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On this day in history in ....
1980 - WWF taped Championship Wrestling in Allentown, PA at Ag Hall with the following results:
-Pedro Morales defeated Jose Estrada.
-Rick Martel defeated Johnny Rodz.
-Larry Zbyszko defeated Angelo Gomez.
-The Wild Samoans defeated Steve King & Ricky Stallone.
-The Hangman defeated Fred Marzino.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Ken Patera defeated Rick McGraw.
-Angel Maravilla defeated Frank Savage.
-Pat Patterson & Rene Goulet defeated Ken Sharkey & Jose Estrada.
-Hulk Hogan defeated Ron Shaw.
-The Wild Samoans defeated Rene Goulet & Rick McGraw via countout.
-Rick Martel defeated Lindsey Lyle.
-Angel Maravilla defeated Ken Sharkey.
-Larry Zbyszko defeated Steve King.
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund & Pedro Morales defeated Tor Kamata & Jose Estrada.
-Hulk Hogan defeated Tony Colon.
-Pat Patterson defeated Johnny Rodz.
-Sika fought Rene Goulet to a double countout.
-The Hangman defeated Angelo Gomez.
-Hulk Hogan defeated WWF World Champion Bob Backlund via countout.
1982 - WWF ran Worcester, MA, featuring:
-Baron Mikel Scicluna defeated Frank Williams.
-Pete Sanchez defeated Laurent Soucie.
-Ivan Putski defeated Bob Orton Jr.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Pedro Morales fought Blackjack Mulligan to a no contest.
-Jimmy Snuka defeated Steve Travis.
-Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow defeated Johnny Rodz & the Blue Demon.
1983 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Richmond, Virginia at the Coliseum, headlined by Roddy Piper & Wahoo McDaniel defeating NWA U.S. Champion Greg Valentine & Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr. and Ric Flair defeating NWA World Champion Harley Race via disqualification.
1983 - WWF ran Harrisburg, PA, featuring:
-SD Jones defeated Israel Matia.
-Samula (Samu) defeated Swede Hanson.
-George Steele defeated Salvatore Bellomo.
-Rocky Johnson defeated Iron Mike Sharpe via disqualification.
-Ivan Putski defeated Ivan Koloff.
-The Wild Samoans fought the Invaders to a double disqualification.
1984 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Asheville, NC at the Civic Center, featuring:
-Barry Hart defeated Bobby Bass.
-Mark Fleming defeated Ali Bey.
-Vinnie Valentino defeated Gary Quartanelli.
-Nikita Koloff defeated Gary Royal.
-The Assassins defeated Buzz Sawyer & Adrian Street.
-Gene & Ole Anderson defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions Ivan Koloff & Don Kernodle via disqualification.
1984 - WWF ran the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY, featuring:
Adrian Adonis defeated Steve Lombardi.
Dick Murdoch defeated Salvatore Bellomo.
Moondog Rex fought Jose Luis Rivera to a draw.
Greg Valentine defeated Pat Patterson via countout.
George Steele defeated George Sanders.
Bob Backlund defeated George Steele.
1985 - Don Muraco is crowned the King of the Ring, winning a one night tournament in Foxborough, MA at Sullivan Stadium before 23,000 fans:
First Round:
-Jim Brunzell pinned the Spoiler.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Tito Santana defeated Terry Funk via disqualification.
-The Iron Sheik pinned B. Brian Blair.
-Ricky Steamboat pinned Greg Valentine.
-Les Thornton pinned Steve Lombardi.
-Don Muraco pinned the Junkyard Dog.
-Pedro Morales pinned Johnny V.
-Paul Orndorff fought Bob Orton Jr. to a double disqualification.
Quarter Finals:
-WWF IC Champion Tito Santana fought Jim Brunzell to a draw; Brunzell won a coin toss to continue.
-The Iron Sheik pinned Ricky Steamboat.
-Don Muraco pinned Les Thornton.
Semi-Finals:
-The Iron Sheik pinned Jim Brunzell.
-Don Muraco pinned Pedro Morales.
Finals: Don Muraco pinned the Iron Sheik in a rare meeting of heels.
In a non-tournament bout, WWF champion Hulk Hogan pinned Nikolai Volkoff.
1985 - WWF ran Syracuse, NY at the Onondaga County War Memorial with the following results:
-The Dynamite Kid pinned Moondog Spot at 9:20.
-Randy Savage pinned Swede Hanson at 11:51.
-Davey Boy Smith pinned Rene Goulet at 12:12.
-The Missing Link pinned George Wells at 5:43.
-Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo in a non-title match at 14:10 when Neidhart pinned Rotundo.
-WWF Tag Team Champion Mike Rotundo won a 16-man battle royal.
1986 - WWF ran Buffalo, NY at the Memorial Auditorium, featuring:
-Tony Garea fought Les Thornton to a draw.
-Billy Jack Haynes defeated Tiger Chung Lee.
-Don Muraco defeated Tony Parisi.
-King Kong Bundy defeated Cousin Luke.
-King Tonga defeated Big John Studd via disqualification.
-WWF Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs, Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid defeated Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake in a steel cage match.
1987 - WWF champion Hulk Hogan defeated Killer Khan in the main event of a St. Paul, Minnesota event.
1987 - WWF ran Wheeling, WV at the Civic Center, featuring:
-Pedro Morales pinned Frenchy Martin.
-Sam Houston pinned Jose Estrada.
-Iron Mike Sharpe pinned David Sammartino.
-The Junkyard Dog pinned Nikolai Volkoff.
-Brutus Beefcake pinned Dino Bravo.
-Rick Martel & Tom Zenk defeated the Islanders.
1988 - WWF ran Eugene, OR at The University of Oregon McArthur Court, featuring:
-Bad News Brown defeated Jim Neidhart.
-Jos LeDuc defeated Scott Casey.
-Dino Bravo pinned Ken Patera with the side slam.
-The Powers of Pain defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition in a non-title match.
-Brutus Beefcake defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion the Honkytonk Man via disqualification.
-Andre the Giant pinned Jim Duggan with a sit-down splash.
1988 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Pittsburgh, PA at the Civic Arena, featuring:
-Chris Champion fought Kendall Windham to a draw.
-Rip Morgan fought Bugsy McGraw to a no contest.
-Al Perez & Larry Zbyzsko defeated Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner.
-Ron Garvin defeated Rick Steiner.
-Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated the Sheepherders.
-NWA World TV Champion Mike Rotunda defeated Jimmy Garvin.
-Sting, Nikita Koloff, & Steve Williams defeated Dick Murdoch, Ivan Koloff, & the Russian Assassin.
-The Road Warriors defeated NWA Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard via disqualification.
-NWA U.S. Tag Team Champions The Fantastics, Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers defeated The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane in a scaffold match.
-Lex Luger & Dusty Rhodes defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair & NWA U.S. Champion Barry Windham .
1989 - WWF ran Edmonton, Alberta at Northlands Coliseum, featuring:
-Tim Horner pinned Boris Zhukov.
-The Genius pinned Paul Roma.
-Brutus Beefcake pinned Greg Valentine.
-The Bushwhackers defeated Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard.
-Jimmy Snuka pinned the Honkytonk Man.
-WWF Champion Hulk Hogan pinned Randy Savage.
1989 - The NWA drew 4,800 fans to the Boston Garden, witnessing:
-Scott Hall pinned Bill Irwin.
-The Dynamic Dudes, Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace defeated the New Zealand Militia, Jacko Victory and Rip Morgan.
-Mike Rotunda pinned Dick Murdoch.
-Norman pinned Steve Casey.
-Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey defeated Johnny & Davey Rich.
-Rick Steiner pinned Kevin Sullivan in a Streetfight.
-Terry Gordy & NWA World Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin defeated Steve Williams & The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane.
-The Great Muta defeated Eddie Gilbert via count-out in a Dragon Shi match.
-Rick Steiner won a battle royal by last eliminating Mike Rotunda.
-Sting defeated Terry Funk via disqualification when Norman interfered.
-The Road Warriors defeated the Samoan Swat Team.
-NWA U.S. Champion Lex Luger pinned Ricky Steamboat.
1990 - WWF ran Toronto, Ontario at Maple Leaf Gardens, drawing 2,500 fans witnessing:
-Haku pinned Jim Brunzell.
-Nikolai Volkoff pinned Boris Zhukov.
-Hillbilly Jim pinned Black Bart.
-The Warlord pinned Pez Whatley (substituting for Tito Santana) with a powerslam.
-Earthquake pinned Jim Duggan.
-WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition Smash & Crush (with Ax) defeated The Hart Foundation, Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart when Crush pinned Bret Hart after Ax interfered and clotheslined Hart.
-Tito Santana (substituting for Brutus Beefcake) defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect via disqualification after Perfect pulled the referee in front of Santana.
1990 - NWA ran Asbury Park, NJ at the Convention Hall, drawing 1,700 fans with the following results:
-Doug Furnas defeated El Diablo (David Sierra).
-El Gigante defeated Dr. X (Randy Culley).
-Tom Zenk defeated Harley Race via disqualification.
-Paul Orndorff pinned Mark Callous.
-Brian Pillman & Tommy Rich defeated Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin.
-Rick & Scott Steiner defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions Doom in a non-title match.
1990 - NWA ran Roanoke, VA at the Civic Center featuring:
-The New Samoans defeated The Southern Boys, Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong.
-Brad Armstrong defeated Buddy Landel.
-The Rock N' Roll Express, Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions Doom.
-The Junkyard Dog defeated NWA World TV Champion Arn Anderson.
-NWA World Champion Sting, in his first match as champion & NWA U.S. Champion Lex Luger defeated Ric Flair & Barry Windham.
1991 - The Barroom Brawlers defeat Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller for the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1991 - WWF ran a TV Taping in Calgary, Alberta at the Saddledome before 13,500 fans featuring the following:
Wrestling Challenge taping:
-In his WWF debut, Sid Justice, formerly Sid Vicious in the NWA and other promotions, pinned Ted Dibiase.
-Bret Hart defeated IRS
-Biff Wellington vs. an unknown
-The Big Bossman & the Bushwhackers defeated WWF Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys & the Mountie
Prime Time Wrestling:
-Virgil defeated Paul Roma (w/ Slick) via submission with the Million $ Dream at 8:12
-Jimmy Snuka pinned Louie Spicolli at 2:13 with the splash off the top
-The Beverly Brothers (w/ Coach) defeated Bob Jones & Chi Chi Cruz at 2:32 when Beau pinned Jones following the head spike
-Kerry Von Erich pinned Tim Peterson at 4:21 with the Tornado Punch
-Jake Roberts defeated Earthquake
-The Ultimate Warrior defeated the Undertaker via disqualification
-Virgil defeated Hutch Thomas
-WWF Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Sgt. Slaughter via submission with the Camel Clutch
Wrestling Challenge:
-Ricky Steamboat pinned Louie Spicolli with a flying bodypress at 1:41
-IRS pinned Bob Jones with the Write Off fallaway slam at 1:14
-Jim Duggan pinned Ed Moretti with the running clothesline at 1:32
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Nasty Boys (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Stan Saxson & Brian Jewels when Saggs pinned Saxson after a running powerslam from Knobbs at 3:25
-The Big Bossman pinned Sam Steel at the 52-second mark with the sidewalk slam
-The Beverly Brothers (w/ Coach) defeated Jeff Wheeler & Randy Thatcher when Beau pinned Thatcher after a double team move at 3:07
-Ted Dibiase (w/ Sensational Sherri) defeated Jason Anderson via submission with the Million $ Dream at 1:38
-The Berzerker pinned Ken Johnson
-The Bushwhackers defeated Jim Peterson & Ronny Starr
-The Mountie defeated Randy Thatcher
-Davey Boy Smith defeated Bob Bradley
-Col. Mustafa defeated Jeff Sanders
-Bret Hart defeated Ed Moretti
-Sgt. Slaughter defeated Vern Sebert & an unknown in a handicap match
-Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated the Black Knight & an unknown
-The Warlord defeated Randy Thatcher
-The Natural Disasters defeated Jeff Wheeler & Hutch Thomas
-The Undertaker defeated Ray Williams
1992 - WWF ran Rockford, IL at the Metro Centre before 2,000 fans, featuring:
-Jim Brunzell defeated Kato (Paul Diamond)
-The Nasty Boys defeated High Energy, Owen Hart & Koko B. Ware.
-Rick Martel defeated Tatanka via countout.
-Jim Duggan defeated Nailz via disqualification after being assaulted with the nightstick.
-The Legion of Doom defeated the Beverly Brothers.
-WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart pinned Shawn Michaels.
-The Ultimate Warrior pinned Papa Shango.
1994 - Tod Gordon's NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling ran Montgomery, PA at Farmers Market, drawing 175 fans with the following results:
-The Rockin Rebel defeated Stevie Richards.
-The Tazmaniac defeated Dino Sendoff & Joel Hartgood in a handicap match.
-ECW Tag Team Champions Public Enemy defeated Mikey Whipwreck & Jim Lano.
-Sabu defeated Mr. Hughes.
-ECW Champion Shane Douglas defeated Tommy Dreamer.
1994 - WWF ran East Rutherford, NJ at the Meadowlands with the "Marathon Tour", drawing 4,000 featuring:
-The 1-2-3 Kid defeated Kwang.
-Duke Drose defeated Rick Martel.
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Headshrinkers defeated Double Trouble (substituting for the Heavenly Bodies).
-Randy Savage defeated Jerry Lawler.
-Nikolai Volkoff defeated Virgil.
-IRS defeated Tatanka via disqualification.
-Yokozuna defeated Typhoon.
-WWF champion Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart in a 60-minute Ironman match, 3 falls to 2.
1994 - WWF ran Wels, Austria before 750 fans, featuring:
-Thurmann "Sparky" Plugg (Bob Holly) defeated Adam Bomb.
-Jeff Jarrett defeated Doink the Clown.
-Mabel defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.
-Lex Luger defeated Crush.
-The Smoking Gunns defeated The Rock N' Roll Express, Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson.
-Razor Ramon defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Diesel via disqualification.
1995 - WWF ran White Plains, NY at the Westchester County Civic Center before 1,800 fans featuring:
-Skip pined Bob Holly.
-Jean Pierre Lafitte defeated Aldo Montoya.
-Adam Bomb defeated Hakushi.
-Savio Vega defeated King Mabel via disqualification.
-Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Doink the Clown.
-Bam Bam Bigelow defeated King Kong Bundy.
1996 - Rey Mysterio, Jr. defeats Dean Malenko for the WCW Cruiserweight Title in Lake Buena Vista, Florida at Disney/MGM studios. This was first of eight title reigns (to date) with the belt for Rey in WCW and WWE.
1998 - WCW ran a Thunder taping in Birmingham, AL at BJCC featuring:
-Public Enemy defeated Tokyo Magnum & Shimo Nobunaga.
-Ernest Miller defeated Villano IV.
-Juventud Guerrera defeated Judo Suwa.
-Konnan defeated Stevie Ray via disqualification.
-Raven & Horace defeated Perry Saturn & Kanyon.
-Steve McMichael defeated Rick Fuller.
-WCW Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho defeated the Ultimo Dragon.
-Dark match after the show: WCW World & U.S. Champion Bill Goldberg defeated Scott Hall.
1999 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Ft. Lauderdale, FL at the War Memorial Auditorium before 1,200 fans featuring:
-Vito Lograsso defeated Simon Diamond.
-Super Crazy defeated Little Guido.
-Rhino defeated CW Anderson.
-Danny Doring & Roadkill defeated Chris Chetti & Nova.
-Jazz defeated Jason Knight.
-Steve Corino defeated Prodigy Tom Marquez.
-ECW World Tag Team Champions Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley defeated Jerry Lynn & Spike Dudley.
-ECW World Champion Taz defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri.
-ECW World TV Champion Rob Van Dam deefeated Lance Storm.
-Sabu defeated Justin Credible.
2000 - WWF ran Anaheim, CA at the Arrowhead Pond featuring:
-D-Lo Brown defeated the Godfather.
-WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko defeated Perry Saturn with the Texas CloverLeaf.
-T&A defeated the Acolytes following Test's pumphandle slam on Bradshaw.
-Rikishi defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Val Venis via disqualification.
-Chris Benoit defeated Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho in a triangle match when Benoit pinned Jericho with a German suplex after Triple H interfered.
-Crash Holly defeated Gangrel.
-The Undertaker & Kane defeated the Big Bossman & Bull Buchanon following double chokeslams.
-The Dudley Boyz defeated Road Dogg & X-Pac in a tables match.
-WWF Tag Team Champions Edge & Christian defeated Too Cool and Matt & Jeff Hardy.
-WWF Champion the Rock defeated Triple H following the Rock Bottom and People's Elbow after Chris Benoit's interference backfired.
2001- WWF ran Augusta, GA at the Civic Center, featuring:
-Tajiri pinned Raven with a kick to the head.
-Test pinned Rhyno with a boot to the face as Rhyno attempted the Gore.
-Molly Holly defeated Ivory.
-WCW Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman defeated Chavo Guerrero and Gregory Helms by pinning Chavo with the Kid Crusher.
-Hugh Morrus pinned Mark Jindrak with a sit-down powerbomb.
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz defeated Edge & Christian, Matt & Jeff Hardy, and Crash & Hardcore Holly in an elimination match.
-Bradshaw pinned Bull Buchanon with the Clothesline from Hell.
-WCW Tag Team Champions Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo defeated Chris Kanyon & Shawn Stasiak when Palumbo pinned Kanyon.
-WCW World Champion Booker T pinned Lance Storm with a sunset flip off the middle ropes; after the bout, Kurt Angle ran into the ring and hit the Olympic Slam on Booker.
-The Undertaker & Kane defeated Diamond Dallas Page & Mike Awesome when the Undertaker pinned Awesome with the chokeslam.
2002 - The following press release was issued by WWE:
World Wrestling Entertainment Settles Lawsuit With Parents Television Council; PTC Founder Brent Bozell Issues Apology
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 2002--World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) today announced it has successfully settled its lawsuit against the Parents Television Council (PTC), L. Brent Bozell III, Media Research Center (MRC), and others.
As a result, WWE will receive $3.5 million and a series of non-monetary considerations, including a personal letter of apology from Mr. Bozell (see the posting at the PTC website, www.parentstv.org, and at wwe.com or corporate.wwe.com).
The lawsuit centered on various statements made by PTC and its representatives linking the deaths of four children to the WWE SmackDown! television program and on statements claiming that certain advertisers had stopped advertising on SmackDown.
In his letter of apology, Mr. Bozell acknowledged that the PTC's concerns with the content of WWE'S programming has been reduced significantly over the past years, and went on to admit that it was not fair to WWE to have passed on to advertisers accusations about children's deaths which were false. In addition, as part of the settlement agreement, Mr. Bozell has offered to meet with certain specific advertisers with whom he or members of his organizations met with or sent letters to regarding WWE to personally explain the basis of his letter of apology.
"We have always maintained that certain statements made about us by the PTC went beyond fair comment or criticism, and were false, defamatory, and very unfair," said Linda McMahon, WWE CEO. "We feel vindicated by this settlement."
PTC LETTER OF APOLOGY
Media Research Center (MRC), Parents Television Council (PTC), Dr. Delores Tucker, Mark Honig and I have in the past made statements regarding so-called wrestling deaths--children killed by other children alleged to be mimicking "professional wrestling" moves they saw on television. We made such statements to members of MRC and PTC, the media, advertisers on World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Smackdown! program, retailers that sell WWE-related toys and merchandise, public officials and the public. MRC and PTC also produced a videotape as part of a fundraising campaign in connection with its "National Campaign to Clean Up TV Now!", which advanced the notion that the murder of Tiffany Eunick was caused by the influence of professional wrestling on Lionel Tate. The videotape included interviews with Lionel Tate's lawyer advancing the notion that the murder of Tiffany Eunick, the victim, was directly caused by the impact that professional wrestling had on Lionel Tate.
We based our statements on media reports and source information. We now believe, based on extensive investigation and facts which have come to light since making those statements, that it was wrong for MRC, PTC, their spokespersons and myself to have said anything that could be construed as blaming WWE or any of its programs for the deaths of the children. Simply put, it was premature to reach that conclusion when we did, and there is now ample evidence to show that conclusion was incorrect. I now believe that professional wrestling played no role in the murder of Tiffany Eunick, which was a part of our "Clean Up TV Now!" campaign, and am equally convinced that it was incorrect and wrong to have blamed WWE or any of its programs for the deaths of the other children.
Because of our statements, PTC, MRC and the WWE have been in litigation since November 2000. WWE vigorously advanced its position that neither it, nor "professional wrestling" lead to these deaths. WWE also contended that MRC, PTC, their spokespersons and I had misrepresented the number of advertisers who withdrew support from WWE's Smackdown! television program after receiving communications from the PTC, some of which regrettably connected the WWE and Smackdown! to the deaths of children. As such, WWE exercised its right to initiate this litigation, during which facts came to light that prompted me to make this statement.
By this retraction, I want to be clear that WWE was correct in pointing out that various statements made by MRC, PTC and me were inaccurate concerning the identity and number of WWE Smackdown! advertisers who withdrew support from the program. Many of the companies we stated had "withdrawn" or pulled their support had never, in fact, advertised on Smackdown! nor had any plan to advertise on Smackdown! Again, we regret this error and retract any such misleading statements.
Finally, concerning the statements about child wrestling deaths, it was wrong to have stated or implied that WWE or any of its programs caused these tragic deaths. Specifically concerning the Lionel Tate case, recent developments lead us to believe that others and we were given, and relied upon, false information provided by parties close to the case. The information that we were given and relied upon may have been designed to make a national example of the Florida murder trial, pinning the blame on WWE. For example, we were told by a source that Lionel Tate was watching a WWE program when he assaulted Tiffany Eunick. In fact, Lionel Tate was watching the "Flintstones" and a cartoon entitled "Cow and Chicken." We were also told, by a source, that Lionel Tate killed Tiffany Eunick while executing a wrestling move unique to a WWE character called the "Stone Cold Stunner." We have since learned that this was not true, nor was there any evidence that it was true.
It is now well documented that after the Tate trial concluded, the presiding Judge said that it was "inconceivable" that Tiffany Eunick's injuries were caused by Lionel Tate mimicking wrestling moves. Indeed, since the trial ended, Lionel Tate's new lawyers have filed court papers in which they admit that the "wrestling defense" was, in their words, "bogus." Given these facts, WWE was within its rights to be angry at the MRC, PTC, their spokespersons and I for contacting WWE's advertisers to go beyond complaining about WWE content but passing along accusations which we now know were false. Because I feel a simple retraction is not sufficient, I have personally extended my apology to Vince McMahon and the WWE on behalf of MRC, PTC, Dr. Tucker, Mr. Honig and me. Through this letter, I now make this apology public and specifically directed to the advertising community that has in the past, is currently or may in the future consider advertising or sponsoring WWE programming.
The PTC can have its concern with the content of WWE's television programming - though these concerns have been reduced significantly over the past years as a reflection of WWE's changed standards. But nowhere in that debate, including in the correspondence and statements to the advertising community, should there have been any discussion of "wrestling" deaths. I regret this happening, it wasn't fair to WWE. And I say this emphatically: Please disregard what others and we have said in the past about the Florida "wrestling" death. Neither "wrestling" in general, nor WWE specifically, had anything to do with it. Of that I am certain.
Sincerely,
L. Brent Bozell, III
cc: Vince and Linda McMahon
2002 - During the end of a 10 man match on Raw, Kevin Nash, in his first match back in action in months after recovering from a biceps injury, suffered an injury to his left quadriceps muscle. Nash tripped over Booker T's foot after Nash hit a big boot to the face on Booker. After he hit the boot, Nash was running across the ring to hit Bubba Ray Dudley, who was on the apron. Because he had tripped on Booker's foot, he landed awkwardly on his left leg. He immediately fell to the ground and screamed loudly. He laid on the apron as Earl Hebner gave a signal to the back that Nash was legitimately hurt while Bubba Ray Dudley broke kayfabe and went over to check on Nash. They went to the finish of the match and after it ended, Nash was helped to the back by Big Show and a WWE employee.
Backstage after the show, Nash was in serious pain. He flew to Birmingham, AL first thing the next day to meet with Dr. James Andrews and have an MRI on his injured quad muscle. After that, it was decided that surgery was needed, putting Nash on the shelf. The truly sad thing about the injury is that Nash didn't even know that he would be wrestling that night until he got to the building. He was scheduled to return to action that coming weekend at the house shows, but when he arrived at Raw, he found out that he was booked on that night's show. He didn't even have his gear with him and they had to have it sent to Raw. As a result of his injury, WWE decided to let go of the NWO concept, which had already been weakened by Hulk Hogan's face turn and Scott Hall's departure.
Tim Whitehead filed the following report:
The 7/8 edition of WHEN RAW RAINS, RAW POURS aired live from Philadelphia. It was just an average show, and it came off really lacking in star power and heat. But that's a phase they're going to have to go through until they elevate some of the guys to the level of true stars to the casual fans. It's the casual fans who make the difference between ratings in the threes and ratings in the fives. The truly bad news was a legit injury to Kevin Nash in his first match back from surgery on his arm. It appears at press time to be a quad tear, which is pretty serious and at Nash's age it's double serious.
The show opened with highlights of the controversial ending to the Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle match for the Undisputed World Title on Smackdown.
Vince McMahon, with that famous smirk on his face, said that he had given Undertaker the night off after his two hard title defenses last week against Jeff Hardy and Angle. He promised that UT would be there to "welcome" Rock to Smackdown on Thursday. He also announced that the main event at Vengeance will be UT defending the title in a Triple Threat match against Rock and Angle, with Angle being added because of his controversial near-win on Smackdown.
Booker T came out to the ring. He said that all week people have been warning him to watch his back, because the NWO would be wanting revenge for his attack on X-Pac last week. But Booker vowed that he won't scream and moan and groan like X-Pac, whom he called a "Chuck E. Cheese Rat-Face Punk-Ass". He called out the entire NWO, admitting that he might get his ass kicked, but quoting his father as saying if you want to be bad you've got to be willing to take a beating. But instead of the NWO, Eddie Guerrero came out. He said a lot of stuff in Spanish, which I didn't quite get. He also called Booker a "sucka". He told Booker the NWO would get him, but would do so on their own terms. As for why he came out, his explanation was that he was mad about the Dudleys "cheating" last week to beat him and Chris Benoit in that tag match on RAW. So he had told Benoit that he would take his frustrations out on the first guy to shoot his mouth off tonight, and Booker was that guy, or "homie". I guess that made sense in sort of a round-a-bout way. Booker slugged Guerrero and a bell mysteriously rang, and a referee materialized, and the match began....
Booker beat Guerrero in 3:08. Booker hit some chops. This was chop night as there were a lot of them thrown all night. Guerrero started working on Booker's thigh. Booker went for a kick but sold that his thigh was hurt. Guerrero hit a suplex, but Booker won with a surprise sunset flip. Afterward, Guerrero attacked Booker, but Booker bounced him from the ring. Benoit ran in and laid Booker out. Goldust arrived for the save but Benoit & Guerrero doubled on him. The Dudleys (Bubba Ray & Spike) finally made the save, hitting Benoit with a chair. Benoit & Guerrero retreated.
Another Rey Mysterio Jr. promo aired.
Backstage, Goldust bragged that the "Bookdust" team was victorious again. Goldust started dancing with Booker, but Booker broke it off right away. He warned Goldust that the NWO would soon attack. Goldust said if he goes down, it'll be in a blaze of glory like Bon Jovi in Young Guns II, or something like that. A food vendor walked in, who just happened to look like X-Pac (long dark hair, bandana, etc.). In fact, Booker thought it was X-Pac, so he beat the guy up. After seeing he made a mistake, he was sorry, though not all that sorry since he stole a pretzel from the guy's vendor box before fleeing the scene.
Footage aired of last week's brawl between Molly Holly and Jackie Gayda, with Trish Stratus getting involved as well. Jonathan Coachman then interviewed Trish and Jackie. Jackie complained about Trish injecting herself into the fight. She said the dispute was between her and Molly, and that Trish stuck her nose in because she's jealous of her good looks and sexy body. Christopher Nowinski then walked up and made fun of Trish's cowboy hat, saying she's dressed like she just came from a birthday party for a seven year old. I wonder if he cleared that line with Jim Ross? Trish challenged Jackie & Nowinski to face her in a match. Nowinski asked who her partner would be, suggesting Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger, or Yosemite Sam. Trish said it would be Bradshaw. Nowinski & Jackie both got that "Oh S**t" look on their face.
The first of four "People's Moments" featuring Rock aired. This was the one where Rock came on to Lilian Garcia about his strudel.
Goldust appeared in the Dudleys' locker room dressed, allegedly, like Ben Franklin. Bubba asked, "Who the freakin' hell are you?" The "freakin'" sounded suspiciously like the "F" word. Ben Franklindust asked the Dudleys to join Booker & Goldust in their war against the NWO. He kept laughing like Santa Claus, prompting Bubba to note that Franklin didn't laugh like that. Bubba said that he and Spike don't really like Booker & Goldust, and they only made the save earlier because they wanted to get their hands on Benoit & Guerrero. Franklindust said allies don't have to like one another, claiming that he sided with Thomas Jefferson against the British even though he would like to have punched Jefferson in the gonads. That sounds like a hotter feud than Alexander Hamilton vs. Aaron Burr. The Dudleys walked off, with Franklindust warning, "You'll be sorry, by cracky!" Jerry Lawler correctly said Goldust was the worst Ben Franklin he had ever seen.
Benoit beat Bubba Ray in 3:56. Benoit laid in the stomps. Bubba went for a legdrop off the second rope but Benoit rolled clear. Both hit German suplexes. Bubba hit the Bubba Bomb, but Guerrero threw Spike into the ring on top of the ref to stop the count. Benoit then won with the crossface submission. Afterward, Benoit & Guerrero beat Spike up, and Benoit put the crossface back on Bubba until Booker & Goldust made the save.
Nowinski took a cameraman on a tour of Harvard. He showed off the stadium, calling it the oldest football stadium in the country. However, he said that a lot of the jocks at Harvard are nerd jocks who are into sports like crew racing rather than football. He also pointed to the boat house, but said it's of no importance since it's just a place where the butch girls hang out.
JR & Lawler discussed the upcoming PPV Triple Threat match. Lawler said Tazz was right on Smackdown when he said the Undisputed Title is now disputed due to the controversial ending in the UT vs. Angle match. JR acted shocked that Tazz had said something right.
Highlights aired of last week's UT vs. Jeff Hardy ladder match.
Speaking of Jeff Hardy, he was shown arriving at the arena. Ric Flair met him and congratulated him on his performance last week, calling it one of the greatest he's ever seen. Jeff thanked Flair and let out a "whoooo". Flair wished Jeff luck in his scheduled match against William Regal for the European Title. After Jeff left, Steven Richards arrogantly approached Flair. He asked if the Flair heyday was in the Roaring 20's or the Jurassic Era. Richards accused Flair of stealing the spotlight from talented young guys like himself. I looked around for Vince Russo at this point. Richards continued, saying Flair hasn't looked very legendary lately. He said Flair's run is over. Flair challenged him to a match. Richards accepted, and sucker punched Flair before leaving.
Trish & Bradshaw beat Jackie & Nowinski in 3:13. Save this one for your lowlight tape of awful matches. This was one of those matches where someone, namely Jackie, couldn't hit a spot if she was shooting Dalmatians with a machine gun. Nowinski started off, getting in the football stance, but when Bradshaw did the same, Nowinski bailed out. The ladies went in and did a couple of moves before botching a spot really bad. The crowd booed. Nowinski tried to drop two elbows on Trish in violation of the rules, but Trish moved each time. Bradshaw did a fall-away slam on Nowinski. Jackie jumped on his back, so he tagged out to Trish. Bradshaw chased Nowinski out through the crowd. The ladies ended up in the corner and Jackie messed up on three spots in a row, including the bulldog finish, with the fans booing the botched spots. Poor Jackie just had a bad night, and, of course, needs more experience in the real ring world. Trish looked legit irritated. At the three count, JR said, "Mercifully it's over", and Lawler added, "I've seen better catfights, JR".
Backstage, Benoit & Guerrero were complaining about Booker & Goldust. The NWO walked up. Big Show & X-Pac laughed at Benoit & Guerrero for their inability to handle the "Bookdust" team. X-Pac told Benoit, who was seething, to chill out. Kevin Nash said there's strength in numbers, and Shawn Michaels added that Benoit & Guerrero should listen to what Nash has to say because they can learn from it.
People's Moment II featured assorted clips of Rock on the mic. They sure are banking a lot on Rock holding things up for the next two months.
Hour two began with the NWO coming out to the ring. Heartbreak Kid said if you aren't with the NWO, you're against it. He then had a clip aired from King of the Ring where they met with Triple H and were friendly. Afterward, HBK said it brought a tear to his eye. He noted that five years ago he, Nash, X-Pac, Scott Hall, and HHH formed a powerful group. He made a point of noting that Big Show wasn't around then. Like Curley in the Three Stooges, Show is always "low man again". HBK said they rode together, fought together, trained together, and even carried one another up to their rooms after too much partying. He said they were a family. HBK then wondered aloud why HHH had yet to respond to his announcement that he is part of the NWO. He said HHH needs the NWO more than the NWO needs HHH. Continuing, HBK said HHH was once one of the baddest SOB's around, but lately all HHH has done is come out and flex and pose to try to impress the fans. HBK invoked the name of the Clique (actually spelled Kliq) and said it came before the NWO, and if you're part of the Kliq, you're Kliq for life. He gave HHH an ultimatum to come forward and acknowledge membership in the NWO by the Vengeance PPV on 7/21, or be considered an enemy. HBK called it either the best decision of HHH's life, or the last decision. Nash then took the mic. He said for three months he sat on the sidelines injured and watched everyone else have all the fun kicking ass. He announced that he's been cleared by the doctors to return to the ring, and said he's ready to fight. He suggested a ten man tag match with himself, Show, X-Pac, Benoit, and Guerrero vs. Booker, Goldust (whom he called Fairydust), The Dudleys, and a partner of their choosing. Nash also issued a warning to HHH, telling him to stick with his family, or face the consequences. Nash said to watch what he does to Booker, because it's the same thing he'll do to HHH if HHH doesn't accept NWO membership.
Flair beat Richards in 3:42. Flair was on offense most of the match. Basically, he chopped Richards a zillion times and used his fists. Richards had one very brief rally. Flair won with the figure four. Just a squash to keep Flair's "comeback" storyline going.
People's Moment III featured clips of Rock singing.
Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman came out. Heyman said, "Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Extreme, I fear no reprisals from my enemies, for I walk with The Next Big Thing Brock Lesnar". He announced that Lesnar's match against Rob Van Dam at Vengeance will be for the IC Title, promising that Brock will win that belt and then win the World Title at SummerSlam. He added that whoever wins the Triple Threat match at Vengeance will be a sacrificial lamb for Lesnar. Heyman asserted that he created RVD right there in Philadelphia. He went further and said he also exploited RVD there, just as he also exploited the Dudleys, Tommy Dreamer, Rhyno, and Tajiri, all to satisfy the bloodthirsty appetite of the Philadelphia animals. He said he used the fame he acquired in Philadelphia to become the agent representing Lesnar, the dominant force in wrestling for the foreseeable future. Out came Dreamer to an "ECW" chant. Dreamer said Heyman didn't make anybody, and the ECW guys busted their ass night after night because they loved the business and loved performing for the fans. Heyman told Dreamer to go backstage and eat something disgusting or stick his head in a toilet, since that's all he's good for anymore. Dreamer called himself the Innovator of Violence (his old ECW nickname) and challenged Lesnar to a fight. Unlike the Booker vs. Guerrero confrontation earlier, this one didn't have a referee or bell, so it was just an impromptu brawl. Dreamer surprisingly got a lot of heat on Lesnar, hitting him with a kendo stick until he bailed out to the floor. Dreamer set up two chairs and was going to powerbomb Heyman through them, but Lesnar made the save. Lesnar plastered Dreamer with an F5 on the floor. RVD ran in and kicked Heyman. He hit Lesnar with a plancha. He then did the Van Terminator on Heyman. Lesnar had to carry Heyman out. A standard angle, though they had Lesnar sell an awful lot here.
Former 76ers president Pat Croce did a promo to hype his new TNN show, Rock 'n Bowl, er, I mean, Slamball.
Jeff Hardy beat William Regal to capture the European Title in 4:23. Jeff hit a springboard cross body and a twisting moonsault. Regal hit his neckbreaker. They both got several near falls. Jeff hit a cross body and a neat arm drag. Regal went to try and take the padding off the turnbuckle, allowing Jeff to attack from behind and hit the swanton for the pin.
A final People's Moment focused on Rock's confrontation with his high school "sweetheart" on Mick Foley's "This Is Your Life" segment.
Coach tried to interview Regal about his loss of the title. Regal began crying. He was acting like he was completely broken down and literally was down on the floor crying his eyes out like a little kid. Nowinski came and comforted him.
Bubba was in his locker room giving someone off camera a pep talk. He mentioned how the two of them kicked one another's ass in that old bingo hall (ECW Arena), and they did it all so they could someday reach the WWE and be on top. I guess the story now that ECW is gone is that they were all "Mr. Monday Nights". Anyway, the camera panned over and it was RVD he was talking to. RVD agreed to be the fifth man on the babyface team in the main event.
Joe Frazier was shown sitting in the crowd.
Benoit & Guerrero & Nash & Show & X-Pac beat Booker & Goldust & Bubba & Spike & RVD in 9:26. The babyface team was announced as having a combined weight of 1,216 pounds, and Lawler said Show weighs over half that much alone. Hilarious! RVD started off with kicks and a flip splash on X-Pac. Goldust continued the assault on X-Pac, followed by Bubba. Spike hit a spinning headscissors on X-Pac but got briefly tied up in the NWO corner. RVD did some good spots with Guerrero. Show tossed RVD around some. RVD laid X-Pac out and went up for a frog splash but HBK caused him to get crotched. RVD chased HBK up the ramp, where Lesnar was waiting in an ambush. He lariated the hell out of RVD and gave him the F5 on the ramp top. Referees had to help RVD to the back, leaving the babyface team at a numerical disadvantage. Bubba got destroyed briefly before hot tagging Booker, who cleaned house. Nash finally came in and gave Booker a boot to the face. He then stepped across Booker to go after some of the other guys and his knee appeared to buckle. He went down and let out some painful noises which alerted everyone that it wasn't an angle. The match had been good up to this point, but the unplanned circumstance caused them to have to go quickly to the finish. The remaining eight all started brawling. HBK sneaked in and gave Booker the sweet chin music. Show then chokeslammed Booker and got the pin. HBK got on the mic as the show left the air and gave another warning to HHH, telling him to either stand tall with the NWO or end up face down like Booker. Nash had to be helped out and it appears his injury is pretty serious.
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS:
Isn't it a shame Jackie's parents wasted all that money on acting lessons?
Remember when Shane McMahon did the Van Terminator?
Hasn't the NWO revival worked far better than expected?
When Vince smirks, doesn't that always mean someone will get screwed?
Hasn't Guerrero been doing an awful lot of jobs?
Aren't you tired of Triple Threat matches?
The complete results of that taping saw:
-Justin Credible pinned Shelton Benjamin with a superkick at 3:38.
Sunday Night Heat:
-Sean O'Haire pinned Shawn Stasiak at 5:09 with a powerslam.
-The Big Show pinned Matt Hardy with the chokeslam at 4:19.
-WWE Hardcore Champion Bradshaw pinned Raven with the Clothesline from Hell at 5:03.
-WWE Women's Champion Molly Holly pinned Jackie at 4:13 after hitting her with the title belt; Crash Holly was the special referee.
Raw:
-Booker T pinned Eddie Guerrero with a sunset flip at 3:08; after the match, Bubba Ray & Spike Dudley came to Booker's aid against Chris Benoit and Guerrero.
-Chris Benoit (with Eddie Guerrero) defeated Bubba Ray Dudley (w/ Spike Dudley) via submission to the Crippler Crossface at 3:56; after the match, Booker T and Goldust made the save for the Dudleyz against Benoit and Guerrero.
-WWE Hardcore Champion Bradshaw & Trish Stratus defeated Chris Nowinski & Jackie Gayda when Trish pinned Gayda with a bulldog off the top.
-Ric Flair defeated Steven Richards via submission with the figure-4 at 3:42.
-Jeff Hardy pinned WWE European Champion William Regal to win the title following the Swanton at 4:23 after dropkicking the champion into the corner.
-Kevin Nash (w/ Shawn Michaels), X-Pac, the Big Show, Chris Benoit, & Eddie Guerrero defeated WWE IC Champion Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Goldust, Bubba Ray, & Spike Dudley when Show pinned Booker T with the chokeslam at 9:26 following a superkick from Michaels; midway through the match, RVD chased Michaels to the entrance way - where he was attacked by Brock Lesnar, sustained the F5 on the ramp, and was taken out of the match; late in the contest, Nash legitly injured his knee and was also taken out of the match.
2002 - WWE Smackdown ran Salisbury, MD with the following results, filed by Bill Duck:
This was the first WWE show in Salisbury in 7 years and the first big wrestling show since Goldberg’s fight with a limo window just about ended his career and the world was introduced to Crowbar on WCW Thunder in December of 1999. Also, lots of changes from listing in program distributed tonight.
1. Hurricane def. Albert- We start with lame kicks by Hurricane , followed by good power moves by Albert, good selling by Hurricane, series of kickouts by Hurricane, rope spots by Hurricane, ref shove-rollup by Hurricane for pin, post-match beatdown by Albert
2. Jamie Noble w/Nidia (really hot in a trailer trash kind of way) def. Billy Kidman - The two traded head slaps, then mostly ground-based rest holds. A few hurricaranas from Kidman, spinning backbreaker to set up his Shooting Star Press but it’s broken up, Nidia interferes with the ref and and Jamie hits a scary pile driver near ring post. Kidman recovers and has a cover, ref bump w/Nidia, Jamie lays her out , but recovers for a Razor's Edge (or whatever he calls his version) for the win.
3. Tajiri & Chavo Guerrero def. Rey Mysterio, Jr. & Shannon Moore - Chavo is in with a hurricarana, high workrate throughout the beginning of the match. Tajiri claps his own hand to tag in as ref was distracted. Shannon pays for his early offense, takes most of the beating for the rest of the match. Tajiri spits at Rey from 10 feet away and Rey goes nuts. Both sides hit the “crawl to partner” spot and that brings in Rey. He’s all offense, then takes beating from Tajiri. Shannon comes back in, Tajiri hits a few kicks to the get pin, and we have another post-match as Rey takes out both opponents.
4. Rev. D-Von & Bautista def. Randy Orton & Mark Henry - Test of strength offered by Bautista to Mark Henry. Bautista kicks Henry in the stomach to break it and goes on offense. Henry tags out and Orton bulldogs the now-tagged-in D-Von from 2nd rope. Orton is playing rag doll tonight, taking the brunt of most of the offense. Surprise rollup by Orton for 2, and later Mark Henry does some unconvincing power moves that allows Bautista to tag in for the win with a clothesline.
5. Test def. Nick Dinsmore - Total squash. Early Test beatdowns, while Nick does a modified Ric Flair dementia routine. Test does a ref bump, Nick rolls up for 2, Test recovers with a big boot to win.
6. Rikishi def. Kurt Angle - Kurt starts a promo and people crowd the ring for the only time all night. Rishiki moons him to great reaction. Best quote from Angle: “I’ve got 2 things to say because 1 isn't enough for that big ass!” He’s then cut off by Rikishi, who cuts his own promo, promising to “back that ass up in Salisbury!” Many ass tease spots in the beginning, then a slow 10 count punch parade on Angle at a ring post, with Rikishi laughing the whole time. Kurt slams Rikishi's head in steps-angle tries to reset double count out in a funny sequence. We get an Angle slam, and then Angle has his feet on rope during a headlock 3 times. The ref even asks him if he did have his feet on the rope at one point, and Angle hilariously pleads innocent. Fun spot, but dragged out too long. Rikishi recovers, superkick, he does indeed back that ass up, but Billy, Chuck & Rico run in. Angle gets an ankle lock, but Rikishi kicks out, hits a piledriver and wins. Yet another post-match beat down as Big Valbowski, Randy Orton, and Mark Henry beat down Rico. The ref gets last hit, and the winning four take WAY TOO LONG to complete the dance routine.
INTERMISSION
7 . Faarooq, Rob Conway & Sho Funaki v. Billy, Chuck, Rico - Lots of “who the f--- is that?” for Rob Conway to start. B&C are really playing up the gay angle, much more here than on TV. Billy Gunn begs off as Rob gets tagged with “What a minute, I don't even know you!” Later, Billy asks the same thing as the audience - he actually says “Who the f--- is he?” while pointing at Rob. Funny stuff, because the crowd kept asking the same thing. B&C play rough in the middle, and the angle is getting abit over the top. Match slows down, and Faarooq, after 10 seconds of offense, gets the pin on Rico. Yet another post-match beatdown for Rico.
8. Hardcore Holly & Big Valbowski (with old “Hello ladies” music) def. Christian & Lance Storm in Canada vs. USA match. Christian promo, then a Hardcore promo. Match starts as Christian plays cowardly heel. Pretty much a ground-based match, really slow, not much except kicks to stomach. The crowd was pretty apathetic execpt for USA chants. Eventually they work to a “crawl to partner” spot, and the Big Valbowski hits a modified frog splash on Lance for the win.
9.Torrie def. Dawn Marie (bra & panties match) - no Stacy Kiebler, although she lives only 2.5 hours away outside Baltimore- Dawn Marie starts by taking own top off (blue bra) and within 2 minutes has taken off Torrie’s top (pink bra). A little flurry of offense and Torrie wins after a roll up. She doesn't strip to her panties, much to the dismay of the assembled masses.
10. Edge def. Chris Jericho - Fast paced opening as Y2J does a caught in ropes spot. Y2J regains his offense, and does the Hulk Hogan ear -to-the-crowd trick to much heat. Ground-based rest period, a Y2J lionsault is blocked, ref bump, and Edge goes for a Walls of Jericho himself. Jericho kicks out and exits the ring and returns with a chair. Lousy chair shot on Edge (blocked WAY too early) that eventually lays out the ref. New ref enters, Edge kicks out of a cover, rollup from Edge, Spear, win! Crowd goes home happy after another Edge promo…
1 (TIE). Kurt Angle’s initial appearance - because we get to chant “You Suck!”
1 (TIE). Rikishi and post match dance with Randy Orton, Big Valbowski and Mark Henry.
3. Edge
4. Hurricane
5 .Nidia's rear end (and boy, did she show it off at ringside!)
1. Y2J
2. Albert after 3 post-match beat-downs of Hurricane
3. Billy & Chuck
4. Nick Dinsmore - more of a “Who the hell is this guy?” heat than bad guy heat.
Attendance - MAYBE 1,800 in a building that holds 6,000. I thought it was a bit overpriced at ringside seats for $40, but they mostly sold out in ringside and lower risers. Not much sold in upper risers. Not a good sign for a return trip, but with no Triple H or Hulk Hogan touring, maybe they sold what they deserved.
2003 - WWE ran Toronto, Ontario at the Air Canada Centre before 10,000 fans with the following results:
-Tyson Moody pinned Mark Bartilucci.
Velocity:
-Sean O'Haire pinned Bobby Rude with the Widow Maker.
-Orlando Jordon pinned Kanyon with an inverted neckbreaker.
-Albert pinned Sho Funaki with the backbreaker.
-Nunzio pinned Spanky by avoiding the Sliced Bread #2 and hitting the springboard armbar DDT.
Smackdown!:
-WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. & Billy Kidman defeated the Acolytes, Chuck Palumbo & Johnny Stamboli (w/ Nunzio), and Doug & Danny Basham (w/ Shaniqua) when Mysterio pinned Danny Basham at 10:38; midway through the bout, the Acolytes and the FBI battled backstage, turning the bout into a 2-on-2 altercation; due to prematch stipulations, Mysterio & Kidman earned a tag team title shot at Vengeance.
-Chris Benoit & Rhyno defeated Matt Hardy & Shannon Moore at 4:17 when Benoit applied the Crippler Crossface on Moore.
-WWE U.S. Title Tournament Quarter Finals: Eddie Guerrero pinned the Ultimo Dragon at 3:24 after avoiding an Asai moonsault and using an inside cradle and handful of tights.
-Billy Gunn & Torrie Wilson defeated Jamie Noble & Nidia at 2:19 when Torrie pinned Nidia with a DDT; after the bout, Noble offered Torrie $10,000 to sleep with him before both Gunn and Torrie attacked him and Nidia.
-The Big Show & WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champions Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas defeated WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar in a falls count anywhere non-title handicap match when Show hit a chokeslam off the ring steps through the commentary table and scored the pin with one foot on the chest.
2006 - WWE Smackdown ran Winnipeg, Ontario before 4,500 fans, featuring:
-WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions Paul London & Brian Kendrick defeated Jamie Noble & Kid Kash.
-Sylvester Terkay defeated Sho Funaki.
-Jillian Hall defeated Kristal.
-Sylvan defeated Scotty 2 Hotty.
-WWE US Champion Bobby Lashley defeated William Regal.
-Vito defeated Simon Dean.
-Matt Hardy defeated Ken Kennedy.
-Super Crazy defeated Psychosis.
-World champion Rey Mysterio & Batista defeated Mark Henry & the Great Khali.
2006 - WWE Raw ran London, Ontario with the following results:
-Robbie & Rory McAllister defeated Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch.
-Gene Snitsky defeated Rob Conway.
-Shelton Benjamin defeated Charlie Haas.
-Carlito & Trish Stratus defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion Johnny Nitro & Melina.
-Randy Orton defeated DH Smith.
-Triple H & Ric Flair defeated WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Kenny, Mitch, Nicky, Mikey, & Johnny in a handicap match.
-John Cena defeated WWE World Champion Edge in a non-title streetfight.
2006 - WWE Smackdown and ECW ran a combined card in Racine, WI at the Civic Center featuring:
-Al Snow pinned Stevie Richards after hitting him with Head.
-Little Guido & Tony Mamaluke defeated Doug & Danny Basham when Mamaluke scored the pin.
-Kelly Kelly defeated Francine in a best body contest; after the event, Mike Knox came out to cover up Kelly.
-Mike Knox pinned Balls Mahoney.
-The Sandman pinned Justin Credible with the White Russian legsweep in a dueling canes match.
-CM Punk defeated Roadkill via submission with the Anaconda Vice.
-Test pinned Tommy Dreamer with the pumphandle slam after avoiding the Spicolli Driver.
-ECW Champion the Big Show pinned Sabu following a chokeslam through a table.
2007 - WWE Smackdown & ECW ran Biloxi, MS at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, featuring:
-Tommy Dreamer & Stevie Richards defeated Elijah Burke & Kevin Thorn when Dreamer pinned Thorn with the DDT.
-Chris Masters defeated Jimmy Wang Yang via submission with the full nelson.
-Michelle McCool defeated Victoria via submission with a modified triangle choke.
-Brett & Brian Major (Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder) defeated Dave Taylor & Paul Birchill after Taylor accidentally hit Birchill.
-WWE U.S. Champion MVP defeated Matt Hardy and Finlay by pinning Finlay after Hardy hit the Twist of Fate on Finlay and was then knocked to the floor by the champion.
-Chuck Palumbo pinned Cassidy O'Reilly with the Full Throttle.
-ECW World Champion Johnny Nitro pinned CM Punk when the momentum of a crossbody by Punk put Nitro on top.
-Batista pinned World Heavyweight Champion Edge in a non-title match with the sit-down powerbomb.
2008 - Rellik (the former Johnny Stamboli) and James Mitchell were released by TNA.
2009 - Ricky Steamboat returned to the ring at Budokan Hall for the second of WWE's two-night stand, wrestling Chris Jericho. Jericho won the match with the Walls Of Jericho. For those that have asked why Steamboat ended up being a special referee for Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio in Hawaii, and not wrestling Jericho on that show, I was told that WWE's plan all along was for Steamboat to only wrestle Jericho once at Budokan, and he was never going to wrestle on the Hawaii show. Apparently, a Jericho interview was presented the wrong way in a Hawaiian newspaper when Jericho talked about "working" with Steamboat on the tour.
2010 - Triple H underwent surgery on a biceps injury suffered while filming the WWE comedy "The Chaperone."
2010 - Scott Hall's Myspace page issued the following statement: ""Scott is in the hospital with double pneumonia, has a cough for several weeks.. but just thought I guess he was too damned tough to go to the Dr... anyway.. to all of you that Pray.. remember him in your prayers.. He's feeling really rough. Recovery is going to take some time.. but he will be back.."
2010 - MTV2 released the following press release touting the debut of Lucha Libre USA's Masked Warriors series, which ran seven episodes and one preview special before being taken off the air. As of this date, the series has not returned although the promotion continues with regular tapings in New Mexico:
MTV2 INTRODUCES HIGH FLYING MEXICAN WRESTLING TO AMERICAN AIRWAVES WITH WEEKLY SERIES
“LUCHA LIBRE USA: MASKED WARRIORS”
For The First Time Ever In English, Explosive New Show Premieres On MTV2
Friday, July 16 at 10pm ET/PT with An Encore Presentation on Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más
Saturday, July 17 at 10pm ET/PT
New York, NY (July 8, 2010) – Just when you thought it was safe to leave your house this summer, the wrestlers of Lucha Libre will be landing at your doorstep. Beginning Friday, July 16 at 10pm ET/PT, MTV2 will bring Lucha Libre to America for the first time ever with a new original weekly series “Lucha Libre USA: Masked Warriors” with an encore presentation on Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más on Saturday, July 17 at 10 pm ET/PT. This show marks the first time that Lucha Libre matches will be filmed in the U.S. and broadcast in English bringing this entertaining and beloved Mexican sport to American mainstream audiences.
Featuring amazing aerial acrobatics and signature masks that have become global symbols of this extreme Mexican sport, Lucha Libre has become an iconic part of the country’s rich culture for over 75 years and continues to be the best-attended live sporting event after soccer. Like no other wrestling show before it, this groundbreaking series on MTV2 and Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más will deliver this raucous, masked wrestling phenomenon that has developed into a cult following around the world.
Each week, Lucha Libre USA: Masked Warriors will feature explosive, hard-hitting action from some of the biggest names in the sport including Tinieblas Jr, Marco Corleone, Lizmark Jr., Mascarita Dorada and many more. From never-before-seen moves, death defying showmanship, to comedy and over-the-top drama featuring Mini Luchadores and Luchadores Exoticos, audiences have never seen wrestling like this before. Additionally, this show marks the first time ever that an American Lucha Libre league has been formed with the Luchadores competing for a U.S. belt and title.
For more info on “Lucha Libre USA: Masked Warriors” including sneak peek videos, photos and cast bios please click here
Steven Ship and Louis Silverstein, Managing Directors of Lucha Libre USA, and Tom Mazza, EVP Head of Worldwide TV, Cookie Jar Entertainment, will serve as executive producers of the series. Chris McCarthy, Eric Conte and Paul Ricci are Executive Producers for MTV2.
About Lucha Libre
Lucha Libre is an art form, much beloved by Latino culture. It sells millions of tickets to a mass audience composed of families from across the socioeconomic strata. Lucha Libre USA's mission is to introduce Americans to the global phenomenon that is Mexican wrestling. Lucha Libre USA regularly produces live events in major US venues.
About MTV2
MTV2 is a man's best friend, available in nearly 80 million homes and with the highest concentration of males 12-24 and 12-34 on TV today. A vibrant mix of music, lifestyle and action sports programming, MTV2 has reflected the habits and behavior of young people since its launch in 1996. MTV2 is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.
About Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más
Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más, owned and operated by MTV Networks Latin America, reaches 7.4 million Hispanic TV households (58% of US Hispanic Total TV HH) and 39 million total TV households. The network’s programming embraces the trilogy of cultures that represents Latino life – Latin American plus American equals US Latino - through original productions, key acquisitions, and content from MTV Networks’ portfolio of entertainment brands. Tr3s embraces the key lifestyle aspects of Latino identity -- milestones, making it and music -- as well as social responsibility through its initiative “Agentes de Cambio”, which tackles issues that affect Latinos today. The network also taps into the growing number of Latinos that are digitally connected thru www.tr3s.com.
2010- WWE Superstars aired on WGN. Richard Trionfo filed the following report:
We start off tonight’s show with the Raw brand and your announcers are Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.
Match Number One: Primo and Jillian Hall versus Yoshi Tatsu and Gail Kim with Guest Referees the Bellas
The ladies start off and they lock up with Gail working on the wrist but Jillian with a forearm. Jillian tosses Gail by the hair and Primo approves. Jillian gets a near fall. Jillian follows that with a snap mare and kick to the back. Gail with a kick and flying clothesline but Primo tags in so the men take over in the match. Primo runs into a few Japanese arm drags followed by a drop kick from Yoshi. Jillian grabs Yoshi’s leg but it doesn’t help. Yoshi with a kick and Gail with a head scissors. Yoshi with a series of kicks and chops for a near fall. Primo with a kick followed by an Irish whip and drop kick out of the corner. Primo with punches to Yoshi and Primo is admonished by the referee but Primo maintains control after a snap mare and reverse chin lock. Yoshi with chops but Primo with a kick and Irish whip followed by a shoulder in the corner. Primo with punches and kicks in the corner.
Jillian pulls Yoshi’s hair and the referee warns Jillian. Primo gets a near fall and he follows that with a slam and another near fall. Primo stomps on Yoshi’s chest and then he goes to the turnbuckles but he jumps into a boot when he tries for a fist drop. Jillian tags in and she grabs Yoshi but Yoshi tags in. Gail with a cross body from the top followed by a clothesline and drop kick. Gail with the running cross body into the corner. Jillian punches Gail on top and they fight on the turnbuckles. Gail tries for a sunset flip power bomb but Jillian blocks it. Gail with a flying clothesline but Jillian gets her arm up for a clothesline as well. Yoshi with a spinning heel kick. Jillian grabs Yoshi and the referee warns Jillian. Jillian with a forearm to one of the Bellas but the other warns Jillian. Jillian hits the other Bella and then Gail with a rollup and a slightly faster count for the three.
Winners: Gail Kim and Yoshi Tatsu
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Zack Ryder versus Goldust
They lock up and Goldust with an arm drag. They lock up again and Goldust with a side head lock but Goldust with a shoulder tackle and arm drag into an arm bar. Ryder with forearms to Goldust but Goldust avoids a leap frog and hits a clothesline followed by a running butt bump that sends Ryder to the floor as we go to commercial.
We are back and Goldust with a catapult that sends Ryder into the ropes and then Ryder lands on Goldust’s knees. Goldust goes up top but Ryder drops Goldust on the top rope and Goldust is down. Ryder with kicks to Goldust followed by punches in the corner followed by a running boot across the face. Ryder with a near fall and then he puts Goldust in a reverse chin lock. Ryder with a forearm but Goldust with a clothesline. Goldust with the vintage drop down uppercut followed by a reverse atomic drop and bulldog for a near fall. Goldust goes to the corner and he punches Ryder but Ryder pushes Goldust off. Goldust with a power slam to a charging Ryder and he gets a near fall. Ryder sends Goldust into the turnbuckles and Ryder with the Rough Rider for the three count.
Winner: Zack Ryder
We have an NXT Recap.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Smackdown half of the show and your announcers are Matt Striker and Todd Grisham.
Instead of a match, we start off this half with the Master Lock Challenge and that means that Chris Masters is coming to the ring.
The man who is going to see if he can survive the Master Lock Challenge is Caylen Croft and he is accompanied by Trent Barreta.
Croft assumes the position and Masters is ready to lock it in but Croft stands up before Masters can apply the hold. Masters locks it in and Croft is out cold.
Trent Barreta enters the ring and Masters wants him to try the challenge. Croft and Barreta attack Masters. Croft with a reverse atomic drop and Barreta with a Yakuza kick to Masters.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound.
Match Number Three: Michelle McCool and Layla with matching hoodies and dance moves versus Tiffany and Kelly Kelly with matching dance moves
Tiffany and Michelle start things off and they lock up. Tiffany with a clean break but Michelle with a pie face. Michelle gets too overconfident and Tiffany with a waist lock and arm bar. Michelle reverses but Tiffany with an elbow and drop toe hold followed by a reverse atomic drop and forearms. Tiffany with an Irish whip and she hits a monkey flip out of the corner followed by a clothesline for a near fall. Kelly tags in and she hits a sunset flip from the top for a near fall. Michelle with a kick and forearm to the back. Layla tags in and she kicks Kelly in the head. Kelly lands on her feet on a flip and Kelly with a Thesz Press followed by punches. Tiffany tags in and she tosses Layla by the hair followed by a drop kick and Layla goes to the floor. Tiffany follows after Layla and they return to the ring. Tiffany tries to use the ropes but Layla kicks Tiffany and Tiffany lands awkwardly.
Layla slams Tiffany’s head into the mat. Michelle tags in and she kicks Tiffany in the head. Michelle with a kick and knees to Tiffany as the referee warns her. Michelle kicks Tiffany while showing no respect to Tiffany. Michelle knocks Kelly off the apron and that allows Michelle and Layla to double team Tiffany. Layla tags in and chokes Tiffany. Layla stops Tiffany from making the tag after Tiffany goes through Layla’s legs. Layla kicks Kelly’s hand and then Michelle attacks Tiffany while the referee deals with Kelly and Layla. Michelle tags in and connects with a European uppercut and then she chokes Tiffany against the ropes. Michelle keeps Tiffany from making the tag. Layla tags back in and Michelle with a snap mare and Layla with a drop kick to the back for a near fall. Layla with a slam but she misses a leg drop. Kelly tags in and she hits a series of clotheslines before knocking Michelle off the apron. Kelly with a sunset flip for a near fall. Kelly with a kick and X Factor for a near fall. Layla with a back heel kick to Kelly followed by an Irish whip but Kelly with a boot and clothesline to Layla. Kelly kicks Michelle from the apron. Kelly with a rollup but Tiffany distracts the referee and that allows Michelle to kick Kelly to allow Layla to get the three count.
Winners: Michelle McCool and Layla
We go to credits.
2010 - TNA Impact aired on SpikeTV. Stuart Carapola filed the following TV Report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's ongoing coverage of TNA Impact!
This week's show opens with a video package taking a look back at what an asshole Mr Anderson is, and then his change of heart and newfound alliance with Jeff Hardy, and finally the incident that ended last week's Impact when Anderson, possibly accidentally, possibly intentionally, hit Jeff Hardy with a chair.
In fact, here comes Mr Anderson now, striding out to the ring with a chair in his hands. He skips the introduction and asks if there are any Creatures of the Night here (getting a nice pop), and then he introduces the leader of the Creatures of the Night, Jeffrey Nero Hardy. Anderson says that last week, he hit Hardy in the back with a folding chair, from behind, when he wasn't looking, but he wants Hardy to know he didn't do it on purpose. Anderson gets a mild boo for that one. He says that he didn't hit him on purpose, because if he did, he'd tell Hardy about it, and would probably tell the whole world about it. He'd be proud and brag about it because he's an asshole. Hardy breaks out in a big smile and applauds Anderson, who says that the world would be a better place if there were more assholes in it, and that's what makes the Impact Zone a great place, because it's full of assholes. Big pop for that one. Anderson proposes a solution: Anderson's going to bring the chair to the ring for their match tonight and if he uses it on Hardy, it'll mean Hardy has a problem with him. If Hardy uses it on Anderson, he probably has it coming, but he'll know he has a problem with Hardy. Anderson takes his chair with him and leaves.
Backstage, AJ Styles says he knows all about stylin' and profilin', and when you're on top everybody loves you, but now AJ is disappointed in himself and has to prove himself tonight against Kazarian, so he hopes Flair is happy with the consequences.
Still backstage, Jeff Hardy says he always questions people who hit him with chairs, but he guesses he'll find out where Anderson's at tonight.
Time to head to the ring for our first match...
Frankie Kazarian vs AJ Styles
AJ jumps Kazarian before the bell, and they trade armdrags, then go toe-to-toe with rights before Kazarian goes to the eyes. The referee pulls Kazarian away from Styles, and AJ goes to the eyes and sends Kazarian to the corner where he puts the boots to him. Kazarian whips AJ to the corner and follows in with a monkey flip, then gets a running dropkick to the chest that sends AJ bouncing off the corner like a pinball. Kazarian covers for 2 then HITS THE CHINLOCK as Flair comes strolling out. AJ escapes and gets his sweet dropkick to Kazarian, then a really weak looking neckbreaker that I guess was supposed to look crisp, but actually looked like he barely touched him. AJ with a backbreaker for 2, and now AJ HITS THE CHINLOCK! Flair looks happy with what he sees. AJ goes for the Styles Clash, Kazarian tries to reverse to his backdrop piledriver, AJ reverses that to another Styles Clash attempt, Kazarian escapes that, and AJ finally finishes a move with a fireman's carry into a neckbreaker. AJ goes for another neckbreaker but Kazarian holds the ropes and follows up with a springboard legdrop for 2. Kazarian puts AJ up top and goes for the Flux Capacitor, but AJ knocks him off the top and goes for the springboard 450, Kazarian moves but AJ lands on his feet and hits the Pelle Kick. Kazarian backdrops AJ to the apron and kicks him in the ribs, then gets a slingshot bulldog onto the apron and both men wind up out on the floor and get counted out. That did not seem like ten seconds to me.
Double Countout
AJ and Kazarian continue fighting after the match, but Flair gets in the ring and says that they're two of the best wrestlers alive and this is over now. He says the fans aren't going to divide them, and that both of them are a special breed of wrestlers. He's signed them up for a match on the PPV this weekend, and isn't going to say against who, but they'd better get it together or they won't be a part of Fortune.
Meanwhile backstage, Angelina Love takes her shirt off, but she has her back to us so we can't see her thingies.
We're back, and it looks like we're heading back to the ring for another match...
Daffney vs Angelina Love
Crowd is cheering for Daffney. Angelina goes to a wristlock, but Daffney counters to a double armbar. Angelina looks bored, and rams a couple of knees to Daffney's ribs and then nails her with a pair of clotheslines before going to a side headlock. Daffney fights her way out, but Angelina goes for a leg lariat and misses by a mile, but luckily this is postproduced so they're able to kind of cover for it. Angelina HITS THE CHINLOCK! Daffney drops down and gives Angelina a jawbreaker and a front powerslam, then another. Angelina with a flatliner for the win.
Winner: Angelina Love
Angelina grabs the mic and says Madison Rayne is watching this from home because she doesn't have the balls to be here, but she wants Madison to know that this weekend, she'll become the first four time Knockouts Champion. Madison and her balls come out and tell Angelina that they've underestimated her, and she needs to make one thing clear: if she's going to put her title on the line, Angelina needs to put something on the line too. Her fake funbags and cheap weave aren't good enough, so she wants Angelina to put her career on the line. Angelina says that's fine, but there's one other thing: she met with the championship committee, and there will be another stipulation for the match: if Lacey Von Erich or Velvet Sky interfere, Madison's going to get disqualified and Angelina will be handed the Knockouts Title.
Still to come tonight, RVD will face Samoa Joe in a first time ever match!
We go backstage to Brother Devon, and the Mystery Questioner asks him what he's going to say to him (I assume he meant Brother Ray), and Devon says we'll all find out.
We go to a video package detailing the history of the Jesse Neal-Brother Ray feud, and then we go to the ring with Brother Devon, Jesse Neal, and Shannon Moore. Devon says this whole thing has gotten out of control, and he calls Brother Ray out to sort this whole thing out once and for all. Ray stands in the aisle, so Devon says fine, but he doesn't get it. The two of them trained Jesse just like they train, and Ray was the one to interview him when he came to the school. Jesse was the first to arrive at the school and the last to leave, and he's shown nothing but respect since day one. He was already through hell long before he came to their school when he served his country, and his ship got blown up by terrorists, and in the process, his best friend was killed in that blast, and he was the one who had to put his body in a bodybag and carry the casket. So, Devon's going to put it this way: what is Ray's problem with Jesse? Ray says first of all, he doesn't answer to Devon because he's Brother Ray and he's the leader of Team 3D, and Devon answers to him. Devon starts to talk, but Ray tells him to shut up. Ray says his problem is with Jesse because he's nothing but a disrespectful punk and now he has a problem with Devon for being an unloyal partner. He asks where's Devon's loyalty for his partner, who made him. Devon says his loyalty is with the both of them, he's never picked sides and never will. Ray says things are about to get a lot worse, because he just spoke to Eric Bischoff, and the match at Victory Road will be Brother Ray vs Jesse Neal...vs Brother Devon. After Victory Road, they'll either continue into further glory or it'll all end that night.
We're back, and it's time for TNA's boneheaded free TV giveaway match of the week...
TNA World Champion Rob Van Dam vs Samoa Joe
This is non-title, in case you were curious. Why they're giving this match away on TV is beyond me. Tieup to start and nobody moves, so they go toe to toe instead then kick for kick, but RVD gets the upper hand with the stepover leg lariat. RVD goes up top for the Five Star Notebook Splash, but Joe pops up and nails him and tries to go for the Muscle Buster, but he can't get it, so he tosses RVD off the top and he lands face first on the ramp. Joe follows him to the floor and lays into him with a stiff chop then tosses him back in the ring. RVD catches Joe coming in with a spinkick and sends him back out to the floor. RVD tries a baseball slide to the floor but Joe dodges by rolling back in the ring and then he hits a dive to RVD on the floor. Tommy Dreamer and his buddies come out of the back and take their usual seats in the crowd as Joe rolls RVD back in the ring and covers for 2. Joe with the snapmare and kick to the back, but RVD ducks another kick and rolls Joe up for 2 then hits him with a dropkick. RVD opens up with kicks to Joe and chokes him in the corner with his boot. RVD with a slingshot legdrop to Joe on the apron, then RVD rolls back in and covers Joe for 2. Joe pops up and starts firing back on RVD, RVD returns with some rights of his own and comes off the ropes right into a crisp powerslam by Joe for 2. Joe with a snapmare and we HIT THE CHINLOCK! RVD gets to his feet and elbows his way out of the chinlock, then hits Joe with a spinkick but Joe rips his head off with a clothesline for 2. Joe kills RVD with a chop in the corner, then whips him to the opposite corner and RVD moves out of the way of the knee and hits a springboard jumpkick out of the corner for 2. RVD with a diving dropkick and Rolling Thunder for 2. RVD goes up top and hits a top rope jumpkick for 2, then nails Joe with a running spinkick in the corner, but Joe kills RVD with another killer clothesline. RVD tries a rolling move in the corner, but Joe catches him coming in and hits the STJoe and a powerbomb for 2, RVD kicks out but Joe turns it right into a modified Boston Crab. RVD starts to slip out so Joe turns it to a half crab, but RVD finally makes the ropes for the break. Joe argues with the ref so RVD nails him from behind, but Joe responds with headbutts, RVD tries a schoolboy rollup but Joe counters into the Kokina Clutch, and RVD kicks off the top turnbuckle and rolls over Joe's shoulders for the win.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
Great match that they NEVER should have given away on TV. Joe looks shocked and slowly gets off the mat and stares down RVD as he leaves the ring. Joe continues arguing with the ref and eventually slaps him, then gives him the Muscle Buster. Joe sits up and stares off into space with a faraway look in his eyes, then finally rolls out of the ring and heads to the back.
Backstage, Kurt Angle says that he works well under pressure, and it makes him do what he does best, and that's wrestle. He's been in the ring with Anderson in the past, and he knows he can't trust him, and he warns Jeff Hardy to be careful.
Back to the ring for more action...
Ladder Match: Douglas Williams vs Jeremy Buck
Williams chain wrestles Buck to start, then comes off the ropes with a shoulderblock. Buck with a back elbow and a springboard crossbody that sends Williams to the floor, but Buck dives out to the apron and hits a moonsault to the floor. Buck grabs the ladder and brings it into the ring and tries to climb it, but Williams comes back in and nails him. Williams puts Buck up top in the Tree Of Woe, then sets up the ladder and starts to climb. He takes too long though, and Buck recovers and hits a top rope dropkick to send Williams crashing off the ladder. Now Buck tries to climb, but Williams nails him and sets the ladder up in the corner and whips Buck into the ladder, but then he tries a charge and Buck moves, sending Williams crashing into the ladder. Buck whips him in a second time, but Williams nails him out to the apron. Williams tries to ram the ladder into Buck, but Buck with a dropkick through the ropes sending the ladder into Williams, then hits a slingshot facebuster on Williams on the ladder. Buck tries to climb and grab the X, but Williams with an electric chair to send Buck to the floor. Williams slowly climbs again, but Buck leaps off the top rope and sunset flips Williams off the ladder. Now Buck tries to climb again, Williams tries to dive off the top at him, but Buck sees him coming and kicks him as he comes off the top and climbs up to grab the X. Wow, didn't expect that to happen.
Winner: Jeremy Buck
Williams is very upset about this and beats up the ladder.
We go to a segment with Alex Shelley, tag team specialist and children's role model. His partner Chris Sabin used to be great, but that was before Sabin learned the evils of Beer Money. Shelley opens the door and shows a drunk Sabin sitting on the couch covered with dollar bills. We then see various clips of Sabin stumbling around and falling off the top rope to drive home what a couple of tools Beer Money are. He says to parents not to let this happen to their kids. I know I didn't make it sound funny, but this was hilarious.
Matt Morgan & Beer Money vs Hernandez & Motor City Machine Guns
Roode & Sabin start out with a fast paced chain wrestling segment, Roode tries charging Sabin in the corner but Sabin gets the boot up and hits a Frankensteiner and a forearm for 1, then tags out to Shelley, and they hit a series of fast paced double team moves. This is a very fast paced match, as you can see. Storm tags in, but Shelley outmaneuvers them and tags in Sabin, who hits a leaping elbow in the corner on Storm. Sabin tries a flying headscissors, Storm sends Sabin to the apron and Morgan comes running in with a big boot to the face. Now Morgan tags in and hits a short clothesline on Sabin, then casually steps on him. Morgan stretches Sabin on the ropes and tags in Storm, who nails Sabin with a series of rights in the corner. Sabin comes firing back but Storm with a boot to the guy and a slam for 2. Roode comes in and chokes Sabin, then whips him hard into the corner for 2. Sabin and Roode trade blows but Sabin with a back spinkick and makes the hot tag to Hernandez, who comes in and starts rolling over both members of Beer Money. Hernandez goes after Morgan, but Morgan leaps off the apron, so Hernandez instead bowls over Roode with a shoulderblock and tags Shelley back in. Shelley whips Herhandez into the corner into Roode, then Hernandez slingshots Roode into a Shelley flatliner in the corner. Beer Money try to double team Shelley, but Hernandez with a double shoulderblock over the top rope lays both of Beer Money out. Hernandez chases Morgan to the back as the MCMG hit a double enziguiri to Roode. Storm tries to spit beer at Sabin but Sabin ducks and dropkicks Storm to the floor, then follows him out with a dive. Shelley with a springboard crossbody out of the corner, but Roode rolls through and hooks the tights for 3.
Winners: Matt Morgan & Beer Money
Backstage, the Pope says Anderson is a manipulator and you can't trust him as far as you can throw him and that's why he was out of action, but his focus right now has to be on Victory Road and his match with Kurt Angle, and Pope will have to bring his A-game to Victory Road.
Also backstage, Kevin Nash is sitting around complaining because he has to wait around for a meeting with Hogan. They discuss the differences between bringing Scott Hall & Sean Waltman and the Nasty Boys in, apparently Nash wants Hall and Waltman to be given another shot, but Hogan says it just isn't going to happen.
Meanwhile, back in the ring, Jay Lethal is talking about how he was overwhelmed when Hogan made his match with Flair at Victory Road, and talks about how much it sucked to watch his brother get beat up by Ric Flair. He said it ripped his heart out, so in return, he's going to rip Flair's heart out. Lethal wants to tell his mom that he loves her very much, and he plans on making her the proudest mother in the world when he beats Ric Flair at Victory Road. Even though his mother is 1000 miles away, she'll always be in his heart standing next to him. Uh oh, Flair's music hits and out he comes. Flair says he could give a rat's ass about Lethal's mother, and in fact, his old lady is living vicariously through Lethal because she wants Flair. Flair says Lethal has three days to live, and he's going to tell it like it is. He's in the ring with Ric By God Flair, his Wrestlemania robe is in the Smithsonian. Lethal's family may love him, but Flair's family put him on the street at 15 and he became the Nature Boy. He'll tell Lethal another thing: if a woman has felt the caress of the Nature Boy, she is changed for life. He's got ex-wives running around wondering where he is, hence the saying ALL NIGHT LONG. He says Lethal dresses like a street punk from New Jersey, and Lethal has three days to think about it. Flair's not a human, he's a god, and he can have any woman he wants. Flair's not a wrestling icon, he's a living, breathing wrestling machine, and hospitals want him to donate his body parts to see what keeps him going. In three days, Lethal is going to look his god in the eyes, and he's going to have his ass handed to him. Three days.
Before our main event, let's take another look back at Anderson hitting Jeff Hardy with a chair last week, then run down the card for Victory Road.
It's main event time!
Ken Anderson vs Jeff Hardy
The participants share a sportsmanlike handshake, then tie up. Hardy goes to the arm, loses it, then gets it back. Anderson shoots Hardy off into the ropes, but Hardy comes off with a shoulderblock. Hardy tries a hiptoss, Anderson blocks, Hardy fires a couple of rights at Anderson, but Anderson with a neckbreaker for 2. Hardy with a jawbreaker and then tries his springboard dropkick thing in the corner, but Anderson moves and Hardy crashes to the mat, allowing Anderson to cover him for 2. Anderson tries a whip but Hardy reverses to a short clothesline for 2. Hardy with a clothesline in the corner and then tries a bulldog, Anderson shoves him off into the turnbuckle and tries a charge but Hardy gets the elbow up and goes for the Whisper In The Wind and misses completely, but Anderson goes down anyway so Hardy covers him for 2. Anderson recovers and hits a Finlay Roll for 2, then goes up top and tries the Swanton, but Hardy moves and Anderson hits the mat. Hardy with the Twist Of Fate and that's all she wrote.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Hardy and Anderson share a laugh after the match, but not Abyss' music hits and he comes out with the nail bat. Anderson and Hardy both attack Abyss but he lays both of them out. Abyss with a chokeslam on Hardy and a big boot to Anderson. Abyss picks the nail bat back up and swings it at Anderson, but Anderson moves and the bat digs into the turnbuckle. Abyss tries to wrench it free and ends up ripping the turnbuckle off. RVD comes running out and now he goes after Abyss, but Abyss grabs him by the throat and just flings him out to the floor. Now Hardy goes after Abyss, Anderson comes up behind him and yells at him to move, then he nails Anderson, and then RVD comes in, grabs the chair, and uses it to hit a Van Daminator on Abyss to send him scurrying out to the floor. RVD, Hardy, and Anderson all shake in the ring and RVD and Anderson have a staredown as we go off the air.
2011 - Ian's Pizza in Chicago debuts their CM Punk inspired GTS Pizza.
2011 - WWE broadcast Summerslam. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
This week’s show starts off with footage of the contract signing ceremony on last week’s Smackdown that saw Sheamus return to action and he had his sights set on Randy Orton and Christian.
We are live on tape from Tucson, Arizona and your announcers are Michael ‘It still feels like June’ Cole, Josh ‘Captain Jack’ Mathews, and Booker ‘Closed Captioning is your friend’ T.
Josh is in the ring with seven of the eight men in the Money in the Bank match for the Smackdown brand. Already in the ring are Justin Gabriel, Kane, Daniel Bryan, Sin Cara, Cody Rhodes, Heath Slater, and Wade Barrett. Sheamus is the only one who missed the note to be in the ring. Josh reminds us that everyone who has won the Money in the Bank match has successfully cashed it in. Josh reminds us that it can be cashed in at any time over the next year.
Josh asks Daniel Bryan about being in his first Money in the Bank Match. He says that he is both excited and nervous. He has always dreamed of being the World Champion since he was a kid. He says this opportunity is worth every risk that he is going to take.
Cody Rhodes takes the mic and he says that Daniel Bryan is a common man unable of exceptional things that exceptional people do. Cody says that he is one of those exceptional people. He has overcome grave personal tragedy. He will grab the ladder and take the briefcase so he will no longer be the WWE’s blind spot. He will be the World Champion. He says that people will have to swallow their pride and look at him in the eye.
Josh asks Wade for his thoughts. Wade says that he is sick and tired of having to listen to what everybody else is going to do. The achievements of these men in the last twelve months pales in comparison to him. He won NXT Season One. He then spearheaded a group of revolutionary soldiers . . .
Barrett has to stop talking because he sees Sheamus coming to the ring very fast with a chair in his hands. Sheamus hits Bryan, Slater, and Gabriel with glancing blows as well as Barrett with the chair. Sin Cara leaps over Sheamus to get out of the way. Sheamus is left in the ring with Barrett and he hits Wade a few times in the back with the chair.
Sheamus takes the mic as the other seven men head to the back. He says that he is going to tell us what is really going to happen at Money in the Bank. Sheamus says that he is going to win. When Orton beats the scrawny, malnourished, googly eyed, homely weasel Christian for the fiftieth time, on that same night, he is going to cash in his Money in the Bank contract and he will walk out the new World Heavyweight Champion.
As far as tonight, he is coming for Orton fella. He says that he is going to hit Orton so hard that he knocks the voices out of Orton’s head. Sheamus shows us the footage of the kick to his head by Orton last month and we get a number of angles.
Sheamus says that the biggest regret of Randy Orton’s career so far is that Orton didn’t kick him hard enough because he is back.
Christian makes his way to the stage and he has something to say as he goes to the ring. Christian says that Sheamus and the rest of the clueless morons don’t think that he can beat Randy Orton. Christian wants Sheamus to remind him what he called him earlier.
Sheamus wants to know what Christian is going to do about it. Christian says that there isn’t that much he can do, but he reminds Sheamus that he is the same scrawny, malnourished, googly eyed, homely weasel who beat Sheamus a few weeks ago before Orton kicked him in the head. He says that he is also going to be the World Champion after Money in the Bank.
Christian says that because of what Sheamus did last week and another stipulation was added. If Orton is disqualified or a case of bad officiating, then Christian becomes the World Champion. Christian says that Sheamus would probably have had that change made to his contract because he is so smart. Christian points out that Sheamus is only good at fighting.
Christian calls Sheamus ‘Ronald McDonald’ and he asks Sheamus if he knows how to read a contract. Sheamus throws the chair at Christian and that causes Teddy Long to come out.
Teddy tells Sheamus that he is not the Number One Contender, but Christian is. Teddy says that if Sheamus wants to face Randy Orton tonight, he is sure that Randy would oblige. Teddy says that Sheamus will face Randy Orton tonight, but it is not for the title.
Christian is even happy with the decision.
We go to commercial.
We are back with highlights from the first Money in the Bank Ladder match from Wrestlemania 21 that was won by Edge, who was the first to successfully cash in the briefcase.
Match Number One: Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes with the Bag Men versus Daniel Bryan and Ezekiel Jackson
Bryan and DiBiase start things off and they lock up with Bryan applying a hammer lock. Ted with an elbow to escapes the hold. Ted with a kick to the throat but Bryan with a round kick to the chest for a near fall. Jackson pie faces Ted and he is tagged in and he sends Ted to the mat and to the turnbuckles. Jackson with a forearm to the back followed by a biel. Ted with a kick but Jackson sends Ted over the top rope to the floor. Jackson knocks Cody off the apron and then he tags in Bryan who hits a suicide dive onto Ted and Cody as we go to commercial.
We are back and Bryan with rapid fire kicks to the chest. Bryan with an Irish whip but Cody catches Bryan and hits an Alabama Slam for a near fall. Ted is tagged in and he kicks Bryan while Cody holds him. Ted with kicks to Bryan in the corner. Bryan with an English uppercut but DiBiase responds with a drop kick and he gets a near fall.
Ted with a reverse chin lock on Bryan and a double thrust to the throat. Cody tags in and he punches Bryan followed by a rolling knee drop. Cody with kicks and punches to Bryan. Ted tags back in and he kicks and chokes Bryan. Jackson gets involved but that only moves the referee out of position and it allows Cody and Ted to double team Bryan. Ted gets a near fall.
Ted with a reverse chin lock on Bryan and he follows that with knees to Bryan in the corner. Ted with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Bryan with a flying Yakuza kick and both men are down.
Jackson tags in and he connects with a clothesline and body block. Jackson with an Irish whip and running clothesline into the corner followed by a slam. Jackson slams Cody and Bryan with a European uppercut. The referee sends Bryan to the apron and while all of that is going on, Jackson gets DiBiase up for the Torture Rack, but Cody hits the springboard round kick and then he knocks Bryan off the apron while Ted hits Dream Street for the three count.
Winners: Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase
The announcers talk about what Mark Henry has done over the last few weeks. We see footage of Mark Henry showing that he is also a music critic in addition to the man who is going to take care of Big Show and Kane.
Mark Henry is in the interview area with Matt Striker and Matt asks Mark to explain his conduct last week. Matt says that Mark is facing fines, suspensions, lawsuits, and potential criminal investigations. In addition, he will be facing Kane tonight and Big Show at Money in the Bank. Mark looks at Matt and Matt leaves. Henry growls as we go to commercial.
Before our next match, Khali joins the announce team to help Booker with his commentary.
Match Number Two: Jinder Mahal with Great Khali versus Trent Barreta
They lock up and Mahal with a knee and punches to Barreta. Barreta with a discus forearm for a near fall followed by a European uppercut. Mahal tosses Barreta over his head and Trent hits the turnbuckles. Mahal with a clothesline followed by a leaping knee and then he signals for the full nelson slam and he gets the three count.
Winner: Jinder Mahal
After the match, Khali picks up Trent so Mahal could hit a second full nelson slam.
Sheamus is in the locker room and Todd Grisham asks Sheamus about his recent rampage and Sheamus tells Todd that it is an Irish thing and he wouldn’t understand. Sheamus leaves the locker room and we go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Tamina with Alicia Fox versus AJ Lee with Natalya
They lock up and AJ tries for an arm drag but Tamina stays on her feet. Tamina picks up AJ and puts her in the corner. Tamina runs into boots from AJ in the corner and AJ with forearms. Tamina with a chop to AJ. Tamina with a hard Irish whip and a running butt splash into the corner. Tamina sends AJ to the mat and gets a near fall. Tamina with a chin lock with her knee in AJ’s back as she stretches AJ. Tamina with a boot to the midsection but she misses a splash.
AJ with a forearm and back kick followed by a Shining Wizard for a near fall. AJ with a splash into the corner but Tamina with an Irish whip but she misses the splash into the corner and AJ with the rollup for the three count.
Winner: AJ Lee
After the match, Alicia tries to tell Tamina what she did wrong and Tamina looks like she wants to break Alicia in half.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Kane versus Mark Henry
Kane with a kick and punches to Henry followed by a clothesline but Henry stays on his feet. Henry with a body block that sends Kane to the mat. Henry with a kick and then he chokes Kane in the corner. Henry with a punch but Kane with a drop kick to the knees followed by one to the head. Kane with another drop kick and Kane gets a near fall.
Kane goes up top for the clothesline but Henry catches him and hits a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Henry stands on Kane’s chest until the referee threatens to disqualify him. Kane blocks a punch and he responds with vintage uppercuts. Henry misses a splash into the corner and Kane with a splash of his own. Kane with a boot to the head that knocks Henry to the mat and Kane gets a near fall. Kane goes back up top and he hits the clothesline.
Kane signals for the choke slam and he grabs Henry by the throat but Henry gets out of the hold and he head butts Kane and then Henry tries for the World’s Strongest Slam. Kane grabs Henry and hits a choke slam but Henry gets his foot on the rope to stop the count.
Kane with kicks to Henry and Mark goes to the floor. Kane joins Mark on the floor and the announce table is being rearranged. Kane sets for a choke slam through the table but Henry sends Kane into the apron and ring post.
They return to the ring and Henry with a splash for a near fall. Henry hits the World’s Strongest Slam for the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
After the match, Mark makes his way over to the announce table and Booker tries to tell Henry that it is Michael Cole who is bad mouthing him.
Randy Orton is in the interview area with Todd Grisham and Todd asks Randy about the stipulation in the contract. Randy says that he cannot take it any more. He is sick and tired of Christian asking for one more match. Regardless of the contract, the result will be the same. An RKO and a 1-2-3. Sheamus is the most fearsome brawler in the WWE. He knows that he will have to face Sheamus for the World Title when he is done with Christian.
He tells Sheamus to be careful what you wish for because some people have rocks in their head, while some people hear voices. Orton tells Todd to tell Sheamus ‘good luck’ if he sees Sheamus.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look back at last year’s Money in the Bank match from the Raw brand when Miz won the match and then went on to win the WWE Title.
Match Number Five: Tyson Kidd without a Manager versus Sin Cara con el Trampolino Mas Bueno
Kidd with a waist lock but Cara with a standing switch. Kidd with a hammer lock as he takes Cara to the mat. Cara with an elbow and a snap mare. Cara with an arm drag using the roes for extra leverage. Cara with a satellite arm drag that sends Kidd to the floor. Cara goes to the apron and then Kidd pulls Cara off the apron and Cara hits the apron with his head.
Kidd returns to the ring and then he tries for a move to the floor but Cara with a kick to the head followed by a slingshot corkscrew splash for a near fall. Cara tries to go to the turnbuckles again but Kidd kicks Cara in the leg and Cara falls to the mat. Kidd with a drop kick to the head and he gets a near fall.
Kidd with an elbow to the head followed by a kick and a reverse chin lock. Cara gets on Kidd’s shoulders and Kidd is able to send Cara into the mat and then off the ropes with a hot shot. Kidd goes to the apron for a springboard elbow drop but Cara gets his knee up.
Cara with kicks to the arm but Cara with a double leg take down and he punches Kidd until the referee warns him. Cara hits the handspring back elbow followed by a rana. Cara with a kick to Kidd but Kidd with an Irish whip and Cara with an elbow. Cara gets on Kidd’s shoulders and he gets a near fall with a sunset flip. Kidd kicks Cara and goes to the apron.
Kidd goes to the turnbuckles but Car goes up top as well. Kidd pushes Cara off but he lands on his feet. Cara with a drop kick to the legs and it crotches Kidd. They fight on the turnbuckles and Cara with the C4 for the three count.
Winner: Sin Cara
Teddy Long is walking in the back and Matt Striker asks him what he is going to do about Mark Henry. Teddy says that they are continuing their investigation and as soon as they have finished they will make a ruling. Matt says that it sounds like a politically correct answer. Matt asks Teddy if he was intimidated by Mark Henry and Teddy says nothing and leaves.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Six: Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel versus The Usos
Jey and Gabirel start things off and Jey with a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. Gabriel with a side head lock. Slager with a tag and he punches Jey while Jey looks at Gabriel on the floor. Slater with a kick to the midsection and then he stands on Jey’s hand. Jey with punches but Slater with a knee and punch.
Gabriel tags in and they send Jey into the turnbuckles. Gabriel gets a near fall and then he applies a cravate. Gabriel with a side head lock but Jey with a punch. Each man tries for a kick and they go down. Slater and Jimmy tag in and Jimmy with punches and a forearm. Jimmy with a savate kick followed by a Bubba Bomb and an alley oop Samoan Drop but he can only get a near fall.
Jimmy misses a splash into the corner and Slater with a neck breaker and both men are down. Gabriel tags in and he goes up top but Jimmy kicks Slater into the ropes and Gabriel is crotched. Jey tags in and he hits a superplex while Jimmy hits the superfly plash for the three count.
Winners: The Usos
After the match, Slater and Gabriel argue about the loss.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Johnny Curtis is in the back again and he says that he has the perfect attitude to be a WWE Superstar. He doesn’t know what is missing, but he says that he will take the cake (as he takes a cake from someone sitting at a table).
In case you missed it on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday night, here is the confrontation between John Cena and Vince McMahon from Raw.
They run through the card for Money in the Bank.
Before our main event starts, Christian makes his way to ringside to join the announce team.
Match Number Seven: Randy Orton versus Sheamus in a Non Title Match
They lock up and Sheamus backs Orton into the corner but he misses a punch. Orton with punches and European uppercuts. Sheamus with a forearm and elbow followed by a European uppercut. Sheamus with an Irish whip but he misses a charges into the corner and Orton with a drop kick. Sheamus goes to the floor when he sees Orton line up for the kick to the head.
Sheamus gets back into the ring and Orton punches him. Orton with a Thesz Press and punches but Sheamus reverses the situation and he punches Orton. They fight to the floor and Sheamus tries to send Orton into the ringside barrier but Orton blocks it and he sends Sheamus into the ringside barrier. Sheamus Irish whips Orton into the ringside barrier.
Orton kicks Sheamus and he sets for the IEDDT but Sheamus back body drops Orton to the apron and then Sheamus sends Orton shoulder first into the ring post.
Christian leaves the announce table to get a closer look at Orton but Sheamus stops Christian.
Sheamus sends Orton into the ring post as we go to commercial.
We are back and Orton punches Sheamus but Sheamus with a single arm DDT for a near fall. Sheamus continues to work on the arm with a series of knee drops. Sheamus with a top wrist lock on Orton but Orton with a head butt. Sheamus with a knee to the midsection and then he tries for another single arm DDT but Orton holds on to the ropes. Orton sends Sheamus to the apron abut Sheamus drops Orton’s arm on the top rope.
Sheamus tries for the slingshot shoulder tackle but Orton swats him away and Sheamus hits the mat. Orton with a clothesline or two. Orton with a power slam when Sheamus misses a clothesline. Orton runs into a boot but Orton with a belly-to-belly suplex. Sheamus kicks Orton in the knee and then Sheamus pulls himself up to the turnbuckles for a flying shoulder tackle and he gets a near fall.
Orton with a kick to Sheamus but Orton with a uranage back breaker for a near fall. Sheamus hits a running double sledge to Orton and then he hits a series of knee drops to the head. Sheamus waits for Orton to get up for a Brogue kick but Orton moves. Sheamus escapes an RKO attempt but Orton with a neck breaker and he does the push ups before the RKO but Christian comes into the ring and he kicks Orton in the head and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Sheamus by disqualification
After the match, Christian punches Orton and the Sheamus pulls Christian off Orton and he gives Christian a Brogue Kick. Orton gives Sheamus an RKO as we go to credits.
2011 - WWE Smackdown ran Duban, South Afirca. David Kruse filed the following results:
Yoshi Tatsu defeated Ted DiBiase.
Ezekiel Jackson defeated Wade Barrett.
Jinder Mahal defeated Daniel Bryan.
Kane defeated Sheamus.
Sin Cara defeated Cody Rhodes.
Natalya defeated Alicia Fox.
Justin Gabriel, Big Show & Randy Orton defeated Mark Henry, Alberto Del Rio & Christian.
2011 - Ring of Honor ran Richmond, VA. Paul Cornier filed the following live report:
Thought I would send a detailed report of the Ring of Honor show in Richmond, VA last night.
Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin didn’t arrive to the building until about 45 minutes before bell time – probably due to the horrible weather.
Jim Cornette welcomed the crowd. He advised that Chris Hero was stuck in Newark due to the weather and was not in attendance tonight. He introduced Davey Richards who came out to a nice ovation. Davey thanked everyone for their support. The House of Truth came out to rain on Davey’s parade. Roderick Strong got in a few jabs about Davey crying after his title win in New York last month. Eddie Edwards came out to even the odds. This little angle helped to get everyone pumped for the main event – The American Wolves versus the House of Truth.
Kyle O’Reiley and Adam Cole beat Cedrick Alexander and Caprice Coleman in the first of two Tag Team Lottery matches. Good opener and everyone looked strong here. Kyle and Cole are just tremendous together.
The Briscoe Brothers destroyed The Bravado Brothers in the second Tag Team Lottery match. As Jay went to use a chair, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin hit the ring. With the referee distracted, Shelton hit Jay with a Spinning Heel Kick into the chair which allowed The Bravado Brothers to pick up a surprise win. This sets up O’Reiley and Cole versus the Bravados later in the night in the Lottery Finals – a future Tag Team Title shot and $5000 goes to the winning team.
Kenny King versus Mike Bennett is next. Bennett gets a pin with a roll-up and a handful of tights. This brings out Rhett Titus, who tells referee Todd Sinclair about the tights. Referee Sinclair does the bit where he asks the crowd if Bennett cheated. He actually reversed the decision and awards the match to King. Bennett goes to work on Titus while King is celebrating but then runs off. Cornette comes out and says that since Chris Hero isn’t here and Titus doesn’t have an opponent, we are going to have Bennett versus Titus later tonight. Bennett refused like any good heel would but Cornette threatened him with a suspension.
Next up is Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin putting the ROH World Tag team Titles on the line against El Generico and Colt Cabana. Haas and Benjamin were playing the perfect foils to Colt’s comedy act. The Briscoe Brothers came out at the beginning and had to be removed from ringside. Cornette officially banned them from the building. Their angle with Haas and Benjamin is really heating up. The first ten minutes was excellent, but things started falling apart at that point and they never did get back on track. Shelton picked up the win on Colt, but was noticeably upset that the match turned out the way it did. Shelton got on the mic and apologized to everyone in attendance for “sucking tonight.” He stormed off and left Haas alone in the ring. It ended up being an odd way to go into intermission. This match wasn't as good as it could have been.
Kyle O’Reiley and Adam Cole beat The Bravado Brothers in the final match of the Tag Team Lottery to earn a future Tag Team Title shot and a giant, gimmicked $5000 check. Both of these teams have really come into their own in the last few months.
Rhett Titus beat Mike Bennett. This went longer than the match Bennett had with Kenny King earlier in the night. Titus is another one who has improved so much this year. Bennett pulled a chain out of his boot, which brought Kenny King back to the ring. He distracted Bennett enough for Rhett to pick up the win. Good match!
The main event has The American Wolves facing off with Roderick Strong and Michael Elgin with Truth Martini. This match was off-the-charts good – get the DVD. Elgin is a monster. I see great things for him in the future. He is an absolute beast. The match went thirty minutes. Richmond has seen quite a few high profile tag team matches in the last year. This topped them all. Tons of false finishes in the last five minutes had the crowd losing their minds. Martini spent the match getting his shots in. In the closing minutes, The Wolves got even and took out Martini. Davey picked up with win on Elgin while Eddie kept Roderick out of the ring. Awesome!
No return date was announced for Richmond. They really hyped the new TV show debuting locally on September 25th at 11:30 PM on Fox 35.
2012 - PWInsider.com confirmed that WWE signed British star PAC, who had been working for Dragon Gate in Japan and DGUSA here in the States. Billed as the "Man that Gravity Forgot" overseas, he was re-christened Adrian Neville for developmental.
2012 - TNA held their Destination X PPV. Mike Johnson filed the following TV report;
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of TNA Destination X 2012 from Orlando, Florida at the Impact Zone.
Lars Only vs. Rubix vs. Dakota Darsow vs. Mason Andrews - TNA X-Division Tournament Last Chance Match
This match, featuring talents who lost their qualifying matches in the X-Division championship tournament, is a chance for those talents to grab the last slot in the tournament. The winner will face Kid Kash.
Only is NWA Hollywood's Johnny Yuma. Rubix is CHIKARA's Jigsaw. Mason Andrews is PWG's Scorpio Sky. Darsow is the son of Barry Darsow.
Darsow was backdropped over to the floor by Rubix immediately. TRubix and Andrews went back and forth with quick near falls. Rubix escaped an armdrag and then dropkicked him out of the ring. Only nailed Rubix but was then attacked by Darsow. Only locked him in an armbar. Darsow fired back and fought his way back to his feet. Darsow smashed him into the mat and nailed Rubix, sending him off the apron to the floor. Darsow worked over Only and covered him for a two count.
Darsow whipped Only into the corner but Only went up and over and rolled him up for a two count. Rubix came off the top with a flying bodypress for a two count on Darsow. Darsow cut him off and drilled him down with a sitdown Michinoku Driver for a two count. Only broke up the pinfall.
Andrews nailed a series of dropkicks but was nailed by Darsow. Only drilled Darsow and they both went to the floor. Andrews hit a dive over the top on both after ducking a Rubix clothesline. Rubix, not to be outdone, hit a backflip over the ropes to the floor on everyone.
Rubix tossed Andrews back into the ring but was caught with an armbar submission. They showed Kid Kash scouting as he'd be facing the winner next. Only attacked Andrews to break up the pinfall. Only nailed a combination stunner and neckbreaker after kicking off Darsow in the same motion for a pair of near falls. The crowd clapped for everyone, rallying the bout.
Only grabbed a front facelock but was nailed by Darsow from behind with a sledgehammer. Only was able to toss him to the outside but was tackled into the corner by Andrews. Only nailed him and went to the top. Darsow cut him off but was then nailed by Andrews with several kicks. Andrews went after Only but Darsow slipped underneath for a Tower of Doom that took out his opposition. Rubix came off the top for a Van Terminator dropkick onto Darsow. That got the crowd soundly behind him as they started chanting for him.
Andrews went for a TKO but was cut off and nailed with a neckbreaker by Darsow. Rubix kicked Darsow but was caught with a Faceplant out iof a headscissors by Only. Rubix rolled to the outside, leading Only and Andrews. They went back and forth. Andrews nailed a leaping knee and a TKO for a three count.
Your winner, Mason Andrews!
Good, fast paced opener with everyone working their ass off. This had all the strikes and dives and interactions you'd expect. Nice way to kick off the show.
X-Division championship Tournament Kid Kash vs. Mason Andrews
Kash hit the ring and began beating the hell out of Andrews, beating him on the floor and rolling him back into the ring. Kash was doing a lot of jawjacking and stepped on Andrews' chest for a pinfall attempt but Andrews kicked up.
Kash nailed several crossfaces and several stiff chops. Jeremy Borash said they need Atlas Security to protect the fans from Kash on the road. Scorpio nailed several dropkicks and used a crucifix for a two count. Kash cut off Andrews with several strikes and was dropped across the steel connecting the turnbuckles and the ringpost.
Kash chopped him hard across Andrew's chest and back. Andrews tried to fire back but was kicked hard in the chest for a two count. Kash choked him against the ropes and nailed more crossfaces. Kash began to argue with the referee.
Kash nailed a suplex into a slam or a two count, then drilled Andrews over his knee with a backbreaker. Kash covered him for a two count. Kash positioned Andrews and ascended to the top rope. He then dropped down, slapped him and covered him for a two count. Andrews escaped at the last minute. Kash was getting upset.
Kash continued trouncing Andrews and played to the crowd. Kash gave fans the finger and dropped an elbow across the chest for another two count. He tied up Andrews in a keylock while standing over Andrews to add to the momentum of the move. The crowd rallied Andrews.
Andrews finally fights out but was cut off by Kash. Kash chopped Andrews, who collapsed from the force of the shot and fell through the ropes to the floor. Kash slammed Andrews down and went for a springboard moonsault but Andrews pulled his knees up. The crowd rallied him and Andrews fought his way to his feet.
Kash worked over Andrews but was nailed with a back flying elbow and pair of dropkicks. Kash missed a charge into the corner and was nailed with a missile dropkick. Andrews nailed a running high knee to the face for a close two count.
Kash nailed a sunset flip but Andrews rolled through. Kash bridged out and went for a backslide, Andrews slipped out and went for the Moneymaker. Andrews slipped out and rolled up Kash for the three count.
Your winner, Mason Andrews!
Andrews moves on to Ultimate X tonight.
Another very good match with some great psychology featuring Kash as the bitter, evil veteran beating down the young upstart. Kash did a great service to Andrews in terms of getting the crowd to get behind him and both did a great job here.
Christy Hemme interviewed Samoa Joe. She asked him for his prediction on the main event. Joe said that he predicts the man who beat him, Austin Aries. Hemme noted he was in second place in the Bound for Glory series and asked him his strategy going into tonight. Joe said a year ago, his strategy was to hurt, kill and maim everyone involved. This year, he sees the light and sees his road to the TNA title through the BFG Series. He said tonight Kurt Angle isn't a gold medalist but ten points. Angle isn't an indestructible wrestling machine but a man who will tap out. Joe promised he would win by any means necessary. Real good promo.
Douglas Williams vs. Kenny King
They went to the mat right away with some nice back and forth mat work. They talked up King's background in the Chippendales, tying it into the film "Magic Mike." The story early was that King would counter Williams' moves but would then get trapped in another move. Really good stuff.
King nailed several forearms in the corner. He whipped Williams into the opposite corner and there was a miscue that they tried to fix. They went into some near falls. There was a chant for King.
Williams and King jawed back and forth. Williams was sent to the floor. King nailed a twisting slingshot dive to the floor. Back in the ring, King covered Williams for a two count. He controlled Williams but was grabbed in a side headlock. King sent Williams into the ropes but was shoulderblocked down. King caught him in a drop toehold and grabbed a side headlock. Williams turned it into a hammerlock.
King slipped out and used a pair of hiptosses, including a kip up after one, which looked real flashy. They locked up with Williams nailing him several times in the corner. King whipped him out of the corner but was nailed with the European uppercut and a running clothesline. Williams locked in rear chinlock. King was whipped into the corner but came out of nowhere with a sunset flip off the buckles for a two count,.
Williams attacked him to cut off King, and worked him over in the corner. King fired back and both men were down as the referee counted. King recovered and nailed a series of clotheslines and a spinning kick for a two count.
King nailed another kick and a spinebuster for a two count. King charged but was kicked off. Williams went to the top but was met by King. They battled on the top and King was sent off the ropes to the floor, which looked like it could have been a hard fall. Williams drilled King off the ropes to the floor with a knee after King returned to his feet. King was almost counted out by slipped back in at nine.
Williams drilled King and scored a two count. The crowd chanted for King. King snapped him throat-first over the top rope and nailed a springboard into a reverse Buff Blockbuster for a two count. Williams cut him off and rolled up King for a two count. Williams and King battled in the corner. King shoved him off the ropes and came off but landed on his feet when he realized Williams would get out of the way before he nailed a move.
King nailed a TKO into a Uranage like move, driving Williams to the mat for the pin.
Your winner, Kenny King!
Solid match. King didn't look as flashy as he did on Impact but it was a different type of match in the way it was laid out. There was some really good matwork early on and it was good, solid match.
Christy Hemme interviewed TNA Tag Team champions Christopher Daniels. He said a lot can happen in a year. A year ago, he was a lackey and a friend but now he's a winner. He's one half of the World Tag Team champions of the World (not redundant). He said that all that matters is beating someone senseless. He said he knows what kind of man he is but he also knows what type of man that Styles is. He said Styles took advantage of a helpless woman and impregnated her and used his personal relationship with Dixie Carter to help himself. He said that now everyone in the world knows what type of man AJ is and he can drink to that.
Rashad Cameron vs. Sonjay Dutt
CZW flavor here.
They locked up and did some fast packed back and forth reversals and Lucha style takedown attempts. Both went for dropkicks at the same time and faced off. Dutt caught Cameron with a dropkick and locked on a side headlock. Dutt shoulderblocked Cameron down. Cameron leapfropped him and nailed Dutt, sending him to the floor.
Cameron nailed a tope con hilo to the floor. He shouted out Philadelphia and rolled Dutt back in the ring for a two count. Cameron nailed a series of chops in the corner but was kicked away. Dutt nailed a leaping head scissors to the outside, then nailed a nasty looking sliding dropkick through the ropes.
On the outside, Cameron whipped Dutt into the railing. He rolled Dutt back into the ring for a two count. Cameron elevated Dutt into a flapjack but Dutt made it to the ropes to break up a pinfall. Cameron ripped at Dutt's face and argued with the referee.
Cameron sent Dutt into the ropes and drilled him with a running knee for a two count. He locked Dutt in a body scissors for a two count. Cameron worked him over in the corner. Dutt escaped and drilled Cameron, running him into the buckles. He nailed a guillotine legdrop over the ropes on the apron outside and nailed a splash into the ring for a two count.
Cameron and Dutt went back and forth. Cameron used a forward roll for a two count. Cameron nailed a rana off the top and locked in a cross armbreaker. Dutt made it to the ropes. Cameron was getting really angry at referee Earl Hebner.
Dutt nailed a leaping DDT and came off the top with a flip into a double stomp for the pin.
Your winner, Sonjay Dutt!
Another good match. Lots of really strong wrestling so far on this show. Cameron looked strong and showed some of his facial expressions, which he's top of the class with, and Dutt looked just awesome.
Mike Tenay and Jeremy Borash talked about Jesse Sorensen suffering a broken neck a few months back at Against All Odds. They talked about the danger of the X-Division matches and took us to a video update on Jesse Sorensen's rehab.
Christy Hemme introduced Sorensen, who came to the ring wearing street clothes and a hard neck brace. He got a nice reaction from the fans. He hugged his mother and his girlfriend at ringside before entering the ring. His mother was visibly tearing up. He spent time looking at the place where he was injured.
Sorensen said that Dixie Carter asked him if he was nervous and he said he was happy just to feel anything. The last time he was here he couldn't feel anything from the neck down. He said that he spent days staring at the ceiling not knowing if his career was over and whether he would ever walk again. He said that the last thing he heard as he left the arena were the fans chanting his name. He said that's the same chant that motivated him to come back tonight to tell everyone that God put him on Earth to be a professional wrestler, that is what he is and that is what he always will be.
Sorensen said that he wanted to thank everyone in the back, his family and all the fans for supporting him through everything. The crowd chanted "Thank you Jesse." He said that he thanked them from the bottom of his heart. Jesse said that he knows Zema Ion is out there listening and he hasn't forgotten about him. Jesse said that he hopes Ion wins the belt because just like he tried to take Jesse's career from him, he's coming back to win the X-Division championship from Ion. He declared that a year from now, he'll be the X-Division champion and will cash it in to become the TNA champion.
Really good, serious promo and segment that did more to get Sorensen over than anything his run thus far has. Really strong, well done stuff, playing off the legitimate injury. They also pretty much guaranteed Ion is in the finals.
As Sorensen left the ring, Ion made his way to the ring. He blows off Sorensen and mocked him. The announcers noted that was the first interaction they've had since Sorensen was hurt since Ion didn't care that he hurt the guy.
X-Division Championship Tournament: Zema Ion vs. Flip Casanova
Ion attacked Flip from behind. Ion chopped him hard in the corner. Flip went up and over during a charge towards him and kicked Ion, then nailed a snappingh head sicssors, sending Ion to the floor.
Flip hit a twisting dive over the top to the floor. Ion cut him off when they returned to the ring and choked him against the ropes. Flip came back with forearm smashes and kicks. Ion cut him off and sent him to the floor, then nailed a sliding dropkick to the face on the outside. He tossed Flip back in and came in over the ropes with a kick to the back of the head.
Ion hit a moonsault off the middle turnbuckle but Flip pulled his knee up. Flip hit a springboard into a twisting moonsault for a two count. Flip went to the top for a shooting star press into a legdrop but Ion rolled out of the way. Ion nailed a kick and then a Gori Guerrero Especial into a driver for the pin,
Your winner, Zema Ion!
The weakest of the first round matches but there were some nice spots, which is what you get from Flip. At least no one was bloodied up.
So, Ultimate X is Sonjay vs. Ion vs. King vs. Andrews. Very interesting mix.
Christy Hemme interviewed the other three competitors in the UX. King said that it was his coronation day. Dutt promised he was going to become the champion. Andrews said that this was his moment. TNA champion Bobby Roode showed up. He said that tonight was his moment and this was his show. Roode blew off the importance of the X-Division belt and said tonight he was going to destroy their poster boy, Austin Aries. He said Aries would fail, the X-Division will fail and he will remain the TNA champion. Usual good promo from Roode and a good way to get heat on him.
Bound for Glory Series: Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle
Mike Tenay called Joe vs. Angle the best rivalry in the ten years of broadcasting TNA. I wouldn't argue that one. Angle's kids were at ringside and he kissed all of them in the front row.
They were wary of each other early. Joe missed a kick. Angle charged and tied him up. They turned each other around and ended up in the corner. They muscled each other out of the corner. Angle sent Joe into the corner but was shoulderblocked down. Angle went for the anklelock but Joe escaped and they faced off.
The announcers noted that if Joe won via submission, he would be the leader in the BFG series, while Angle is also trying to go for a submission win in every match. They locked up and Joe grabbed a front facelock. Joe muscled him into the corner and unloaded with a series of strikes. Angle went down in the corner. Joe kicked him and nailed the Facewash.
Joe peppered Angle with a series of rights and a forearm. Joe kicked Angle but was nailed with a Polish Hammer. Yes sir, the Polish Hammer. Joe backdropped Angle over the top to the floor. Joe nailed a tope into a forearm to the floor. The crowd chanted "TNA."
Joe deposited Angle back into the ring but was caught with a kick as he returned through the ropes. Angle stomped away at Joe in the corner. Joe nailed a reverse running elbow in the corner and then nailed a kick. Joe went for the muscle buster but Angle used a headbutt to break it up, then nailed a missile dropkick.
Angle locked in a rear chinlock as the crowd started with the dueling chants. Joe fired back with several elbows to escape but was caught with an overhead belly to belly suplex for a two count. Angle locked in a chinlock variation. Fans chanted for Joe. Joe fought his way out of the hold and nailed several strikes. Joe whipped Angle into the corner but Angle stopped it and drilled Joe. He whipped Joe into the corner but Joe nailed him and went to the top. Angle tried to leap up for a suplex but was fought off. Joe came off the ropes with a leg lariat for a two count.
Joe nailed a series of strikes and a clothesline on Angle. Joe whipped Angle into the corner but was kicked off. Joe caught him with an inverted atomic drop and a back senton splash for a two count. Good stuff.
They locked up and Joe caught Angle with a powerslam for a two count. Joe went for a armbar but Angle turned it into an anklelock. Angle nailed a German suplex and rolled through for another, nailing two in a row. Angle fought hard to get Joe and nailed a third.
Angle went for the Olympic Slam but Joe slipped out and nailed an armdrag. He kicked Angle in the face and went for the muscle buster out of the corner. Angle went for a sunset flip and rolled through into the anklelock. Joe kicked off Angle, then caught him charging with an Uranage.
Joe went for the rear naked choke but Angle rolled through with an ankle lock submission. Joe fought to get to the ropes. Angle dragged him back to the center of the ring. Joe slipped out and grabbed Angle by the tights. He pulled Angle over him and locked in the Kokina Clutch. Angle had nowhere to go and elbowed out.
Angle fought his way out and nailed the Olympic Slam for a two count. Angle pulled down the straps. Joe avoided an Olympic Slam and went right back to the rear naked choke. Joe choked Angle out and the referee stopped it,
Your winner, Samoa Joe!
Really good match. I was really happy to see Joe get the win as he really needed it as a way to help put him back into the top tier. This was like a greatest hits match as they did everything that they've always done and it was done well. Really enjoyed the hell out of this one.
Last Man Standing: TNA Tag Team champion Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles
Daniels immediately went to the floor at the bell. Styles got tired of waiting and chased him into the ring. Daniels spit in his face, which set Styles off. He caught Daniels on the floor and drilled him into the railing. Styles and Daniels exchanged punches and kicks on the floor.
Daniels cut off Styles as he returned to the ring and worked him over but Styles nailed a big dropkick. Styles nailed a series of kicks to the chest and head. Styles nailed shots to the neck and chest. Daniels tried to force Styles back in the corner but was caught and suplexed into the buckles. Styles slammed Daniels but was caught and nailed with a series of chops.
Daniels cut off Styles and grabbed a chair outside and tossed it into the ring. Daniels ripped at Styles face and worked him over. He brought Styles into the ring and tried to slam him into the chair. Styles fought him off but was nailed onto the chair with an Uranage.
Daniels drilled Styles from behind, sending him through the ropes to the floor. Daniels argued with fans, then slammed Styles' face-first into the ringside stairs. Daniels measured and beat Styles with right hands, busting him open.
Daniels suplexed Styles on the floor. Daniels went to nail Styles and whip him into the steps, which were placed sideways, but Styles fired back. Daniels cut him off and tossed him back into the ring. Daniels whipped Styles hard into the buckles. He measured Styles to nail him with the chair but was kicked off
Styles went to the for the springboard forearm and nailed it but nailed the chair. Both men connected with the chair. The force sent Daniels to the outside. Styles followed and ran Daniels hard into the ring steps, busting open Daniels as well. Styles kept working over Daniels' cut.
Daniels, realizing he's hurt, tried to retreat up the ramp but was nailed on the stage. Styles charged across the stage and Daniels did the same and they did a double clothesline on the stage. That's nuts. They went back and forth with punches and kicks until Styles nailed an enziguiri. Daniels almost went off the stage. The crowd chanted, "Push him over."
Styles went for the Styles Clash but was backdropped over by Daniels. Daniels tried to send Styles into the stage but was blocked, Styles flipped off the staging into an inverted DDT. Daniels was down. The referee counted him down at seven when Kazarian attacked Styles from behind, sending him off the stage to the floor and railing.
The referee began counting Styles down but he pulled himself up at the eight count. Daniels drilled him into the guard rail. Daniels returned to the ring and pulled a table out and dragged it towards the stage. He went for Angel's Wings off the ramp through the table but Styles backdropped Daniels over and onto Kazarian.
Styles nailed the Pele Kick on Daniels then went off the ramp through a table with the Styles Clash. The referee counted them out. Styles pulled himself up at nine but Daniels wasn't as lucky.
Your winner, AJ Styles!
Excellent Last Man Standing match. Nothing like a good double juice brawl that was logical and really well done. They told a hell of a story with some good false finishes and crazy stunts. The stuff on the stage was stiff as hell. Really enjoyable.
Christy Hemme interviewed Austin Aries, saying he was responsible for both remaining title matches. He said that he wishes everyone in the XD a lot of luck but he's leaving that behind him. He said that he's looking to the future and that's Bobby Roode and the TNA title. He said that Roode keeps calling himself the most dominant champion in TNA but we'll see if that's true. Aries said that he's been winning matches with brainbusters while Roode has been using beer bottles and title belt shots. He said he was going to win the belt for everyone watching including his mother and give them a champion to be proud of. Aries said he was going to change the course of not just TNA but pro wrestling tonight. Solid promo.
Ultimate X Match: Mason Andrews vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Kenny King vs. Zema Ion
Ion tried to get to the cables right away but the others grabbed him. He tried to come off the ropes but all three dropkicked him. Ion dragged Andrews out. King was caught with a Dutt rana.
Dutt went to the top for the cables but King grabbed him. Ion came from behind and shoved King off. Andrews dropkicked Ion but was slammed into the buckles. Ion hit a tornado DDT off the ropes.
Ion went to climb up but was tied to the tree of woe. Andrews went for a tornado DDT on King, who turned it into a Northern Lights suplex into Ion, who was still hanging. King went to ascend to the cables but Dutt caught him. They battled back and forth outside on the apron but King nailed him and sent him to the floor.
King tried to make his way across the cables but Dutt nailed a springboard dropkick to take him out. Dutt went for a standing shooting star press but his wrist came down bad and it looked like his hurt it. He was quickly removed from the ring. Talk about bad timing as he was looking awesome so far. He was taken to the locker room.
Andrews was caught by Ion with a dropkick. Ion went to the cables but was pulled down by King and Andrews. King legdropped Ion. Ion rolled to the outside. King ascended to the top but was cut off by Andrews. He nailed a Russian legsweep off the ropes into the mat.
Ion used them being out to ascend the cables but was taken out by King. King went for a twisting splash to the outside but Ion moved out of the ring. Ion worked him over but Andrews nailed a dive to the outside on both.
Andrews began scaling the wires but was pulled down by King. Dutt returned and began making his way to the top. King and Andrews made their way across the bottom of the wires battling back and forth. They nailed a neckbreaker off the wires.
Ion and Dutt went to the truss above the ring and the cables. They battled back and forth. Dutt slipped down through and went for the belt but Ion puilled out his hairspray and blinded Dutt with it. With no one left, Ion grabbed the belt.
Your winner, Zema Ion!
A good Ultimate X match when you consider three of the competitors had never worked one of these before. Dutt getting hurt obviously hurt the flow of the match so once that went down, they were working hard to make sure the crowd stayed with them. There were a lot of crazy bumps and stunts. Another good match.
Christy Hemme interviewed the new champion. Ion said he wanted to dedicate it to his haters and critics. He said that he wanted to dedicate it to Jesse Sorensen, because if he hadn't broken Jesse's neck, he wouldn't have realized his true potential and how dangerous he was. He said that he was now the prettiest X-Division champion of all time. Obviously, he vs. Jesse is the program they are building too.
TNA champion Bobby Roode vs. Austin Aries
They locked up and when they went to the ropes, Aries broke clean. The story early was that Aries wasn't going to be psyched out by the champion. They locked up and Roode worked over his arm and drove him to the mat. Aries reversed it and they went through a series of counters. Good stuff early.
They faced off. Aries used a waistlock to take him down to the mat. Aries mocked Roode, who charged him and was slammed into the buckles. Aries came off the ropes with a splash for a two count. Roode came back to grab him with a head scissors. Aries used a handstand to escape and dropkick Roode.
Roode went to the floor. Aries came to the outside with a double sledgehammer. The crowd chanted "Next world champ." Aries missed a missile dropkick. Roode began working him over with kicks and choked him against the bottom rope with his boot. Aries was choked with a boot in the corner.
Roode worked over Aries, who came back with an inverted atomic drop and a dropkick. He went for the Last Chancery but Roode backed up into the ropes to break it. Aries maneuvered him into the corner and nailed several elbows. Aries was backdropped to the floor. Roode went after him but Aries got out of the way. Aries went for his big suicide dive but Roode stepped out of the way and Aries nailed the guard rail.
Roode tackled Aries for a two count, then stomped him hard in the sternum. Roode measured and drilled Aries. Roode covered him for several two counts. Aries started to mount a comeback but was drilled in the mid-section by Roode's knee. Roode tackled him into the turnbuckles then whipped him hard into the opposite corner.
Roode nailed a Fireman's Carry Driver. Roode locked on a waistlock on the mat, trying to force the air out of him. Aries fought back to his feet but was taken down again. Aries finally fought Roode off and nailed Roode with the suicide dive to the floor.
Back in the ring, Aries drilled him with a missile dropkick. Aries charged for a dropkick but was caught with a slam for a two count. Roode charged him but taken down and turned into the Last Chancery. Roode was able to turn it over and locked him in a crossface. Aries turned it back into the Last Chancery but Roode raked his face in the eyes.
Aries fought off Roode and went for the 450 splash off the top. Roode rolled out of the way so Aries rolled through. He charged but was nailed with a spinebuster. Aries kicked out but was sent into the ringpost shoulder-first. Roode locked Aries in the crossface. Aries tried to make it to the ropes but Roode rolled him over and back towards the center of the ring, making Aries begin the journey anew to the ropes. Aries finally made it to the ropes to break the move.
Roode grabbed the TNA title and set up to nail Aries with it. The referee saw it and took the belt from him. When Hebner turned to remove the belt from the ring, Roode lowblowed Aries and covered him but Aries kicked out at two.
Roode argued with the referee and shoved him. The ref shoved him back, and Roode shocked, was caught with a running dropkick. Aries went for the brainbuster but Roode slipped out and shoved Aries into the referee, knocking the ref down.
Roode grabbed the TNA title and drilled Aries in the face with it. He covered Aries, who kicked out at the last second. Roode went for the Perfectplex but Aries turned it into a small package for a two count. He punted Roode in the head and nailed the brainbuster for the pin.
Your winner and new TNA champion, Austin Aries!
As perfect a match as you could want to establish a new top name. Really, really strong match with some great near falls towards the end.
The Impact Zone went nuts chanting for Aries. The show went off the air with confetti raining down and Aries holding the belt on his shoulder as the building chanted for him.
2012 - WWE developmental FCW broadcast their weekly TV series. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Tampa, Florida and your announcers are Chris ‘TWO’ Russo and Byron ‘Will they miss this next week’ Saxton.
Byron and Chris mention that we will have two title matches. Seth Rollins will defend the FCW Heavyweight Title in a Fatal Four Way Match. Richie Steamboat will defend the Jack Brisco 15 Title against Antonio Cesaro.
Match Number One: Antonio Cesaro versus Richie Steamboat in an FCW 15 Jack Brisco Title Match
Cesaro with a punch and forearm to Steamboat but Steamboat with an Irish whip and monkey flip followed by a chop. Cesaro with a forearm but Steamboat with a kick and punch. Steamboat with a chop but Cesaro puts Steamboat into the corner. Steamboat with chops but Cesaro with forearms. Steamboat uses the ropes for leverage on an arm drag.
Steamboat gets the first near fall and he returns to the arm with an arm bar. Steamboat with a top wrist lock but Cesaro puts Steamboat into the corner and connects with a knee followed by a shot to the head. Steamboat kicks Cesaro but Antonio continues the attack with a kick and forearm. Steamboat with an arm drag into an arm bar. Steamboat slams Cesaro’s arm into the mat and backs him into the corner.
Antonio with kicks and a knee. Cesaro with a side head lock and take down. Steamboat with a reversal and side head lock take down of his own. Cesaro with a head scissors but Steamboat escapes and connects with an arm drag into an arm bar. Steamboat continues to work on the left arm.
Steamboat with a chop but Cesaro with a forearm and side head lock. Cesaro with a shoulder tackle but Steamboat bridges out of a cover. Cesaro hits Swiss Death and Steamboat’s momentum sends him to the floor to avoid a pinfall attempt. Cesaro goes to the floor and brings him back into the ring but Steamboat is able to kick out.
Steamboat rolls to the floor again and we are almost one-third of the way through the match. Cesaro rolls Steamboat back into the ring and returns as well. Cesaro tries for the Gotch Style Neutralizer but Steamboat with a back body drop to the apron. Cesaro returns to the ring but Steamboat with a clothesline that sends him over the top rope to the floor. Steamboat with a cross body from the top to the floor and both men are down as we go to commercial.
We are back and Cesaro with a cravate. Cesaro with a punch and we have less than seven minutes to go. Cesaro drops Steamboat across the top rope and then connects with a boot to the head. Steamboat was under the ropes so the referee did not make a count. Cesaro pulls him into the ring and gets a near fall. Cesaro wit a reverse chin lock while isolating the arms.
Steamboat counters a belly-to-back suplex attempt with a lateral press for a near fall. Steamboat gets another near fall with a back slide. Cesaro with a European uppercut for a near fall. Cesaro runs Steamboat into the corner and he punches him as we move under five minutes remaining in the match.
Cesaro with a suplex and a float over for a near fall. Cesaro with a cravate into a sleeper and then he uses Steamboat’s arm on a chin lock to restrict his breathing. Steamboat with punches and a chop but Cesaro with an Irish whip and it appeared that Steamboat was trying to float over but he hits the turnbuckles instead.
Steamboat with a cross body from the turnbuckles but Cesaro rolls through and gets a near fall. Cesaro tries to throw Steamboat over the top rope but he skins the cat. Steamboat tries for a head scissors but Cesaro with a near fall.
Steamboath with chops and forearms while Cesaro responds with a European uppercut. Steamboat with a wrap around clothesline but he can only get a near fall. Steamboat goes up top again and he hits a missile drop kick but can only get a two count. Steamboat shows some frustration as we approach two minutes remaining.
Steamboat with a satellite DDT and he gets a near fall. Cesaro rolls to the floor and Steamboat goes after him. Steamboat returns him to the ring but Cesaro tries to roll out of the other side of the ring. Cesaro drops Steamboat on the top rope. Steamboat with a victory roll for a near fall. Steamboat tries for a super kick but Cesaro ducks out of the way and he sends Steamboat over the top rope to the floor.
Cesaro with three rolling dead lift side saltos and he gets a near fall with less than ten seconds remaining. Cesaro hits the Gotch Style Neutralizer but time runs out when he covers Steamboat.
Time Limit Draw
Sudden Death Overtime
Cesaro sets for another Gotch Style Neutralizer and Steamboat escapes and hits a super kick for the three count.
Winner: Richie Steamboat
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Benicio Salazar versus Bray Wyatt
Bray with palm thrusts and punches in the corner. Bray with a round house punch and Salazar goes down in the corner. Wyatt with a suplex throw and then Wyatt lies on the mat and poses for one of them boudoir photos. Wyatt with a splash into the corner and then it is time to dance. Wyatt hits the swinging fallaway DDT for the three count.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
Raquel Diaz is in the interview area and she says that she is a star already. She says that being a star in WWE means that you are not bullied. Raquel says that she was bullied because of the way she dressed. Raquel says that it hurt but look where she is now. She is the FCW Divas champion and the most innovating woman that the WWE will see. She tells people not to hate her.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Aiden English versus Colin Cassady
They lock up and Cassady with a shoulder tackle after sending English into the ropes. English with a side head lock but Cassady gets English into a full nelson but English avoids a full nelson slam. He avoids a second one. Cassady with a kick and forearm to the back. English with a kick but Cassady with a forearm to the back and then he chokes English in the ropes.
English tries for a cross body but Cassady catches him and hits a fallaway slam. Cassady with a bear hug and he runs English into the turnbuckles. Cassady with forearms across the chest. English with punches but Cassady with a boot to the chest. Cassady with a full nelson slam for the three count.
Winner: Colin Cassady
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Seth Rollins versus Bo Dallas versus Leo Kruger versus Kassius Ohno for the FCW Heavyweight Championship
All four men jockey for position and Kruger with a quick rollup on Rollins for a near fall. Rollins punches Kruger and he goes to the floor. Rollins avoids a boot from Ohno and then Ohno gets a rollup on Dallas for a near fall but Rollins breaks it up. Kruger wants to slow things down and the other three men surround him. Ohno, Dallas, and Rollins attack Kruger.
Rollins chops Ohno wile Kruger is sent to the floor by Dallas. Rollins with a drop kick to Dallas. Ohno goes to the apron and he connects with a shoulder to a charging Rollins. Kruger pulls Ohno off the apron and then Irish whips him into the ring steps. Rollins with a baseball slide to Kruger.
Dallas with a running back elbow followed by a punch to the midsection and an elbow to the head. Dallas with a clothesline into the corner followed by a bulldog. Dallas is pulled down and into the ring post by Kruger in a very private place. The referee wants the medical trainer to check on Dallas while Kruger works over Rollins.
Kruger kicks Rollins and more officials check on Dallas while Rollins gasps for breath on the apron.
We go to commercial while the officials help Bo to the back.
We are back and with Dallas getting medical attention and Ohno on the floor, it is basically a singles match with Kruger working over Rollins with a rear chin lock. Kruger with a back elbow and Rollins goes to the floor. Ohno with a full nelson and he tries for a snap mare driver but Kruger escapes.
Kruger tries for an O’Connor Roll but Ohno holds on to the ropes. Ohno tries for a drop kick but Kruger swats it away. Kruger with a suplex and he poses over Ohno. Kruger with a fist drop while Dallas show testicular fortitude by getting back to the ring.
Kruger punches Dallas and Irish whips him. Dallas with a clothesline and back elbow followed by another clothesline. Dallas knocks Rollins off the apron but Ohno with a chop. Dallas with a power slam to Ohno followed by a clothesline to Kruger in the corner. Bo with a bulldog to Kruger while connecting with a clothesline on Ohno.
Rollins with a springboard clothesline to Dallas. Rollins with an Irish whip to Ohno and then he hits a running forearm to Kruger in the corner. Rollins avoids a boot from Ohno and Rollins sends Ohno to the apron and Rollins punches Ohno. Dallas tries to spear Kruger but he moves out of the way so Dallas takes Rollins down with a spear but Ohno breaks up the cover.
Ohno with knees to Dallas while in the cravate and then he hits a leaping flip neck breaker. Ohno readies for the running elbow into the corner on Dallas but he moves out of the way and Ohno hits Rollins instead. Rollins with a super kick but Ohno hits the roaring elbow on Rollins. Kruger with a rollup on Ohno for a near fall that is broken up by Dallas.
Ohno with a roaring elbow to Dallas and Kruger with a back slide for a near fall. Ohno runs into a boot and then he hits a roaring elbow on Kruger. Ohno gets a near fall on Kruger but Rollins makes the save. Ohno tries for the roaring elbow again but Rollins with an enzuigiri. Rollins sets for the running forearm into the corner and he hits it on Ohno. He hits a second one and then he sends Ohno over the top rope. Rollins sets for a dive to the floor but he sees Dallas trying for a spear so he side steps Dallas and then he sends Dallas through the ropes onto Ohno on the floor.
Rollins goes up top but Kruger stops him and gets Rollins on his shoulders. A series of standing switches and Rollins tries for Avada Kedavra but Kruger moves and tries for a rollup but Rollins rolls through and hits the Black Out for the three count.
Winner: Seth Rollins
We go to credits.
2012 - Former WWE Diva Serena Deeb was arrested and cited for what is described as BUI in the arrest report. BUI appears to stand for "Boating under the influence."
Deeb was arrested by the Pasco County Sherriff's Office at 100 North Albany Ave (not on the water) at 11:13 PM and was released despite refusing to sign her citation.
BUI, under Florida law, is described as the following:
*When the person who operated a boat within the State of Florida is under the influence of alcoholic beverages or a chemical substance when affected to the extent that the person's normal faculties are impaired; or
*When the person has a blood-alcohol level (BAL) of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or
*When the person has a breath-alcohol level of 0.08 or more grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.
Deeb responded to the arrest, writing on her Twitter, "Ok...can anyone REALLY picture me driving a boat? Get real AND...next time the highlight of your day involves judging others who you know nothing about, maybe you should look yourself in the mirror."
Despite her apparent denial of the incident, her mug shot was available online.
Deeb was released from WWE in August 2010 after a storyline where she, as a fan, had her head shaved to show loyalty for the Straightedge Society. While there were plans to book her into a Straightedge wedding with Punk, issues with her behavior instead led to her release. Deeb continued to work independents until suffering a major concussion and at the time, had been working as a yoga instructor in Florida. She did eventually return to the ring.
2013 - WWE broadcasts Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Tonight is a night that many in WWE will be talking about long after the lights go down on this episode of Raw. For the first time since the last time there was a Job Performance Evaluation, Vickie Guerrero goes under the gun as Vince McMahon, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon let Vickie know of her fate as the person who is in charge of Raw to the extent that she does not do anything that a McMahon disagrees with. Speaking of three people who put fear in the hearts of all in the WWE, the Wyatt Family is supposed to debut tonight. When is their job performance evaluation?
We begin with an extended cut of the Wyatt Family video.
We are in Baltimore, Maryland and your announcers are Michael ‘In the building where the guy writing this report attended his first wrestling show’ Cole, Jerry ‘Where getting crabs is not always a bad thing’ Lawler and John ‘We smell spices on Monday Night’ Layfield.
A ladder is in the ring and so are Brad Maddox and Vickie Guerrero.
Vickie welcomes everyone to Raw. She says that she has been diligently working on the pay per view. The ladder is a symbol of spectacle. Great names have been associated with this ladder. Names like Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon, and the one and only Triple H. This ladder means something special to her. It represents how she has climbed year after year in her career. If she falls, she is holding everyone responsible.
Vickie climbs the ladder and sits on top.
There is no book showing how a woman can dominate a company like General Electric, IBM, or WWE. No one held her hand and told her how to run a show or how to run a roster of WWE Superstars. She says that she has done everything on her own. She has brought the greatest matches and the best entertainment.
She might not have seen eye to eye with the WWE Universe. Every decision was made for the fans.
Jerry Lawler gets on a house mic and he lets out an Excuse Me. He says that he received word that in preparation for the job evaluation, they will consider any and all factors. That includes the opinions of the WWE Universe.
Vickie thanks Jerry for that information. Vickie says that she considers the WWE Universe just like her family. They have had good days and bad days. At the end of each day, every family has each other’s back.
Vickie announces that tonight John Cena will stand face to face with Mark Henry. There are matches with the participants in the WWE Title Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Christian will face Kane. Randy Orton will face CM Punk and Daniel Bryan will face Sheamus.
Match Number One: Daniel Bryan versus Sheamus in a We will give you singles matches because Teddy Long has an exclusive deal on multi-man matches Match
They lock up and Sheamus backs Bryan into the corner and he gives a clean break. They lock up again and Sheamus with a side head lock and take down. Sheamus with a shoulder tackle. They lock up and Bryan works on the arm and wrist and he takes Sheamus down to a knee. Bryan with a hammer lock and Sheamus with an elbow.
Bryan with a clothesline and he gets a near fall. Bryan with kicks to the leg but Sheamus with forearms. Sheamus with a knee drop and he rubs his knee across the head. Sheamus pulls Bryan to the mat and he applies a wrist lock. Bryan with a knee to the midsection followed by kicks against the ropes.
Sheamus with a rake of the eyes while Bryan tries to work on the arm. Sheamus gets a near fall. Bryan is caught by Sheamus and Sheamus with a back breaker. Bryan sends Sheamus to the floor and he goes for a knee but Sheamus catches him and they collide with the ringside barrier and both men are down as we go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus with a quarter nelson and chin lock. Bryan with European uppercuts and kicks in the corner. Bryan flips over Sheamus in the corner and Sheamus counters the flying clothesline with a uranage back breaker and he gets a near fall.
Bryan with a kick and Sheamus with a double sledge followed by a shoulder in the corner, a knee lift and a flying back elbow for a near fall. Sheamus sends Bryan into the turnbuckles again and he Irish whips him but Bryan gets his knees up. Sheamus with a Finlay slam and then he signals for the Brogue Kick but Bryan moves and Sheamus crotches himself and goes to the floor.
Bryan with a suicide dive on Sheamus and both men are down. Bryan sends Sheamus back in and he goes up top for a missile drop kick and he connects. Bryan gets a near fall. Bryan with kicks of Yes to the chest but he misses the round kick when Sheamus rolls out of the way and to the apron. Sheamus with forearms across the chest but Sheamus is on the apron this time. Sheamus with a clothesline from the apron.
Sheamus goes up top for the flying shoulder tackle but Bryan crotches Sheamus on top. Bryan punches Sheamus and he goes for a super rana but Sheamus holds on to the ropes and Sheamus with a flying shoulder tackle for a near fall. Sheamus gets Bryan up for White Noise but Bryan tries to fight out of it. Sheamus backs Bryan into the turnbuckles. Bryan with a drop toe hold to Sheamus that sends him into the turnbuckles and Bryan with a kick.
Bryan with a round kick for a near fall. Bryan goes up top again and this time for the diving head butt, but Sheamus moves and Sheamus gets a near fall. Sheamus punches Bryan but Bryan with kicks. Sheamus misses a short arm clothesline and Bryan with more kicks. Bryan with a crucifix for a near fall and then he tries for the No Lock but Sheamus counters with a Cloverleaf.
Bryan counters and wins with the small package.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
After the match, Sheamus and Bryan stand face to face in the ring and they look at the briefcase before shaking hands.
Michael Cole says that WWE sent a reporter to look for the Wyatts and we go on that journey. He is told that it is a few miles away and you will know.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look back at AJ costing Kaitlyn her match against Alicia Fox on Smackdown.
AJ Lee is with Big E Langston and he tells him to make sure that he listens for Kaitlyn. Langston reminds AJ that she beat her once and she will beat her again.
AJ hugs Dolph Ziggler who shows up and they want a moment together without Big E.
Dolph talks about why AJ was not there last week for him. He reminds her about their pact to both be champions.
AJ says that she will do anything to make sure that they both leave Money in the Bank as champions and she wants to make sure that Dolph will do anything for her. She asks Dolph if he wants to go all the way. Dolph says that he wants to go all the way to his third WWE Championship.
We see the Mark Henry video package . . . one more time.
Match Number Two: Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns versus Tensai and Brodus Clay (with Cameron and Naomi)
Clay and Rollins start and Seth with kicks and punches. Clay with chops to Rollins and then he presses Rollins over his head and he drops him to the mat. Tensai tags in and they connect with double chops. Tensai with a delayed butterfly suplex. Tensai gets a near fall. Clay tags back in and he punches Rollins. Brodus with a Sheeeplex and then he sets for the splash in the corner and he connects. Clay misses a cross body and Reigns tags in.
Reigns with a clothesline and he gets a near fall. Reigns with a front face lock and Rollins tags in and kicks Clay. Rollins with a forearm across the chest and a boot to the head. Rollins gets a near fall. Reigns tags back in and he punches Clay in the corner. Reigns with a knee to the chest followed by a snap mare and reverse chin lock. Clay with punches to Reigns but Roman with a back elbow and he tags Rollins back in. Rollins kicks Clay and punches him.
Rollins with a kick and he tags Roman back in. Rollins with a forearm and Reigns with a back elbow in the corner. Reigns gets a near fall. Reigns with a reverse chin lock. Reigns with head butts and forearms to Clay to send him back to the mat. Reigns tries to get Clay on his shoulders and he does but Clay counters with a rollup for a near fall.
Reigns with a side head lock and Clay with a belly-to-belly slam and both men are down but Clay rolls to the wrong corner. Rollins and Tensai tag in and Tensai with punches and an uppercut. Tensai misses a splash into the corner but he connects with a shoulder tackle. Tensai takes care of Reigns and then he hits a cannonball but he runs into boots from Rollins.
Rollins with a flatline into the turnbuckles and then he drop kicks Clay off the apron. Rollins goes up top but Tensai side steps him and Tensai hits the Baldo Bomb but Rollins kicks out. Rollins with a kick and enzuigiri but Tensai stays on his feet. Reigns makes the blind tag and Rollins with a plancha onto Clay while Reigns hits the spear for the three count.
Winners: Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins
We go to commercial.
We are back and the search for the Wyatts continues and it appears to have rained during the trip. They arrive at a house and there is a fire in the back and Erick Rowan and his goat mask is chopping something. Luke Harper tells him to follow him.
John Cena makes his way to the ring.
John walks around the ring surveying their reactions and he says that they have a riled up crowd tonight. He says that he would have thought the pay per view was tonight. Earlier today, the World’s Strongest Man told him to get to the ring so he could talk to him. John says that he is here, so where is the World’s Strongest Man.
Mark Henry’s music and he does what he do and he walks to the ring.
Mark says that John has the same look on his face as he did last week and that is the look of fear.
John says that he is not afraid of Mark.
Mark tells John that he should be. For 17 years, he has starved and the only thing that could satisfy his hunger . . . and John yells at Mark for bringing him down here about a Snicker’s Bar.
Mark says that the old Mark Henry would have either laughed or caused John bodily harm. This Mark Henry is going to chill. He says that John thinks he knows who the World’s Strongest Man. He is a new man. He has known John for more than 10 years. He knew who John was before John knew who he was. He says that John is like the people. He is a puppet. That title will validate his career.
If he takes that title from John, without a shadow of doubt, he will be a first ballot Hall of Famer. He would sell out his own mama for that. He sold out his family.
John tells Mark that he better win on Sunday. John says that he has won the title and he has lost it, but he did it with respect. He sees the eyes of a desperate man who has lied to his family and the fans over leather and gold. Mark better win the title because if he does not, he has lost the respect of everyone and it is 17 years gone.
Mark asks John if he cares what him or the fans think? He doesn’t. Some of the people love John and some hate him. Either way, John cares. Mark says that he doesn’t. There are lines that John won’t cross because of his ‘goodness’.
John wants to know how Mark could not care about this.
Mark tells John if he interrupts him again, Money in the Bank starts tonight.
John says that if you want to cross lines and start Money in the Bank early, he draws a line on the canvas and tells Mark to cross it so he can kick his ass right now.
Mark asks John if he wants him to cross the line for free? It is Money in the Bank. Mark says that he took a 50% pay cut already. John will get Mark on Sunday. Mark says he will give John a sample tonight. Mark teases taking a step and John flinches. Mark appears to go out of the ring but he hits Cena with a shoulder tackle. John tries to get Cena up for an Attitude Adjustment but Cena collapses under Henry’s weight.
Mark picks up John and walks around the ring before hitting a World’s Strongest Slam. Mark holds the title belt over his head while he has his foot on Cena’s chest. Mark puts the title belt on Cena and he says something to John before leaving the ring.
Josh Mathews asks Randy Orton about his match against CM Punk tonight. Randy says that Punk has always called himself the Best in the World. Randy says that he never believed that when he beat him two years ago at Wrestlemania or tonight. He will not believe that when he wins on Sunday. If John Cena retains and finds himself in a vulnerable state, he will not hesitate to cash in the contract and take the title from Cena.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Miz is at the announce table.
Paul Heyman introduces himself and he says that if you did not see Smackdown, he is not here to market himself as a martyr once again for CM Punk. Paul reveals a black eye. He says that he is here to bask in the glory of perfection. Perfection in the form of your Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel.
Curtis says that Chris calls himself the best in the world at what he does and Chris wears a jacket with Christmas lights on it so people can see him. Curtis says that all he needs is the shine of the Intercontinental Championship to show that he is here. He will not let Miz or Chris Jericho stand in the way of perfection.
Match Number Three: Chris Jericho versus Curtis Axel (with Paul Heyman) in a Non Title Match
Jericho with chops to Axel but Axel with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Axel with a hurdle leap frog but he runs into a drop kick. Jericho clotheslines Axel over the top rope to the floor. Jericho with a baseball slide and he goes after Axel on the floor. Jericho sends Axel into the ringside barrier and he chops Axel. Jericho sends Axel back into the ring but Axel with shoulders and he punches Jericho.
Jericho with chops on the apron but Axel with a boot when Jericho returns to the ring and then he has Jericho on the middle rope and he hits a neck breaker and gets a near fall as we go to commercial.
We are back and Axel with a quarter nelson and chin lock. We see footage of Axel hitting a drop kick when Jericho came off the turnbuckles. Axel with a slam and then he goes to the turnbuckles but he misses a fist drop. Jericho with a shoulder tackle or two but Axel tries to send Jericho over the top rope to the floor but Jericho lands on the apron and he goes up top for a chop. Jericho with a bulldog.
Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho but Axel kicks him away. Jericho gets his boot up when Axel goes into the corner. Jericho with a waist lock and Jericho with a Northern Lights suplex and bridge for a near fall. Jericho with a chop and Axel with a Northern Lariat for a near fall. Axel with chops in the corner followed by an Irish whip but he misses a splash into the corner. Jericho goes up top for a cross body but Jericho can only get a near fall.
Jericho with a bulldog and he goes for the Lionsault and he lands on Axel’s knees. Axel with the snap swinging neck breaker but he can only get a two count. Jericho holds on to the ropes on a drop kick attempt by Axel and Jericho hits the Lionsault and gets a near fall. Jericho goes for the Codebreaker but Axel counters and sends Jericho into the ropes and he hits the Son of Perfectplex but it is not perfect and Jericho kicks out at two.
Axel with forearms and then he tries for a neck breaker but Jericho is able to counter and he tries for the Walls of Jericho and he turns Axel over. Axel gets to the ropes. Jericho with a running shoulder tackle that sends Axel off the apron and into the announce table.
Axel sees Miz smiling at the announce table and Axel asks if that is funny. Miz takes off his jacket and tie and they go back and forth but Heyman tells Axel he is going to get counted out. Jericho this the Codebreaker and he gets the three count.
Winner: Chris Jericho
We are back and it is time to look at the participants in the other Money in the Bank match.
Josh Mathews is in the interview area with Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes. Josh asks if they are concerned about their friendship being in the ladder match. Damien says that if he does not win the match, he wants his best friend to win it. He says that he expects that Cody feels the same way.
Zeb Colter interrupts with Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro. He says that our money will be worthless if things continue. He says that Cody should know about this.
Wade Barrett interrupts and says that he will win.
Zeb wonders what language he is speaking.
Fandango dances into the interview area and Zeb tells him not to say his name. Wade punches Fandango before he can say who he is and everyone else laughs.
We have a four man stare down? Anyone smell a tag match tonight or do we wait for Friday?
It is time for part three of Welcome to the Wyatts. We enter the house and he goes into a room but Luke tells him not to stray. We hear a recording that says ‘OBEY’.
We see Bray and he says that he has been waiting for him.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Sin Cara versus Alberto Del Rio
The lights go down and they lock up. Del Rio with kicks and punches. Del Rio with a savate kick to Cara and then he tries to hip toss Cara to the floor but Cara bounces off the ropes and hits an arm drag. Cara with another arm drag to Del Rio. Del Rio with shoulders in the corner. Del Rio misses a charge into the corner and Cara with a head scissors. Cara with a kick and a near fall.
Cara goes up top and Del Rio with an enzuigiri but he can only get a two count. Del Rio with knees to the back of the head and then he goes after the mask. Del Rio with a front face lock but Cara with punches. Del Rio with a knee. Cara with a handspring back elbow and Del Rio goes down. Del Rio with the step up enzuigiri and he gets a near fall.
Dolph’s music plays and Del Rio forgets that he is in a match and Cara gets a near fall with a rollup. Dolph apologizes to Del Rio for what he did to Ricardo. He is going to introduce Del Rio the way that he should. Del Rio watches while Cara hits an enzuigiri and a slingshot senton for a near fall. Del Rio with a German suplex while Dolph tells Del Rio he has no chance to retain his title.
Del Rio with a super kick to Cara and then Del Rio goes after Ziggler on the floor. Del Rio and Ziggler exchange punches. Del Rio with a boot to the head. Cara hits a cross body from the turnbuckles onto Del Rio.
Apparently this match is thrown out
Brad Maddox and Vickie Guerrero walk in the back as they go to the ring for their Managing Supervisor GutCheck.
We are back and we take a look at what happened between Mark Henry and John Cena earlier tonight.
Vickie Guerrero is in the ring with Brad Maddox and the Shark Tank/American Idol/America’s Got Talent/GutCheck/MasterChef panel table is in front of her. Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, and Triple H make their way to the ring.
Stephanie says that they are here to evaluate Vickie’s job. Stephanie thanks the WWE Universe for voting because that will be considered in the final result.
Vickie says that she has always loved . . .
Stephanie tells Vickie to sit down.
Vickie says that she has always loved the McMahon family. She has a special love for everyone. She says that she has strived to have the best possible shows. She reminds them of how she has taken over from AJ and we saw the return of Rob Van Dam and the Rock.
Vickie says that some say that she was responsible for the Undertaker to return to Wrestlemania.
Stephanie says that it is incredible that she is taking credit for the Undertaker, but not for bringing back the man who took care of her husband and father.
Stephanie says that you have to take tough decisions as well as take responsibility for her actions. She asks Vickie if it was a good idea to bring back Brock.
Vickie says that it was a good decision for business. She did not know that Brock would attack Hunter or Vince. She apologizes for that.
Vince says that Vickie does not have to apologize. He says that bringing Brock back was a stroke of genius. He says that he believes that Vickie is highly entertaining, just like everyone else feels she is. She has made some bonehead decisions, but who hasn’t. She thought it was to give us quality, wholesome entertainment.
Hunter wants to interject and he says that he will be the first to admit that Vickie can occasionally be unintentionally entertaining. She is terrible at her job. Hunter says that Vickie was supposed to promote the new WWE Video Game and she screwed it up. The crowd was booing her out of the building so no one could hear what she was saying. This is bad for business. Vince might think it is entertaining. He says that we need to move away from what Vince thinks it entertaining because the Golden Girls are not on television any more. The WWE Universe wants better than Vickie Guerrero.
Vickie does possess the most annoying voice in the history of broadcast television.
Vince jumps in and says that Vickie has a unique voice. He says that Vickie has qualifications that nobody else does. He congratulates Vickie on her passion and how she has broken through the glass ceiling, unlike some other short sighted individuals in the ring. He thinks that Vickie should be named permanent General Manager.
Hunter says that he wants to give the short sided opinion and he says that at the end of the day, he is the COO and Vince is the Chairman so he will do whatever he wants regardless of what people want. Hunter says that Vince wants a spineless puppet who strokes his ego and kisses his ass, doing whatever Vince wants her to do.
Hunter proposes that since Stephanie called this meeting, we should let her decide Vickie’s fate.
Vince says that he has no problem with Daddy’s Little Girl to make the right decision, the right entertaining decision.
Hunter says that he doesn’t have a problem with his wife, the mother of his children, and the woman who will have to go home with him and put up with him to make the right decision for business.
Vince says that it would be a business for entertainment.
Stephanie says that since it has escalated more than anyone has imagined, she will not let anyone or anything put a wedge between her family. She is leaving it up to the WWE App’s result.
The WWE Universe voted 75% to 25% that she failed.
Stephanie says that the Universe has spoken and she has failed.
Vickie says that you cannot let the people make the decisions for the business. She will not let some popularity contest affect her job. She says that this is not right.
Stephanie has two words for Vickie. She tells Vickie ‘You’re Fired’
Vickie gets on the table and she wants to know who they are. She says that she has given them so many years.
Vince says that the people have broken Vickie Guerrero’s heart and he wants to know if they are proud of what they did. Vince says that Vickie didn’t fail. Everyone in the arena just failed. They have thrown away the most entertaining General Manager Raw could have had. Vince says that he will make the right decision. There will be a new General Manager of Raw and he says that the people deserve this. Brad Maddox is the new General Manager.
While Vickie is escorted from the ring, Brad is in shock at what he just heard.
We are back and Vickie is still crying over losing her job. Vince tells her that he will make it right for her.
Brad tells Vickie that he is so sorry and he tells Vince that it is a decision that he will not regret. Brad says that we will miss Vickie, but he is proud to be the General Manager of Raw.
Vince says that he gave the fans what they deserved.
Brad says that what Mr. McMahon wants, Mr. McMahon gets.
Apparently what Vickie wants is to beat the crap out of Brad Maddox and she attacks him, reflecting the behavior of the woman she replaced as GM. Vince takes his jacket.
Match Number Five: Kane versus Christian
They lock up and Kane backs Christian into the corner and he gives a clean break. Christian with a waist lock but Kane backs Christian into the corner and he misses a punch. Christian with punches but Kane pushes him off the turnbuckles. Kane with a hard Irish whip and then he connects with an uppercut. Kane misses an elbow drop.
Kane grabs Christian by the throat and Kane sends him into the corner and Kane with a clothesline. Kane goes for a power slam but Christian escapes and he drops Kane on the top rope and then drops him on the ropes again. Christian with a back elbow from the turnbuckles for a near fall.
Kane punches Christian and connects with a forearm followed by a kick to the head. Christian with a drop toe hold and then he stands on Kane’s back and chokes him in the ropes. Christian slingshots to the floor and he connects with an uppercut. Kane presses Christian over his head but Christian escapes and then Kane goes over the top rope to the floor.
Christian with a cross body from the turnbuckles to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Christian with a tornado DDT and he gets a near fall. Christian runs into a boot from Kane. Kane goes up top but misses the clothesline. Christian goes for a spear but Kane grabs Christian by the throat and hits the choke slam for the three count.
Winner: Kane
After the match, Bray Wyatt appears on the TitanTron. He does not have followers, he has brothers and sisters in his cause. People are sheep. They need leaders. They worship and crave war. He created war. It is time for the masses to wake up and look at the world we are living in. He sees it in his dreams and in his thoughts. It is not the beginning. It is the end.
Bray lights a lantern and he says ‘We’re here’.
Bray, Erick Rowan, and Luke Harper walk into the arena.
Luke and Erick surround Kane in the ring and they attack him. Kane tries to fight back but Rowan with a forearm and Harper grabs Kane and they grab him while Bray watches on the ramp from his rocking chair. Luke and Erick send Kane into the ring steps and they continue the attack. They pick up the steps and hit Kane with it.
Bray makes his way to ringside and he surveys the damage that Harper and Rowan have done.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a somber Michael Cole as we see the debut of the Wyatt Family.
Vickie Guerrero has her box o’ stuff as she leaves the building. She walks at .4 Ortons. She looks up and Ryback is standing there. He takes the box and then he hugs Vickie. He tells Vickie that she deserves better and it will be okay. She gives Vickie back her box and leaves.
Nikki and Brie Bellas join the announce team for the next match.
Match Number Six: AJ Lee (with Big E Langston) and Alicia Fox versus Kaitlyn and Layla El
Kaitlyn wants to go after AJ but she gets out of the ring and Layla tries to hold her back.
Alicia starts things off with Layla and Layla with a kick. Layla with an arm drag into a cover. Layla with kicks and forearms. Alicia tries for a sunset flip but Layla rolls through and hits a drop kick. Layla with a cross body for a near fall. Alicia with a clothesline and AJ wants to tag in and Alicia obliges.
AJ is attacked from behind by Kaitlyn and Alicia and Layla try to regain control. Kailtyn spears AJ on the floor and then she punches AJ while the referee has given up on trying to control things.
I’m Guessing No Contest
After the match, Big E carries AJ to the back.
CM Punk is getting ready for his match and Josh Mathews asks him about the ladder match on Sunday and his match tonight against Randy Orton. Punk says Randy doesn’t lack confidence and he is entitled to his opinion. Randy cannot make things up. Is he the best in the world because he held the title for 434 days or did he hold the title for 434 days because he is the best in the world? Beating Randy Orton tonight makes him the best in the world. Winning for the third time at Money in the Bank makes him the best in the world.
Match Number Seven: CM Punk versus Randy Orton in a Last WWE Title Money in the Bank Ladder Match matchup before the PPV Match
They lock up and go around the ring. Punk with a face wash to Orton as he breaks. They push each other and Punk with a side head lock and shoulder tackle for a near fall. Punk with another near fall.
They lock up again and Orton with a side head lock. Orton with a shoulder tackle. Punk with a kick but Orton with a drop kick for a near fall. Orton with the Garvin Stomp to Punk. Orton sets for the leaping knee drop but Punk moves out of the way and Punk waves ‘nay nay’. Punk with punches and he hits a suplex and gets a near fall.
Orton with a forearm and European uppercut. Orton tries for the IEDDT but Punk gets into the ring and he sends Orton to the apron. Punk with a drop kick and Orton falls to the floor. Punk with a suicide dive and both men are down as we go to commercial.
We are back and Orton with a reverse chin lock. We see Orton with a belly-to-back suplex onto the ringside barrier during the commercial break. Punk with elbows but Orton with head butts and an T-Bone suplex for a near fall. Orton returns to the reverse chin lock.
Punk with knees and forearms followed by a leg lariat. Orton with two clotheslines and then he avoids a clothesline from Punk and Punk knows that the power slam is coming and Punk holds on to the ropes and gets a near fall with a La Magistral. Punk with a swinging neck breaker for a near fall.
Punk with a knee into the corner and he hits the short arm clothesline. Punk goes up top for the elbow drop and he connects. Punk signals that it is time for someone to go to sleep and he gets Orton on his shoulders but Orton escapes and he sends Punk to the apron and hits the IEDDT.
Orton looks around for the spot to twist on the mat and he does it. Orton pounds the mat but Punk counters and tries for a back slide but Orton counters with a power slam for a near fall. Orton with boots to the shoulder and then he picks up Punk and sends him into the turnbuckles. Orton with head butts.
Orton with punches and kicks in the corner. Orton punches Punk in the corner but Punk drops Orton on the turnbuckles. Punk with a knee in the corner. Punk gets Orton on his shoulders but Orton with elbows and he tries for the RKO but Punk with a kick to the head.
Punk gets Orton up and he hits the Go To Sleep and Punk gets the three count.
Winner: CM Punk
After the match, Daniel Bryan attacks CM Punk and kicks him. Bryan sends Punk shoulder first into the ring post. Bryan gets a ladder from under the ring and brings it into the ring. Bryan hits Orton with the ladder. Bryan sets up the ladder in the center of the ring and he climbs it and unhooks the briefcase to win the match . . . if it was tonight.
We go to credits.
2014 - A very strange lawsuit was filed against WWE and Natalya Neidhart was dismissed in Florida.
Christopher Donnelly, identified as currently incarcerated in the state of Pennsylvania, filed a hand-written lawsuit on 6/27/14 seeking $250,000 under threat of "going to the media" if he didn't receive it, claiming some really off the wall claims about the WWE Diva.
Among other claims made were that Neihart was a dominatrix who had beaten him while they were at hotels all over the United States from 2005-2009, had forced him to endure extreme sexual abuse and even forced him to prostitute himself in Miami, Florida.
Donnelly claimed the $250,000 he was seeking was for damages for mental and psychological trauma, spelling psychological wrong in the filing.
The suit was dismissed, with the Judge noting that the complaint was filled with delusional language, did not prove to have any standing under Florida law and dismissed the suit.
2014 - WWE broadcast Main Event. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and your announcers are Tom ‘Senators’ Phillips and Byron ‘I miss the Roughriders’ Saxton.
Sheamus wants to know what the story is. He says any night that starts with a fight is a good night for him. He does not need the luck of the Irish. He has a lucky right boot that will make Del Rio look like a piñata. After defending his title tonight, he will move on to Battleground where he will win the Intercontinental Title and unite the titles.
Alberto Del Rio interrupts and he says that he will be the one to unify the titles. He will drag Sheamus around this arena like the dog that he is.
Sheamus says that he doesn’t understand Spanish, but he knows that they are fighting words. Sheamus says that anything goes. He can take a kendo stick and smash him in the face until he is good looking. He can ram a chair down his throat. He can do a Mexican hat dance around Del Rio.
Alberto tells Sheamus to kiss his title goodbye.
Sheamus tells Bertie to take his ass down to the ring . . . fella.
Alberto says that it will be his pleasure . . . fella.
Match Number One: Sheamus versus Alberto Del Rio for the United States Title in a Last Man Standing Match
They lock up and they exchange punches and then they go over the top rope to the floor. Sheamus sends Del Rio into the ringside barrier and the referee makes the first count of the match. Sheamus sends Del Rio into the ringside barrier again and he adds punches. Del Rio sends Sheamus into the ring post.
The referee starts his count, but Sheamus gets up. Sheamus is sent into the ringside barrier. Sheamus sends Del Rio into the announce table and he is down again. Del Rio avoids the announce table and he sends Sheamus into the announce table. Sheamus grabs the cover to the announce table and he throws it at Del Rio and Alberto is down.
Del Rio with a kick but Sheamus with a Finlay Slam on the floor and then he waits for the referee to make his count. Del Rio hits Sheamus with a kendo stick and Sheamus is down on the announce table.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the action is in the ring and the referee is counting while Del Rio goes up the turnbuckles. We see Del Rio hitting Sheamus with the kendo stick as he comes off the turnbuckles during the commercial break. Del Rio does the same thing to Sheamus and the referee counts again.
Del Rio lets go of the kendo stick and Sheamus goes after it, but Del Rio with a baseball slide and then he hits Sheamus with the kendo stick. Del Rio goes up top for a third time and Sheamus knocks the kendo stick out of Del Rio’s hands and Del Rio is down. Sheamus punches Del Rio. Sheamus with two running double sledges followed by a shoulder in the corner and a running knee lift. Sheamus runs into boots in the corner but Sheamus with a uranage back breaker.
The referee starts his count. Del Rio gets back to his feet but Sheamus has the kendo stick in his hands. Del Rio begs for mercy and Sheamus will have none of that. Sheamus hits Del Rio in the arm but he misses when Del Rio moves. Sheamus connects with another stick shot and Del Rio is down. The referee starts his count.
Sheamus gets Del Rio on his shoulders but Del Rio with elbows and then he hits a DDT and both men are down. Del Rio kicks Sheamus but Sheamus moves when Del Rio goes for a splash against the ropes. Del Rio falls victim to the ten forearms on the apron but Sheamus does twenty instead. Del Rio is pushed off the apron against the announce table and the referee starts his count.
Del Rio gets up at nine and we go to commercial.
We are back and Del Rio is down and the referee is counting. Sheamus with a belly-to-back suplex and then he goes to the floor. Sheamus gets a chair and he brings it into the ring. Del Rio hits Sheamus with the kendo stick and then Del Rio with a super kick into the chair that hits Sheamus in the head. The referee starts his count. Del Rio hits Sheamus with the kendo stick and then he wedges the chair in the turnbuckles.
Sheamus punches Del Rio but Del Rio with a knee to the midsection. Del Rio goes to the floor and he grabs another chair. Sheamus blocks a chair shot from Del Rio and Sheamus pushes the chair away. Sheamus with a power slam and then Sheamus looks around. Sheamus pounds his chest to suggest the Brogue Kick is coming but Del Rio moves and Sheamus has his foot caught in the turnbuckles.
Del Rio with a lungblower and the referee starts his count. Del Rio misses a super kick and Sheamus hits White Noise and the referee counts for both men. Sheamus rolls to the floor and Del Rio gets up while in the ring. Sheamus goes under the ring and he finds a table so the fans get what they have been chanting for all match.
Sheamus sets up the table while Del Rio struggles to get back to his feet. Del Rio with an arm breaker and a step up enzuigiri in the corner. Del Rio tells the referee to start his count. Sheamus gets up and Del Rio kicks Sheamus in the back of the leg. Del Rio tries to go for the cross arm breaker but Sheamus pushes Del Rio away. Sheamus hits the chair in the corner and Del Rio applies the cross arm breaker.
Sheamus rolls over and he summons the power of the Fella and he hits a one arm power bomb through the table. The referee starts his count and both men are down. Sheamus gets up at nine and so does Del Rio. Sheamus with a Brogue Kick and Del Rio is down again. The referee gets to ten.
Winner: Sheamus
We go back two weeks to the return of Miz and Chris Jericho on Raw.
We are told that Chris Jericho will face Bray Wyatt at Battleground.
Renee Young is with Chris Jericho in the interview area. She asks Chris about his match against Bray Wyatt at Battleground. Chris mentions his return two weeks ago and what he did to the Miz, only to be interrupted by the big, black, dark spider. Chris says that the Wyatts reminded him that the WWE is about survival. At Battleground, he will remind Bray Wyatt what Y2J can do in the ring. He will step on the spider and squash it. Tonight, he will have Bret Hart on the Highlight Reel. The WWE Network will never EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVER be the same AGAYNE.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: A look back at the main event from Raw featuring John Cena and Seth Rollins.
Match Number Two: Nikki Bella versus Naomi, Cameron, Natalya, Rosa Mendes, Eva Marie, and Summer Rae
Rosa starts off while one of the participants is not at ringside yet. Nikki with an arm bar. Rosa with a forearm and Irish whip into the corner. Rosa with a splash into the corner and Summer is tagged in. They hit a double suplex on Nikki and Summer gets a near fall. Summer with boots to Nikki while Cameron is still missing from the ring.
Eva tags in and Eva with a clothesline after Summer Irish whips Nikki. Summer tags back in and they send Nikki into the turnbuckles. It appears that the issues Summer and Eva had on Season Two of Total Divas is gone. Summer gets a near fall while Natalya and Naomi discuss where Cameron is.
Nikki slaps Summer and then she connects with a clothesline and drop toe hold. Rosa stops Nikki’s attempt at Shock Treatment on Summer. Nikki sends Rosa to the floor. Nikki with an O’Connor Roll but Eva makes the tag and Eva with a DDT for the three count.
Winners: Eva Marie, Natalya, Naomi, Rosa Mendes, Summer Rae, and Cameron
After the match, Cameron comes to the ring and she attacks Nikki and Natalya, who are checking on Nikki. Naomi chases Cameron to the back.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Highlight Reel. Chris Jericho comes to the ring with the JeriTron 7500 in the ring.
Chris points out the Jericholics in the building tonight. He says that he is excited to bring the Highlight Reel to Main Event on the WWE Network for the very first time in Ottawa. Chris says that he is more excited to introduce his guest. Everyone knows who he is talking about. He is a man who he watched as a kid. His inspiration to get into the WWE. A person he is proud to call a friend. Chris brings out the Excellence of Execution; the Best there Is . . . the Best There Was . . . and the Best There Ever Will Be. He brings out Bret Hart.
Bret makes his way to the ring.
Chris welcomes Bret to the Highlight Reel. Bret says that it is great to be back in the capital for the first time in a long time. It is a big deal to be on Main Event for the first time. With the Network, it is a great time in the WWE and great to be back in Ottawa.
Bret says that it hard to believe how many years it has been since he first met Chris in the dungeon. They were betting on Chris against Bret’s sister and she made Chris tap out.
Chris says that you wouldn’t be chanting Y2J while being stretched by Bret’s sister. He points out that Bret has been in some of the greatest matches in the WWE and then Chris asks him about his greatest rivals. Bret mentions Mr. Perfect, Owen, Steve Austin, the Undertaker, but the one that stands out the most is Shawn Michaels.
Bret is interrupted by Shawn’s music, but it is not the Heartbreak Kid. It is the Heartbreak Sandow who makes his way to the ring.
Sandow comes into the ring and he does the Shawn spin and pose.
Chris says that he is so excited that the Heartbreak Kid is here tonight, but Chris points out that Shawn has let himself go. He used to be good looking, but now he is ugly. He says that he looks like a big ugly fish . . . with a beard.
Damien laughs at Chris’ description. He congratulates Chris for getting the Highlight Reel on the Network. Damien says that Chris called Bret his idol, hero, and friend.
Damien asks Chris who was it that made him want to be a wrestler? It was him. Who is Chris’ son’s favorite wrestler? It was him. People will not be talking about Montreal. They will be talking about the Ottawa Screw Job. He will send Bret back to Ted Turner and WCW.
Bret punches Sandow and then Bret puts Sandow in the Sharpshooter.
Chris tells them to ring the bell.
Chris takes Damien’s wig and he raises Bret’s hand as we go to credits.
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