. Fox got a nice round of applause.
ROH Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness came out to announce Jay Lethal will defend the ROH title against Roderick Strong in Baltimore, Maryland on 7/24 on iPPV. I think that might be Death Before Dishonor. Nigel then noted that someone else has tapped Lethal out and taken him to a time limit draw in the last year, Kyle O'Reilly. That means he is now a top contender for the title.
Nigel then said they have to make a decision about the ROH Tag Team championship on 7/24, so it will be The Addiction, The Kingdom, War Machine and ReDragon on iPPV. He pushed that this is ROH, the best professional wrestling in the world today.
Ring announcer Bobby Cruise announced they would be taping their 200th episode of ROH TV tonight. That blew my mind. Not only was I at the first taping in Chicago, but the first taping for HD Net and hell, the first ROH show ever. I feel really old right now!
He introduced announcers Kevin Kelly and King Steve Corino.
First Episode:
Watanabe vs. Dalton Castle
Watanabe wasn't sure of what to make of Castle's unique approach to the ring. Watanabe knocked him down in the corner and Castle's cornermen fanned him. The crowd chanted, "Fan up!" Castle grabbed a side headlock and was sent into the ropes. He rebounded and shoulderblocked Watanabe down. Watanabe backed into the corner. Castle's underlings fanned him as Watanabe wondered what in the world was going on. That was pretty funny.
Watanabe used his power to control Castle. Castle came back with a front facelock but Watanbe battled his way out. Castle brought him back to the mat and scored with several headbutts before going to a side chinlock. Watanabe worked him over for a long time. He drilled Castle with a nice back suplex for a two count. Castle came back with an inverted Whirlbird for the pin.
Your winner, Dalton Castle!
Castle cut a promo (and wait until you see how he was presented for the promo) after about beating Silas Young at Best in the World. Young came out and told Castle that he got lucky. Castle told him to "eat his heart out."
Decent match. Castle has one of the most original, fun presentations to come around in some time. Watanabe looked good here.
Nigel McGuinness brought out the new ROH champion (as well as ROH TV champion) Jay Lethal, who came to the ring with Truth Martini, J. Diesel and Donovan Dijak. Nigel asked him to say a few works to his fans. Before Lethal could speak, the crowd chanted, "You deserve it." Martini said that Lethal does deserve it, but these fans are not Lethal's people. They are Lethal's people. He said that history was made at the PPV and the fans witnessed the greatest first generation wrestler in the world and the undisputed champion of the entire world, Jay Lethal. Nigel said he wanted to hear what the champ has to say. Lethal said that he wants to say what he's been saying since the very beginning - that he is the best in the world. He said to be the best you have to be the undisputed champion of the greatest wrestling company in the world - ROH. He said ROH is the greatest company in the world because he is the champion.
Lethal tried to leave but Nigel wanted to ask him a question. He said fans are wondering if he's going to vacate the ROH TV title after working so hard to raise the prestige of the belt. Lethal said he's not giving up a damn thing because he earned them. He said that Nigel knew at the end of Best in the World, one man was going to hold both and got angry Nigel even questioned them. He said to be undisputed champion he has to have both belts. Nigel said that they are separate belts and entities, so it means Lethal might have to defend both belts in one night. Lethal accused him of stacking the deck and trying to take away from his moment and said if he has to do that, he will. They announced Mark Briscoe would be challenging for the ROH TV title next week. Lethal promised to destroy Briscoe and then said at Death Before Dishonor, he's going to do the same to Roderick Strong.
This brought out Strong, who came to the ring. Nigel told Strong he obviously has something to say and asked him to say a few words. Strong said he wanted to make Lethal fully aware that he was walking into their match as ROH champion but Strong would be walking out as the new champion. He and Lethal had a staredown.
Good segment. Lethal got his moment. He and Strong each had good mic work setting the stage for their iPPV bout.
IWGP Tag Team champions Michael Bennett & Matt Taven & Adam Cole (with Maria Kanellis) vs. Michael Elgin & ReDragon
Kanellis came to the ring and said that she knows Adam Cole was a little upset about losing at Best in the World, but it's OK. She said they have been traveling the world and are the Internet darlings they are. She said it wasn't Cole's fault because as the leader of the Kingdom, she takes the blame. She said she believes in him and tonight they will show the Kingdom will never fall. It was a pretty good promo. I wonder if that is the start of teasing some issues between Adam Cole and the others.
Elgin and Bennett opened the match. Elgin used his power to control Bennett, despite Bennett's brash attempts at taking Elgin down. Elgin held up Bennett in the air for a LONG time for a delayed vertical suplex. Cole and Taven tried to interfere but Elgin held him strong. Finally ReDragon took them down to allow Elgin to finish holding as long as he wanted. Some good action.
The Kingdom tripped Elgin and pulled himto the floor, allowing Bennett to nail a dive to the outside. Back in the ring, The Kingdom controlled, tagging in and out for a series of near falls. They were pretty great at berating the referee when they didn't like his calls as well. They have really grown into a hell of a unit. They worked over Elgin in the corner.
Elgin finally made a comeback with an inverted sitdown suplex. He fought to the corner to make the tag but just as he did, the other members of the Kingdom pulled ReDragon to the floor. That allowed The Kingdom to continue their assault on Elgin. He finally mad the tag to ReDragon who began cleaning house on everyone with all their crazy, athletic double-team maneuvers.
The battle continued back and forth. Taven hit an awesome dive to the outside in Fish. Elgin cut him off and nailed Taven with a somersault legdrop off the second rope. You can see a marked improvement in the crispness of Elgin's work. He nailed a double Samoan Drop on the Kingdom, wiping out Adam Cole in the process as well. The crowd chanted, "This is awesome."
Elgin slugged it out with the Kingdom as they tried to take him out but the three on one odds finally took their toll. They scored several two counts on Elgin after some spectacular moves. ReDragon hit the scene and helped Elgin. They nailed a combination superbomb off the ropes on Bennett but Cole and Taven broke the pinfall at the last second. The Kingdom took over and nailed a spike piledriver for a two count.
Cole went for a Canadian Destroyer but Elgin backdropped him O'Reillly and Cole drilled each other with forearms. O'Reilly nailed a series of kicking combinations but was snagged with a forearm, Cole nailed a superkick but O'Reilly used the momentum to boomerang off the ropes with a lariat. He scored the pin.
Your winners, Michael Elgin & ReDragon!
A HELL of a six man tag. Just all sorts of cool moves plus they told a great story in Elgin having to persevere and overcome the Kingdom. A PPV worthy main event. Loved this one.
Cole shook hands with his opponents after the bout, which Taven and Bennett weren't happy about. ReDragon raised Cole's hand and Cole left on his own, leaving his partners behind.
Second Episode
The Decade's Adam Page with BJ Whitmer & Colby Corino vs. Matt Sydal
Sydal controlled the action early with some kicks and nice hiptosses and armdrags. He went for a sliding kick to the outside but Page avoided it and nailed a kick of his own. Page argued with the referee, allowing The Decade to work Sydal over on the outside. Page hit a nice powerslam for a two count.
Page continued working over Sydal, smashing him into the turnbuckles. Sydal used several pinfall techniques for near falls. Page came back with a fall away slam with a bridge for another two count. Sydal kept fighting back but Page controlled him until Sydal nailed with a big knee. Sydal lit him up with a series of kicks and leaping knees. He used his leaping knee driver for a two count.
Sydal used a modified legdrop and a standing moonsault press for a two count. He missed a leaping kick but caught Page on the rebound. Sydal went to the top but was wiped out and crotched. He was nailed with a nice backbreaker for a two count. They battled to the rop where Page went for a superplex. Sydal fought his off and teased the shooting star press but Page rolled to the outside of the apron. Sydal leapt off and nailed him but Page came back with an awesome lariat for a close two count.
They continued back and forth untol Sydal nailed the shooting star press off the top and scored the pin.
Your winner, Matt Sydal!
One of the better Page showings of late. They really had a nice match.
After the bell, Whitmer attacked Sydal and was working him over. ACH hit the ring but Whitmer laid him out with a chair across the back. The Decade beat them down including Page hitting a tombstone variation as he had Sydal over his back. They had a million officials out there checking on Sydal and treated it like a major injury.
ACH took the mic and screamed that at Death Before Dishonor, he was going to remember the day he pissed of ACH. So, that's a bout at the iPPV.
Veda Scott came out and cut a promo. She said Moose tried to be a successful football player and failed. She said he tried to be a successful pro wrestler and failed. She said that at 7/24, Cedric Alexander will show him that famous friends and potential doesn't matter. She said that Cedric was going to get everything Moose doesn't deserve. It was a good promo. Scott is underrated as a talker.
Silas Young vs. Will Ferrara
Young left the ring to jaw with a fan at ringside. Some nice back and forth wrestling early on. Ferrara is really sound. Young locked in a chinlock but Ferrara fought his way out. Ferrara nailed some nice offense, culminating with a tornado DDT.
Young worked over Ferrara. Dalton Castle's underlings came out and distracted Young, allowing Ferrara to roll him up and score the pin.
Your winner, Will Ferrara!
Decent match but more of a backdrop to the angle.
Young grabbed one of the underlings and killed him.
ROH World & TV champion Jay Lethal vs. Mark Briscoe: TV title on the line
Lethal went right after Mark at the bell and nailed a series of stomped. Mark fought back but was distracted Truth Martini That allowed Lethal to nail a dropkick through the ropes. ODB came out to even up the odds for Briscoe. Briscoe worked over Lethal on the floor and tossed him into the ring, then nailed a splash for a two count.
Briscoe continued working over Lethal with kicks and then nailed him hard with a chop in the corner. Lethal fired back with one of his own. They began chopping each other hard. Briscoe nailed a hard suplex for a two count. Lethal rolled out of the ring but Briscoe pulled him back in.
Lethal feigned being in trouble then used it to take over, nailing Briscoe with a series of shots in the corner. Lots of dueling chants for each man. They went back and forth with some nice wrestling. Jay Diesel tried to interfere but Mark laid him out, leaving himself open for Jay to nail an enziguiri for a two count.
Lethal controlled Briscoe for a long time, scoring several two counts. Briscoe finally mounted a comeback with a big back suplex. He nailed several suplex variations, scoring two counts. Lethal went to the floor, where he was nailed by Briscoe with the Cactus Jack elbow off the apron. Lethal was tossed back into the ring. Briscoe went to the top. Martini tried to get involved but ODB nailed him. Dijak then tried but Jay Briscoe came out and nailed him. Mark hit a flying elbow for a close two count.
They went back and forth untol Jay hit the handspring into the Ace Cutter for the pin.
Your winner and still ROH TV champion, Jay Lethal!
Jay Briscoe and Lethal began brawling in the ring. The House of Truth all worked over The Briscoes. Roderick Strong hit the ring to clean house. He ran Lethal out of the ring, then took the mic and asked House of Truth where they were going. Strong said there were three on each side and challenged them to a six man tag "next week" on the 200th episode of ROH. He said next week they are going to war.
ODB took the mic and suggested they make it an eight person tag with Martini. The crowd loved that.
Third Episode:
War Machine vs. IWGP Junior Tag Team champions The Young Bucks
The Bucks told them to "suck it" only to get attacked for their disrespect at the bell. War Machine nailed a double bomb on Nick Jackson. They pressed and slammed Nick over the top to the floor, where Matt was standing. War Machine lawn darted The Bucks into each other on the floor. Ouch.
Nick Jackson was able to superkick Hanson, allowing Matt the chance to nail a kick on Rowe. Nick nailed a big flip off the apron to the floor. The Bucks began nailing all their patented offense. Hanson absorbed it and nailed a double clothesline on the Bucks. Nick accidentally nailed Matt. Matt drilled War Machine with a dropkick through the ropes, then set up for Nick to nail a flip dive over the top to the floor. The crowd chanted, "Too Sweet."
Nick Jackson was down on the floor for a long time as he apparently hurt his ankle. War Machine attacked Matt and began double teaming him. AJ Styles came out to check on Nick. Machine continued working over Matt, who took a hell of a beating. He kept fighting back but War Machine kept nailing big move after big move.
AJ Styles finally hopped on the apron and made the hot tag. He nailed a nice rana off the ropes on Rowe. Rowe ducked a clothesline and Styles wiped out the referee by accident. Matt and AJ double teamed to work over Machine. Styles nailed Rowe with the Styles Clash and scored the pin.
Your winners, The Bullet Club!
After the match, Nick Jackson revealed it was all a ruse. What heels.
Fun match.
Cedric Alexander (with Veda Scott) vs. The Romantic Touch
Cedric attacked Touch before the bell and destroyed him. Alexander showed a lot of aggressive tendencies. Touch nailed several elbows to try and make a comeback, He dropkicked Alexander off the apron and hit a flip dive over the top to the floor. Alexander cut him off and wiped out Touch for the pin.
Your winner, Cedric Alexander!
Veda Scott took the mic after the bout and said that for years, people have been saying that Cedric's time was coming and all he had to do was work hard, be patient and be nice. Veda said those people lied to him and deceived him. She said she would never lie. She said that Cedric knows what he needs to do and what she needs from him right now. She demanded he rip the mask off Touch's face and expose him for the fraud he is. Caprice Coleman tried to stop him but was shoved down. Moose hit the ring with Stokely Hathaway but Alexander and Scott departed.
Adam Cole vs. Kyle O'Reilly
This is pretty interesting placement. At the first ROH taping, they were a tag team. On the 200th episode, they are facing off. Lots of really great back and forth wrestling early before they faced off to a nice round of applause. They went back and forth with some good counter wrestling. O'Reilly controlled Cole on the mat, primarily using a headlock. Fans chanted, "Headlock City." Cole nailed a back suplex but Kyle held onto the move. Cole rolled to the outside to try and break it but Kyle held it. Well, that was cute.
They went to the floor. Daniels was doing commentary and got shoved down by Cole. Daniels attacked him. DQ. Kazarian hit the ring and Cole and O'Reilly got the better of it Cole took the mic and said they are tired of this bull. He said they are tired of The Addiction screwing with The Kingdom and with them screwing with ReDragon. He said everyone knows their history and suggested for one night only, they reunite as Futureshock and "beat the hell out of these two old bastards."
They agree and the bell is rung.
ROH Tag Team champions The Addiction vs. Futureshock
O'Reilly and Cole control Daniels, who is wrestling in street clothes. They rip apart his t-shirt and Daniels looks like a bald version of the Brooklyn Brawler in jeans and the remnants of the shirt. They controlled Daniels for some time until Kazarian made the tag and The Addiction nailed some double team maneuvers. Cole and O'Reilly scored the pin, leading to a huge brawl with Bobby Fish hitting the ring. The Kingdom came out on the stage and were not happy. Cole shook hands with ReDragon.
Fourth Episode:
IWGP Tag Team champions Michael Bennett & Matt Taven (with Maria Kanellis) vs. Jonathan Greshem & ?
I couldn't make out the ring announcements for the second team. I'll update names if and when I get them. The Kingdom wiped them out, including Bennett spearing one on the apron outside. They nailed a double boot on the outside to the face of one.
The IWGP champions continued to destroy their opponents. It reminded me of how the Midnight Express used to wreck guys on WTBS. One of their opponents made a comeback and almost tagged out but was caught and preventing from tagging. He finally escaped and tagged his partner, who came in with a nice missile dropkick but was wiped out with a pair of superkicks. The Kingdom went for the pin but it was broken up. That pissed them off.
Their opponents mounted some decent offense but they were soon beaten with the spike piledriver.
Your winners, The Kingdom!
V
Caprice Coleman vs. Brutal Bob Evans vs. Silas Young vs. Cheeseburger vs. Moose (with Stokely Hathaway) vs. Dalton Castle
Moose and Castle started. Moose was cracking up at Castle's mannerisms. Evans tagged himself in. Cheeseburger tagged in and Evans tagged out. So, Young and Burger started. Lots of back and forth action featuring everyone involved. Moose was super over. So was Castle. Burger showed heart fighting back against Young.
Castle was doing his preening, which led to Young attacking him from behind. He went for a sunset flip and couldn't get Young over. The underlings jumped on the apron so Young beat them down. Evans got involved and Castle tagged in Moose, who cleaned house on everyone. Moose nailed a splash in the corner on Evans and Castle.
Moose pressed and tossed Cheeseburger atop of Evans on the floor. Coleman nailed an Asai Moonsault on them. Young and Moose went back and forth Moose nailed a dropkick that sent Young off the turnbuckles. Moose hit a flip dive to the floor. That is a BIG BOY to be foing that.
Moose went to nail the Pounce on Burger by was drilled by Castle. Young attacked Castle. Everyone fought each other. Castle was sent over the top to the floor after missing a knee strike. Evans rolled up Moose and used the ropes but the referee saw it. Burger jumped on Evans but was tossed to the floor. Moose speared Evans and scored the pin.
Your winner, Moose!
A frenetic, solid multi-man match with lots of little stories showcasing some of the rivalries en route to Moose getting the win.
The Decade came out. The crowd was crapping on Whitmer when he took the mic. He said he had something to say. No one wanted to let him say it and booed to drown him out. He kept trying to cut his promo and they kept getting louder. They started throwing streamers to mock him too. Whitmer said that they've watched someone graduate in recent weeks and show more heart then anyone in the back. Everyone thought he was talking about Adam Page but instead he meant Colby Corino. He went on and on about everything Colby has been through and said he used to look at him as if he was a little brother, but instead he sees him as if he was his own son. He said that he hopes Colby sees him as the father he never, ever had.
BJ said that he brought Colby a gift tonight because that's what Dads do for their sons. He booked Colby in a Gauntlet Match against four of the top students from the last ROH Training Camp, calling it the Decade Gauntlet Match. The opponents were Shahem Ali, Wildman, Ben Ortiz (HOH) and The Punisher.
Steve Corino jumped in the ring as BJ asked why him why he's not deciding it's time to step up. Whitmer said Corino abandoned his son and asked how long ago it was when he abandoned his wife and baby son. Corino wanted to go but Nigel McGuinness entered the ring to calm him down. Whitmer began complaining to Nigel about punishing Corino and Nigel warned him that if he said anything else, he was gone. He ordered The Decade to the back. Nigel and Corino had words and Corino was sent to the back.
ACH vs. Bobby Fish
They locked up and ended up in the corner, but broke clean. Fish soon controlled ACH on the mat. ACH came back with some showboating aerial skills. ACH worked over Fish with several kicks but had an Irish whip into the corner reversed. ACH tried to go up and over but was nailed. ACH went for a pescado but Fish moved out of the way. This allowed Fish to work him over with suplexes and forearms, scoring several near falls.
Fish drilled ACH with kicks to the chest. ACH tried to mount offense but was kicked as he rebounded off the ropes. Fish continued to work over ACH, nailing a back suplex. ACH fought back with several stiff elbows and chops. ACH opened up with several kicks to the extremeties. Fish caught his leg but ACH nailed him with the other. ACH continued to mount offense, scoring several two counts.
Fish cut off ACH and began drilling him with forearms. They chopped each other hard. ACH caught him with a stiff kick to the face and then nailed a reverse flip dive over the top to the floor. ACH went for a double stomp off the top but missed and buckled, grabbing at his leg. Fish worked him over but ACH still fought back and rolled him up for a two count.
ACH went for a top rope 450 splash but Fish pulled his knees up. Fish hooked his leg and cinched in a submission. ACH fought his way out and went back to the top. Fish kicked his leg out from under him and nailed a BIG superplex throw for the pin.
Your winner, Bobby Fish!
Really good match that allowed each to showcase their unique skills. Fun stuff.
Episode 5 aka the 200th Episode:
ROH put up a graphic on their screen for the 200th episode.
The House of Truth vs. The Briscoes & ODB & Roderick Strong
Long standoff. Martini teased starting, showboated thenm tagged out. So it was Strong and Dijak starting. Strong nailed several big leg lariats. Mark Briscoe tagged in and worked over Dijak, but was tossed off the ropes. Lethal tagged in and stomped the hell out of him. The crowd was all over J Diesel chanting "Babytista" at him. That is freaking hilarious. The House of Truth tagged in and out working over Mark. Mark came back to life against Dijak, nailing some big chops.
Mark tagged out to Jay who nailed a series of rights and a neckbreaker for a two count. Briscoe was worked over by the House of Truth, who took turns working him over, even Martini. Briscoe finally made a comeback with a death valley driver on Diesel.
Lethal tagged in but Strong made the hot tag in and cleaned house with chops and a leg lariat. He nailed a leaping knee in the corner and nailed an awesome gutbuster. Strong went for the cover and everyone but Truth and ODB jumped in and they all brawled. Strong and the Briscoes were beaten down outside. ODB tagged in and jumped on Jay's back but Martini tagged in and grabbed her by the hair and slammed her backward to the mat.
ODB was left against the HOT. She drank from her flask and went after all of them. The Briscoes and Strong returned and everyone brawled and they went into all sorts of crazy sequences. Martini rolled up ODB who kicked up and spit alcohol from her flask in his eyes, nailed him and scored the pin.
Your winners, The Briscoes & ODB & Roderick Strong.
Fun stuff. I am guessing they will air a lot of retrospective style material on the episode as well.
ROH Tag Team champions The Addiction vs. Samoa Joe & AJ Styles
Big "Thank you Joe" chant. All four faced off. The crowd chanted, "F*** TNA." Ouch.
Styles and Kazarian started off and they went back and forth with some nice exchanges. Styles controlled Joe, who was tagged in to a big ovation. Daniels tagged in but was killed with right hands. Joe went for the Facewash in the corner but Kazarian pulled Daniels out. Kazarian entered the ring and Joe nailed him with chops, beat him in the corner and went for the Facewash but this time Daniels pulled him out. Styles did a dive over the top onto them on the floor.
Joe and Styles worked them over on the floor to set up Joe doing the Ole Ole Kick on the floor. Back in the ring, Styles nailed a big dropkick and a backbreaker on Daniels. Kazarian tagged in. Styles rolled him up. When Kazarian kicked out, Styles was sent into a Daniels kick.
The Addiction worked over Styles, tagging in and out. Daniels was trapped in the Calfkiller. Kazarian hit the ring to break it up. Joe hit the ring but the referee stopped him, allowing the Addiction to work over Styles. Daniels drilled Styles with a backbreaker but Joe broke up the pin. The crowd chanted, "We want Joe." Daniels nailed a Blue Thunder Bomb on Styles.
Styles and Kazarian battle to the top. Styles nailed him off, then hit the inverted DDT. Joe made the tag and nailed all his signature maneuvers on Daniels. Kazarian leapt over the ropes and came in with a DDT. They double team Joe who comes back with a double clothesline. They overtake Joe again as Styles re-enters the fray. Kazarian nailed a monkeyf flip on Styles, who turned into a rana on Daniels. Wow.
Daniels took out Styles and went for the BME but Joe caught him and nailed a big suplex and the muscle buster. Styles nailed the Styles Clash. They pinned the champs in stereo.
Your winner, Samoa Joe & AJ Styles!
All four embraced. Joe's music played as the locker room surrounded the ring.
Joe said he could pour his heart out about what they have all been through and how much this company changed the world and how they do what they do for these people.
He said he can go on about how they said this wouldn't matter and this wouldn't change anything but last time he checked, every world champion wrestled in this ring and the best in the world were in this ring.
Joe said that if this is the last time he is in this ring or not, he will carry what it meant to be in this ring and take it to every arena in this ring and show it, with his heart, to everyone in the world.
He closed out saying he is Samoa Joe, he is pro wrestling and he is, because he wrestled here in Ring of Honor.
Joe was embraced by a number of the talents and the locker room all showed him respect to end the show.
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