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On this day in history in ...
1963 - John Tenta aka Earthquake in the WWF and The Shark in WCW is born.
1980 - Ray Stevens & Jimmy Snuka defeat Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood for the NWA World Tag Team Title in Greensboro, North Carolina, ending Steamboat & Youngblood's second title reign.
1980 - The AWA ran Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Auditorium, featuring the following results:
-Tito Santana beat Chris Markoff.
-Sakaruda & Takachiho beat Ben Deleon & Herman Schaefer.
-John Studd beat Steve O.
-Dino Bravo beat Adrian Adonis.
-Greg Gagne fought Jesse Ventura to a no contest.
-Shohei Giant Baba beat Super Destroyer Mark II (Bob Remus, the future Sgt. Slaughter). This match was taped for airing on TV by All Japan Pro Wrestling.
-Jumbo Tsuruta beat AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel by disqualification. This match was taped for airing on TV by All Japan Pro Wrestling.
1981 - Memphis Wrestling ran the Mid-South Coliseum before 5,981 fans with the following results:
-Sonny King beat Tojo Yamamoto via disqualification.
-Plowboy Frazier beat Jim Dalton.
-Masa Fuchi & Mr. Onita beat Koko Ware & Roy Rogers.
-Steve Keirn pinned Chick Donovan.
-Wayne Farris, Kevin Sullivan & the Nightmares beat Jerry Lawler, Bill Dundee, Dream Machine & Dutch Mantel. As result, Jimmy Hart was able to book the next match as his dream match...
-Jimmy Hart pinned Jerry Lawler to win the AWA Southern title with Kevin Sullivan & Wayne Farris as the special referees.
1981 - The WWF ran Rochester, NY with the following results at the War Memorial Auditorium:
-Strong Kobayashi pinned Tony Altomare at 17:17.
-Curt Hennig pinned Johnny Rodz at 10:16.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Magnificent Muraco pinned Tony Garea at 15:23.
-Rick Martel defeated Capt. Lou Albano via count-out at 2:45.
-Rick McGraw & Dominic DeNucci defeated WWF Tag Team Champions the Moondogs in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0; fall #1: the Moondogs were disqualified; fall #2: DeNucci pinned Spot with a small package.
-George Steele pinned SD Jones at 4:00.
-Pat Patterson defeated Sgt. Slaughter in an Alley Fight.
-Pedro Morales defeated King Kong Mosca via disqualification.
1981 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Greenville, SC at the Memorial Auditorium with the following:
*Mike Miller vs. Ricky Harris ended in a time limit draw.
*Dewey Robertson defeated Jim Nelson.
*Mr. Wrestling II defeated Mr. Fuji.
*NWA World Jr. Champion Les Thornton defeated Scott McGhee.
*Sweet Ebony Diamond (Rocky Johnson) defeated King James I of Wrestling via DQ.
*NWA World champ Dusty Rhodes & Wahoo McDaniel defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions Gene & Ole Anderson.
1982 - Championship Wrestling from Florida ran Tampa at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, featuring the following results:
-Deke Rivers beat Gordon Nelson.
-The Alabama Chain Gang (Ron McFarlane & Jerry Brown) beat Vinnie Valentino & Bubba Douglas.
-Les Thornton beat Billy Spears.
-Florida Champion Jim Garvin vs. Brian Blair ended in a draw.
-Butch Reed & Sweet Brown Sugar beat Derek Draper (the future Col. DeBeers) & Randy Rose.
-Chavo Guerrero beat Kendo Nagasaki by disqualification.
-Terry & Dory Funk Jr. beat Barry Windham & Mike Graham.
1982 - Southeastern Championship Wrestling ran Birmingham, Alabama at the Boutwell Auditorium, featuring the following results:
-Al Perez beat Damian.
-Kevin Sullivan beat Louie Tillet.
-Jacques Rougeau vs. Wayne Farris ended in a draw.
-Brad Armstrong vs. Kevin Sullivan ended in a draw.
-Robert Fuller & Dusty Rhodes beat Southeastern Tag Team Champs the Kiwi Sheepherders by DQ.
-Southeastern champ Jos LeDuc beat Austin Idol by DQ.
1984 - Mid-South Wrestling ran Houston, Texas at the Sam Houston Coliseum with the following results:
-Terry Taylor defeated Barry Orton.
-Sonny King defeated Buddy Landell.
-Hercules Hernandez battled Mr. Wrestling to a no contest.
-Hacksaw Duggan defeated Ernie Ladd by DQ.
-Mid-South Wrestling North American champ Magnum T.A. defeated Krusher Khrushchev.
-The Rock N' Roll Express defeated The Midnight Express by DQ.
-The Junkyard Dog defeated Butch Reed in a "Ghetto Street Fight."
1985 - Texas All-Star Wrestling ran Mercedes, Texas with the following results:
-Paul Kelly defeated Paul Diamond.
-Shawn Michaels defeated The Samoan by disqualification.
-American Force (Paul Diamond and Shawn Michaels) defeated Paul Kelly and Voodoo Malumba.
-Jose Lothario and Big Bubba defeated Chavo Guerrero and Al Madril by disqualification in a Lumberjack match.
1985 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Columbus, GA with the following results at the Municipal Auditorium:
-Kevin Sullivan defeated Rocky King.
-The Italian Stallion & Thunderbolt Patterson vs. The Rock N' Roll RPMs.
-Pez Whatley defeated Ole Anderson.
-Jimmy Valiant defeated Superstar Billy Graham.
-NWA World Tag Team Champions Ivan & Nikita Koloff defeated Brett & Buzz Sawyer.
-NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defeated Dick Slater by DQ.
1986 - A live event promoted by the WWA in Cleveland, Ohio at the Hotel Sofitel Ballroom before 800 fans saw the following results:
-Farmer Pete beat Little John.
-Chris Carter beat the Polynesian Wildman.
-El Bracero beat Muhammad Saad.
-WWA Champion the Great Wojo beat Chris Carter.
-Jerry Graham Jr. & Don Kent beat Dick the Bruiser & Calypso Jim.
1986 - The AWA ran Green Bay, Wisconsin at the Brown County Veteran's Arena, featuring the following results:
-Sherri Martel pinned Princess Jasmine.
-Scott LeDoux beat the Mysterious Mr. Go via DQ in a Taped Fist match.
-Col. DeBeers beat Scott Hall via DQ when Hall threw DeBeers over the top rope.
-Curt Hennig vs. Larry Zbyszko fought to a draw.
-AWA World Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers beat the Midnight Rockers when Somers pinned Shawn Michaels.
-Jerry Blackwell beat Boris Zhukov (substituting for King Kong Brody) via countout.
-Ray Stevens & Verne & Greg Gagne beat Boris Zhukov & Nord the Barbarian & Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie when Greg pinned Zhukov.
-An advertised Earthquake Ferris vs. Alan West bout did not take place.
-AWA World Champion Stan Hansen pinned Nick Bockwinkel in a Steel Cage match.
1990 - Bill Dundee defeats John Tatum for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas. Dundee started his third run with the title, winning back the belt he lost to Tatum only seven days earlier.
1991 - WCW ran the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, featuring the following results before 1,250 fans, courtesy TheHistoryofWWE.com:
-Larry Zbyszko (sub. for Black Blood) pinned Sam Houston
-Oz (Kevin Nash) pinned Joey Maggs (sub. for Tim Horner)
-Tom Zenk (sub. for WCW Tag Team Champion Scott Steiner) & WCW Tag Team Champion Rick Steiner defeated Stan Hansen (sub. for the Angel of Death) & Dan Spivey via disqualification; Spivey was asked to job to Zenk in the match and refused - since he and Hansen were tag team champions in Japan; he was then asked to lose every night to PN News which led to him leaving the company
-Ron Simmons defeated the One Man Gang via disqualification
-WCW U.S. Champion Lex Luger defeated Nikita Koloff in a Russian chain match; after the bout, Koloff used the chain to hang Sting over the top rope
- Arn Anderson & Barry Windham defeated Sting & Brian Pillman in an elimination match; the elimination stipulation was not announced to the crowd; Sting pinned Anderson; Sting and Pillman were both counted out.
-WCW World Champion Ric Flair defeated El Gigante via count-out in a No DQ match at 5:39.
1992 - Clash of the Champions XIX was shown on TBS. This marked the first and only time that a Clash Of The Champions event was not aired live. The matches were taped in Charleston, South Carolina at the McAllister Fieldhouse on June 16th, even though the show did not air until after the Beach Blast PPV on June 20th. Here are the results of the show, which was built around first round matches in the NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament (the rest of the tournament was held at the Great American Bash Pay-per-view):
First round matches:
- Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff defeated Joe & Dean Malenko.
- Rick Rude & Steve Austin defeated Marcus Bagwell & Tom Zenk.
- Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeated Larry & Jeff O'Day.
- Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Miguel Perez, Jr. & Ricky Santana.
- Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes defeated Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton.
- The Freebirds (Michael Hayse & Jimmy Garvin) defeated El Texano & Silver King.
- Jushin Liger & Brian Pillman defeated Chris Benoit & Beef Wellington.
- Akira Nogami & Hiro Hase defeated The Headhunters (Arn Anderson & Bob Cook under masks).
Quarterfinal match:
- Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeated Rick & Scott Steiner.
1994 - Controversial figure skater Tonya Harding appears as part of a Championship Wrestling USA event at the the Clark County Fairgrounds near Vancouver, Washington, featuring the following results:
-Black Blood (Billy Jack Haynes) defeated Dane Rush.
-Bart Sawyer and Bill Sawyer defeated Chavo Guerrero and Mando Guerrero by disqualification.
-Billy Two Eagles, Jim Pope and Karl Pope defeated Minnesota Mauler #1, Minnesota Mauler #2 and Minnesota Mauler #3.
-Espectrito defeated Mascarita Sagrada in a Minis bout.
-CW Bergstrom & Billy Jack Haynes & Rey Misterio Jr. defeated Col. DeBeers & Psicosis & Ryuma Go,
-Brian Cox & Eddie Guerrero & The Love Machine with Tonya Harding defeated Blue Panther & Konnan & Perro Aguayo.
1995 - Smoky Mountain Wrestling ran Jenkins, KY, featuring the following results:
Boo Bradley (the future Balls Mahoney) defeated Killer Kyle
Steve Armstrong defeated SMW Heavyweight Champion Buddy Landel via disqualification
Tracy Smothers & The Dirty White Boy defeated the Headbangers
The Rock N' Roll Express, Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated SMW Tag Team Champions Al Snow & Unabom (the future Kane).
1996 - Chris Jericho defeats Pitbull #2 for the ECW World Television Title at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was Jericho's first major title win in the U.S. Up to this point in his career, his only title reign had been a brief run with the NWA Middleweight belt, which he held in Mexico as Corazon De Leon. Dave Scherer filed the following live report:
ECW returned to the hallowed grounds of the ECW Arena for Hardcore Heaven ‘96 on 6/22 with a show that had its ups and downs. There were a few major surprises (that unlike last show were not built up beforehand and thus were more effective), but there also were a few major low points.
Starting with the plusses, Terry Gordy, looking better in the ring than he has in years, debuted as Raven’s mystery opponent in the ECW Title match. They shot a great angle with the Sandman and Raven, which was marred slightly by technical errors. Just as pleasant a surprise to me was the return of the greatest ring announcer in the world, Bob Artese. There were also some really good wrestling matches. The promotion drew their record crowd of 1,511 paid (helped in part by new bleachers all around the building), actually turning away people at the door. And the crowd was hot throughout the show. While there were some things that I did not like personally about the show, I would be lying if I said that the vast majority of the fans felt the same way. Almost unanimously, they loved the show and that is what the promotion is looking to deliver.
On the other side of the coin, as Summer arrives, the temperature in the building goes up with it. I always thought that there is no air conditioning in the Arena, but found out recently that there is, but it was not designed to cool a building filled with 1,500 people. In the old days, the promotion used to have to end the show by 11:30 so that the building could be converted over for midnight bingo. Ever since bingo changed nights, the shows routinely run past midnight and on this night, in part due to equipment breaking but in part due just to the length of the show, the card did not end until after 1 a.m. Now, I love graps. I love watching graps and being at a show. But 5 hours is a long time to spend at any show. There were changes in two of the tag matches, including the Tag Title match, that were necessitated by outside factors, but still meant that the company did not deliver on advertised matches. Again, to almost the whole crowd, that didn’t matter a bit. In addition, there was yet another instance of brain farts by cretinous fans who took the opportunity of pandemonium during a match to throw almost every object that was not nailed down into the ring.
And in something that I am not sure if it was a high or a low, but it damn sure was ugly, Tommy Dreamer took the next bump in his seemingly steady progression towards dying in the ring.
Ring announcer Joel Gertner opened the show by saying that he has been with the company for nine months now and talked about how Michael Buffer was his idol. He mentioned the “president of my fan club, Mr. ‘Shave your neck’ himself, Arizona John ... he loves me.” The running joke here is that John, one of the original Bleacher Bums, rides Gertner like a Harley at every show. John responded to Gertner with a well deserved two fingered salute. Anyway, Gertner went on and on until finally, the Sandman came out and wailed him repeatedly with his cane, which got a huge pop from the fans. Sandman, no doubt, took a little extra pleasure in this because a few weeks ago, Gertner announced him, before a match with Taz, as “The next victim in Taz’s path of rage.” Chucklehead.
Sandman took the mic and called for Missy Hyatt (who has gotten collagen shots in her lips and was wearing a long, permed blonde wig), and told her to “Bring out that guy who looks likes he belongs on top of a wedding cake,” and she brings out Bob Artese, the long time ring announcer who had left the company but like the swallows to Capistrano, returned on this night. The crowd gave him a great pop. Sandman then ran down Gertner, presented Bob with the mic, and told Missy to “get him,” which she did by kissing him. The crowd chanted, “He’s hardcore.”
In the opener, Shane Douglas defeated Mikey Whipwreck in an outstanding match. There are a lot of rumors going around concerning WCW offering Mikey a contract, and it in fact are the truth. Mikey was offered a deal, for a limited number of dates we are told, but at this point he is leaning towards staying with ECW. Personally, I hope that the fact that WCW would want him opens peoples’ eyes to what a good worker he is and puts mud on the faces of those who were saying this past week that Mikey was at the WCW Bash in Baltimore begging for work. Nothing could be farther from the truth. This match saw both guys do a lot of great stuff, with Mikey flying and Shane with his mat moves. Douglas had some good heel heat for the first time in a while. Early on, they went outside the ring. Mikey had Shane in the first row and hit a great springboard senton onto him. Mikey did a legdrop on him on the floor.
Back in the ring, both men traded Figure Four leg locks. Mikey then hit a dropkick to the face from the top rope for a two count. Mikey hit a DDT for a two count. Shane got back on the offensive and hit a belly to belly suplex for the pin. It was a really strong match by both guys. Shane took the mic and was mercifully short in his comments, which were nothing of any importance.
Oh, and for some reason, Shane pulled down his pants and exposed his genitals. Why? Maybe he was hot too. For whatever reason, as a female subscriber told me after the show, “He has nothing to brag about.” Ouch.
Quite possibly, the biggest pop of the night went to Joey Styles as he came out to the ring to do the open for the TV show. He said that Eric Bischoff took a lame powerbomb and that if was really tough, he’d come to Philly and let the Sandman “cane his a**.” He brings out “Baron Von Stevie” and Bluedust, who of course were Stevie Richards mocking Baron Von Raschke and the Blue Meanie mocking Goldust. They were both pretty funny, though Meanie in that garb could give small children nightmares for years to come.
The purpose of the interview was to say that later on they would present Raven the “dirty whore” he had asked Richards to get for him. Bluedust was doing the gay act on Joey and then Stevie went to put the claw on him before Styles, fighting back his laughter, knocked the claw off and left the ring, acting disgusted.
The next match saw the Full Blooded Italians come out in their usual fashion, to Frank Sinatra’s “Fly me to the moon.” J. T. Smith presented a new member of the team, who ended up being Sal Bellomo. Ugh. Their opponents were Big Dick and Buh Buh Ray Dudley. Most of you know how I am anti-star ratings, but if you have to rate a match, maybe we could changed the bottom of the scale to a “Dudley,” you know, like “Coleslaw Duggan and Lex Luger’s match was a friggin’ Dudley man.”
At the beginning of the match, Buh Buh dogged D-Von Dudley on the mic. Early on, the Duds completely dominated the FBI, who are really largely just a job team. About midway in, Dick grabbed Sal and took him to the back, but did not come back out. This left the FBI to “dominate” Buh Buh, except he did not sell all that well. This match went WAY too long, like 20 minutes or so. For a five minute match, it would have been OK. The finish came when, as the FBI was beating up Buh Buh, D-Von came in with a chair and hit the FBI with it, getting the Duds DQ’d. D-Von told Buh Buh that he always has to bail him out and then hit him with a chair.
They hit the Dudleys’ music and Dick came out, to a strong pop from the crowd. D-Von left, out of the front door, and Dick followed him. I did not care for it, but I guess the rest of the fans did. Buh Buh then says, “D-Von, you ain’t nothing but a big f**kin’ p**sy. One thing that Big Dick loves to do is rip apart big f**kin’ p**sy.” Buh Buh then, for some unknown reason, took his pants off and jawed at a fan.
The next match was the much hyped shootfight between Taz and Paul Varelans. It only went about 4 minutes and was a major letdown. Taz made a grand entrance with his “team,” which consisted of the Eliminators, Shane Douglas, and Rob Van Dam. The match was not much, just a some knees and armbars, until Saturn went up to the top rope, hit a dropkick to the back of Varelans head, and Taz put him into what looked like a version of the Tazmission choke for the win.
Varelans rolled to the floor and eventually he was taken out. Word I got was that Varelans, proving that his mental capacity does not match his physical size, realized that doing a job meant he had to lose. Duh. So they booked a finish where he could so without losing his heat with the UFC.
Taz went to do an interview and that was when the promotion found out that one of their two mics were broken. After he got the mic that worked, Taz had great heel heat, telling the crowd, “I f**ked yas again. You thought this would be a shoot, but I f**ed yas again.” People were giving him shit, and he was encouraging them to come into the ring, insulting them when they wouldn’t. He said that the only person he wants is Sabu. Taz was great on the mic and is a great heel.
Stevie Richards, Super Nova, and Raven then came to the ring. Nova was great doing a putz gimmick, and Stevie is Stevie. Richards recaps the angle about finding a dirty whore, and presents Raven with the Sandman’s “ex-wife” Peaches. She bowed down before Raven and did the same schtick that Kimona did with him. Sandman and Missy came out and Sandman said, “This is supposed to piss me off?” He says that he passed her around to the locker room before. He tells Raven, “When your done with her, you’ve got to pay your f**kin’ bills,” and he throws down the microphone. Now, did I mention how they were working with one mic? Well, now they had none as it broke when it hit the mat. This sent the promotion scrambling as the angle was only partly done.
Stevie and Nova tried to be goofy and entertain the crowd while the sound guys worked their a**es off trying to fix the mics. Finally, they wired a house mic from the top stage, but it took a while and took some of the heat off of the angle. Peaches stayed out for a while, but finally left. When they got a mic working, Raven said to Richards, “Why did you let her stay on me as long as you did?” He said that it was obvious that the Sandman couldn’t care less about her and calls Richards a “f**king moron.” They ended up finishing the angle later.
Then “Freebird” played and Terry Gordy made his ECW debut, taking on Raven for the ECW Title. Gordy looked a lot better than he did last time I saw him, and I am glad he is apparently possibly getting back to where he was. The crowd popped huge for him when he came out, chanting his name. The match was very good, with both of them brawling through the crowd early on and Raven juicing like a river. The blade has made its way back. They did a lot of power spots and chairshots on their way around the building. When they got back in the ring, Gordy was on the offense when Richards tried to superkick Terry, but Bam Bam caught Stevie’s leg. This gave Raven the chance to nail Gordy with a crotch shot. Somehow, Raven got barbed wire and went to use it on Gordy but Terry ducked, hit a clothesline, and put on his spike hold to Raven’s neck.
Gordy had Raven beat when Richards and Nova came in and tried to pull Gordy off, but couldn’t. This brought on a run-in-a-thon as Tommy Dreamer came out and did a double DDT on Raven’s lackeys. Brian Lee came out and chokeslammed Dreamer. Gordy then hit a powerbomb on Lee. Gordy took the barbed wire and put it around Raven’s head, which was more Jesus Christ symbolism for Raven. Gordy then repeatedly rammed Raven’s barbed head into the turnbuckle. The ref tried to break it up and Gordy pushed him down. The ref bump let Richards come up and hit a superkick on Gordy, who was then DDT’d by Raven and was pinned. Dreamer then DDT’d Raven. Lee chokeslammed Dreamer on a chair.
Finally, out came the Sandman, who made the save for the faces. Kimona and Beulah came out. Peaches then came out, this time with a Raven-like grunge look and with her and Sandman’s 6 year old son, and stood with Raven. Raven told Sandman, “If you want me, come get me, but go through your son.” Sandman acted stunned and asked his son what was up. His kid replied, “Daddy, you’re a drunk,” and he said he was with Raven now. Sandman was destroyed. Raven then went off on Dreamer about having “unprotected sex with my old lady” and told him he has no sperm count to impregnate her. Beulah then challenged Peaches to a catfight. Bluedust came out as the other heels left. Kimona grabbed Dust by the crotch and Beulah DDT’d him, to chants of “She’s Hardcore.” It was a wild scenario that will play well when it airs on TV.
The first match after intermission was scheduled to be the title shot, as the Gangstas were supposed to take on the Eliminators for the ECW Tag Titles. The Gangstas were slated to win the belts, but due to a combination of New Jack’s going ballistic after Brian Pillman’s use of the word “n***er” at the last show combined with the fact that he worked a local show recently for Angel Amoroso’s tiny TCW promotion led to the promotion changing the plan as, though Jack was not told that he could not work for Angel, they would have liked it if they were consulted first. Of course, Jack was less than happy about this so there was a lot of heat surrounding it this weekend.
It was billed on TV as the Gangstas' last title match though and with them not getting the titles, they had to do something. Back to the match. The Elims were waiting in the ring when The Gangstas came out. The Gangstas of Paradise, from about three weeks in the WWF fame, attacked the Gangstas before they hit the ring. Then, the Bruise Brothers came out and attacked the Gangstas too. The Elims just stayed in the ring. After the heels left the bloodied babyfaces laying, Saturn takes the mic (which was fixed during the intermission) and told the Bruises that they did not do them any favors and they did not ask them for help. He called them out for a match, and they came. The two teams brawled back and forth for while, doing some good stuff. There were table shots, chairshots, and other psychotic spots. They went at it until the Gangstas came out and everyone brawled everywhere. Refs came out and broke them all up. The last ones in the ring were the Gangstas. New Jack tells the Elims that it ain’t over. It ended as a no contest. Most of the fans ate it up.
They followed this with another run-in-a-thon as the Gangstas of Paradise, Samu and Mack Daddy Kane, were to wrestle Axl Rotten and Hack Myers, which they did for a few minutes or so before run-in-mania part two took over. The Samoans did some OK spots early, but the crowd chanted, “Who gives a f**k,” “You fat f**k,” and “Yokozuna” at them. The Samoans had Hack in the ring and they did an “X” sign before hitting a double head butt. This, of course, brought out the Gangstas, who attacked them for stealing their gimmick and attacking them earlier. Hack and Axl left as the Elims and the Bruise Brothers came out.
They were all beating the hell out of each other as the refs tried to pull them apart. And then it happened. Again. Many fans, in their infinite (lack of) wisdom, started throwing Powerade bottles, soda cans, and damn near everything that was not nailed down, into the ring. Seeing this stuff used to really piss me off, but as I watched it this time, I almost did not care. In a sense, I guess I thought that it was the way it is anymore. It was quite a surreal sight to see a large part of the building throwing garbage into the ring, all the while chanting, “ECW.” If the promotion wanted to, they could stop it, but I get the impression that they don’t care, so why should I? While this was going on, the dressing room cleared out and I saw Buh Buh Ray Dudley beeline into the crowd and go after a fan who threw something at him. I don’t know if he hit him the fan or not, but I would not blame him if he did. I also saw a fan get his head busted open when he was hit by a chair that was thrown. He was probably chanting “ECW” too. I saw three fist fights break out during this as well. I don’t even feel like making my now standard, “This is a lawsuit waiting to happen speech” because what’s the point of it anyway? Bob Artese put it best before the next match when he said, “Some things never change.”
They did follow the debacle with a super match, for the TV Title, between Chris Jericho and Pit Bull Two. Pit, who is way over, was seconded by the fabulous Francine, clad in a bikini. This match opened with Pit doing a lot of power moves, and Jericho taking some major abuse. Later on, Jericho went on the offensive and somehow Pit got color on his head. Jericho is simply a fabulous worker and Pit did a good job of staying with him here. Their different styles, which would cause a conflict for some workers, meshed well because both guys went out of their way to put the other guy over. Jericho did a lot of cool kicks, ranas, and even did a blind moonsault press onto the floor. Pit did all of his power spots.
Toward the end, Shane Douglas came down and tried to leave with the belt. Francine stopped him. He kissed her, and she spit on him. Pit went to clothesline him, but Shane moved and he toasted Francine instead. Pit toasted Shane and Jericho went to do a splash on the floor, but no one was there. Shane got up and tried to leave with the belt, but the ref stopped him. Pit One came out and carried Francine out. They then did a lot of near falls until finally Jericho hit a NASTY rana from the top and got the pin, and the title. In a classy display, Pit Two presented the title to him and raised his arm, and the crowd ate it up. Pit Two hugged Chris while the crowd chanted, “Lionheart.” Chris then went out in the crowd and led an “ECW” chant.
There has been a lot of talk of Jericho going to WCW, but given his win here, I think it tells you he will be in ECW at least for a little while longer. The promotion has less than good feelings towards Kevin Sullivan and WCW right now, as Sullivan is continually trying to take the group’s talent. Paul Heyman would not knowingly build up a star for them.
Next up was the weapons match between Tommy Dreamer and Brian Lee. I popped huge for Lee, as did my bro the Rat, because Lee came out to Blackfoot’s Train. Sure, most of you never heard the tune before, but it rocks. They had about 10 people bring out the weapons that the fans had brought with them to the show. Bob Artese told the fans not to throw shit in the ring. Beulah and Kimona pushed a shopping cart full of weapons to the ring, and Dreamer ran in and attacked Lee from the blind side. They started in the ring, and it was as crazy and insane as you would expect. Then, they brawled around the ring and outside the building for what seemed like five minutes.
When they came back in, and this will shock you, Tommy was a bloody mess. They brawled some more in the ring until Lee hit a chokeslam. He grabbed a cinder block and put it on Tommy’s crotch and then grabbed a bat. Beulah came up into the ring and Lee went for a chokeslam on her. This brought Kimona up on the ring and she started to take her top off. This got Lee’s attention. Beulah hit Lee with a pan, and Dreamer DDT’d Lee onto a “Stop” sign to get the pin.
The Bruise Brothers, of course, then came out and it was time for the next stop on the “Tommy Dreamer’s Bumps of Death” tour. Well, he went through two tables from the top stage to the second stage at the last show, so it stood to reason he would go through three tables here. But from where? How about from over the doorway to the floor? Works for Tommy, works for me. They went up over the landing above the entrance and, after the Bruises set up three tables, Lee chokeslammed him through all of them, dropping an easy twelve feet in the process. As stupid as it is for him to do, it is numbing to watch.
After Tommy sold it like he was dead, they took him out the front of the building and to the back. Amazingly enough, he was unhurt except for splinters from the table sticking up his a**. Seriously. Rumor has it, at the next show they are going to rent a helicopter, put Dreamer in a flannel suit soaked with gasoline, hover at 5,000 feet above the building, set him on fire, drop him, and see if they put him through the roof of the building. Just kidding. I think.
By this time, it was nearing midnight and we had yet to have the main event. It was discovered that the ring had fallen apart and was in no shape for a match, especially one that would involve two flyers like Sabu and Rob Van Dam. As the ring crew took it apart, the crowd grew restless. Stephen DeAngelis, an office guy in the company, came up with the great idea to have Kimona do a striptease on the top stage. Being the press has its privileges, as I was in the front row for this one. Let’s just say Kimona has done this before, and she has done it well. Many photographers took many pictures and they will be made available here in an upcoming issue. Ah, what the hell, we’ll even run some of them.
It was after 12:30 when Paul Heyman finally got on the mic and told the crowd that the ring was messed up and that the fans could either leave now with a refund or they could stay and watch Sabu vs. Rob. The fans largely cheered and stayed. Heyman then said it again, which he shouldn’t have as we got three calls from people who went to get a refund, but there was no one there to give it to them. Kathy Fitz, who does a fantastic job with the tickets for ECW, had long since “closed up shop” for the night, so she could not have possibly known to be by the door. This miscommunication by Heyman ticked off a few of our readers. Speaking of Kathy, belated birthday wishes go out to her.
Anyway, Paul went on to say that he did not know if the ring was going to hold up, but he was going to try and have them go out and do the match. It didn’t. A minute or two into the match when one of the guys was Irish whipped into the ropes, there was a loud crack, and for the rest of the match the ropes were as soft as my stomach.
In spite of that, Sabu and Van Dam still managed to put together a really good match under less than ideal conditions. It was made all the more impressive because Sabu, who came to the ring wearing a neck brace, has legitimate trouble in his shoulder and neck right now. After the ring snapped, Sabu was visibly pissed, but recovered almost immediately and devised new ways to do his spots. Defying the softness in the ropes, Sabu did a lot of springboard moves off of them anyway, showing incredible agility and balance. Early on, they went out onto the floor and Sabu crotched Rob on the guardrail and then did a wild tope. Sabu went after him on the floor with a chair, and when he went to hit him a second time, he smashed his fingers into a metal beam, hurting them. He called for duct tape to tie them together. I am serious.
You would not even have known as they went from one wild spot to another. Van Dam cleared a section of the bleachers, laid Sabu out with a chair on his face, and dropped a leg from the top of the bleachers, crashing himself on the floor in the process. They went back to the ring where Van Dam did a senton with a chair and toasted Sabu for a two count. Sabu did a running back kick off of a chair. Sabu got monkey flipped onto a chair that was upside down, and he got the legs in his back. Ouch. Van Dam did a standing moonsault. Sabu did a springboard moonsault off of the top. They did more psychotic spots like this until Sabu set a table up on the guardrail and the apron. Sabu went to put Rob through the table, but Rob moved. So Sabu just did a splash into the first row.
A minute later, Sabu had Rob back on the table. As Sabu is coming for him, Rob got up and Sabu did a springboard DDT blasting both of them through the table to the floor. After some more insane action like this, Sabu finally hit an Arabian facebuster from the top rope to get the pin. Both guys were stretchered out.
2002 - Pioneer Home Video officially announced what would turn out to be their final ECW DVD releases, "WrestlePalooza '97" and "Cyberslam '99". Two additional titles, Best of Taz and Best of Rob Van Dam were scripted but never produced due to WWE buying the rights to the ECW library.
2002 - Just one day after being hired to return to WWE after having a meeting with the creative team as to the new direction the company would be taking, Vince Russo was already been moved off of the creative team. After Russo met with the creative team on 6/21, Vince McMahon had second thoughts about the move and designated Russo as an official on-payroll advisor to WWE. Russo was moved out of day-to-day writing just a day after he was scheduled to take over the entire creative direction of the company. Instead, Brian Gewertz remained charge of Raw with Paul Heyman still in charge of Smackdown. The entire team (and agents) will be involved in pay per views. Russo turned down the consultant position and instead went to work for TNA, where he remained off and on through 2012, then returned as a consultant and finally was released by Impact in August 2014.
2002 - Ring of Honor held "Road to the Title" in Philadelphia, PA at the Murphy Rec Center. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
ROH ROAD TO THE TITLE IN PHILADELPHIA, PA LIVE REPORT
by Mike Johnson
Last weekend, I attended the fourth effort by RF Video's Ring of Honor event. As a promotion, I cannot think of any independent which was this far along in terms of workrate by their fourth show. ROH is actively seeking to please that older contingent of hardcore wrestling fans who yearn and miss the hard-hitting athletics of the NWA (or for the younger fans, ECW) while at the same time trying to put a new spin on professional wrestling.
Philadelphia as a market is a hard sell these days. There are a ton of promotions scrambling to either be the next ECW or to try and scoop up what's left of that ECW fanbase, which isn't much as they all scattered in different directions. For a promotion to break 400 is a cause for celebration really, as there is an insane amount of competition.
However, through word of mouth, bus trips from New York City and Boston, and a heavy sell on the Internet and from their offices (including owner Rob Feinstein personally calling those who had ordered tickets in the past to invite them back and thank them for their support), the promotion was able to draw their largest crowd to date for the opening rounds of their championship tournament. I was guessing the crowd was in the 475 area, but no one from the promotion would comment on record. I can personally attest that there were more chairs set up than ever before by the promotion in the corners of the building, and it was full.
The amount of people in the building actually helped to add up to the largest negative of the night, which was the hot and humid atmosphere of the building. Although the crowd was heavily into the wrestling on the show, which was all well worked and athletic, one has to wonder how much louder and more into the show they could have been if they weren't spending as much time and interest trying to remain cool during the show. The promotion plans on bringing industrial size fans into the building for their return on 7/27 to try and offset the problem, so they are recognizing that they need to try and maintain a comfortable atmosphere for the fans. Either that or they, like me, were having unpleasant flashbacks to the ECW Arena shows in the mid-90s that led to everyone nearly passing out from heat stroke! The heat was enough to tire me out to the point that the next day, it was hard to recall what happened in which match, because there was so much good, it all seemed to meld together into an endless procession of wrestling.
The show opened with American Dragon defeating Bio-Hazard via submission with Dragon's Cattle Mutilation finisher. Biohazard is from Rudy Boy Gonzalez's Texas Wrestling Academy and while the match was too short to be anything other than a collection of good spots and moves, Hazard looked decent. Crowd liked the opener.
Spanky who is now being called "The Show Stopper" based on winning the Texas Wrestling Academy gauntlet the show before (and playing off his "training" under Shawn Michaels) beat Paul London with Sliced Bread #2 (Acid Drop-esque move off the ropes). London finally got a chance to really show the fans in Philly how good he is. Spanky, like Dragon, Low Ki and Daniels, is already over as a star to the ROH fanbase. This was a really fast match and well worked.
Doug Williams from Great Britain defeated Jay Briscoe with a rolling German suplex. Williams came out to zero reaction to the fans, who for the most part had heard of but never seen him and won them over by the end of his match. Briscoe continues his losing streak here, so I suspect when he finally gets that big win, you'll hear a huge reaction out of the ROH fans. Williams was a guest on the bus trip from New York after the show and got really over with the NYC fans for being humble and straightforward talking about his career. He cited being influenced by 1980s British workers like Dave Finley and the Dynamite Kid and that he always wanted to work with Finley, but Finley had left for America as he was breaking into the business so they have yet to cross paths.
Jodie Fleisch defeated Jonny Storm in the latest installment of their American battles together. This was a totally different feel than anything else on the show, but my least favorite match. It's not that either of them are poor athletes, but this was more like watching a choreographed fight scene in a Broadway show than a wrestling match as if you were paying attention, you could see spots where worker A was waiting too long in position to catch worker B. The crowd loved it however, as the Michinoku Pro-esque style, was a total change in pace from what ROH usually presents. If you love aerial stuff, this is for you.
Low Ki, who came out to a monstrous reaction, won his first round tournament match after knocking out Prince Nana with a stiff kick to the back of the head. Although this may have been the planned finish (no one will give me a straight answer), Nana was legitimately dazed and had to be helped to the back. It was just one of those things that happen. Nana was OK in the back afterwards.
The Amazing Red beat Xavier in a very good back-and-forth match. They are calling Xavier "The All Around Best" here. Very solid match.
Christopher Daniels pinned Scoot Andrews with a double jump moonsault. They set up the start of Daniels forming a faction within the promotion, saying he had foreseen a "Prophecy" that will destroy Ring of Honor. Daniels then introduced Simply Luscious as the first member of his group. The crowd didn't seem to buy Luscious in the role, but with her charisma, that shouldn't be a problem. Donovan Morgan is also expected to be part of Daniels' faction. After the match, Luscious got under Scoot's skin so he announced she had a match tonight, and would be taking on Sumie Sakai from the 'jd promotion in Japan.
Sakai came out to a big reaction (I guess being a Japanese worker in front of hardcore fans will cement that reaction) and defeated Luscious with a moonsault in a short match. This was easily the worst match on the show as they lost the crowd early with a missed spot and never seemed to gain them back. The idea here was that the Prophecy had been screwed by Luscious being forced to wrestle. I thought that came off a little contrived, but it's a start for Daniels vs. ROH. This was really short, and came off more like a break between matches to let the crowd cool down than anything else, so if that was the intention, it worked, although by this point, I was dying for an intermission.
In the final match of the first round of the tourney, AJ Styles beat Jerry Lynn with the Styles Clash. These guys just work so well together, you would think they have been working 5 years against each other, instead of the last 6 months. Lynn got a huge reaction from the fans, who remember his hard work in ECW and recognize that he was screwed with a lack of push in the WWE. At this point, this was the match of the night, which was saying something as other than Luscious-Sakai, everything was a good athletic bout.
By this point, the promotion made the one cardinal mistake of the evening in my opinion. The crowd was hot, tired, and needed a break. They teased intermission but instead the tag team of Dunn and Marcos (trainees of HC Loc) hit the ring and declared they were the best tag team in ROH. Everyone knew what was going to happen next as Da Hit Squad showed up and beat the living hell out of the two youngsters. The Squad claimed to be the top tag team in ROH, which brought out Divine Storm (Chris Divine & Quiet Storm). Storm cut one awesome promo on the Squad, asking how they could make that claim when they haven't wrestled an official match yet. The visual of the smaller Storm confronting and cursing out the larger Squad was a great one and Storm, who is very mellow and quiet by nature, shocked me with his promo. I didn't have a clue he had it in him. This brought out the SATs and it degenerated into a brawl with everyone doing dives.
Once everyone was on the floor battling, the Christopher Street Connection came out and began fondling and kissing each other. The Natural Born Sinners came charging out and destroyed them, even spanking their valent Alison Danger. At this point, the brawl was going on way too long for me personally and likely the crowd. The Carnage Crew (HC Loc and Tony DeVito) hit the ring. The crowd totally gave up on them, as for whatever reason, they have no respect for the Crew whatsoever. The crowd's reaction reminds me of the earlier days of the Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley team in ECW, as the crowd just wanted to see them die and not much else.
It ended up with The Squad and the Sinners cleaning house but the Sinners getting upset when the Squad again declared themselves the top tag team. As a segment, this probably would have been fine if it hadn't run almost 20 minutes this late into the show and the crowd (and myself) hadn't so desperately needed a break. It was something totally different from the usual ROH events, as it was an ECW-esque out of control brawl around ringside and in the ring, which went on and on. I joked that I was waiting for New Jack's music to hit while I watched the events unfold.
After a well deserved intermission, and some cool air outside the Rec Center, it was back to the show as Spanky defeated Jodie Fleisch in a very good match. I enjoyed this Fleisch match much better as it didn't have that pre-ordained feel of the spotfest with Jonny Storm. Fleisch nearly destroyed himself with a springboard moonsault to the floor as his shins destroyed a piece of guardrail. It was especially scary as it was the exact same spot where Chris Marvel shattered his ankle wrestling Paul London. Spanky scored the pin with Sliced Bread #2.
In a move that shocked the crowd, Doug Williams pinned American Dragon. The crowd didn't expect this at all, seeing Dragon as one of the cornerstones of the promotion. In two matches though, the ROH audience had taken to Williams.
In a match that looked like it had taken the Matrix and meshed it with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Low Ki pinned Red in the most damned display of aerial action one has ever seen. At the same time, with the speed and timing they possessed, it didn't come off feeling sterilized like the Fleisch-Storm bout in the earlier round. They ended with a great sequence where Low Ki was on the top rope but Red kicked him. Ki fell backwards with his leg trapped in the ropes. Red went to the top rope to do a move, but Ki caught him and turned him around, hitting his Ki Krusher finisher off the top for the pin. The crowd absolutely loved this match. Brian XL (who is starting to remind me of ECW's Stevie Richards with his self-absorbed promos and whininess, as well as his ability to weasel into scenarios) came out and badmouthed Red, then attacked him. The Maximos made the save and his the Spanish Fly on him.
In the final match of the evening, Christopher Daniels defeated a bloody AJ Styles. Styles had the only blood of the night. Daniels and Styles went back and forth in a great match, with Daniels finally hitting the last rites for the pin.
Donnie B, who is the new color commentator for the promotion's videotapes was introduced. He got booed out of the building. I guess the Philly fans are huge supporters of his column here on the site. Actually, I bet Donnie's opinionated comments on different indys caused that reaction, but that's Donnie. He tried several times to make ROH's "big announcement" that was going to change the "landscape of wrestling." but Christopher Daniels kept taking the mic and calling the promotion a farce and a joke. Spanky came out and insulted Daniels, then put himself over. Donnie finally got the mic and announced the promotion had a TV clearance on channel 48 in Philly Tuesday nights at midnight starting in September. The crowd popped huge for that.
The idea was that they were going to unveil the ROH championship belt, but once Low Ki and Doug Williams came back out, a brawl broke out and the referees left with the belt, which was never taken out of the bag it was in. So, ROH bait and switched the title belt, which has to be a first for pro wrestling. There were some complaints by fans afterward, and I don't argue that they didn't get what they were promised, but after that show, I don't think anyone was unhappy with the end result.
I believe the idea was ROH wanted to give the fans something to come back for. By this point though, the heat in the building had finally taken a toll on me, and I walked out during the brawl so I couldn't tell you how it ended, but one couldn't fault the work of the workers or the promotion tonight. If they had ran the exact same show the month before, when it was way cooler in the building I suspect it would have been proclaimed the best show in some time in Philly. The ending of the show did come off flat, but when you think about it, if they give instant gratification every time they promoted a show, there would be no reason for the fans to want to return.
A very good showing for the promotion, as they are putting on strong wrestling matches in order to sell them through ROHWrestling.com. The videotape background is actually the strongest proponent the promotion has for long-term survival, as unlike other indy groups which rely strictly on attendance figures for profit, if ROH can move videos to 1/2 of the audience that comes to their shows, it's almost as if they have doubled their attendance gate. Then factor in those who order online or through a catalog, and there's more money to be made and they are in a more secure position than most independent groups start out in.
That said, it will be interesting to see how the promotion changes once it begins airing on television in the Philadelphia market. Angles and characters have always been what has drawn in wrestling, as opposed to workrate and athletics. If the promotion intends to continue to grow, they will need to book some really interesting angles. That said, they have been slowly building very good storylines and characters over the first quartet of shows, but have been unable to use the angles they run backstage to draw for the next event, as the videotapes aren't out in time. Now, with television, they will be able to tap that asset. It should be an interesting time for the promotion come September.
2002 - A promotion titled International Wrestling Superstars ran their first and last show in Atlantic City at the Sandcastle Stadium, featuring the following results:
Public Enemy vs. Ballard Brothers
Public Enemy won over the Ballard Brothers when Johnny Grunge pinned Shane Ballard in 8:20
Devon Storm vs. Sabu
Sabu defeated Devon Storm in 13:38
Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Kamala
Hacksaw Jim Duggan defeated Kamala in 3:54
Mr. Irresistible vs. Black Widow
Mr. Irresistible won over Black Widow in 89 seconds
Steve Dr. Death Williams vs. Jimmy Snuka, Jr.
Dr. Death Steve Williams defeated Jimmy Snuka Jr in 7:25
Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake/Greg Valentine) vs. Cyborg & Russian Giant
Cyborg and Russian Giant defeated the Dream Team in 7:21 via a Count Out
The Demon vs. The Barbarian
The Demon defeated Barbarian in 6:09
Tatanka vs. Kojima
Kojima defeated Tatanka in 8:43 (Tatanka was bleeding)
King Kong Bundy vs. Superfly Jimmy Snuka Sr.
Superfly Jimmy Snuka Sr defeated King Kong Bundy in 3:18
The Patriot vs. Bei Sei (White Lion)
Bei Sei defeated The Patriot in 3:48
Buff Bagwell vs. Lord David Taylor
Buff Bagwell defeated David Taylor in 3:45
Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Keiji Mutoh (Muta)
Muta defeated Bam Bam Bigelow in 6:50. The ring ropes broke during this match.
While they were fixing the ring ropes, they had the Fireworks Display.
That needed to be finished by 11:15 PM, according to the permit..
The Road Warriors vs. The Samoans
The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal) defeated The Headshrinkers in 7:56
They had a 10 Bell salute to Davey Boy Smith who was originally supposed to appear on the show.
The promotion has a number of payment issues to talent, with Road Warrior Animal, who had set up the Japanese talent coming in, later having to go work tours of Japan to make up the debt.
2002 - WWE ran Huntington, West Virginia. David Bentley filed the following live report:
David Bentley sent this report
Here is the house show report from Huntington, WV.
Show opened up with the Finkster coming out (to a hot ovation I might add), doing his usual safety spiel. Then the playing of the National Anthem.
The place wasn't sold out, but I would say the arena was about 65 percent full, and we can seat I would guess about 5,000.
The action started right after the National Anthem, first up being a three-way match for the Cruiserweight Championship.
Match #1: Hurricane vs. Tajiri vs. Jamie Noble (with Nidia)
Jamie Noble came out to a decent pop, and it got a bit bigger when they announced his home state of WV, then Tajiri, and then Hurricane got a huge pop when he came out. (We had three guys that were dressed up in full Hurri gear, green hair and all. Was funny. Then we also saw a baby dressed up as Hurricane, and called Mini Hurra)
Match went back and forth, and superstars got to do their signature, except for Hurricane. Who tried a choke slam more than once, but was still a great match. Hot, and the crowd was into it.
Winner: Hurricane. (Tajiri went out first via Hurri, then Jamie went)
Match #2: Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. Rob Conway
An ok match, though the crowd was kind of dead through this one. First time a lot of people had heard of Conway, and he seems to have potential. Both men worked hard, even though a couple spots were missed. A decent sized 'Where's Pepe' chant did break out though. Hehe.
Winner: Chavo
Match #3: 6-man Tag. Hugh Morris, Randy Orton and Billy Kidman vs. Christian, Lance Storm, and Test.
Couple comments. Test is a lot smaller in person than on the TV screen :)
This match was one of the top three of the night. Storm got the mic when he came out, and drew some MAJOR heat with his usual Canada Rocks, America sucks spiel. I think he was surprised at our voicing of how much our country rocks. Christian then got more heat via the same way. A great back and forth match overall. Crowd was really into it, especially on the spots.
I was surprised at how huge of a pop Hugh Morris got when he went up top for the moonsault (man is he agile for a big guy, he's wide. shiver)
Winners: Lance/Christian/Test on interference when Ref's back was turned. (Boot by Test I believe)
Match #4: Sean O'Haire vs. Albert
*cries* Lord, please put clothes back on Albert? PLEASE. Crowd was about half into this match, but overall a great effort by both guys. Sean missed a few spots, and at one point he busted his lip open in the match. Albert controlled most of it. I know the smarks will hate me for this, but O'Haire still needs some more practice.
I was surprised with the ending of this match though, and somewhat disappointed I didn't get to see the coveted Baldo Bomb. At one point in the match though, a big 'Shave your back' chant broke out at Albert. :)
Winner: Albert with a back breaker over the shoulder.
Match #5: D'Von (with Batista) vs. Faarooq
Halfway dead match, though the big spots the crowd booed/cheered. D'Von got some heat when he said the subject of today's sermon was something WV would know alot about, Incest. (Yes yes, we know already. I actually do have running water :)) Not a bad match, though Ron's age showed somewhat. Great effort by both guys. Btw, if you see Batista live, look for all the veins on his biceps. Real icky looking.
Winner: D'Von
Match #6: Val and Hardcore Holly vs. C & B with Rico for the tag belts.
Crowd was hot for most of this match. I personally found Billy Gunn to be funny as hell. I was laughing my butt off. Bob Holly did an arm drag, into an arm bar and you heard Billy scream "That's my bad arm gosh dangit!". Was great, really. I thoroughly enjoyed this match and love C & B even more as a tag team now. Also a decent sized 'Push Bob Push' chant broke out, and Holly busted out laughing and smiling. :)
Winners: C & B via cheating.
Match #7: Rikishi vs. Kurt Angle
This match, simply rocked and I was pleasantly surprised, especially by Rikishi. The arena was right on cue with the obnoxiously loud 'You suck' chants :) Hehe. Rikishi coming out to a surprisingly big pop. I was disappointed not to hear Kurt get on the mic, but I'll get over it :) The crowd was hot for this match, and all the signature moves got done here. Including the Stink face. (I must say to, it's not right to be caught on the wrong angle of a one leg-hook pin attempt on Rikishi. No person should be put through that.)
Teased all through the match about the wig coming off. Rikishi won with the Bonsai, then Angle Olympic slammed after the bell. We though it was over, but luckily Rikishi bought him back and off the hair came!!! I was thoroughly surprised, then the Ref and Rikishi danced. Crowd was eating it up. Great match and great time.
Winner: Rikishi with the Bonsai.
Match #8: Bra & Panties match with Ivory Reffing.
Of course, the pops were big for this one, more so on Stacy though. A puppies chant broke out, but the Match I don't even think was really 4 minutes long. Ivory beat on Torrie after the match, but Torrie pulled down the shorts and Ivory ran.
Winner: Torrie. (only her top came off)
Intermission happens so they can put together the cage for the main event (man was I glad to, I was niccin bad.)
Intermission over.
Main Event: Triple H vs. Chris Jericho in a Cage match.
I must say Jericho drew some great heel heat. He really riled the crowd up when he got out there. He does do arrogant well, though at some points he had a hard time not laughing. Then, Triple H came out to a HUGE pop. People went crazy. Was great to, cause he spit on the corner of the cage where we were sitting (Had 5th row back from ringside).
The match itself was great. Props to both men for a VERY well done match. A+. Got to see all the signature moves, though surprisingly no blood. Crowd was hot for this match 95 percent of the way. At the end of the match C & B came out. Billy slammed the door into Triple H's head, Chuck went for a chair hit, missed, and got Billy instead. Pedigree by HHH on both Chuck and then Jericho.
Winner: HHH with the Pedigree.
After match notes: HHH did some more beat down on Billy and Chuck, then left. Then Billy and Chuck got into it, and Billy chased him with a chair at first. Then they finally hugged. (Could this signal a split up? I hope not =-(..) Also, all the wrestlers seemed to be genuinely having a great time, especially Rikishi, HHH, and Jericho. Jericho couldn't stop laughing as he drew the heat, and Rikishi was great to. Really all the superstars seemed relaxed, and having a great time. Maybe our crowd had alot to do with it. I'd say out of maybe 2000 people, for most of the night we sounded like 10,000 :)
Overall, a great time, great matches, great wrestling, and I salivate for the next time they come to our small town known as Huntington. (not to small, second biggest in WV :))
2002 - WWE held a "Divas Thong a Thon" at their restaurant, the World. Brett A. Schwan filed the following report:
Went to the WWE Divas Thong A Thon at the World on Friday night. Here's the run down.
Coach was the host. He introduced the commentators, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. He then introduced the judges for the evening's event. The judges were Edge, Al Snow, Maven, Jazz, and Paul Heyman.
The competition consisted of three rounds; Lingerie, Bra and Panties, and Fantasy Free For All.
The contestants: Dawn Marie, Stacy Keibler, Torrie Wilson, Terri, Nidia, Linda, Jackie, and Trish Stratus.
All the women came out to show off their lingerie. Paul Heyman was sitting at the end of the runway with a disposable camera taking pictures of himself with almost all the girls, as they walked away. As Trish was walking away, Jazz attacked her with a crutch from behind. Trish was unable to continue.
During the Bra and Panties segment, after everyone walked the runway (with the crowd strongly behind Dawn Maire and Stacy Keibler) Mae Young's music hit and Mae hit the runway in her lingerie!!
While waiting for the Free For All, a marine continuously was screaming Paul's name. Paul finally screamed back, "There are 15 gorgeous women here and the only person you want to talk about is me? I know they have a don't ask don't tell policy, but are you only in the Navy because you like seamen?" Paul stole the show hands down (including cutting a promo about one of the women snatching the competition, which will probably never air).
Molly Holly then came out, with her wings on, to complain about the competition. She was dragged from the stage.
Final round was Free For All. Torrie in a nightie with lollipop. Dawn Marie with a pink/purple sequined top, thong, and chaps!! DAMN! (Edge then announced, "We got a winner!", Paul's jaw dropped and remained open.) Stacy was in pigtails, glasses, and a schoolgirl outfit. Rico, angry that Nidia didn't perform up to his expectations (although she played the role of trailer park trash really well) came out and revealed his bra and panties (with feathered headdress)
Lawler came out to announce the winner of the Golden Thong, Torrie. Torrie then slapped her lollipop onto Dawn's chest. Stacy got on the mic to say she only won because she was sleeping with Maven. Torrie slapped Stacy, Dawn began fighting with Linda and Rico, Nidia battled Terri, until the were all separated.
Paul Heyman's commentary and antics stole the entire show. Moolah was there to drag Mae of Jerry Lawler. The crowd was fully behind Dawn and Stacy and even booed when Torrie was announced the winner.
2004 - Combat Zone Wrestling has announced that it will cease airing it's CZW Fake You TV program on Philadelphia's WGTW Channel 48 over differences with network management regarding content. To date, it has never returned to a regular broadcast entity. The promotion issued the following letter:
To Our Loyal Fans:
In July of 2001, Combat Zone Wrestling embarked on the campaign to deliver its unique brand of entertainment to you, the fans, on a whole new platform, television. This campaign is rarely taken by independent wrestling promotions, which is evident in the many promotions that have been unsuccessful in acquiring airtime and maintaining it. However recognizing its growing popularity, CZW, a small South Jersey promotion at the time, sought to capitalize and successfully negotiated a weekly programming agreement with WGTW-48. Strategically positioned at 9:00PM on Saturday evenings, CZW entered into a tremendous period of growth, as attendance for live events grew and enrollment at the CZW Wrestling School was at its highest level. While the odds were against us, CZW Fake You TV was a success, much like its predecessor.
Unfortunately, recent changes at WGTW-48 have had a detrimental effect on CZW Fake You TV. The executives at WGTW-48 have taken a more conservative approach when it comes to wrestling programming. In what was believed to be an ingenious idea of five-nights of midnight wrestling, WGTW-48 opened the doors to any and all promotions to air their programming, at least those that could afford it. As a result, CZW Fake You TV was moved from its 9:00PM Saturday time slot to a week night at midnight, to compete with other promotions. In the end, the idea was a failure, and CZW Fake You TV continues to thrive.
To date, CZW has produced one-hundred and fifty-four (154) episodes of programming, which has been enjoyed by fans across the Tri-State Area. During this time, CZW has endured every business decision that WGTW-48 has formulated and executed. Unfortunately, this past week was the final WGTW-48 decision that CZW plans to tolerate. For those of you who are not already aware, WGTW-48 executives refused to air the June 18, 2004 episode due to its content. WGTW-48 argued that the rising conservative climate in media and FCC regulations and enforcement have forced WGTW-48 to place restrictions on content and deny the airing of programming that the channel decides is inappropriate and in some way violates or is contrary to FCC regulations.
In response and after thoughtful consideration, CZW is sad to announce they withdrawal of CZW Fake You TV on WGTW-48 indefinitely. CZW has experienced many highs and lows and has remained a loyal business associate of WTGW-48 since July of 2001. CZW can no longer exist in a business relationship that is characterized by inconsistency and haphazard decisions that have had only negative effects on you, the fans, and the CZW product as a whole. CZW is confident that it will continue to move forward and is currently in the process of reviewing new avenues for delivering CZW Fake You TV to our loyal fans with the hope of acquiring new fans as well. CZW asks that you, the fans, continue to remain loyal as you have since the beginning and support us in this decision.
In closing, CZW wishes to thank WGTW-48 for providing us with the opportunity to make CZW Fake You TV a reality and provide CZW with a platform to deliver its product beyond its live events. Unfortunately, CZW must terminate is working relationship with WGTW-48 and will continue to remain steadfast in its the belief that our entertainment is not to be censored and that viewers have a choice.
Thank you for your time and patience with respect to this matter. CZW 4 LIFE!
Sincerely
Combat Zone Wrestling Entertainment
2007 - Ring of Honor ran Dayton, Ohio. Steve Stafford filed the following live report:
I'm usually a little hesitant to attend shows the day before a company/promotion tapes a PPV, just because some of the talent might just go through the motions, so not to sustain injuries. I should have known ROH would not hold back, and they didn't. I'm not the greatest at judging crowd size, but I'd guess there were easily 500-700 people there. There were two warm-up matches before official bell time, didn't catch the first one but in the second one Mitch Franklin got the pin on Jon Moxley. The show started at 8:00pm sharp.Here's the rest of the results:
Kevin Steen & El Generico def. Irish Airborne at 10:12
One of the guys from Irish Airborne resembles Randy Orton, and the crowd even threw some Randy Orton chants at him. His first few minutes of offense was all side headlocks (I kid you not) not sure if that was intentional or just coincidental.
Chris Hero won the Gauntlet Series Match
Series of consecutive singles matches with the winner taking on the next randomly drawn participant until one man is left. First match was Jimmy Rave vs. Pelle Primeau, with Primeau getting the pin at 5:50. Then Delirious came out to face Primueau, getting the win at 1:17. Delirious was WAY over with the crowd. Adam Pearce was out next with Delirious getting the pin with a roll-up at 3:56. Chris Hero was the final participant to face Delirious. He came to the ring with Tank Toland & Larry Sweeney. Good back and forth between Hero and Delirious with cool spots and some really stiff chops, along with several near falls. Hero gets the win at 7:00
Brent Albright Def. BJ Whitmer in a No-DQ Match
Very stiff match with a good portion of the action taking place outside the ring and in the crowd. Most of the crowd was behind Albright. Whitmer suplexed Albright right in front of me onto the hardwood floor, the smack was heard all over the building. Albright fought back and got the win once they returned to the ring.After the match, Whitmer lost it and gave the ref a german suplex and attacked the security staff and officials that were in the ring.
Roderick Strong & Davey Richards def. Erick Stevens & Matt Cross at 10:15
Very solid match with lost of stiff kicks and chops. I have to say, Matt Cross took the brunt of the beating here, but his athleticism is very impressive. Lots of heat on Roderick Strong, crowd was on him from the beginning. After the match Strong cut a promo on Stevens and Cross, saying him and Richards have beaten them like 34 times, and they should run and hide like that guy sitting right there (He pointed at Austin Aries who was sitting in the crowd for most of the show) Huge pop for Aries and a "let him wrestle" chant. Aries tried to come over the barricade but was held back by security.
KENTA def Rocky Romero in a NOAH vs. No Remorse Corps Match.
Match of the night for me, (and I think most of the people in attendance due to the reactions). Match started off almost like a shoot fight, with the guy next to me asking me if it was an MMA bout or a wrestling match, which I got a kick out of. I told him it was a little bit of both. Stiffest kicks, punches and chops of the night by far, tons of cool high spots and crazy submissions.This match was just awesome. Romero pulled a spot from the top rope that I cannot do justice by describing it,but it was like a moonsault variation into an armbar submission hold. It was sick. KENTA got the win after several near falls. Crowd went nuts after the match, "KENTA" chants and "ROH" chants loud as ever, with a standing ovation. Davey Richards came out raise their hands, then him and Romero beat down KENTA. With Erick Stevens & Matt Cross making the save. KENTA got another standing ovation as he made his exit.
Lacey def. Serena in a Special Attraction Shimmer Match at 5:55
I was pretty pumped when I heard they added a Shimmer match to the card, as I've never seen one live and I have a ton of respect for them. Crowd was quiet, mostly because they didn't know what to expect probably. Some nice pops for Lacey's stiff kicks.
Bryan Danielson & Nigel McGuinness def. Takeshi Morishima & Naomichi Marufuji in a NOAH vs. ROH match
I think everyone was surprised this wasn't booked as the main event. I can only speak for myself, everyone worked their butts off but this wasn't as good as it could have been. Lots of "Best in the world" and "Let's go Nigel" "lets go dragon" chants. Nigel gets the pin on Morishima with the hardest clothesline I think I've ever seen at a live show. McGuinness got the loudest pop of the night with Danielson a close second.
Briscoe Bros def. Matt Sydal & Claudio Castagnoli in a ROH world tag team title match - Best of three falls
Briscoe Bros won 2 falls in a row to win the match. A very fun match with everyone working hard and some really cool spots. Crowd popped for the Briscoes win.
Overall, a great show with excellent matches and a pretty hot crowd. ROH does it again, giving us WAY more than our money's worth, even in a steaming hot building with no ventilation. They announced a return to Dayton, Ohio on November 30th 2007.
2007 - World Wrestling Entertainment announced that Trinity had been released from the company. Trinity had been with the ECW brand from its re-launch, originally as part of the Full Blooded Italians. She injured her knee performing a moonsault to the floor on the first ECW house show at the New Alhambra in Philadelphia in June 2006 and was used sparingly after her return. Her final TV appearance was as one of the Lumberjills in the Melina vs. Ashley match at Wrestlemania 23.
2009 - WWE issued the following as part of a promotional stunt involving Donald Trump:
Trump Gives Money Back
STAMFORD, Conn.---In the fact or fiction world of WWE®, it is a fact that Donald Trump held a press conference today in Green Bay at Austin Straubel Airport. As the new “owner” of Monday Night RAW®, Trump announced that all ticketholders to tonight’s RAW event at the Resch Center will receive a ticket refund. The total value of all ticket refunds is approximately $235,000. RAW will be presented commercial free live tonight at 9 pm/8pm CT on USA Network.
Tonight’s main event will be WWE Champion Randy Orton® versus Triple H® in a Last Man Standing match.
Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to www.wwe.com/worldwide/.
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, copyrights and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
2009 - Richard Trionfo filed the following Raw report, featuring the aforementioned promotional stunt:
We start off tonight’s show with a look back at the Four Way Match to find out who would follow Dave Batista as the WWE Champion. But the title change was not the biggest thing to happen on Raw last week. Vince McMahon sold Raw and he sold it to a man who likes to put his name on everything before most of it goes into Chapter 11. Trump says that he is going to run things the way he runs things.
Are you Ready to Trump?
We are live from Green Bay, Wisconsin and your announcers are Michael ‘Trump’ Cole and Jerry ‘Trump’ Lawler.
Lillian Garcia introduces the man who owns Raw, Donald Trump and he comes out onto the stage. Trump welcomes everyone to Raw. He says that even though he owns Raw, this is the fan’s show, not his. Trump says that tonight millions of people will be watching commercial free. Trump says that they will not only get world championship matches better than Vince could give you, he is a giver. When the show is over, he will give everyone a full refund for whatever they paid. Trump says that you he is giving back $245,000. Donald says that only Trump would do that.
John Cena comes to the ring and he has new gear. He takes his hat off to Donald Trump. Cena talks about the Last Man Standing Match between Hunter and Randy Orton. Cena mentions that he is in a match with the Big Show. Cena says that when the show is over, everyone will get free money. Cena says that Trump has been here two minutes and he knows how to make an impact. Cena says that Trump is trying to make a statement, just like the wrestlers.
We see a Miz video package about John Cena.
Cena says that Miz has something so interesting to say. Cena says that we should find out what Miz has to say this week and he wants Miz to come out.
Cena gets his wish and The Miz comes out. Miz asks Cena if he really wants to know what he has to say. Miz says that he has told Cena everything and John has done nothing. He calls Cena a coward. Cena says that it is interesting that Miz is calling him a coward while he is on the stage while John is in the ring. Miz makes his way to the ring and he gets in Cena’s face. Miz calls Cena a coward to his face. Cena goes for the fourth wall and he says that this is the time when the Miz would be picking up his teeth. Cena says that he will give Miz exactly what he wants. Cena says that Miz wants to be awesome and he tells Miz that he has his chance. Cena says that it is a good news/bad news situation. Cena says that Miz will main event a pay per view at the Bash when he has a match against John Cena. The bad news is that on Sunday, the Miz has a main event pay per view match with John Cena.
Cena suddenly gets serious and he says that for two months, Miz has been coming out saying whatever he wants to get Cena rattled. Cena talks about all of the times when he has had the odds against him, but he is still here. Cena says that he doesn’t get rattled. Cena says that rattled is when you hear your bones start to crack when he puts you in the STF. He says that you are rattled when you look around and see that you brought a knife to a gun fight. Cena says that in six days, Miz will realize that the Real World has been cancelled. He says that Miz will be a WWE never was instead of a Reality Show Has Been after Sunday. Cena says that this is when Miz goes to the back and pray that he makes it out of Sunday in one piece. Miz starts to walk away, but he tosses his mic at Cena and then he punches Cena before heading to the back.
We go to footage from earlier in the day when Vince has limo problems. Vince says that he has the back up limo since Trump has the main one. The driver suggests going to a gas station and Vince says that he has never been to a gas station. The driver suggests that they walk to the arena. Vince says that he does not walk. Vince tells the driver that they are going to walk, well the driver is because Vince is getting a piggy back ride. Vince says that he is going to drive to the arena while the driver is down with an injury.
It is time to go to Jim ‘Stone Cold Brett Favre’ Ross and Todd ‘Kentucky Grilled’ Grisham and they talk about Vince’s farewell address.
We see footage of Rey Mysterio’s heinous attack on Chris Jericho to give Jeff Hardy a non-title victory over Chris Jericho last week on Smackdown.
Before the match starts, World Champion CM Punk comes to the ring and he is going to join Jim Ross and Todd Grisham at the announce table.
Match Number One: Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio, and Great Khali with Runjin Singh versus Dolph Ziggler, Edge, and Chris Jericho
Ziggler and Khali start things off and Khali with a punch to the head and then he chops him in the corner and Ziggler goes down. ZIggler tags in Jericho and Jericho is not anxious to get in the ring. Jericho slaps Khali and Khali tosses Jericho around. Khali with a chop to Jericho and then he clotheslines Jericho over the top rope to the floor. Khali sends Edge over the top rope to the floor and then he does the same thing to Ziggler. Hardy with a flip pescado onto all three. Rey gets on top of Khali’s shoulders and he hits a dive. Khali goes up top at the urging of Hardy and Rey but Jericho stops him. Khali with a punch to Jericho and then Rey tags in.
Rey with a kick to Jericho’s leg. Rey with an enzuigiri and Jericho falls into the ropes. Rey sets for the 619 but he is stopped and then Jericho with a clothesline for a near fall. Ziggler is tagged back in and Ziggler with a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Edge tags in and he hits Rey with a double sledge to the back. Edge misses a drop kick and then Rey kicks Edge in the head. Hardy and ZIggler tag in and Hardy with a series of clotheslines and then he goes after Jericho and Edge. Hardy with a reverse atomic drop and a leg drop. Hardy with a gourdbuster driver but Edge with a spear on Edge. Khali gets Edge up and Jericho tries for a codebreaker but Edge with a spear to Khali. Rey sends Edge and Jericho into the ropes but Jericho gets out of the way but Edge gets the 619. Hardy with the Twist of Fate to Ziggler and then Hardy goes up top and hits the Swanton for the three count.
Winners: Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, and the Great Khali
After the match, CM Punk leaves the chicken at the announce table and he goes into the ring to congratulate Jeff Hardy. Punk holds up his arm and Hardy realizes that it was Punk. Hardy leaves the ring.
Vince McMahon is in the arena and he tries to get into Trump’s office. Vince says that there must be a mistake and he looks for security. Instead, Santina Marella appears behind Vince and she introduces herself to him. Vince slaps her hand away. Vince talks about the refund and how he is locked out of his office.
Trump comes out and Vince says that there might be a mistake. Trump says that the mistake must be on his part. Vince asks where his office is and Trump says that it is down the hall. Trump asks Santina who she is and he says that he is going to do the same thing to Santina that he did to Miss California. He fires her. She runs away and Santino wants to know where she is going. Santino thinks that there must be something he can do. Then he figures that she had a good run.
Did you know that a lot of male viewers watched Raw last week (but nothing about Smackdown’s ratings compared to the Stanley Cup Finals Game 7).
Primo has the mic and he says that Cody and Teddy call themselves ‘The Legacy’. They get to hang out with the WWE Champion. Carlito says that is cool because they get to do errands for Randy and they go to the beach together and rub oil on Randy. Primo says that they will still be the Unified and Undisputed Tag Team Champions.
Match Number Two: Primo with Carlito versus Cody Rhodes with Ted DiBiase
They lock up and Rhodes works on the arm and then he pulls Primo down by the hair. Primo with a head scissors but Rhodes escapes. Primo with an arm bar but Rhodes with punches and Primo punches back. Rhodes is sent into the turnbuckles. Rhodes with a hot shot and a bulldog for a near fall. Rhodes sends Primo into the turnbuckles as he works on the neck. Rhodes with a snap mare and a kick to the back followed by a rolling knee drop that would make Ric Flair proud. Rhodes with a cravate. Primo with a shoulder tackle and then Rhodes sends Primo over the top rope. Primo tries to skin the cat, but Rhodes knocks Primo off the apron to the floor. Rhodes gets a near fall. Rhodes with a reverse chin lock and he has Primo in a variation of a camel clutch. Primo punches Rhodes but Rhodes with an Irish whip but Primo with a head scissors. Primo punches Rhodes and then he hits a drop kick and clothesline. Primo with a cartwheel followed by an elbow for a near fall. Primo with a jackknife cover for a two count. Primo with more punches and Rhodes with a kick and a side Russian leg sweep for a near fall. Primo with an inside cradle for a near fall. Primo with a cross body but Rhodes rolls through and gets the three count.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Vince walks into a locker room and Hornswoggle and Goldust are in there. Goldust reminds Hornswoggle of the son angle. Goldust suggests giving Trump his wig since it worked for Goldberg. Goldust puts it on Vince’s head and they laugh. They tell Vince where his office is and it turns out to be a bathroom stall. Vince says that he wants a little dignity. We hear a flush and Festus emerges. He hands Vince a copy of the Wall Street Journal.
It is time for a Randy Orton video package.
Match Number Three: Randy Orton with Voices in his Head versus Triple H with Game Fountain in a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Title
Orton with a kick and punch to Hunter and then Hunter responds with punches of his own and then he punches Orton as he comes out of the corner. Hunter sends Orton shoulder first into the ring post and Orton goes to the floor. Hunter goes out after Orton and then he slams Orton into the chicken free announce table. They return to the ring and Hunter with a spinebuster but Orton gets back up. Hunter tries for the Pedigree but Orton with an Irish whip and Hunter does the Hunter flip to the floor. Orton goes out after Hunter and Hunter with a clothesline as he favors his leg. Hunter drops Orton onto the ringside barrier and then he punches Orton into the crowd.
Hunter goes into the crowd and he punches Orton and they go to the back of the floor seating and Hunter sends Orton into the hockey boards. Orton sends Hunter over the ringside barrier into the ring. Orton with a clip to Hunter’s injured knee and the referee starts his count. Hunter is back up and Orton kicks the ring steps into Hunter’s leg. Orton grabs the ring steps and he hits Hunter in the head with them. The referee starts his count again.
They return to the ring and Orton kicks Hunter in the leg. Hunter punches Orton but Orton punches back and he kicks Hunter in the leg. Orton with a knee drop but when he tries for another one, Orton misses when Hunter moves his leg. Orton wrings Hunter’s leg into the ring post. Orton slowly walks to get a steel chair and Hunter kicks it into Orton’s face.
Orton drills Hunter in the top of the head with the chair and he tells referee Mike Chioda to start his count. Hunter gets to his feet and Orton punches Hunter in the head. Orton rearranges the announce table and he knees Hunter before slamming his head into the table. Orton punches Hunter and he appears to be setting up for the RKO but Hunter with a low blow. Hunter tries for a Pedigree on the announce table, but Orton hits an RKO on the table and Hunter bounces off the table.
Hunter makes it to his feet as he comes off the table. Hunter back body drops a charging Orton onto the announce table and Orton bounces off of it. Both men return to their feet and Hunter has the monitor and he hits Orton with it. They fight to the ramp area and Hunter punches Orton and sends him into the barrier. Orton and Hunter fight up the Trump Ramp to the Trump Stage but the stop by the barrier so Hunter can send Orton into it. Orton with a kick but Hunter with a spinebuster on the ramp. They both get up and Hunter sets for a Pedigree on the ramp but Orton with a back body drop onto the ramp and it is time to count.
Hunter falls to the floor from the ramp but Orton punches Hunter. Orton and Hunter fight on the floor as they slide along the padding on the floor. Orton does his RKO push ups as he waits for Hunter to get back up and Hunter sends Orton into the stands to escape the RKO. They return to their feet. Hunter gets a ladder and he tries to hit Orton with the ladder, but he hits two backstage workers instead. Orton continues his attack on Hunter while they bring out a trainer. Orton slams Hunter’s leg into the stage. Orton gets the ladder and he throws it onto the stage. Orton hits Hunter in the leg with the ladder and then a shot to the head.
Orton puts Hunter’s leg in the ladder and he stomps on it as Hunter writhes in pain. Orton with a forearm to the back as he yells at the referee. Orton sets up the ladder. Orton climbs the ladder for an RKO but Hunter pushes him off and Hunter hits Orton with the ladder. Hunter with a pedigree onto the stage and both men are down. Hunter struggles to get to his feet with help from the ladder and both men are counted out.
Winner: Double Count Out
After the match, they check on Hunter. He is helped to the back but he gets a shot in on Orton.
They help Orton to the back.
We see Maryse in the back and Miz stops by to talk to her. Miz says that he gets the whole thing and it is cute. Maryse tells him not to waste her time until he does something impressive to John Cena. Maryse says that one cheap shot is not enough. Miz says that he will show that he owns John Cena. She tells him to do something impressive.
It is time for Donald Trump to come out and he is joined by Eve and Maria, who are Smackdown Divas. We see footage of the Trump arrival at Green Bay.
Donald asks everyone if they are having a good time. He says that there is nothing like really good ownership. They get rid of McMahon and there is nothing like it. Trump reminds everyone that they are getting their money back. Trump says that he is giving everyone at home a commercial free show. Trump says that he is not going to appoint a general manager. He says that he will appoint a celebrity host every week. Trump says that they are going to run things properly. Fans are going to get a lot of freebies from Donald Trump. He says that it will be seen at Wrestlemania 26.
Vince McMahon’s music plays and he walks to the ring with the McSwagger. Vince says that he has had enough of this. It is one thing to do the commercial free stuff. Vince says that he is losing money with the commercial free deal. Vince says that it is not going to happen every week. Vince tells Trump that the fans don’t deserve their money back. Vince asks if the rumors are true for free Raws and commercial free Raws. In six months, Vince says that he would be bankrupt. Trump tells Vince that this is peanuts and he paid a big price for Raw so he can do whatever the hell he wants. Trump says that he has a lot of people and friends who want to buy Raw from them. Trump says that he could double his money any time.
Vince says that Trump played him. Vince says that that this is a well orchestrated plan to drive him into bankruptcy. Vince tells Trump that he is smarter than him so Vince offers to buy Raw back at the same price. Trump says that he has no interest whatsoever. Vince says that Trump should have a return on his investment. Vince offers to pay 25 percent over what Trump did. Trump says that he likes the people. Vince offers 50 percent over the price he got from Trump. Trump says that is good for some people, but not for him. Trump refuses 75 percent over the sale price. Vince offers double the price. Trump accepts the offer. Vince tells Trump that if he ever crosses his path again, he will knock Trump on his billionaire butt. Vince utters those two words and tells Trump ‘You’rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre Fahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhred’. Trump slaps Vince and well dressed security separates them.
Vince storms away to the boos of the fans.
Things are back to normal because the grilled chicken is back at the announce table.
We have footage of the John Cena/Big Show feud.
Randy Orton is being checked out and Vince tells the medical staff to leave and he tells Rhodes and DiBiase to leave. Vince asks Orton if he is in pain because he just bought Raw back. Vince tells Orton to wait for the Bash on Sunday. Orton says that he can’t stand or fight. Orton tells Vince if he has any decency, and Vince scoffs at that. Vince tells Orton that he will face Hunter again. It will be a two-out-of-three falls match. It will start off with a standard match. The second fall will be a Falls Count Anywhere Match. The third fall will be a stretcher match. Vince calls it a Three Stages of Hell Match.
Match Number Four: Mickie James and The Bellas versus Maryse, Beth Phoenix, and Rosa Mendes
Mickie throws something at Maryse before the match starts. Rosa and Mickie start things off. They lock up and Rosa works on the arm and escapes with a cartwheel and a forearm. Beth tags in and they lock up and Beth gets Mickie on her shoulders and sends her to the apron. Mickie goes up top and avoids Beth but Beth with a running shoulder. Nikki tags in and Beth with a clothesline. Rosa tags in and she punches Nikkie. Rosa with a forearm but Nikki with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors and an arm drag into an arm bar. Nikki with an Irish whip and a monkey flip. Maryse and Mickie distract the referee and Beth sends Brie into the turnbuckles. Rosa works on the arm and then Maryse tags in. Maryse with a back breaker for a near fall. Maryse slams Brie’s head into the mat. Maryse with a rear chin lock. Rosa tags back in and she snap mares Brie and has her in a rear chin lock. Rosa runs into Brie and then Brie pulls Rosa down by the hair. Mickie tags in and she hits a flying clothesline or two. Mickie with a drop kick to Beth on the apron. Mickie with a neck breaker to Rosa but Beth breaks up the cover. The Bellas with a double drop kick to Beth and they go to the floor. Rosa hits Mickie in the head but Mickie with a super kick for the three count.
Winners: Mickie James and The Bellas
After the match, Maryse yells at Rosa for the loss.
Did you know that WWE has more programming than HBO or Showtime.
Cole says that Donald Trump’s idea has spread to other programs on USA Network since they will be showing a movie without commercials (something they have done before).
We see John Cena at a Cubs game and he talks about Alfonso Soriano.
Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler are in the ring to talk about The Bash on Sunday night.
Match Number Five: Big Show versus John Cena
Show and Cena get face to chest and Cena pie faces Show. Show misses a punch and Cena with punches of his own. Cena wit a flying shoulder tackle that sends Show to the floor. Show catches Cena and drops him on the ringside barrier. They return to the ring and Cena punches Show. Show with a spear to Cena and Cena is in pain. Show stands on Cena’s throat. Show gets a near fall. Show with a punch to the midsection. Show with a chop. Show misses the shhhh chop and Cena punches Show but Show with the fallaway power bomb and Cena rolls to the floor.
Cena drops Show on the top rope and returns to the ring. Cena tries for a flying shoulder tackle and he bounces off Show. Show punches Cena in the ribs. Cena with a side head lock but Show with a belly-to-back suplex to get out of the hold. Show gets a near fall. Show with another punch to the midsection. Show charges into the corner and he hits a running butt splash. Show charges again but Cena moves. Cena with punches but he runs into a back elbow from Show. Show with the step over leg drop but he only gets a two count. Show with an Irish whip and then he charges into boots from Cena and Cena with a DDT. Cena goes up top for a leg drop to the back of Show’s head. It is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and Cena turns into a choke slam but Show can only get a two count. Show steps on Cena’s chest and then he goes to the turnbuckles for the Vader Splash. Show pulls Cena into the center of the ring and then he sets for the rear chin lock of doom. Cena escapes and hits the STF. Cena releases the hold when he sees Miz come to the ring. Cena gets Show up for the Attitude Adjustment but Miz helps Show get the cover and the three count.
Winner: Big Show
After the match, Miz hides under the apron and when everyone leaves, Miz comes into the ring and sees the lifeless Cena in the ring. Miz stands over Cena.
We see Randy Orton walking out of the building and he goes to his car but Hunter attacks Orton from behind and slams the trunk on Orton’s back. Hunter lies down next to Orton and he says that it is not over by a long shot and Orton is going to hell.
2010 - Martha Hart, the widow of Owen Hart, sued WWE and Vince and Linda McMahon. Her law firm issued the following press release:
Representatives of Martha Hart sent out the following this morning.
Widow of Deceased Professional Wrestler Owen Hart Files Lawsuit Against World Wrestling Entertainment, Vince McMahon & Linda McMahon
WWE continues to use Owen Hart's Name and Image for Marketing more than 11 Years After he Was Killed in a WWE-sponsored Stunt; In Violation of Contract and Contrary to Family's Wishes
HARTFORD, Conn., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Martha Hart, the widow of the late Owen Hart, a professional wrestler who was killed in a May 1999 stunt orchestrated by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) today filed suit in the U.S. District Court here against WWE, Vince McMahon (current chairman and CEO) and Linda McMahon (CEO until 2009). The lawsuit alleges the WWE and the McMahons used Owen Hart's name and likeness without right in dozens of commercial videos and other materials, violated a contract restricting the use of Owen Hart's name, likeness and wrestling footage, and disregarded Martha Hart's wishes against further association of her late husband's name with WWE following his death. (Mrs. Hart and WWE settled a wrongful death lawsuit in 2000. Mrs. Hart established the Owen Hart Foundation later that year.)
"In the eleven years since Owen's tragic and avoidable death, I have worked tirelessly to disassociate Owen's name and likeness from anything related to WWE in order to protect our children from any reminder of the circumstances surrounding their father's death, and to avoid any misplaced perception that I endorse WWE," said Martha Hart in a statement.
"Unfortunately, even though WWE, Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon were and are well aware of my wishes and desire to shield my children from WWE and its activities, I was shocked to learn earlier this year that they have been using Owen's name and likeness in videos, websites, television programs and print materials. Given this callous, insensitive and irresponsible behavior, one must question the moral character of Vince and Linda McMahon and the manner in which they conduct their business."
According to the lawsuit filed today before the U.S. District Court in Hartford,
"Since Owen's death, the WWE and McMahons have sought every available opportunity to further exploit Owen's personality for their own commercial benefit. Their use of Owen's name and likeness draws attention to the WWE's ongoing violent and highly questionable theatrical activities that caused Owen's death. Defendants' use of Owen's name and likeness is also in direct disregard of Martha's and her children's objections...The WWE's wrongful use of Owen's name and likeness, over Martha's continuing objection to any association with defendants and in the absence of any legal right of use, creates the wrongful impression that Martha and the Estate now support, approve or condone the video (which they do not)."
The lawsuit seeks to enjoin the WWE from further use of Owen Hart's name and likeness, and seeks unpaid royalties as well as damages for breach of contract, copyright infringement, unjust enrichment, accounting and unfair and deceptive trade practices.
Mrs. Hart is represented by the law firm Nixon Peabody LLP.
Many of the allegations were thrown out and the suit was settled in 2013.
2011 - The New York Times announced the following:
Kristoffer Diaz is the winner of the 2011 New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award for “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” his satire of professional wrestling and the ethnic stereotypes and political imagery of that industry, The Times has announced.
The award, created in 2009, recognizes an American playwright whose work recently received its professional debut in New York; “Chad Deity” was produced Off Broadway in 2010 by Second Stage Theater, drawing mostly positive reviews. (The play was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in drama that year.)
Previous recipients of the Times playwright award, which comes with a cash prize of $5,000, were Tarell Alvin McCraney for “The Brothers Size” and Dan LeFranc for “Sixty Miles to Silver Lake.”
The selection committee included the Pulitzer-winning playwrights Richard Greenberg, James Lapine and Lynn Nottage, as well as Times writers and editors. The committee chairwoman, Sylviane Gold, said in the statement announcing the award, “The play appropriates both the comedy and cruelty of professional wrestling in order to explore the complex dance America does with its minorities.” She added, “We were floored by its swaggering language, vivid theatricality and sheer energy.”
2012 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Baltimore, Maryland and your announcers are Josh ‘I hope to get some crabs tonight’ Mathews, Michael ‘The Peter Angelos of Announcers’ Cole, and Booker ‘What about Purple Power’ T.
We begin Teddy Long, who has been freed from his indentured servitude under John Laurinaitis and Teddy is dancing again. Teddy reminds everyone that John Laurinaitis is fired. Teddy mentions that tonight’s General Manager is Mick Foley.
Before Teddy can gloat about the future . . . or lack thereof . . . for John Laurinaitis, Big Show makes his way to the ring.
Show looks around and he says that he could care less that John Laurinaitis got fired. Show says that he didn’t care about John Laurinaitis. Show says that he doesn’t care about any of us. The only person that he cares about is himself.
Show says that he is not talking about him the businessman, the corporate puppet, or the ‘okay, I’ll do whatever you want boss’. He is talking about the real Big Show. Show congratulates John Cena. Show says that it is true that John Cena was able to escape the cage with the help of five of his cronies to win the match.
In a one-on-one fight . . . a fair fight, he would crush John Cena. The fans boo but they know that he is telling them the truth. Show says that he is past that. He doesn’t care about John Cena any more.
Show says that he is going to throw his hat . . . the fans chant for Cena and Show reminds the fans that he said that he does not care about them. Show says that he is throwing his hat into the Money in the Bank Match. There is no amount of men who will stop him. When he cashes in the Money in the Bank contract, there is no man . . . no thing . . . or no champion who can stop him.
Show says that when he becomes a champion, he will one as long as he wants to be. Show says that winning the WWE Championship, he is not doing it for the guys in the locker room, the WWE, or the fans. Show says that he is winning the WWE Championship for one person. That championship is all his.
Show is interrupted by some funk and Brodus Clay makes his way to the ring with the Funkettes.
Brodus sends the Funkettes around the ring and Brodus stares down Big Show. Show attacks Brodus when he enters the ring and Brodus with a shoulder tackle that takes Show down. Brodus punches Show in the corner but David Otunga comes to the ring and he clips Brodus.
Show removes his hat and he looks at Brodus, who is unable to get back to his feet. Show kicks Brodus in his injured leg a few times. Show with a kick to the midsection as he takes his time decimating Brodus.
The fans chant ‘You Can’t Wrestle’ while Show kicks Clay one more time in the leg. Show sets up for the punch and Brodus gets hit in the temple and then he yells at the fans before leaving the ring.
Not one to take advantage of a situation, Otunga goes into the ring to take advantage of the scraps left by Big Show. Otunga tells Brodus that someone better call his mama. Otunga says that he will call her when he gets back to the locker room. Otunga says that he will tell Mama Clay that her son has fallen and can’t get up. Otunga wants Clay to get up so he can show them how.
Otunga asks Cameron and Naomi to get into the ring so he can show them how it is done.
Otunga starts to dance and it looks like Jonathan Coachman’s dance ability has been absorbed by Otunga.
We go to commercial.
We are back and there are two men who we have never seen in the ring. Guess what that means. Frank takes the mic and he says that their opponent is starting swear and then Jared says that they are on the rise. Frank says that this will be the summer to remembers.
Match Number One: Frank Venezia and Jared Wachtler versus Ryback
Frank and Jared surround Ryback and then Frank tries to sneak up on Ryback but the big man turns around and Frank thinks about another option. Ryback with a shoulder tackle to Jared and then he picks up Jared and throws him onto Frank. Ryback picks up Frank and he calls him stupid. Ryback throws Frank into the turnbuckels and then he gives Jared a buckle bomb. Ryback with a boot to Frank’s chest and he calls him stupid again. Ryback with a spinebuster to Jared and then he power bombs him onto Frank.
Ryback says that it is time to finish things so he picks up Frank and Jared and hits the double muscle buster for the three count.
Winner: Ryback
We go to the back where Mick Foley is talking to Yoshi Tatsu. Yoshi says that he is a fan of Mr. Socko. Vickie Guerrero interrupts and she asks Yoshi if he has some sushi to eat. Yoshi tells Vickie that she is an ugly old witch.
Mick tells Vickie that being called an ugly old witch is a positive thing in Japanese culture.
Vickie tells Mick that she will be running both shows next week. Vickie tells Mick that if he doesn’t behave, he will be her assistant.
Mick says that it great news because he will be on Smackdown two weeks in a row.
Vickie tells Mick that he shouldn’t be happy about that development.
Mick has an idea for an assistant and he brings over Great Khali and it is time to dance.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a WWE Raw 1000th Episode Memorable Moment. Daniel Bryan says that one of his most memorable moments was when Marty Jannetty defeated Shawn Michaels to win the Intercontinental Title. Bryan mentions the Superkick heard Round the World. We go to May 17, 1993 when Marty Jannetty came through the crowd to challenge Shawn and win the title.
Match Number Two: Alberto Del Rio with Ricardo Rodriguez versus Christian
They lock up and Del Rio backs Christian into the corner and Del Rio tries to give a clean break but Christian holds on. Del Rio with a knee and side head lock. Christian with a shoulder tackle and a back heel kick. Christian goes to the turnbuckles for a sunset flip and a near fall. Del Rio with kicks to Christian and it staggers the Intercontinental Champion.
Del Rio charges into the corner and Christian sends Del Rio over the top rope to the floor. Christian goes to the top turnbuckle and hits a cross body from the top onto Del Rio on the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Del Rio with an arm bar and chin lock. We see footage from the commercial break when Del Rio moved on the floor and Christian collided with the steps. Del Rio holds on to the arm bar but Christian with punches to get out o the hold. Christian tries for a sunset flip but Del Rio stays on his feet and then hits an elbow drop to the arm and gets a near fall.
Del Rio with a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Del Rio wraps Christian’s arm in the ropes and then he continues to work over the shoulder and bicep. Del Rio with a kick to the arm and Del Rio gets a near fall. Del Rio with a kick to the shoulder. Del Rio goes to the turnbuckles but he takes too long and Christian recovers. Christian with punches and he hits a rana from the turnbuckles and gets a near fall.
Christian with a punch and running forearm and then he slingshots to the floor and hits an uppercut. Christian goes up top but he misses a cross body. Del Rio misses the step up enzuigiri in the corner. Christian with a tornado DDT but Del Rio kicks out. Del Rio with a punch to the midsection followed by an arm breaker but Del Rio runs into boots in the corner. Christian with a missile drop kick for a near fall.
Christian continues to try to get feeling back into his arm and he sets for the Killswitch but Del Rio escapes. Del Rio tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Christian lands on his feet. Del Rio tries to hyperextend the arm but he can only get a near fall.
Del Rio with a kick to the head and then he goes to the turnbuckles but he misses a back senton when Christian moves out of the way. Christian tries for the spear but Del rio with a super kick. Del Rio tries for the float over into the cross arm breaker but Christian escapes. Del Rio escapes the Killswitch and then Del Rio sends Christian into the turnbuckles.
Del Rio charges into the corner but Christian meets him with a pendulum kick. Ricardo distracts Christian long enough to allow Del Rio to hit the step up enzuigiri when Christian was on the turnbuckles. Del Rio with the cross arm breaker and Christian taps out.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
After the match Cody Rhodes comes to the ring and he hits a clothesline to the back of the head. Rhodes with kicks to the shoulder and then he applies a Fujiwara arm bar. Christian is able to get to his feet but Cody with a knee to the midsection and then he sends Christian shoulder first into the ring post. Cody yells at Christian and he says that he is Smackdown.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Cody Rhodes’ attack on Christian after Christian’s match with Alberto Del Rio.
Josh brings up the situation surrounding the WWE Title and Michael Cole mentions AJ and he wonders who AJ is behind.
We have a video package about AJ.
Match Number Three: Kane versus Daniel Bryan
Before the match starts, AJ makes her way to ringside where she is the guest time keeper.
Bryan with kicks to the leg but he tries for a cross body and Kane catches him and slams Daniel. Kane with an elbow drop and then he punches Bryan. Kane with an uppercut but Bryan with an elbow and then Kane charges at him and Bryan drops down and Kane goes to the floor.
Bryan tries for a baseball slide but Kane side steps him and Kane with a clothesline. Kane tries to send Bryan into the ring post but Bryan gets free and hits a running drop kick that sends Kane into the post.
They return to the ring and Bryan hits the running drop kick into the corner and Bryan gets a near fall. Bryan chokes Kane in the ropes. Bryan with kicks of Yes to the chest. Bryan with a side head lock and Kane with a knee to the midsection and a drop kick for a near fall.
Kane punches Bryan and then Irish whips Bryan into the corner and hits a clothesline. Kane with another Irish whip but he runs into a boot from Bryan. Kane with a side slam when Bryan tried to get Kane to the mat. Kane with a near fall. Kane goes up top for the clothesline but Bryan with a drop kick to counter.
Bryan with kicks of Yes to the chest but Kane blocks a round kick and Kane pushes Bryan down. Bryan with a drop toe hold that sends Kane into the turnbuckles. Bryan goes up top for the missile drop kick but he misses and Kane sends Bryan into the turnbuckles.
Kane puts Bryan on the turnbuckles but Bryan pushes Kane away and hits the missile drop kick for a near fall. Bryan with more kicks of Yes but Kane sends Bryan into the turnbuckles and he punches Bryan. Bryan flips over Kane but he runs into a big boot. Kane signals for the choke slam but Bryan with a drop kick to the knees.
Bryan with a round kick to the head and then he gets a near fall. Bryan goes up top for the diving head butt and Kane gets his hand up and sets for a choke slam but Bryan fights it and he tries to get Kane to the mat for the Yes Lock. Kane pushes Bryan away and then Kane tries for the choke slam but Bryan counters with a guillotine choke.
Kane runs Bryan into the turnbuckles but Bryan holds on to the choke and Kane looks like he is going to get off his feet but Kane fights through it. Bryan with a sunset flip for a near fall and then he applies the Yes Lock. Kane tries to get to the ropes and the bell rings.
Bryan thinks that he has won but the referee says that Kane never tapped.
The referee explains to Bryan and Bryan misses the running drop kick into the corner and Kane with a choke slam for the three count.
Winner: Kane
After the match, AJ looks at Kane and Kane looks back at AJ. AJ skips to the back while Kane tries to figure out what is going on.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Mick Foley makes his way to the ring to address the fans in Baltimore.
Mick thanks everyone for the nice response. He thanks John Laurinaitis for being so lame as a general manager. Mick says that he is looking forward to having some fun right here . . . in Baltimore.
Heath Slater’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring.
Heath says that he came out here to lead a little protest. On Monday, Cyndi Lauper and Roddy Piper embarrassed him. He wants Mick to do something about it.
Mick stops Heath and tells him that Cyndi is a formidable opponent and it is nothing for Heath to be embarrassed about. Heath will have something to be embarrassed about tonight.
Match Number Four: Zack Ryder versus Heath Slater
They lock up and Ryder with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Ryder with a running forearm followed by a flap jack and Ryder gets a near fall. Slater goes into the ropes and then he punches Ryder and kicks Zack in the back. Slater with an Irish whip and neck breaker for a near fall.
Slater argues with the referee and that allows Ryder to get his knees up and then Ryder hits the Rough Ryder for the three count.
Winner: Zack Ryder
We go to commercial.
We are back and Zack and Mick are walking through the back and they are talking about what just happened in the ring. They are stopped by Damien Sandow.
Sandow says that it was deplorable, contemptible, and abhorrent.
Foley apologizes and blames it on standing under the lights.
Sandow says that he was referring to that poor excuse for entertainment that those two ignoramuses just put on.
Foley figures that they are cool and he wants to shake Damien’s hand.
Ryder stands up for Foley and he tells Damien that Foley is a legend.
Damien says that Ryder is the world’s leading miscreant. For years, Ryder’s drivel has led the WWE Universe into the doldrums of ignorance. It will happen no more.
Damien leaves and then he returns to tell Mick and Zack that they are welcome.
Mick tells Damien to have a nice day.
Match Number Five: The Usos versus Darren Young and Titus O’Neil with Abraham Washington
Before the match, Abraham Washington comes out and he tells everyone who he is and he wants to introduce the future Tag Team Champions.
Jey and Darren start things off and they lock up. Young with a forearm to the back of the head and a shoulder tackle. Jey with a flying forearm and then he chops Darren in the corner. Jimmy tags in and they hit a double back elbow and double elbow drop. Titus thinks about interfering but when it looks like the Usos are going to hit a double super kick, Titus goes to the floor.
Jimmy with a chop and Jey tags back in and hits a running forearm into the corner. Jey with a chop before he tags Jimmy in. Jey Irish whips Darren towards Jimmy and Jimmy with an uppercut. Jimmy gets a near fall. Darren with a jawbreaker and then he runs Jimmy into the corner and Titus tags in.
Jimmy punches Titus and Darren but Titus sends Jimmy to the mat. Titus with a reverse chin lock and then he connects with forearms across the chest. Jimmy gets to his feet but Jimmy is pushed into the corner. Jimmy with a back body drop and then he sets for the running butt splash into the corner and he hits it and gets a near fall.
Jey with a savate kick to Darren and then Jey and Darren go over the top rope to the floor. Jimmy with a forearm and then he hits a Samoan drop. Jimmy goes up top for the Superfly splash but Washington gets on the apron to distract the referee long enough to allow Young to crotch Jimmy. Titus with Clash of the Titus for the three count.
Winners: Darren Young and Titus O’Neil
We go to commercial.
We are back and Darren, Titus, and Abe walk through the back celebrating their victory. They are stopped by Epico, Primo, and Rosa Mendes. Primo punches Washington and then the two teams fight while Rosa yells for no apparent reason.
Santino Marella makes his way to the ring. He says hello to the people of Baltimore. He says that it is his pleasure and honor to celebrate the creativity of the people who took the time to make the signs.
Santino reviews the signs and comments on them. Santino finds the person who has a sign for Santino. Santino wants her to come to the ring and she is excited to be in there. She is wearing a Santino shirt and has a cobra on her arm. Santino wants the cobras to kiss and then the woman kisses Santino and he collapses to the mat.
We go to commercial with Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler walking through the back in split screen.
We are back with another WWE Raw 1000 Memorable Moment and it is Jerry Lawler talking about Steve Austin visiting Vince in the hospital.
Match Number Six: Sheamus versus Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero
Ziggler with a waist lock and Sheamus with a standing switch. Ziggler with a rollup but Sheamus avoids a count. Ziggler does leg raises in the corner and Vickie is impressed. Ziggler with a side head lock and Sheamus powers out of the hold by picking up Ziggler and throwing him off. Sheamus with a hip lock take down.
Sheamus with a shoulder tackle and then he swats a drop kick away. Sheamus with the rolling fireman’s carry slam and gets a near fall. Sheamus works on the arm but Ziggler with a kick to the leg followed by punches. Ziggler with a kick and punches and the referee warns Ziggler. Ziggler with a kic to the chest and then he drops down when Sheamus charges at him and Sheamus goes over the top rope to the floor.
Ziggler with a drop kick to knocks Sheamus off the apron. Ziggler tries for a cross body off the apron but Sheamus catches him and hits a fallaway slam into the ringside barrier and we go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler with a kick to the head and Ziggler with a chin lock and arm bar. Sheamus back body drops Ziggler over the top rope to the floor. Sheamus follows after Ziggler and Sheamus sends Ziggler’s head into the steps. Sheamus yells at Vickie and that distraction allows Ziggler to hit a Fameasser off the steps.
They return to the ring and Ziggler with a neck breaker and he hits it and gets a near fall. Ziggler kicks and punches Sheamus. Ziggler with a leaping elbow drop and he gets a near fall. Ziggler tries for the sleeper but he cannot lock it in and it is a chin lock instead. Sheamus punches Ziggler in the chest.
Ziggler sends Sheamus into the ropes with a drop toe hold and then Ziggler goes to the apron and hits a drop kick and then he rolls in and gets a near fall but since Ziggler’s foot was under the ropes, it might have cost him the match.
ZIggler tries for another neck breaker and he hits it. Ziggler gets another near fall. Ziggler with a reverse chin lock and body scissors. Ziggler with a front face lock and he pushes Ziggler off. Sheamus with running double sledges. Sheamus pushes Ziggler into the corner and he hits a running knee lift. Ziggler escapes the power slam.
Ziggler also escapes the Air Raid Crash and turns it into a sunset flip for a near fall. Ziggler with a kick and a leaping DDT and both men are down. Ziggler gets a near fall. Sheamus goes to the apron and he punches Ziggler and then Sheamus goes up top for the shoulder tackle but Ziggler recovers and he leaps to the corner but Sheamus with a forearm that knocks Ziggler to the mat. Sheamus with the flying shoulder tackle and he gets a near fall.
Zigler rolls to the apron and Sheamus realizes that it is time for the forearms across the chest. Ziggler with a shot ot the head but Sheamus pulls Ziggler back into the ring and he tries for the uranage back breaker but Ziggler with elbows to the head. Ziggler with a kick to the chest of the charging Sheamus. Ziggler runs into the Brogue Kick for the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
2013 - Just hours before their Best in the World iPPV, ROH ran a special feature on The Briscoes on ROH TV. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Tonight’s Ring of Honor iPPV features a battle of brothers in the main event for the Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Title. This week’s Ring of Honor television takes a look at the Briscoes.
We begin with highlights of the Briscoes in the ring.
It is sunrise in Sandy Fork, “somewhere in” Delaware and they talk about having chicken houses for 25 years. We see them feeding the chickens. Jay talks about picking up dead chickens in the morning. He talks about how it smells in the summer. Mark tells a story about a girl asking him why do the chickens die.
Jay says that Mark is the main chicken man and that is why they call him ‘Chicken’. Jay mentions that their dad is pissed off when they have to go wrestle and he has to take care of the chickens by himself.
Papa Briscoe yells at Mark and Jay for being late. He also asks about the camera crew and Mark and Jay say they are filming them for the wrestling. Papa Briscoe yells at them and wonders why they are following Mark and Jay around.
Jay yells at Mark about the truck that he says that they are taking to the show. The truck won’t start and Jay says that they need to take the RV. Jay says that Mark thinks he can jump off the highest point on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and be alright. Mark clarifies and he says that the definition of alright is up for debate. He explains his plan for jumping in. He says that bridge jumping is one of his hobbies.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jay welcomes everyone to Sandy Fork. Jay says that there is a misconception because Sandy Fork is the name of their farm, not the city they live in. Dad says that it was an adventure every day because you didn’t know what would happen with them.
Mark talks about playing ball with the neighbors. Dad says that they were very competitive. Mark says that he was a role player in basketball. He was too worried about scoring. Mark shows us their pit bulls.
Dad says that he used to watch wrestling and then they would watch the WWF on Saturday mornings. Jay says that he started watching ECW when he got to be a teenager. Jay talks about hitting John Kronus with a chair at an ECW show. He loved getting Kronus’ blood on his shirt. Dad talks about how they would watch it all the time and then Mark and Jay would be wrestling outside the house in the ring.
Mark says that they wore out the trampoline that they used as the base for their wrestling ring from using it so much. Then they built their own ring. Dad talks about how they would set tables and each other on fire. Mark talks about sending Jay through a table off the roof. Mark shows some more places where he would come off of sending Jay through a table.
They talk about how when Jay was 16 and Mark was 15 they found a wrestling school in Wilmington. Dad says that there was no question that they would become wrestlers.
Jay talks about wrestling Mark for the first time in Boston for Ring of Honor. He mentions they were both in high school and they did not have that many tattoos at the time.
Mark says that he was chomping at the bit. Mark talks about watching Jay wrestle because he couldn’t wrestle in Pennsylvania. Mark liked that his first match was against his brother.
We see footage from the match from Honor Invades Boston.
Mark says that it was something special after their first match.
Jay says that he doesn’t remember too much about the match and he doesn’t even know who won the match. Mark says that he whooped his brother in the match. Jay says that it was a long time ago.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to stop at a local establishment. Jay says the craziest moment inside the ring was either the match when Mark lost his teeth or the match where Mark landed on his head and they had to stretcher him out of the building.
Mark says that everyone asks him about his teeth and he says that they got knocked out. He says that people ask him who did it. Mark says that it was Jay.
Jay hit Mark with a steel chair. Mark says that they were in Philadelphia in a street fight. Jay gets a chair . . . Jay says that he was going to hit someone else with the chair and he swings back and it hit Mark in the face.
Jay says that Mark was in the wrong place and it was his fault. Mark says that it didn’t hurt because of the adrenaline.
Jay says that he didn’t know what happened at first and they continued with the match. After the match, he looked at Mark and Mark smiled and Jay says that he was missing his teeth. Jay wondered what was going on at the time.
Mark says that he would look at Chris Benoit and Mick Foley and he knew that sooner or later he will have a tooth knocked out. He knew it was coming, but not on that night.
Jay and Mark talk about the first time they won the tag titles. Mark says that they breezed through the match. They had Jim Cornette in their corner. Jay says that with Jim in their corner, they breezed through their opponents.
We see footage of The Briscoes against Special K.
Jay says that when you think about the ROH Tag Titles, you have to think about them.
Dad says that Mark and Jay have a relationship that is hard to describe. They communicate in a way that is hard for anyone else to understand. They have their own language.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Mark talks about Ladder Wars with Kevin Steen and El Generico. Jay says that was the culmination of their feud and they talk about some of the crazy stuff they have done. Jay wonders how they did a lot of the stuff they did. Mark says that it took time off their careers. Jay talks about the toll it takes on your career. Mark says that Ladder Wars was the end of the feud. Mark says that it was a war.
We see footage from Ladder Wars.
We go to commercial.
We are back with footage from Final Battle 2011 against Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin when they became seven time tag team champions.
Dad talks about loving to watch Mark and Jay wrestle. He says that he doesn’t want anyone talking to him during their matches. Dad talks about getting involved in matches with Mark and Jay. He says that not too many dads have the chance to do this with their sons. We see footage from the Briscoes match against Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli, and Shane Hagadorn. Dad talks about having to climb the ropes and he mentions that his wife had to show him how to do it.
Jay says that his parents have been supportive of them and they appreciate that. They apologize for everything they have done.
Jay says having kids changes everything. We see Jay being thrown around the ring by his son. Jay says that he is trying to give his family the best. Jay talks about the feud that his son has with his dad.
Mark says that if you find a job with a lot of animal feces, take it because it is humbling. Pride comes before the fall. Humility precedes honor.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a video package for Jay Briscoe’s World Title victory against Kevin Steen at Supercard of Honor.
We see the footage from Ring of Honor television when Mark challenged Jay for the ROH World Title.
We go to credits with the video package of people in the company giving their picks for the match at Best in the World (and it didn’t buffer).
2013 - Ring of Honor presented their Best in the World 2013 iPPV. Richard Trionfo filed the following report:
To order the iPPV, visit www.rohwrestling.com.
Welcome to PWInsider.com’s live coverage of Ring of Honor’s Best in the World iPPV from the Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.
Tonight’s iPPV starts with footage of Jay Briscoe defeating Kevin Steen to become the new Ring of Honor World Champion at Supercard of Honor. Then we go to Mark Briscoe confronting his brother in the ring to set up their match tonight.
Your announcers are Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino.
Steve and Kevin discuss the card with a focus on the title matches and the Kevin Steen/Matt Hardy match.
Match Number One: BJ Whitmer versus Mike Bennett (with Maria Kanellis and Bob Evans)
Whitmer punches Bennett before the bell rings. Whitmer sends Bennett to the floor and then Whitmer with a suicide dive onto Bennett. Bennett with an Irish whip into the guardrails. Bennett goes to the apron and he hits a clothesline off the apron. Bennett sends Whitmer into the guardrails to work on the back and then they return to the ring. Bennett apparently punches Whitmer while the camera focuses on Maria.
Bennett with an Irish whip but he misses a splash into the corner and crotches himself in the turnbuckles. Whitmer with chops to Bennett followed by a back breaker. Whitmer gets a near fall. Whitmer with an Irish whip and Evans grabs BJ’s leg before he can charge across the ring.
Bennett with a rear chin lock. Whitmer gets to his feet and he connects with elbows to get out of the chin lock. Bennett with a knee to the midsection as Whitmer comes off the ropes. Bennett with diving head butts to the ribs and he gets a near fall. Bennett chops and punches Whitmer in the corner. Bennett with a suplex and he gets a near fall.
Bennett with a reverse chin lock and he has the arm trapped. Whitmer with punches to get out of the hold and he succeeds. Bennett with a drop kick and he gets a near fall. Bennett punches Whitmer and the referee warns him. Whitmer continues to let Bennett punch him and then BJ punches back and Bennett with a knee to the midsection.
Whitmer with a few clotheslines and then he avoids a clothesline and he gives Bennett a power slam. Whitmer charges across the corner and hits a suplex. Whitmer rolls through and he hits a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall.
Bennett gets a near fall on Whitmer and then he signals that it is over. Bennett sets for a power bomb but Whitmer with a back body drop. Evans gets in the ring and he goes after Whitmer but Whitmer sends Evans to the floor. Whitmer with an Exploder for the three count.
Winner: BJ Whitmer
After the match, Maria yells at Bob and blames him for Mike’s loss. Mike joins in the verbal barrage on Bob and they leave together with Bob wondering what is going on.
Match Number Two: The American Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) versus Adrenaline RUSH (ACH and Tadarius Thomas)
Richards starts off the match with ACH and they have a Greco Roman knuckle lock. ACH rolls through and he applies a wrist lock. Davey with a cartwheel. Richards with a side head lock and ACH with a head scissor and Davey escapes. They both attempt kicks and the block each other. They say they will let go at three, but they both lie. The second time, they are men of honor and let go.
Richards with a back heel kick to ACH. Richards sends ACH into Eddie’s head and then Eddie is tagged in. Eddie chops ACH and then he gives ACH a head butt. Eddie tries to send ACH into Davey’s head but ACH tries for a rollup but Eddie stays on his feet and he gives ACH an elbow to the head. Eddie sends ACH into Davey’s head and then Davey tags back in and he sends ACH into the turnbuckles. .
ACH with a float over and then he hits a springboard back elbow from the other corner and he gets a near fall. ACH with a head scissors and Thomas tags in. Thomas with a baseball slide to Richards while ACH continues with the figure four head scissors.
Edwards tags in and he goes after Thomas but misses a kick. Thomas with a kick to the head and he gets a rollup but Eddie escapes before the referee can make a count. Thomas with a head scissors from his back followed by a series of kicks. Thomas gets a near fall. Thomas kicks Edwards in the corner and then he chops Edwards. Eddie slaps Thomas but Thomas with forearms and the referee warns Thomas.
Edwards blocks a suplex attempt and he gives Thomas an elbow. Thomas gets tripped by Edwards after a blind tag from Richards and Richards hits a diving head butt from the top for a near fall. Richards with a kick and then he applies the Trailer Hitch. ACH kicks Richards and Edwards tags in. Edwards with a slam and kick to the back.
Edwards sends Thomas into the turnbuckles and Richards tags in. Richards and Edwards alternate kicks and chops and then Edwards knocks ACH off the apron. Davey gives a modified Chong Li. Richards with a snap mare and a Cloverleaf on Thomas. ACH is kept out of the ring by the referee and Eddie adds extra pressure with a chin lock and Corino teases dissension among the Wolves.
Richards with a waist lock and a series of standing switches. Thomas lands on his feet on a German suplex and Thomas hits an enzuigiri and both men are down. ACH and Edwards tag in and ACH with a cross body for a near fall. Richards with a kick to ACH followed by a back heel kick. He does the same to Thomas and Davey misses a running kick when Thomas moves out of the way. Thomas with a round kick to Richards.
Edwards sends ACH over the top rope and he lands on the apron. Thomas with an enzuigiri and then ACH hits a slingshot stunner. Thomas with a kick to the head and ACH gets a near fall. ACH sends Thomas into the corner but Edwards moves and Eddie with a boot to ACH and a super kick to Thomas. ACH with a back heel kick
The Wolves hit the Alarm Clock and then Edwards with a super kick while Richards holds ACH and then Richards with a German suplex and bridge. Edwards with a jackknife cover for a near fall. Richards tags in and kicks ACH in the corner and the referee warns him. Richards with more kicks in the corner and ACH collapses in the corner.
Richards puts ACH on the turnbuckles and ACH fights him off with head butts and then it sends Richards to the mat. Edwards with an enzuigiri to ACH. Thomas grabs Edwards but Edwards with a rana. Thomas flips through and lands on his feet. Thomas with a wrap around clothesline and he gets a near fall. Richards with a missile drop kick to Thomas followed by a kick to Thomas and then he hits a running forearm into the corner.
Thomas with a knee to stop a suplex attempt. Richards with a round kick and he tries for the suplex
Thomas tries for a moonsault off the turnbuckles but he misses Edwards on the floor. Edwards with a super kick to Thomas but ACH with a flip dive onto Edwards. ACH goes up top for the 450 splash onto Richards but Davey gets his knees up and then Richards gets the three count.
Winners: American Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards)
We have a video package for the Adam Cole/Roderick Strong match.
Match Number Three: Roderick Strong versus Adam Cole
They lock up and they go around the ring. Cole with a clean break. Strong with a wrist lock and then Cole with a reversal. Cole with a hammer lock but Strong with a snap mare into a reverse chin lock. Strong with a clean break against the ropes. We have a Greco Roman Knuckle Lock. Strong with a monkey flip and he holds on to the wrist lock and he gets a series of near falls but Cole with a bridge.
Cole gets back to his feet and Strong with work on the injured left arm. Cole with a forearm and Irish whip into the corner but Cole runs into a boot. Strong takes Cole to the mat and he tries for the Strong Hold but Cole escapes. Strong puts Cole in the Tree of Woe and Strong with a running knee to the midsection.
Strong with a forearm to the back followed by a chop. Cole with a kick but Strong with a chop. Strong with an elbow to the back of the head and then he connects with a forearm across the nose. Strong stretches Cole on his back in a modified Gory Special. Strong with a rollup for a near fall. Strong with a knee and chop.
Cole catches Strong when he floats over on an Irish whip and Cole with a Death Valley neck breaker and he gets a near fall. Cole with a snap suplex and float over for a near fall. Cole with a reverse chin lock. Strong with punches but Cole with a knee. Strong with a kick and chops. Cole sends Strong to the floor and Strong gets back on the apron and Cole with an enzuigiri that sends Strong to the floor. Cole hits a suicide dive.
Cole sends Strong back into the ring and Cole kicks Strong in the hamstring and then Cole goes up top but Strong with a forearm to stop him. Strong climbs the turnbuckles for a superplex but Cole with forearms and Strong falls to the mat. Cole goes for a cross body but Strong with a drop kick and both men are down.
Strong with chops to Cole but Cole with an Irish whip. Strong with a running forearm after he avoids a Cole charge into the corner. Strong with an Irish whip and running knee followed by a bulldog. Cole with a forearm but Strong with a knee and then he picks up Cole for a suplex but instead he tosses Cole onto the top rope and Strong gets a near fall.
Strong sets for a uranage back breakerbut Cole avoids it. After a series of standing switches, Strong tries for a German suplex but Cole blocks it and then Cole connects with an enzuigiri followed by a Shining Wizard for a near fall. Cole tries for the figure four leg lock but Strong kicks Cole away. Strong avoids a second Shining Wizard and Cole and Strong alternate near falls.
Cole with a figure four leg lock but Strong gets to the ropes and Cole releases the hold.
Strong with the Strong Hold but Cole is able to escape. Cole with a super kick followed by a shoulder breaker out of a brainbuster set up and he gets a near fall. Strong goes to the apron and Cole tries to suplex him back into the ring. Strong brings Cole to the apron and they exchange forearms.
Strong with a series of chops but Cole with a super kick and Strong falls through the table. As the referee continues his count, Cole goes to the floor to try to be honorable and bring Strong into the ring. Cole picks up Strong and tries to bring Strong back into the ring but the referee gets to fourteen and Cole figures it is easier to win by count out than give Strong the chance to recover.
The referee gets to twenty and calls for the bell.
Winner: Adam Cole
After the match, Corino leaves the announce table to talk to Adam Cole about the way he won the match.
Veda Scott is at ringside and so is RD Evans. Veda leaves while RD Evans joins Kevin Kelly at the announce table for the next match.
We have a video package for Tommaso Ciampa.
Match Number Four: Michael Elgin versus Tommaso Ciampa
After the handshake, the two men have some words and Elgin misses a back fist so Ciampa sends Elgin to the mat. Ciampa misses a kick. Ciampa with a kick and then he appears to go for Project Ciampa but Elgin is able to escape. Elgin goes for the power bomb but Ciampa escapes.
Elgin wants a test of strength and we get it. Elgin gets the early advantage but Ciampa is not a weakling and he gets back to his feet. Elgin regains control and they try to jockey for position in the center of the ring and they exchange head butts.
Elgin with the cranial advantage and he goes for a delayed vertical suplex but Ciampa with a knee and he gets back to the mat and Ciampa with a delayed vertical suplex of his own and he brings Elgin back to the mat.
Ciampa pulls the knee pad down but Elgin gets up and he hits the spinning Bossman slam and Elgin gets a near fall. Elgin applies the Crippler Crossface. Ciampa with a rollup for a near fall. Ciampa with a side head lock and Elgin tries to get Ciampa on his shoulders and he succeeds. Ciampa with elbows to try to get out of the hold but Elgin with a running Death Valley Driver by the turnbuckles.
Elgin gets a near fall. Ciampa blocks a suplex attempt by Elgin but Elgin with forearms. Elgin gets Ciampa up for his delayed vertical suplex and he brings Ciampa back to Earth and he gets a near fall. Elgin tries for a Saito Suplex but Ciampa with elbows to the head. Elgin with a forearm but Ciampa gets Elgin on his shoulders.
Elgin with a punch. Each man tries for a clothesline but neither man goes down. They do it a few more times and throw in some forearms as well but stay on their feet. Ciampa with a clothesline and both men go over the top rope to the floor. They exchange chops and forearms on the floor as the referee starts his count.
Ciampa runs Elgin into the guardrails and then some time passes and the mats have been moved to expose the floor in the Du Burns Arena. Ciampa tries for a suplex but Elgin blocks it. Elgin sends Ciampa back into the ring but Ciampa with a drop kick to the legs and Elgin goes to the floor. Ciampa tries for a suicide dive but Elgin with a forearm to the head as he gets to the ropes. Elgin picks Ciampa from the ropes into a dead lift suplex on the exposed floor.
Ciampa gestures to Elgin and Elgin goes to the floor for a running power bomb into the guardrails. Elgin rolls Ciampa back into the ring and Elgin goes up top for a corkscrew senton splash but Ciampa kicks out. Elgin with a buckle bomb and then Ciampa hits the Air Raid Crash for a near fall.
Ciampa with forearms and kicks to Elgin. Ciampa pulls down the knee pad again. Ciampa is on the turnbuckles and he has Elgin on his shoulders. Ciampa hits a super Air Raid Crash but Elgin kicks out.
Ciampa slaps Elgin but Elgin backs Ciampa into the turnbuckles. Elgin misses a splash into the corner and then Ciampa goes for the running knee into the corner but Elgin catches him and hits a uranage.
Elgin signals that it is over and he goes for a suplex but turns it into a side slam and he gets a near fall. Elgin goes for the gorilla superplex but Ciampa blocks it. Elgin with a back fist and then he picks up Ciampa but Ciampa lands on his feet and Ciampa with Project Ciampa but Elgin gets his foot on the rope to stop the count. Elgin falls to the apron and Ciampa follows. Ciampa gets Elgin up for an Air Raid Crash and he hits it on the apron.
We return to the ring and Elgin drops to his knee to block Project Ciampa. Elgin with a back drop but Ciampa is up first. Elgin with another back drop but he picks up Ciampa for a buckle bomb followed by the spinning sit out power bomb but Ciampa kicks out and applies a Triangle choke on Elgin. Elgin picks up Ciampa for a power bomb but Ciampa holds on to the choke. Elgin with another buckle bomb.
Ciampa with a rollup and a knee to the head but Elgin kicks out at one. Elgin with a clothesline for a near fall. Elgin with a series of spinning back fists followed by a forearm to the back of the head. Elgin with a short arm clothesline for the three count.
Winner: Michael Elgin
After the match, RD Evans figures he should make a phone call and QT Marshall makes his way to the ring and he is dressed up, but not to wrestle. Kevin is incredulous that RD would call QT as QT makes his way into the ring. Marshall removes his jacket and something happens and we see Marshall leave with Evans.
Elgin and Ciampa shake hands.
It is time for intermission.
We are back from intermission and there are Briscoes in the crowd.
Nigel McGuinness joins Kevin Kelly at the announce table for the second half of the show.
Kevin asks Nigel why the Tag and Television Title Match, that were announced originally as elimination matches are single fall matches.
We go to a ‘Here is how we got these three way matches’ video package.
Match Number Five: Matt Taven versus Jimmy Jacobs versus Jay Lethal for the ROH TV Title
We miss the start of the match, but we see Taven with the people in the front row. Taven with a head butt and knee to Jacobs. Taven sends Jacobs into the guardrails. Lethal sends Taven into the guardrails. Lethal with shots to Jacobs and then he puts Jacobs on a chair and Jay with a drop kick to the head.
Jacobs sends Taven’s head into the apron and then he hits a drop kick. Jacobs sends Lethal and Taven’s heads together. Taven catches Jacobs on a dive off the apron and hits a power slam. Lethal with an Irish whip of Taven into the guardrails.
Taven and Lethal are in the ring and Lethal with a chop. Lethal with a hip toss followed by a cartwheel and drop kick for a near fall. Lethal with a punch in the corner to Taven followed by an Irish whip and chops. Lethal with another Irish whip but he is sent to the apron and Lethal with a chop and then he goes up top and hits a missile drop kick and then he hits a running forearm into the corner.
Lethal with a running Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Jacobs goes for a double sledge from the top and Lethal with a kick. Lethal slams Jacobs and then he goes up top. Jacobs with a punch to stop Lethal and then he hits a super rana for a near fall.
Jacobs punches Lethal and Truth trips Lethal. Taven with a boot to Lethal. Jacobs misses a forearm in the corner and Taven with an enzuigiri. Taven with a butterfly front driver of Jacobs onto Lethal to get a near fall on Jacobs. Taven punches Jacobs and chokes him. Taven with a boot to keep Lethal on the floor. Jacobs with a jawbreaker and he sends Taven to the floor.
We see Truth at the announce table and then we see all three men on the floor. Taven gets a near fall on Jacobs. Lethal tries for a sunset flip but Taven does not go over and Lethal pulls down his tights for a moment. Jacobs tries for the Contra Code on Taven but Taven sends Jacobs into the turnbuckles. Jacobs misses a clothesline on Taven. Lethal with a kick and a Flatline to Jacobs while he hits a DDT on Taven. Everyone is down in the ring.
All three men exchange punches. Taven with kicks to Jacobs and Lethal and then Taven goes for the wrist clutch head lock driver but Jacobs stops him and Jacobs with the Contra Code to Taven. Lethal with a giant swing to Jacobs. Taven gets a near fall on Lethal
Taven with a knee to Lethal’s midsection and then he puts Lethal on the top rope but Lethal escapes. Lethal gets Taven up for a belly-to-back suplex and turns it into a neck breaker. Lethal goes up top for the elbow drop and he hits it. Jacobs breaks up the cover and then Jacobs goes for the Contra Code but Lethal sends Jacobs over the top rope to the floor. Lethal with a springboard drop kick that knocks Taven off the apron.
Lethal with a suicide dive onto Taven. Lethal returns to the ring and Scarlett comes into the ring and she slaps Lethal. Lethal removes her top and the referee covers her up while Nigel and Kevin complain about what the referee is doing. Truth yells at Lethal and Jacobs with a spear to Lethal. Truth taps Jacobs on the back and Truth begs for mercy. Selezia gets between Jacobs and Truth. All of this happens while the referee is not looking at anything in the ring.
Selezia gets Jacobs up for an Air Raid Crash but Lethal with a super kick to Selezia. Jacobs with a springboard Ace Crusher to Lethal but something magically happens that allows Taven to retain the title.
Winner: Matt Taven
Match Number Six: reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) versus SCUM (Rhett Titus and Cliff Compton) versus C&C Wrestle Factory (Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander) for the ROH Tag Team Titles
The two teams of challengers battle while Fish and O’Reilly watch. Fish and O’Reilly join in the fun. Titus and Compton are pinballed before they are thrown out of the ring. Fish and O’Reilly with baseball slides and then Alexander with a flip dive onto Titus and Compton. O’Reilly holds the ropes for Coleman but Fish with a back heel kick and Kyle with an axe kick to the back of the head. Kyle slaps Caprice.
Cedric with a double missile drop kick to Kyle and Bobby. Coleman and Alexander with a series of kicks to Fish, ending with Total Elimination. Alexander with a drop kick to Kyle and Caprice with a leg drop to Kyle. Coleman gets Fish on his shoulders and Alexander goes up top. Titus with a drop kick to Coleman and Alexander is pushed off the turnbuckles by Compton.
Alexander is down on the floor and Compton and Titus are in control. Titus with a knee to Coleman and then he tags in Compton. We move ahead and Titus is back in the match and he drops a knee on Coleman’s arm and applies an arm bar on the injured left arm. Titus stops Coleman from making the tag and he connects with a boot to the chest.
Compton tags back in and they stop Coleman from making the tag for a moment but Caprice with a double drop kick. Alexander tags in and Kyle tags in. Alexander works over Kyle and Bobby. Alexander with an enzuigiri to Fish. Kyle with a few kicks to Alexander, but Cedric hits a full nelson front driver on Kyle for a near fall.
Alexander with a jawbreaker to Compton and then Cliff falls victim to a Hart Attack leg lariat from Coleman and Alexander. Titus is sent over the top rope onto Compton. Alexander with a running drop kick to Kyle in the corner. They get set for Overtime and they hit it but Alexander cannot capitalize and Titus and Compton try to pull Kyle out of the ring to prevent the cover. Coleman with a cross body onto Titus and Compton.
Alexander with a brainbuster on Kyle and Fish with a kick to the head and Bobby puts Kyle’s arm on top of Cedric to get the three count.
Winners: Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly
We have a video package for Kevin Steen versus Matt Hardy.
Steve Corino gets on the mic and he says that Baltimore has been a city known for losers. False heroes that they cheer because they hate themselves so much. Matt Hardy is an icon. He says that they have an icon in front of them, but they boo him. This is a man who has over 800,000 Twitter followers but you choose to boo him.
Instead you waste your time cheering someone like Cal Ripken and his sham streak. You boo Matt Hardy but you cheer that alleged killer Ray Lewis. You boo this man and you cheer that no good jealous Kevin Steen. Corino criticizes the way a fan threw something into the ring.
Kevin Steen comes to the ring and he provides a rebuttal to Corino’s opening remarks. He says that he has a request for Nigel. We all know that SCUM won’t keep their nose out of this so he will be damned if this ends as a disqualification. This should be a No DQ match. Nigel agrees and then Kevin wants to know if Matt’s brother is the one with balls in the family.
Match Number Seven: Kevin Steen versus Matt Hardy in a No Disqualification Match
Hardy goes after Steen and they exchange punches. Now it is forearms with Steen getting the advantage. Hardy pulls the referee in front of him to avoid the cannonball. Hardy goes for the knee and then he starts to work on the hamstring. Hardy wraps the leg in the ropes. Steen runs Hardy into the turnbuckles but Hardy with an elbow. Steen with a power bomb and Hardy rolls to the floor.
Steen goes to the floor and he chops Hardy and Steen flips off a fan in the crowd. Steen sends Hardy into the guardrails. Steen grabs a crutch from a fan but we don’t see what he does. Steen comes off the apron and he sends Hardy groin first into the ring post a few times. Steen announces that Matt will have no children and he says that you are welcome.
Hardy with punches and then he sends Steen’s back into the guardrail. Hardy slams the head into the guardrail a few more times. Hardy punches Steen in front of Papa Briscoe.
They go back into the ring and Matt tells Corino to get something from the back. Corino gives Hardy a trash can and he hits Steen with it a few times. Corino gets a ladder and he puts it at ringside. Steen punches Hardy in the midsection to stop use of the trash can. Hardy with a neck breaker on Steen. Hardy with another neck breaker as he continues to focus on the neck.
Hardy goes up top for a moonsault but Steen is able to roll out of the way but Hardy still catches Steen in the back. Steen sets for the cannonball and he hits it. Steen puts the trash can on top of Hardy and it is time for another cannonball and he connects. Steen gets a near fall.
We move ahead and Steen sets up a table on the floor. Steen gets Hardy on his shoulders but Hardy holds on to the ropes. Rhett Titus tries to interfere and Steen with a package piledriver to Titus.
Hardy with a Side Effect to Steen for a near fall. Hardy with another Side Effect while the fans are not happy with the moves that Hardy is using. They fight to the apron and Hardy tries for a Side Effect through the table but Steen with an elbow to stop him. Steen tries for a package piledriver through the table but Jimmy Jacobs moves the table.
Steen power bombs Jacobs into the apron a few times. Steen with a kick to Hardy and Steen with a power bomb to Hardy on the apron. Cliff Compton hits Steen with a chair a few times. Hardy brings the ladder into the ring and he hits Steen in the face with it and then a shot to the back. Hardy holds the ladder over his head but Steen with a Codebreaker with an assist from the ladder and he is able to avoid it and he gets a near fall.
A few seconds later Steen with a low blow and F-Cinq but Hardy kicks out at two. Hardy with a low blow to avoid the package piledriver onto the ladder and Hardy with a Side Effect on the ladder but Steen kicks out at two.
Hardy sets up a chair in the ring and then he gets another one and puts it in the ring. Steen spits in Hardy’s face and Matt with a Twist of Fate through the chairs and he gets the three count.
Winner: Matt Hardy
After the match, members of SCUM attack Steen while no one comes to help Steen.
We go ringside where Larry Mercer is with the members of the Briscoe Family. He asks Papa Briscoe how he feels. He says that this is about to get real. When you walk down that dark alley, you want to know who has your back and that is family.
Match Number Eight: Jay Briscoe versus Mark Briscoe for the ROH World Title
Mark offers his hand and Jay refuses it is brother versus brother without honor.
They lock up and go to a stalemate. They lock up again and Mark with an arm drag. We get a Mark/Jay chant reminiscent of the ‘Less Filling/Tastes Great’ arguments from back in the day. Mark with a drop toe hold and front face lock and Jay runs Mark into the corner. Jay with a clean break.
We have a Greco Roman knuckle lock and Mark with a back drop while holding on and he wrings the right arm. Mark with a front face lock but Jay rolls through and he tries to take Mark down but Mark sees it coming and he avoids it. Mark tries to stomp on the leg but Jay moves.
They lock up again and Jay with a full nelson and then more stuff happens. They circle each other in the ring. Mark with a full nelson but Jay with a front face lock. Mark wit a reversal and Jay misses a splash. Jay flips Mark over and Mark avoids a punch and he dances a bit. Mark offers his hand and Jay goes to shake it but Mark pulls it away.
Mark with a rolling Death Valley Driver but Jay with a European uppercut. Jay has something to say to Mark and then they lock up again. Mark sends Jay to the floor and Mark with a baseball slide that sends Jay against the guardrails. Mark with a chop and Jay chops back. Mark with a forearm and chop followed by punches and more chops. Mark with a head butt but he takes too long and Jay with a boot to the head. Jay breaks the count. Mark with a punch and then he suplexes Jay onto the apron. Mark misses a chop but he connects with a thrust to the throat. Jay with a jab to Mark. Jay with more jabs.
Jay with forearms but Mark lands on his feet on a back body drop. Jay with a super kick and rolling forearm to Mark. Jay with kicks and he chokes Mark in the corner. Jay sends Mark to the apron and then Mark goes up top but he misses the chop. Jay with a flatline into the turnbuckles. Mark puts Jay on the top turnbuckle and Mark with a thrust to the throat. Mark avoids a kick but he does not miss with an enzuigiri and both men are down.
Mark with a suplex and the he hits a belly-to-back suplex and he gets a near fall. Jay rolls to the floor and he lets the referee continue his count. Jay looks under the ring and he finds a table and then Mark helps him set it up.
They go to the other side of the ring and they exchange forearms. We move ahead and both men are down and the crowd is reacting as if something impressive happened. Jay sends Mark into the ring and then he connects with a running boot to the head. Jay with a neck breaker and he gets a near fall.
Jay goes for a JayDriller but Mark drops down and blocks it. Jay with an elbow to the back of the head. Mark with an Exploder suplex followed by a running drop kick and then he puts Jay on the turnbuckles. Mark with chops to Jay followed by a straitjacket driver for a near fall.
Mark looks at the table and Mark has an idea. Mark sends Jay to the apron and Jay with punches to Mark. Mark with a punch but Jay with a head butt. Jay gets Mark on his shoulders and Mark gets to the ring and then he hits a pescado onto Jay. Mark slams Jay’s head into the table and then he puts Jay on the table.
Mark goes up top and we see Jay laying in the center of the ring and Kevin Kelly says that Mark is going for the elbow drop a second time, so I would assume that Mark hit it through the table. Mark hits the elbow drop again but Jay kicks out. Mark with chops to the shoulder. Jay blocks an enzuigiri and Jay with kicks to Mark. Mark avoids a kick and Mark hits an enzuigiri. Mark goes for the burning hammer and he hits it but he can only get a two count.
Mark slaps Jay and then he puts Jay on the turnbuckles. Mark with forearms to the back and then he goes for another burning hammer but Jay escapes. Mark and Jay exchange forearms. Mark with chops and Jay with forearms. Jay with a European uppercut and Jay hits the Jay Driller but Mark kicks out.
Jay with a clothesline and then he hits a second Jay Driller but Mark kicks out at one. We see the crowd while apparently there were a few super kicks from Jay. We see another super kick and Jay hits a third Jay Driller for the three count.
Winner: Jay Briscoe
After the match, the family enters the ring to check on Mark and Jay.
We go to credits.
Thank you for following the live coverage of Best in the World. Once the replay is up, I will have the full report without the streaming issues that are listed above.
2013 - Tommy Dreamer's House of Hardcore held their second event in Philadelphia, PA. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of House of Hardcore 2 at the National Guard Armory in Philadelphia, PA.
Before the official show began they had several student matches. Danny Doring worked one of the matches before taking his position as a commentator for the DVD release. Spike Dudley, as a surprise, also hit the ring during another match to deliver an Acid Drop...Among those visiting are JJ Dillon, Fifi, Barbed Wire City director John Philapavage, The Blue Meanie, Strictly ECW's Tony Lewis, and of all people, Marc Summers of Double Dare fame.
Crowbar vs. Hale Collins
They went back and forth early. Collins worked over Crowbar's arm and drilled him with an enziguiri for a two count. Collins drilled him with an elbow for another two count.
Crowbar fired back with a series of rights and nailed several suplexes to score a two count. Crowbar came back with several shots and a legdrop for a two count.
Collins snapped Crowbar's neck over the ropes. Crowbar made a comeback and nailed a rana off the ropes. Crowbar nailed a kick. He went to the turnbuckles to drill Collins with punches but was caught with a powerbomb off the ropes for another two count.
Collins came off the top with an elbow but Crowbar got out of the way. He covered Collins for a two count. He then nailed a sitdown slam for a two count.
Crowbar locked in a Dragon Sleeper and forced a submission.
Your winner, Crowbar.
OK match. Crowbar was hampered working with a partially torn triceps.
Crowbar took the mic and said he had every intentions of this being his last match, but once again "you crazy sons of b**ches" encourage me to keep going. He got a massive pop and the fans chanted "Thank you Crowbar."
Vik Dalishus (with Larry Dallas) vs. Little Guido
They did some good nice back and forth wrestling. Guido drilled him with several kicks and a side Russian Legsweep. Guido came off the ropes with the Sicilian Slice for another two count.
Collins nailed a sideslam and went to the top for a twisting moonsault. Guido moved out of the way and went for a Tomakaze but Dalishus reversed it and scored the pin.
Your winner, Vik Dalishus!
Dalishus took the mic and said he was tired of all the old ECW has-beens taking spots on the show from people who deserve it. Guido did that and he kicked Guido's ass. He said there's not one single person here that was better than him at anything.
Out came the Blue Meanie. He got in the ring but instead of dancing, they did the Harlem Shuffle. Vik attacked him but Meanie nailed a clothesline and a big splash in the corner. He and Guido teamed up on him, then pointed to the curtain.
"Enter Sandman" played and you know what happened next. He came out and asked the crowd if they wanted to see him cane Larry Dallas. Dallas put his valet in front of him. Sandman grabbed her and they began dancing as the Fandango theme played. Sandango and everyone else did the Fandango.
Sandman grabbed her and she was wearing a wig. Sandman then turned and caned Dallas and beat the hell out of him with the cane.
MVP vs. Sami Callihan
They went nose to nose. MVP nailed Callihan hard. He snapmared him over and drilled him in the back with a kick, then nailed with with a knee of the face. Callihan ducked a charge and drilled MVP with a kick, sending him to the floor. Callihan nailed a dive to the floor.
On the floor, Callihan whipped MVP into the guard rail and drilled him with a kick. They brawled around on the floor. The battled all over and then back into the ring. The crowd chanted back and forth for each of them.
Sami took control and tried to lock on an Indian Death Lock. He trapped MVP in the center of the ring. Callihan maintained control and nailed a superplex for a two count. He went back to the top for a flying slash but MVP rolled out of the way.
MVP nailed a series of right hands. MVP nailed a big clothesline in the corner. He nailed an overhead throw suplex and a palm thrust. He went for a move but Callihan moved. MVP leapfrogged him and nailed a series of German suplexes.
MVP dropped an elbow and scored a two count. He continued working on Callihan. Callihan came back with a sunset flip attempt off the top. MVP held on but was driven into the turnbuckles face-first. The crowd chanted back and forth for each.
Callihan drilled him with a clothesline but MVP MVP came back with a big boot to the face. He and Callihan went nose to nose and began chopping each other. Callihan drilled him with a clubbing shot to the back. He went for the Stretch Muffler and locked it on. MVP rolled him up for a two count.
MVP nailed the Playmaker but Callihan kicked up at the last second. The crowd chanted for Sami. MVP made a comeback and nailed a leaping forearm into the corner for a two count. MVP finally scored the pin.
Your winner, MVP!
Really hard hitting match.
MVP vs. Sami Callihan
They went nose to nose. MVP nailed Callihan hard. He snapmared him over and drilled him in the back with a kick, then nailed with with a knee of the face. Callihan ducked a charge and drilled MVP with a kick, sending him to the floor. Callihan nailed a dive to the floor.
On the floor, Callihan whipped MVP into the guard rail and drilled him with a kick. They brawled around on the floor. The battled all over and then back into the ring. The crowd chanted back and forth for each of them.
Sami took control and tried to lock on an Indian Death Lock. He trapped MVP in the center of the ring. Callihan maintained control and nailed a superplex for a two count. He went back to the top for a flying slash but MVP rolled out of the way.
MVP nailed a series of right hands. MVP nailed a big clothesline in the corner. He nailed an overhead throw suplex and a palm thrust. He went for a move but Callihan moved. MVP leapfrogged him and nailed a series of German suplexes.
MVP dropped an elbow and scored a two count. He continued working on Callihan. Callihan came back with a sunset flip attempt off the top. MVP held on but was driven into the turnbuckles face-first. The crowd chanted back and forth for each.
Callihan drilled him with a clothesline but MVP MVP came back with a big boot to the face. He and Callihan went nose to nose and began chopping each other. Callihan drilled him with a clubbing shot to the back. He went for the Stretch Muffler and locked it on. MVP rolled him up for a two count.
MVP nailed the Playmaker but Callihan kicked up at the last second. The crowd chanted for Sami. MVP made a comeback and nailed a leaping forearm into the corner for a two count. MVP finally scored the pin.
Your winner, MVP!
Really hard hitting match.
Carlito (with Rosita) vs. Mike Bennett (with Maria Kanellis)
They locked up but Bennett stopped to make out with Kanellis. The crowd chanted "Sloppy seconds." Bennett slammed Carlito and was really proud of himself. He began making out with Maria again. Carlito made a comeback and worked over Bennett.
Bennett cut him off and worked over Carlito in the corner. Carlito came back with a springboard elbow. Maria got in the ring and slapped Carlito. Rosita got into the ring and went at it with Maria. Bennett grabbed her. Carlito tried to spit apple on him, but he ducked and it went all over Maria.
Bennett went for a move off a Fireman's Carry but Carlito turned it into a backcracker. Rosita nailed Bennett with a moonsault. Carlito covered her and she covered Bennett for the pin.
Your winner, Carlito!
Decent match. Some fun comedy.
Solid show thus far.
Petey Williams vs. Tony Nese vs. Alex Reynolds
Reynolds tossed Nese to the floor. He and Williams went back and forth. Williams nailed a rana off the ropes. He nailed adrop toehold on Reynolds. He rebounded off the ropes but Nese pulled him out of the ring and nailed him.
Nese and Reynolds went back and forth with some great offensive maneuvers. Reynolds was sent to the floor. He went for a dive but Williams grabbed him, Nese took out Williams with a kick. He then returned and nailed a big dive that the crowd exploded for.
Nese and Reynolds went back and forth in the ring, Reynolds took control and began working over Nese. He nailed a backbreaker and a dropkick to the back. Williams returned and they all battled back and forth.
Williams slammed Nese and clotheslined Reynolds in the corner. He bulldogged Reynolds and called for the Canadian Destroyer. Nese tried to clothesline him but Williams ducked and sent Reynolds into Nese. He caught Reynolds with a Side Russian Legsweep for a two count.
Williams leapt out of the ring and nailed a rana on Nese on the floor. Williams charged Reynolds but was stomped down hard. Reynolds nailed a moonsault but was grabbed and German suplexed over by Nese for a two count.
Nese nailed a pumphandle into a sitdown powerbomb or a two count. Nese rolled up Williams. He powered him up and powerbombed him. Reynolds speared him for a two.
They all battled Williams went for the Canadian Destroyer. Nese broke it up. Williams finally nailed the Destroyer for the pin.
Your winner, Petey Williams!
Best thing on the show by far so far. They really worked their asses off. Great stuff.
Steiners vs. Homicide & Eddie Kingston
Scott and Kingston started out. Steiner worked Kingston over with big shots to the chest and clotheslines. The Steiners cleaned house. Rick tagged in and was worked over by Kingston. He caught Kingston with a suplex.
Kingston and Homicide worked over Rick. Steiner made a comeback and all four brawled in the ring. The Steiner nailed the bulldog on Kingston and scored the pin.
Your winners, The Steiners!
FWE champion John Morrison vs. 2 Cold Scorpio
They did a lot of back and forth arguing and grandstanding early, then had a dance off. Scorpio worked over Morrison who came back with a back suplex for a two count. Morrison nailed a series of kicks and locked on a side chinlock.
They battled to the outside. As they returned, Scorpio stomped Morrison. He slammed him down. They went back and forth. Morrison drilled him with a kick. He nailed a standing moonsault for a two count. He went for a split legged moonsault but Scorpio rolled out of the ring. Morrison followed but was nailed by Scorpio. Scorpio returned to the ring and nailed a slingshot plancha.
Back in the ring, Scorpio slammed him for a two count. Morrison made a comeback and drilled him with a series of punches in the corner. He whipped Scorpio into the corner but Scorpio reversed it and nailed a windmill kick. Scorpio nailed a standing moonsault for a two count.
Scorpio nailed a flip legdrop off the ropes. He nailed another. Morrison tried to nail a right hand but it was blocked and Scorpio drilled him. Morrison nailed a leg lariat for a two count. They battled back and forth with punches. Scorpio caught him with a kick off the ropes.
Scorpio drilled Morrison across the back. Scorpio fought back but was caught with a superkick for a two count. The crowd, restless, began chanting for lots of things that had nothing to do with the match, including Fandango, RVD and El Generico.
Morrison continued beating down Scorpio. Scorpio nailed a leaping kick in the corner. He called for the Tumbleweed but Morrison nailed a leaping kick in the back. Morrison nailed a reverse superplex into the ring. The crowd chanted "We want Ziggler."
Morrison finally nailed his twisting dive off the ropes for the pin.
Your winner and still FWE champ John Morrison!
They shook hands. Scorpio praised Morrison and said it's been a long time since he wrestled anyone with the talent that Morrison has and issued a rematch challenge. Morrison said that anytime he would love to do it.
The match was OK. They never really seemed to get out of the first gear and the audience recognized it. By the time they were going for their finishes, the crowd didn't really get into it.
Young Bucks vs. Paul London and Brian Kendrick
Kendrick and Matt Jackson went back and forth with some great stuff early. London came off the top with an axehandle. London and Nick Jackson, who tagged in, faced off and went back and forth, ending with London nailing a kick.
London and Kendrick nailed a series of double hip tosses on the Buck. Matt tried to climb to the top but was crotched. London controlled Nick on the mat and nailed an inverted atomic drop, followed by a rana. Matt Jackson tried to interfere but London tossed him over the top.
London and Kendrick went for stereo drives but were thwarted. The Bucks nailed dives and began working over London, tagging in and out. They scored several two counts on London. He finally made the hot tag to Kendrick, who was backdropped over the top to the floor. The Bucks doubleteamed London, trapping him for a dropkick to the face.
The Bucks went to the floor to work over their opponents. They concentrated on Kendrick as they returned to the ring. They beat Kendrick in their corner. London got angry and tried to intervene but was held back by the referee.
They continued working over Kendrick as the crowd rallied him. Kendrick nailed an atomic drop on Nick Jackson but Matt nailed London off the apron before he could get a tag. They kept working over Kendrick. Kendrick fired back but was beaten down with a series of punches.
Kendrick ducked a charge and tricked the Bucks into nailing each other. London tagged in and hit a flying bodypress on both.He nailed some offense until Nick caught him with a back elbow. London ducked a charge and backdropped him onto the apron. He avoided Matt's charge and then kicked them into each other. He nailed a dropsault on Nick, landing on Matt for a two count.
They went into a series of superkicks. leading to Kendrick going for Sliced Bread #2 on Matt, but he was drilled by Nick with a kick as he charged into the corner. The crowd chanted, "This is awesome."
The Bucks did their powerbomb into the corner. They did a crazy spot where London flipped over the ropes, sending one Buck into the other's nether-regions. The Bucks killed Kendrick with a double superkick. London hit the ring but was caught. They nailed a springboard spike piledriver but Kendrick broke it up.
The Bucks drilled Kendrick with the double superkick again. They nailed their series of hot move for the pin.
Your winners, The Young Bucks!
A hell of a series of insane spots. The crowd loved the hell out of this and as you might guess.
Kendrick and London tried to show respect to the Bucks, but were blown off after the match.
Tommy Dreamer (with Terry Funk) vs. Lance Storm
They went back and forth with some good wrestling early. Dreamer took Storm to the outside and slammed him into the guard rail, then hit him with a soda. Dreamer whipped Storm into the railing. He went to the back to grab the ring bell. Dreamer rang his groin.
When they returned to the ring, Storm took control with a series of chops in the corner. Dreamer fired back. Dreamer charged him in the corner but missed and struck the ringpost with his shoulder. Storm nailed him with a springboard clothesline into the ring for a two count.
Dreamer came back with a sunset flip for a two count. Storm came back with a leg lariat. He controlled Dreamer and held him for a delayed vertical suplex for a two count.
Storm worked over Dreamer. He snapmared reamer and kicked him down. He charged but Dreamer mounted a comeback with a series of rights and a Dusty style elbow. He kicked off a Storm charge and sent him into the buckles.
Funk tossed Dreamer a chair. He went to use it on Storm but was drop toehold'd into it. Storm covered Dreamer for a two count. Storm went to the top but Dreamer crotched him and tied Storm to the tree of woe. Dreamer set a chair in front of Storm's face. He went to do the charge but the fans yelled ECW. He stopped, pointed at his HOH shirt and did it again. The crowd chanted HOH and Dreamer nailed the dropkick.
Dreamer went for a frog splash but Storm rolled out of the way. Storm nailed a piledriver on Dreamer. Storm locked on the Canadian Maple Leaf. Dreamer made it to the ropes and went to the outside. Storm, followed and crotched Dreamer on the railing. Storm drilled Dreamer with several chair shots. Terry Funk grabbed the chair and threw it at Storm. The crowd chanted for Funk. Storm challenged Funk, who got into the ring. Funk peppered him with punches and went for the spinning toe hold.
Sean Waltman, of all people, hit the ring and attacked Funk. He began stomping the hell out of Funk. He began kicking the hell out of Funk. Storm pulled a ladder into the ring. They teased whipping Funk into it but Dreamer made the save. He catapulted Storm into the ladder. He and Funk DDT'd Storm at the same time and scored the pin.
Your winner, Tommy Dreamer!
Fun main event. NO ONE predicted X-Pac running in. It was great to see Funk throwing his punches and raising some hell. Everytone worked hard. A nice way to send people home.
Dreamer and Funk did crotch chops after the match to mock Waltman.
The crowd chanted "Thank you Tommy." Dreamer took the mic. He said "Thank you." He said the fans made his career in Philly and he thanked everyone who support all the man and women that do what they do. He said that they made some money tonight so there will be a HOH 3. He pointed out that Terry Funk has two new knees and will be 69 tomorrow and wanted to come for everyone. He said that Waltman drove here from Boston to be here as a surprise. He thanked everyone for coming and asked them to drive home safe.
Storm shook Funk's hand and kneeled before him. He said that he doesn't take a lot of bookings and when he does, it's for fans like the fans here and to work with professionals like the ones he's in the ring with now. He noted that this was the first time he was in the ring with Waltman.
Waltman said that his torn anus has healed and he will be back in the ring soon. He said Funk and Dreamer were some tough sons of bitches and told the crowd he had two words for them - Suck it. He said it was an honor to be out here with Terry Funk and asked the crowd to give him a round of applause, because he's the man.
The crowd chanted, "Thank you Terry."
That's it from HOH 2!
2014 - WWE ran Newark, Delaware. Dave Werner filed the following results:
*Sheamus, defeated Jack Swagger and Cesaro to retain the U.S. title after pinning Swagger
*Bo Dallas defeated Zack Ryder with the Bo-Dog. Bo was pretty over. Good mic stuff after the match.
*Nikki Bella defeated Rosa Mendes.
*The Ascension defeated R-Truth & Xavier Woods.
*Dean Ambrose defeated Seth Rollins by DQ when Rollins wouldn't release Ambrose from the Tree of Woe after the ref counted 5. The crowd was hot after Rollins.
*After the intermission, Great Khali defeated Titus O'Neal...then beat him again after Titus did the "I wasn't ready" gimmick. Crowd was also pretty hot after Titus. Cheap heat though, trash talking the Eagles and Phillies.
*Los Matadores and El Torito defeated Heath Slater, Hornswoggle and Tyson Kidd by pin fall when El Torito pinned Hornswoggle. This was a pretty entertaining match, but one of Los Matadores suffered what looked like a pretty serious knee injury. The crossed arms went up and out came the medical staff. There were a lot of moving pieces in the match and the improvised end was panicked and rushed. Can't blame them though. The injured superstar was helped to the back and all the competitors looked pretty concerned.
*Roman Reigns defeated Randy Orton by pinfall after a spear. Rollins ran in, Ambrose w the save. Dean returned to the ring to celebrate with Reigns.
The Arena was maybe 40% full.
Biggest pop was for Sheamus and Reigns.
Biggest heat was for Rollins and Titus.
2014 - Ring of Honor held their Best in the World PPV. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
Welome to PWInsider.com’s live, ongoing coverage of Ring of Honor’s Best in the World 2014 on PPV.
The pre-game show is a 30 minute version of the ROH TV episode that aired this weekend on Sinclair Broadcasting. ROH Best in the World opened with a nice video showcasing some of their older champions like Samoa Joe, Bryan Danielson and CM Punk before showing the current roster, with the idea they if you make it in ROH, you are “The Best in the World.â€
Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino (wearing a suit jacket that Vince McMahon and Jim Cornette would both be proud of) welcomed everyone to the PPV and previewed the main event of Adam Cole vs. Michael Elgin.
You could hear the Nashville crowd chanting, “F TNA.â€
Six Man Mayhem: ACH vs. BJ Whitmer vs. Tadarius Thomas vs. Caprice Coleman vs. Takaaki Watanabe vs. Tomasso Ciampa
The winner will get a future ROH TV championship shot.
Kevin Kelly said that Coleman was Thunderbolt Patterson’s favorite wrestler. Corino said, “That’s like saying Brian Christopher is your favorite wrestler – no one cares.â€
Ciampa and ACH had a nice back and forth with lots of reversals to start off, but Watanabe attacked ACH when they faced off. He manhandled ACH but ate a leg lariat. Thomas tagged in and slapped ACH hard. They had some nice back and forth. Thomas was chased to the floor, allowing Whitmer the chance to attack ACH.
Whitmer worked over ACH but Coleman attacked him and sent him to the outside. They did a sequence that saw everyone sent to the floor but Watanabe and ACH. Watanabe controlled him but was sent to the floor. ACH tried to set up a dive but Whitmer clobbered him with a clothesline.
This allowed Whitmer to take control, nailing a suplex with a two count. ACH finally cuts him off with a reverse kick and tagged in Coleman. Coleman cleaned house on Whitmer, Thomas and then Watanabe He nailed a leaping rana on Whitmer. Thomas broke it up but was caught with a series of suplexes. Ciampa tagged in and drilled him with a lariat.
Ciampa and Watanabe began stiffing each other with forearms. Watanabe went for a leapfrog but was caught and nailed by Ciampa with a Kryptonite Krunch. Whitmer broke it up. ACH cleans house but is caught by a Whitmer powerslam. Watanabe went for a back suplex and drilled Whitmer on his head. Coleman broke up the pinfall attempt and nailed a cutter. Ciampa grabbed him and went for Project Ciampa on Coleman and nailed it, then drilled ACH with one as well.
The Decade broke up the pinfall attempt. They ended up as the two legal men, so Whitmer attacked Thomas and nailed a series of exploders for a two count. Watanabe broke it up and slugged it out with Ciampa. Ciampa cuts him off in the corner and nails a running knee, then a second. He then hits a dive over the top to the floor on everyone else. Coleman then hit a springboard moonsault to the outside. ACH then hit an INSANE springboard dive to the floor on everyone.
ACH tossed Thomas into the ring and nailed a 450 splash off the top and scored the pin.
Your winner, ACH!
ACH will be getting a title shot.
Really fun opener. Lots of good wrestling and they teased all the big dives until the climax, which made them even more special. Everyone looked really good here and if you wanted an introduction to ROH, this was a fun way to do it to show how hard everyone works.
After the match, Whitmer slapped or shoved Corino and they got into it shoving and yelling at each other.
ROH TV champion Jay Lethal (with Truth Martini) vs. Matt Taven: Martini handcuffed to to the ringpost
Seleyzia came out with Lethal and Martini, so you can see where this is going.
After they spent some time getting Marini handcuffed, Taven chased Lethal out of and back inside the ring. He nails some big chops with Jay sold like they were killing him. He cut off Taven with a headbutt to the gut. Taven went after Martini but Lethal stopped him and they battled back inside the ring.
Lethal went for a bodypress off the ropes but Taven ducked. Lethal backdropped Taven over the top to the floor, but Taven pulled himself on the ropes. Selizia distracted him, allowing Lethal to nail an enziguiri and send Taven to the floor. Lethal peppered him with punches on the floor. Taven fired back with chops but was clubbed in the back of the head as they returned to the ring.
Taven sent Lethal into the corner but was cut off with an elbow as he charged in. Taven caught him with a kick but ducked a clothesline and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Lethal knocked Taven to the floor and then worked him over before locking him in a rear chinlock.
Taven fought his way up and they fired back with chops and punches. Taven cleaned house and nailed an enziguri. He nailed a neckbreaker for a two count. Lethal made a comeback and nailed the flying elbow for a two count. Lethal went for the Lethal Injection but Taven followed him with a springboard of his own and nailed a kick to the head, then drilled him with a brainbuster for a two count. Cool sequence.
Taven followed Lethal to the floor but was slammed into the guard rails. Lethal went for a dive but was nailed as he came through the ropes. Taven then nailed a dive of his own, then, like Lethal, nailed a second, then a big dive over the top that also took our Seleyzia. Nice spot.
With Martini all alone, Taven lost focus and grabbed a chair. Martini paid off ROH’s Head of Security Jay Diesel, who pulled the chair away from Taven. He challenged Taven but ate a kick to the head for his troubles. This never would have happened if they used Ronnie Lang and Atlas Security! As all this was going on, Seleyzia broke the cuffs and ran off with Martini.
Taven tried to give chase but then realized he was missing his chance at the title and returned to the ring. He tried to come off the ropes with a splash but Lethal pulled his knees up. Taven was nailed with The Lethal Injection and pinned. Good work in most of the match, but the final sequence with Jay Diesel came off as out of nowhere and overbooked and seemed to muddy things a bit. The average person at home would have no idea why that happened and it came off pretty goofy. Seleyzia did a good job at ringside. Taven worked hard but probably needed a little more fire to really get the crowd behind him. Lethal is a hell of heel.
Cedric Alexander vs. Roderick Strong: Submission Match
They began scrapping with fists right away and rolled around on the mat. Strong tried to back off but Alexander refused and worked him over with some big moves. Strong fired back and they battled back and forth with chops and punches. Alexander nailed a big clothesline as he dove out of the ring and peppered Strong with punches on the floor.
Alexander slammed Strong against the apron and drilled him with chops. He charged and Roderick backdropped him into the ropes and the ring apron, which looked great. Strong began picking Alexander apart with backbreakers and suplex, trying to wear him down for the submission. Alexander was locked in a Camel Clutch.
Alexander fought his way out and wiped Strong out with a dropkick, sending Strong off the apron to the floor. The junior members of The Decade went to check on Strong and Alexander wiped them out with a big dive. Alexander nailed a leaping DDT into a guillotine choke on Strong, but Roderick made it to the ropes to force the break.
Strong and Alexander traded kicks with Alexander taking him down with a spinning kick and a dropkick in the corner. Alexander locked in a Dragon Sleeper but Strong nailed a series of knees to force a break. Strong places him on the top and worked him over with chops, then nailed a superplex into the ring. The referee counted both men down but they made their way to their feet before the ten count.
Strong nailed several stiff shots in the corner but Cedric fired back and caught Strong in a choke. Strong’s feet draped the rope, forcing Alexander to release. He is tossed to the floor. Strong dove off the aprong as he drilled Alexander with a forearm.
Strong brought Alexander back into the ring and nailed an over the knee backbreaker. He went for the Stronghold Boston Crab but was kicked away. Strong beat him down and dragged him to the ropes. He looked as if he was attempting a Pepsi Plunge but was cut off and nailed with a backbreaker on the buckles. Alexander worked over his back and locked on a Boston Crab, forcing Strong to tap to his own hold.
Your winner, Cedric Alexander!
Solid, physical wrestling match. Alexander’s backdrop onto the apron and the finishing sequence were the highlights but I enjoyed the good hard fought match.
After the match, Alexander offered his hand in the Code of Honor but Strong ignored it and walked off.
Matt Hardy & Michael Bennett (with Maria Kanellis) vs. The Briscoes
Hardy came out with Nick Searcy, the actor from “Justified†who was playing a heel character.
Mark Briscoe and Bennett started out. Mark controlled him and tagged in Jay, who stomped the hell out of him. Mark nailed him with a Crane Kick and worked over Bennett, who cut him off with a dropkick.
Hardy tagged in and began working on Mark’s arm. The crowd was immediately chanting, “F*** you Hardy.†Hardy and Bennett worked over Briscoe together and scored several two counts.
Jay ended up brawling with Hardy on the floor but was distracted by Searcy allowing Hardy to nail him from behind and tossing him into the rail. The Briscoes made a comeback and worked over Hardy with a neckbreaker. He drilled Hardy with a neckbreaker again.
Jay was going for the Jay-Driller but Bennett nailed him with the ROH Iconic Title/Briscoe Title belt, causing a DQ. The crowd turned on this immediately. The Briscoes refused to let it end this way, so Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness came out and said it was now a No DQ match with two referees. The crowd loved this. This was also a great way to show that ROH isn’t going to be another company that gives you f*** finishes.
At this point, Nigel joined the announcers and all hell broke loose as Mark began tossing a ton of chairs into the ring and then nailed Bennett with one as Jay worked over Matt on the floor. Bennett was nailed with a drop toehold into a chair. Jay choked Matt against the railing. Bennett was run into a chair in the buckles. The crowd was really hot for all this.
The crowd chanted for tables and one was pulled out as Jay and Matt brawled but wasn’t used. Hardy pulled a ladder out from under the ring and drilled Jay. Bennett and Mark brawled but Mark was sent into the railing. Matt set up the ladder in the corner and whipped Jay into it. Bennett nailed a Side Effect on the floor on Mark, He draped it against the middle rope. Hardy set up several chairs but Jay caught him and nailed a Death Valley Driver through the chairs and nailed a suplex onto the ladder.
Bennett and Mark battled on the top. He shoved Bennett off to the floor, then jumped down to the apron and hit a running Cactus Jack elbow to Hardy. Briscoes nailed the Doomsday Device off the apron to the floor on Bennett. That was cool. Hardy took a Peabody Award that Nick Searcy was carrying and nailed Jay with it then rolled him up for a two count.
Searcy got into the ring so The Briscoes beat the crap out of him and Mark nailed a top rope elbow on him. They were going to give him the Doomsday Device but Maria shoved Mark off the top to the floor. Matt nailed the Twist of Fate on Jay but he kicked out. Matt nailed him with some hard chairshots across the back.
Bennett set up a table in the ring as Hardy set up a ladder. They tried to set up Jay but Mark returned to the fray. Bennett was placed on the table outside, Mark came off with this awesome flying elbow to the table. Hardy ended up taking a bump on the award. He overpowered Jay and placed him on the table. He went to the top of the ladder. Mark shot him with a fire extinguisher in the face. Jay was waiting for him when the mist cleared and superplexed him over the top of the ladder through a table in the ring. That was a hell of a bump.
Jay nailed the Jay-Driller and scored the pin.
Your winners, The Briscoes!
Great stuff. The Briscoes looked like a true top notch act here. Hardy worked his ASS off and Bennett looked great. The false finish was well done and the mayhem and plunder was different from everything else on the show so far, which made it even more fun. Best thing thus far.
Maria stole the Hardy/Briscoe title belt and ran to the back.
The crowd chanted, "Thank you Briscoe."
They showed highlights of the recent angle where Adam Cole cut Michael Elgin's hair and put Elgin's wife MsChif in a figure four leglock.
Larry Mercer (aka Larry Legend) and Mandy Leone interviewed the new ROH signee Moose, a former NFL player (real name Quinn Ojinnaka, who played for the Atlanta Falcons and has popped up in DGUSA and EVOLVE before. He said he was here to watch tonight and wanted to work his way to the top. Promos are obviously not his strong suit. Mandy tried to ask a follow-up but out came Veda Scott who said it was time for grown-ups to talk and told her to take a walk. She was here talk about RD Evans having a 122-0 streak and said that’s what Veda Scott can do for Moose. She said he doesn’t have to work his way up to the top but can start there. She tries to sign him and Moose said that he was just here to enjoy the show and asked her to talk to him later. Veda paused and showed her disgust, then walked off. Scott has a ton of potential as a talker and a manager. I hope ROH uses her in a more prominent role eventually. I can see her really drawing money as a female, hipster nerd version of what Jim Cornette used to be in the 80s.
Kevin Steen vs. Silas Young
As he came out, Steen told the viewers they were looking at the “future of pro wrestling.†The crowd showered the ring in streamers for him. He was super over. They immediately went to the floor and Silas was tossed into the railings. Steen worked him over but was cut off and beaten down on the floor.
Young nailed a Boomerang clothesline and locked in a rear chinlock. Steen battled back but was kicked in the gut and nailed with a neckbreaker for a two count. Young continued the onslaught until being caught and powerbombed down. Steen drilled him with a knee to the head and a hanging DDT for a two count.
Young grabbed Steen and shot him into the corner, then rolled him up and hooked the tights for a two count. Young worked over Steen but was caught with a suplex by Steenn, who dropped him across his knee for a two count. Steen kicked away at Young and went for the Package Piledriver but Young blocked it, crotched him on the ropes and nailed a clothesline off the ropes for a two count. Steen came back and slammed Young into the turnbuckles, then nailed a running cannonball into the corner. He nailed a swanton for a two count.
Young nailed his rolling Samoan Drop and landed on his feet. He nailed the handstand into a springboard Arabian Press but Steen rolled out of the way. Silas landed on his feet, adjusted and cut off a charging Steen with a sideslam across the knee. Young for a suplerplex but Steen turned it into a sitdown powerbomb off the ropes. He nailed the package piledriver and scored the pin.
Your winner, Kevin Steen!
Another hard-fought physical match with some good brawling. The announcers did a great job breaking down Young’s character and Steen looked like a star. Good stuff.
Steen took the mic. He told Young that he said a lot of things about Steen. He said that Steen was a coward, a P*ssy and a quitter but after tonight, one thing he cannot say is that Steen cannot beat him. He said that he said a lot of things about Young too, including that he's a bitter a**hole but after tonight, he has to say that Young is an exceptional pro wrestling. He said that Silas came out in NYC to make a name for himself and that's by going after the top guy. Steen said make no mistake, "I am the top guy." He said that his ROH contract is about up and he was going to announce in NYC that he was going to step away for now. He said that for the next month and a half, he's going to enjoy his time in ROH and every minute. He said that he's happy he got to fight Young on such a big stage and he wants to know that Young respects him. He said that if Silas is the man he says he is, he'll shake his hand right now. Young does and walked out. The crowd chanted, "Please don't go" at Steen. Steen said Young has to go, "I'm not done yet." Steen said that he wanted to say thank you to everyone but Young charged back out and attacked him from behind, taking his knee out from under him. He worked over Steen.
ROH Tag Team champions ReDragon vs. Christopher Daniels and Kazarian
Tons of streamers for Bad Influence.
Daniels and Kyle O’Reilly started out and had some nice back and forth wrestling. O’Reilly teased a big move and then slapped Daniels to show his disrespect. Kazarian tagged in and he and Daniels nailed a series of double team moves. Fish tagged in but was caught with a deep armdrag. Kazarian and Fish went back and forth until Kazarian was sent into the ringpost shoulder-first. Fish worked him over on the floor.
ReDragon began focusing on Kazarian’s shoulder, trying to work it over. Kyle nailed a divorce court on it. The champions tagged in and out and did a nice job beating down Kazarian. Daniels hit the ring to break a submission, but was forced back into his corner. Kyle locked an armbar on Kazarian, then kicked him into the corner. Kazarian tried to fight his way out but was caught in a guillotine choke when he went for a tag. Kazarian powered out with a suplex but Fish knocked Daniels off the apron before he could tag in.
Kazarian finally nailed a neckbreaker on Fish and it looked like he was going to make the tag but Kyle caught him. Kaz fought him off and Daniels tagged in with a flurry of hot offense including a feet first dropkick out of the ring on Fish. Daniels nailed a bodypress on Kyle and set him up on the top rope for a move. Kyle fought him off, then dove, but was caughr with a Uranage. Daniels went for the BME but Kyle rolled out of the way.
ReDRagon caught Daniels and nailed all their signature tag team machine offense for a two count. Kaz returned, holding his arm, and everyone battled. Daniels nailed a nice dive to the outside on Fish. Daniels drilled O’Reilly with a DDT off the ropes for a two count. Fish cut off Daniels with a Samoan Drop. Fish missed a moonsault when Daniels rolled out of the ring but landed on his feet and hit a pescado over the top to the floor.
Kazarian was worked over by O’Reilly. Daniels returned and nailed the palm thrust strike and hit a Blue Thunder Mountain Bomb. Everyone was out after all the hot sequences and the crowd chanted, “This is awesome.â€
Daniels and O’Reilly battled back and forth in the ring. Daniels backdropped him over and nailed Angel’s Wings on Fish but Kyle broke up the pin at the last second. Kyle began beating the hell out of Daniels with kicks but was caught with a Dragon Screw Legwhip. Daniels missed an Arabian Press to the floor and Fish tackled him into a chair and guard rail in the corner. Kyle came off the apron with a sick looking knee on Daniels.
This left Kazarian in a two on one situation. He got O’Reilly and nailed him with a sick looking Flux Capacitor on Kyle but Fish pulled the referee out and then hid. The crowd chanted, “Buillsh**.†Kazarian was selling his bad elbow from the move. ReDragon killed him with a ton of offense but he kicked out. O’Reilly locked in a cross armbreaker. Fish tackled Daniels and kept him from interfering. Kazarian tried to fight but the pain was too much and he tapped.
Your winners and still ROH Tag Team champions, ReDragon!
Good match. Daniels and Kazarian were working hard and pulling out more than they were towards the end of their TNA run. ReDragon were really smooth and showed some of their prowess as a team. Good, athletic tag team wrestling here.
ROH champion Adam Cole vs. Michael Elgin
Elgin now has a short buzz cut.
Elgin was pissed and immediately began beating Cole down on the mat and the corner. Cole tried to fake him out but was hit with a shoulder tackle. They kept reversing waistlocks and Cole shoved him to the floor. Cole went for a pescado but Elgin walked away.
Elgin grabbed Cole, who slipped behind him and shoved Elgin into the guard rail. Cole grabbed a chair but Elgin stopped him and drilled him hard with a right hand. Cole went down. Elgin grabbed Cole and nailed a Oklahoma Stampede style powerslam onto the ROH entrance ramp. Ouch.
Elgin tossed the champion back in the ring but was cut off and nailed with a neckbreaker. Cole went to the top but was cut off and nailed with some hard chops. Cole choked Elgin in the corner and raked his face. He snapmared Elgin and locked in a side chinlock.
Cole tried to come off the ropes but was cauight and pulled down into a modified Codebreaker. Elgin began striking away at him. Elgin nailed a Tiger suplex for a two count. Cole missed a leaping kick. Elgin called for a lariat but ate a big boot to the face. He nailed a knee strike to the side of the head.
Elgin went for a suplex but Cole reversed it and dropped the challenger across his knee for a two count. They battled to the top and Elgin brought Cole in with a face forward superplex for a two count. That was impressive.
Elgin kicked down Cole and went to the ropes but was dropkicked. Cole went for a top rope rana but Elgin stopped him. Cole was able to finally pull him over and nailed a reverse rana and the Florida Keys for a two count. Really close two count. Good stuff.
Cole came off the ropes but Elgin evaded him and kicked. Elgin went for a clothesline but Cole ducked and went for a superkick. Elgin ducked and referee Todd Sinclair looked like he was legitimately massacred. It was the best referee bump since I can remember.
Elgin nailed the buckle bomb in the corner, then a sit down powerbomb but there was no referee to count. The crowd counted to eight. Nigel McGuinness got up, trying to decide what to do. Matt Hardy and Michael Bennett hit the ring and worked over Elgin. Maria Kanellis also ran out. Elgin fought them off and nailed a Fall Away Slam on Hardy and Bennett at the same time.
Elgin went for the buckle bomb but Cole slipped out. He charged but Elgin nailed a shot to the back of the neck, the powerbombed him over the top onto Bennett and Hardy on the floor. Elgin teased a dive but Maria got on the apron. He was going to hit her but stopped. She slapped him. Elgin gave her chase. Bennett drilled him with a kick. Cole went for a Canadian Destroyer but Elgin stopped him and Cole nailed Elgin with the title belt.
War Machine, Hanson and Rowe, hit the scene and brawled to the back with Hardy and Bennett. Kanellis remained at ringside. They teased that Elgin was going to be counted out. Kanellis tossed the belt to Cole and distracted the referee. MsChif hit the scene and blew green mist in her face.
Cole went to nail Elgin with the belt but Elgin nailed a spinning backfist and hit the powerbomb. That was a super close two count, to the point fans tossed streamers, then chanted, “We f***ed up!†Elgin and Cole battled to the top. Elgin was sent to the mat and nailed with a dropkick to the knee.
Cole locked on the figure four leglock on the ringpost. He returned to the ring and Elgin caught him with an inside cradle for a two count. Elgin locked him in a Crossface. Cole punched Elgin’s sore knee to force a break. He continued kicking away at the knee and leg. Elgin kicked him away with the other one. Elgin charged for a move but his knee buckled as he ran.
Cole caught him flush in the face with a superkick and went for the Canadian Destroyer off the ropes and nailed it. Elgin kicked up and Cole had this awesome look on his face as if to say, “Dear God, what do I have to do?†He went back for the Canadian Destroyer but Elgin rolled through and began powerbombing the holy hell out of Cole and scored the pin.
Your winner and new ROH champion, Michael Elgin!
The fans erupted and threw streamers into the ring, which made for a really nice visual. Cary Silkin entered the ring and raised the arm of the new champion, then hugged Elgin. In a first for ROH, they had a confetti machine blowing confetti. Adam Cole rolled out of the ring, mummifying himself with streamers and stumbled to the back. Elgin celebrated in the ring.
The PPV closed with a highlight reel of footage.
If you were wondering, no return date was announced.
Great main event.
Overall, a very well paced show with lots of different styles of matches and a lot of hard working performers up and down the card.
2015 - Doug Gilbert and Tommy Gilbert, representing the estate of the late Eddie Gilbert, requested that the lawsuit they brought against WWE and ESPN over usage of Eddie and Doug's performances being rebroadcast against their will be dismissed by the United States District Court in Tennessee. The court agreed and dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning that should the Gilberts decide to re-file down the line, they would have that option.
The Gilberts filed the lawsuit in March 2015, alleging that WWE and ESPN "violated the Gilberts" rights of privacy and/or publicity by using their names and likenesses without permission or any license in order to obtain profits" via wrestling matches aired via television and the Internet, the WWE Encyclopedia and (in the case of ESPN) airing matches featuring Doug and/or Eddie via television.
In their lawsuit, the Gilbert family claimed that neither Doug nor Eddie (when he was alive) ever signed contracts with WWE or ESPN releasing the rights to their names, likeness and matches, nor have their received compensation while WWE and ESPN have, "Upon information and belief, Defendants have obtained significant profits from the use of the Gilberts' names and likenesses."
In a April 2015 filing, WWE noted that it has successfully defeated similar lawsuits in the court before, noting suits brought against the company in the past by Doug Somerson (former AWA Tag Team champ Pretty Boy Doug Somers) and Richard Blood (Steamboat). ESPN had already successfully defended itself against similar claims brought by former UWF wrestler Stevie Ray, who was featured in re-edited material from the Herb Abrams version of the Universal Wrestling Federation that has appeared on ESPN Classic.
WWE featured Eddie Gilbert material in the recently released Jerry Lawler Blu-Ray and DVD. WWE's library includes Gilbert material from WWF, WCW, Global Wrestling and ECW, among other promotions as well as Doug Gilbert material from WCW and (as the Dark Patriot), Global and ECW.
2015 - It was publicly announced that Buddy Landel passed away. Mike Johnson filed the following report:
We are still working on the story, but have confirmed that "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel, who had a long career working different territories, passed away earlier today. The story that is making the rounds is that Landel was in a car accident over the weekend and returned home, only to be found unresponsive. PWInsider.com is working to confirm additional details.
Landel had a long run in the business working a number of different promotions and territories, primarily in the Southern region. He had runs in Mid-Atlantic, WCW, Smoky Mountain Wrestling, the USWA and a number of other areas. Personal issues had long hurt him and he had cleaned up, leading to a great run in SMW. The run was so good that booker Jim Cornette brought in Shawn Michaels, then WWF Intercontinental champion, to face Landel at the Super Bowl of Wrestling, the last major SMW event.
Landel was hired by WWF in late 1995 based on the strength of his work in SMW but just days after starting, suffered a freak knee injury when he slipped on ice outside a hotel and tore up his knee. He did return to pro wrestling a year later and wrestled independently until several years ago.
Landel would have turned 54 this August.
Our deepest condolences to Landel's family, friends and fans.
2015 - Jamie Noble was injured and stretchered out of the arena during the closing segment of a Raw episode where the Authority laid out Brock Lesnar. During the segment, Lesnar grabbed Noble and drove him back-first into the barricade on the floor near the entrance aisle. Noble was never seen again by television viewers but was worked on by WWE medical staff in the aisle before being stretchered to the back.
Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in Indianapolis, Indiana and your announcers are Michael Cole, John Layfield, and Byron Saxton.
We begin with Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman making their way to the ringand Brock with the Brock Bounce on the stage and in front of the ring before he enters.
We see the announcement of Brock as Seth Rollins’ opponent at Battleground.
Paul introduces himself and reminds us that he is the advocate for Brock Lesnar. Paul says that if you are a first time viewer, you wouldn’t know if Brock hasn’t been on Raw. You may want to know why Raw has not survived without the Beast Incarnate. We take a look at what happened the last time Brock got his hands on someone on Monday Night Raw.
We see the footage of Brock attacking everyone leading to his suspension.
There is no mystery or cliffhanger here. The question was very simple. How did I negotiate Brock’s return to WWE? They don’t need his money. What they want from an unrepentant beast is an apology. Not in private or in writing. It is an apology in public, right here, right now, tonight.
Paul says that if Brock does not apologize to Michael Cole and JBL, he will not be allowed to return to WWE and he will not get his title match against Seth Rollins at Battleground.
Michael says it is not necessary but John says it is.
Brock and Paul talk for a moment and Brock leaves the ring and he stands against the ring in front of the announce table. Brock walks to the announce table and the announcers get up. Brock goes to John Layfield and he offers his hand and John shakes it.
Brock goes to Michael and he smirks at him and then Brock walks around the table. Michael starts to mumble something and then Brock offers his hand and he gives Michael a noogie and he asks Michael if they are good and Michael says they are good.
Paul says that his client has complied with the terms and conditions of his return to WWE. Paul asks if they have accepted his apology. Paul says that he would like to make a public apology in advance for what his client is going to do to that slinky, slimy, disgusting, repulsive, repugnant, rotten, sick, parasite Seth Rollins. The champion who won the title from the challenger. The golden boy of NXT, the first NXT Champion. He was protected in NXT by everyone. He was protected by the Shield and then the Authority. He sold his long term soul for the short term gain of winning the WWE World Title in 2015.
That was until the day the Authority decided to sacrifice the future of the WWE to the conqueror is what is BEAST for Business. Seth Rollins, on July 19th, you may think you are flying into Battleground in St. Louis, you have a one way trip, all expenses paid to Suplex City . . . Bitch. Those accommodations are not from Mr. McMahon and his billions. Not from J&J Security, who beat you, Kane, who wants to eat your or the WWE Universe who want to see you lose, they are from the beast and the future WWE Champion of the World, Brock Lesnar.
We go to commercial with Dean Ambrose walking in the back.
Match Number One: Dean Ambrose versus Kane
Ambrose with a waist lock but Kane with a punch and elbow. Kane with a belly-to-back suplex and he gets a near fall. Kane with an uppercut and punches to Ambrose. Kane with a punch to the midsection. Kane with an uppercut. Ambrose with punches and chops but Kane with an uppercut and Ambrose goes to the mat. Kane with kicks to Ambrose and he chokes him in the ropes.
Ambrose with a running forearm and he runs Kane into the corner. Ambrose runs his forearm across the face and he punches Kane but Kane pushes Ambrose off the turnbuckles. Ambrose with more punches and then he adds punches and chops but instead of the drop kick, Kane gets out of the ropes and he hits a back elbow and gets a near fall.
Ambrose with a cross body and punches. Kane rolls to the floor and Ambrose follows. Kane with a punch and he sends Ambrose back into the ring. Ambrose with a kick as Kane gets back into the ring and Ambrose with a leg drop to the back of the head and Kane goes to the floor. Ambrose slingshots to the floor but Kane with a kick and he sends Ambrose into the ring steps as we go to commercial.
We are back and Kane punches Ambrose and tries to send him into the turnbuckles but Ambrose with jabs to Kane. Kane with an Irish whip and side slam for a near fall. We see footage from the commercial break when Kane connecting with a boot to the chest. Kane with a rear chin lock as we return to live action.
Ambrose with a jawbreaker and Kane with a kick. Kane with a leaping DDT and he gets a near fall. Kane with punches and an elbow in the corner. Kane with an uppercut. Kane with an Irish whip and clothesline in the corner. Kane with a kick to the midsection followed by another Irish whip but Ambrose with an elbow to a charging Kane. Ambrose with a neck breaker and both men are down.
Ambrose with chops and punches but Kane with an Irish whip. Ambrose with a knee and missile drop kick. Ambrose with a clothesline into the corner. Kane escapes the bulldog but Ambrose with a rollup for a near fall. Kane goes over the top rope when Ambrose moves. Ambrose with a kick and then Ambrose hits an elbow off the apron.
Kane sends Ambrose back towards the ring but Ambrose rolls on the apron and hits a clothesline. They go back into the ring and Kane sets for a choke slam but Ambrose bounces off the ropes and hits a clothesline. Ambrose sets for the double underhook DDT and Seth Rollins’ music plays.
Kane sets for a choke slam but Dean escapes and he hits a suicide dive onto Rollins. Kane choke slams Ambrose off the turnbuckles and gets the three count.
Winner: Kane
We take a look back at photos from the John Cena versus Kevin Owens Match from Money in the Bank.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Kane and Seth Rollins are walking in the back. Seth says when they are in sync there is no stopping them. Kane wonders what Seth means by ‘we’. Seth says that they need to get the band back.
Kane asks why would he help Seth with all of the disrespect he has been shown. Kane says it is because Brock is back and he is going to take your title.
Seth reminds Kane he beat Brock to win the title and he will do it again at Battleground. Seth says that this is about family. Seth offers his hand and Kane walks away.
We go back to the ladder match for the Money in the Bank contract and see photos of Bray’s interruption of the match.
We take a look at what happened on Raw last week with Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns. Then we see what happened on Smackdown.
We go to commercial.
We are back with footage from the ceremony awarding Titus O’Neil the Celebrity Dad of the Year award.
Match Number Two: Darren Young and Titus O’Neil versus Konnor and Viktor in a Non Title Match
Konnor and Titus start and Konnor with a forearm but Titus floats over and he slams Konnor. Titus barks. Titus with a leg drop and he tags in Darren. Titus with a gourdbuster of Darren onto Konnor and Darren with a seated splash. Titus tags back in and Titus picks up Viktor and hits a back breaker and he throws Viktor aside. Titus chops Konnor while we watch the New Day in the back.
Konnor with a back elbow and he goes to the floor but Viktor with a kick and he drops the arm on the ropes. Viktor kicks Titus. Viktor with forearms and Konnor tags back in. Konnor kicks Titus and he gets a near fall. Viktor tags in and he connects with a fist drop to the back of the head and he gets a near fall. Viktor kicks Titus and he tags in Konnor.
Konnor kicks Titus and connects with a forearm to the back. Konnor with a reverse chin lock. Titus with a punch and a belly-to-back suplex and both men are down. Darren and Viktor tag in and Darren with a clothesline and punches followed by another clothesline. Darren ducks a clothesline and he hits an overhead belly-to-belly throw. Young with clotheslines in the corner followed by a Northern Lights suplex but Konnor breaks up the cover. Titus with a spinebuster to Konnor but Viktor with a knee to Titus’ back to send him to the floor. Darren with the Gutcheck for the three count.
Winners: Darren Young and Titus O’Neil
After the match, we see the New Day in the back still watching on the monitor.
Sheamus comes out and he makes his way to the ring for his match.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Sheamus versus Roman Reigns
They lock up and they go around the ring until they have a stalemate. They lock up again and Reigns with a break but Sheamus pushes Reigns and Reigns pushes back. Reigns with a side head lock and Sheamus gets to the ropes. Sheamus with a kick and side head lock. Reigns with a punch and Samoan drop but Sheamus rolls to the floor to regroup.
Sheamus tries to pull Reigns to the floor but Roman kicks Sheamus away. Roman goes to the floor and he slams Sheamus’ head into the announce table. They get back into the ring and Reigns punches Sheamus. Sheamus with an Irish whip but Reigns with a clothesline out of the corner. Reigns sets for a power bomb but Sheamus backs Reigns into the corner and punches him.
Reigns punches Sheamus but Sheamus punches back. Sheamus with a kick and Irish whip followed by a shoulder in the corner. Reigns with a back elbow. Sheamus drops Reigns on the top rope and then Sheamus returns to the ring and connects with a European uppercut. Sheamus with a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Sheamus stomps on the hand a few times. Sheamus chokes Roman in the ropes.
Sheamus with a few forearms but Reigns blocks them and Reigns with elbows to Sheamus and he gets out of the ropes. Sheamus sends Roman into the turnbuckles and then Sheamus with a uranage back breaker.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus with a reverse chin lock. Reigns with punches and a head butt that sends Sheamus to the mat. Reigns with clotheslines and a flying clothesline. Reigns with a running clothesline into the corner followed by more clotheslines as he hits Neverending Story. Sheamus hangs over the bottom rope so Reigns goes to the floor and he sets for the Juggernaut Broad Jump Drop Kick but Sheamus was playing possum and he clotheslines Reigns.
Sheamus picks up Reigns and sends him into the corner of Yeatonville. Sheamus sends Reigns back into the ring and Sheamus gets a near fall. Sheamus returns to the reverse chin lock. Reigns punches Sheamus but Sheamus with another uranage back breaker and he hits a second one. Sheamus with a third uranage back breaker but Reigns kicks out.
Sheamus sets for the Cloverleaf but Reigns escapes. Sheamus tries for the Cloverleaf again but Reigns gets to the ropes. Sheamus slingshots Reigns’ throat into the bottom rope and Sheamus finally locks in the Cloverleaf.
Reigns punches Sheamus to get out of the hold. Sheamus with a clothesline. Sheamus with a forearm to the injured kidney. Sheamus with a second forearm to the kidney. Sheamus goes for a third one but Reigns with elbows and forearms to Sheamus. Reigns with a belly-to-back suplex but Reigns lands on his back and he cannot take advantage.
Sheamus runs into a boot from Reigns and Reigns with an elbow and belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Reigns with a kick and then he hits a Mick Foley clothesline and both men go over the top rope to the floor. Reigns with the Juggernaut Broad Jump Drop Kick and then he hits a leaping elbow to Sheamus’ chest and Sheamus is down on the announce table while Reigns is on the ground.
Reigns rolls back into the ring and there is some humming on the mic.
We see Bray on the TitanTron and he is talking about a tea party and he will be here soon but he is busy. Bray asks Reigns if he would miss them. He tells Roman to find him.
Roman walks to the back and Bray says he told the person off camera he would come and we see a mini Bray Rocking Chair as we go to commercial.
No Contest
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of what happened at the end of the match when Bray Wyatt appeared on the TitanTron for his Tea Party with no one.
The announcers talk about how Bray has gotten into Roman’s head.
We see Roman walking through the back, looking for Bray Wyatt. He hears Bray’s voice but he is no longer there. There are photos on the wall with a message ‘Anyone But You’.
We take a look back at Paul Heyman’s comments from the start of Raw.
Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury are sampling some of the coffee and Seth Rollins stops by. Seth says that he was playing around and they need to be on the same page.
Jamie says they are not playing. They dedicated their lives to protect Seth and make him World Champion. You belittled us and made fun of us.
Seth says that they are family and family jokes around with each other. They are more than a security team to him. You are friends. He needs them, but not because of Brock Lesnar because he can take care of Brock by himself. He needs them because he is their WWE Champion. What if Brock was able to keep Seth from getting to Battleground, it is on them. Seth asks if they are cool and they refuse the handshake.
We go to commercial.
We are back with John Cena on the Today Show and people trying to cut promos on John Cena.
Match Number Four: Neville versus Kofi Kingston (with Xavier Woods and Big E)
They lock up and Kofi with forearms and a side head lock. Neville with a reversal. Neville with a back heel kick and an arm wringer. Neville with a wrist lock and arm drag into an arm bar. Neville with a hammer lock. Kofi sends Neville to the floor but Neville gets back in before Woods and Big E can do anything. Kofi kicks and punches Neville. Kofi with a running forearm into the corner.
Kofi goes to the turnbuckles and he hits a double sledge for a near fall. Kofi with an arm drag. Neville sends Kofi into the air and he lands face first on the mat. Neville with a head scissors that sends Kofi to the floor and Neville with a drop kick to knock Kofi off the apron. Big E and Xavier come over to intimidate Neville but Darren Young and Titus O’Neil make their way to the ring but they are sent back.
Kofi sends Neville into the apron and the referee sends Woods and Big E to the back.
Kofi argues with the referee but Neville with an enzuigiri and then he goes up top for the Red Arrow and he hits it for the three count.
Winner: Neville
We see footage from last week when Kevin Owens gave Machine Gun Kelly a review of his performance.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at Mr. Robot.
R Truth is in the Royal Goldman Box. He is pardoning Little Jimmy and he declarates that Wade Barrett is a royal jackass.
Match Number Five: Wade Barrett versus Zack Ryder
Ryder with a drop kick for a near fall. Barrett with a shoulder tackle but Ryder with a flapjack. Ryder with a running forearm into the corner and Ryder punches Barrett but Barrett drops Ryder on the turnbuckles and he punches and kicks Ryder. Barrett with a short arm clothesline. Barrett chokes Ryder in the ropes and then hits a neck breaker and gets a near fall. Barrett with a reverse chin lock.
Ryder with punches and a face plant. Ryder with an elbow and flying clothesline. Barrett with an Irish whip but Ryder gets his knees up and he hits a missile drop kick. Ryder with a running forearm into the corner and he goes for the Broski Boot but Barrett goes to the floor. Ryder with a boot to the head and then he sends Barrett back into the ring. Ryder goes up top but Barrett hits the ropes and crotches Ryder. Barrett with a running BullHammer for the three count.
Winner: Wade Barrett
We go to comments from Kevin Owens’ interview with Michael Cole. Kevin says he knew he was born to be in a WWE. John Cena was not trying to be nice or make amends when Cena said what he said. John was hogging the spotlight and you cannot see that after twelve years.
We go to commercial.
We are back and John Cena makes his way to the ring.
John holds up the US Title belt and he says that this is a symbol of excellence and a symbol of opportunity. He is proud to be the champion of the United States. The opportunity to defend this could be the opportunity that destroys him. There is a man named Kevin Owens and he is white hot and a man on a mission. He is here to take opportunity by any means necessary.
He beat him at Elimination Chamber and Kevin took the mic and proclaimed that his time was now. At Money in the Bank, he offered a gesture of mutual respect and Kevin Owens decided to put him out of action. Then on Raw, Kevin Owens assaulted a 95 pound musician. Now Kevin is looking at his latest opportunity to take the belt from him. Kevin Owens is a great wrestler, but he sees how Kevin carries himself and John says that Kevin is a garbage human being.
Kevin knows how much the title means to him and he knows how John would feel if he went to Battleground and had to hand over the title to someone he thinks is a dirtbag.
John won the match at Money in the Bank, but he did not win the war. If he accepts Kevin’s challenge, he might be signing up for a fight he cannot win. John asks everyone what should he do. John says he can say no. It is simple and it is fair. A few weeks ago, he stood in the ring and he wanted to face Kevin for the NXT Title and Kevin said no.
John can say no and Kevin can go on his way and John is still the champ, but the champ of what? If John says no then Kevin is right about everything he said. He is just a part of corporate America and everything that he says is jargon created by suits and ties.
John says that he will fight, even if it is a fight he cannot win. If there is a message that he has hammered home, the title will not be protected by politics. May the best man win, and if you want some . . . come get some.
Kevin Owens’ music plays and he makes his way onto the stage.
Kevin says he guesses that he should be pretty upset about everything that John just said about him. The truth is that he is not. One thing you will learn about him is that he does not put much value into other people’s opinions. He does not care what anybody thinks of him. If he did, he probably wouldn’t look the way he does. He has been called many things. He has been called out of shape, a sloth, and a dirtbag. However, this out of shape, sloth, dirtbag beat you at Elimination Chamber and left you laying at Money in the Bank.
The difference is that you care deeply about what these people think of you. Kevin says what he cares about is winning titles. The minute he stepped foot in NXT, he took the NXT Championship. Now that he is here and he sees how much that United States Title means to you, he wants it. Kevin says that he agrees that the US title is a symbol of excellence.
They need a match and Kevin says John never said Kevin could get a title match. Since he wants something from John, he will give John something he wants and craves. He will give you everyone’s approval. Kevin says that he wants to make sure that everyone will cheer the mighty John Cena and boo the evil foreigner.
Kevin speaks in French and he says that he will become the New United States Champion at Battleground.
Kevin says he can figure out what John is going to say but he wants to hear it from John.
John says the people are not indifferent to you because of where you are from or what language you speak. They are indifferent because you are a suckbag.
John decides to speak in French and then he throws out some Chinese. Then he decides to tell Kevin in English that he accepts the challenge. He says that he will kick Kevin’s ass.
Triple H and Stephanie watch on the monitor from the back and they talk about the Owens/Cena situation.
Seth says he is not afraid of Brock, but he wants to talk about Kane and J&J. Hunter tells Seth to screw them because he does not need them. Seth says the Authority is more than a business relationship, it is a family. He feels that he has hurt that relationship. He wants to make sure that the family is back together. Kane and J&J did not get it.
Stephanie asks if Seth has considered an apology.
Seth asks if they would apologize.
Hunter says that Seth wants them back because Brock is back. They invested a lot in Seth and they made the match with Brock because they think that Seth can get the job done. You are afraid of Brock because you are smart. If you were not afraid, you would be an idiot. No matter how smart a man is, he would have a Plan B. He would have a foolproof plan. A smart man walks to the ring and he apologizes. A smart man says the three little words that make this all go away. I . . . AM . . . Sorry.
Stephanie tells Seth to be the bigger man.
Seth asks what if Brock shows up.
Stephanie says that if you want to put the band together, you need to do what you have to.
Hunter asks Seth how bad does he want this family.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Paige Diva Manifesto.
Match Number Six: Nikki Bella and Brie Bella (with Honorary Bella Alicia Fox) versus Naomi and Tamina Snuka
Naomi sends Brie into the turnbuckles and she kicks Brie. Tamina tags in and she sends Brie to the mat. Tamina pushes Brie down and punches her. Tamina with a clothesline into the corner followed by a snap mare and neck vice. Tamina with a Samoan Drop and Tamina gets a near fall. Naomi tags in and she connects with forearms. Naomi with a bulldog that sends Brie into the turnbuckles.
Naomi sends Brie into the turnbuckles. Brie kicks Naomi and then she avoids Naomi as Naomi goes to the floor. Naomi pulls Nikki off the apron to prevent Brie from making the tag. Naomi wants Brie to kiss her shoes. Brie with a jawbreaker and Nikki tags in and she connects with clotheslines and a drop kick.
Nikki knocks Tamina off the apron and then Nikki with a clothesline into the corner followed by an Arizona Slam but Tamina breaks up the cover. Brie with a missile drop kick to Tamina after Tamina trips over the referee. Naomi with Rear View to Brie and then she sets to give it to Nikki but Nikki pushes Tamina towards Naomi and Naomi gives Rear View to Tamina. Nikki with the Rack Attack to Naomi for the three count.
Winners: Brie Bella and Nikki Bella
We see a video comparing Roman Reigns to a Terminator with footage of the new Terminator movie mixed with Roman Reigns footage.
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman are standing in the back and they are talking as we go to commercial.
We are back and Big Show is joining the commentary for the next match.
Match Number Seven: Mark Henry versus Ryback in a Non Title Match
They lock up and Ryback backs Henry into the corner and gives a clean break but he wants to be fed more. Ryback with a hammer lock but Henry with an elbow. Henry with a forearm and then he kicks Ryback. Henry with a head butt. Ryback with a flying shoulder tackle and Ryback sends Henry to the floor. Ryback with forearms to the back and Henry sends Ryback into the apron and the ringside barrier.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Henry with a head lock but Ryback with forearms and punches in the corner. Henry pushes Ryback out of the corner but Ryback with a spinebuster. Ryback sets for the clothesline and he runs into a boot from Henry. Show gets up from the announce table and he tells Mark to finish him.
Henry tries for the World’s Strongest Slam but Ryback escapes and Ryback with a clothesline. Ryback goes up top and hits a frog splash for the three count.
Winner: Ryback
After the match, Show gets in the ring and he tells Mark he had him beat. Mark pushes Show and Show leaves the ring in disgust.
Michael Cole reminds us that Ryback was on Tough Enough and Tough Enough debuts tomorrow night on USA. We take a look at the thirteen finalists.
We go to the back where JoJo is with Ryback. She asks him about having to defend his title at Battleground in a Triple Threat Match.
Ryback says that he is here to take on all comers. He knows he can lose the title without being pinned or forced to submit. Winning at the Elimination Chamber meant everything to him. His parents hadn’t talked to each other in years and they watched him defend the title together. He does not care how many people it is that he has to face, he will win.
Big Show enters and he applauds Ryback’s promo. Show says he will expose Ryback for the fraud he is. He says that Ryback is a little boy in a Giant’s world.
Ryback says Show is cute. He is all talk and no action.
Show and Ryback exchange punches until Show gains control. Ryback with knees and then Ryback takes care of Show. Officials finally stop by and tell Ryback to leave.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of the brawl between Big Show and Ryback.
We are told that Dolph Ziggler will face Sheamus on Smackdown.
Before the match starts, Adam Rose that you people just don’t get it. You don’t get what real art is. You don’t get what real passion is. You don’t get what true love is. Adam says that he and his Rosa get it. He loves us. Rosa says that she loves us. When he unveils his masterpiece to the world, maybe you mouth breathing dullards who inhabit this country might get it.
Adam tells Dolph and Lana not to be jelly of them. This is what true love looks like. Adam and Rosa kiss.
Match Number Eight: Dolph Ziggler (with Lana) versus Adam Rose (with Rosa Mendes)
Ziggler with a drop kick when Rose is done with Rosa. Rose with a knee and he sends Ziggler into the turnbuckles and kicks Ziggler while Rusev watches from the back. Rose with a slam and a series of elbow drops. Rose mocks Ziggler and he bows for the crowd’s approval. Rose with a sleeper but Ziggler with a belly-to-back suplex and both men are down.
Ziggler with an uppercut and clotheslines followed by a Stinger Splash and neck breaker. Ziggler with a leaping elbow drop and he gets a near fall. Rose with a jawbreaker and forearms. Rose with a running clothesline into the corner but Rose misses a boot. Ziggler misses a Fameasser and Rose with a spinebuster for a near fall.
Rose goes up top and he is met with a super kick and Ziggler gets the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
After the match, Dolph lets down Lana’s hair and they kiss.
We see Rusev in the back and he limps away on his crutches. Rusev breaks the monitor and he falls to the ground.
Rusev looks up and sees Summer Rae. Summer hands Rusev his crutch.
Jamie Noble tells Stephanie and Hunter that Seth expects them to run interference for him. They are not Dumber and Dumber, they are like Yoda.
Stephanie says the Authority has made an investment in Seth. Remember that Seth is the champion because of you. Hunter says that Yoda cannot take the pressure of being the WWE champion. Hunter asks if you know what it is like to have everyone gunning for you. Hunter reminds Kane that he knows what it is like. Hunter says that Joey and Jamie know Seth’s schedule better than anyone.
Stephanie says that Seth is asking for your help even if they want him to do it by himself.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Seth Rollins comes to the ring.
Seth says sometimes in life it is better to pretend you are right than admit when you are wrong. Seth says that he has come out here before all of you to be the bigger man and admit that he has been wrong. Seth asks for Kane, Joey, and Jamie to come out so he can apologize to each of you individually.
Kane, Jamie, and Joey make their way to the ring.
Seth says there is one thing he has realized over the last week. A team is only as good as its foundation and you are Seth’s foundation. Seth says he wants to make one thing perfectly clear. This has nothing to do with Brock Lesnar. He is not afraid of Brock Lesnar. He has beaten Brock before and he will beat him again at Battleground. This is about us. This is about family.
Seth tells Joey tells everyone to stop chanting Suplex City while he makes his apology. Seth tells Joey and Jamie he is so sorry. They are cut from the same cloth. They are champions who he patterned his style after. You have had his back through all of this.
Seth says that he apologizes to Joey and Jamie individually and collectively and he asks for them to be part of his family again.
Joey and Jamie talk it over and Seth says he has to talk to Kane.
Out of everyone in the ring, he owes the biggest apology to Kane. He has called him many names, including a dinosaur. He says that Kane is not a dinosaur because they are extinct and Kane is alive. You are like a fine wine, you are better with age. You will always be the Devil’s Favorite Demon and Seth tells Kane he is his favorite WWE Superstar of all time. Seth makes the same offer and apology to Kane. He wants Kane to come back so they can be a family again.
Seth says he is practically begging for them to come back. He has apologized to all three of you. He wants them to take him back.
Seth offers his hand . . .
Brock Lesnar’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring with Paul Heyman.
Brock circles the ring while Kane, Joey, and Jamie surround Seth.
Joey and Jamie take off their jackets while Kane came to the ring without a shirt so there are no upper torso clothes to remove.
Brock leaps to the apron and Kane, Joey, and Jamie wish Seth luck as they leave the ring.
Brock has a smile on his face as Seth is starting to lose color in his face.
Kane grabs Lesnar from behind but Lesnar clotheslines Kane and then he takes care of Joey and Jamie.
Brock gets in the ring and Lesnar with a German suplex to Rollins. Brock with a second German suplex. Brock picks up Seth and hits a third German suplex. Brock picks up Seth for an F-5 but Kane grabs Brock and Seth is able to get away.
Brock with knees to Kane but Kane grabs Brock and choke slams Lesnar. Kane goes for a second choke slam but Brock with knees and a German suplex to Kane. Brock gets Rollins on his shoulders again and Kane clips Brock. Kane kicks Lesnar and then Rollins joins in.
Rollins holds Brock’s leg around the ring post and Kane hits Lesnar in the knee with the chair. Kane and Rollins kick Lesnar. Kane with a double sledge but Lesnar pushes him away. Mercury grabs Lesnar by the leg and then he punches Lesnar. Kane kicks him and Rollins joins in.
Lesnar is held by Kane and Mercury and Rollins with a knee to the temple as he comes off the turnbuckles.
Kane grabs Lesnar and hits another choke slam.
Rollins wants Mercury and Kane to give Lesnar to him. Rollins with a Pedigree to Lesnar.
We go to credits.
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