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June 24th
On this day in history in ....
1925 - Bobby Roscoe defeats Matty Matsuda in Columbus, Ohio for the World Welterweight Title.
1936 - George McCloud defeats Frank Sexton to win the Ohio Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio.
1950 - Buddy Rogers defeats Bozo Brown for the Jack Pfeffer-promoted World Heavyweight Title in Akron, Ohio, beginning his fifth reign.
1958 - Duke Keomuka and John Tolos defeat Larry Chene and Pepper Gomez to win the NWA Texas Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas.
1964 - Alan Colbeck defeats Jack Dempsey for the European Welterweight Title in Bradford, England. This began Colbeck's fifth reign and ended Dempsey's fifth.
1964 - Tokyo Tom defeats Joe Blanchard to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas.
1966 - Luis Hernandez and Pedro Morales defeat Buddy Austin and El Mongol for the World Wrestling Association World Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California.
1970 - Ripper Collins wins his fifth NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Title from Sam Steamboat in Honolulu, Hawaii, ending Steamboat's second reign.
1972 - NWA Big Time Wrestling held "Parade of Champions" at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas, with 26,339 fans in attendance. The results were:
- José Lothario and El Santo defeated Mr. Fuji and Terry Funk.
- George Scott defeated Tommy Siegler.
- NWA World Midgets Champion Lord Littlebrook defeated Cowboy Lang to retain the title.
- Mil Máscaras defeated The Alaskan.
- Bearcat Wright won a seven-man roulette match.
- Billy Red Lyons defeated NWA American Heavyweight Champion The Spoiler to win the title.
- Stan Stasiak defeated NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion Red Bastien to win the title.
- NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk, Jr. fought Fritz Von Erich to a 60-minute time-limit draw to retain the title.
1972 - Abdullah the Butcher defeats Ernie Ladd for the National Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Title in Akron, Ohio.
1972 - Boris Malenko and Johnny Walker defeat The Professional (Doug Gilbert) and Mike Webster to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Jacksonville, Florida.
1974 - Jackie Fargo defeats Jerry Lawler for the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Lawler's second reign and beginning Fargo's fourth.
1976 - El Halcón defeats El Gran Markus for the Mexican National Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, beginning his second reign.
1978 - Roddy Piper defeats Moondog Mayne to win the San Francisco NWA United States Heavyweight Title, ending Mayne's second reign.
1979 - Maple Leaf Wrestling held an event at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The results:
- Joe Marcus and Johnny Yachetti fought to a draw.
- Dewey Robertson defeated Brian Macnee.
- Jay Youngblood defeated Chris Tolos by countout.
- Jim Brunzell and Paul Orndorff defeated Brute Bernard and Moose Morowski.
- Ernie Ladd defeated Ricky Steamboat by disqualification.
- NWA Toronto Canadian Heavyweight Champion Dino Bravo defeated Ric Flair by disqualification to retain the title.
- WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund defeated Greg Valentine to retain the title.
1979 - El Signo defeats Bobby Lee for the UWA World Welterweight Title in Tijuana, Mexico.
1984 - Wahoo McDaniel wins his fourth NWA United States Heavyweight Title, ending Ricky Steamboat's third reign in Greensboro, North Carolina.
1984 - Canek wins his fifth UWA World Heavyweight Title from Dos Caras in Mexico City, Mexico.
1985 - Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez defeat The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) in Fort Worth, Texas to win the NWA American Tag Team Title, ending the Fantastics' second reign.
1985 - Bota the Witch Doctor defeats Jerry Lawler for the AWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Lawler's 41st reign.
1987 - Cien Caras defeats MS-1 for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico, ending MS-1's second reign.
1988 - Johnny Smith defeats Chris Benoit to win the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title in Calgary, Alberta. This began Smith's third reign and ended Benoit's second.
1988 - Shiro Koshinaka defeats Owen Hart to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title in Osaka, Japan, beginning his third reign. Also at that event, Tatsumi Fujinami wins his second IWGP Heavyweight Title, defeating Riki Choshu.
1988 - Fabuloso Blondie defeats Lizmark for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
1989 - Chicky Starr defeats Super Medico I to win the WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico, to begin his third reign.
1990 - Los Villanos (I, IV and V) defeat Khaos, Rambo and Zandokhan to win the UWA World Trios Title in Mexico City, Mexico. This began and ended both teams' second reigns.
1992 - The Southern Rockers (Rex King and Steve Doll) defeat Doug Masters and Ron Starr for the WWC World Tag Team Title in Dorado, Puerto Rico, ending Masters and Starr's second reign.
1993 - SMW held the "King of Kentucky Tournament" at the Memorial Gym in Hazard, Kentucky. The results were:
- Brian Lee defeated Jimmy Golden by forfeit in a quarterfinal match.
- SMW Television Champion Bobby Blaze defeated Killer Kyle by disqualification in a quarterfinal match.
- The Dirty White Boy defeated Tim Horner in a quarterfinal match.
- SMW Heavyweight Champion Tracy Smothers defeated Chris Candido in a quarterfinal match.
- Brian Lee defeated SMW Television Champion Bobby Blaze in a semifinal match.
- SMW Heavyweight Champion Tracy Smothers defeated The Dirty White Boy in a semifinal match.
- Brian Lee defeated SMW Heavyweight Champion Tracy Smothers to win the King of Kentucky Tournament.
- SMW Tag Team Champions The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton) defeated The Harris Brothers (Ron and Don).
- The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray and Tom Prichard) defeated The Armstrong Brothers (Scott and Steve).
1994 - ECW held the first of six annual "Hostile City Showdown" events at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results were:
- Tommy Dreamer pinned Hack Myers.
- Chad Austin and Don E. Allen's match never got underway, as 911 attacked both men before it could begin.
- The Tazmaniac pinned Pitbull #1 in a dog collar match.
- The Bruise Brothers (Don and Ron Harris) defeated Shane Douglas and Mr. Hughes, when Hughes was pinned.
- Tommy Cairo defeated The Sandman by disqualification in a cane on a pole match.
- ECW Tag Team Champions The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) fought Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk to a no-contest to retain the title, after 911 chokeslammed the referee.
- ECW Television Champion Mikey Whipwreck defeated The Rockin' Rebel by disqualification to retain the title.
- Sabu (with Paul E. Dangerously and 911) pinned Cactus Jack after Paul E. hit Cactus with his cellphone.
1995 - The Fabulous Moolah, The Grand Wizard, Ernie Ladd, Pedro Morales, Ivan Putski, Antonino Rocca and George Steele are inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1995 - Tommy Cairo defeats Devon Storm in a tournament final for the vacant NWA North American Heavyweight Title in Williamstown, New Jersey.
1996 - WCW won this week of the Monday Night War, with Monday Nitro's 3.3 rating besting WWF Monday Night RAW's 2.7 rating.
WCW Monday Nitro was live from Independence Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. The results:
- Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) defeated The Blue Bloods (Lord Steven Regal and Squire David Taylor (with Earl Robert Eaton and Jeeves)).
- Kip Abee defeated Kevin Sullivan (with Jimmy Hart) by disqualification.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko defeated Bobby Walker to retain the title.
- Eddie Guerrero defeated The Barbarian.
- Arn Anderson and Chris Benoit (with Steve McMichael) defeated The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton).
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Alex Wright.
- Randy Savage (with Kevin Greene) defeated V.K. Wallstreet.
- Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray) defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions - WCW World Television Champion Lex Luger & Sting and The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott) in a three-way match to win the title.
- In a dark match after the show, Ric Flair (with Miss Elizabeth and Woman) defeated Randy Savage.
WWF Monday Night RAW was live from the Brown County Expo Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Dark matches:
- Barry Horowitz defeated Don Callis.
- The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated Mankind.
- The Ultimate Warrior defeated Vader (with Jim Cornette).
- WWF Champion Shawn Michaels defeated Goldust (with Marlena).
Televised matches:
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
- The Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip (with Kloudi)) defeated The Brooklyn Brawler and Jerry Fox.
- The British Bulldog, Owen Hart and Vader (with Jim Cornette and Diana Smith) defeated Barry Horowitz, Aldo Montoya and Savio Vega.
- The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated Steve Austin by disqualification.
1998 - WCW held a live Thunder at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida, which got a 2.7 rating on TBS.
- Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) defeated Raven and Sick Boy (with Lodi).
- Hugh Morrus (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Eddie Guerrero.
- Stevie Ray defeated Sumo Fuji.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho defeated Ultimo Dragon by disqualification to retain the title.
- Jim Duggan defeated The Barbarian.
- Chris Benoit and Steve McMichael defeated Disco Inferno and Alex Wright.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Lex Luger and Sting defeated Brian Adams and The Giant to retain the title.
1998 - PRIDE Fighting Championships held "PRIDE 3" at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. The results:
- Daijiro Matsui and Akira Shoji fought to a draw after four rounds.
- Daiju Takase defeated Emmanuel Yarborough by submission (strikes) at 3:22 of round two.
- Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Carlos Newton by submission (kneebar) at 5:19 of round two.
- Gary Goodridge defeated Amir Rahnavardi by knockout at 7:22 of round one.
- Mark Kerr defeated Pedro Otavio by submission (armlock) at 2:13 of round one.
- Nobuhiko Takada defeated Kyle Sturgeon by submission (heel hook) at 2:18 of round one.
1999 - WCW held a live Thunder at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, which got a 3.3 rating on TBS.
- Eddie Guerrero defeated Psychosis.
- Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn defeated Fit Finlay and Dave Taylor.
- Curt Hennig (with Bobby Duncum, Jr., Barry Windham and Kendall Windham) defeated Lenny Lane.
- David Flair (with Arn Anderson, Asya and Ric Flair) defeated Evan Karagias.
- Hugh Morrus (with Jimmy Hart) fought Van Hammer to a no-contest.
- Buff Bagwell and Dean Malenko defeated Randy Savage and Sid Vicious (with Gorgeous George, Miss Madness and Madusa).
2000 - Ian Rotten defeats Rollin' Hard in a Four Corners of Pain Salt match to win the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title. This began Rotten's seventh reign and ended Rollin' Hard's second.
2001 - The WWF held the ninth-annual "King of the Ring" pay-per-view at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The show got a 0.84 buyrate. The results:
- In a match airing on Sunday Night Heat, WWF European Champion Matt Hardy (with Lita) pinned Justin Credible after a hurricarana from Lita to retain the title.
- In a King of the Ring tournament semifinal, Kurt Angle pinned Christian after the Angle Slam.
- In the other semifinal, Edge pinned Rhyno after the Edgecutioner.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated Spike Dudley and Kane, when Bubba pinned Spike after a 3D, to retain the title.
- Edge pinned Kurt Angle after the Edgecutioner to win the King of the Ring tournament. During the match, Shane McMahon ran in and attacked Angle.
- WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy pinned X-Pac after a Swanton to retain the title.
- Kurt Angle pinned Shane McMahon in a street fight after an Angle Slam from a piece of plywood placed over the top turnbuckle.
- WWF Champion Steve Austin defeated Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho in a triple threat match, after Austin pinned Benoit after Benoit hit a back suplex on Jericho off the top rope, to retain the title. During the match, WCW Champion Booker T made his WWF debut by attacking Austin and putting him through the Spanish announce table.
2001 - Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeats Juventud Guerrera in a tournament final for the vacant NOAH GHC Junior Heavyweight Title in Nagoya, Japan.
2001 - Double C (Claudio Castagnoli) defeats Ares and The Scorpion in a three-way tournament final in Sulgen, Switzerland to win the vacant Swiss Wrestling Federation Powerhouse Title.
2001 - Kazumasa Nihei defeats MMM for the DDT Ironman Heavymetalweight Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending MMM's fifth reign.
2002 - WWE held a live RAW at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, which got a 3.7 rating on TNN. The results:
- Christopher Nowinski and WWE European Champion William Regal defeated Spike Dudley and WWE Hardcore Champion Bradshaw, when Nowinski pinned Bradshaw with a roll-up after throwing Spike to the floor.
- Eddie Guerrero pinned Bubba Ray Dudley with a hurricanrana into a roll-up.
- Tommy Dreamer pinned Raven after a Death Valley driver. With the loss, Raven had to leave RAW.
- WWE Undisputed Champion The Undertaker pinned Jeff Hardy after the Last Ride.
- Linda Miles and Trish Stratus defeated Jackie Gayda and WWE Women's Champion Molly Holly, when Trish pinned Molly after a bulldog.
- The Big Show and X-Pac defeated Booker T and Goldust, when Show pinned Goldust after a chokeslam.
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam defeated Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) by disqualification, when Heyman broke the pinfall after the champion hit a moonsault.
Tim Whitehead filed the following Raw report:
The 6/24 episode of RAW IS RUTHLESS AGGRESSION aired live from Cleveland. It had its good and bad points, but the former outnumbered the latter and the show built to a good climax. It's going to be a long rebuilding process, and it remains to be seen whether the brand split can survive with the number of wrestlers who are truly over so few on each roster.
The show opened with much of the RAW roster surrounding the ring. Both Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler wondered aloud what they were all doing out there. It was most of the RAW crew, though conspicuous by their absence were reigning champ Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Ric Flair (not on the show at all), and the entire NWO. Vince McMahon came out and got in the ring. He had called all these wrestlers out so he could give an address. Vince boasted about his success and said that every superstar in the WWE has at one time or another asked how he reached such heights. He said the biggest single reason for his rise to the top was that he has always possessed "ruthless aggression". Vince asserted that many years ago he decided to challenge every other promoter in North America, and he kicked their asses, not because he's an a**hole (as the crowd was chanting), but because of ruthless aggression. Actually, some might say they're the same thing, but let's continue. Vince said that in a court of law he took on the United States and kicked the country's ass because of his ruthless aggression. Well, a better way to put it would be that the U.S. government took Vince on and lost via count out. He next challenged WCW and, though it took him a while, he drove them into the ground and ended up owning the company because of ruthless aggression. I thought Shane owned the company. On the other hand, I'd just as soon forget that storyline as well. The point of all this was that Vince was trying to motivate the roster. He asked them all if they have the ruthless aggression to rise to the top, to reach for the stars as never before, and to make the sacrifices necessary to be a success in the WWE. He promised to find out who among them has what it takes. He said that Lesnar, who I guess wasn't brought out there since he already met the criteria, certainly has proven to possess ruthless aggression. He praised Lesnar for winning the King of the Ring tournament and for not caring what he had to do to achieve that goal. Vince got in Rob Van Dam's face and sarcastically asked him if that bothers him. Vince then noted Bubba Ray Dudley's interference in the Ric Flair vs. Eddie Guerrero match at the PPV. He asked Bubba if he'd like to take that aggression a step further and face Guerrero in a match. Bubba accepted the challenge. Next, Vince turned to Jeff Hardy, sneeringly calling him "Mr. Extreme". He said Jeff had been "buzzing" around Undertaker for the past few weeks, and set up a Jeff vs. UT match with Matt Hardy barred from ringside. Vince then went off again on the whole crew, demanding to know who is willing to rise up to be the next superstar. He said if they aren't hungry to rise to the top, then he doesn't want them on his roster. At this point, the NWO came out on the ramp top. Shawn Michaels "apologized" for being late. He said that the term "ruthless aggression" personifies the NWO and that they're the top group in the business. Heartbreak Kid then buried the guys around the ring, telling Vince that the NWO will be glad to take out all that trash. Kevin Nash implied that the guys around the ring need to headline a couple of Wrestlemanias to be taken seriously. This prompted Booker T to go in the ring, grab the mic from Vince, and say, "NWO has got to go, they ain't stars, they just blow". Goldust went in and said no two guys are tighter than he and Booker, and that they're "homies" and are practically married to one another. Booker didn't appreciate the married part. Booker told Vince he'll take on any NWO guy. Vince said it won't be HBK, calling him an icon who has proven to have the quality of ruthless aggression. Well, if you want to call it that. He also said it won't be Nash, since he's injured. Vince then told Nash if he doesn't perform up to par when he returns to action, he'll be in the unemployment line with his friend Scott Hall. Actually, Hall isn't unemployed since he's working for NWA-TNA, but obviously that wasn't going to be mentioned. Nash flipped Vince off. Vince ended up setting up a Booker & Goldust vs. Big Show & X-Pac match. He banned HBK & Nash from ringside. Booker, who kept grabbing the mic from Vince, said he can dig it, sucka, and did a spinaroonie. The segment was entertaining but it came off too much like one of those WCW re-starts where they would desperately try to begin anew with a clean slate.
William Regal & Christopher Nowinski defeated Bradshaw & Spike Dudley in 2:48. Lawler had a Harvard yearbook with Nowinski's photo in it. He asked JR if he knew anyone who went to Harvard and he said the Kennedys. That includes Teddy, who got expelled from there for hiring someone to take a Spanish test for him. The bell rang and Spike got tossed around. Bradshaw came in and cleaned house. He lariated Regal but Nowinski cradled him from behind and won with a handful of tights. I guess he was paying close attention at the PPV since the Undisputed Title and women's title matches had that same ending. Nowinski quickly got out of there to avoid Bradshaw's wrath, and JR predicted he may soon face his own Chappaquiddick.
Vince told Sgt. Slaughter that he wants to get rid of some of the guys on the roster who aren't performing well. He brought up Raven and Tommy Dreamer as an example, saying they used to be stars in ECW, another company he put out of business, but aren't stars anymore. He set up a match between them with the loser never again to appear on RAW. Vince then entered his office and found Jackie Gayda there, wearing an overcoat. She told Vince she loved his speech and wanted to show him how much she loves the business and how much he inspires her. Vince gave her an opportunity to prove herself by setting up a match where she would team with Molly Holly against Trish Stratus & Linda Miles. She then took the coat off, displaying her boobs, barely contained by her bra. Vince drooled over them, but he was rudely interrupted by Undertaker. UT was pissed that Rock interfered in his title defense against Triple H at the PPV and almost cost him the match. He wanted to fight Rock, but Vince said Rock wasn't there since he's a Smackdown guy, and that Rock was only on RAW last week because he showed up uninvited. Vince told UT to pretend Jeff Hardy is Rock, and to take out his frustrations on him. UT vowed to make Jeff famous.
Eddie Guerrero defeated Bubba Ray Dudley in 0:59. Bubba came out first and set up a table, promising that someone would go through it. Guerrero was interviewed by Terri before coming out. He acted angry and said that he's the best wrestler in the company, so tables don't intimidate him. He yelled at Terri for interrupting him. Not much to the match. Bubba did his Dusty stuff but Guerrero quickly rolled him up for the pin. Guerrero then brought in the table and was going to put Bubba through it, but Bubba ended up putting Guerrero through it. Chris Benoit ran in and put the Crippler Crossface on Bubba and he was left laying. They need to give Benoit & Guerrero a major program.
They aired a promo for a new unidentified masked wrestler (it'll be Rey Mysterio, Jr.). It was a good promo, with the words "He's Coming" appearing on the screen.
Goldust did a hilarious segment where he played the part of the Crocodile Hunter, complete with Australian accent and the hunting outfit. He was outside the NWO locker room. He warned that the NWO travel in packs and can be quite scary. He entered the room and found Big Show asleep. He identified him as a Giant Sleeping Showpopotomous and said they are enormous and smell terrible. X-Pac came out of the bathroom and Goldust called him a Bandana-Wearing Grease Rat, warning everyone to be careful around them as they tend to suck. X-Pac chased Goldust off. Big Show, dreaming and talking in his sleep, mumbled "cheeseburger".
Jeff Hardy told brother Matt that he was going to become a star against Undertaker, or die trying. Lawler said that might be prophetic.
X-Pac chased Goldust down a hallway, but Booker T was waiting behind a door and clocked X-Pac hard with a garbage can lid. Booker called the downed X-Pac a "kangaroo koala jive wombat", and said X-Pac's gonna go down under tonight, sucka! Booker now gets a good pop every time he says "sucka". This whole Crocodile Hunter skit was awesome!
Tommy Dreamer beat Raven in 2:22. For a match with such high stakes it was pretty non-descript. Vince posted security guys around the ring the eject the loser from the arena. Lawler said McDonald's is probably hiring, for the benefit of the loser. JR suggested Subway, since, after all, they're a sponsor. Anyway, they wrestled a couple of minutes and Dreamer won with the Death Valley Driver. Security led the frustrated Raven out and ejected him into the parking lot. And as if his luck wasn't bad enough, Raven was then attacked and beaten up by Matt Hardy. Raven was left laying on the hood of his car.
Hour two began with the supposed King of the Ring coronation ceremony for Brock Lesnar. I say "supposed" because there was no throne, crown, scepter, trophy, certificate, or anything else out there. At least Lawler could have loaned them a crown & scepter, you'd think. JR was in the ring with Paul Heyman to start things off. Heyman took full credit for the idea that the King of the Ring winner would get a world title shot at SummerSlam (the idea he promised to Vince last week when they agreed to do business). JR put over Lesnar's legit credentials (NCAA champ, etc.). Heyman called Lesnar out. He said Lesnar is the answer to Vince's earlier challenge regarding ruthless aggression. He said no one has more of an obsession, craving, compulsion, etc. to succeed than Lesnar. He asked the fans to put their envy aside for long enough to applaud the 2002 King of the Ring. There was a mixture of applause and boos. RVD then came out of nowhere and attacked Brock from behind. A series of kicks sent Lesnar out to the floor, where Heyman did the usual routine of holding Lesnar back.
Heyman went to Vince's office and was furious over RVD's assault. He said Lesnar couldn't wait for SummerSlam to get a title shot, and demanded an IC shot against RVD for tonight. Vince asked Brock if he has what it takes to win the Undisputed Title at SummerSlam and the IC Title right there on RAW. Both times Brock acted like he was going to answer but Heyman cut him off by answering "yes" for him. So Vince set up the RVD vs. Lesnar IC Title match. Heyman thanked Vince over and over.
Undertaker squashed Jeff Hardy in a non-title match in 2:40. Jeff came out looking like a card-carrying member of the United Brotherhood of Weirdos, Local 312. Footage aired of all the recent UT vs. Jeff altercations. As UT came out, JR & Lawler mentioned that Triple H will be having elbow surgery this week. UT pounded Jeff. Jeff hit a plancha, but UT caught him and chokeslammed him when he did his rail run. UT won with the last ride. As UT was leaving on his motorcycle, Jeff got on the mic and admitted that UT has kicked his ass week after week, but then demanded a ladder match next week with the title on the line. UT shrugged and accepted the challenge. Good grief!
Trish Stratus & Linda Miles beat Molly Holly & Jackie Gayda in 4:44. Linda has mysteriously become a RAW competitor. Molly boasted about winning the women's title, saying it's now held by someone with dignity, not some sleazy tramp who slept her way to the top. Trish said she worked hard to become champ and accused Molly of cheating, and of having a fat ass. The heel team got heat on Linda. Trish gave Jackie a huracanrana. Linda threw Jackie out and Trish pinned Molly with the stratusfaction. The Tough Enough 2 gals have been thrown into the spotlight very fast, and have done okay considering the circumstances.
Lawler was reading the new RAW magazine with Torrie Wilson on the cover. He had that lustful look on his face, as if he was looking at the sexy photos of her inside, but it turned out he was reading an article about himself.
Jonathan Coachman asked RVD about his upcoming match against Lesnar. He said he doesn't need Mr. McMahon's motivation since he's RVD. Heyman & Brock arrived. Heyman called RVD a son of a bitch and said he was the one who made RVD a star. Heyman just kept going on and on like he always does, but suddenly Lesnar said, "Shut up, Paul!" Heyman looked shocked that Lesnar had spoken for the first time in public. Lesnar then said to RVD, "Tonight I'm gonna show you the meaning of ruthless aggression". Good angle for Brock to speak up like that.
HBK & Nash gave Big Show & X-Pac a pep talk. Nash went off on them, doing the hardcore motivation gimmick of threatening to kick their asses should they fail to beat Booker & Goldust.
Giant Sleeping Showpopotomous & Bandana-Wearing Grease Rat beat Booker & Goldust in 9:49. Show overpowered Booker early. Booker came back with chops but Show sideslammed him. X-Pac came in and Booker downed him in the corner. Goldust had way too much fun doing a bronco on him. Show headbutted Goldust and they doubled on him in the NWO corner. X-Pac went for a bronco but got crotched. Show then accidentally lariated X-Pac. Booker hit some kicks on Show and did the spinaroonie. He and Goldust double suplexed Show. Goldust attempted to deliver shattered dreams but Show caught him and chokeslammed him for the pin. Pretty good TV match! HBK & Nash were pleased watching on a monitor backstage.
RVD beat Lesnar by DQ to retain the IC Title in 9:48. Lesnar shouldered RVD into the corner and hit a lariat. RVD hit some kicks and a huracanrana that sent Lesnar out, where RVD then did a plancha. But Lesnar caught RVD in mid-air and posted him. Lesnar threw some mean suplexes. Heyman looked confident at ringside. RVD came back and scored some twos with kicks and the rolling thunder. Heyman tripped RVD, but RVD still hit a thrust kick off the top. RVD went up for the frog splash but Heyman held him long enough for Brock to recover. Lesnar went for the F5. RVD managed to escape the move and nail Lesnar with kicks and a split-leg moonsault. RVD covered Lesnar for a pin attempt which Heyman broke up with a run-in. The ref DQ'ed Lesnar, which was lame, but they were in a box since for future business purposes neither could really do a clean job here. Still, it was a good match, Lesnar's best bout so far, and it was good to see two younger guys in the main event. Afterward, Heyman threw a chair to Brock but RVD hit him with a Van Daminator. RVD chased Heyman and put him down with kicks before nailing him with the frog splash. Lesnar recovered and powerbombed RVD on the floor. He then powerbombed him through the announcers' desk to end the show on an interesting note.
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS:
Remember the time Vince used ruthless aggression to challenge the NFL, and kicked their asses?
Remember the time Vince challenged the World Wildlife Fund over the WWF initials, and kicked their asses?
Remember the time Vince vowed to make bodybuilding into a PPV success, and kicked the muscle establishment's collective asses?
What do you mean you don't remember those things?
Since when are cowboy hats and baseball caps proper attire to wear to a coronation ceremony?
Whatever happened to the 24/7 rule?
Did you appreciate the lack of "whats" this week?
Aren't Booker & Goldust a laugh riot?
Prior to Raw, WWE held the following matches:
Dark matches:
- Steven Richards and Crash Holly defeated The Island Boys.
- Mike Sanders and Jason Sugarman defeated Steve Bradley & B.J. Payne.
Heat matches:
- Eddie Guerrero defeated Spike Dudley.
- Raven defeated Matt Hardy (so I guess he is only off the Raw show, not the Raw brand).
- Tommy Dreamer defeated Johnny Strumboli (Johnny Da Bull) by disqualification.
- Sean O'Haire defeated Justin Credible.
2002 - WWE's Smackdown brand ran the Mark of the Quad-Cities. Albert Gourrier sent the following live report:
Can't say this was a sold out show. Only the bottom portion of the bowl was full for this as to be expected running opposite a televised show following a PPV. In no way does this say the show was bad though. Many changes to the card occurred from what was previously posted, due to injuries and such, so without further adieu, here are the result of the show.
1: Jamie Noble (with Nidia) retained his newly won WWE Cruiserweight title over the Hurricane. End saw Hurricane trying to suplex Noble over the top rope, Nidia pulled the Hurricane's leg out from under him and held it down while Noble got the pin. Afterwards, the Hurricane chokeslammed Nidia.
2.Start of a two match "Who are these people" contests. Christian & Albert got the win over the Shane twins (I think this is what the announcer said). Big "Christian Sucks" chant at the start. Christian got on the mic and said if the crowd persisted with the "Christian Sucks" chant he'd send Albert up to beat up everyone. Greta work from whoever they were facing. Finish came when the ref was distracted and Albert put the big boot to the head of one of the members of the opposing team and Christian getting the pin.
3. 2nd "Who are these people" (Only stated because this is what the people behind me were saying when they got announced). DVon (w/ Deacon Bautista) got the win over Shelton Benjamin. During the match, DVon went for a dropkick that missed by a mile and Shelton sold it as if it did, always funny to see that. Yet another "ref gets distracted" endings when the Deacon came in and attacked Shelton leading to a pin by DVon for the win. (What made the match even more entertaining was a woman at ringside who really spoke her mind, someone in WWE should sign her)
4. Big surprise match #1 as Billy Kidman and a WWE debuting Rey Mysterio, Jr. (with mask and why he's wearing a mask when we all know what he looks like by now is a boggle to me) won over Tajiri & Chavo Guerrero, Jr.. Excellent match that could have gone either way. Almost all the classic spots were hit...the FrankenMysterio, the Tarantula, no mist or Shooting Star Press though. Kidman got the pin on Guerrero, don't ask me what led to it as someone in front of me found that moment to be the one to stand up at that time.
5. Billy & Chuck retained the WWE tag team titles over Faarooq & Randy Orton, Randy Orton provided all the offense for his team. Once Faarooq got in, he was hit in the back of the head with a title belt at the hands of Rico. He got pinned...match over.
6. Hardcore Holly was the face in a match with Test. Unfortunately, he wasn't the winner. as Test scores the win after his big boot.
Intermission time
Local radio station Q106.5 had a contest with winners getting to have dinner with Kurt Angle. The only price they had to pay was their hair. People who looked liked their hair had been growing for years had it all taken off. Back to action:
7.Lance Storm came out and told of the prejudice people had against the Canadian people. He also said that they had an odd number of guys there so he was out of a match and demanded one that night. All of the sudden, the familiar Rob Zombie song "Never Gonna Stop" hits and lo and behold Edge is actually making an appearance tonight.. Almost a quick match. During it, Christian comes down to distract Edge and gets on the apron. Lance goes to talk to him, Edge bounces off the ropes to spear Lance but spears Christian instead and then shortly afterwards spears Lance and gets the win. Very surprising as Edge was taken of the card previously. Very much worth it.
8. The Big Valbowski got a win over the self proclaimed "King of the Ring and king of the world' Chris Jericho. (This was supposed to be HHH vs. Jericho) As Jericho came to the ring, someone spat on him. That person was not around to enjoy the rest of the night though as he got ejected. A missed Lionsault by Jericho in the match was the start of his downfall. He then went for the Walls but Val got out of it. Jericho went for some move off the ropes but wound up hitting the ref. Val then his the Valbowski bomb, but not the pin as the ref was still out. Jericho got outside the ring and got a chair and proceeded to hit Val with it. Edge then came out to make the save by spearing Y2J and then hitting the Edgecution DDT on him. Val then climbed to the top rope, hit his splash and got the pinfall.
9. In a match that rivals the classic Megumi Kudo/Combat Toyoda or the classic Madusa/Akira Hokuto blockbusters (yes, I'm being sarcastic) we got to a Bra and Panties match between Stacy Keibler & Torrie Wilson. Before the match, special guest ring announcer, Dawn Marie comes out and says how thrilled she is to be in Moline, Illinois (pronounced as Illi-noise) and then introducing Vince McMahon's soon to be ex-assistant, Stacy. Ivory was the special ref for this one. Very, very short match as Torrie gets the win (?) over Stacy. Afterwards, Ivory attacked Torrie but to no avail.
10. Main Event time.(This was supposed to be Edge vs Angle) Rikishi got the win over Kurt Angle. Great matchup between these two. Before the match, Angle spoke of his match at King of the Ring where he said he had compassion for Hogan and let go of the lock, however, Rikishi wouldn't be so lucky tonight after he snapped his ankle. During the match, Rikishi hit a monstrous GAOI Belly-to-belly suplex (inside reference here). Rikishi kept going for the wig, until he got mulekicked by Angle. As the match came to a close, Angle was whipped into the corner and was corner charged by Rikishi. Afterwards, Kishi went for his Banzai drop for the pin, however they were too close to the ropes and Angle grabbed for them. Angle then got up and clipped Angle and went for his Anglelock which he had on til Kishi grabbed the ropes. Kishi started to get up and Angle was ready to put his Angleslam on him but Kishi went up and over. Kishi then proceeded to put Angle in the Kishi Driver, Angle fought it, but Kishi cinched it in, hit it, and pinned Angle. Match over, yes, action over, no. Angle then went to beat up on Kishi but was then thrown into the ropes, charged at, and Kishi hit the Stinkface. Not done yet as Kishi was on the outside, Angle went after him, brought him back in, proceeded to throw Kishi into the corner and buttcharged him. Angle then tried to put his own Stinkface on Kishi but to no avail as Kishi lowblowed him from behind and then ripped the wig off. Angle then ran off. Afterwards, Kishi put the wig and headpiece on the ref and they danced, wrapping up the night.
Overall, this was a very good show and looking forward to the next time they come. Show started off slow but in the end it was very, very worth it! Catch a WWE show when it comes to an arena near you.
2005 - Rebecca Knox, the future Becky Lynch, defeats Miss Chevius in Surrey, British Columbia to become the first NWA/ECCW SuperGirls Champion.
2005 - Pro Wrestling Unplugged held an eight-man tournament to crown the first PWU Heavyweight Champion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Animal House. The results:
- Nick Berk defeated Tom Carter in a first round match.
- Homicide defeated Sonny Siaki in a first round match.
- Trent Acid defeated Elix Skipper in a first round match.
- Mana defeated Abyss by disqualification in a first round match.
- PWU Tag Team Champions Scott Cardinal and Jerk Jackson defeated Up in Smoke (Cheech and Cloudy) to retain the title.
- Trent Acid defeated Mana in a semifinal match.
- Homicide defeated Nick Berk in a semifinal match.
- Corporal Robinson defeated Brandon Prophet in a Philly hardcore rules match. Billy Reil was the guest referee.
- Homicide defeated Trent Acid to become the first PWU Heavyweight Champion.
2005 - Pain, Inc. (Ruffneck and Sabotage) defeated T2K (Darkside and Wolfgang) in Kilmarnock, Scotland to win the British Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title, ending T2K's second reign.
2006 - Mike Johnson filed the following report: World Wrestling Entertainment's version of Extreme Championship Wrestling ran their first house show last in the very venue that gave birth to the initial ECW revolution, the ECW Arena in South Philadelphia, PA. By WWE standards, it wasn't a bad show, but if fans compared it to the old ECW (or even recent events in the venue, such as TNA's Hardcore War) they were likely left feeling unsatisfied. The thing to remember though, is that WWE isn't playing to the hardcore fans. They want ECW to be something for the masses. Last night's audience didn't seem to want that, they wanted the closure and celebration that the Hammerstein Ballroom got in 2005.
If WWE was looking to send a message to those fans wanting nostalgia that they weren't going to get it from the new ECW, it was loud and clear. Last night's show was a pure WWE production, with a WWE ring, mats around ringside (and lots of room around ringside, taking away from some of the old intimacy of the venue), and even the pre-announced message regarding WWE's proprietary rights. Fans drowned out the announcement with a "F*** you Vince" chant.
None of the old ECW ring announcers were used. Justin Roberts, who will be doing all ECW events from this point on, was booed out of the building by an audience that saw him as a symbol of WWE. The Harry Slash ECW theme was only used for Paul Heyman, while the "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" song was used to open the show.
The show started at 7:30 PM on the dot and the final match ended at exactly 9:57 PM, including an intermission and a 15 minute speech by Paul Heyman. It was structured like a WWE house show, because, no matter what the initials are and the best hopes of the fans going in, that's what it was and was always going to be. In a baffling move, WWE didn't bring a full camera set up to record the show, but did have one staffer shooting ringside footage that will likely be edited into a package for the next ECW on Sci Fi episode.
The FBI (Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke) defeated Danny Doring and Roadkill in 7:17. A good opener with the FBI playing babyface. Mamaluke hugged famous ECW fan "Hat Guy" John Bailey when he came out. Fans didn't know who were the babyfaces when the match started, but finally figured it out when Guido got a hot tag a few minutes into the match. Mamaluke did a flip senton to the floor on Doring. After Doring recovered, he held Mamaluke for Roadkill, who was on the top rope preparing to splash Guido. Roadkill then dove off the top to the floor, but Mamaluke moved and Roadkill splattered Doring. Mamaluke scored the pin on Roadkill with a DDT.
CM Punk forced Stevie Richards to tap out to The Anaconda Vice in 9:31. From the look on his face and how hard he worked, Richards was really excited to be in the Arena and even did the old Big Stevie Cool pose before the match. Punk came out to his old ROH theme song and the fans were chanting his name. They had a really good competitive match which included Punk applying a unique submission while Richards was in the ropes. They even teased the Pepsi Plunge but Richards backdropped him off the top into the ring. Richards drilled Punk with one hell of a Steviekick. Punk finally forced Richards to tap out. After the match, Richards and Punk shook hands and Richards told him to stay in the ring, because he had earned it, then left. Punk stood over the ECW letters on the mat and read them out loud before smirking and acknowledging the fans. If you were a fan of Punk, it was a cool moment. One of the better matches on the show. Punk appeared to be bleeding from his ear after the match, but not sure what caused the cut.
They then held an Extreme Bikini contest. The crowd didn't know what to make of this one at all. The contestants were Francine, Trinity, and Kelly. Francine won simply because the crowd loved her as she was ECW to them and the others were outsiders. Kelly looked as if she was having problems walking in the ring wearing heels. After Francine won, Kelly got in her face and was shoved down. I think Kelly was legitimately shaken by the bump given the way she was out. Francine and Trinity then got in each other's face, teased a catfight and gave the fans what they wanted. The crowd liked that. Francine ended up on the floor. Trinity went to the top and hit a big moonsault to the floor, but Francine had already rolled in the ring, "outsmarting her." Francine then grabbed Kelly and began choking her. Kelly wasn't selling at all and was completely exposed as being what she is, a really young kid who's probably not ready for this. Francine asked the crowd if they wanted her to take off Kelly's top, but Mike Knox hit the ring and covered her up. He knocked Francine to the mat.
Balls Mahoney's music hit and he made the save. This started an immediate match. Mahoney and Knox were both trying but the crowd had no interest in watching Knox wrestle and crapped all over him since they didn't know who he was. They finally got into yelling "Balls" for Mahoney's punches. Mahoney went to grab his chair but the referee Mike Posey took it away. The entire crowd deflated when that happened. Mahoney finally got it and swung, but missed and Knox rolled him up and hooked the tights for the pin at 8:39. The crowd hated the finish and didn't buy it at all.
Sabu defeated CW Anderson by submission with the Camel Clutch at 9:17. No music for Sabu's entrance. Sabu was busted open hardway at some point. They worked a lot on the mat early and brawled around ringside. Sabu tied Anderson's arm up around a ringpost and threw a chair at it. Sabu went to get a table but one of the legs were busted, so it ended up set up at a 45 degree angle. He put Anderson on it and hit an Arabian Facebuster through it while Anderson was facedown. He then locked Anderson in the clutch for the finish. The match was OK but a lot shorter than anyone would have expected with these two. Fans applauded both after the match out of respect.
WWE announced it was time for intermission. The crowd seemed pretty taken aback by that. During intermission, several WWE staffers were working hard to clean up any trace of blood in the ring.
When we returned from intermission, The Sandman pinned Justin Credible in a Dueling Canes match with the White Russian Legsweep in just 2:39. Credible came out to his old ECW music while Sandman came out to his WWE theme. The crowd popped for him, but it was in a subdued way as it was obvious they wanted the "Enter Sandman" entrance they've been accustomed to all these years. Sandman did his entrance around the building, but it was like watching a live version of a Sandman entrance on DVD with the music edited out. The flavor is totally lost. Some fans chanted, "F*** that song" during the ring introductions. The match being so short turned a portion of the crowd on the show, as they began chanting, "This show sucks."
Paul Heyman came out. He got a big pop. He was going to speak, then dropped the mic and ran out of the ring to hug "Hat Guy." When he returned, Heyman said, "On a shoot, I don't care what losers and wannabes and porno rejects have run here. I have been dying for five years to say we are home in the ECW Arena!" The crowd popped and chanted, "Welcome back." Heyman welcomed them back as well. Heyman put over the ECW fans and pointed out the Ted "Rocco Rock" Petty banner hanging in the venue, saying that he misses Petty and thanks him. He said that he thanks everyone who was part of ECW and can't be here, whether it's The Public Enemy, Shane Douglas, or the Dudley Boyz.
Heyman said that they had to make some compromises, but the bottom line is ECW is back. Some of the fans chanted "This show sucks." Heyman kept trying to win them back over, first by insulting Justin Roberts and then by insulting a John Cena fan who was being vocal. He said that they had to make compromises like the "dancer on Sci Fi" and Sandman's music, but in the end they will overcome them anyway. Fans rejected it somewhat and Heyman asked them, "If you had to give your left nut to bring back ECW, wouldn't you do it?"
Heyman pushed the July 4th event at the Wachovia Center. The crowd turned on that in a big way, rejecting it. Heyman tried to get across that they needed all the ECW fans to come and show the ECW atmosphere like the Hammerstein fans did, or else ECW would never get it's own taping. He pushed that he didn't care about Raw or Smackdown and buried them to try and get the fans behind him.
There were two reactions from the crowd. Those who loved it and those who were trying to shout Heyman down. To me, this was the most interesting part of the show in many ways as you had the old ECW fans continuing to rebel against the machine, only now Paul Heyman was part of the machine. Watching Heyman trying to maneuver to win over the fans was really something. It was surreal to watch fans yelling, "Sellout" at Heyman.
Heyman then gave a big introduction to someone he described as breaking his neck and back for ECW and who never sold out for anyone, Tommy Dreamer. Dreamer received the biggest pop of the night at this point and looked like he had never been happier in his life when he came out. He gave a speech saying that earlier today, he thought he was going to miss the show as one of his daughters had fallen and gotten hurt, describing her head as "blowing up like JT Smith's." Once they took her to the the hospital and were given the all clear sign, Beulah had told him to go to the show. When he said he would stay, she told him it was the Arena and he had to go.
Dreamer broke down saying how much it meant to him and his family to be back in that building when his wife is pushing him to go to the Arena after a family emergency. He said that the building, the wrestlers, and the fans were a true family and together they had raised the bar for the entire wrestling industry. Dreamer said that they would continue to do so for the new ECW because now they had to work even harder because WWE didn't believe the ECW guys were true top names. He even said that he got Balls Mahoney a job and asked the crowd, "Would you be willing to hire Balls Mahoney where you work?" He said that he may have never wrestled a match at Wrestlemania, but he main evented the ECW Arena and that was as important. The crowd loved that line. Dreamer said that the building was the litmus test and that if you could get over here, you could get over anywhere. He then called out The Big Show.
Big Show pinned Tommy Dreamer with a chokeslam through a table at 10:20 . They brawled around ringside. Big Show gave Dreamer an atomic drop onto the guard rail and they fought into the crowd. Show slammed Dreamer's head into the wall and they brawled into the bleachers. Show choked Dreamer by lifting him into the air against a wall. Dreamer kicked him low to break it and they brawled back into the ringside area. Dreamer set up a table on the floor but Show pressed and dropped him through it from the ring. He covered Dreamer on the floor but Dreamer kicked out. Dreamer got the big babyface comeback and they did some plunder, including a Stop Sign. Dreamer went to hit the Spicoli Driver through a table but couldn't lift Show. Show chokeslammed him for the pin. The crowd was behind everything that Dreamer did. They absolutely rejected and hated Big Show including "Don't Come Back" and "You can't wrestle" chant. Dreamer got a nice ovation as he left, doing a lap around ringside. He took off his shirt and gave it to "Hat Guy."
The main event was WWE/ECW champion Rob Van Dam pinning Kurt Angle with a five star frog splash. Former ECW World Television and World Tag Team champion Dean Malenko, who was working backstage as an agent, was the special referee. He got a big pop when he was announced. Surprisingly, Angle didn't get a big pop. Van Dam was greeted like the great Homecoming had taken place, blowing every other response out of the water. They had a good match, especially considering it was the night before the Vengeance PPV. The crowd was split in a big way with 50% chanting "Let's go Angle" and the other half chanting "F*** You Angle."
RVD did the skateboard on the chair into the corner on Angle and also did the monkey flip onto the chair, although Angle overshot the chair and missed it. The final sequence saw Angle go to hit RVD with a chair but instead hit the ropes and clobber himself. As he turned, Van Dam hit the Van Daminator and then the frog splash in 16:40. Van Dam did a speech after the match saying how much ECW being brought back meant to him and that it has rejuvenated his spirit and career.
If you were an old school ECW fan that lived and died for the company and felt like you rode that roller coaster of triumph and setback, you probably walked out feeling let down. There were quite enough fans who rejected the show vocally, although it wasn't all of them. There were some just happy to be there at a show with the ECW letters. If you went into the show knowing it was a WWE house show, you got what you were expecting.
The interesting thing to follow will be whether ECW's other markets follow suit in the makeup of the audience. Will it be fans who want their old ECW and don't find it, and if they don't, do they stick around? Will it be WWE fans that will follow ECW because it's something new and different to follow? Can WWE find the perfect mesh of a product that will serve both demographics? To me, those are the questions raised by the house show. It will be interesting to continue to follow the evolution of this new version of a company that everyone wanted to see succeed and deep down, still does.
BACKSTAGE REACTION FROM ECW'S RETURN TO THE BUILDING THAT PUT THE LETTERS ON THE MAP
While some of the fans may not have left last night's Extreme Championship Wrestling house show in Philadelphia with their hopes fulfilled, nearly every member of the old ECW roster that worked the show were all said to have been touched by the reactions they received from the old faithful. Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, and Francine were said to have been especially moved backstage by the reactions they got from the fans. Stevie Richards was telling a number of people backstage after his match that he felt reborn from the crowd reaction.
As for the ECW newcomers, Big Show loved the response he got and was said to have enjoyed himself. Kurt Angle, making his in-ring debut in the venue, was said to have a blast working in the environment. A second source, however, noted that Angle pretty much kept to himself after the match and didn't really interact with the locker room. That was partially due to Angle arriving late at the venue, so he was around the locker room much less then everyone else booked.
In regard to WWE developmental talents being brought into ECW, CM Punk kept to himself in the locker room and spent most of his time watching the rest of the show, although the feeling was he fit into the locker room. Mike Knox spent the majority of his time backstage watching the matches, but didn't really interact with anyone. The feeling among some I spoke to was that Kelly was in way over her head in front of that audience as she had no frame of reference and no background in wrestling.
Paul Heyman was said to have been happy with the reaction from the fans, and predicted to several backstage there would be dissenters in the crowd, according to two sources.
There was no "rah rah" speeches from Paul Heyman before the show addressing the locker room. Dean Malenko spoke to the wrestlers before the show, instructing them not to do anything over the rails or involving blood without getting clearance from the agents and to not take any undue risks.
WWE agent Steve Keirn sat at ringside taking notes on the show.
2006 - ROH held "Chi-Town Struggle" at the Frontier Fieldhouse in Chicago Ridge, Illinois. The results were:
- The Irish Airborne (Dave and Jake Crist) defeated Trik Davis and Shane Hagadorn.
- ROH Tag Team Champion Roderick Strong defeated Jimmy Jacobs.
- The Briscoes (Jay and Mark) defeated Conrad Kennedy III and Jimmy Rave.
- Samoa Joe defeated Delirious.
- Claudio Castagnoli, Necro Butcher and Nate Webb defeated Adam Pearce, Ace Steel and B.J. Whitmer in a bunkhouse brawl.
- ROH Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness defeated Homicide by countout to retain the title.
- KENTA defeated ROH Tag Team Champion Austin Aries.
- ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson defeated Colt Cabana to retain the title.
2006 - Manabu Nakanishi and Takao Omori defeat Ryouji Sai and Kohei Sato for the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending their second reign.
2006 - The WWC held the second and final event of its second-annual Bruiser Brody Cup tour at the Pepín Cestero Arena in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The results:
- WWC Junior Heavyweight Champion Brent Dail defeated Superstar Romeo to retain the title.
- Black Rose defeated WWC Women's Champion Lady Demonique to win the title. Stacey Colón was the guest referee.
- Huracán Castillo and Chicky Starr defeated WWC World Tag Team Champions Tim Arson and Rico Suave by disqualification. Arson and Suave retained the title.
- Alex Montalvo defeated WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Champion El Bronco to win the title.
- Eddie Colón defeated Orlando Jordan.
- Shane defeated Black Pain by disqualification. Carlos Colón was the guest referee. Due to the disqualification, the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title remained vacant.
- Abdullah the Butcher defeated Abbad in a bloodfest match.
- Abbad won the Bruiser Brody Cup battle royal.
2006 - The All Pro Wrestling-affiliated ChickFight held "ChickFight V" at Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco, California. The results were:
- Cheerleader Melissa defeated Tanny Mouse in a ChickFight tournament first round match.
- Yoshiko Tamura defeated Allison Danger in a ChickFight tournament first round match.
- MsChif defeated Sumie Sakai in a ChickFight tournament first round match.
- Jazz defeated Simply Luscious in a ChickFight tournament first round match.
- The Mafia (Chris Colione and Vennis DeMarco) defeated Chicano Flame and Dana Lee.
- Cheerleader Melissa defeated Yoshiko Tamura in a ChickFight tournament semifinal match.
- Jazz defeated MsChif in a ChickFight tournament semifinal match.
- APW Worldwide Internet Champion J.J. Perez defeated Nathan Rulez to retain the title.
- Cheerleader Melissa defeated Jazz in a falls count anywhere match to win the ChickFight V tournament.
2006 - The Ultimate Fighting Championship held the finale of The Ultimate Fighter 3, featuring the middleweight and light heavyweight finals of The Ultimate Fighter 3 competition, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show featured the reintroduction of former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver, as well as Randy Couture's induction into the UFC Hall of Fame. The results of the show:
Preliminary card:
- In a light heavyweight bout, Mike Nickels defeated Wes Combs by submission (rear naked choke) at 3:10 of round one.
- In a light heavyweight bout, Matt Hamill defeated Jesse Forbes by TKO (strikes) at 4:47 of round one.
- In a middleweight bout, Luigi Fioravanti defeated Solomon Hutcherson by knockout (punch) at 4:15 of round one.
- In a middleweight bout, Kalib Starnes defeated Danny Abbadi by submission (rear naked choke) at 2:56 of round one.
- In a middleweight bout, Rory Singer defeated Ross Pointon by submission (triangle choke) at 0:44 of round one.
Main card:
- In a light heavyweight bout, Keith Jardine defeated Wilson Gouveia by unanimous decision.
- In the TUF middleweight final, Kendall Grove defeated Ed Herman by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28. UFC president Dana White gave both fighters contracts.
- In the TUF light heavyweight final, Michael Bisping defeated Josh Haynes by TKO (strikes) at 4:14 of round two.
- In a lightweight bout, Kenny Florian defeated Sam Stout by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:46 of round one.
2006 - Team Dormanstown (Kid Richie and Chris Whitton) defeated The Vegas Connection (Dan Evans and Vincent D. White) in a street fight to win the 3 Count Wrestling Tag Team Title in Quedgeley, England. This ended the Vegas Connection's second reign.
2006 - Dickie Rodz defeats champion Matt Hyson and Jerry Lynn in a three-way match for the New York Wrestling Connection Heavyweight Title in Deer Park, New York, beginning his third reign. At the same show, Josh Daniels defeats Javi-Air to win the NYWC Interstate Title.
2006 - Fuuka defeats Natsuki*Head in a tournament final in Tokyo, Japan to become the first JDStar Princess of Pro-Wrestling Champion.
2007 - WWE held the seventh-annual "Vengeance" pay-per-view at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The event was taglined "Night of Champions", as all nine titles in WWE were on the line. The results:
- In a dark match, Super Crazy pinned Carlito after a moonsault.
- World Tag Team Champions Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch defeated The Hardys (Matt and Jeff), when Cade pinned Jeff after a spinebuster slam, to retain the title.
- WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero pinned Jimmy Wang Yang after a frog splash to retain the title.
- Johnny Nitro pinned CM Punk after a corkscrew neckbreaker from the middle rope to win the vacant ECW World Title. Nitro replaced Chris Benoit, who was not at the event, for, in WWE's words, "personal reasons".
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella defeated Umaga by disqualification to retain the title. Umaga ignored the referee while punching Marella in the corner and was disqualified.
- WWE United States Champion Montel Vontavious Porter pinned Ric Flair after the Playmaker to retain the title.
- WWE Tag Team Champions Deuce and Domino (with Cherry) defeated Sgt. Slaughter and Jimmy Snuka, when Deuce pinned Snuka after rolling through a Superfly splash, to retain the title.
- World Heavyweight Champion Edge defeated Batista by countout to retain the title. Batista had originally won the match by disqualification, but SmackDown! general manager Theodore Long ordered the match continue. With the loss, Batista was not allowed another title shot as long as Edge was champion.
- Candice Michelle pinned WWE Women's Champion Melina after a spinning heel kick to win the title, ending Melina's second reign.
- WWE Champion John Cena defeated King Booker (with Queen Sharmell), Mick Foley, Bobby Lashley and Randy Orton to retain the title, by pinning Foley after an FU.
2007 - At Apache Pro Wrestling's "Apache Pro Challenge" in Tokyo, Japan, two titles change hands. Jun Kasai and Jaki Numazawa defeat GENTARO and The W*INGer for the vacant WEW Tag Team Title, and Kintaro Kanemura wins the WEW Heavyweight Title from Togi Makabe, beginning his fourth reign.
2007 - Ash defeats James Champagne, Tyson Dux, Franky the Mobster, champion Don Paysan and El Tornado in a ladder match in Brampton, Ontario to win the Blood, Sweat and Ears Suicide Six Pack Title.
2007 - Chuck Taylor defeats Ricochet to win the fifth-annual CHIKARA Young Lions Cup in Hellertown, Pennsylvania.
2007 - The Soul Shooters (Drew Johnson and Apollo Starr) defeat The Fun Lovin' Criminals (Jaimy Coxxx and Truth Martini) for the Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in Warren, Michigan.
2009 - TNA filed the pilot episode of the Spin Cycle. While planned as a cable network series, the show eventually settled into a regular online feature presented by TNA and hosted by Jeremy Borash.
2010 - TNA broadcast an episode of SpikeTV. Stu Carapola filed the following report:
We open withg a recap of last week's main event that saw Abyss snap and destroy both Jeff Hardy and Ken Anderson and then having a confrontation with Hulk Hogan as Impact went off the air. Coming off of that, we go right to the ring for the opening promo, and this week's special guest is the Managing Partner himself, Hulk Hogan. He starts by putting the fans over for their energy, then says he's going to start at the top and work his way down with all the issues. Starting with the issue of the #1 contender's match last week, Hogan has decided that the main event of Victory Road will be Rob Van Dam defending the TNA World Title against Abyss, Jeff Hardy, and Ken Anderson in a three way match. Abyss' music hits (his old, pre-American Made music) and Abyss comes out to the ring. Hogan says he has one question for Abyss: the first guy Hogan went to when he came to TNA was Abyss, and he wants to know where he is going with his actions of last week. Abyss says he doesn't think anyone realizes the seriousness of what's going on, because what happened last week and what he will continue to do, he is doing for one reason: because THEY told him to. They were the ones who told him to break Jeff Hardy in half and destroy anything that gets in his path. They're coming, and they'll be here sooner than Hogan thinks, and when they get here, there is nothing that Bischoff, Dixie, or Hogan are going to be able to do to stop it. Hogan tells him to cut the crap because they cut a deal: Hogan needed his help, Abyss gave him his word, and...Abyss cuts him off and says that they told Abyss that he doesn't need Hogan anymore. Hogan wants to know who THEY are, and Abyss says that's something he knows and Hogan will find out soon enough. Abyss says he doesn't need Hogan or the red and yellow anymore. Hogan says there is no they, there's the two of them and the TNA fans, and Abyss tells Hogan to remember one thing: there's not a damn thing any of these sheep (the fans) can do about it, and when they get here, they are taking TNA over, and by the way, they also told Abyss that he doesn't need Hogan's garbage ring anymore. Abyss chokes Hogan and crams the ring down Hogan's throat. Abyss chokes Hogan out in the corner, then goes under the ring and pulls out a bag that contains...the glass. Come on, does anyone really expect Hogan to take a bump on the glass? Indeed, RVD's music hits and the champ comes running out to make the save. RVD goes up for the corner punches, but Abyss powerbombs him and then goes back after Hogan, and now here comes Ken Anderson with a chair, which he slams over the back of Abyss. Abyss no sells, so Anderson bails to the floor and pulls RVD and Hogan out after him, and after Hogan spits up the ring, they head back to the entranceway as Abyss proclaims that "they're coming".
After a commercial, we come back to a recap of the Abyss attack on Hogan that we just saw, then we go backstage to Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, and Hogan's saying he doesn't understand where he went wrong with Abyss. Bischoff can't figure it out either because he never thought Abyss was that kind of guy who would turn on someone for no reason. Hogan suggests it might be Flair, but Bischoff doesn't think so, and says that they should move on, but Hogan says not yet.
We go to the Beautiful People's dressing room where Madison Rayne is primping in the mirror, and Madison asks Velvet Sky if she's gone to visit Lacey Von Erich yet, and then drops a remark about Lacey being used to being on her back. Velvet is standing there sulking and isn't talking, so Madison gets in her face and tells her that she needs to get her head on Angelina Love or it'll be her getting carried out on a stretcher tonight.
Angelina Love vs Velvet Sky
Velvet backjumps Angelina to start and sends Angelina to the floor, but Angelina grabs her by the ankle and drags her out to the floor where she takes her down with a spear. Angelina tries to ram Velvet into the stairs, but Velvet puts on the brakes and sends Angelina into the stairs. Velvet rolls her back in the ring and mounts her for more punches, then repeatedly rams the back of Angelina's head into the mat. Velvet with a Skyliner, but instead of going for the pin she starts yelling at Angelina. Velvet goes for another Skyliner but Angelina breaks free and nails Velvet with a pump kick. Angelina grabs a chair from ringside and puts it down in the ring, but Velvet goes to the eyes and goes for what appeared to be an attempted Hotshot, but Angelina totally missed the ropes and came down on her face. Velvet sees the chair and goes to DDT Angelina, but Angelina reverses and DDTs Velvet on the chair and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Velvet Sky by DQ
Madison Rayne comes out on the ramp with the Knockouts Title belt and mocks Angelina, saying that the title is hers and Angelina isn't getting it back.
We go to the back, where Jay Lethal has a visitor. I don't recognize him, but he seems impressed that Lethal's wrestling Flair at Victory Road. Lethal sends the guy to catering so he can finish getting ready for his match tonight.
Backstage, Kevin Nash is telling Eric Young that he has to distance himself from Scott because he doesn't have any choice. He's been dealing with Hogan and Bischoff for 15 years and he doesn't want to get in a battle with them, and appears to have dissolved his team with Young. They share a hug and Nash wishes Young luck.
Matt Morgan comes to the ring and says he told us so, he told all of us so, and that's that he was walking out of Slammiversary victorious. He doesn't sweat Hernandez, never has, and never will. To prove that, he's going to call Hernandez out right now. He tells Hernandez that he knows he's watching in the back, and to put down the burrito, come out, and face him face to face because he's tired of being jumped from behind. The announcers inform us that Hernandez is in Mexico doing promotional work for TNA, so he obviously won't be here. Morgan says that Hernandez obviously is afraid of him, so when TNA management asked Morgan if he wants to wrestle Hernandez in a cage at Victory Road, he jumped at the chance because now Hernandez has nowhere to run. When he beats Hernandez like a pinata at Victory Road, he's going to come back out here on Imapct and again tell us all that he told us so. Morgan's music plays, but Homicide comes running out and attacks Morgan. Morgan goes to the floor and Homicide tries a dive, but Morgan catches him and rams him into the ringpost, then gives him the Carbon Footprint to the head against the ringpost. Morgan looks into the camera and tells Hernandez that this is going to look like a wet dream compared to what Morgan's going to do to him at Victory Road.
Backstage, AJ Styles is asking Ric Flair if a package came to the locker room. Flair says they have stuff to worry about tonight and he doesn't want to hear any more about the package.
Back to the ring!
Frankie Kazarian vs Jay Lethal
Lethal escapes a takedown attempt and armdrags Kazarian, who backs off into the corner, and then leapfrogs the ref and suckerpunches Lethal, then beats him down in the corner. Kazarian with a gutwrench suplex and a big pop-up spinebuster for 2. Kazarian chokes Lethal and then picks him up for a vertical suplex, dumps him on the top rope, and then just kicks him in the chest. Kazarian covers for 2, then follows up with a bodyslam and a springboard legdrop, and then Kazarian HITS THE CHINLOCK! While Lethal is tied up, Flair and AJ are backstage beating up Lethal's visitor, who the announcers identify as Lethal's brother Mohammed. Back in the ring, Lethal elbows his way out of the chinlock and takes him down with a pair of clotheslines and then the handspring elbow. Kazarian tries a lowblow but Lethal blocks and rolls Kazarian up for 2. Kazarian and Lethal go toe to toe and Kazarian blocks the Lethal Combination and hits the Wave Of The Future for 2. Kazarian goes for the backdrop piledriver, but Lethal escapes and hits the Lethal Injection for the win.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Lethal goes and celebrates his win in the crowd, but then Ric Flair pops up on the video screen and flaunt the fact that they're beating up Lethal's brother. Lethal just stands there watching in anger as they beat up his brother, and then finally takes off to the back to come to his brother's rescue.
Jeff Jarrett is backstage, and he's...WALKING! And he's in our next match...
Jeff Jarrett vs Sting
Sting is in the rafters, so Jarrett leaves the ring and goes after him. They meet at the top of the stairs and even though Sting sees him coming and has the high ground, Jarrett gets the better of him and beats him all the way down the stairs. Wait a minute, the real Sting is already in the ring, so Jarrett's beating up an impostor. Jarrett gets the impostor into the ring and suddenly realizes his mistake, but not before Sting has a chance to come from behind and choke Jarrett out with his bat, then uses the bat to beat him into oblivion. Sting grabs a mic and hovers over Jarrett, telling him that "if he's going to run with them, he's going to go down with them." He drops the mic and leaves. Well, match never officially started, so I guess it's...
No Contest
We get a video package promoting Bound For Glory in Daytona Beach, Florida on 10/10/10, and then it's off to commercial.
We come back to a video package detailing the history between Kurt Angle and Desmond Wolfe leading into their match tonight. And that match is up...now!
Desmond Wolfe vs Kurt Angle
Angle with a wristlock to start, Wolfe tries to snapmare his way out, but Angle holds onto the wrist and takes Wolfe down, so Wolfe regains his feet and reverses to a hammerlock, but Angle reverses that back to the wristlock. Wolfe again tries to counter out to no avail, so he rams an elbow into Angle's jaw and slaps on a Cobra Clutch. Angle reverses out of that to a hammerlock and Wolfe goes to the ropes, but kicks Angle in the arm on the break. He briefly stops to yell at Chelsea, and Angle uses the distraction to catch Wolfe with a hiptoss. Wolfe goes to the throat and misses a charge in the corner, but Angle charges in and Wolfe moves and allows Angle's momentum to carry him into the ringpost. Wolfe with a wristlock and uses the hold to suplex Angle. Wolfe stops to yell at Chelsea, and again it provides a distraction that Angle uses to try a comeback, but Wolfe with a wristlock and sweeps the legs. Wolfe locks in his weirdo hammerlock that I don't know what to call it, Angle tries to reverse to the anklelock, but Wolfe kicks his way out. Again Wolfe is distracted by Chelsea, and Angle fires in a series of rights, backdrops Wolfe, then hits an overhead belly to belly for 2. Angle goes for the Angle Slam, Wolfe reverses to an armdrag, but Angle catches him with a trilogy of German Suplexes for 2. Angle tries the Angle Slam again and Wolfe slides out the back and gets a hammerlock Divorce Court for 2. Wolfe goes for the Tower Of London, but Angle escapes and hits the Angle Slam, then locks Wolfe in the anklelock and grapevines the leg, and Wolfe taps as Chelsea stands at ringside smirking.
Winner: Kurt Angle
We go backstage to Ken Anderson, who's talking about all the bumps, bruises, and cuts he has from last week's incident with Abyss. He says that if Abyss wants to bring all that crap into the ring, tonight it's Falls Count Anywhere and Anderson's going to be ready for it.
We go to a video package looking back at Doug Williams' history in the X Division as the X Division Champion, as well as Doug's win over Brian Kendrick at Slammiversary. From there we go right to the ring where Doug Williams is blasting Kendrick for jumping him from behind last week and for being crazy. Williams says he holds himself to a code of conduct, and that's to never betray his code of professionalism and sportsmanship. He says he has a responsibility as the X Division Champion, and calls Kendrick out so he can teach him a lesson about professionalism. Kendrick comes out and takes a mic from So Cal Val, and says he just needs a moment of Doug's time. Kendrick talked to the people in charge, and he'll be facing Williams for the X Division Title at Victory Road, and there'll be a pair of stipulations, one for each of them. Since Williams is a high flying daredevil, it's going to be an Ultimate X Match. The second stipulation is that you can also win by submission. Williams tells Kendrick that his nonsense won't cause him to unprofessionally attack Kendrick like Kendrick did to him, and he suggests leaving so they can settle their matters at Victory Road. Williams goes to walk away but then tries to suckerpunch Kendrick, and Kendrick sees him coming and catches him in a Cobra Clutch with a bodyscissors.
Backstage, Abyss is saying that nobody understands the situation, but someday soon, everybody's going to realize that he did what he did and will do what he's going to do because THEY told him to. His wave of destruction will continue tonight with Ken Anderson because THEY told him to pave the way for them when they arrive, and there will be no stopping Abyss.
We go backstage where Jesse Neal has been laid out and Brother Ray and Shannon Moore are having a pull apart brawl. Devon grabs Ray's shirt and says he's tired of Ray making a fool of him. He's warned Ray to leave the kid alone, and is warning Ray now not to test him.
Back to the ring...
Tag Team Championship Series Finals: Beer Money vs Ink Inc
Taz and Mike Tenay are joined by the Motor City Machine Guns, who will face the winners of this match for the TNA World Tag Team Title at Victory Road. Since Jesse Neal's currently unconscious in the back, Moore's going it alone. Roode unloads on Moore with a series of blows as we get a graphic reminding us to check out Dixie Carter's Twitter, and Moore comes back with a pair of dropkicks to both members of Beer Money and a legdrop to Roode for 2. Storm tries to break up the fall but Moore moves and Storm elbowdrops his partner. Moore with a flying headscissors sends Storm to the floor and then a clothesline sends Roode over the top to the outside as well. Tommy Dreamer is walking through the crowd and he's got Raven and Stevie Richards with him. Something about that picture just seems so...wrong. Moore tries a baseball slide to the floor on Storm, but Storm catches him and wheelbarrows him into the guardrail, rams him into the stairs, then tosses him back in the ring where Beer Money double team him. Neal finally comes stumbling out of the back as Storm nails Moore with a flying knee. Roode tags in and Beer Money does a slam/elbowdrop/big splash combo for 2. Roode with a full nelson slam for 2, then he tries another wheelbarrow move, but Moore kicks Storm off and bulldogs Roode then makes the hot tag to Neal, who comes in and cleans house on Beer Money. Neal with a backdrop on Roode and a belly to belly on Storm for 2. All four men are in the ring, but not for long as Moore backdrops Roode to the floor and follows him out with a dive as Storm and Neal fight it out in the ring. Neal rolls Storm up for 2 and then Neal goes for a spear, but Roode grabs his ankle as Storm gets a mouthful of beer. Storm spits it in Neal's eyes and they hit the DWI for the win.
Winners: Beer Money
We got backstage to Frankie Kazarian and AJ Styles, who are arguing over who dad likes best. AJ finally got his package and opens it to discover...the new AJ Styles action figure! AJ rubs the fact that he has an action figure in Kazarian's face, and Kazarian doesn't really seem to care.
It's main event time!
Falls Count Anywhere: Abyss vs Ken Anderson
Anderson rushes the ring without even waiting for the mic drop and attacks Abyss. He stomps a mudhole in Abyss in the corner, but eats an elbow and goes down. Abyss chokes Anderson on the second rope, but Anderson comes back with a Thesz Press and rains down rights and lefts. Abyss bails to the floor, so Anderson goes out after him and goes looking for a chair. He finally finds an audience member willing to give him one, but turns around and Abyss punches the chair into his face. Abyss brings Anderson and the chair into the ring, sets the chair up in the middle of the ring, and continues pounding on Anderson. Anderson comes back and grabs the chair and blasts Abyss across the back with it for 2. Anderson sets up the chair in the corner and tries to whip Abyss into it, Abyss reverses but Anderson slides out to the floor and goes under the ring. Abyss goes out after him and can't find him, but...oh, here he is, and with a kendo stick in his hand. Anderson proceeds to give Abyss several shots with the kendo stick, but misses one shot against the ringpost and Abyss nails him. Anderson fires back and tries to whip Abyss into the rampway, but Abyss reverses and Anderson takes the ramp in the back. Abyss pulls up the ringside mats and goes to chokeslam Anderson on the exposed floor, but Anderson breaks away and they end up back in the ring. Abyss grabs the chair and repeatedly rams the edge into Anderson's ribs, then lays the chair on top of Anderson and goes for a vertical splash, but Anderson turns the chair sideways and Abyss parts his coconuts. Anderson rolls Abyss up for 2 then goes up top and goes for the Swanton, but Abyss gets the knees up, rams Anderson into the chair in the corner, and hits Shock Treatment for the win.
Winner: Abyss
Abyss tosses Anderson out to the rampway and then follows him out. Anderson tries crawling away from Abyss, but Abyss catches him and picks him up to slam him off the stage, but Anderson escapes and tries a Mic Check off the stage, but Abyss nails him and finally chokeslams Anderson off the stage. Hulk Hogan comes out with a chair and nails Abyss from behind, but Abyss no-sells. Security comes out to try and stop Abyss, but Abyss lays them all out while Hogan stands there doing nothing. Abyss again gives Hogan the "YOU!" finger as the show goes off the air.
2010 - WWE broadcast Superstars on WGN. Richard Trionfo filed the following report:
We start off tonight with the Smackdown brand and your announcers are Matt Striker and Todd Grisham.
Match Number One: JTG versus Caylen Croft with Trent Barreta
They lock up and Croft with a knee and punch instead of a clean break. JTG slides around and clips Caylen followed by a leap frog leg lariat. JTG with a flapjack but Croft with an Irish whip and he runs into a knee. Croft sends JTG to the floor and while Croft distracts the referee, Barreta kicks JTG in the ribs. Croft gets a near fall and then he chokes JTG in the ropes. Croft with a punch and cravate on JTG. Croft with a forearm but JTG with a swinging neck breaker followed by a flip shoulder tackle and drop kick. JTG with an X Factor from the turnbuckles followed by a baseball slide to Barreta on the floor. JTG with the wraparound clothesline for the three count.
Winner: JTG
After the match, JTG celebrates with some of the younger fans in the crowd in the ring.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Luke Gallows with Serena versus Chris Masters
They lock up and Masters backs Gallows into the turnbuckles and Masters with a clean break but Gallows with an uppercut and forearms. Gallows with a kick followed by an Irish whip but he misses a charge into the corner. Masters works on the arm and shoulder. Masters with an arm bar on Gallows. Gallows with a knee and punch followed by a slam but he misses an elbow drop. Masters with a suplex to Gallows and Gallows goes to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Masters calls for the Master Lock but Gallows avoids the hold by sending Masters to the floor. Gallows knocks Masters off the apron and to the floor. Masters gets sent into the ringside barrier before they return to the ring. Gallows with a splash to Masters’ back and he gets a near fall. Gallows with a reverse chin lock on Masters. Masters tries to slam Gallows but he cannot keep Gallows up and Masters with a lateral press. Gallows with a suplex and a near fall. Gallows with a modified surfboard to Masters. Masters gets to his feet and he takes Gallows down. Masters with chops followed by a flying shoulder tackle and clotheslines. Masters goes to the turnbuckles for a flying shoulder tackle and he gets a near fall. Gallows with a boot to the chest and he gets a near fall. Gallows sets for the spinebuster but Masters blocks it and connects with forearms. Masters with forearms and he tries for the Master Lock. Gallows backs Masters into the turnbuckles but he runs into a boot. Serena gets on the apron and Gallows with a kick to the chest and then he hits the spinebuster slam for the three count.
Winner: Luke Gallows
It is time to take a look back at this week’s NXT.
The Bellas are walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that the WWE gets a lot of awards from the military.
It is time for the Raw half of the show and your announcers are Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.
Jillian Hall says that everyone seems to have World Cup Fever so after she beats Brie Bella she wants everyone to sing with her. Jillian makes El Generico fans cry as she sings.
Match Number Three: Jillian Hall versus Brie Bella with Nikki Bella
They lock up and Brie works on the arm but Jillian pulls Brie down by her hair. Brie with a hammer lock but Jillian with a drop toe hold. Brie takes Jillian down and they roll around the ring. Brie with a kick but Jillian with an Irish whip. Brie tries for a head scissors but Jillian drops Brie on the mat. Jillian chokes Brie in the ropes. Jillian with a snap mare and kick to the back and Jillian gets a near fall. Jillian with an arm bar and then she slams Brie into the mat. Jillian with a slam and then she tries for a round off splash but Brie gets her knees up. Brie with drop kicks and a clothesline followed by a bulldog for a near fall. Jillian with an Irish whip and Brie with an elbow. Brie tries for a victory roll but Jillian drops down and gets a near fall. Brie with an Irish whip but Jillian sends Brie to the floor. Nikki lies down next to Brie and there is confusion on the floor. The referee checks on the Bellas and determines which one was sweatier and Jillian attacks Brie. Nikki switches while the referee was out of position and gets the three count with a rollup.
Winner: Brie Bella with an assist from Nikki Bella
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound.
Match Number Four: William Regal versus R Truth
They lock up and Truth with a clean break. Truth shimmies for Regal and Regal did not approve. Regal with an arm bar take down and Truth rolls through and puts Regal in a head lock. Truth with a shoulder tackle that has no impact. Truth with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors followed by a drop kick and Truth appears to have hurt his knee. Regal takes advantage and he kicks Truth in the leg. Regal wrings the leg and drops an elbow on the leg. Regal with a knee drop to the leg and he puts Truth in a form of an ankle lock. Truth makes it to the ropes and Regal slams the knee into the mat as he breaks the hold. Regal with a forearm to the back and punch to the chest. Regal with a kick to the injured knee. Truth with forearms followed by a monkey flip to escape. Regal begs for mercy while Truth limps to him. Regal pushes Truth out of the ring but Truth’s leg got caught in the ropes. Regal puts the leg in the ropes and Regal with knees. Truth with punches and a back elbow. Truth with more punches and a kick and DDT to Regal and both men are down. Truth gets a near fall and then he tries for a suplex but Regal counters with an Exploder but Truth with the Lie Detector for the three count.
Winner: R Truth
2011 - Ring of Honor held a press conference in Baltimore, MD to officially begin the Sinclair Broadcasting era as the new owners of the promotion. Stu Carapola filed the following report:
Kevin Kelly welcomes everyone to the press conference at the Sinclair Broadcasting studio in Baltimore. Ring of Honor will be coming to Sinclair stations nationwide this Fall, and today we'll get to speak to some of the stars of Ring of Honor and also talk about this Sunday's Best In The World internet PPV. Kelly introduces the COO of Ring of Honor, Joe Koff.
Koff thanks the press for joining him, and he says that for him, this is the culmination of two passions: wrestling and television. Getting the chance to provide both loves for himself and to the fans, he can't say enough about the amount of work that already has and will continue to go into the product in the weeks and months to come. ROH is a product that deserves to be seen, and through all media avenues, they will bring this product to a broader audience. He said it could not have been done without the dream and work of Cary Silkin, and Cary did a wonderful job of bringing ROH where it is today. Koff introduces Silkin to share his thoughts on this moment.
Silkin says this is a dream come true for him, because nine years of trying to produce the best wrestling he could, and with a lot of help behind the scenes, they've been able to do that. People ask him if it was hard to give up Ring of Honor, and he says it wasn't when they gave it to a company like Sinclair that wants to take the existing product and deliver it to the masses like he couldn't. He's excited to see ROH in this next phase, thanks Joe Koff, and says he's looking forward to this Sunday and the future.
Kevin Kelly gets back up and says that Koff and Silkin will be available for questions at the end, but first he wants to introduce the Executive Producer of ROH, Jim Cornette. Cornette says 9-24-11 will be a historic day for professional wrestling because people have said for years that ROH is the best wrestling product out there, and he's been with every major wrestling company over the last three decades, and he's never been as excited to be involved with anything as he has with ROH. This move is important for the company and the business, because the business is in the doldrums: the mainstream names that everyone knows have gotten older and not a lot of energy has been put into letting the young stars break through, and that's what Ring of Honor has been providing all along. Now, on 9-24-11, the youngest, freshest, and most athletic wrestlers around will make their name. Wrestling has been subject to a lot of bad PR and stereotypes, and ROH wants to move away from entertainment and back to competition, and this program won't be old school wrestling or modern sports entertainment, it's going to be about wrestlers who have paid the price and worked hard, and they're going to tell their stories.
Cornette points out Gary Juster, who has been promoting some of the biggest events in history, and they intend to take ROH and tour around to the markets where Sinclair stations are situated, and also use the internet PPVs to deliver the best wrestling product they can deliver. You can't go forward by going backward, and ROH intends to go forward with a product everyone can be proud of and excited by. He wants to take an opportunity to introduce some of the stars who have signed with ROH and will be in New York this weekend: Truth Martini and Michael Elgin; Prince Nana, Mia Yim, and Tommaso Ciampa, as well as the returning Rhino; Brutal Bob Evans and Mike Bennett; and El Generico. They didn't have room in the studio to bring everyone in, but this is a good look at some of the young, great talent that are a part of ROH.
Kevin Kelly returns to the podium to talk about the World Title Match that will be headlining this weekend's internet PPV, and introduces Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards. Kevin asks Davey for his thoughts going into this weekend, and Davey starts by saying that he and Eddie formed the American Wolves in 2009 and dominated everyone, but then they had a match for the TV Title and Eddie beat him. Davey failed to win the World Title at final Battle, and said that if he fails to win the title in his next opportunity, he's never going to challenge for the ROH World Title again.. He didn't know Eddie was going to be the one he'd challenge, but Eddie wanted it and he's proud of Eddie, but he's going to crush him.
Eddie tells Davey that it's great that he's proud of him, but he's not his little brother or protégé, he's the ROH World Champion and the only Triple Crown Champion in company history. With all his accomplishments, there's still that little bit of doubt where he wonders if he's better than Davey Richards. That question drives him every day, and he asked for the match because he needs it, not to show everyone what he's capable of, it's about going out there and beating him because he needs to. Sunday in New York City, they'll see who is the Best In The World.
Cornette says he is going to hold Davey to his word, and if he doesn't win the title, he's welcome to compete there but will never get another title shot, then tells Eddie that he hopes he knows what he asked for. Eddie and Davey shake hands to applause and then leave the set.
Kevin Kelly returns to the podium and reiterates what's at stake for each man this Sunday, as both have the chance to be the flag bearer when the TV program starts this September. The ROH World Title is a prized possession, but they're fighting for the chance to be the champion at the debut show, but the ROH World Tag Team Title will also be up for grabs, and it will be chaotic because four very combustible teams will be in an element where the stakes will be the highest. ROH has assembled the best tag team roster in the world, and he introduces the teams fighting for the title this Sunday, starting with the All Night Express. Titus says he's got nerves, but they give him a sense of confidence and they'll be the new champions. King says you never know what you're going to get in Ring of Honor, but it may come as a shock to everyone else but not to them, they're ready to take it all.
Kevin Kelly introduces the Briscoes and then Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin, and Shelton says that he and Charlie Haas have been competitors all their lives and feel that there's nobody better in tag team wrestling. They came to ROH to prove that and they did it by winning the title, and are now the current reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions. Kevin Kelly ready a latter from the Kings of Wrestling that says that they are the longest reigning champions in ROH history and refuse to share the podium with Haas & Benjamin, but they'll prove themselves this Sunday when they regain the title. Haas says that the four of them are the best teams in the world, and the ROH World Tag Team Title means more to them than any title they've ever held. The ANX has improved a lot, they had to fight hard to beat the Kings of Wrestling for the title, and then they put themselves over as the best team in the history of the company.
The Briscoes get to their feet and yell at the champions because they'd been here all along, have held the title six times, and not to disrespect them. Haas & Benjamin fire back that they're out of control and need to relax because they're ruining the press conference and to save it for this Sunday. Jay Briscoe says they can do it right now and takes a shot at Haas, leading to Jim Cornette and Kevin Kelly getting between them. A pull apart breaks out and Jay goes head to head with Shelton, with the set nearly being knocked over. Delirious comes out with his mask on to pull them apart and leads the Briscoes out. Haas says they can't represent ROH like that, and they don't want to see it happen if the Briscoes win the title back, but that won't happen. Haas, Benjamin, and the ANX leave as Kevin Kelly apologizes for the conduct of the Briscoes.
Kevin goes back to the podium and apologizes to the affiliates, then Jim Cornette says they're trying to promote professional wrestling in favor of sports entertainment and they let the wrestlers speak for themselves in the ring. They are excited because they feel this will make a mainstream statement about professional wrestling, and again puts over 9-24-11 as the return of Ring of Honor to television. Kevin Kelly says this weekend will be the biggest ROH event ever, and opens it up to questions from the media.
Kevin is asked where Ring of Honor is looking to find new talent and whether they are looking to expand into new markets and bigger arenas. Cornette says ROH has held seminars over the last year or so, looking at various talents from around the country, and that's one of the ways they found Michael Elgin, Tommaso Ciampa, and others. Cornette has also done that with Ohio Valley Wrestling as well, and they want to find the best wrestlers out there who have the ability and mind, body, and soul to make it in the business.
The next question relates to markets such as New York and Philadelphia where Sinclair doesn't have a presence, and what the plan will be in those markets. Joe Koff says they're going to make their initial thrust on the Sinclair networks, and once they're set there, they will look to push the show into other markets. Cornette adds that New York will continue to have regular live events and they are working to get Philadelphia back into their touring schedule, and have no plans to eliminate any markets.
They are asked how soon they move into new markets, and Joe Koff says that will probably begin in the fourth quarter, but reiterates that they will not forget the core markets even as they try to concentrate on markets where Sinclair networks are.
Kevin is asked what they hope to provide that WWE and TNA aren't. Everyone gets a good laugh, then Cornette says that WWE's youth movement isn't pushing the right youth, and in TNA if you're as young as 40 then you get to be on top. They hope to find young talent that hasn't been overexposed but can hang at the level that the top talent in ROH can. The guys in ROH are the best at what they do and they want to accentuate that.
The next question involves expanding the company while trying not to grow too fast. Cornette says Koff won't let that happen because he's a good businessman, and with so many companies talking about how they're going to take the wrestling world over, they don't get past opening a PO Box. They're going to start by running shows in the Sinclair markets and let those percolate before running events there, while continuing to service the core markets. Sinclair has a good handle on this and knows that growing too fast doesn't do anything for anyone. Koff says that they're a television company and this is prime TV content, and they have experience in making sure the TV shows or live events don't move past each other. He says they'll probably do a thousand times the exposure that ROH got on HDNet because they're in more markets. He puts over Bill Fanter, the General Manager of Sinclair, and wants to bring the product around on a schedule that makes sense from all sides.
The next question is for Cornette, who came up through the territories and then lived through the years when there was just WWE, and where he sees the business in the coming years. Cornette says he's been around since the Dead Sea was only sick and he's seen a lot in the business, but he wants to let everyone be themselves and not make up gimmicky back stories because they already have fascinating back stories. They want to provide a place where they can do what they do best and make it financially successful for everyone.
Cornette is asked about what changes there will be in the presentation of the Sinclair TV show compared to what they did on internet PPV and HDNet. Cornette says there will be some changes starting this weekend, and the TV program will basically be starting from scratch. There won't be four minute matches, they'll be seeing competitive matches and why everyone wants to wrestle and what their story is.
The next question has to do with access to old ROH shows and whether there will be any kind of video on demand service. Cornette puts over how strong the video library is and they plan to take advantage of that history and not ignore anything that has happened in the past, especially if it pertains to people appearing on television. Koff adds that they want to cater to the existing fans, but things will change dramatically because an extra 22% of the country will have access to ROH on over-the-air TV. As future technologies come in, they will explore those technologies to make the product available to their fans, but for right now their priority is the TV program, both on TV and eventually streaming to people's phones.
They are asked how the DVD sales and wrestling school will be handled going forward, and Joe Koff says they won't be. DVD sales have been robust, and much of their talent came from the school, and he expects more people to want to enroll in the school once the program expands into new markets. The follow up question is whether the school will remain in Pennsylvania, and Koff says they haven't addressed that yet. Cornette says they're going to take one thing at a time, but don't want to do everything at once because then everything's going to suffer and they don't want to rush.
Cornette is asked about their relationship with Pro Wrestling NOAH and whether they look at running shows in Japan or England. Cornette says Delirious will be working in Japan next month and will be talking business while out there, and ROH wants to keep fostering their relationships and they'd love to have footage of their guys working in front of big crowds in Japan. Japanese wrestling has a lot of similarities to ROH, and he thinks some of the guys like Elgin, Ciampa, and Bennett will be successful in Japan, but he doesn't expect the Japanese fans to come in until they've established their own product on the Sinclair networks.
They are asked if it's tough to find a balance between bringing in established wrestlers while not being considered a haven for washed up old guys. Cornette says that perception goes away when you see what they do in the ring, and they're not going to discriminate against someone if they're in shape and can hang in ROH. They're not going to bring people in just because they're stars, they need to be able to hang if they'll work in ROH.
Next question is whether TV will be taped at live events as they have been, or whether they will return to the studio TV format. Cornette loves studio TV and grew up on it, but wrestling is so far removed that when you compare arena shows vs studio shows, studio shows have a smaller time feel and they will probably want to establish their product in the arenas. The live event atmosphere in ROH is so special, and the fans are as much a part of the show as the wrestlers. They want to capture that live event feel, because that's been captured so well on tape and going to the Hammerstein Ballroom is like soccer hooligans in Argentina.
Kevin Kelly wraps up by thanking everyone again for attending the press conference and says they'll continue to have more information as they move closer to 9-24-11. Cornette says that they will be on all Sinclair networks in every market, so it's a great piece of TV real estate.
2011 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Hershey, Pennsylvania and your announcers are Booker ‘Whatchamacallit’ T, Michael ‘Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups’ Cole, and Josh ‘Almond Joy’ Mathews.
If it is a wrestling show and it is on television, we must be starting with a talking segment. Teddy Long makes his way to the ring and he is wearing his chocolate brown suit in honor of the host town for Smackdown. Teddy says that in the World Championship match on Sunday night, there was a controversial situation and he wants to address it now.
Teddy asks for Christian to make his way to the ring. Christian says that he deserves one more chance to become the World Champion. Teddy says that he will address it later. Teddy mentions that Christian’s lawyer contacted him last week. We go to the footage from Sunday night with Christian’s foot under the bottom rope when the three count was made.
Teddy says that it was clear that Christian’s foot was under the bottom rope when the three count was made. The referee made a bad call. Teddy apologizes to the WWE Universe. He says that the referee’s decision is final.
Christian wants to make sure that he heard Teddy apologize to the WWE Universe. He says that nobody cares about the WWE Universe. Christian says that he is the one who was screwed, not the fans. Christian says that he deserved it on Monday when he pinned Randy Orton. Christian reminds Teddy that Randy Orton hit him in the head with the title belt after the match.
Teddy says that Orton’s actions were reprehensible and unbecoming of a champion.
Christian asks Teddy when he gets his rematch. Teddy says that it depends on whether Christian earns a title match. Christian says that he does not have to earn anything because of the referee’s error. Teddy tells Christian the decision was final and he lost. Teddy tells Christian that he will have to beat Kane to get his title match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and remember that Shawn Michaels will be on Raw this Monday night.
Michael Cole points out the voting errors on Monday night so we will get Evan Bourne versus Sin Cara on Monday night.
Match Number One: Sin Cara with mood lighting and El Trampolino Bueno versus Ted DiBiase
The lights go down and they lock up with DiBiase working on the arm and wrist. Cara with a kick and he escapes the hold with an arm drag. Cara with a satellite head scissors and Ted goes to the floor. Cara waits for Ted to get into position and Cara hits a triple jump cross body onto DiBiase on the floor. Cara with a near fall on Ted. Cara with a kick and then he tries for a springboard cross body but Ted knows it is coming and he hits a drop kick and gets a near fall.
Ted with a reverse chin lock on Cara and a knee. Ted gets Cara onto his shoulders but Cara with a sunset flip counter for a near fall. Ted with a boot to Cara’s head and then he stomps on Cara’s chest. Ted gets a near fall and then he rubs his forearm across Cara’s mask. Ted hits the rebound short clothesline and gets a near fall.
Ted punches Cara followed by an Irish whip but Cara with an elbow and boots to Ted. Cara with a missile drop kick from the second turnbuckle. Cara with a series of kicks to Ted and then he hits a springboard rana and the handspring back elbow on Ted. Cara with an arm drag using the ropes for extra momentum.
Cara goes to the apron and he connects with an enzuigiri. Ted catches Cara coming off the ropes and hits a sit out spinebuster. Ted with a punch to the midsection and Cara hits a version of La Mistica and gets the three count.
Winner: Sin Cara
We go to footage from Raw on Monday night between Daniel Bryan and Cody Rhodes and the post match attack by Cody and Ted.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Cody Rhodes wants everyone to take a deep breath and forget about the performance of his protégé Ted DiBiase. Cody says that he loves chocolate and he wouldn’t be remised if he did not mention in the modern day Sodom that Hershey is responsible for producing more chocolate than any other place in the world. Chocolate makes people fat and ugly. Cody talks about the irony that in the place that makes chocolate he sees a lot of vanilla and plain facial expressions. Cody tells everyone to put their bags over their heads . . .
Cody is interrupted by Daniel Bryan’s music and he has something to say. Daniel tells Cody that he hates to interrupt but he is so incredibly sick of this. He says that he may never be on the cover of GQ or the most fashion conscious. He says that a cup does not belong on your face, but it belongs in your pants.
Daniel says that looks aren’t everything. Cody says that sounds like something an ugly person would say. Daniel wants Cody to explain his dad and we see a photo of Polka Dot Dusty. Daniel points out that Dusty is Cody’s father and Dusty might not be the most attractive person on the face of the Earth. However, he was charismatic, inspirational, and a good person. All things that Cody is not. Daniel says that he doesn’t think that the problem is that Cody has a broken nose, but Cody is someone who is bitter that he can never live up to the standards of his father.
Match Number Two: Cody Rhodes with Bag Men versus Daniel Bryan
They lock up and Bryan with a hammer lock. Cody with an elbow but Daniel with two arm drags. Cody blocks another arm drag attempt and Cody gets a near fall with a rollup. Cody with a near fall but Bryan bridges out of the hold. Bryan with a leap frog and a drop kick that sends Cody to the floor. Cody shows some frustration and he kicks the ringside barrier.
Ted DiBiase comes out to check on Cody and Cody wonders why Ted is out here and we go to commercial.
We are back and Cody sends Bryan to the floor and the referee is distracted by Cody to allow DiBiase to kick Bryan. Rhodes goes to the floor and he kicks Bryan in the ribs. Cody punches Bryan against the apron and then he sends Bryan back into the ring.
Rhodes with an elbow to the nose followed by an Irish whip and splash into the corner for a near fall. Cody with a kick to the ribs followed by a snap mare and knee to the back. Cody with an arm bar and chin lock. Bryan with punches but Cody with a side Russian leg sweep. Cody with a boot to the head followed by knees to the chest as he comes off the ropes and Cody gets a near fall.
Cody with a gourdbuster on Bryan but he misses a rolling knee drop. Bryan with an English uppercut but Cody with a clothesline and kicks to Bryan. Cody with a step over hammer lock and chin lock but Bryan is able to get to his feet. Cody with a knee and punch to the head. Bryan with a running clothesline followed by a series of kicks to the chest. Bryan with a Pele kick to Rhodes and then he puts him on the turnbuckles and hits a Super Hurricarana and he gets a near fall.
Bryan with more kicks to the chest but Rhodes ducks under. Bryan tries for the LeBell Lock but Rhodes avoids it. Bryan with a near fall and then Rhodes gets a near fall. Both men go for cross bodies and they both go down.
Ted grabs Bryan’s leg and then Bryan takes care of Rhodes and hits a suicide dive on DiBiase on the floor and he punches Ted. Bryan is stopped by Rhodes and Rhodes hits the springboard round kick and Bryan’s leg was caught in the ropes. Rhodes kicks Bryan while Daniel’s leg is still stuck in the ropes. The referee warns Rhodes as the referee checks on Bryan’s knee.
Rhodes with another springboard round kick followed by Cross Rhodes for the three count.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
After the match, Ted and Cody put a paper bag over Bryan’s head.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Johnny Curtis is in the locker room and he says that there have been rumors as to why he hasn’t made his Smackdown debut. Is he too young, too inexperienced, or too cocky? Johnny has a bottle of ketchup, mustard, and mayo on a table and he takes the ketchup and mayo, but he says the mustard does not cut it.
Matt Striker is with Big Show in the interview area because this must be Raw. Matt asks Show for an update on his condition. Show says that he is fine. Matt asks Show about knocking out Mark Henry before Capitol Punishment. Show says that Mark was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Show says that he was frustrated. He asked Mark not to get in the ring and what happened to him could have happened to anyone. Matt asks if Show has lit a fire under Mark Henry.
We have a Mark Henry video package.
Matt asks Show if we have ever seen him manhandled like this and he suggests that maybe Show brought this upon himself. Show says that it is good that Mark Henry is on fire because he is going to need it.
From out of nowhere, Mark Henry takes Big Show down with a spear and he destroys the interview area. Henry says that bigger isn’t always better. Better is better.
A referee goes to check on Show but Henry tells him not to help him and then he says that nobody is going to be happy until he is happy.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Ezekiel Jackson versus Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Title
Barrett attacks Jackson from behind as he goes to the ring and Barrett sends Jackson into the apron and then he sends Jackson back first into the ring post. Barrett sends Jackson into the ringside barrier. Barrett rolls Jackson into the ring and the referee wants to make sure that Jackson can start the match, but Barrett with a kick to the midsection.
Barrett punches and kicks Jackson in the corner followed by forearms to the back. Barrett with more kicks. Barrett with a neck breaker for a near fall. Jackson with punches to Barrett followed by a forearm to the back. Jackson with an Irish whip but Barrett with a kick and clothesline for a near fall. Barrett with a rear chin lock on Jackson.
Jackson gets to his feet and he connects with elbows to Barrett and a kick. Barrett with an Irish whip and a Bossman Slam for a near fall. Barrett chokes Jackson in the ropes and kicks him. Barrett with a knee to the head and he gets a near fall. Barrett with a head butt to Jackson but he misses a clothesline and Jackson with an uranage and both men are down.
Jackson with clotheslines and body blocks to Barrett as it appears that Jackson got his second wind. Jackson with a splash into the corner and Barrett rolls to the floor. Barrett with a boot to Jackson when Ezekiel goes to the floor. Barrett sends Jackson back into the ring and Barrett gets Jackson on his shoulders for Wasteland but Jackson escapes the hold and then he puts Barrett in the torture rack and Barrett taps out.
Winner: Ezekiel Jackson
Randy Orton is in the locker room with Jack Korpela and Jack asks Orton about Christian getting another title match. Randy says that he is usually a pretty serious guy. But, this is borderline comical. Orton says that he is laughing on the inside. If Christian beats Kane, he is more than happy to face him again for the World Title. The closest that Christian will get to this title is when he nails Christian with it in the head . . . again.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Wade Barrett is walking in the back and he walks past Rosa Mendes and Alicia Fox who appear to be taking photos for Facebook. He continues to walk and Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel stop Barrett. They applaud Wade on his great week. First he lost his title on Sunday and then he lost the rematch a few minutes ago. Barrett says that he forgot that Slater and Gabriel existed. Barrett says that he has bigger and better plans than the Intercontinental Titles. Justin says that they are going to do something that Wade could not, they are going to win a rematch. Slater tells Wade to take a seat and see what can happen when Barrett isn’t ruining their matches.
Match Number Four: The Usos with new entrance versus Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel
Gabriel and Jimmy start things off and Jimmy chops Gabriel. Jey tags in and he hits a flying forearm as Jimmy sends Gabriel at him. Jey with a slam to Gabriel followed by a Northern Lights suplex and bridge for a near fall. Gabriel sends Jey to the apron and then Jey with a forearm. Jey tries to go up top but Gabriel stops him with a kick.
Slater tags in and he hits a running forearm off the apron. They return to the ring and Slater gets a near fall. Slater with kicks to Jey’s midsection and Justin is tagged back in. Slater gets Jey on his knees and Gabriel with a boot to the chest from the top rope. Slater tags in and he punches Jey.
Slater with a reverse chin lock on Jey and Jey with punches but Slater pulls Jey down by the hair. Gabriel tags back in and he was going to go for a springboard move but he saw Jey trying to make the tag so he stops Jey with a take down. Gabriel with a Fujiwara arm bar into a standard arm bar. Gabriel with an Irish whip and cross body into the corner. Jey catches Gabriel off the turnbuckles and he hits a Samoan drop. Jimmy and Slater tag in and Jimmy with a flying forearm and kicks. Jimmy with a BubbaBomb and then he hits a splash into the corner and a running butt splash for a near fall. Gabriel breaks up the cover.
Gabriel and Jey are removed from the ring. Jimmy with a super kick and he tries for the superfly splash but Slater gets his knees up and he gets the three count with an inside cradle.
Winners: Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Yoshi Tatsu versus Jinder Mahal with Great Khali
Mahal pie faces Yoshi and then Yoshi chops Jinder. Jinder takes Yoshi down and the referee tells Jinder the match has not started yet. Mahal with a suplex and then Mahal Irish whips Yoshi into a chop from Khali. Mahal with a full nelson slam and then Jinder tells Khali to throw Yoshi out of the ring.
Mahal has Khali get a mic for Mahal. Jinder says that this is a prime example of what one of the world’s most powerful and prosperous man can do. He says that he never had to strive to be the best because he was born to be the best. Mahal says that there will be no more dancing or kissing for Khali. He says that Khali has had a rebirth and his only mission is to serve. Nothing can stop the Eastern winds from blowing through the entire WWE Universe.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five (we really mean it this time): Kane versus Christian in an If Christian he gets his ten thousandth title match against Orton since losing the title at the start of May Match
Christian with punches to Kane but Kane with a shoulder tackle and Christian retreats to the corner. Kane sends Christian back into the corner and Kane with punches and an elbow followed by an uppercut. Kane misses a punch but Christian does not. Kane with an Irish whip that sends Christian sternum first into the turnbuckles. Christian with a punch to the face but Kane with an uppercut. Kane misses an elbow drop but Christian takes too long and Kane grabs Christian by the neck and sends him into the corner. Kane tries for a power slam but Christian gets to the apron and Christian drops Kane on the top rope twice.
Christian with a missile drop kick for a near fall. Christian with a series of kicks to Kane and then he chokes Kane in the ropes. Christian chokes Kane with his boots in the corner. Kane kicks Christian away but Christian is able to recover first and he kicks Kane. Christian with a reverse chin lock but Kane with punches to Christian and he presses Christian over his head but Christian gets to his feet. Kane charges at Christian but Christian drops down and Kane goes to the floor. Christian runs Kane into the ringside barrier and it looks like the barrier moved a few inches after the impact.
Kane tries to get back into the ring but he makes it in at 9. Christian kicks Kane in the head and then Christian goes up top for a diving head butt and he hits it and gets a near fall. Christian with a reverse chin lock and we go to commercial.
We are back and Christian with uppercuts to Kane but Kane with a side slam and a near fall. Kane with punches to Christian but Christian with a kick to Kane. Christian comes off the turnbuckles but Kane catches Christian and slams Christian followed by a drop kick for a near fall. Christian tries for the Killswitch but Kane with an elbow. Kane with a slam for a near fall.
Kane with an Irish whip but Christian with an elbow. Christian tries for a sunset flip off the turnbuckles but Kane does not go down. Christian with a pendulum kick. Kane tries for a choke slam but Christian fights him off and hits a tornado DDT for a near fall. Christian sets for the spear and Kane with a big boot to stop Christian. Christian is able to kick out at the last moment because Kane did not make a convincing enough cover.
Kane goes up top and Christian with an arm wringer and he gets a near fall. Christian throws a bit of a tantrum and he argues with the referee. Christian goes up top but Kane hits him with an uppercut as he comes off the ropes. Christian is able to kick out at two. Kane goes up top for the clothesline and Kane connects. Kane sets for the choke slam and Mark Henry makes his way to the ring and Henry hits Kane and hits a splash on Kane.
Winner: Kane by disqualification
After the match, Christian yells at Henry for the disqualification. Then Christian sees Kane getting up and they double team Kane and throw him to the floor.
Teddy Long comes out and he tells Christian that he lost, but he understands that it wasn’t Christian’s fault this time. Christian will have a chance to redeem himself if he can win a tag match. It will be Christian and Mark Henry against Kane and Randy Orton.
Cue the Booker T Severe Weather Alert Siren.
Match Number Six: Randy Orton and Kane versus Christian and Mark Henry in a This is really going to be Christian’s final chance to have a potential title match until the next time someone will have a chance to face the champion at a pay per view Match
Orton and Christian start things off and Orton with a side head lock. Orton with a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Christian backs into the corner. Christian with a kick and punches to Orton followed by an Irish whip but Orton comes out of the corner and hits a clothesline. Orton with boots to Christian followed by a leaping knee drop for a near fall. Christian backs Orton into the corner and Henry tags in.
Henry with a front face lock and forearm to the back followed by a punch to the head. Christian tags back in and he kicks Orton in the midsection. Orton with an inside cradle for a near fall. Christian with a clothesline to Orton and then he tags Henry back in. Henry with a boot to Orton’s midsection. Henry with a forearm across the chest and then he drives Orton head first into the mat. Henry stands over Orton but he misses a drop onto Orton.
Kane tags in and he punches Henry. Henry sends Kane to the apron but Kane drops Henry on the top rope. Kane takes care of Christian on the apron and then Kane with the clothesline from the top turnbuckle for a near fall. Kane tries to slam Henry but Kane could not hold Henry up and Henry with a lateral press. Henry with a kick to the upper chest and Christian is tagged back in.
Christian with kicks to Kane and then he connects with shots to the lower back and then Henry with a head butt when the referee was dealing with Christian and Orton. Henry gets a near fall on Kane. Christian with kicks to the back followed by a double sledge to the back and he gets another near fall. Henry tags back in and he kicks Kane in the ribs. Kane with punches to Henry but Henry with a head butt and Kane goes down again and Henry gets a near fall. Henry kicks Kane in the ribs followed by a forearm across the chest.
Henry with an Irish whip and Kane grabs Henry as he comes out of the corner and hits a choke slam. Henry and Kane are both down. Orton tags in and he goes after Christian on the apron and then Orton twists into the RKO push ups. Orton sees Christian trying to interfere and he hits a few clotheslines followed by a power slam and a Thesz Press and punches. Christian rolls to the apron and Orton tries for the IEDDT and he hits it. Henry picks up Orton and tries for the World’s Strongest Slam. Orton escapes and tries for the RKO on Henry. Henry pushes Orton away and Orton hits Christian with the RKO. Henry with the World’s Strongest Slam for the three count.
Winners: Christian and Mark Henry
2012 - Tommy Dreamer announced plans to open his own promotion, House of Hardcore.
2012 - Ring of Honor held their Best in the World 2012 iPPV in New York City. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live coverage of ROH Best In The World 2012!
Coverage will begin shortly.
Truth Martini comes out before the match to say that he has the breakout star of 2012 in Michael Elgin, the World TV Champion Roderick Strong, and now he wants tag team gold, so he introduces the faceless Guardians of Truth.
Jay & Mark Briscoe vs The Guardians of Truth
he Guardians of Truth are a couple of guys in Executioner-style long black trunks and black masks, and they jump the Briscoes as soon as the bells rings. They work Mark over after dumping Jay out to the floor, but the Briscoes regain the momentum and take Guardian #1 out before Mark hits a rolling senton off the ropes on #2 for a 2 count. The Briscoes are all over the GoT as the fans chant "fix the ropes" to reference the fact that they appear dangerously loose. Briscoes with the double football tackle on Guardian #2, but #1 switches in and lays Jay out. GoT with a side suplex/flying legdrop combo on Jay for 2, then they put the boots to him, but Jay makes the hot tag and Mark comes in with Redneck Kung Fu. Mark comes off the top with a flying elbow (coming off the ringpost since the top rope was too loose for him to stand on), then they set up for the Doomsday Device. Whichever Guardian was on Jay's shoulders tried a victory roll, but Jay just dropped down on top of him and got the pin.
Winners: Jay & Mark Briscoe
The Briscoes try to give Truth Martini the Doomsday Device after the match, but the Guardians shove Mark off the top rope and attack Jay until security runs in to break them up. Match seemed to have had its momentum slowed down a lot because of the loose ropes.
Eddie Edwards vs Homicide
They traded slaps at the start, Homicide goes after Edwards and gets suplexed. Homicide rolls out to the floor, so Eddie comes through the ropes with a dive that smashes him into the guardrail, then they trade chops all around ringside with Edwards getting the better of the exchange. They go back inside and Eddie comes off the top rope with a dropkick that gets 2. Homicide tries a back suplex, but Eddie lands on his feet and hits a full rotation german suplex, then hits Homicide with a running kneestrike for 2. They go back to trading chops in the middle of the ring, then they decide to upgrade and go back and forth hitting Yakuza kicks until they both go down. They make it back to their feet and Homicide has the presence of mind to hit an overhead belly to belly suplex. Eddie leapfrogs Homicide and tries a charge in the corner, but Homicide moves and Eddie smashes his shoulder into the ringpost. Homicide, being the gentle soul that he is, grabs Eddie and runs him into the post a second time. Homicide grabs a chair, but the referee takes it away from him, so he grabs Eddie's arm and bends it awkwardly around the top rope instead. Homicide goes back to work on Eddie's arm, which was fairly heavily bandaged coming in, and gets a Fujiwara armbar before releasing the hold to drop a knee on his elbow. Homicide hits two of the three amigos, but Eddie reverses on the third to two of his own amigos. He also goes for the third, but Homicide breaks free and hammers his elbow down across Eddie's arm. Homicide goes to the top rope as the fans chant "si si si" at him, but Eddie nails him and hits a top rope superplex. Homicide goes for an Ace Crusher, Eddie counters to an F5 and a fisherman's buster for 2. Back and forth exchange ends with Eddie getting a schoolboy rollup for 2, then countering Homicide's kickout right into the Crippler Crossface. Homicide makes the ropes, then hits a tornado DDT for 2. Eddie tries for a Backpack chinbreaker, but Homicide blocks and hits the Ace Crusher for 2. Homicide with a northern lariat, Eddie blocks a second lariat with a big boot, but Homicide hits him on the second try and gets 2. Homicide is starting to get frustrated and goes for the cop Killa, but Eddie slips out the back and gets a forward victory roll for 2. Homicide charges for another lariat, but Eddie rolls through into the Achilles Lock, Lance Storm-style. Homicide gets out and small packages Eddie for 2, then another elbowsmash to the arm stuns Eddie long enough for Homicide to hit the Cop Killa for the win.
Winner: Homicide
EXCELLENT MATCH! I was saying to Mike Johnson as we were watching this that this could main event an ROH show, and they wrestled like they were main eventing.
Hybrid Fighting Rules: Kyle O'Reilly vs Adam Cole
Fans are solidly behind Cole as they circle one another. Cole tries to sweep O'Reilly's leg, but O'Reilly steps out of the way, goes behind and takes Cole down with a waistlock. Cole tries a go behind, but O'Reilly overhooks Cole's arm and hiptosses him. Cole finally gets a shot in, so O'Reilly takes Cole down and just pounds the snot out of him. They do a fast paced martial arts exchange with neither man able to connect, and they wind up at a stalemate. O'Reilly with a boot to the gut and he tries a back suplex, Cole slips through and tries one of his own, O'Reilly comes down bad on his ankle so Cole quickly tries to capitalize by shooting on the leg. O'Reilly spins behind, but Cole comes around on top of O'Reilly and dropkicks his bad leg out from under him. Cole with a dragon screw legwhip, then he tries another and O'Reilly counters to an enziguiri. Cole manages to hold onto the ankle, so O'Reilly tries another enziguiri, but Cole ducks and uses O'Reilly's momentum to make the next dragon screw legwhip even harsher. O'Reilly is down in the corner and Cole pummels him with punches until the referee forces him to back off. O'Reilly gets a roll through into a cross armbreaker, Cole makes the ropes and tries to fire back at O'Reilly, but O'Reilly catches him with some stiff shots and Cole goes down. O'Reilly lets the referee count, but Cole starts to get up, so O'Reilly puts him in a seated abdominal stretch and repeatedly drills him with open hand strikes to the face. O'Reilly tries an arm wringer, but Cole breaks free and hits a flying leg lariat. Cole with a series of back elbows using the good arm, but tries an ill-advised suplex and winds up in a strike exchange. They hit simultaneous big boot and both go down, but they both beat the count back up and go back to trading right hands and literally beat each in the face until both their faces are covered in blood. They give that up and instead do the old Danielson-McGuinness headbutt exchange off the ropes, Cole gets the advantage and superkicks O'Reilly square in the face. O'Reilly beats the count and knocks Cole down, but he pops right back up. Both men are covered in blood as O'Reilly gets several more hard strikes and a backdrop suplex. The crowd boos as the guy from the NY State Athletic commission takes a seat at ringside, O'Reilly gets a front guillotine choke but Cole muscles him up into a brainbuster onto his knee. O'Reilly somehow gets to his feet, so Cole superkicks him square in the face and O'Reilly is knocked out and tumbles to the floor. He somehow manages to make it back in yet again and gets a cross armbreaker, Cole reverses to a Texas Cloverleaf, O'Reilly tries to reverse to the LeBell Lock, but Cole blocks and gets a figure four, and O'Reilly taps.
Winner: Adam Cole
This was just insane, absolutely way more than I was prepared for and so, so good. When I reviewed their first match over Wrestlemania weekend, I said that it was okay, but thought they could do a lot more given more time and a higher profile spot. This was that match, and one you absolutely need to go out of your way to see. Cole tries to shake O'Reilly's hand, but O'Reilly smacks him in the face and walks out.
Fit Finlay vs Michael Elgin
It's not often I start a match thinking "poor Michael Elgin", but this is one of those occasions. Elgin follows the Code of Honor and Finlay follows suit...then pulls Elgin in for a very tense staredown. They tie up and Elgin powers Finlay to the corner, Finlay reverses and breaks clean. Finlay takes Elgin to the corner and head feints at Elgin, but Elgin doesn't flinch. Elgin with what Finlay apparently considered a playful shove, then he gets Elgin in a side headlock. Elgin takes Finlay to the ropes and slowly breaks, but Finlay shoots right in on the leg and takes Elgin down, then stomps on the knee and kicks him in the face for good measure. Elgin gives him a forearm to the face as a receipt, and they go back to circling one another. Finlay goes behind and steps on the back of Elgin's knee to break him down to the mat, then rams an elbow down to the top of his head. Finlay is absolutely playing with Elgin at this point, getting a drop toehold and a side crossface. Elgin tries to roll Finlay to his back, but barely manages a 1 before Finlay rolls back and goes after Elgin's arm. Elgin finally has had enough and fires a couple of forearms at Finlay, who just dropkicks Elgin's knee out from under him and goes back to the side crossface. Finlay breaks Elgin down to his knees again and rams a forearm to the chest. Elgin reponds with a pair of forearms of his own, so Finlay takes him down with another single leg and grinds Elgin's knee with his elbow. Elgin locks his hands around Finlay's chin to try and peel him off, but finlay holds on until Elgin rolls out and they're back on their feet. They circle one another and Finlay slaps Elgin in the face, Elgin gets pissed and smashes him with a couple of forearms, but Finlay with yet another single leg takedown and Elgin has to expend energy to get out of the hold. Elgin finally gets a go behind on Finlay and gets a waistlock, but Finlay again has an answer and uses his hips to roll Elgin over him and back onto the mat where Finlay gets him in a top wristlock. Elgin gets to the ropes, so Finlay uses the referee to distract Elgin so he can come in and kick Elgin in the gut and pound on him with forearms to the chest. Elgin reverses a whip and sends Finlay into the corner, but runs into Finlay's boots. Finlay dodges another couple of wild swings, but Elgin gets a suplex and then drops Finlay down with a huge clothesline. They go out to the floor, but that turns out to be a mistake for Elgin, as he winds up on the wrong end of an exchange where Finlay rams Elgin's back into the ring apron, then picks Elgin up in a fireman's carry and drops him across the top of the guardrail. Finlay gets inside and waits for Elgin to get onto the apron, then just drills him with a hard forearm and sends him back out to the floor. Elgin rolls back in under the bottom rope and he looks pissed. Finlay backs toward the corner, then boots Elgin in the face again and charges out with a hard forearm that drops Elgin on his ass. finlay with a short clothesline and a kneedrop for 2, then gets Elgin in a rear chinlock. Elgin picks Finlay up and gets a back suplex, but Finlay maintains control and gets another nasty chinlock. Elgin counters to a legscissors as they seem to be losing parts of the crowd, but Finlay escapes and takes Elgin back down by the legs. Elgin suddenly catches Finlay with an enziguiri out of nowhere, then dodges a charge and Finlay runs his shoulder into the ringpost. Now Elgin takes the golden opportunity to hit Finlay with several clotheslines in the corner and a superkick. Elgin suplexes Finlay off his knees and drops him forward into a uranage for 2. Elgin goes for a powerbomb, Finlay backdrops but now Elgin uses one of his own tricks against Finlay by mulekicking him out of the corner. Elgin goes up for a moonsault, but Finlay shoves him out to the floor, then goes out and rolls him back inside and covers for 2. Finlay hits the Celtic Cross, but Elgin kicks out at 2 so Finlay hoists him back up and hits a Tombstone, but Elgin again is out at 2. Finlay can't believe it, but he drags Elgin back up one more time and goes for another Tombstone. Elgin slips out the back, palmstrikes Finlay in the face, powerbombs him into the corner, and htis the sitout powerbomb for the hardest fought win of his life.
Winner: Michael Elgin
This told a great story because you had Elgin, who's been one of the most dominant guys in the company for the last year, coming in and basically being manhandled to show that no matter how good you are, there's always someone way better. He survived massive amounts of punishment and managed to turn a really bad situation around really quickly with the flurry of moves at the end. This was much better for Elgin than if he would have cakewalked through Finlay, or even been presented as even with him because the win means much more because of what he had to do to earn it.
Finlay wants to shake Elgin's hand after the match, Truth Martini laughs Finlay off, but Elgin comes over and shakes his hand like a man. Martini gets in Elgin's face about it, so Elgin backs him to the corner while apparently expressing in no uncertain terms that Truth Martini should try not to tell him how to live his life.
INTERMISSION
We come back from intermission with Mike Bennett making his way to the ring with Maria Kanellis and Brutal Bob Evans for the first ever live edition of the Prodigy Service Announcement. He says New York wasn't his first choice for this since he's from Boston, but ROH told him that he could wrestle anyone he wants on the show, but he says that unless it's a title match, he won't do it because he's the best wrestler on the planet and nobody else comes close. Crowd starts a CM Punk, and he says that they can chant for the Best In The World, but he's Better Than The Best, so he's just going to hand the microphone back to his fellow Bostonite Bobby Cruise, and he and Maria will show the fans the best makeout session they've ever seen. He and Maria start to go at it, but Mike Mondo comes out and says he's from New York, the first show he ever came to was here at the Manhattan Center, but it's always been his dream to wrestle here. He keeps getting ignored by ROH management when they see his number on the caller ID, but he wants to live his dream and he says he's not leaving until he gets to fight Mike Bennett, then after he gets done fighting Mike Bennett, he's....well, going to do something else with Maria that starts with the letter F. Mike Bennett jumps Mondo, but gets his ass kicked and he bails out to the floor. Referee Paul Turner is out here trying to break them up, and it looks like we've got a match.
Mike Mondo vs Mike Bennett
Mondo goes out to hte apron and takes out Evans with a Thesz Press, but Bennett picks him up and hits a spinebuster onto the ring apron, then they go inside where Bennett unloads on Mondo with big right hands. Mondo suddenly fires up and destroys Bennett with big uppercuts and kneestrikes to the head, but goes up to the top rope and misses a swandive headbutt. Bennett stands over Mondo and mouths off to him, but Mondo reaches up and catches him in a small package for the win.
Winner: Mike Mondo
Short match, but a good start for Mondo as what I assume will be a regular on the main touring ROH roster instead of just TV spots. I liked how they built Bennett up as this abrasive jerk so Mondo could come out and use his New York credentials to get crowd support for this.
ROH TV Title Match: Roderick Strong vs Tommaso Ciampa vs Jay Lethal
This is being held under elimination rules, and also happens to be the first time Ciampa and Lethal have been in the ring with each other since Lethal handed Ciampa his first loss at Border Wars. Lethal and Ciampa need to be physically held apart during ring introductions, but go right after each other as soon as the bell rings. They fight out to the floor and then come back inside where Strong gets involved and takes out both guys. Strong gets dumped out to the floor and then Lethal goes at it with Ciampa, but Lethal suddenly hits a dive through the ropes onto Strong. Mia Yim gets up on the ring apron and superkicks Lethal, and then all heck breaks loose until Strong hits a uranage backbreaker on Lethal for 2. Lethal unloads with a pair of chops on Strong, but Ciampa comes in and goes after both men, picking Strong up in an electric chair and dumping him on his face and covering for 2. Ciampa tears Lethal down with chops in the corner, but Ciampa comes off the ropes for the kneestrike and Lethal pops up and superkicks him, then Ciampa hits a kneestrike anyway and both men are down. Strong dumps Ciampa to the floor and quickly covers Lethal, but only gets 2. Vertical suplex gets 2 as well, and Strong unloads with hard forearms while talking trash. Lethal gets to his feet and now they trade chops in the middle of the ring until Ciampa comes in and they both chop the crap out of him. Ciampa goes down and Lethal takes both men out with running clotheslines. Lethal with a handspring elbow to Ciampa, then runs off of Strong's chest to hit Ciampa with a tornado DDT. Lethal with a figure four on Strong while locking Ciampa in a Crippler Crossface in a very cool spot, but Ciampa gets to the ropes to force the break. Lethal pops Strong into the air for an Ace Crusher, but Ciampa knocks him silly with a kneestrike and then comes off the top with Hail To The King. He covers Lethal for 2 and then tries for Project Ciampa, Strong hits an enziguiri on Ciampa, Lethal leg lariats Strong and then goes for a superplex on Ciampa, but Ciampa shoves him off right into a rolling elbow from Strong. Strong runs in and hits a leaping enziguiri on Ciampa and then shakes the ring with a HUUUUUGE superplex, and Lethal goes up top and hits Hail To The King and covers Ciampa for 2. Strong Tullys Lethal to the floor and Truth Martini goes after Lethal, Lethal nails him and a scuffle between the two sides happens on the floor, leading to Prince Nana rolling into the ring and tripping Ciampa as he was going for Project Ciampa on Strong. Strong falls on top and pins Ciampa, then something I didn't quite catch happened as Lethal was coming off the ropes for the Lethal Injection and Strong popped him into the air for the vertical suplex into a backbreakerand covers for the win.
Winner: Roderick Strong
A lot going on in this one that and it was a little difficult to catch everything, but solid match overall and I liked how they found ways to eliminate Lethal and Ciampa in such a way that neither one lost anything. Strong really is the master of three way matches, nobody I've ever seen has quite the same ability to use the dynamic to his advantage in the same way tag teams use tag team rules to do stuff you can't do in singles matches.
ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team vs All Night Express
King and Haas start us off and the crowd tells Haas what they think of him, so he tags out and Shelton goes at it with King instead. They go back and forth until King gets a series of hiptosses and armdrags, and Shelton bails out to the floor. The crowd is going NUTS for the ANX, they badly want to see them win the title. King unloads on Shelton with right hands, rams him hard into the corner, and backdrops him out before taking him down with a headlock. Benjamin manages to tag Haas and he comes in to work King over while exchanging pleasantries with the fans. Shelton comes back in, but King quickly recovers and turns things around, taking Haas out and hitting a double team splash/slingshot legdrop with Titus. King winds up in the wrong corner and gets choked out by Haas, then Shelton leaps up with an enziguiri to the face and Haas covers for 2. Shelton tags in and gets a seated rear chinlock on King, then he pulls him up and hits a snap suplex for 2. Haas hangs King upside down in the corner and charges in with a knee like he's Kevin Sullivan. he picks King up and tries another charge, King leapfrogs Haas and rolls him up for 2, but Haas lays him right back out and then tags Shelton in so he can hit some kneedrops. Shelton pulls out the sick ass spot of the night when he picked King up like he was going for a wheelbarrow suplex, but instead drops King forward over his knees. Haas comes in and abuses King until the referee steps in, and King uses the distraction to roll Haas up for 2. Haas and Benjamin go for a double suplex on King, but King counters to a double DDT and makes the hot tag to Titus, and he comes in like a house of fire. Titus cleans house on both guys, backdropping Shelton and them nailing Haas with a big boot to the head and a leaping bulldog. Titus with a big boot/roaring clothesline combo on Shelton for 2, he goes up top and Shelton tries to do the leaping suplex,but Titus drops under Shelton and drops him face first onto the top turnbuckle. King comes in with Shotgun knees on Shelton and covers for 2, but Haas comes in and suplexes King out of his shoes, then gives Titus the Hacker Slam and Shelton covers for 2. King tosses a chair into the ring to Shelton and dares him to use it, the referee sees and tells King to get lost, but Titus sneaks in and hits Shelton with a DDT onto the chair for a false finish. King takes Haas out with a dive over the ropes, Titus goes for one as well but Shelton blindsides him and knocks him outside. Now all four men are on the floor and Titus gets busted open (I didn't quite catch how), and he ends up back inside as a smiling Haas gleefully pounds on his skull as blood mists into the air with each shot. Haas unloads on Titus in the corner and cuts off the hot tag, then chokes Titus out with his boot. Shelton tags in and stomps the crap out of Titus as well, and the referee stops him to check on the blood, but then Shelton and Haas come back to beat on him some more. Haas takes the microphone and asks the referee if he's going to stop the match, because they're going to kill him if he doesn't. The referee lets it go, so Haas says the blood's on his hands, and he goes back to destroying Titus. They set Titus up for the Leap of Faith, but King comes in and takes Shelton out with a tornado DDT. Haas goes after King and takes him out with a big boot, but Titus catches him with a schoolboy rollup and pins him to win the title.
Winners and NEW ROH World Tag Team Champions: All Night Express
Crowd goes NUTS when Titus got the pin, and the celebration is on as the ANX breaks the wine open as Haas & Benjamin stand in the ring in disbelief. They go out to the floor and lay Titus and King out, but the new champions get back up and head to the back with the belts (and wine bottles) held high.
Steve Corino comes out before the main event and says that he's proud to be evil,and he's going to sit on commentary for the main event so Kevin Steen has representation from someone who cares about him, unlike "that fat piece of s*** Jim Cornette." This bings out Cornette, who says that he's not stupid because he knows that Corino will get involved if his boy gets in trouble. Corino's a contracted announcer for ROH so he can sit in on commentary, but Cornette will sit right out here with him, and if Corino gets involved the slightest bit, he's going to do something about it. After ring introductions, Kyle O'Reilly comes out to get the microphone and says that he's not in Davey's corner because Davey didn't like how he handled his loss to Adam Cole. He respects Davey, but he's not going to let Davey slap him around on TV, and he's not out here to stab him in the face, he's going to stab him right in the eye because he's telling him to his face that he's tired of being Davey's little bitch, and that's all he's going to be as long as he stays with him. No more Team Richards, no more Team Ambition, there's Davey Richards and Kyle O'Reilly, and New York can kiss his ass. O'Reilly drops the microphone and walks off.
ROH World Title Match, Anything Goes: Kevin Steen vs Davey Richards
Steen goes right out to the apron to start the match, Davey kicks him off and through a ringside table, then they start fighting on the floor. Davey stops to go after Jimmy Jacobs, but he turns around and runs right into a pop-up powerbomb on the ring apron. Steen rams Davey into the guardrail and slams him on the floor, then throws a couple of metal guardrail covers on top of him and comes off the ring apron with a splash. They go back inside and Steen goes for a Swanton, but Davey gets the knees up. He goes back after Steen, but Steen catches Davey and suplexes him into the corner. Davey turns it around and kicks Steen out to the floor before following him out with a dive. They wind up fighting around the ring and onto the ring apron where Davey suplexes Steen and drops him headfirst on the apron. Davey sets up a table at ringside and puts Steen on it, then goes to the top rope and double stomps Steen through the table. He rolls Steen back inside and connects with another top rope double stomp that gets 2. Davey goes after Steen with a chair, but Steen blocks and hits a Codebreaker using the chair, then slams Davey onto the chair for 2. Steen goes up top and Davey goes up after him, suplexing him onto a pile of chairs in the ring. Davey covers and gets 2, then gets another table and sets it up in the ring. He sits Steen up top and goes for another superplex, but Steen gets him in the eyes and hits a super fisherman's buster through the table that had so much impact that half of the table bounced across the ring after they went through it. Steen sets up a couple of chairs face to face, but Davey nails him and suplexes him onto the chairs instead. Now Davey is standing over Steen with a chain and chokes the champion with it, then wraps the chain around his boot and Kawada kicks Steen before sitting him up and kicking him in the head. He covers for 2, then gets pissed off at the referee and lays him out with a kick. The crowd liked that one. Davey gets a ladder out from under the ring and slides it under the bottom rope, but Steen pops up and surprises him with an F5 that gets 2 from replacement referee Paul Turner. Steen now puts him out with the Package Piledriver, then he tries to do the same to Davey onto the ladder, but Davey escapes and hits the DR Driver onto the ladder. He covers, but we're out of referees, so after the crowd counts to around 14 or 15, he grabs the original referee and drags him back in. Jacobs comes in and goes after Davey and pulls the steel spike out of his boot, but Jim Cornette comes into the ring and grabs the spike away. He threatens to go after Jacobs with it, but turns around and gets kicked low by Corino. Jacobs gets the spike back and goes after Davey with it, but Davey ducks and suplexes Jacobs into the corner. Steen gets ahold of the spike and hits Davey low with it, then hits the Package Piledriver to retain.
Winner: Kevin Steen
Steen says that he's closed out the last two ROH shows with the microphone, and he's going to make it a hat trick. He's waited a long time to stand in front of those people in this ring, in this building, with this belt. He hates hypocrites like Jim Cornette, but right now he wants Davey to know that for the last 18 months, he's been a hypocrite because he's needed to be to get a title match. The stuff he said about Davey being an undeserving champion wasn't true, he thinks Davey is one of the hardest working people in the business and he is the best in the world. He then says that the fans are the most hypocritical people in the wrestling business, and to illustrate that, he talks about how the fans cheered when Generico beat him and sent him packing (leading to a Generico Ole chant), but then six months later he showed back up here and he was like a god here. Everyone thanks Cary Silkin for everything he did for the company, but they went nuts when he was going to break his neck with the package piledriver. The fans buy tickets to an ROH show, then chant for Bryan Danielson and CM Punk, two guys who probably don't even remember this company. The fans turn on every World Champion: they did it to Nigel McGuinness, Tyler Black, and Davey Richards, and they can't turn on him because he doesn't give a s*** what they think. He's going to be the last ROH World Champion, and now instead of saying f*** ROH, he's going to say what he means, which is f*** Ring of Honor.
That's it for Best In The World 2012, thanks for following out live coverage.
2013 - House of Glory ran Ridgewood, NY. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of House of Glory in Ridgewood, NY. Can I just say it is beyond nice to cover a show I can walk to from my apartment?
Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs. The Young Bucks vs. Tru Talent: Elimination Bout
The Bucks attacked London and Kendrick early, then tossed Tru Talent out of the ring. London and Kendrick made a comeback and worked over Nick Jackson with a double suplex. Matt Jackson tried to interfere but was knocked off the top rope.
London dropkicked Nick and nailed a rana out of the ring on him. Matt tried to jump London but was tossed out as well. They all ended up on the floor. The Buck teased a dive but was taken out by Try Talent. Talent hit stereo dives on their opponents on opposite end of the ring.
Back in the ring, The Bucks took control on Talent. London and Kendrck returned to the fray. Nick backdropped Kendrick over the top. He and Matt nailed a double superkick on London, pinning him.
London and Kendrick are eliminated.
The Bucks took control on Talent, working them over. Matt worked over Sir Altitude, tagging in and out with Nick. They messed with Alex Reyes and he tried to get in the ring to interfere. The referee stopped him, giving the Bucks more of a chance to control Altitude. They kept working over Altitude. Fans chanted, "Where's the hot tag?" Yes, really.
The Bucks kept working over Altitude. He finally fought them off as they charged him in the corner. He made the hot tag to Reyes and the place popped. Reyes nailed a series of superkicks and punches. Altitude returned to the fray. Nick was backdropped out of the ring. Reyes nailed a Codebreaker on Jackson and held him down. Altitude stepped on his back and leapt off with a standing moonsault. That was cool as hell.
Nick returned to the fray. Everyone battled back and forth. The Bucks laid out Reyes with a double superkick. They nailed their powerbomb/kick combination in the corner. Reyes stopped Matt from coming off the top and Altitude rolled up Nick for the pin.
Your winners, Tru Talent!
Fun opener. Since the entire point of these shows is for the local talents and student to work with bigger names and get better, it made sense for Talent to go over. Everyone looked good.
Felix Rampage vs. Andy Lee Ray
Ray is billed as from "The Nintendo Store" and does a gamer gimmick. Rampage is billed from Brooklyn and is a heel. They are both HOG students.
Rampage attacked Ray early and worked him over in the corner with shoulderblocks. Ray made a comeback and Rampage went to the floor. Rampage stalled but Ray went to the floor. He ducked a clothesline and nailed Rampage.
Rampage was tossed back in the ring. Ray played to the crowd, allowing Rampage to kick him in the groin. Rampage cinched in a side chinlock. He whipped Ray into the ropes and nailed a spinebuster.
Ray was suplexed over by Rampage, scoring a two count. Ray missed a clothesline and was powerbombed down for a two count. Rampage argued with the referee over a slow count.
They battled back and forth. Rampage scored several two counts but was caught with a sideslam for a two count. Ray battled back but was worked over in the corner with shoulderblocks and kicks. He was placed on the top rope but battled Rampage off. He nailed a victory roll out of the corner for the pin.
Your winner, Andy Lee Ray!
Solid back and forth match between two guys who worked hard. Ray's gimmick could get over with kids.
They announced a 8/18 return featuring HOG vs. Ring of Honor. That's the day after ROH's return to the Hammerstein Ballroom and the same day as Summerslam.
Earl Cooter vs. Panda Man
Cooter is a trucker character. He's more of a personality than a worker in the ring but gets heat. He works a very 1980s style. Panda Man is a masked character. He comes out to "Everybody's Kung Fu Fighting" and is a pretty cool gimmick for kids. He's over since he's on all the shows and comes out eating a Bamboo stick.
Cooter stalled early, not wanting to lock up. When they did, he left the ring, acting like he was hurt. When he returned to the ring, Panda nailed a series of chops and whipped Cooter into the corner. Cooter kicked him down and came off with an elbow off the ropes.
Cooter stomped Panda Man and nailed a rolling snapmare. He drilled Panda Man with a kick to the face and covered him for a two count. Cooter grabbed the Bamboo Stick but that fired Panda up. Cooter cut him off and locked on a sleeper. Panda backed him into the corner to break it.
Panda whipped Cooter into the corner but was sent up and over to the apron. Cooter kicked him to the floor and came off the ropes with a flying double axehandle. Panda nailed him on the way down and worked him over on the floor.
Panda tossed him back into the ring and clotheslined Cooter who grabbed the ropes to break the count. Panda missed a charge in the corner. Cooter drilled him with a kick in the corner and a bulldog for a two count. Panda headbutt Cooter and whipped him into the corner. Cooter did the Flair Flop but landed on his feet. He thumbed Panda in the eye and came off with a shot from the top for a two count.
Panda finally scored with a leaping clothesline for the pin.
Your winner, Panda Man!
Smiley vs. Anthony Nese
Smiley is a masked wrestler. The mask is all bright yellow with a smiley on it. It's pretty cool. Fans chanted, "That guy's airbrushed" at Nese. They went back and forth and faced off early. The fans applauded.
Nese shoulderblocked Smiley down. Smiley leapfrogged over another charge and offered his hand. The crowd chanted for Nese to shake it. Nese shook it but Smiley wouldn't let go. He removed his mask to reveal another, wilder mask. The crowd popped.
Smiley went into overdrive with offense, hitting a rana and a double knee drop strike. Nese missed a charge in the corner. Smiley came off the top with a moonsault for a two count. Nese ended up on the apron. Smiley snapped the ropes into his mid-section and Nese went to the floor holding his groin. He teased walking out but eventually returned.
Smiley nailed a sliding dropkick to the outside on Nese. Nese returned to the ring as he rebounded for a dive, clotheslining him. Nese peppered Smiley with punches and kicks. Smiley made a comeback with chops and kicks. Nese slammed him and legdropped Smiley for a two count.
Nese stepped on Smiley and stranged him with a boot to the throat, then cinched in a rear chinlock. Nese was caught with a stunner and a flying clothesline off the ropes for a two count. He went to the floor. Smiley followed by Nese slipped out of the way. He went to the apron, cartwheeled out of a strike attempt and landed on the floor. Unfortunately, Smiley nailed him and then hit a tope to the floor.
Smiley drilled Nese with a DDT, bounced up and nailed it again for a two count. That was a cool spot. Smiley nailed a series of kicks to the chest but Nese grabbed him and nailed a Dragon Screw Legwhip. Nese placed Smiley on the top for a move but Smiley battled him off several times. Smiley nailed a swanton for a two count.
Smiley and Nese battled back and forth. Smiley rolled him up for a two count. Nese used a rolling pin combination for a two count, then powered Smiley up and powerbombed him in the corner. Nese drilled him with a Facewash and nailed a Kryptonite Krunch for the pin.
Your winner, Tony Nese!
Real good match. I had never seen Smiley's work or gimmick before and it was pretty cool. Nese is a hell of an athlete and I won't be shocked to see him as the next big breakout guy. Three awesome performances in three nights.
After the intermission, Danny Demanto came out and began ripping on one of the ring crew/students, Nick, a student who is legitimately mute. He ripped on the fans and said it Amazing Red has a problem with what he's saying, some to the ring. Red came out from the crowd. Demanto said he's tired of coming here and beating students when he should be in the main event. He said he doesn't care about Red or his "retard."
Red said that he doesn't have a match tonight, so if Demanto wants to be in the main event, all he has to do is say Red's name. He asked Demanto what he thinks. Demanto took the mic and said, "Red, you should expect the unexpected, you dirty little sp** b**ch." Red kicked him as he left the ring. Red said Demanto's comments were uncalled for but he promises that tonight, he is going to give Demanto a lesson he will never forget. The crowd popped for that.
Sami Callihan vs. Brian XL
As XL came out, a little kid slipped through the guard rail and hugged XL. Callihan took the mic and said that if the kid did that to him, he'd have kicked him in the face. He said XL is a "flippy guy" and that when he was done with XL, his kid was going to watch his dad be carried out. He took the House of Glory flag, which XL carries to the ring, and slammed it down. XL wasn't happy with that.
The crowd chanted "Brooklyn" to get behind XL. Callihan did some comedy where he tried to get on the ropes to yell at the crowd but "slipped" and was so angry about it, he kicked the buckles and "hurt himself."
They locked up and Callihan was backed into the corner. The referee broke them up. XL offered his hand. Callihan shoved him by the face. Callihan backed him in the corner and ripped at XL. He then offered his hand but XL took it, whioped Callihan to the ropes and dropkicked him.
Callihan quickly cut him off and nailed a Facewash into the corner. He went for another but XL dove at him with a kick, taking him out. Callihan was sent to the outside and XL went for a dive. Callihan leapt up on the apron and said, "No dives!" XL dropkicked him off, then hit a hell of a tope.
Callihan drilled XL on the floor and argued with some kids at ringside. He even leaned in and dared one to punch him in the fae. He then told the kid "this one is for you" and tried to chop XL, who ducked and Callihan nailed the ringpost. XL was caught and nailed with a backdrop on the apron. Callihan demanded the referee count him out. XL returned in time but Callihan cut him off and tossed him back out. He drilled XL with a kick off the apron and demanded the kid he was arguing with get in the ring and fight him.
XL rolled back in the ring at the last second and Callihan mocked him, then tossed him over the top again. XL's foot hit the guard rail on the way out. Callihan returned to the floor and worked over XL. XL sent him into the railing. They both painfully returned to the ring before the ten count.
Callihan charged but was kicked off by XL and nailed with a reverse elbow. XL went to the top. Callihan charged him but was kicked. XL nailed a springboard into a flying bodypress for a two count. XL missed a dropkicked into the corner. Callihan nailed a big powerbomb and covered him for a two, then turned him into the stretch muffler. XL reversed it into a pinfall combination for a two count.
XL came off the ropes with a springboard tornado DDT and pinned Callihan.
Your winner, Brian XL!
A really, really great back and forth match. Callihan's comedy really showed a different side of him without taking away from his ferocity as a wrestler. XL is one of the most underrated guys right now. I think a lot of people remember him as the kid from 2002 not the man he is in 2013.
XL thanked Jesus and asked Callihan, who returned to the back, to return. XL said that when he first Callihan, he knew he was going to be a star and make it. He said that he doesn't want to waste everyone's time, but wants everyone to know he's going to be a Superstar. Callihan thanked him and then kicked XL in the groin and walked off.
As XL was recovering, Anthony Gangone came out and complained he wasn't booked. He pointed out all the other students who were booked but he wasn't, when Eddie Kingston said he was the best student. He told XL he was the one who was going to carry this company for the next five years. He told XL, who is deeply religious, that as far as XL is concerned, Anthony is Jesus Christ.
XL slapped him and they went back and forth. Gangone cut him off with a high knee and began stomping him. Tommy Dreamer's music hit and he hit the ring, attacking Gangone. They rang the bell.
Tommy Dreamer vs. Anthony Gangone.
Dreamer and Gangone brawled around ringside. Dreamer brought him to the outside and whipped him into a wall. He held Gangone for a kid to nail with a Singapore Cane. Dreamer sells them at intermission. That was funny!
Dreamer brought Gangone back into the ringside area, where he nailed him with the ring bell of doom. They battled back into the ring, where Gangone sidestepped a charge and Dreamer nailed a shot into the ringpost. Gangone kicked away at Dreamer and locked in a side chinlock.
The fans chanted for Dreamer, who made a comeback. Gangone kicked him off during a charge and covered him for a two count. Gangone kept working over Dreamer and locked on a sleeper. Dreamer fought back but was sent into a corner. He escaped a Gangone charge into it and Gangone crashed hard to the floor.
Dreamer unloaded with some clubbering when Gangone returned to the ring. He peppered him with punches in the corner. He then took a bite out of his face and kicked Gangone down as he charged. Dreamer sent him into the buckles and nailed a neckbreaker for a two count.
Dreamer brought a chair into the ring. He set it up but as always, he ended up eating it thanks to a drop toehold. Gangone went to the ropes, mocked Dreamer by yelling "ECW" and came off with the chair but Dreamer kicked it into his face. Dreamer went for the Spicoli Driver but Gangone slipped out and nailed a superkick for a two count.
Gangone grabbed Dreamer's Singapore Cane and went to hit Dreamer but was nailed. The Cane went flying into the audience. Dreamer nailed the DDT for the pin.
Your winner, Tommy Dreamer!
Gangone walked off through the crowd, kicking chairs.
The crowd chanted "ECW" and "Thank you Tommy."
Good Dreamer brawl. Gangone shows promised.
Danny Demanto vs. Amazing Red
Red charged the ring and attacked Demanto. He used a twisting head scissors to send him to the floor and then nailed a twisting dive to the outside.
Red sent Demanto into the guard rails and then hit a running dropkick into them and Demanto. Red drilled him with a right hand and tossed Demanto into the ring. Red perched himself on the top and drilled Demanto with a missile dropkick. He went back to the ropes but Demanto yanked him off to the mat.
Demanto took off his t-shirt and choked Red against the ropes. Demanto drilled Red with a punch to the face and snapmared him over. He rebounded off the ropes and then dropped down to a side chinlock, mocking the crowd.
Red fought back and out with a series of elbows but was cut off with a big clothesline just as he was trying to build momentum. They battled to the outside, where Demanto worked over Red and whipped him into the guard rail.
Demanto brought Red back into the ring and worked him over. Red made a comeback with a rana and a twisting DDT. Red came off the rope with a flying bodypress but was caught and slammed down. Red came back with a series of superkicks and powered him up for a Death Valley Driver for another two count.
Red drilled Demanto with a kick to the face and went for the Code Red but Demanto, who was very large, held on and sat down for a pinfall attempt. Red kicked up at two. Demanto grabbed a chair but Red's student Nick grabbed. Demanto dared him to use it. He teased it but instead the student dropped the chair and nailed a stunner. Red dove on Demanto for a two count.
Red charged him in the corner but was kicked down,. Demanto went to the top but Red drilled him with a kick. Red went for a top rope powerbomb but Demanto slipped out from underneath, snapping Red facefirst on the buckles. He then nailed a sitdown powerbomb on Red for a two count.
Nick the student got in the ring and shoved Demanto. Demanto shoved back. The student drilled him. Demanto turned into a Red kick. Red powerbombed Demanto, a feat to see, and drilled him, then scored the pin.
Your winner, Amazing Red!
Good back and forth good vs. evil match.
Red and his student embraced after the match.
After the match, Demanto thanked Queens and Red. He offered his hand. Red was wary. Demanto said that he swore on Red's children that he wouldn't nail Red. He said that they are in Queens and they will do this with respect. Red finally shook his hand and they raised each other's arms. Nick the student raised both their arms.
Red went to the rope to celebrate. Behind him, Demanto drilled the student and powerbombed the living hell out him. Red and just about every moment of the HOG staff, and some of the fans too, all attacked Demanto who rushed out of the venue through the crowd. They had the Commission doctor checking on Nick and they rushed fans out of the venue to sell the angle. Really strong finish.
2013 - In response to being asked on his Twitter why he left TNA, Rob Van Dam responded: "Contract expired. So did professionalism, courtesy and respect."
2014 - WWE announced on their website that Fernando of Los Matadores (Orlando Colon) will be out three-four weeks with injuries to his ankle and knee injury suffered in Newark, Delaware at a live event over the weekend.
2015 - ECW Press announced the follwing:
"We regret to inform you that the publication of the book The Iron Sheik: Listen Jabroni! has been cancelled.
WWE and ECW will continue to partner on more titles in the future, including an autobiography of Pat Patterson, set to release in June 2016.
Please accept our apologies for any inconveniences this may cause."
This was the second time that The Sheik's autobiography had been canceled despite being written.
2015 - Nicole Bass, who wrestled briefly for ECW and the WWF in the late 1990s, was arraigned and charged with petit larceny and possession of stolen property after allegedly shoplifting more than $1,000 in goods from a Queens, NY Stop & Shop supermarket on 6/23. Bass was in court today and was charged with petit larceny and possession of stolen property for putting over 160 items in her bag and leaving without paying. Bass agreed to counseling and that she would not get in trouble over the next six months. If that was the case, the case would then be dismissed.
2015 - WWE NXT broadcast a tribute to the last Dusty Rhodes as part of their weekly TV episode. Richard Trionfo filed the following report:
This week we start off with the roster on the stage with Triple H. Hunter says the industry lost a legend this week. We have seen a lot of tributes, celebrations, and heard a lot of great words. To everybody on this stage, we lost family. We lost a family member. Dusty called everyone on the stage his "NXT Kids." They were his family and his life blood. He gave everything he had. It was his passion to continue this business for all of you. If he called these guys and girls his "kids", you would have been his NXT Family. Hunter asks for everyone to stand and honor the passing of Dusty Rhodes.
We have a ten bell salute for Dusty.
We are in Winter Park, Florida and your announcers are Rich Brennan, Byron Saxton, and Corey Graves.
Hideo Itami makes his way to the ring and his arm is still in a sling after his surgery. Greg Hamilton is in the ring to interview Hideo.
We see the footage of Itami being found in the parking lot and Kevin Owens walking by to suggest that maybe it was Kevin who caused the injury.
Greg says it is great to have Hideo back in the NXT Arena. He says that it will be three or four months before he can compete again.
Hideo says that he cannot wait to get back into the ring.
Greg mentions the promotional tour that Hideo did in Japan for the Finn Balor/Kevin Owens match on July 4th.
Hideo says that NXT is very popular in Japan. He says that he will be there. It does not matter who wins, he will challenge that person for the NXT Title.
Kevin Owens' music plays and he makes his way to the stage.
Kevin tells Hideo it is great news that he will be in Japan. He can see his wife and his kids. It is too bad you won't be competing, but next time. The only reason why you are coming to Japan is to see him end Finn Balor for good.
Kevin says that he couldn't notice that Hideo is not sure who will walk out of Tokyo as the champion. He does not know if it is the meds or if he Hideo is just delusional (a word that Kevin has trouble pronouncing, for which he says he sounds like Hideo speaking English).
Kevin says that he has been dealing with delusional people quite a bit over the last few weeks. He assures Hideo that there is no way he is leaving Tokyo without the NXT Title. Kevin says he is not done. He is here for two reasons. First, people keep saying that he is the one who did that to Hideo. Kevin says he had nothing to do with that injury. If he attacked Hideo, Hideo would not be standing there. He would be with Sami Zayn licking your wounds. Kevin says he is here for an apology. Hideo called him a bad person and that is not okay.
Hideo tells Kevin, you are a great champion but you are a terrible human being.
Kevin says if he is going to get blamed for the injury, he might as well do something to deserve it. You have one good arm so he is going to take care of that.
Finn Balor comes up behind Owens and attacks him. Owens tries to escape but Balor with a forearm off the ramp.
Balor goes to the stage and Rhyno hits Balor with a body block and then he kicks Balor off the stage.
Officials check on Balor as we go to commercial.
We are back with a moments ago moment of Finn Balor protecting Hideo Itami, but we also see Rhyno take care of Balor.
Enzo and Colin do their usual introduction. Enzo says he is looking in the ring at some busters. Colin says they aren’t blockbusters. They are couple of mushrooms in Mario's World. You are about to get laid flat. Colin says one looks like he is in Magic Mike and the other looks like they are looking for their Entourage. He sees two Teds. Two big teddy bears. They get into the ring and Colin says they are about to get terminated. Hasta la vista, baby.
Match Number One: Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady (with Carmella) versus Sylvester Lefort and Jason Jordan
Lefort and Enzo start things off and Enzo with a cross body for a near fall. Enzo with an Irish whip and Colin tags in and Enzo gets sent into Sylvester in the corner. Colin with a slam and he tags Enzo back in. Colin slams Enzo onto Lefort for a near fall. Jordan makes the blind tag and Jordan with a waist lock throw followed by snap elbow drops.
Jordan with a waist lock throw and then he connects with a crossface. Jordan with a forearm to the back and Lefort tags himself in. They hit a double shoulder tackle and Lefort gets a near fall. Lefort with a cobra clutch. Enzo gets to his feet but Lefort with a forearm to the back. Jordan tags in and Enzo sends Lefort to the floor. Enzo with a rollup for the three count.
Winners: Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady
After the match, Jordan yells at Lefort for the loss and Lefort walks away.
We take a look at footage from last week's main event between Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens.
Samoa Joe was interviewed after the match last week and he says ‘let them fight’. LET THEM FIGHT! He got the fight he wanted. He did not get the fight that he wanted. He did not get the fight he wanted because Kevin Owens is walking today. Kevin Owens escaped. Kevin Owens did not get what he deserved. He did not get the beating of a lifetime. Joe says he wants Kevin Owens and he wants to be able to fight.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Dana Brooke (with Emma) versus Cassie
Dana with an arm bar and she pats Cassie on the top of her head. Cassie with a reversal and arm wringer. Cassie taps Dana on the top of the head. Cassie with a rollup for a near fall. Dana with a kick to the midsection but Cassie with a head scissors that sends Dana to the apron. Dana drops Cassie on the rope and Dana slams Cassie's head near the mat.
Dana kicks Cassie and connects with a forearm to the back. Dana with a slam and she gets a near fall. Dana with a modified bow and arrow. Dana wants Cassie to tap, but Cassie does not agree with Dana. Cassie kicks Dana in the head to escape the hold. Cassie with a Thesz Press and clotheslines. Cassie with a running spin kick into the corner. Dana with a forearm when Cassie goes to the turnbuckles.
Dana with a Death Valley Michinoku Driver for the three count.
Winner: Dana Brooke
We go to Charlotte in the back and Devin asks her about the jealousy issues that Dana has with her. Charlotte says she doesn't know what Dana's problem is with her. She said she would shut the door for her. Charlotte says that the only door she was shown was opportunity. Sooner, rather than later, she will take care of Dana.
Rich reminds us about the Beast from the East Special on July 4th which will include the NXT Title Match.
It is time to take a look at the next part of Finn Balor's journey.
We see Finn visited by Sami Zayn. Finn says he has to finish working on his Legos. Finn says he lives a quiet life outside the ring. He was an introvert. Some like doodling or jigsaws but Legos are his thing. Sami says it is like IKEA and Finn says it is more fun.
It lets him unwind at the end of the day. He mentions that he has been doing this since he was a kid. He would put them together while watching SummerSlam 1995 on the VCR.
Jason Albert says he met Fergal the first time in Tokyo in 2006. He was unassuming and he was ready to change things in pro wrestling. Fergal says he was 24 years old when he went to Japan and he sees Matt Bloom in the back of the bus and he hears "Hey Kid". They chatted and hit it off. It was an interesting friendship. They got along great from the beginning.
Fergal says that he was glad to meet Matt at that time in his career.
He shows a New Japan shirt with the tags still on. He mentions the New Japan Dojo. Matt says Fergal was trying to find himself in Japan. When you first get to Japan, you are considered a young boy. You do your chores first thing in the morning, you cook meals for the veterans, and you train. After training, you have to clean up the dojo. He says he got more tours with New Japan and he mentions he spent eight years in a place that became his second home. It was an incredible chapter in his life.
Becky says that when he heard that Fergal was going to Japan, she knew he was going to be a star.
Matt says that Fergal was loved by everyone in Japan and that success is the reason why he is here right now.
Fergal says he never thought he was a star. Prince Devitt was fixated with dominating the art of pro wrestling. It was who he became.
Matt says Japan was a great stage for Devitt, but WWE is a huge stage. Matt mentions that at the time of the Tokyo Dome show, he told Fergal that WWE was interested. Fergal was hesitant to accept the offer. It was a big gamble for him.
Becky says Devitt signing with NXT was a huge deal. He did everything he could do in Japan. He grew up watching the WWE so it was the next step.
Devitt says the Japanese got behind him from day one and he wouldn’t have lasted 8 years without them.
Matt says the drive to prove that he is the best is what helped get him to WWE.
Fergal says it is a big step to go from Ireland to Japan then America. He is looking forward to the challenge. He was 24 years old when he went to Japan. He left a confident 33 year old man, ready for the next journey.
Next week, we will get Part 3.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we are told that Bull Dempsey has been ordered to get into better shape, but apparently Bull is not good with instructions.
Match Number Three: Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder versus Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton
Rawley and Dawkins start things off and Mojo is very hyped and Dawkins is very confused. They lock up and Dawkins with a side head lock. Rawley with a hammer lock and shoulder tackles. Ryder tags in and he punches Dawkins. Ryder with an arm bar but Dawkins with a punch. Fulton tags in and Ryder with a drop kick. Rawley tags in and Ryder with a splash into the corner and Rawley with a clothesline for a near fall.
Rawley with a slam followed by the seated double sledge. Fulton drops Mojo on the top turnbuckle and Dawkins tags in. Dawkins with a leap frog splash onto Mojo’s back while Mojo is held on the top rope. Dawkins gets a near fall and then he applies a front face lock. Rawley with a back body drop and Ryder tags in. Ryder with a flying clothesline and then he sends Dawkins into the turnbuckles.
Dawkins with an Irish whip but Ryder gets his knees up and he hits a missile drop kick followed by the running forearm into the corner. Ryder with the Broski Boot and he gets a near fall. Fulton breaks up the cover and Rawley with a shoulder tackle to send Fulton to the floor. Ryder with knees again and Rawley tags in.
Rawley picks up Dawkins for a Doomsday Rough Ryder and the three count.
Winners: Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley
William Regal is in his office and Eva Marie enters. William says that Eva wanted to talk to him. Eva says that she has been training hard and she knows that William is the man who can give her a match.
William says that the women’s division is setting the world on fire so he will need some proof that she is ready. Eva says that she will show William what he needs to see.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Kevin Owens decides to watch the main event with the announcers.
Match Number Four: Finn Balor versus Rhyno
Finn with forearms as the bell rings and he punches Rhyno. Finn sends Rhyno into the turnbuckles and kicks him. Finn with a chop and punches. Rhyno with a chop and Finn sends Rhyno into the turnbuckles. Rhyno with a kick but Finn with a kick of his own and a chop. Finn punches Rhyno but Rhyno with an Irish whip. Finn floats over and he chops Rhyno. Finn sends Rhyno into the turnbuckles. Rhyno with a shot to the midsection. Rhyno punches Finn but Finn moves and he sends Rhyno over the top rope to the floor. Finn with a shoulder to Rhyno to knock him off the apron and Finn with a flip dive onto Rhyno.
They return to the ring and Finn gets a near fall. Finn with a chop but Rhyno with a clothesline. Finn with forearms and Rhyno with a spinebuster for a near fall. Rhyno with a kick to Finn followed by a forearm. Finn punches Rhyno but Rhyno with a forearm to the back. Rhyno punches Finn and follows with an Irish whip and shoulder into the corner.
Rhyno with a bear hug on Finn and Finn with elbows to try to get out of the hold. Rhyno with a forearm to the midsection. Rhyno gets a near fall. Rhyno returns to the bear hug. We go to commercial.
We are back and Finn with forearms but Rhyno stays on his feet. Rhyno with a kick and Irish whip. Rhyno runs into a boot and Finn with a missile drop kick for a near fall. Finn with a running chop and Irish whip followed by a chop. Finn with a drop kick to the temple for a near fall. Finn sets for the reverse suplex but Rhyno with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and Rhyno gets a near fall.
Rhyno with an Irish whip and running shoulder into the corner. Rhyno with a second shoulder and then he hits a third one. Rhyno gets a near fall. Finn avoids a short arm clothesline and hits a Pele kick. Finn runs into an elbow from Rhyno but Finn with an enzuigiri that knocks Rhyno from the turnbuckles.
Kevin gets up from the announce table while Finn goes up top and Finn returns to the mat. Kvin gets on the apron and Finn with a drop kick. Rhyno with a belly-to-belly suplex to Finn. Rhyno runs into a boot on a GORE attempt and Finn with the Slingblade. Finn goes up top and he hits the double stomp and gets the three count.
Winner Finn Balor
After the match, Owens attacks Balor and punches him. Owens with kicks while the referee warns him. Owens with a punch and forearm. Rhyno kicks Finn and slaps him. Owens kicks Finn and then he chokes Balor.
Samoa Joe comes to the ring and Joe and Rhyno leave.
We go to credits.
2015 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the Impact Wrestling Report here on PWInsider.com!
The show opens with Jeremy Borash interviewing Ethan Carter III, who says that he went through Bobby Lashley last week, now Kurt Angle has to face someone of his choosing tonight. This is someone with a legacy, an institution in this business...and he leaves before telling us who that is. Guess we'll find out in a bit!
We see a video package running down tonight's card, then we go to the ring as Kurt Angle comes out to deliver the opening promo. Angle says he is seven days away from being able to shut EC3 up for good, and he's going to prove he's the best next week. He'll also prove it tonight, and asks Ethan Carter III to bring out his mystery opponent for tonight right now. EC3 comes out and says it will only take one man to beat him: the one. We are seven days away from the most pivortal moment in wrestling history when Angle defends against an undefeated, unbeatable challenger. EC3 says that Angle is only the best for now, and Angle says to shut up and get on with this match. He says that two things are going to happen: EC3 will tap out next week, and his opponent will tap out tonight. EC3 says he will never tap out because he has something Angle will never have: his unbeaten streak. He has beaten everyone the company has put in front of him: Sting, Lashley, Anderson, Bully Ray...he's beaten everybody. Everybody? EVERYBODY! He's just getting started because there's nobody out in the ring who can beat him, and he will destroy everybody on his altar of perfection. Angle just hears EC3 talking about himself, and he thinks EC3 is more concerned with himself than the title. A good ego is healthy, but EC3 has gone way too far and it's going to bite him in the ass. Dixie Carter can't help him anymore, and neither can Tyrus. Even his ego can't help him anymore because next week, he's ending EC3's undefeated streak and he's going to make EC3 tap out. EC3 asks Angle if he thinks he can make him tap out right now, then says Angle will find out next week because he has a match tonight. Matt Hardy comes out to the top of the ramp and it looks like we have a main event!
Hey, Josh Mathews and Pope are at ringside! Good for them. They talk about tonight's action, then Low Ki comes to the ring as the X Division Title is on the line after this commercial break!
X Division Title Match: Low Ki vs Tigre Uno vs Grado
This match fills the vacancy created when Spud cashed the title in for a shot at Kurt Angle at Destination X. Low Ki destroys both of them early, but gets dumped to the floor and Tigre tries to slam Grado. He can't quite get that done, but Grado easily slams Tigre Uno. Grado dodges a charge and gets a schoolboy rollup and a senton. The straps come down and Grado heads to the top, but Low Ki shoves him off and then comes off the top with the Warrior's Way square on the head of Grado. That looked sick, and thankfully Low Ki pins Grado to eliminate him.
We're down to Low Ki and Tigre Uno, who tries to lucha his way around Low Ki but gets faceplanted on a flapjack for 2. They both wind up going at it on the top rope and Tigre hits a top rope headscissors out of nowhere for a 2 count. Tigre goes for a twisting springboard senton, but Low Ki evades that, then Tigre evades a shotgun dropkick, goes to the top, motions to Low Ki to roll into position, and hits a phoenix splash for the win.
Winner: Tigre Uno
Christy gets in the ring to ask Tigre Uno how he feels, and he says it's the greatest night in his life. I figured Low Ki was too obvious and would probably lose, but I figured they'd go with Grado. Well, this guy has put in his time so we'll see how it goes.
We go backstage where Bram comes in and grabs Jeremy Borash by the shirt to talk about his open contract and that he doesn't care who's going to face him next because he's beaten everyone and he doesn't care. Bram leaves, and a giant gloved hand lands on Borash's shoulder, and Borash turns around, smiles at whoever it is, and says it's time.
We go to the Dollhouse where Taryn Terrell is chewing out Jade and Marti for screwing up last week and making it so she has to face both Brooke and Kong at the same time. The three of them will face the two of them at Slammiversary, and Marti talks violent stuff and Taryn says that's her dolls, and playtime for Kong and Brooke is over this Sunday.
Also this weekend, James Storm faces Magnus in a non-sanctioned match, the Bromans explode as Robbie E takes on Jessie Godderz, and Bobby Lashley & Ken Anderson take on EC3 and Tyrus.
Angelina Love vs Velvet Sky
Angelina cuts a promo before the match saying Velvet has one last chance if she can beat her, but we all know that's not going to happen. So like Angelina said, Velvet gets her job back if she wins this. Velvet powerwalks to the ring and gets right in Angelina's face. Angelina slaps her, so Velvet takes her down and hammers her, then runs her from corner to corner before dumping her to the floor. Velvet goes out after Angelina and rams her into the ringpost and the steps. Velvet rolls Angelina in and Angelina catches her coming through the ropes and hits a side suplex for 2. Angelina goes to the second rope, but takes too long razzing the fans and gets thrown off by Velvet. Velvet with a series of clotheslines and a slap to the face. Velvet with a series of kicks, but Angelina hits an implant facebuster for 2. Velvet ducks the Botox Injection and hits a stunner for the win.
Winner: Velvet Sky
Great match, I like that they gave them plenty of time to tell a good story.
The Mystery Cameraman asks Austin Aries and Bobby Roode for their thoughts on tonight's match, and after mocking him for getting paid to ask stupid questions like that, they say that neither of them remember anything to do with ladders or weapons in their wrestling training. The Wolves may think they have the advantage because they've been in these matches before, but they could be playing right into their hands because relaxed rules open up a lot of opportunities. They plan to use the tables, ladders, and chairs to break the Wolves in half. They can fight as dirty as they want, and the dirtier, the better.
The Mystery Cameraman catches MVP coming into the building and asks him about the rumors of trouble in the BDC. MVP says there's nothing to it, the Rising hits hard and everyone loses a battle or two, but the BDC is fine and actually, they're stronger than ever.
Tag Team Title Series Match #4/Full Metal Mayhem: The Wolves vs Austin Aries & Bobby Roode
The Wolves take the early advantage, hitting the Dirty Hells hard and fast. Aries and Roode go to the floor to break up the momentum and everyone winds up with chairs in hand, but the Heels try to calm things down and use their chairs to take a seat at ringside and wait for the Wolves to put their chairs down. The Wolves comply, then boot Aries and Roode in the face when they pop up on the apron. They go for stereo dives, but the Heels had a ladder waiting for them and pop it right up in their faces as they go for the dive. We're at commercial.
We're back and the Wolves are still in control, stomping the Wolves out and using Aries' shirt to choke Davey. Aries and Roode shut the Wolves down with stereo chinlocks, then they get the trash can lids and use them to part Eddie's hair. The Heels set the ladder up in the corner, whip both Wolves into it, and then Roode whips Aries into the corner to hit the IED. Davey comes zipping right back out to take Roode out with a clothesline, then Eddie takes Aries out with a flying knee. Now the wolves are in control and the fans are chanting for tables as the Heels ditch out to the floor. The Wolves go for another stereo dive and conenct this time, and they're so excited about it that they hit two more stereo dives. They go back inside where the Wolves use a chair to drill Aries and then assist in a double stomp to Roode's back. A trash can lid shot to Aries gets 2, then Davey wraps a chain around his boot and tries for a kick on Aries. Aries ducks out of the way and rolls Davey into the Last Chancery, but Eddie breaks that up with a trash can shot. Roode sets up a table in the ring and the Heels hit a missile dropkick/powerbomb combo that puts Eddie through the table. Davey breaks up the cover at 2, then the Wolves hit Roode with the assisted alarm clock for 2, then they put a trash can lid over Aries head and bash him with a chair. Aries goes down in the corner and both men hit stereo Van Terminators, and Aries is DEAD. They haul Aries back to his feet anyway, still with the trash can over his head, but Roode comes out of nowhere to nail Davey with a chair and then low blow Eddie, allowing Aries to literally land on top of Eddie and pin him.
Winners: Bobby Roode & Austin Aries
Really good match, and a great way to set up the final.
Jeremy Borash is backstage with Matt Hardy, who says he's been sitting home since Jeff got injured, but now he's decided he wants to be the TNA World Champion. He doesn't like EC3 and he thinks...well, EC3 comes in and says Matt owes him one and he'll get a title shot after he beats Angle next week. Hardy asks EC3 what his legacy will be if Angle makes him tap out, and tells EC3 to think about it.
Josh and Pope are talking at ringside when suddenly, out of nowhere, Jeff and Karen Jarrett come out to ringside, shake the announcers hands, and get in the ring. Jeff says hell has frozen over and says he'll address some of what happened tonight when he says he got a text from TNA management last week when they said they had a proposition for him. He was getting on a plane and didn't even reply, but wanted to know what they wanted, and he rolled over the opportunities in his head, then texted them back and asked what they wanted. They wanted Jeff to come back and have a match, and he almost hung the phone up when he heard that because he doesn't even wrestle for his own promotion, but then they told him it was his match, the match he designed, the King of the Mountain match. This won't just be any episode of Impact, it's the 13th anniversary of the company Jeff and his father co-founded in 2002, and he started thinking about all the great moments he had right here in the Impact Zone. He starts talking about all of the moments that mattered to him like Angle coming to TNA, Joe coming out and giving Angle the headbutt from hell, and watching AJ Styles and Beer Money develop. Jeff really had to think about how him being in TNA would affect the Global Force roster, how Karen would react,and Karen takes a mic and says he loves Jeff Jarrett, but as we all know, she's a little different than Jeff, she didn't know what to expect when Jeff told her about their conversation. They had moved on, Global Force Wrestling is their future and TNA was in the rearview mirror, so her emotions took over and she said absolutely not. But then Jeff kept laying it out to her because TNA is her baby, and as hard as it is for her to understand, she loves Jeff and supports him in anything and everything he chooses in life, and even this morning at 11 am on the phone with Sonjay Dutt, cried her eyes out asking why look in the rearview mirror when they have so much in the future, and Sonjay said Karen may never understand it, but Jeff didn't go out the way he wanted to go out. No matter how bright the future is, he didn't leave on his terms, and that being said, she didn't get on the plane and get in this ring to get on a plane and go home. Jeff will leave TNA on his terms, and on Sunday, he's going to make things right. Karen loves him and will be standing there by his side. Jeff said that we can bank on this: this Sunday at Slammiversary, the King of the Mountain officially declares himself in the match one last time he's walking the tNA aisle, and he'll be damned if he doesn't climb the ladder and declare himself the King of the Mountain. Toby Keith said he might not be as good as he once was, but once, he can be as good as he ever was.
Bram vs Vader
Yeah, this is who I figured it'd be. He really kills the legend when he smiles on his way to the ring, especially when he's wearing a t-shirt and warmup pants. They tie up and Vader just yanks Bram to the mat by the hair. Vader unloads on Bram in the corner, then whips Bram to the ropes and hits the Vader block. Vader with a short clothesline, but Bram tears Vader's mask off and hammers him with hard right hands. He slaps Vader in the face a couple of times, and Vader responds by bowling Bram over with another big tackle for 2. Vader with another short clothesline, pulls up his pants, and then he heads to the second rope and hits the Vader Bomb. He hurts himself on the way down, but rolls over and covers Bram...who gets his foot on the rope at 2. Bram rolls out to the floor and gets his turnbuckle, then uses it to beat the crap out of Vader.
Winner: Vader by DQ
Bram continues the assault when, out of nowhere, Matt Morgan comes out of the back and destroys Bram, tossing him around and clotheslining him to the floor.
Sgt Chris Melendez vs Eric Young
Young starts whooping on Melendez right off the bat and doesn't let up, unloading with right hands as Josh informs us that Bram and Matt Morgan will face off this weekend at Slammiversary. Young hits a DDT for 2, then dumps Melendez out to the floor. Young waits for Melendez to come back in and hits a neckbreaker for 2. Young tries tearing Melendez' leg off again, but Melendez fights him off and then starts hammering him with forearms. Melendez goes for a backdrop, but Young counters to a piledriver for the win.
Winner: Eric Young
Young dusted Melendez pretty quick and easy here, match was okay but Melendez' limitations were pretty glaring.
We come back from commercial as the BDC and the Rising are brawling in the aisle and into the ring, and suddenly Hernandez comes out of nowhere and flattens the entire Rising by himself. Drake and Micah get tossed to the floor and Hernandez gives Drew the Border Toss, then MVP stands over Drew and says if this is what he wants, then he should know that Hernandez is the newest member of the Beat Down Clan.
Next week: the tag title series concludes, Taryn Terrell defends the Knockouts Title against both Brooke and Awesome Kong, and Kurt angle defends the TNA World Title against Ethan Carter III.
And with all that out of the way, it's...MAIN EVENT TIME!
TNA World Champion Kurt Angle vs Matt Hardy
Matt gets the early advantage, but Angle quickly turns that around with an overhead release suplex. Angle goes for a salto, but Hardy sits out and hits a Russian legsweep. They trade right hands until Angle ducks one and hits the rolling German suplexes. Angle goes for the Angle Slam, but Hardy slips out and hits the Side Effect for 2, but then Angle gets out of the Twist of Fate and hits the Angle Slam for 2. Angle gets the anklelock, Hardy counters to a victory roll for 2, then he gets Angle in a sleeper and hits another Side Effect for 2. Angle with more rolling German suplexes, but Hardy ducks another clothesline and hits a third Side Effect for a super close 2.999999999. Hardy with a fourth Side Effect, then a fifth, but Angle still kicks out at 2. Angle shoves off the Twist of Fate, Hardy hits it on a second attempt, but Angle kicks out again at 2.999999. Angle counters another Twist of Fate to the anklelock and Hardy taps out.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Short but solid main event. Ethan Carter III and Tyrus run in and try to attack Angle, but Hardy fights EC3 off before getting flattened by Tyrus. Angle takes Tyrus out with an Angle Slam and goes face to face with EC3, and Angle ducks a clothesline and gets EC3 in the anklelock. EC3 furiously taps out as we call it a week.
Thanks for reading the Impact Wrestling Report here on PWInsider.com, I'll be back tomorrow to discuss Impact and more with Dave Scherer on the Stu & Pid Show!
2016 - House of Hardcore ran Australia. Mike Johnson filed the following results:
*Hurricane Helms (a surprise) beat Muhammed Ali Viez.
*Syd Parker beat Adam Brooks
2017 - Beyond Wrestling held "Go With the Flow" in Melsose, MA Paul Crockett filed the following live report:
Beyond Wrestling “Go With The Flow”
Melrose, Massachusetts
June 24, 2017
Beyond returns to Melrose for a double shot with EVOLVE. Heading into their biggest show of the year in July, this is the last stop storyline wise before then. With a first time ever main event of Keith Lee and Matt Riddle, it should be a great show as the company has been on a roll in the last few months.
MATCH ONE: The Gentleman’s Club (Chuck Taylor & Orange Cassidy) v. American Destroyers (Donovan Dijak & Mikey Webb)
Lots of comedy early on, as was the be expected. This included Cassidy doing a very slow strut into the ropes followed by a very slow and weak shoulder block that got the crowd laughing. Dijak wasn’t kidding around for long and he took it in a serious direction with some really big, hard hitting moves on Cassidy to get the heat on him.
After some back and forth, Dijak went to the top for their double team finisher (Sunset Flip into a Canadian Destroyer). Cassidy spit orange juice into Dijak’s eyes. Cassidy then took out Webb, then put Webb into the position for the double team finisher. Dijak, not being able to see, hit the move but it was Cassidy hitting the Canadian Destroyer on Webb. Taylor threw Dijak out of the ring and they covered Webb for the win. Clever, well done finish.
WINNERS: The Gentleman’s Club
MATCH TWO: “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela v. “Cold Steel” Chuck O’Neil
Before the last match could even clear out, Janela hit the ring and got on the mic, saying “it’s Bone Sucking Time” in reference to his odd promo from earlier in the week. He called O’Neil out and the match was on.
Janela ran wild early and the crowd was all over O’Neil. He is very much hated in Beyond. The match was in Janela’s control early before O’Neil came back and got the heat on “The Bad Boy.” O’Neil took his time in building up the heat, which in the past has been a weakness for him. It was nice to see the progression.
They traded nearfalls from that point with Janela hitting a big top rope Death Valley Driver and a top rope superplex. The finish came when O’Neil hit a flying triangle. As O’Neil had him clinched on the ground, Janela pushed forward and pinned O’Neil.
After the match, Matt Riddle entered the ring and they had a showdown, as they are set for the main event of Americanrana next month. As they were in their showdown, O’Neil came in and hit a German suplex on Janela. They started to give him a severe beatdown when Penelope Ford hit the ring and instead of going after her, they just left the ring.
WINNER: “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela
MATCH THREE: Shayna Baszler v. Penelope Ford
As they left the ring, O’Neil called for Shayna and the match was on.
Ford jumped Shayna before the match as she knew she was in an uphill battle. It didn’t work very well, as Shayna took control of the match with some impressive deadlift gutwrench suplexes and started to work over the leg of Ford.
It got to the point where the crowd was clapping for Ford to get up and Shayna simply smiled and clapped along with them because she knew she was in control. Shayna was literally tying Ford up in knots in an impressive manner that impressed the crowd. She took her time and did a terrific job in allowing everything to sink in. Very impressive composure given her relative inexperience in the business.
Ford did her best to fight back, but in the end, Shayna finished the match with a modified kneebar. The crowd chanted her name and “Please Come Back!” Really great debut, and Ford was fantastic in selling.
WINNER: Shayna Baszler
MATCH FOUR: Massage NV (Dorian Graves & VSK) v. Da Hit Squad (Monsta Mack & Dan Maff)
Massage NV came out hot and unleashed a flurry of offense on Da Hit Squad, leaving their usual comedy antics behind. It didn’t last long as DHS made a comeback and, in their inimitable style, started tossing Graves and VSK around the ring.
The match was Texas Tornado style, but wasn’t announced that way. Massage NV did really well in this new role of being serious, and didn’t look out of place. They would make occasional comebacks, but mostly, DHS was in control with overwhelming offense.
They were getting into a heated brawl in the middle of the ring when Maff pushed the ref and was DQed. From there, DHS took out Massage NV. They turned their attention toward the ref, but he took off. After the match, Mack declared they are still here and they will destroy everyone.
WINNERS: Massage NV (via DQ)
MATCH FIVE: Wheeler Yuta v. Maxwell Jacob Friedman
This is a rematch from their really great contest in the pre-show in Worcester a couple of months ago. Yuta is on his way for a tour with Michinoku Pro next month.
Really good chain wrestling to start the match. MJF went to shake Yuta’s hand, but Yuta knew better and slapped him instead. Yuta went to backdrop him on the apron, but missed and MJF took a really scary drop to the floor. He was okay, though. Back in the ring his hit a draping Divorce Court on Yuta and started building the heat from there.
MJF kept working over the arm before Yuta fired up and made his comeback. It was full of fire, athletic, and really well done. The crowd rallied behind it and him as they built toward the finish.
They went see-saw from that point going forward, including another really impressive chain wrestling sequence that included the back and forth small packages for two counts. After a double down, MJF almost finished it with an armbar. Yuta got free and hit a big boot. MJF went for a tombstone, but Yuta reversed it and in the tombstone, he packaged Yuta’s legs together for a Package Tombstone for the victory.
I’m not going to say these two are Flair-Steamboat by any means. However, I will say these two have an insane natural chemistry that reminds me of that feud in many ways. If their first two contests were this good, I can’t wait to see the third. Go out of your way to watch this.
WINNER: Wheeler Yuta
MATCH SIX: Lucha Rules - The Carnies (Nick Iggy & Kerry Awful) v. EYFBO (Angel Ortiz & Mike Draztik)
There was a little bit of chain wrestling and a feeling out period in the early going. From there, it broke down into more of the Lucha Style rules match it was advertised as. No tags, guys coming in and out, good high flying and double teaming.
The match was a big back and forth affair that got a standing ovation afterwards. EYFBO finished it with a Blockbuster/Powerbomb combo. Really great stuff as always from the current day LAX, and a solid showing from The Carnies.
WINNERS: EYFBO
INTERMISSION
MATCH SEVEN: Texas Tornado Rules - Tabernak de Team (Mathieu St. Jacques & Thomas Dubois) v. Ryan Galeone & Rex Lawless
Tabernak is a really fun, aggressive tag team out of Quebec that has made a great showing for themselves during their couple of Beyond appearances. This is the first time Galeone and Lawless have teamed in Beyond. To describe this as a Hoss Fight would be an understatement.
Galeone hit a wild springboard senton bouncing from the top to the Old School position that almost snapped the top rope. Galeone was pushed toward the ref. As the ref ducked away, Lawless was kicked low. That allowed Tabernak to toss Lawless out and finish the match. Pretty good big man tag match.
Afterwards, Dan Barry came out in a suit and asked Lawless and Galeone what happened. He then told Lawless that he is the “Pectoral Posiedon” because he doesn’t know how to get over. He then called Galeone a vanilla robot in not so many words. He then said they’re both better than that, a joke, and that they can do so much more. Dan asked if they’re with him or against him, and they both shook his hand. He then told the fans they are the least important thing about the show. All things considered, this was a good, effective promo to start a new stable.
WINNER: Tabernak de Team
MATCH EIGHT: Ace Romero v. JT Dunn
This was not your typical big man/little man match, as Dunn spent a lot of time on top getting the heat on Romero. Ace, who is probably around 400 pounds, spent a lot of time selling which was different.
They traded nearfalls, then went into a flurry at the end. The finish saw Romero turn Dunn inside out with a big lariat for the win. Unexpected finish to say the least given Dunn’s stature in Beyond. Decent match that seemingly gives Romero a big push up the card.
WINNER: Ace Romero
MATCH NINE: AR Fox v. “Shred God” Brandon Watts
Watts has been on a roll as a singles competitor in Beyond since his regular partner in Milk Chocolate (Randy Summers) went down with an injury. This included a big breakout match against Fox last month in Somerville.
Watts got on the mic and told referee Kevin Quinn he’s great and all, but he cost him the match last month in Somerville, so he told him to get out. This brought out Tony P. to take his place. This was after Fox low blowed Watts last month and Quinn missed it.
After teasing some high flying early, Fox actually spent a chunk of the match keeping Watts grounded on on the mat to build the heat. Fox teased a big running spot into a prone Watts in the corner, but instead he stopped and slapped him in the face. Tremendous heel work.
Fox with a big nearfall off a sitting springboard Spanish Fly followed by a 450. Fox was choking Watts on the mat when Kevin Quinn came back out to yell at Tony P. about it. As they argued, Fox kicked Watts low and hit a spinning brainbuster for the win. Very good match that got a little bogged down by the finish.
WINNER: AR Fox
MATCH TEN: Doom Patrol (Jaka & Chris Dickinson) v. The Beaver Boys (John Siver & Alex Reynolds)
Silver has been on an impressive singles run in Beyond, with wins over the likes of Keith Lee and Kyle O’Reilly. Here, he brings in his regular NYC-area partner Reynolds to team against the current EVOLVE Tag Team Champions.
This was a good, solid, by the numbers tag team match (and I mean by the numbers in a positive manner). Doom Patrol took their time working over Reynolds to build the heat to play to Silver’s strength of running bananas after a hot tag.
The finish saw a couple of nearfalls followed by Dickinson hitting a springboard Canadian Destroyer and a double superkick from the EVOLVE champs for the win. Good showing from everyone involved.
WINNERS: Doom Patrol
MAIN EVENT: Keith Lee v. Matt Riddle
First time ever match. Until they rematch in EVOLVE on Sunday in NYC.
After keeping it light for the first few minutes, they got into hard hitting mode, with both guys laying it in. Lee took it in a different direction when he started tossing Riddle around the ring. Riddle, whose selling has gone to an absolutely incredible level, was magical here. With every huge strike and splash Lee hit, Riddle looked more in pain than the time before.
When Riddle made his comeback, it was on a completely different level than anyone on the independents. His insane fire, his intensity in his offense and his charisma has really reached all-time great levels.
After Lee got a nearfall with a sit out powerbomb, Riddle came back and rolled Lee up for the shock win. Not the desired outcome the crowd wanted, but it seems like this was designed to leave the door open for a rematch. Very good for what it was, but the match had the potential to be even better. Hopefully next time.
WINNER: Matt Riddle
A really fun show from Beyond as they head into their biggest show of the year in Worcester next month. They continue to build long term while keeping the short term in mind with good to great matches.
Check them out online @BeyondWrestling
2017 - EVOLVE Wrestling held EVOLVE 86. Paul Crockett filed the following live report:
EVOLVE 86
Melrose, Massachusetts
June 24, 2017
EVOLVE returns to New England with a Champion v. Champion match in the main event between Matt Riddle and Zack Sabre, Jr.
MATCH ONE: Austin Theory v. Timothy Thatcher (w/ Stokely Hathaway, Tracey Williams, Jaka & Chris Dickinson)
This was a Timothy Thatcher match. He spent a lot time grinding and slamming Theory down, with Theory occasionally getting in an athletic hope spot. Meanwhile, at ringside, Priscilla Kelly showed up. She has had a habit of stalking Theory as of late.
Theory went for a standing shooting star then found himself in an unending web of submission attempts from Thatcher. Theory did an excellent job in selling. He made a brief comeback, but then found himself on the mat again the victim of a rear naked choke. That was all she wrote for the match as Theory gave up.
Stokley Hathaway got on the mic and welcomed Thatcher back, calling him the greatest EVOLVE Champion of all-time. He then told Zack Sabre, Jr. that sooner or later, the title is coming to either the Dream Team or Catch Point. Dickinson then took the mic and called out ACH.
MATCH TWO: ACH v. Chris Dickinson
A little bit of comedy in the early going, only in the sense that ACH was having fun with the crowd.
Dickinson spent most of the match from there working him over with really stiff kicks and other various strikes. This built up until ACH made his comeback and hit two straight suicide dives. He went for a third but stopped himself as Dickinson moved. He went to the apron and hit a huge running kick to Dickinson.
Back in the ring, Dickinson went back on the offensive until ACH caught him in the air and hit a German, followed by a running lariat for a nearfall. Dickinson with his own nearfall. ACH with a lariat, brainbuster and up top to hit a huge 450 for the win. Great match.
WINNER: ACH
One of The Gatekeepers, One, came out and talked about how his partner had his arm broken and he has sacrificed too much over the last year, so he is done with Ethan Page. He even has a name: Thomas Sharp. This brings out Page. He ran Sharp down and said he doesn’t care about him, and that he wants to ruin everything that people love (including Keith Lee later on). He said he will always have a dummy who will follow his plan. This brought out a new Gatekeeper (Nick Comarata) who jumped Sharp and we have a match.
MATCH THREE: Thomas Sharp v. The Gatekeeper
They brawled on the floor for a while. Back in the ring, Sharp hit him with a huge boot, followed by a massive Black Hole Slam for the win. Good fresh start for Sharp.
WINNER: Thomas Sharp
MATCH FOUR: Jaka v. Fred Yehi
The former Catch Point member in Yehi faces off against one half of the tag team champions.
They started out with Jaka yelling “YEOW!” while Yehi yelled back “TROUBLE!” about ten times, much to the delight of the crowd.
The two took their time, hitting each other with strikes and the occasional slam/suplex (or in Jaka’s case a headbutt). No real heat building on either side, just two guys going back and forth not being able to get the upper hand.
Scary moment when Jaka whipped Yehi into the corner. Yehi went for an up and over. Jaka went to duck under but Yehi came down right on top of his head and Jaka crumpled to the mat. He took a minute but he looked okay.
This turned into a strong style back and forth, shades of Shibata-Ishii if they threw chops, foot stomps and low dropkicks instead of kicks and shoot headbutts. Yehi eventually got Jaka to the mat and finished it with a Koji Clutch. Interesting match. Both guys have a similar style and maybe that detracted instead of helped. It seemed like it had a hard time catching any rhythm. Great effort by both guys.
WINNER: Fred Yehi
MATCH FIVE: Jason Kincaid v. “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams (w/ Stokley Hathaway)
This was billed as “Catch Point versus High Flyers match,” and that was the story of the match. Williams was doing his best ground work while Kincaid took to the sky to try and counter. Kincaid did some very creative stuff, including a 619 from the floor and up the stairs instead of from in the ring.
Williams also took to the sky, hitting a big senton splash from the top. The majority of his work, however, was on the mat trying to wear Kincaid out.
Kincaid did a great job in his selling and comeback attempts, but Williams ended it with a Crossface. Good, enjoyable match.
Kincaid was having a meltdown of self-loathing after the match. Williams approached him and Kincaid simply grabbed Williams’ hand and shook it and then stomped off.
WINNER: “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams
MATCH SIX: Keith Lee v. “All Ego” Ethan Page
Page got the advantage early with what started as a draping double arm DDT before he twisted it into a backbreaker. From there, he was heavy with the slams and strikes to keep Lee down.
Lee made his comeback and the crowd erupted for it. Lee was going wild for a bit before, out of nowhere, Ego hit a hurricanrana from the top and a running boot for a nearfall. Lee went to the top, but Page caught him and hit a huge powerbomb for another nearfall.
It all built to Lee winning with a giant Jackhammer. The crowd went absolutely crazy when he scored the win. Great match and a nice building block for Lee.
After the match, he got on the mic and made a request to ring announcer Joanna Rose. He asked her if he could be the guest ring announcer for the main event, since he has a vested interest in both competitors (especially Riddle, who he faces for the WWN Title tomorrow). She accepted.
WINNER: Keith Lee
MAIN EVENT: Non-Title Match – WWN Champion Matt Riddle v. EVOLVE Champion Zack Sabre, Jr.
What a shocker. They did awesome chain and mat work in the early going. Riddle with a few deadlifts gutwrench suplexes and he was in control. They traded places after a PK by Sabre and a charge into the corner.
It went back and forth from there, with both guys hitting really big strikes and suplex variations. The crowd was really into both guys because they are, obviously, so damn good at what they are doing.
If I tried to describe the rest of the match by the moves, I wouldn’t do it justice. They kept battling an trying to finish each other until Sabre had Riddle in a Dragon Sleeper variation with a body lock, as well as slapping at the gut of Riddle, for the submission win and a giant ovation from the crowd.
After the match, Stokley hit the ring and congratulated Sabre. He then told him his reign will come to an end very soon, whether it’s Jaka’s tomorrow or Thatcher in the near future. Darby Alliin hit the ring and cut a promo, saying whoever is the champion, he needs the title more than anyone.
Riddle took the mic and said he would fight anyone at any time. Tracey Williams jumped him from behind. They fought to the floor. While there, Darby went to the top and hit his backwards straightjacket dive and took out Williams and Stokley. Riddle and Darby had a staredown, but Riddle ended up raising his hand. Riddle then went into the ring and thanked everyone for coming.
*JXT, Dowie James, Mike Burr, Josh Shooter and Mr Juicy defeated Big Cuz, Cadman, Sketch, Slade Mercer and Gabriel Wolfe.
*Cletus beat Maddog to capture the Outback Championship Wrestling title.
*Mark Silva defeated Bull James.
*Mickie James pinned Lisa Marie Varon.
*In a Four Way, Carlito beat Krackerjack, Tommy Dreamer and Andy Phoenix under Hardcore Rules, becoming the top contender for the Outback championship.
The show was completely sold out, drawing in the area of 1100-1200.
2017 - House of Hardcore ran Adelaide, Australia. Josh Wiles filed the following live report:
Q&A before the show was pretty good. A few cringe worthy questions but you get that everywhere. I asked Colt & MVP about podcasting as I am looking to start up one with my brother and received some really good advice.
Carlito def. RCW Champion Matt “Grimm” Basso
Nick Armstrong, “World Class” Chris Basso & Bull James def. Davey Green, Kurt Baron, & Jonah Rock
After this, Tommy Dreamer came out to inform us that they would be coming back to Australia next year. Much applause. The (Spirit) Squad interrupted him and started ripping into Adelaide. Crowd responded by yelling “Kenny’s a wanker!” Squad beat down Dreamer only to be chased down by MVP to set up the main event.
Colt Cabana def Mohammad Ali Velaz
Jack Swagger def Billy Gunn.
Intermission and The Squad came out and did photos at ringside.
Matt Cross def Andy Phoenix
Swoggle def Ryan Nemeth
Tommy Dreamer & MVP def The Squad
Notes:
2017 - WWE's Smackdown brand ran a live event in Vancouver, British Columbia featuring a surprise appearance from Raw star Seth Rollins. Andrew Rogers filed the following live report:
Here are the results of tonight's Smackdown house show in Vancouver.
It was a good crowd at Rogers Arena. It's been years since WWE last ran this building. Lately they've either been at the smaller AgroDome or out in Abbotsford, which is an hour's drive from downtown Vancouver.
The ring announcer gets it going and is interrupted by the Singh Brothers and Jinder Mahal. They're hometown boys and get a huge reaction. Jinder announces that Shinske couldn't get into the country and would therefore have to forfeit his World title match. They call for a referee and Charles Robinson comes out to start counting to 10. Seth Rollins music hits and the Raw superstar is in the house! He says his good friend Daniel Bryan called him and asked if he'd wanted to come tonVancouver and challenge the champ. Seth said there was only one word he could give him: yes! The match is made for later tonight.
Triple threat tag title match is next.
Usos vs Breezango vs New Day.
Great comic chemistry between Breezango and New Day - crowd is eating it up. Usos go over by pinning Fandango.
Aiden English vs Luke Harper
The crowd treats English to a "get some sun" chant. Harper wins a good, competitive match.
Mojo Rawley, Sin Cara & American Alpha vs The Ascension, Erick Rowan & Epico
Chad Gable gets the pin on Epico.
Natalya vs Charlotte
Massive pop for Nattie. It's role reversal tonight as Nattie's working baby face and Charlotte is full on heel. She even offers Nattie a handshake but sucker punches her. Great great great match. Nattie wins by submission with a sharp shooter.
United States Title Match. Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn vs Rusev.
KO is wearing the t-shirt they're selling tonight with the Canadian flag in his initials. When he's announced as being the new face of America, he pulls the ring announcer aside who then says Kevin is and always has been, the face of Canada. Another great match. All three look great. Owens wins by pinning Sami.
Intermission.
The two merch stands that I passed on my way in now seem to be sold out of Jinder Mahal shirts. There's a strong south-Asian community in Metro Vancouver and they came out big tonight.
Tye Dillinger vs Baron Corbin
Tye gets a lot in but Corbin wins it with the End of Days.
Becky Lynch & Naomi vs Carmella & Tamina
Naomi pins Carmella.
Main Event time!
It's Jinder vs. Seth and the Singh Bros are at ringside.
The crowd is loving this match with "this is awesome" chants and duelling "Lets go Rollins" / "Lets go Jinder" chants. Seth appears to have the match won with a frog splash off the top, but the Singh Bros interfere and cause the DQ. Crowd goes nuts. The beatdown on Rollins begins and the Singhs bring a table into the ring. Seth turns the tables (so to speak) on the heels, clears the ring of the Singhs and puts Jinder through the table. After Jinder & the Singhs leave the ring, Seth grabs the mic and puts over how awesome the crowd is. Says "anytime the WWE is in Vancouver, count me in".
The crowd really was amazing tonight. It's been over a decade since WWE has done TV here. Hopefully that'll change soon.
So long from Vancouver!
2017 - Wildkat Wrestling ran XXX-Rated in New Orleans, LA. Grant Fletcher filed the following live report:
6/24 Wildkat Sports & Entertainment XXX-Rated 3
New Orleans, LA
What’s up, wrestling fans? We’ve got another recap of an exciting Wildkat Sports card. For one night each year Wildkat throws down with an adults only show in New Orleans.
Edward King was on hand to welcome us, pump us up and guide us through the night’s action.
Scott Phoenix and The Handouts def. The Mobile Home Mobsters via pinfall
Scott Phoenix teamed up with The Handouts, Edgrin Stone and Russ Radford, to take on the team of Herc ‘ZZ’ LeBouef, Jace Valor and Bubba Boudreaux.
T crowd was behind the Mobile Home Mobsters from the beginning. Phoenix set in on Valor with takedown. Valor turned things around with hammer lock. The two traded blocks and slams. Valor threw Phoenix to the floor.
Stone tagged in. Stone grabbed Valor on crucifix attempt. Bubba tagged in, but was quickly overpowered by Stone. Bubba unloaded some hard rights and corner splash, but his newfound momentum was stopped short by Stone.
Radford tagged in to double team Bubba with a big boot! The Handouts then continued to work over Bubba.
At this point ZZ made his in ring Wildkat debut with a hot tag. After ZZ’s assault was finished Stone caught him on a crossbody attempted. Valor lent the assist by missile dropkicking ZZ into Stone!
Radford threw out ZZ. Valor was quick to step in, but took a gnarly double chokelsam from The Handouts. 3 seconds later and Phoenix along with The Handouts had scored the victory.
Kojak Sly w/ Hardbody Harper def. ‘Money’ Mike Carradine via pinfall
Before the contest, ‘Money’ Mike took to the microphone and demanded the fans show him some respect stating that they had, “... paid money to see me!”
Sly walked to the ring to chants of, “Kojak’s gonna kill you!” from the Wildkat faithful.
Kojak started things off with a display of power when he threw Carradine into the corner straight way. Mike retreated to the ropes in order to bide time. Mike tried to fire back with a German suplex attempt, but couldn’t lift the colossal Kojak Sly.
Switching strategies Carradine let loose a series of dropkicks, but none phased Kojak. Kojak caught a crossbody attempt and sent Mike up and over his head!
‘Money’ responded one last time with an enziguri. Kojak laid him out with a clothesline for his troubles! The ensuing pinfall was just a formality.
‘The Mythian Warrior’ Anthony def. Barrett Brown via submission
Anthony took Brown down the mat and refused to relinquish control. Brown escaped a hammerlock with a foot sweep. A chain wrestling exchange followed. Brown duped Anthony into diving outside. Brown tried diving hurricanrana and got caught Anthony. ‘The Mythian Warrior’ sent him head first!
Anthony got a 2 count back inside the ring. Anthony commenced to stretching out Brown and kept on pressure. Brown escaped a falcon arrow attempt. He then used misdirection to lead Anthony outside and land suicide dive!
Anthony missed springboard moonsault, but nailed Brown with a superkick followed by a German suplex for a 2 count. Anthony tried to put Barrett away at this point, but Brown kept slipping out of his grasp.
Brown fired back with a super hurricanrana! Anthony rolls through and dropped Barrett Brown with High Roller, but only got a 2 count. The crowd erupted with, “This is awesome!” chants.
Brown let fly a series of kicks and knees punctuated with a tilt a whirl DDT. The result being merely a 2 count left Brown dismayed. Brown slipped a backstabber attempt, but took one anyway when Anthony went for it again. Anthony stretched out the neck Brown and he had no choice, but to submit
After the match Anthony and Barrett Brown shook hands in a mutual sign of respect.
‘The Equal Opportunity Ass Kicker’ Ruby Raze def. Krazy With a K via pinfall
Raze entered and issued an open challenge to any man or woman in the locker room. The call was answered by Krazy with a K.
Ruby pushed K to the mat and commenced laying into him with knees and forearms. Two loud chops in the corner blistered the chest of K. A corner splash had K winded, but Raze missed him while attempting another. K tried to follow up with forearm strikes, but they had no effect nor did his elbows and dropkicks.
Raze decided to make K pay for his outburst with 3 German suplexes in a row! She then slapped K to add insult to injury. K created some distance with a jawbreaker, but missed moonsault attempt. Ruby Raze charged in head first with a spear to put him down for the 3 count.
Ruby Raze def. El Saiko Gato via pinfall
“Too easy!” Raze shouted over the microphone and issued another challenge. El Saiko Gato immediately stepped forth from the curtain.
Again Raze started off with knees and forearms followed by vicious chops against the turnbuckle. 3 more German suplexes later and all there was left for Raze to do was drop Gato with an elevated neckbreaker for the pinfall.
Ruby Raze has comes face-to-face with…
The Sandman! The crowd lost their minds as the opening notes of Enter Sandman played over the PA. Like a phantom Sandman appeared in the back of the crowd with spotlights on him. Chugging and pouring beers the Singapore cane wielding Sandman made his way around the entire venue.
Once in the ring Sandman went to crack Ruby Raze over the head with his Singapore cane, but before he could strike she grabbed him in a bearhug. Sandman employed a creative escaped by kissing Raze. While Raze was visibly nauseated Sandman snapped his Singapore cane across the stomach of Raze and followed it up with a White Russian Legsweep.
Raze was quick to her feet and Sandman decided to acknowledge her toughness. “This is one hardcore bitch right here!” he called out over the microphone.
This elicited, ‘She’s hardcore!” chants from the fans. Sandman offered up a beer, and the crowd egged her on to take it. Ruby chugged it in the center of the ring then took one for the road as he made his exit.
Pump Patrol def. ‘Southern Stomper’ Luke Hawx and ‘Outlaw’ Matt Lancie via pinfall
Jared Wayne asked, “Is there a doctor in the house?! What about a priest?! Because we’re about to lay down a full-blown flexorcism(™)!”
Johnny Flex refused to engage Hawx and tagged in Curt Matthews.
Luke chopped Curt across the chest and squatted him from a fireman’s carry. Lancie and Wayne tagged in and proceeded to chain wrestle. Lancie dropped Wayne with an exploder suplex, and Pump Patrol huddled up on the apron before Lancie dragged Flex into the ring.
Lancie flattened Flex with a gutwrench powerbomb then stretched him out on the mat.
Luke tagged in to powerslam Flex, but only picked up a 2 count. Flex let fly a series of forearms. He tried to crossbody Luke, but was caught in the air with ease. Luke knocked the wind out of Flex with 15 rib breakers in a row followed by a vertical suplex.
Lancie and Wayne tagged in and Lancie delivered a belly to belly suplex. Hawx and Lancie proceeded to wear down Wayne on their side of the ring. Lancie’s spinebuster only got him a 2 count, then Matthews assisted Wayne from the apron for a backstabber. Pump Patrol began working on Lancie in their own corner.
Matthews and Flex delivered The Pumples Elbow to Lancie, but he moved out of the way for a second attempt. Hawx then entered the ring hot. He tossed Flex over his head for a fallaway slam where he landed on Lancie’s knee for a gutbuster! Lancie took Matthews out of the ring with a clothesline. When Luke went after Flex on the other side of the ring he was blinded by Wayne at ringside with a handful of protein powder. Flex used the misdirection to roll up Luke from behind and score the pinfall victory.
‘The Situ-Asian’ Bu Ku Dao and ‘Wildcard’ J Spade def. Tracy Smothers and ‘Ruthless’ Ryan Davidson via submission
As he does every year, Tracy Smothers began by insulting the Wildkat fans. He stated the being from Tennessee he hated New Orleans, the Saints and the Wildkat faithful. The crowd chanted, “A**hole!” at him before he introduced hit partner, the Houston, TX-based Ryan Davidson.
Davidson claimed that they were going to beat down their opponents in, “... this armpit, toilet bowl of a city.”
Tracy then put over Wildkat at the fastest growing promotion in wrestling today, but still made it clear that he hated New Orleans and everyone in it.
J Spade and Bu Ku Dao emerged and J warned Smothers that he has eyes all over the city. Dao and Spade then dubbed Davidon, “F*** boy Ryan.”
J and Davidson started us out with chain wrestling. J one the exchange with some strikes and a series of kicks to the butt. Dao tagged in and when Davidson missed a leg drop Dao and Spade double teamed him.
Tracy refused a tag from Davidson then tried to call for a timeout before ultimately tagging in.
Tracy headbutted Dao after the two competed in a quick pose-off. Dao delivered a crossbody then Smothers dropped him with an STO. Spade tagged in and turned up the pressure.
Tracy called for a time out then accused Dao and Spade of pulling their hair and fighting dirty. He asked for a clean match then tried to shake Spade’s hand. Spade slapped Smothers’ hand away then dropkicked him. Davidson and Smothers then began using referee distractions to double team Spade and get in illegal tags. Davidson issued a big boot to Spade and got a 2 count. Davidson began stretching out Spade, but Spade powered out for a jawbreaker and cartwheel kick!
Bu Ku Dao came in with a hot tag to take the wind out of their opponents. Spade tagged back in and Smothers tried to hit him with the tree branch he carries to the ring. Spade struck first with a spinning wheel kick. Spade stretched out Smothers on the mat with a crucifix forcing the submission.
Socorro(c) w/ Hardbody Harper and Kojak Sly def. ‘Chalmation Sensation’ Danny Flamingo via pinfall - Retains Wildkat Revolution Championship
Before the match Edward King declared that the contest would be no disqualification.
The two gladiators went at each other with hockey fight-style punches. Danny nailed Socorro with a shoulder block. The fight went out of the ring, through the crowd and all the way around the building!
Socorro escaped the chaos and headed back toward Harper and Sly at ringside. Danny came through the crowd like a bat out of hell and blindsided him! Danny then choked Socorro with a stuffed flamingo a fan at ringside was holding. Harper got in Danny Flamingo’s face and distracted so Danny smacked him with right hand. Socorro smashed Flamingo over the head with the tile leaving Danny bleeding.
Back inside Socorro hung Danny in the tree of woe for a basement dropkick which only got him a 2 count.
Danny answered with a Russian legsweep. Socorro then baited Danny by going up to the rafters as if he were looking for something high-risk, but he dropped down when Danny tried to get up and cracked him with a basement dropkick to the head.
A missed Flamingbow attempt by Danny led to the two of them trading right hands. Danny finished the series with a clothesline and a Rocky and Carlo’s Special (bicycle kick into the corner followed by a swinging neckbreaker) for a 2 count. Socorro threw off a DRS jawbreaker attempt by Danny then dropped Danny one final time with a pumphandle fallaway slam for the 3 count.
Stevie Richards(c) def. Mr. Anderson via pinfall - Retains Wildkat Heavyweight Championship
Stevie Richards emerged from the curtain wearing his new red, white and blue gear while lip syncing to Eye of the Tiger. He declared that The Summer of Stevie Tour continued. He then had Edward King read off a list of his accolades including his 23 Hardcore Championship reigns, that he has been straight-edge since 1971… a lot longer than that skinny guy with the tattoos that lost that UFC fight, being loved by cats all around the world, being one of the top 50 most jacked superstars of all time, being a future WWE Hall of Famer, being from the best wrestling city in the world… Philadelphia and being a gosh darn American hero.
Mr. Anderson then chased Stevie from the ring with a chair. He set up the chair in the ring for King to stand on an lower him the mic. After delivering his trademark intro in classic Mr. Anderson fashion the match was on!
Stevie went for the hair pull right off. Stevie took a chop from Anderson as a receipt then hid behind the ref from Anderson. Anderson stepped between them to give Stevie a wedgie that ripped the waist of his underwear as he fled the ring.
Anderson kept on the pressure, and Richards called foul using this as a distraction to send Anderson out of the ring. Richards then grabbed a chair to get King to help in reenact Mr. Anderson’s intro, but Anderson snuck back in the ring and climbed up on the chair himself. After being greeted by Anderson from behind Anderson slammed his right fist into Richards’ head. The fight went outside and through the fans when Anderson used had a crutch handed to him by a fan. He jammed the crutch between Stevie’s legs then chugged a beer from a nearby table throwing the remainder in Richards’ face! Stevie got the better of him with an eye rake and took the fight back to the ring.
Anderson tried to jump over Richards as he came off of the ropes and injured his knee on the landing. Stevie tried to have the match declared over, but Anderson was able to shake some life into his knee. Anderson handed out Manhattan and atomic drops leading Richards to take the fight back outside.
Stevie ran Anderson into the ringpost then slapped on a chinlock back on the mat. Sensing an opportunity as a submission Stevie transitioned to a rear naked choke, but Mr. Anderson powered out. A Stevie Kick from out of nowhere only got Richards a 2 count. The two traded blows before Stevie raked Anderson’s eyes. A rolling senton and a Mic Check from Mr. Anderson got him a near fall. Sensing that he was in trouble Stevie Richards kicked the referee forcing a disqualification.
Edward King stepped in to declare that management ordered the match restarted as no DQ while a new referee stepped in.
Mr. Anderson went after Stevie Richards with a fury, but Stevie pushed him into the replacement ref. He rolled up Anderson while holding onto his tights leaving it up to the original referee to count the pinfall.
As Richards tried to leave Mr. Anderson dragged him back into the ring by the hair to deliver one last Mic Check! He draped the Wildkat Heavyweight Title over Stevie then grabbed a microphone to recite the official result.
Shaking out the cobwebs Stevie took to the microphone to give thanks to Philly fans. He ended by giving the New Orleans fans, “... a big f*** you!”
That brought us to the conclusion of another great wrestling card by Wildkat Sports. Keep it locked in here for the next one!
Follow Grant @FletchersAlibi
2018 - World Series Wrestling held a live iPPV titled International Assault: Best of the Best on FITE TV (which you can download at this link for free) from the Dom Pulski Center in Adelaide. Mike Johnson filed the following iPPV report:
Melissa Santos from Lucha Underground is the ring announcer. The commentary team is Sean Fewster and Wolffogg, who are a regular team for RCW in Australia.
The Pulski Center is a small venue that looks like it would be great live for atmosphere, especially the balcony, sort of like the old Elks Lodge ECW and NYC independents used to run back in the day.
Chris Basso defeated Nick Armstrong and SLEX. Unfortunately, I slept through my alarm, thus I only caught the last few minutes of this but it was all action. Basso and Armstrong's valet posed like the lead characters in Titanic on the buckles after, this was a cute idea. The backstory is that Armstrong treats her terribly but Basso was treating her with respect.
Laura James vs Savannah Summers.
The announcers were playing up that James aka Mrs. Joey Ryan, was perhaps in mourning over the "death of Joey" per the Being the Elite storyline. It was all James early on, including a brawl around ringside. It was a short bout with James finally scoring the pin
Your winner, Laura James!
Zack Sabre Jr. vs Robbie Eagles.
They circled each other. Sabre took Eagles down with a headlock takeover. Eagles escaped but Sabre took him down again with another and held him with leg scissors. Eagles escaped and went for a kick to the head, but Zack ducked, and they faced off.
They locked up again and this time Sabre worked over Eagles’ arm and began manipulating his wrist and fingers. It turned into a test of strength. Eagles took Sabre down to the mat, but Zack reversed it and brought him down, gaining the advantage. Sabre escaped a reversal with a monkeyflip and they returned to their feet, still holding the test of strength. They exchanged kicks and finally, Eagles took Sabre down with a kick.
Eagles controlled Sabre and nailed several kicks to the back of the head. It turned into a game of one upsmanship with each combatant exchanging kicks. Eagle drilled Sabre with a running kick to the back of the head. Lots of great counters, culminating with Sabre using his feet to snap Eagles’ neck.
Sabre tied up Eagles like a pretzel, twisting all of his extremities until Eagles made it to the ropes, forcing a break. Sabre peppered him with forearms but was kicked off during a charge into the buckles. Eagles started mounting some offense, but Sabre cut him off, once again snapping the neck with his feet but this time holding on and snatching his ankle as well for a submission attempt. From a technical standpoint, Sabre is pulling off some insanely original wizard-level offense.
Eagles again tried to mount some offense, but this Sabre caught him running at him and snatched him down into another submission, then turned it into a near fall. Sabre began nailing several kicks to the chest. Eagles tried to fire back but missed, leaving himself open for another kick to the face. Eagles nailed a forearm. Sabre responded in kind.
Eagles nailed several kicks after a jawjacker and rebounded off the ropes for a running knee, but Sabre caught him and brought him down to the mat, attempting a STF. Eagles made it to the ropes before the maneuver could be locked on. He pulled himself outside to the apron but was kicked in the head as he returned inside the ring.
Eagles finally came to life with a boomerang clothesline and a 619. Eagles nailed a double knee strike in the corner and rolled up Zack for a two count. He drilled Sabre with a hard chop. Sabre responded with a forearm. They chopped back and forth. Sabre, finally having enough, slapped the hell out of Eagles’ face and did so again. Eagles fired back but was caught with a kick. Eagles held onto the leg, but Sabre slapped him down again.
Eagles was trapped in an Octopus and fought to make it to the ropes, finally doing so to force the break. Eahles came to life and hit a nice rana off the top. He tried to mount some offense but Sabre cut him off and nailed a penalty kick for a two count. They continued until Eagles scored his finisher Warp 4.5 off the top rope and scorede the pin.
Your winner, Robbie Eagles!
Good match with the story being that Eagles survived through all of Sabre's offense until finally finding his moment and getting it. The crowd popped big for the homegrown star getting the win. If you like lots of technical wrestling and physical storytelling, you would like this. I did.
All Weapons are Legal Hardcore Hell Fatal 4 Way Match: Abyss vs Jimmy Havoc vs. Viking Grimm vs Jonah Rock.
Viking Grimm is a big old viking. I love it. Pro wrestling needs more insane characters. Rock is is a pretty thick guy who wore a black leather vest with Godzilla on the back. OK, he rules already. Nice reaction for Havok. Big pop for Abyss, who is the last guy in.
Havok whipped out a staple gun immediately and used it but Rock overpowered him and instead using it on Havok's chest, arm and face. Rock placed him in a chair but missed a cannonball into it. Grimm ducked a clothesline and nailed a big chokeslam on Havok. Abyss grabbed him and ran him into a chair in the corner. He turned and faced off with Rock, which the announcers described as "the real kaiju battle." They battled back and forth. Abyss nailed a chokeslam but Rock popped up and began chopping him. Rock nailed a leaping shoulderblock, taking him to the mat.
Everyone battled on the floor and Rock nailed a big suicide dive on everyone. Think Samoa Joe hitting a dive and you get the idea of that same sort of physicality that comes with that dive. Havok was busted open at this point. Grimm and Abyss battled back and forth on the floor. Abyss was sent into the guard rails. Havok pulled out a barbed wire bat and tried to use it on Rock but was again overpowered and had it tore across his forehead. Rock then drilled it into his stomach.
A table was set up at ringside at some point. Abyss and Grimm brawled into the crowd. Rock and Havok brawled out into another section of the crowd. Havok grabbed a beer from the concession stand and nailed Rock with it, then sent him into a pole, taking out a security guard who wasn't swift enough to avoid them. Abyss and Grimm brawled into the same area, so all four were battling in the same corner of the building. Viking and Rock began exchanging chops. Pretty entertaining stuff.
Havok disappeared as the other three battled and re-emerged in the balcony. He dove off, taking out the others, which got a big reaction live. Back in the ring, Havok worked over Grimm and nailed a double stomp off the ropes for a two count. He set up a table in the corner, leaning it against the corner. He was unable to use it, caught with a big boot. Grimm grabbed his viking horn and ripped it into Havok's forehead. Ha! I love it!
Abyss returned to the scene with a trash can. He was taken down. Grimm went to the top for a move on Abyss but Havok came back to life and shoved him off. Grimm crashed to the floor, destroying the table that was set up outside. Havoc poured a bag of tacks into the mat. He tried to DDT Abyss into them but was blocked. Abyss went for a chokeslam but was caught with a kick to the nards. Yes, nards. I just watched Monster Squad. Sue me. Abyss came back with a harsh chokeslam onto the tacks.
Abyss went under the ring and pulled out Janice. How does one get that through customs? Before he could use it, Rock speared him into the table in the corner. Havok went for a rana but Rock caught him and powerbombed him on the tacks, then nailed a brainbuster onto them. Ouch! Rock scored the pin.
Your winner, Jonah Rock!
A thoroughly entertaining bell to bell brawl.
They aired a video promising an "Elite Takeover" event before plugging the 7/22 Impact Wrestling PPV.
The Parea with Big Steen vs. The Rude Ones
Rude Ones are a pair of masked talents, Bulldog and Marvel. Parea are Gabriel Aeros and Eli Theseus.
Parea caught Bulldog of the Rude Ones early on and double teamed him with some nice moves. The Rude Ones gained control and worked over Gabriel of The Parea. Gabriel escaped a suplex attempt by Marvel and nailed a twisting elbow off the ropes. He followed up with a neckbreaker that sent the Rude Ones recovering on the floor. Gabriel dove off his partners' back into a dive but was caught by The Rude Ones on the floor. His partner then hit a big flip dive to the floor, taking them out.
The Rude Ones regained control when they returned to the ring, scoring several two counts. They nailed a double slam for yet another two count. Parea made a comeback. All big moves. The Parea finally scored the win.
Brian Cage vs 'The Villain' Marty Scurll for the first-time ever.
Scurll got into it with someone in the crowd at the bell, so Cage went to the floor and gave him a “Too Sweet.”
They did a comedy spot where the ref went to the back and when he returned, Scurll kicked the ropes and crotched him. Scurll then did more comedy where he did body poses to mock Cage.
They went for a test of strength but Scurll went for an eye poke. Cage blocked it, but Marty got him with the other hand. Scurll ended up on the floor arguing with the fan again. Scurll snapped Cage’s neck on the ropes when he reached over to grab him. Cage was worked over but came back with a big Fall Away Slam.
They battled to the floor where Cage was sent into the ring post. Scurll came off the apron with a kick. He began focusing on the arm, stomping on it as a way to try and take out Cage’s power moves. Back in the ring, he stomped the elbow and wrist of Cage.
He attempted a bow and arrow set-up, then stomped down on the back of the knees and continued the attack, stomping him into the mat. Scurll tried to chop Cage in the corner but that was a mistake. Cage began to mount a comeback and wiped out Marty with a swinging neckbreaker. Cage went for a moonsault but Scurll got out of the way. Scurll went for a tornado DDT but was tossed off and nailed with a clothesline for a two count.
Cage worked over Scurll until he hand was stomped. Scurll went for a clothesline, but well, it didn't really go well. Cage nailed a superkick and went for a suplex, but it was turned into a DDT for a two count. Scurll grabbed a title belt and teased using it but the referee stopped him. Page went for a pumphandle slam and Scurll claimed he was grabbing him low and demanded a DQ. This turned into a bit where the referee argued with Cage about it. Cage shoved him down, which should have been a DQ but wasn't and all of this led to Scurll nailing a low blow with the umbrella for a two count. Eh.
Scurll grabbed the fingers and snapped them. It only enraged Cage, who nailed a powerbomb and an F5 for a two count. Really? Cage set up for another big move but Jonah Rock came out on the stage and distracted him. Scurll scored a low blow and a small package for the pin.
Your winner, Marty Scurll!
This was OK if you like Scurll's shenanigans. I felt like Cage was really underutilized here.
Joey Ryan vs Hangman Page in a "Being the Elite Grudge Match."
Page came out with a bandage on his eye. They noted he needed 11 stitches following a bout with Austin Aries earlier on the WSW tour of Australia.
Page took the mic and said he was scheduled to face a famous dead wrestler, Joey Ryan. He said that the problem is that Joey Ryan is dead. He said there’s nothing anyone can do about it. He put on his gear tonight, but Joey won’t be here, because he’s dead. Some fans chanted, “Rest in peace.” Page said he’s probably in hell.
Page turned his attention to a woman in the crowd. He told her she almost looked like Joey. He offered her the chance to climb in the crowd and wrestle him tonight instead. He then told her she had no choice but to fight him. Uh, OK. The young woman got in the ring but then acted scared.
They rang the bell. As soon as they did, Joey Ryan’s wife Laura James came out on the stage. She said Page was saying that because his poor dead husband isn’t here, he’s going to wrestle that poor girl. She challenged him to “be a man about it” and wrestle her instead.
Page agreed to that instead.
The lights went out when they rang the bell….and it was SABU!
Just kidding.
Out came Joey Ryan.
The announcers wondered how he could there. One of them claimed it was CGI. Fans chanted, Joey Ryan...Holo...Gram!"
OK...Ryan did his shtick. The audience loved it.
Ryan challenged Page to grab his, well, manhood. Page teased doing it but instead drilled him. Ryan went down but sat up like the Undertaker, since, well, he's dead? He went for a chokeslam but Page fought his way out of it. Page went to the floor and acted fearful of Ryan, backing away. He grabbed Laura James and shoved her into Ryan. He caught her which allowed Page to attack Joey and work him over.
Back in the ring, Page nailed a series of punches to the head as the crowd chanted, "You're not real." Page locked on a side chinlock, telling Ryan to go back to hell. Ryan fought his way back. Page was knocked directly into Ryan's, well, manhood, and Ryan no-sold it. He nailed Page in the corner and nailed a spinebuster for a two count.
Ryan and Page battled back and forth with right hands. Page went to toss Ryan over the top but Ryan reversed the momentum and sent him out to the apron. Ryan charged but Page dove back in with a buckshot lariat. Page whipped Ryan into the referee, who went down. Ryan kicked Page low. Ryan called James into the ring and she poured oil on his back. She charged and did a slide over his back into Page, nailing him in the corner
Marty Scurll hit the ring and confronted James. He went to snap her fingers but she maneuvered his hand to Ryan's well, you know. They did the flip spot. Ryan went to superkick Page but he ducked and Laura James was nailed. Page drilled Ryan and scored the pin.
Your winner, Adam Page!
Patently ridiculous but the crowd loved it.
World Series Wrestling Champion Johnny Impact vs. Impact Wrestling Champion Austin Aries
Aries had a bandage over his eye as well. This was billed as Aries defending the belt, but over the course of the tour, Brian Cage won the belt then lost it to Impact.
Aries heeled the crowd, then offered to make it a title vs. title bout, saying the Impact belt is worth ten times more than the WSW title. He then said he was worth ten times what the crowd paid to see him tonight, so he was changing his mind and then made it the DEFY title vs. the WSW title. He then changed his mind and said Impact and the people get nothing.
After playing to the crowd for a bit, they locked up and went back and forth with Aries finally nailing a deep armdrag before showboating in the corner. They locked up again and this time, Impact was the one showboating. Impact began working over Aries' arm and they went back and forth with reversals until Impact was drilled. Aries took control, nailing several right hands. Aries grinded away with a side headlock.
Impact came back with a dropkick that sent Aries to the floor. Impact followed and dropped him across the ring barrier. He nailed a hard chop that sent Aries stumbling away, then followed up with another. Aries reversed an Irish whip that sent Impact over the barricade and into the crowd. Aries came off the apron with a double axehandle across Impact, who was draped across the ring barricade. Now it was Aries nailing big chops.
They battled back into the ring. Aries kicked off a charge in the corner but was caught and turned around when he attempted a second one. Impact drilled him with a kick to the back. Impact went for a German suplex but was sent to the floor. Aries came off the ropes with a double axe-handle from the top to the floor. Aries nailed an elbow across the throat of Impact, who was laid out on the apron.
Back in the ring, Aries continued working over Impact, scoring several two counts. He smashed Impact into the buckles, then raked his back. Aries used his boot to smother Impact's face in the buckles and raked him again. Aries continued the onslaught, even raking the chest. Impact tried to make a comeback and used his speed to avoid Aries, drill a kick and springboarded off the ropes to rake Aries' back.
Impact scored a near fall after a big legdrop. He placed Aries on the top rope and drilled him with a right hand, then set up for a superplex. Aries drilled him and hit a sunset flip powerbomb for a two count, then twisted Impact into The Last Chancery. Impact fought his way to the ropes, draping his leg over it to force the break.
Aries and Impact battled on the apron. They battled over a suplex. Aries won the battle, then snapped him with a neckbreaker through the ropes on the apron. Aries went to the top but Impact stunned him before he could execute anything. Impact nailed a superkick to wipe out Aries and nailed a Spanish Fly for a close to two count. They battled back and forth until Aries locked on another Last Chancery. Impact made it to the ropes.
Aries grabbed the WSW title belt and teased using it but Impact rolled him up for a two count. They went back and forth with reversals, until Impact was sent to the floor. Aries went for a dive but was caught with a leaping forearm as he hit the ropes. They battled to the apron. Aries nailed a DVDR on the apron, but Impact still kicked up. Aries tried again with his feet on the ropes but couldn't score the pinfall.
Aries went to use the title belt again but Impact hit a springboard kick, wiping him out. Aries put his foot on the ropes to break the pinfall. Impact went for Starship Pain but Aries moved. Impact went for a move but when he lifted and swung Aries, they clobbered the referee. Impact went for Starship Pain but hit the title belt that was still in the ring. Aries nailed a big running elbow and hit a brainbuster for the pin.
Your winner and new WSW Champion, Austin Aries!
They noted Aries was the first two-time champion in the company's history.
Good, logical action from bell to bell.
One of the ring attendants dropped one of Aries' title belts and was dragged into the ring and nailed for his indiscretion.
The show closed with Melissa Santos signing off before they played yet another Impact Slammiversary PPV commercial.
Thank you for checking out our coverage this morning!
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