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September 15th
On this day in history in ....
1973 - WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales defeats George Steele in a steel cage match at the Boston Garden in Massachusetts.
1984 - The World Wrestling Council held their 11th Anniversario Show in Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, drawing over 29,000 fans. Here are the results from the show:
- Buzz Sawyer defeated Joe Savoldi.
- Hercules Ayala defeated Tom Lintz.
- Wahoo McDaniel, Mark & Jay Youngblood defeated The Super Medics.
- Invader 3 defeated Anibal to win the UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Title.
- Invader 1 defeated Konga The Barbarian to win the WWC Puerto Rican Heavyweight Title.
- Randy Savage defeated Pedro Morales to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title.
- PWF (All Japan) Tag Team Champions Bruiser Brody & Stan Hansen vs. Abdullah The Butcher & Carlos Colon went to a double disqualification.
1986 - Black Bart defeats Chris Adams in Los Angeles, California to win the World Class Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Title. Actually, this was a "phantom" title change, as there was no show in Los Angeles. World Class simply put the title on Bart and made up the switch, so that they could have the heel Bart drop the title to Kevin Von Erich in Texas.
1989 - Sheik Braddock & Ron Starr defeat Jeff Jarrett & Matt Bourne for the USWA Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas.
1992 - WWF holds a show in conjunction with the WAR promotion in Japan. In the main event, Ric Flair vs. Genichiro Tenryu goes to a draw in a three falls match. Tenryu wins the first fall, Flair the second, and both men were counted out in the third. Also on the show, Road Warrior Animal defeats the Beverly Brothers in a handicap match. During the bout, Animal aggravates a back injury and ends up retiring from the ring. He would not return to wrestling for over three years.
1991 - The Lightning Kid defeats Chaz in Marietta, Georgia to win the GWF Light Heavyweight Title for the second time.
1996 - WCW's Fall Brawl Pay-per-view was held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Here are the results:
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Chavo Guerrero, Jr. with the Diamond Cutter.
- Ice Train defeated Scott Norton in a Submission match with a full nelson.
- Konnan defeated Juventud Guerrera with a Splash Mountain powerbomb.
- Chris Benoit defeated Chris Jericho with a top rope superplex.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio, Jr. defeated Super Calo with a double springboard (from one ring to another) into a rana.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat defeated The Nasty Boys when Booker T pinned Knobbs after Sherri Martel hit Knobbs with Col. Rob Parker's cane.
- The Giant defeated Randy Savage with a chokeslam after Hulk Hogan interfered.
- Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash & Sting (NWO Sting) defeated Lex Luger, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson & Sting in a War Games match when NWO Sting forced Luger to submit. Going into the match, Luger, Flair and Anderson accused Sting of being a traitor, since they believed that Sting (actually NWO Sting) had been with the NWO in a limo. When War Games took place, Sting came out, cleaned house on the NWO (who were winning the match), but then walked out on his partners, since they hadn't believed him. Left with a four on three advantage, the NWO dominated, with NWO Sting forcing Lex Luger to submit to a Scorpion Deathlock. Randy Savage ran out and attacked Hulk Hogan, but he was beaten down and spray painted (as was Miss Elizabeth) by the NWO.
The babyfaces not believing Sting, and Sting's subsequent walkout, was the beginning of his metamorphosis into the "Crow" character he would use for the remainder of his career. The next night on Nitro, he did an interview (his last spoken words for months) proclaiming himself a "free agent", then began his practice of watching shows from the rafters, starting the long build to his eventual showdown with Hulk Hogan.
1997 - Curt Hennig defeats Steve McMichael for the WCW United States Heavyweight Title in Charlotte, North Carolina. This would be Hennig's only singles title reign during his WCW run.
1998 - Jacqueline defeats Sable for the vacant WWF Women's Title in Sacramento, California during an edition of Raw. The title had been vacant since 1995, when Alundra Blayze (Madusa) left WWF. In fact, WWF had to have a new title belt created, since Blayze had taken the strap with her (and unceremoniously dropped it in a trash can when she debuted in WCW on an edition of Nitro). The Raw taping also included X-Pac defeating D'Lo Brown to win the WWF European Title. Also on this show, Michael Modest defeats Tony Jones in a tryout match that was filmed and included in the documentary Beyond The Mat.
2001 - Scotty Anton defeats Barry Windham in Carrolton, Georgia to win the Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title.
2002 - WWE broadcast Heat. John Keane filed the following TV report:
Matches taped on 9/9 in Ames, Iowa.
Your Announcers are Jonathan Coachman and D’Lo Brown.
Pyros explode, Coach and D’Lo say hola, we get straight to work…
1st Match; For the Women’s Title: Jacqueline vs. champ Molly Holly.
Decent pop for Jackie, mild heat for Molly, who makes her way to the ring rubbing her neck-apparently she’s still feeling the effects of being put through a table 2 weeks ago. Bell rings, lockup, Molly goes for an armbar, follows up by wringing the arm. Jackie goes behind, counters with a hammerlock, rolls up Molly schoolboy style, gets 2. Up, another lockup, Jackie slaps on a side headlock, Molly elbows out, shoots Jackie off ropes, Molly goes down to a running elbow. Jackie off ropes over the prone Molly, off opposite ropes, Molly to feet, Jackie blocks a hiptoss, counters with same. Molly down and up, Jackie scores with an armdrag takedown, brings Molly up, attempts whip, reversed, Jackie to corner, springboards as Molly approaches, scores with a head scissors, Molly down. Molly crawls toward corner, begs off, Jackie charges, Molly sidesteps, send Jackie face first into turnbuckles. Jackie staggered, Molly connects with a low dropkick, both down. Molly up first, gets in a quick kick, brings Jackie up, Molly scores with a textbook snap suplex, Jackie down for 2. Molly brings Jackie up, applies choke on ropes, gets warned off by ref. Jackie to feet, another choke on ropes, another warning, Jackie goes down. Molly scores with a snapmare, Jackie down for 2. Molly brings Jackie up, gets in an elbow to the face, shoots Jackie off ropes, Molly tries a hair-pull slam, Jackie counters with a crucifix into a sunset flip, Molly down for 2. Up, Molly sends Jackie down with a clothesline, follows up with a laying in of the boots. Molly brings Jackie up, backbreaker is good for another 2. Molly brings Jackie up, whips her to corner, goes for the handspring elbow, Jackie sidesteps, Molly into corner. Jackie scores with a pair of forearms for knockdowns, follows up with a dropkick for another, Jackie brings Molly up, shoots her off ropes, sends her down with a back elbow. Jackie breaks to pose, makes cover, too late, just gets 2. Jackie brings Molly up, connects with a spinning heel kick, still only good for 2. Jackie brings Molly up, repeatedly slams her face first into top turnbuckle, Molly dazed in corner, Jackie ascends 2nd turnbuckle, gets in the 5 count of punches when Molly drops her to canvas. Molly covers Jackie using her feet on the ropes for leverage, ref does NOT see it, counts the 1-2-3.
Winner and Still Women’s Champion: Molly Holly.
During the match, Coach and D’Lo opined that Molly no longer appears to be feeling the effects of the aforementioned table smashing.
We go to footage from earlier today-Howard Finkel was boring the living hell out of Raven backstage when Johnny Stamboli approached. Johnny, displaying a power of memory WWE writers should take notice of, reminds Raven he subbed for him in a match with D’Lo a few weeks ago, getting a victory in the process. Johnny wants some bucks, Raven states his payment was being allowed to go on TV and display some Ruthless YouKnowWhat. Johnny’s not satisfied, Raven proposes he pay him back later on-in the ring. Agreed. Break.
After some hype for next Sunday’s Unforgiven PPV we return to the ring…
2nd Match: Justin Credible vs. Shelton Benjamin.
Justin still manages to get good heat despite not winning a match for about a year, nice pop for Shelton. Justin goes for the double axehandle before the bell, Shelton scouts it, sidesteps, Justin into corner, Shelton sends him to canvas with a forearm. Justin begs off in corner, Shelton tries to bring him up, can’t get a grip on Justin’s ol’ bald head, ref calls for break regardless. Justin to feet, gets in a thumb to the eye, lays in a side headlock, Shelton forces him to ropes, breaks hold, shoots Justin off opposite ropes, Shelton goes down to a shoulder charge. Justin off ropes over the prone Shelton, off opposite ropes, Shelton to feet, leapfrogs, Justin again off ropes to do down to a hiptoss. Up, Shelton scores with an armdrag takedown, follows up with a scoop slam. Justin in seated position, Shelton repeatedly slams his head to mat, goes for the cover, good for 2. Up, Shelton in full control, scores with an armdrag takedown into an armbar, Justin gets to feet, gets in a series of punches to break the hold and send Shelton into a corner. Justin gets in a chop, tries for a whip, reversed, Justin to corner, Shelton approaches, Justin springboards, Shelton scouts it, puts on brakes, brings Justin up in military press, slams him to mat, covers for 2. Up, Justin retreats to corner, Shelton gets in a pair of forearms, Justin pulls ref in front of him, quickly shoves him aside, gets in a quick kick to gut, follows up with a Superkick to the head of the doubled-over Shelton. Both men down, Justin slowly goes for the cover, just gets 2. Justin gets in a quick kick, Shelton to ropes, Justin brings him up, sets Shelton in corner, gets in a series of knees and shoulders to gut. Justin brings Shelton up, drops him gut first on knee, Shelton down for a count of 2. Justin up, lays in the boots, sets Shelton in an abdominal stretch, Shelton counters with a modified hiptoss, Justin down and up. Justin gets in a quick kick, sets for a suplex, Shelton counters with a leg sweep, both men down. Justin to feet, Shelton to knees, fires off a series of punches, gets to feet, more punches and chops send Justin down. Justin up at ropes, Shelton tries for whip, reversed, Shelton off ropes, sends Justin down with a back elbow. Justin again up at ropes, Shelton whips him off opposite, scores with modified inverted Atomic Drop, follows up with a clothesline, Justin down for 2. Justin up, retreats to corner, Shelton charges, Justin gets a boot up to the face, Shelton staggered. Justin ascends 2nd turnbuckle, tries for flying double axehandle, Shelton counters with something that looks like a half-nelson overhead suplex, Justin down for the 1-2-3.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin.
Coming up next-Smackdown recap! (It’s cool, Mr. Bischoff gave his OK.) Break.
Back, after a replay of the closing moments of the previous match, we go backstage where Shelton chats with Lillian Garcia. Shelton cuts a confident, some would say cocky promo, reminds us he’s as yet undefeated on TV. Shelton vows to maintain his winning streak, claims that “It’s all about the Benjamin.”
Time to recap Smackdown. Near the end of the much-hyped Billy and Chuck ‘Commitment Ceremony’ (featuring an elderly Justice of the Peace conducting the proceedings and Rico and Smackdown GM Stephanie McMahon acting as witnesses), Billy and Chuck apparently got cold feet. They revealed that the ceremony was purely a publicity stunt AND that they were not, indeed, gay. Justice was outraged, claimed the bonding was permanent, even if it only lasted…3 minutes. Justice unmasked to reveal himself as our beloved Raw GM Eric Bischoff. His loyal henchmen Rosie and Jamal hit the ring to dispatch Chuck and Billy as Rico held back Steph. After Steph was hit with a Samoan drop, the assembled Smackdown roster ran down to run our boys, now including Rico, out of the building. Break.
(Commentary: Hey, I do an overnight Raw recap also, forgive me for showing a little brand loyalty!)
Slam of the week: Last week the tag match of Booker T. and Goldust vs. William Regal and Test deteriorated into a Pier 6 brawl, with Kane and Bradshaw helping out Booker and Goldust while Christian and Lance Storm came to the aid of their fellow Un-Americans.
Straight back to work
3rd Match: Johnny Stamboli vs. Raven.
Big heat for Raven (who makes it a point to glare at D’Lo on his way to the ring), same for Johnny. Pre-match we get a quick clip from last weeks Raw-Johnny’s attempt to dispense some good advice to The Big Show was met with some emphatically physical hostility. Bell rings, trash talking to start, Raven teases a test of strength-which leads to more vocal jibing. Raven gets in a shove, Johnny counters with elbows to send Raven to a corner. Johnny tries for a whip, reversed, Johnny to corner, Raven charges to go down to a clothesline. Up, Johnny gets in another elbow, brings Raven up in a military press, drops him gut first on knee. Raven down and up at ropes, Johnny clotheslines him over the top to the mats outside. Johnny joins Raven outside, rolls him in, Raven gets in a series of kicks as Johnny re-enters. Raven attempts whip, reversed, Raven off ropes to again be clotheslined to canvas. Johnny brings Raven up, sets him in corner, whips him to opposite, charges, Raven gets in a knee to the gut to send Johnny down. Raven slingshots Johnny neck first into bottom rope, goes outside, lays in forearms to back of Johnny’s neck. Raven re-enters as Johnny gets to feet, applies a headlock takedown, Johnny counters with a rollup, just gets 2. Raven re-applies headlock, Johnny gets to feet, forces Raven to ropes, breaks out of hold, shoots Raven off opposite ropes, Johnny goes down to shoulder block. Raven off ropes, over the prone Johnny, man we’re seeing this sequence a lot tonight, Raven again off ropes, Johnny up, gets in a series of kicks to Raven’s gut. Johnny attempts whip, reversed, Johnny off ropes, Raven sets for back body drop, Johnny scouts it, scores a boot to the face. Johnny charges, Raven falls to mat, drop toe hold sends Johnny through ropes and out of ring. Raven joins him, gets in his signature leg sweep into guard barrier. Raven rolls Johnny in, follows, drags Johnny to corner, goes behind, ascends 2nd turnbuckle, plants his knee on back of Johnny's neck, drops sending Johnny face first to canvas, Raven covers for 2. Raven sets Johnny in corner, whips him to opposite, Raven off ropes, tries for the bulldog, Johnny counters with belly to belly overhead suplex, both men down for an 8 count. Up, Johnny fires off forearms, ducks a clothesline, scores an Atomic Drop, goes off ropes, spin kick sends Raven down. Up quickly, Johnny keeps control with a boot to the gut and forearm to back, whips Raven to corner, charges, hits a Stinger Splash. Johnny ascends 2nd turnbuckle as Raven staggers, flying clothesline is good for 2. Up, Johnny tries for whip, Raven puts on brakes, tries to reverse whip, Johnny counters with tilt-a-whirl slam, Raven again down for 2. Both men to feet, Raven at ropes, Johnny gets in a boot to the gut, sends Raven off ropes, attempts hiptoss, Raven counters with a DDT, Johnny down, Raven covers, gets the 1-2-3.
Winner: Raven.
During the match, Coach and D’Lo mentioned that Bradshaw suffered an arm injury on last weeks Raw. (Reports are he’ll be out of action for 4-6 months.) Break.
Boot of the Week: World Champion HHH gets a win over Spike Dudley in a non-title match on last weeks Raw. Post-match laying in of the boots followed, save made by Bubba Ray Dudley.
Raw recap next. Early on last weeks show Mr. Bischoff set up the nights main event, a ‘Fatal 4-Way’ match with the winner getting a shot at HHH’s World Championship belt at the upcoming Unforgiven PPV. The competitors: Jeff Hardy, The Big Show, Chris Jericho and Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam. Match started off OK and got real good after the first elimination (guess who?), RVD eventually picked up the win after hitting Y2J with the 5-Star Frog Splash. Up on the ramp, HHH’s facial expression clearly showed he was NOT happy that Rob got the win. Break.
On to our Main Event…
4th Match: Shawn Stasiak vs. D’Lo Brown.
Apathetic heat for Shawn, nice pop for D’Lo as he makes his way down to the ring from the announce table. Shawn tries to attack as D’Lo poses, ref (my man Nick Patrick) won’t allow such nonsense. Bell rings, Shawn appears peeved as the crowd starts a ‘D’LO’ chant, the 2 circle, lockup, Shawn slaps on a side headlock, D’Lo breaks out, Shawn goes off ropes, shoulders D’Lo to canvas. Up, Shawn acts goofy, giving D’Lo time to take a quick break in a corner. The 2 again circle, lockup, D’Lo applies a side headlock, Shawn breaks out, sends D’Lo off ropes, again shoulders him to canvas. Shawn off ropes, over the prone D’Lo (4 for 4!), off opposite ropes, D’Lo to feet, scores with a hiptoss, follows up with an armdrag takedown and a dropkick, Shawn retreats to corner. D’Lo approaches, Shawn connects with a boot to the gut, tosses D’Lo into corner, lays in knee, forearm, whips D’Lo to opposite corner, charges, D’Lo gets a boot up to Shawn’s face. D’Lo ascends 2nd turnbuckle, catches Shawn with a flying clothesline, good for a 2-count. Shawn up in corner, D’Lo whips him to opposite, charges, Shawn sidesteps, D’Lo goes left shoulder first into ring post. Shawn connects with forearms to shoulder, D’Lo down in corner, Shawn keeps up assault on shoulder with series of kicks. Shawn brings D’Lo up, tosses him into ring post, follows up with a body slam, just gets 2. Shawn getting frustrated, more boots to shoulder, D’Lo tries to get to feet, Shawn sets armbar on injured shoulder. D’Lo makes it to vertical base, fires off punches to midsection, hold is broken, D’Lo goes off ropes, Shawn connects with a flying elbow, D’Lo down for 2. Shawn on feet, D’Lo on knees, exchange of punches, D’Lo to feet, Shawn gets in a kneelift, shoots D’Lo off ropes, misses with a clothesline, D’Lo scores with a neckbreaker, both men down. Up, D’Lo goes off ropes, clotheslines Shawn to canvas, follows up with a dropkick, textbook slam, Shawn down, D’Lo scores the Famous Legdrop, just gets 2! Both men up, D’Lo sets for suplex, Shawn evades, grabs D’Lo’s left arm, drops him face first to canvas, Shawn covers for 2. Shawn brings D’Lo up, sets for what looks like the Eye of the Hurricane, D’Lo counters with a double leg takedown, slingshots Shawn face first into top turnbuckle. Shawn staggers into D’Lo, Sky High is set, Shawn counters with a kneelift, D’Lo to corner, Shawn in with forearms, knee to the gut, attempts whip, abruptly puts on brakes, scores with a powerslam, D’Lo down for 2. Shawn brings D’Lo up, attempts whip, reversed, Shawn off ropes, D’Lo sets for back body drop, Shawn scouts it, scores boot to the face. Shawn attempts to wring the arm, D’Lo counters, hotshots Shawn into top rope. Shawn staggers back to center of ring, D’Lo hits the Sky High, Shawn down for the 1-2-3.
Winner: D’Lo Brown.
Coach hypes tomorrow nights Raw and next weeks Unforgiven PPV to end the show.
Meat and potatoes this week, but damn fine meat and potatoes, not a dog match on the card. Wonder if Justin or Shawn are ever going to win a match. Recap was standard, nice to see the Raven/D’Lo feud is still simmering-hell, it’s one of the most realistic story lines in WWE. Extra points for no mention of H.L.A. See you next week.
2002 - WWE ran Billings, Montana. Michael Avers filed the following results from the Metra Park:
Kurt Angle defeated Rikishi by using the ropes for leverage for the pin. Angle demanded Rikishi kiss his ass, and Billy ran out to help, but Rikishi laid them both out and stinkfaced them.
Billy & Chuck defeated Hardcore Holly & Randy Orton when Chuck pinned Randy with a cradle. Holly made fun of Billy & Chuck before the match, saying they were still gay.
Jamie Noble defeated Rey Mysterio Jr. in the best match of the show. Torrie Wilson ran out to counteract Nidia.
The Hurricane defeated Matt Hardy, and they shook hands afterwards, then Hardy turned on him.
Brock Lesnar defeated Edge with the F-5.
Eddie & Chavo Guerrero defeated Big Valbowski & John Cena when Chavo pinned Cena with a brainbuster.
Funaki was going to interview Torrie Wilson, and we ended up with a catfight with Torrie and Nidia.
Mark Henry, Deacon Batista, and Shannon Moore defeated D-Von Dudley, Albert, and Bull Buchanan when Henry pinned Bull.
Billy Kidman defeated Tajiri with a Shooting Star Press.
2003 - At an edition of Raw in Columbia, South Carolina, 80-year-old Fabulous Moolah defeats Victoria with a rollup. After the match, Randy Orton gave Moolah an RKO, furthering his "Legend Killer" reputation. While the match was only 30 seconds long, reportedly it was the result of a promise Vince McMahon had made several years earlier to Moolah that she could have a match when she was 80.
2004 - WWE released Jamie Noble. He would eventually be brought back to the company as a wrestler and now works as a Producer.
2004 - Chuck Williams (aka wrestler Rockin' Rebel) released a statement announcing that effective immediately, he and his wife (who both hold wrestling promoter licenses in the state of Pennsylvania) would no longer be promoting Combat Zone Wrestling's events. The decision was made at the request of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission.
Williams' complete statement reads as follows:
It seems the rumors have already started to circumvent, therefore I am forced to make a statement regarding CZW and our promoter's license. CZW will no longer be using our license to promote any of their wrestling shows. This is mostly due to the events of this past weekend, the PA State Athletic Commission has received multiple complaints and have called us as the promoter to discuss them, which I may add is NOT a phone call anyone would want to receive! They also informed us that because of the nature of the complaints they must additionally file a report with the Philadelphia's District Attorney's office as the process states.
Our decision is not because John and I have supposedly butted heads or have differences as some people have already heard. Plain and simple this is a result of CZW's own actions, at times they can be a liability and neither I or my wife wish to take that risk any longer or be a part of it.
This was not an easy decision to make, we have tried for a very long time to make things work, we have had talks with John about certain concerns and have given CZW every opportunity to work with us.
To close, we wish CZW all the best in their future and if everyone in the wrestling world can be an adult about this I'm sure it will be an easier transition for us all.
Thank you.
I was told that Williams rescinded his working relationship with the company after the Commission received numerous complaints from a mother who was in attendance with her children at CZW's event on 9/11 in regard to a female performer wearing pasties over her breasts during a segment with CZW Tag Team champions Blk Out. The Commission noted that a public ordinance had been violated and advised Williams (who also handles 3PW and Ring of Honor, among other companies in Pennsylvania) that it would be in his best interest not to continue on with CZW. Williams adhered to the request.
There was also concern over the violent content of the show, which featured a bump through a piece of glass that had been set on fire. CZW had been having a long running fencing match with the Athletic Commission over content at that point. Last December, prior to CZW's Cage of Death 5 main event, Williams broke character and asked the fans in attendance to come to him if they had any complaints instead of calling the Commission, who had received previous calls about CZW's product.
Maven Bentley would replace Williams as the CZW promoter, a position he still holds today.
2005 - Jeff Jarrett won the NWA title from Raven in Ontario, Canada at the Border City Wrestling event in Windsor, Ontario, Canada after the interference of America's Most Wanted, who completed their much expected heel turn. The match was billed as the first NWA championship bout in Windsor in 47 years. TNA had 5 cameras at the event filming the title change and will be putting footage online on TNAWrestling.com.
2007 - Former ECW World champion The Sandman made his first public appearance since his departure from World Wrestling Entertainment at the Pro Wrestling Unplugged Anniversary show in Philadelphia, PA. The promotion did the "lights out" deal with Sandman arriving in the ring and making the save for Diamond Dallas Page and PWU champion 2 Cold Scorpio, who were being beat down by Joey Matthews, Devon Moore and Dan Severn (who debuted as Matthew's new bodyguard) to close the show. The building went insane for Sandman, who interestingly enough, didn't have his trademark Singapore Cane with him, nor did he do his beer bash celebration.
2007 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Sunday night is World Wrestling Entertainment's latest pay per view offering but tonight is the final television show before Unforgiven.
We start off with a look back at last week's episode of Smackdown when Rey Mysterio got a measure of revenge against Chavo Guerrero in an I Quit Match. Then we saw the Great Khali lumber to the ring and take down his challenger for the World Heavyweight Title with the Khali Krush. He was saved by Batista as he took down the champion with a spear. We see Teddy Long telling Khali that he will also be facing Batista for the title since it will be a Triple Threat Match.
We are live on tape from Minneapolis, Minnesota and your announcers are Michael Cole and JBL.
Before our first match, we see footage from last week's Smackdown when Victoria got on Chuck Palumbo's motorcycle during Chuck'ss match with Kenny Dykstra only to be forcibly removed by Michelle McCool.
Match Number One: Michelle McCool with Chuck Palumbo and motorcycle versus Victoria with Kenny Dykstra and spit bucket
The two ladies lock up and Victoria backs Michelle into the corner and Victoria slaps Michelle despite the referee's attempts to separate them. Michelle chases Victoria across the ring but Victoria gets to the ropes. Michelle with a hammer lock and side head lock on Victoria followed by a take down. Victoria gets a number of near falls. Victoria with a top wrist lock but Michelle bridges. Victoria with a take down and Michelle with a kip up but Victoria sends Michelle back to the mat by pulling her hair. Victoria slams Michelle's face into the mat and then Victoria gets Michelle in a bridging crossface. Victoria with a waist lock but Michelle trips Victoria. Michelle with a cartwheel and then she slaps Victoria in the face. Victoria throws Michelle out of the ring in front of Kenny. Victoria goes outside the ring and sends Michelle into the apron before rolling Michelle back into the ring. Victoria kicks Michelle and then throws her face first into the mat before rubbing Michelle's face into the mat. Victoria with a standing Japanese stranglehold but Michelle reverses. Victoria with a clothesline for a two count. Victoria absorbs some punches from Michelle before connecting with a forearm. Michelle with a kick and then they exchange chops. Michelle with two clotheslines and two drop kicks. Michelle with a belly-to-belly suplex for a two count. Victoria rolls out of the ring and Kenny checks on her. Michelle comes over to the rope and Kenny throws water on Michelle. Chuck attacks Kenny on the floor. Chuck and Kenny fight into the ring while Michelle and Victoria roll around in the ring. Chuck with a clothesline to Kenny and we go to commercial.
We are back and the Divas Match has been turned into a mixed tag match with Kenny Dykstra joining Victoria and Chuck Palumbo joining Michelle. The men are in the ring and Chuck hits a short arm clothesline followed by a delayed belly-to-back suplex. Chuck with a discus punch to Kenny and Chuck follows that with a running back elbow. Chuck with a delayed vertical suplex. Chuck punches Kenny in the corner followed by a slam. Chuck follows that with a leg drop and then he picks up Kenny and runs Kenny back first into the corner. Chuck with more punches to Kenny. Chuck with a chop to Kenny followed by an Irish whip but he charges into a boot. Kenny clips Chuck and he works on Chuck's knee. Kenny charges into the corner but Chuck with a forearm followed by punches to Kenny and a running back elbow. Chuck with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Chuck tries for a big boot but Kenny holds on to the ropes and he makes the tag to Victoria. Victoria is carried into Chuck's corner and Michelle is tagged in. Chuck holds Michelle for a clothesline. Michelle with a back body drop but Kenny breaks up the cover. Chuck clotheslines Kenny over the top rope to the floor. Chuck and Kenny fight on the floor. Michelle with a round kick for the three count.
Winner: Michelle McCool and Chuck Palumbo
Teddy Long is in his office with Jesse and Festus. Teddy tells them that he loves having them on Smackdown but he has to get ready for his bachelor party. Jesse says that Festus is the face of a party animal. Jesse then tells Teddy that Mr. Simmons put him in charge of the entertainment. Jesse says that he is going to show Teddy. A group of ladies enter the room and Teddy is hesitant to have fun. Teddy's son Antoine shows up along with Butch Reed. The Major Brothers and Sergeant Slaughter also enter the room and then Teddy gets a drink as the party gets going. We go to commercial.
We are back and we see the invitation for next week's Wedding between Teddy Long and Kristal Marshall.
There is a druid in the ring, but when he takes off his robe, it is Mark Henry. Henry says that the Undertaker is not the only one who can do hocus pocus. Henry says that he is sure that the Undertaker will bring all of his power to Unforgiven. Henry says that Taker's powers pale in comparison to his. Many have seen his power. For those who are ignorant, it is time to take a look at his power. We go to a video package of what Mark Henry has done, including his attack on the Undertaker that led to Taker's absence. Henry says that is not hocus pocus, that is reality. The reality . . . is interrupted by the Undertaker's bell tolling and a video package. At the end, Taker says "Unforgiven" and when we return to the arena, there is a bolt of lightning from the ceiling that ignites the Undertaker's symbol by the Fist-O-Tron. We hear the Taker's voice call out for Mark Henry. It says that on Sunday at Unforgiven, he will rest in peace. Taker's music plays and we go to commercial.
We are back with the Diva Search Finalists video package that aired during Raw.
We go to the WWE Tag Team Champions Matt Hardy and Montel Vontavious Porter in the back playing a game of chess. Porter ponders his next move while Matt tells him that it has been an hour. Porter tells Hardy to be quiet and he tells Matt that he challenged him to this game and he will beat him like he did in everything else. Porter makes his move and Hardy puts Porter in check. Porter sneezes and he knocks the pieces off the table. Hardy says that it is all good. Hardy tells Porter that he has to go anyhow because Matt talked to Teddy Long and Porter will be wrestling Domino as a warm up for their match at Unforgiven. Matt says that he will be there for Porter and he will cheering Porter on and he suggests that the fans will be doing the same.
Before our next match, Jamie Noble looks under the ring for Hornswoggle McMahon. We see footage from last week of Hornswoggle tricking Jamie Noble under the Leprechaun Trap only to be counted out of their match and then when he got into the ring, Noble tripped over some marbles.
Match Number Two: Jamie Noble versus Shannon Moore
Noble yells at Moore for what happened last week and he pushes Moore. Moore punches Noble. Noble with a forearm and chops but he misses a second chop. Moore with a punch and chop. Moore with a drop kick to Noble for a two count. Moore slams Noble's hand into the turnbuckle and then he puts Noble in a key lock. Moore with a shoulder tackle and then he returns to the arm with an arm bar. Moore moves out of the corner when Noble charges and then Moore starts to go up top but Noble stops him and hits an Electric Chair drop. Noble kicks Moore in the head and gets a near fall. Noble with a double underhook on Moore but Moore will not give up. Noble with a sunset flip but Moore rolls through and hits a drop kick. Moore with a reverse atomic drop followed by a clothesline and jumping leg lariat. Moore with a hard Irish whip but Moore is sent to the apron. Moore with a head scissors that sends Noble out of the ring. Moore goes up top and hits a somersault senton splash onto Noble on the floor and both men are down. Moore rolls Noble back into the ring and he gets a two count. Noble with an uranage into a back breaker for a two count. Noble gets Moore on his shoulders but Moore gets out of the hold and he sends Noble into the corner. Moore charges into an elbow from Noble. Moore tells the referee that there is something under the ring and Noble tries to look under the ring but it was a trap and Moore gets the three count with a rollup.
Winner: Shannon Moore
Kristal and Vickie are in the hallway and Vickie says that she is so excited for Kristal. Kristal says that she is excited too but she is so stressed. She talks about all of the things that she is doing. Vickie says that she needs Kristal for five minutes to look at the bridesmaids' dresses. They go into the room, but there are no bridesmaids dresses; it is the bachelorette party. The Smackdown and ECW Divas are there to celebrate with Kristal. They all toast Kristal.
Montel Vontavious Porter is arguing with a referee backstage and he tells the referee that the suit that he is wearing costs more than the referee makes in a week. Porter says that he needs to change, warm up, and stretch. The referee tells Porter that he is going to the ring and Porter should do the same since his match is next. We go to commercial.
We are back with the Stay in the Game Moment: Matt Hardy defeating Deuce last week with some help from Montel Vontavious Porter.
Match Number Three: Montel Vontavious Porter with Matt Hardy versus Domino with Deuce and Cherry
Porter with a kick and punches followed by an Irish whip and then he hits a knee to Domino's face for a two count. Porter with a side head lock and Cherry gets on the apron to distract the referee and that allows Deuce to trip Porter as he comes off the ropes. Domino with a knee to Porter's head and then he talks to Hardy. Domino with a slam and then he hits a leg drop. Domino with a forearm to Porter's back and then he works on Porter's neck. Matt gets on the mic and he wants the crowd to chant for MVP but the fans only chant "sucks" while Matt chants for MVP. Domino with a reverse chin lock but Porter gets to his feet. Domino with a jumping knee to the face for a two count. Domino gets distracted by Hardy and that allows Porter to hit a rollup for a two count. Domino with a clothesline to Porter. Porter holds on to the ropes when Domino tries to Irish whip him and Porter with punches but Domino with a rake of the eyes. Domino punches Porter in the head and hits an elbow drop for a near fall. Domino with a butterfly suplex followed by a reverse chin lock. Porter with elbows to get out of the hold and then Domino responds with punches. Porter with a drop toe hold to Domino and then Deuce gets on the apron but Hardy knocks Deuce off. Porter yells at Hardy for being on the apron and Domino gets the three count with a rollup.
Winner: Domino
After the match, Matt gets into the ring and he has a mic. He says that he wants to get past this because on Sunday they are going to defend the tag titles against Deuce and Domino. Hardy says that we found out why Porter is the captain and he tries to get the fans to chant for Porter but they only chant "sucks"
Cole talks about the Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Title and we see the video package that started off the show. Cole says that Rey is still suffering the effects of that attack. Bradshaw wonders what condition Rey will be in on Sunday night. We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound.
We go to the latest from the Bachelorette Party. Kristal opens a few presents and then shows off the lingerie that she got at the start of the party. There is a knock at the door and there is a delivery man with a large gift. He has Kristal sign for it after he tells her that it weighs a ton. She opens the box and it is Big Dick Johnson. We go to commercial.
We are back and Cole reminds us that we will see for the first time on television a match between the Great Khali and Batista.
We go to the interview area where Runjin Singh is with the Great Khali. Cole asks Khali why he would accept this match with Batista two days before their match at Unforgiven when he can lose the title without being pinned. Khali says that tonight Batista is store for a preview of what is going to happen at Unforgiven. He also says that it does not matter how many people challenge him because they will all succumb to the vice grip. Batista will succumb to the vice grip and so will Rey Mysterio. Khali will walk out of Unforgiven as the champion.
Match Number Four: Kane versus Finlay in a Belfast Brawl No Disqualification Match
Finlay attacks Kane as he comes to the ring and hits him from behind with the shillelagh. Finlay with a forearm to Kane and then he sends Kane into the apron. Finlay runs Kane's back into the ringside barrier. Finlay with forearms to the back and a European uppercut. Finlay tries to Irish whip Kane into the ring steps but Kane reverses it and Finlay goes into the steps shoulder first. Kane with an uppercut and then he slams Finlay's head into the apron. Kane with a boot to Finlay and then the action moves into the ring. Kane slams Finlay's head into the turnbuckle and then he kicks and punches Finlay in the corner before he chokes Finlay with his boot. Kane with an Irish whip but he charges into an elbow and then Finlay kicks Kane in the leg and head. Finlay with a seated senton splash for a near fall. Kane with an uppercut to Finlay followed by a kick. Kane with a slam and then he pulls Finlay into the center of the ring. Finlay with another uppercut and then he clotheslines Finlay over the top rope to the floor. Kane goes outside after Finlay and then he runs Finlay into the ringside barrier. Kane rolls Finlay back into the ring but Finlay with a baseball slide to keep Kane from returning to the ring. Finlay with a forearm to the back and a forearm to the back of the neck. Finlay slams Kane's head onto the ringside barrier. Finlay with a short arm clothesline to Kane and then he kicks Kane in the hand. Finlay runs Kane's back into the ringside barrier one more time. Kane slams Finlay's hand into the ring steps. Finlay looks for Hornswoggle under the apron but Finlay cannot find him. Kane runs Finlay into the ring post and then Kane charges but Finlay moves out of the way and Kane hits the ring post hard and goes down. We go to commercial.
We are back and the action has returned to the ring. Finlay with an arm bar. Kane punches Finlay but Finlay kicks Kane in the arm. Finlay with a near fall on Kane. Finlay slams Kane's arm into the apron and then he gets a chair. Finlay hits Kane in the shoulder with the steel chair and then he places the chair on Kane's arm and stomps on the chair. Finlay uses the chair again on Kanes arm. Finlay with a drop kick to the injured arm. Finlay exposes the turnbuckle but Kane with an uppercut. Kane Irish whips Finlay into the exposed turnbuckle but Kane charges into the corner and Finlay moves out of the way. Finlay can only get a two count. Finlay returns to the arm with a key lock. Finlay sets the chair in the center of the ring and then he slams Kane's arm into the seat of the chair. Finlay returns to the key lock but Kane punches Finlay. Finlay with a knee and then he sends Kane shoulder first into the ring post. Finlay wrings Kane's arm into the ring post. Finlay climbs the ropes but Kane with a big boot to Finlay that knocks Finlay to the floor. Kane goes after Finlay on the floor and sends Finlay into the ringside barrier. Kane exposes the top of the ringside barrier and he hot shots Finlay onto the exposed part. Kane brings Finlay over to the announce table and he slams Finlay's head into the announce table. Kane grabs the top of the announce table and he hits Finlay with it. He puts it on top of Finlay and stomps on it. Kane with another uppercut that staggers Finlay. Kane grabs Finlay by the throat for a choke slam but Finlay with a rake of the eyes. Kane is rolled into the ring and Finlay gets a shillelagh from under the ring but Kane with an uppercut before Finlay can use the shillelagh. Kane with an Irish whip and running clothesline followed by a side slam. Kane goes up top for the jumping clothesline and hits it. Kane signals for the choke slam but then he sees the shillelagh and he gets ready to hit Finlay with it. Kane goes for the other one in the ring but Kane kicks it away. Finlay begs for mercy and then he goes for the chair but Kane steps on it. Finlay leaves the ring and Kane throws the shillelagh at Finlay and the Kane goes to the floor and punches Finlay. Finlay is rolled back into the ring and Kane tosses the ring steps into the ring. Kane picks up the steps but Finlay hits Kane in the ribs with the chair. Finlay hits the Celtic Cross for the three count.
Winner: Fit Finlay
We go to commercial.
We are back and Teddy Long is in his boxer shorts as he leaves his Bachelor Party and he is locked out of the office. Teddy turns around and he sees Kristal. Kristal wants to know what is going on and asks him where his clothes are. Teddy tells Kristal that she is looking good. Kristal says that what she is wearing is a gift. The door opens and some women come into the hallway and Teddy is caught red handed. Kristal wants to know what kind of entertainment Teddy hired and Big Dick Johnson walks behind Kristal. There is a showdown of parties and Ron Simmons arrives for the DAMN moment of the night. Teddy wants to know what to do and Big Dick Johnson suggests that they party. It is time on Smackdown when we dance.
Cole and Bradshaw run down the card for Unforgiven:
Mark Henry versus Undertaker
WWE Title Match: John Cena versus Randy Orton
Carlito versus Triple H
ECW Title Match: CM Punk versus Elijah Burke
World Title Match: Great Khali versus Rey Mysterio versus Batista
We see the Slam of the Week: Khali attacking Rey Mysterio last week only to be saved by Batista.
Match Number Five: Batista versus Great Khali in a Non-Title Match
Batista kicks and punches Khali but he cannot stagger the champion. Khali throws Batista down and then he throws Batista into the corner followed by a clothesline. Khali slams Batista'ss head into the turnbuckle and then he kicks Batista. Khali chokes Batista with his boot and then follows that with back elbows. Khali with a clothesline and then he gets ready to finish off Batista but Batista is able to stop Khali from applying the Khali Krush. Batista with a kick to the midsection but Khali with a big boot that sends Batista through the ropes and to the floor. Khali goes outside after Batista but Khali is sent into the ring post by Batista. Batista is pushed away by Khali. They return to the ring and Batista hits a spinebuster. Batista sets for the Batista Bomb but he cannot get Khali up. Khali throws Batista onto the top rope and then he hits the chop to the top of the head. Khali with the Khali Krush but Batista gets to the ropes. Khali refuses to release the hold and the referee disqualifies Batista.
Winner: Batista by disqualification
After the match, Khali continues to hold Batista in the Khali Krush as Batista goes to the mat. More referees and officials try to get Khali to release the hold but Khali does not release the hold. Khali finally releases the hold and then he stands over Batista with the World Title Belt as we go to credits.
2007 - Ring of Honor taped a PPV in Chicago, IL. Keith Lipinski filed the following report:
We are live tonight at the taping of the Ring of Honor PPV. Here are the results of the show.
ROH tonight is Matt Sydal's last night on the indies before reporting to WWE.
Pre-Show:
* Ernie Osirus & Silas Young d. Rhett Titus & Bobby Dempsey. Silas pinned Titus with an outstanding headstand into an arabian press. Big pops for Bobby Dempsey and for the finish of the match. Bobby was over huge and worked like a mini-Vader at times. He even got a pop for taking off his t-shirt.
* Keith reports there are about 20-30 guys in attendance wearing bandanas with ski-masks over them in the crowd.
Main Show:
* The open they shot for the PPV had Sweeney, Claudio and Nigel doing promos; then a man wearing a ski-mask and black hoodie jumped over the railing and got kicked out after getting on the mic to talk smack for all of two seconds.
* Four corner match to start the show. Nigel McGuinness v. Chris Hero v. Claudio Castagnoli v. Naomichi Marufuji. Sweet 'n Sour Larry Sweeney has a Bluetooth headset on! Very good stuff so far highlighted by a Nigel McGuinness top rope body press to the second row on Hero & Claudio. The other highlight of the match was Castagnoli and Marufuji giving each other claw holds. Nigel pins Claudio in 18:00 with a jawbreaker lariat in an excellent match. This match had everyone hitting everything and breaking up pinfalls like crazy. Hero played chickenshit throughout, never wanting to be in the ring with Claudio.
* After a coin flip to determine who goes next Rocky Romero v. Matt Cross is up. Romero wins in 4:45 with an awesome kick to the side of Cross' head. This was sold wonderfully as Matt was carried out. Cross got in a lot of offense before missing a spin off the top rope.
* Davey Richards v. Austin Aries is up. Started slow but built to a good pace and the crowd is into it. Eventually Aries wins with a 450 brainbuster off the top rope at 13:23. Decent to good heat by the end of this match. Austin did a beautiful tope to the outside during this match - he's lost bulk and looks really good. There was a heckler in the crowd yelling Benoit stuff and when Davey did a crossface the heckler screamed "Good night Daniel!" Keith's thoughts on this: "It's too soon."
More Keith quotes: "The crowd is sorta quiet for the last two matches. From my vantage point the crowd heat is good, but not great or anything like that. They are into it when it counts."
* Roderick Strong d. Erick Stevens at 16:26 with a Gibson driver coming after an awesome Razor's Edge by Roderick from the middle rope. Erick Stevens looked very good and the match featured a lot of chops.
World title match is up next! Crowd really woke up for Bryan Danielson. He came out to the ring with his eye patch on.
* Takeshi Morishima {C} defeats Bryan Danielson via referee stoppage at 12:43 to retain the ROH World Title. He took off Danielson's eyepatch and just leveled his face with elbows. Crowd was not at all happy with this decision. Very good match given one of two men had an eye patch on for most of it. Morishima did two backdrop drivers and Danielson did a nice armbar submission while hitting elbows on his head. The ladder match is up next!
* Jay & Mark Briscoe {C} defeat Kevin Steen & El Generico at 27:23 to retain the ROH Tag Titles. "Amazing match!" Project 161 is revealed! They are Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black and NECRO BUTCHER.
Very good post-match where they hung Jay Briscoe upside down and he bled buckets onto Jimmy Jacobs' white jacket. Great promo by Jacobs follows - he used the word DRUNKARDS during it. Totally insane! Jacobs promo goes a little long and the crowd chants BORING towards the end but still very good. Blood was falling all over Jacobs like nuts!
Keith: "Amazing match - at least 4 and three quarters. The worst part was Todd Sinclair hung the belts up too tight and it was really hard for the Briscoes to get them down. He got a SINCLAIR EFFED UP chant for it. At least 7 ladders were used during the match. The Briscoes got incredibly bloody and f'd up during this match and it only got worse for Jay during the post-match. Jacobs revealed that their Project was not yet over, the Briscoes were a pair of drunkards, they were cutting the head off of the snake, and that Necro Butcher was a MISUNDERSTOOD BEAUTY."
Intermission
* In the first match after the break Mitch Franklin {C} defeats 'Sugarfoot' Alex Payne to retain the Top of the Class Trophy . The finish came at 2:25 with a faceplant powerbomb. Mitch cut his hair before this match. SHIMMER match is up next!
* Daizee Haze & Amazing Kong defeat Lacey & Sara Del Rey at 14:48 when Haze pinned Lacey. Very good match, Kong looked awesome here and it helped to hype SHIMMER a lot. Sara actually got Kong up for a german suplex!
* BJ Whitmer & Brent Albright defeat The YRR (Young, Rich & Ready For Action - Chasyn Rance & Kenny King) at 5:19. They hit a double team flapjack piledriver on Chasyn. BJ now looks like a lanky Steve Corino. Two funny moments here included Kenny King slipping on the top rope during a springboard and the crowd chanting F-I-P.
BJ Whitmer says he's "seen the light." Henceforth Whitmer and Albright declare a new group called HANGMEN 3 consisting of them AND Adam Pearce. Crowd loudly chants "NO MORE FACTIONS!"
* Tyler Black v. Jack Evans is NO CONTEST at 2:40 when Necro Butcher threw a chair at Jack as he tried a springboard to the outside.
* Irish Airborne & Jack Evans v. The Age of the Fall was ALSO NO CONTEST . Age of the Fall is the PROJECT from earlier - Tyler Black, Jimmy Jacobs and Necro Butcher. Match ended at 6:50 when Necro punched the referee in the mouth. Necro and Evans did a lot of spots together in this match. Keith believes the faction slash group slash whatever may in fact be called "Up and Up the Fall."
* Delirious defeats Matt Sydal at 21:52 when D hit Chemical Imbalance for the pin. Crowd heat was decent but everyone's been really tired since the ladder match. Good but not outstanding. No speech or anything afterwards - just lots of THANK YOU MATT chants.
Keith: "Overall an incredible first half, and the second half could not compare unless somebody had died."
2008 - New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that Naofumi Yamamoto has signed a WWE developmental deal. He would eventually debut as Yoshi Tatsu and has remained a regular member of the WWE roster.
2008 - Dolph Ziggler, the former Nick Nemeth, last seen on the main WWE roster as Nicky of the Spirit Squad.
2008 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Tonight we will see CM Punk get his chance to try to win back the title that he never lost in the ring. In case you missed Unforgiven or last week’s Raw; CM Punk was pulled from the Raw Scramble Over Easy Sunny Side Up Match because of Randy Orton’s field goal kick to the head. The man who took advantage of the situation after being beaten to the point where he could not defend himself against Shawn Michaels was presented the chance to get into the match. Chris Jericho and CM Punk meet inside a steel cage. Who will be the champion after tonight? Will anyone declare themselves the man who will challenge the winner for the title at No Mercy? How will Santino Marella celebrate another week as Intercontinental Champion as he approaches the reign of the Honky Donkey Man? Which face of Charlie Haas will we see this week? Haas-Tista . . . The Haasky Tonk Man . . . HaasMaga . . . The Haas Break Kid? Will Candice Michelle confront Beth Phoenix since they are meeting at the pay per view? Will we see anything from the new second generation unit and will they finally ask Randy Orton to join their club? What will happen when Kane faces Rey Mysterio?
We are live from Memphis, Tennessee and your announcers are Jerry ‘Why can’t we have porn during our pay per views’ Lawler and Michael ‘Where is my Ladder of Love with Heidenreich’ Cole.
The show starts off with the official Cage Lowering Music of the WWE and it has a new sound to it.
We see footage of how CM Punk did not get to defend his title due to the attack by Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, and Manu followed by Randy Orton’s kick to Punk’s head after Kofi Kingston tried to help Punk. We then see Chris Jericho get the title at Unforgiven by outsmarting Batista.
Match Number One: Chris Jericho versus CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Title in a Steel Cage Match
The cage door is closed and the match begins. Jericho and Punk have some words for each other and then they get nose to nose. Jericho tries for a punch, but Punk blocks it and he punches Jericho. Punk with a knee to the midsection and then he punches Jericho followed by knees to the midsection. Punk with kicks to the back and then he connects with a forearm. Punk with a hard Irish whip to Jericho as he continues to dominate the early part of the match. Punk with an Irish whip and Jericho tries to climb the cage in the corner but Punk climbs up and stops Jericho. They fight on the top rope but Punk with kicks to Jericho and Jericho goes down. Punk gets to the top of the cage but Jericho grabs on to Punk’s leg to pull him back into the cage. Punk with elbows and then Jericho pulls Punk off. Punk pulls Jericho off and then Punk with a kick and knee lift. Jericho cannot stay up but Punk hits a drop kick. Punk with a knee in the corner and then he hits the bulldog. Punk wants Jericho to get up and then Punk gets Jericho up for the Go To Sleep but Jericho gets a hold of the ropes. Punk sends Jericho into the cage, but Punk is a bit woozy as we go to commercial.
We are back and Jericho works on Punk’s ankle. We see footage during the break when Punk was almost out of the cage, but Jericho pulled him back in. Jericho falls victim to an enzuigiri when Punk is able to get back to his feet. Punk with kicks to the leg followed by a series of slaps and a back fist. Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho and he locks it in. Punk crawls towards the corner where the door is and he asks for the door to be opened. Punk crawls to the door and then he gets part of his body out of the cage. Punk gets his hand on the floor and one foot but Jericho holds on to the other leg and then he closes the door into Punk’s head. Jericho gets a two count.
Jericho returns to the leg and he kicks Punk in the shin. Jericho with boots to Punk’s head followed by punches as Punk tries to defend himself. Jericho tries for the Lionsault but Punk gets his knee up to block the move. Punk with kicks to the chest. Punk misses the knee into the corner and Punk goes into the cage and turnbuckles. Punk is on the apron and Jericho hits a springboard drop kick that sends Punk’s head into the cage one more time. Jericho climbs to the top of the cage and Punk grabs the champion’s leg. Punk has Jericho on top and he appears to set for a Go To Sleep from the top but Jericho escapes the hold.
They continue to fight on the top turnbuckle and Punk and Jericho send each other’s heads into the top of the cage and both men go down. Punk covers Jericho but Jericho kicks out instinctively. Jericho with a shoulder and then he sends Punk into the cage one more time. Jericho climbs to the top one more time. Jericho gets to the top but Punk stops Jericho again and he pulls Jericho back in. Punk with an electric chair drop from the top turnbuckle and both men are down. Punk crawls towards the open door but Jericho stops him and Jericho climbs over Punk. Punk climbs over Jericho as they each try to get out of the cage while keeping the other inside. Jericho is on the apron by the door and Punk sends Jericho into the cage. Jericho with a head butt and then Jericho falls out of the cage to win the match.
Winner: Chris Jericho
We go to the locker room where Batista watches Jericho heading towards the back.
We go to commercial.
We are back with Shawn Michaels commenting on the damage that Hurricane Ike caused and he talks about the efforts of the American Red Cross.
Mike Adamle is with Kelly Kelly in the back and he starts to talk about No Mercy and Dolph Diggler introduces himself. Chris Jericho walks by and Mike Adamle congratulates Jericho and tells him to get ready for No Mercy. Jericho talks about what he has done since Unforgiven. Jericho points out that he keeps winning, but he tells Adamle to take care of his champion. Jericho says that he is not a machine and Adamle needs to take care of him. Jericho wants to talk to Adamle in his office.
We see the back of Kane’s head and he is wearing the mask again. He says years ago he was forced to remove his mask. As he takes off his mask, his old music plays. Kane says that nobody forces him to do anything. He took off his mask for everyone else so he could be accepted. He had the guts to take off his mask, but he saw people pointing at him. He says that he does not like being pointed at or ridiculed. He says that the fans are repulsed at the sight of him and the feeling is mutual. Kane sees someone like Rey Mysterio who still wears a mask. Why do people love him? It is because everyone wears masks of self righteousness. Kane says that he was attack everyone when he attacked Rey.
Evan Bourne stops by and he tells Kane that Rey is courageous and is the reason why he is in the WWE. Evan says that he cannot wait to see Rey beat Kane. Kane laughs maniacally and then he stares at something.
Jillian Hall comes out and she makes noises that resemble the song Hound Dog. We go to commercial as we await her match with Candice Michelle.
We are back and the reason for the mute button is in the ring. She is interrupted by the Hyper Dance Mix of the number one contender. She is followed to the ring by Beth Phoenix. Beth walks next to Candice and they exchange nasty looks.
Match Number Two: Candice Michelle versus Jillian Hall
Jillian pushes Candice and Candice returns the favor. Jillian with a head scissors but Candice with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Candice with a kick to Jillian followed by a springboard kick for a two count. Candice sets for a crucifix but Jillian counters with a modified Samoan Drop for a two count. Jillian works on Candice’s neck in the ropes. Jillian slams Candice’s head into the turnbuckles and then she chokes Candice in the ropes. Jillian tosses Candice by the hair. Jillian with a full nelson but Candice gets out of the hold. Jillian with a snap mare and she returns to the full nelson. Candice gets to her feet and she drops down to get out of the hold and then she kicks Jillian. Jillian and Candice with forearms with Candice taking control. Candice with flying double sledges followed by a drop kick. Candice with the breakdown for a two count. Candice sets for the Unprettier but Jillian with a belly-to-back suplex. Jillian with a forearm followed by an Irish whip. Jillian tries for the handspring into the corner, but Candice catches her and hits the Unprettier for the three count.
Winner: Candice Michelle
Candice wants Beth to come into the ring for a fight and Beth puts down her title belt and thinks about it. Beth gets to the apron and Candice with a drop kick as Beth enters the ring. Candice gets on the turnbuckles and Beth gets her title belt and she walks to the back showing Candice that she is the champion.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the weekly WWE factoid and if the ratings aren’t better than ESPN or other sports, at least their magazine sales are.
Match Number Three: John Bradshaw Layfield with JBLimo versus Tommy Dreamer in an Interbrand Match
They lock up and Bradshaw with punches in the corner followed by a boot to the head. Bradshaw with a forearm to the back and a slam. Bradshaw misses an elbow but Dreamer runs into a big boot. Bradshaw punches Dreamer in the corner and the referee tries to stop him. Bradshaw runs into a boot from Dreamer and Dreamer hits a swinging neck breaker for a two count. Dreamer misses a charge into the corner and Bradshaw with the Clothesline from Wall Street for the three count.
Winner: Bradshaw
Bradshaw brings a chair into the ring after the match and the referee tries to stop Bradshaw from using it. Bradshaw sits down in the chair and then he gets the mic. Bradshaw tells Mike Adamle that he is not leaving the ring until he is made the number one contender.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Bradshaw does not want Mike Adamle to listen to the fans. The people cannot relate to him. They live in homes with mortgages they cannot afford while he owns several homes. Bradshaw says that you don’t mess with him. No one has more credentials to be number one contender than him.
Randy Orton’s music plays and he walks deliberately to the ring. Orton has something to say. He reminds everyone that he gave an evaluation of the champions and he was not impressed. That is why he made sure that Punk did not keep his title. Orton tells Bradshaw that he is not much of an improvement. Randy points out that the Age of Orton was cut short due to injury, but it is only a matter of time until he returns to the ring. He says that it does not matter who is the champion on Raw because he will become World Champion again. Finally there will be a champion on Raw with some credibility. Orton says that he does not care . . .
Santino Marella’s music plays and he comes out with Beth Phoenix. Santino has the mic and he wants to know who Orton thinks he is. He insults Santino and Beth, but they are champions. Unlike Orton, they are healthy. Santino says that Orton is always injured, just like his daddy. Santino asks Randy how long his dad had the cast on his arm. Santino says that his dad is always healthy, despite having the herpes. Santino says that him and Beth represent the new age of champions so he wants Orton to apologize.
Orton asks Santino if he is supposed to respond. Bradshaw tells Orton to apologize, but not to Mr. and Mrs. Phoenix, but to him because Orton is irrelevant. Bradshaw says that he was able to do something that Orton could not do and he did it with one move. Bradshaw says that he took Batista down with a clothesline. Bradshaw says that he hopes Orton doesn’t hurt his shoulder again.
Batista makes his way to the ring, but first we get some pyro. Batista laughs and says that before he beats the hell out of everyone, he says that this is the most pathetic sight that he has seen. They are making promises that they cannot keep. He compares them to politicians. Batista compares Beth to a pig wearing lipstick. Santino says that even though Beth may squeal, she is not a pig. Batista has a solution. He will face Bradshaw. After he beats Bradshaw, he will face Jericho at No Mercy. He will beat Jericho and then continue to beat people until Orton gets his doctor note. Santino asks if Batista is forgetting everyone. Batista tells Santino that if Beth wants a shot at the title after he wins it, she can get her ass kicked. Batista tells Bradshaw that he did not forget about last week and he wants a piece of Bradshaw.
Mike Adamle appears on the TitanTron and he says that there is no reason for physicality. He has talked to Chris Jericho about the number one contender. He will make his announcement after the Kane/Rey Mysterio match at the end of the night.
Batista tells Adamle that he will plead his case now. Batista with a punch to Bradshaw, but Bradshaw with a forearm to the back. Santino gets a spinebuster from Batista. Beth gets in Batista’s face while Bradshaw leaves the ring. Beth slaps Batista in the face and then she yells at Batista. She slaps him again and he looks like he enjoys it. Batista with a spinebuster on top of Santino.
Randy Orton walks in the back and he happens to pass Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, and Manu. They walk past without saying anything. We go to a second generation commercial.
Before the match starts, Jimmy Haas gets on the mic and he says that he talks about Oklahoma. He says that business is about to pick up and it will be a slobber knocker. Haas makes a plug for JR’s barbecue sauce.
Match Number Four: Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, and Manu versus Kofi Kingston, Jerry Lawler, and Jim Haas (to Jim Ross’s entrance music)
Kingston and Manu start things off and Kingston with a waist lock but Manu with a shoulder tackle and a head butt. Manu with a slam attempt but Kingston with a drop kick. Rhodes tags in and Kingston with a monkey flip. Lawler tags in and he kicks Rhodes. Rhodes punches Lawler but Lawler with a punch of his own. Lawler with a back body drop and a drop kick. Rhodes gets a near fall and then has Lawler in a side head lock. Haas joins Cole at the announce table before returning to the apron. Lawler with a jawbreaker and a punch. Haas tags in and he punches DiBiase. Haas with a clothesline and drop kick. Haas with a Thesz Press and punches and then he adjusts his midsection for a splash and he gets a two count. All six men are in the ring, but Kingston with a clothesline that takes care of him and Manu. DiBiase with the Million Dollar Side Leg Sweep for the three count on Haas.
Winners: Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, and Manu
We go to the Smackdown Rebound.
Chris Jericho is in his locker room getting cleaned up and Bradshaw enters. He reminds Jericho that they are not friends but he says that they were a good tag team. Jericho stops Bradshaw and he reminds Bradshaw that he cost him the title last year against Randy Orton. Jericho says that Mike Adamle trusts him more than Bradshaw. Jericho says that he is not investing in Lehman Brothers or Bradshaw title matches. We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Jamie Noble and William Regal’s match with Layla leaving with Regal after the match.
Match Number Five: Jamie Noble versus Paul Burchill with Katie Lea
Noble with a kick and forearms but Burchill sends Noble into the corner. Noble with kicks and forearms followed by kicks to the head. Noble with a running back elbow to Burchill. Noble with a head butt but Burchill with a knee to the midsection followed by a European uppercut. Burchill misses a charge into the corner and Noble rolls through into a cross arm breaker and Burchill taps out.
Winner: Jamie Noble
After the match, Layla comes out and she has a British accent. She says that last week was difficult and a hard decision. She says that she is sorry that it took so long to get rid of him. She was not going to have Noble take her to the Waffle House. She found a man who is worthy of her and it is William Regal. Regal comes out and says that it was not Noble that she wanted, it was nobility.
Mike Adamle is with Lance Cade and Batista interrupts and he wants to know if he is the number one contender. Cade asks Batista why he should think he is the number one contender. Batista grabs Cade by his shirt and asks him when he asked for Cade’s opinion. Batista leaves the office and Cade looks like he might need a change of pants. We go to commercial.
Match Number Six: Kane versus Rey Mysterio
Rey with a kick to the leg at the start of the match. Kane tries to back Rey into the corner and he is able to stop Rey from getting out of the corner. Kane with a punch to Rey. Kane charges into a boot. Rey with a springboard move and Kane catches him, but Rey punches his way out of Kane’s clutches. Kane chokes Rey in the ropes and then she throws Rey under the bottom rope but Rey lands on his feet. Rey gets in as Kane leaves the ring and Rey with a drop kick to Kane to send him to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Kane has Rey in a reverse chin lock. We see footage during the commercial when Rey hit a DDT on the floor but Kane hit a big boot. We are back to live action and Rey with a jawbreaker and then he kicks Kane away. Kane with a slam to Rey but he misses an elbow. Rey with a kick to the head followed by a drop kick. Rey punches Kane but Kane pushes Rey away. Kane with a knee and then he rolls Rey into the ring post and Rey hits it. Kane picks Rey up and then he gives Rey a hard Irish whip and he continues to work on Rey’s back. Kane with a back breaker and then he stretches Rey over his knee. Rey with knees to the head to get out of the hold. Kane punches Rey in the head and kicks him. Kane with an Irish whip but Kane misses a big boot in the corner when Rey moves. Rey with kicks to the leg followed by a wheelbarrow into a drop kick. Rey with a drop kick for a near fall. Rey with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors and Kane is sent into the turnbuckles. Rey goes up top but Kane catches him. Rey with an enzuigiri and Kane falls conveniently into the ropes for the 619, but Kane with a clothesline as Rey comes off the ropes. Kane stomps on Rey’s chest and kicks Rey but the referee calls for the bell.
Referee Stoppage
After the match, Kane tries to take off Rey’s mask Evan Bourne comes out and he connects with drop kicks to the knee. Rey with a drop kick and then Bourne with knees from the top turnbuckle. Rey hits a springboard seated senton and then Bourne and Rey leave the ring.
Chris Jericho and Lance Cade are walking and they are stopped by Dolph Diggler. Jericho refuses to shake his hand but Cade does. We go to commercial.
We are back with more fun factoids about the military tours.
Chris Jericho comes out with Lance Cade and Jericho gingerly enters the ring and he favors his right arm. Jericho has a mic and he tells everyone that he wanted to thank Mike Adamle for respecting his opinion as champion to figure out who will be the number one contender for his title. Jericho says that there has been a lot of talk. Should it be Bradshaw or Batista? Jericho says that neither man are worthy of a shot at his title. Jericho wants Bradshaw and Batista should meet at No Mercy to see who is the number one contender and then Jericho will wrestle the winner. Jericho says that is not a problem because he wrestled twice at Unforgiven. Jericho says that he is the best in the world and he deserves the title. Jericho says that he hopes Adamle accepts this proposition.
Mike Adamle comes out and he says that is more than fair. Bradshaw will face Batista and the winner will be the new number one contender. Mike says that he does not want to have challengers fight twice on the same night because he has to deal with Shane and Stephanie McMahon. Adamle says that Bradshaw and Batista will face the winner at a later date. Mike says that he heard of an idea that he could not ignore. Mike brings out Jericho’s opponent at No Mercy. Shawn Michaels comes out and he says that he knows what Chris is thinking. They have fought in a regular match and an unsanctioned match. Is there a way to top themselves? Is there a match that is not only thrilling and exhilarating that will allow him to permanently disfigure Chris in ways that he could not imagine. Shawn says that there is a match that some say he put on the map. A match that he revolutionized. It is a match that will allow him to beat Jericho for the title at No Mercy. They will meet in a . . . he asks for some help and two people bring out a big ladder. Shawn climbs the ladder and announces a ladder match for No Mercy.
2009 - Ric Flair signed a deal to return to the ring, facing Hulk Hogan on an Australian "Hulkamania Tour". Flair had retired at Wrestlemania 24 the previous year.
2009 - Jim Cornette and BG James were both let go by TNA. James had been working as an agent. Cornette was working as an agent and helping shape some of the matches and their TV presentation once the creative team determined the direction.
2009 - Independent wrestler Matt "Riot" Lowry passed away, a day after he was rushed to Hahnemann Hospital following an incident while training at the ECW Arena, CBS channel 3 in Philadelphia reported. Lowry, who was only 22 years old, died from head injuries according to police statements CBS, However, someone who was training Lowry (but not identified by name in the CBS report) stated that Lowry suffered an aneurysm while warming up for the training session. Lowry had wrestled for several independent groups in the Mid-West, including EWF and AIW but of late had been staying in New Jersey, according to the report.
2009 - WWE broadcast ECW on SciFi. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We begin with a look back at the ECW Title match that took place on Sunday when Christian retained the title against Bill Regal possibly due to Team Bromance’s removal from ringside.
We are live on tape from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and your announcers are Josh ‘Matt Striker = Gavin’ Mathews and Matt ‘Tom Clement’ Striker.
Tiffany comes to the ring and she says that the WWE Universe is buzzing about Breaking Point and she is proud of the ECW Title match.
She will speak no more because Bill Regal’s music plays and he is joined by his red clad compatriots. Regal talks while Vlad and Zeke act imposing. Regal says that Tiffany looks absolutely lovely tonight, and every evening, but especially tonight. He says that Tiffany is doing a wonderful job as general manager. He says that since he has been in her shoes and was a general manager longer than Tiffany, he wants to talk to Tiffany about what happened at Breaking Point. He says that Tiffany has a keen eye for talent, especially Vladimir Kozlov and Ezekiel Jackson. Regal wants to know why Tiffany banned them from ringside on Sunday.
Tiffany tells Regal that she appreciates him coming to her to voice his grievances. Her decision was to make the match one-on-one without any outside interference. Regal says that the decision caused great grief in his preparation. Regal would like another rematch against Christian. Tiffany says that other superstars deserve a chance against the champion so Regal will not have another chance at the ECW Title. Tiffany announces a Battle Royal for the new number one contender for the ECW Title. Tiffany wishes them luck. Tiffany tells Regal that he is not getting another shot at the ECW Title. Regal will be wrestling right now.
Match Number One: Hurricane versus William Regal
The match is joined in progress and Hurricane sends Regal into the turnbuckles and hits a few drop kicks. Hurricane with punches and Regal sends Hurricane to the floor. Hurricane throws Regal over the top rope to the floor but Regal tries to avoid Hurricane but Hurricane with a clothesline from the apron. They return to the ring and Hurricane with a forearm and punches. Hurricane with an Irish whip and back body drop and then Hurricane stomps on Regal’s solar plexus. Regal with punches to Hurricane but Hurricane with a cross body and punches to the head. Hurricane with a suplex and a near fall. Hurricane with a neckbreaker and then he goes to the apron and climbs to the top turnbuckle for a cross body and hits it for a two count.
Regal goes to the floor because he has had enough but Hurricane stops Regal and brings him back to the ring. Hurricane comes back into the ring and Regal with a running knee for the three count.
Winner: William Regal
After the match, while Hurricane licks his wounds, Paul Burchill attacks Hurricane from behind and hits a jackhammer.
We go to the locker room and Goldust apologizes to Yoshi Tatsu. Yoshi says that he wants to continue his English lesson. Zack Ryder enters and he comments on the English lesson. Zack did not like Yoshi’s use of his name as ‘loser’. They will be wrestling when we return.
We are back and in case you missed it last night because you were watching football, Batista is on Smackdown starting this week.
We have a Moments Ago Moment of Paul Burchill’s attack on Hurricane.
Paul is walking in the back and he is stopped by Savannah and she wants to know what he was thinking about the attack. Burchill says that he wonders where Gregory Helms is but he says that he is in the ring. Burchill says that Hurricane took advantage of Katie and he will pay for what he did.
We have special ring announcers and they are the Bella Twins.
Match Number Two: Yoshi Tatsu versus Zack Ryder
Ryder goes for the arm and he locks in an arm bar on Yoshi. Yoshi rolls through and reverses Yoshi with an arm bar. Yoshi turns it into a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Yoshi with a Japanese arm drag and then he rolls Ryder around the ring into a rollup for a near fall. Yoshi sends Ryder into the turnbuckles and Ryder moves and then kicks Yoshi off the turnbuckles and to the mat. Ryder with an elbow to the head. Ryder with a running boot to the face and then he catapults Yoshi into the ropes and gets a few near falls. Ryder with a reverse chin lock. Ryder with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Ryder with a chin lock and his knee on Yoshi’s chest to add more pressure. Ryder with a chin lock on Yoshi and he turns it into a reverse chin lock. Ryder with a back heel trip as he holds on to the chin lock. Ryder with a head butt to Yoshi. Yoshi gets a boot up for a charging Ryder and then Yoshi hits a roaring forearm and both men are down. Yoshi with an Irish whip and he connects with the running knees into the corner. Ryder with an elbow after blocking the rolling mare. Yoshi with a Frankensteiner for a two count. Yoshi misses the spin kick but Ryder hits a leg lariat for a two count. Yoshi hits a roundhouse kick for the three count.
Winner: Yoshi Tatsu
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to run through the matches already announced for Hell in a Cell.
Match Number Three: Number One Contender Battle Royal featuring Shelton Benjamin, Vladimir Kozlov, Ezekiel Jackson, Tommy Dreamer, Goldust, Sheamus, Tyler Reks, Paul Burchill, Zack Ryder, and Yoshi Tatsu
The bell rings and it is pandemonium in the ring as they pair off into five separate groups. Burchill with a knee to Benjamin while Goldust punches Jackson. Goldust has Zeke at the ropes but he stays in. Burchill punches Benjamin while Kozlov tries to eliminate Yoshi. Zeke punches Dreamer while Goldust punches Ryder and then he tries to eliminate Ryder. Benjamin with an Exploder to eliminate Burchill. Sheamus goes into the ring post when Reks moves. Benjamin sets his sights on Yoshi and Yoshi kicks Benjamin. Zeke tries to lift Dreamer but Tommy holds on to the ropes. Yoshi with kicks to Benjamin while everyone else is in the ropes. Dreamer is sent over the top rope but he lands on the apron and rolls back in. Yoshi with a sunset flip from the apron but Zeke breaks it up. Dreamer with a chop to Ryder but Benjamin punches Dreamer. Ryder helps Benjamin try to eliminate Dreamer but that plan fails. Zeke with a punch to Ryder’s midsection. Goldust with kicks and punches to Kozlov.
Yoshi with a running knee to Benjamin in the corner. Reks tries to help Goldust with Kozlov but Sheamus comes over. Sheamus with a punch to Reks followed by a forearm. Yoshi, Benjamin, and Dreamer try to eliminate Zeke while everyone else but Sheamus tries to eliminate Kozlov. Zeke fights out of trouble and works over Benjamin and then he slams Dreamer. Kozlov with head butts to Goldust and Reks followed by a clothesline to Ryder. Kozlov with another head butt to Reks followed by a clothesline. Benjamin hangs from the ropes but rolls back to the apron. Kozlov sends Reks over the top rope but Reks lands on the apron. Kozlov and Zeke go face to face and we go to commercial.
We are back and Kozlov with a shoulder to Sheamus while Goldust punches Zeke. We see footage from the break when Tyler Reks was eliminated by Vladimir Kozlov. Zeke attacks Dreamer from behind and connects with shoulders. Ryder with a forearm to stop Goldust. We see that Yoshi Tatsu has also been eliminated. Benjamin punches Ryder while Dreamer goes after Zeke and Zeke with a clothesline. Kozlov tries to get Sheamus up but Sheamus stops him. Sheamus tries to get Kozlov over the top rope. Zeke has Goldust over the top rope and he tries to hold on and Dreamer makes the save. Dreamer is a house afire as he works over Zeke. Kozlov sends Goldust into the turnbuckles. Sheamus attacks Benjamin with boots and a punch. Benjamin punches Sheamus and then he hits a Dragon Whip on Sheamus. Benjamin with Paydirt on Ryder and then he eliminates Sheamus. Benjamin skins the cat and he holds on to Jackson as Dreamer eliminates him. While Benjamin holds on to the ropes, Sheamus pulls Benjamin to the floor to eliminate him.
Benjamin goes after Sheamus and they fight until the referees stop things. We are down to the final four and it is Dreamer, Goldust, Ryder, and Kozlov. Dreamer with a cross body to Ryder but Kozlov with a head butt to Goldust’s chest and Goldust is down. Kozlov works on Dreamer’s back and midsection. Goldust punches Ryder and then Goldust with a flying clothesline and another clothesline. Goldust with the drop down uppercut and a reverse atomic drop but when he throws Ryder over the top rope, Ryder holds on to the apron. Ryder drops Goldust on the top rope. Goldust clotheslines Ryder again but Ryder stays on the apron. Goldust charges and Ryder drops down and Goldust eliminates himself. Kozlov with head butts to the chest followed by a belly-to-belly suplex and a ceremonial arm raising for no reason. Kozlov charges at Dreamer and Dreamer ducks down and Kozlov is eliminated. Ryder eliminates Dreamer to win the match.
Winner: Zack Ryder
2010 - SpikeTV issued the following announcement:
TNA issued the following announcement today:
TNA WRESTLING AND HULK HOGAN SET THE STAGE FOR ‘BOUND FOR GLORY 2010’ WITH A SPECIAL LIVE NIGHT OF TNA PROGRAMS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7 ON SPIKE TV
Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling will celebrate “Bound For Glory 2010,” the biggest pay-per-view event in TNA Wrestling’s history, with a three hour “TNA Thursday” LIVE special on Spike TV, Thursday, October 7 (9:00pm-12:00am ET/PT).
TNA’s flagship program “TNA iMPACT!” will feature a $100,000 Battle Royal Gauntlet main event, set by TNA President Dixie Carter, featuring every TNA Superstar competing at “Bound For Glory 2010”. Over 20 of the top TNA Superstars including Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, Mr. Anderson, “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy, “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, Hardcore Legend Mick Foley, “The Icon” Sting, and many more. The winner of the battle royal gauntlet will net a $100,000 purse.
“’Bound For Glory 2010’ is TNA’s biggest event of the year, and to celebrate we’ve brought every single TNA Superstar competing at the pay-per-view to this live special event on Spike TV,” Carter said. “This will be an unforgettable night of action, surprises and some change for TNA.”
In addition, TNA’s innovative one-hour docu-style series, “TNA ReACTION”, will also be broadcast LIVE for the first time in that show’s history. As the drama and excitement builds for “Bound For Glory 2010,” TNA’s revolutionary documentary shooting style will follow the superstars of TNA throughout “iMPACT!” and immediately after,
The “Bound For Glory” pay-per-view extravaganza will be held LIVE at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida on Sunday, October 10, 2010 (10.10.10) starting at 8 p.m. ET and airing worldwide exclusively on pay-per-view. For ticket information, visit www.ticketmaster.com
Since its founding in 2002, Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling has become the world’s fastest-growing professional wrestling company, currently airing in over 120 countries worldwide.
2011 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola penned the following TV report:
We kick off the show with a video looking back at this past weekend's No Surrender PPV, featuring Bobby Roode's victory in the Bound For Glory Series and Kurt Angle retaining the World Title thanks to the help of Hulk Hogan. We then head to the ring in the Impact Zone for our opening promo hyping a match that will happen for the first time in over a decade.
Ric Flair comes out to the ring and demands Sting come down to the ring to talk to him one last time before their match tonight. Sting comes out and Flair says he wants back in the limelight like before, he promised Hogan he'd beat him and Sting will only get to Hogan over his dead body. Sting says if that's the way it is, then Flair's going to die tonight. He tells Flair to take his robe off and go right now, but Flair is hesitant. Security runs out to separate them and Sting's music hits as Flair tells Sting he lucked out again. Flair heads to the back as security continues to hold Sting back.
Jeff Hardy is arriving at the Impact Zone and we'll find out what he wants...NEXT!
Jeff Hardy is backstage saying he's glad to be back and have the chance to apologize to everyone. The first step toward getting there was last week in Huntsville, and tonight is the second step when he starts to prove himself to the wrestlers and fans.
Time to head to the ring for our opening match...
Mexican America vs Devon, The Pope, Brooke Tessmacher & Tara
Pope makes sure to say hello to Devon's kids on the way to the ring as Tessmacher tears her shirt off and does a little mini-strip show. Devon and Hernandez start us off and start there blabbing at each other until Devon comes off the ropes and takes Hernandez out with a flying shoulderblock. Anarquia and Pope come in next and Pope hits a bunch of atomic drops and a flying shoulderblock of his own. Sarita comes in and grabs Pope from the outside, allowing Anarquia and Hernandez to suckerpunch him and take the advantage. It only lasts a moment before Pope makes the tag to Devon, who comes in and cleans house. Devon with a spinebuster and the girls wind up in a track meet before the Mexicanas decide to stop and hit on Devon's sons. Devon's kids get all into it, but all hell breaks loose with Devon and Pope knocking Hernandez and Anarquia to the floor while Brooke and Tara hit simultaneous rollups and pin Sarita and Rosita.
Winners: Devon, The Pope, Brooke Tessmacher & Tara
Karen is backstage admiring a giant poster of herself, and Traci Brooks comes in to get a tongue lashing from Karen, who took a whole six minutes to get there. Karen tells her to cover up her boobs, and Traci asks her if she's jealous, and Karen says no because she doesn't show her stuff off like a five and dime ho. Karen tells Traci to get the Knockouts in there and she has five minutes.
Okay, we're back from commercial and all the Knockouts are in the dressing room with Karen. Karen says Mickie's not getting her rematch and she's done, and as for the rest of them, they're going to have three matches in the Queen's Challenge. She asks if they know who the queen is, and Madison says it's HER!!!! Madison puts her tiara on Karen's head, then says it's going to be Mickie James vs Miss Tessmacher, Tara vs Madison Rayne, and Velvet Sky vs Angelina Love, with the winner challenging Winter at Bound For Glory.
We head out to the ring where Fortune is in the ring (hey, Kazarian does still work here!), and AJ introduces the winner of the Bound For Glory Series and the new #1 contender for the World Title, Bobby Roode! Roode comes out to the ring and AJ acknowledges what Roode accomplished by winning the series, and the crowd started chanting "next World Champ" at Roode,and AJ says to listen to the fans because he earned it and it's going to happen. Daniels says the way Roode won the series was as inspirational as when he beat AJ in Huntsville. They all believe in him and he needs to believe in himself the way he did when he beat AJ. Kazarian says they've watched each other's back and made this place, but they have individual goals as well. Kazarian doesn't blow smoke, but nobody deserves to be champion more than Roode. Storm says Bobby Roode, future World Champion has a nice ring to it, and all the nights they rode the roads together and Roode's been missing his family, it all comes down to the World Title match with Kurt Angle. He wishes it was him, but since it isn't, he's damn glad it's Roode and he's sorry about Roode's damn luck.
Kurt Angle comes out with a big smile on his face and he tells Roode he's right about what he accomplished, but he knows the rest of them are jealous of Roode because they all want that shot at the title. Since none of the rest of them want to tell Roode themselves, he'll tell him. Because he has the power of the Hogan-Bischoff Regime, he's booked Roode to face all the other members of Fortune in the weeks leading up to Bound For Glory. They can lie down for Roode if they want, but if they beat him then they'll be at the top of the totem pole. Kazarian's a lucky man because he's up first tonight.
Eric Bischoff is backstage telling Kurt Angle what a great idea it was to book Fortune against Robert Roode and tells him it was a gold medal idea.
Back to the ring!
Queen's Challenge Opening Round Match: Angelina Love vs Velvet Sky
Angelina jumps Velvet during her entrance while she's shaking her ass, proving thatthere is a Knockout smart enough to figure that out. Angelina beats Velvet up around ringside and then throws her back into the ring, but Velvet hits a bulldog and Angelina rolls out to the floor as we go to commercial.
We're back and Angelina is still beating Velvet up, putting the boots to her in the corner, but stops to play to the crowd and Velvet gets a quick rollup for 2. Angelina quickly kills her with a clothesline, then goes to a rear chinlock that Velvet escapes with a jawbreaker. Winter trips Velvet from the outside, and Angelina quickly pounces, choking her on the second rope and then distracting the referee so Winter can choke her as well. Back to the chinlock, then Angelina hits a nasty kneelift. Angelina tries to whip Angelina into Winter (who is on the apron), and Angelina stops short but Velvet dropkicks her and starts to rally. Winter goes to hit Velvet with the belt, but Velvet ducks and Winter knocks Angelina out. Velvet hits the Beauty-T (it's like a DDT with a different name) and gets the win to advance.
Winner: Velvet Sky
Jeff Hardy comes to AJ in the locker room to apologize, but AJ doesn't want to hear it because he worked his ass off for nine years and then Jeff comes out on one PPV and nearly destroys the whole thing. AJ says Jeff is risking taking money from his family, and he's why people talk negative about TNA. He doesn't think there's a time or a place for Jeff to be around him, and then AJ turns his back as Jeff walks out with a regretful look on his face.
Hulk Hogan arrives backstage and sees Ric Flair and tells him this is the biggest day of both of their careers. REALLY?? Hogan says he has a plan, but Sting comes from behind, puts his arms around both of them, and says he has a plan too: he's going to beat Flair and then get to Hogan at Bound For Glory. Sting leaves, so Hogan tells Flair to come with him so he can smarten him up. These promos just get more bizarre every week.
We now go to Crimson, who is with us by satellite from Brooklyn, as he talks about how Samoa Joe took him out and he's happy for Bobby Roode, but it should have been him. Taz asks what the heat is with him and Joe, but everything you do has consequences and Joe made it personal, and he will pay. Mike Tenay asks when we can expect to see him back on Imapct, and Crimson says he'll be back in two weeks.
Submission Match: Samoa Joe vs Matt Morgan
Joe attacks Morgan before the bell and unloads on him in the corner, but Morgan grabs him and tosses him into the corner where he destroys him with hard right hands and then the machine gun elbows. Joe goes down in the corner, so Morgan hits a running knee and then annihilates him with more vicious strikes. Joe gets a jawbreaker and sweeps his legs, then starts kicking at Morgan's knee. Morgan gets in a couple of shots and comes off the ropes, but Joe wipes him out with a back elbow and goes to the Kokina Clutch. Morgan gets to the ropes and Joe breaks for some reason even though he didn't have to since this is submissions only, and he pays for it when Morgan begins destroying him with more right hands and a discus clothesline. Morgan with a side suplex and a Michinoku Driver, then gets a sort of inverted triangle choke and Joe now goes to the ropes since it worked before even though it shouldn't. Joe ducks the Carbon Footprint and tries a kick, Morgan catches the foot and goozles Joe, but Joe pulls the referee between them and thumbs Morgan in the eye. Joe with a double kneesmasher and then locks Morgan in the figure four until he taps.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Joe gives Morgan a "that's right, bitch" look before grabbing his towel and walking off.
Kurt Angle walks into Frankie Kazarian's locker room asking him if he's ready because he's looking for the next top contender after he beats Roode. He wants Kazarian to prove he's the top guy in Fortune, and he'll be waiting.
Devon is backstage telling Jeff Hardy that he's been real with him for 12 years and they've been up and down the highway for 12 years, and he doesn't care what anybody else thinks because he cares about Jeff and won't turn his back on him, but he'll be damned if Jeff throws it all away like that. He knows Jeff Hardy can be the showstopper and be the one that comes up like any other, and he needs Jeff to get it straight. He won't turn his back on Jeff, he'll grab him by the neck and throw him through the wall to get him on the straight and narrow, and asks Jeff if he knows what he's saying. Jeff says he does, and Devon says that's good because if he screws up this time, it's over. Jeff starts to leave and Devon says that if Jeff needs him, he's got Jeff's back.
Time for our next match...
Bobby Roode vs Frankie Kazarian
Looks like Roode's got some newtights. They tie up and do a feeling out process and end in a stalemate. They go again and Roode takes Kazarian down with a waistlock and goes to a front facelock. Kazarian reverses to a wristlock and Roode quickly armdrags him across the ring. Kazarian sweeps Roode's leg and springboards off the ropes, but misses the legdrop so he tries a springboard DDT instead and Roode catches him and dumps him right into a northern lights suplex for 2. Kazarian takes Roode to the corner and unloads with a series of forearms, but Roode just stares at him beforefiringback with forearms of his own and then clotheslines Kazarian over the top rope to the floor. Roode goes out after Kazarian and tries to help him back to his feet, but Kazarian shoves himandthen decks him in the face. Kazarian rolls Roode into the ring and hits a slingshot legdrop for 2, then a side salto for another 2. Kazarian goes to a three quarter nelson, but Roode fights his way out and starts the babyface comeback. Roode with a Blockbuster for 2, Kazarian tries for the Blackout, but Roode slips out and traps Kazarian in the Crippler Crossface right in the middle of the ring and Kazarian has no choice but to tap.
Winner: Bobby Roode
Kurt Angle is backstage looking unhappy with the result of that match, then Roode tries to help Kazarian back to his feet and Kazarian walks away from him, then cools down and shakes Roode's hand and tells him that he's ready.
During the break, Kazarian is backstage telling Roode that it got physical out there because he wants to be in Roode's spot, but Roode proved himself and they'll do it again when it's for the right reasons. Roode says he's been ready for 13 years and it's his time. We then go to Austin Aries, who says the X Division will become the A Double Division, and next week, he'll make his first titme defense.
We run down some matches for next week, and then we go to comments from Jerry Lynn and Bully Ray. Lynn says RVD is gullible for not realizing what Lynn was doing getting him disqualified every week. He's going to beat RVD's brains in, and Bully Ray is going to put his chain through Anderson's head when the two of them face Rob Van Dam and Ken Anderson next week.
It's main event time!
Ric Flair vs Sting
The bell rings and we're off. They tie up and Sting powers Flair across the ring, then comes off the ropes and takes Flair down with a shoulderblock. Another tie up and Flair goes to a wristlock and yanks Sting down by the hair. Sting tries a kip up and barely makes it, then takes Flair to the corner and breaks clean. Flair woos, Sting yells, then they trade hammerlocks. Flair with a drop toehold and floats over to a front facelock, but Sting reverses to a hammerlock and Flair goes to the ropes for a break. Flair shoves Sting and Sting knocks him on his butt with a slap to the face as we go to commercial. Because we want to interrupt the first Sting vs Flair match in a decade with a commercial!
We're back, and Flair catches Sting coming into the corner with a back elbow and then tries to go up top, but we all know how that turns out. Sting tosses Flair, then clotheslines him over the top to ringside. Sting follows him out and Flair whips him into the rail, but Sting comes right back with a clothesline and then rolls Flair into the ring where he beats him down in the corner. Sting stops to argue with the referee and Flair does his trademark uppercut and Sting goes down in a heap. Flair picks him up and lays in some chops, but Sting fires back and goes up top in the corner for the 10 punch count. Sting whips Flair across the ring and goes for the Stinger Splash, but Flair dodges and Sting hits the corner hard, then Flair clips Sting's knee. Flair gets the figure four, but Sting manages to reverse. Flair breaks, but goes right back after Sting's knee and dishes out some more chops in the corner. Sting starts no-selling, so Flair pokes him in the eye and goes back up top, but Sting goes up after him and hits a superplex that a 63 year old man just should not be taking and covers for 2, then the rest of Immortal runs in and Sting takes care of them all until Hogan comes to ringside and distracts Sting. Bully Ray comes out of the crowd with a chain and stalks Sting, but Ken Anderson's music hits and he chases Ray off with a chair as Hogan hands Flair a set of knucks. Flair knocks Sting out and goes for the cover, but Sting gets his shoulder up at 2. Flair goes back to more chops, but Sting no-sells, hits the Stinger Splash, Flair does the Flop, Sting looks out at Hogan and gets the Scorpion Deathlock, and Flair submits.
Winner: Sting
We see a closeup of Hogan at ringside yelling at Sting, we fade to black and that's all I got. I'll be back tomorrow in the Elite section with Dave Scherer for the Impact Postgame/Stu & Pid Show!
2012 - CHIKARA held Night Two of their King of Trios 2012 tournament in Easton, PA. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of CHIKARA King of Trios Night Two from Easton, PA!
They announced that the Submission Squad still has not arrived after missing last night. The crowd popped.
King of Trios Quarter-Final: F.I.S.T. - Chuck Taylor & Johnny Gargano & Icarus vs. Team JWP - Commando Bolshoi, Kaori Yoneyama, and Tsubasa Kuragaki
Yoneyama and Taylor were going to start out but Taylor immediately tagged out to Icarus. Icarus controlled her early with several power spots and slams. She slipped out of the corner and nailed a big kick before tagging in Bolshoi. Gargano tagged in as well and they locked up. He forced her into the corner and let her go, grandstanding. The crowd chanted for Bolshoi.
Gargano shoved her down and each time she leapt back to her feet. Bolshoi hit a series of armdrags that sent Gargano scampering to the floor. Kuragaki tagged in as did Taylor. This time it was Taylor getting sent flying due to her power.
They locked up and again she out muscled him. FIST began triple-teaming her but she came back to wipe them out with big running clotheslines. Team JWP began triple teaming F.I.S.T with Kuragaki superplexing her own partners down on FIST from the ropes and then coming off with a big splash. FIST ran to the floor to regroup as the crowd chanted "JWP."
Back in the ring, Gargano took control on Yoneyama but she quickly fired back with chops before getting cut off with a stiff kick for a two count. Icarus tagged in and came off with an double axehandle to the back. He picked her up for a slam and tagged back in Taylor.
Taylor continued working over Yoneyama. Gargano joined the fray and drilled her with several kicks to the mid-section. He slammed her down for a two count and held her for Icarus to kick. Icarus suplexed her over and slammed her down, before laying a knee down on her for a two count.
Icarus took off his shirt and kissed Yoneyama. This incensed her she leapt up and over during a charge and nailed a German suplex. The crowd clapped for her to make the hot tag and she did to Bolshoi. F.I.S.T. charged the ring and JWP met them.
Bolshoi cleared the ring and nailed an awesome Asai moonsault to the outside. Icarus and Gargano tried to double team Kuragaki but she ran through a double clothesline attempt and drilled them, then suplexed both for a two count. Yoneyama nailed a running sliced bread #2 off the ropes for a near fall. Bolshoi locked an Octopus on Taylor for a near submission.
Everyone went into a great series of near falls. Kuragaki locked Gargano in a Torture Race for a near submission. Sugar Dunkerton, who was in FIST's corner got involved and was shoved into Yoneyama, knocking her down. Taylor locked her in a Boston Crab and she submitted.
Your winners, FIST!
Really good opening match as everyone worked their rear ends off. The crowd gave JWP a standing ovation after the match.
Mister Touchdown with Veronica vs. 1-2-3 Kid
Touchdown does a football gimmick obviously. Kid is Shawn Waltman, obviously.
Touchdown mocked Kid early but ended up eating a series of karate chops. The crowd was really into Kid early. Touchdown did a lot of stalling early. Kid grabbed Touchdown in a side headlock. He was sent into the ropes asnd reversed a hiptoss into one of his own. Kid sent Touchdown into the corner but missed a Bronco Buster. That allowed Touchdown to take control and garner several near falls.
Touchdown grabbed a front facelock but Kid fought his way out and drilled him in the mush with a roundhouse kick. Kid tossed him to the floor and nailed a slingshot pescado to the outside. Kid brought him back into the ring and peppered him with punches.
As Kid nailed punches, Touchdown lowblowed him in the groin and covered him for the pin.
Your winner, Mr. Touchdown!
The match was decent. The booking here was actually really smart as Touchdown gets the win over a name via nefarious means while also working with a veteran who he can learn from.
Waltman took the mic after and said that he wanted to apologize because he didn't feel like he gave everyone their money's worth tonight and fell for such a dirty trick. He asked everyone to return so he can do his best tomorrow.
King of Trios Quarter-Final: The Batiri (Obariyon, Kodama, and Kobald) vs. The Spectral Envoy (Ultramantis Black, Hallowicked, and Frightmare)
They started out hard with lots of fast paced Lucha spots. Lots of chanting for Ultramantis early. Mantis nailed a series of Lucha armdrags followed by a flip off the apron on one of the Batiri.
Hallowicked and another battled back and forth with punches and chops until Wicked nailed a running knee in the corner. The Batiri soon overcame him with a series of double and triple team maneuvers. Wicked tried to battle his way out of the corner but was unable to and brought to the mat with a side chinlock.
The Batiri continued to maul him while mocking and tricking the Envoy to try and get into the ring to help. Wicked finally broke free and tagged in Ultramantis Black. He cleaned house on the Batiri and nailed a nice monkey flip out of the corner on one of the them, then swept the other's leg, forcing him into dropkicking his partner.
It broke down into a brawl with everyone battling. Frightmare was knocked off the ropes to the entrance ramp (they have the old school WCW ramp to the ring). The Batiri double teamed Hallowicked but he kicked up. Frightmare and Wicked came back and defeated the Batiri.
Your winners, The Spectral Envoy!
The Batitri laid out the Envoy after the bout.
Osaka Pro's Ebessan & Takoyakida vs. Green Ant & Fire Ant
Ebessan and Green Ant started out and went back and forth. There was some comedy early. The Colony controlled early, sending Osaka Pro to the floor to regroup.
They battled back and forth with lots of nice multi-man spots and comedy bits. The Ants nailed some nice dives and hit some double team spots. The Colony actually whipped the referee into onto of the Osaka Pro talents and ended up hitting a flying head scissors.
Ebessan finally sprayed hairspray in the eyes of Green Ant, leading to the finish.
Your winners, Osaka Pro!
King of Trios Quarter-Finals: Team Sendai Girls, Sendai Sachiko, Dash Chisako, and Meiko Satomura vs. Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw & Manami Toyota
Quackenush and Satomura kicked off the match with some really good chain wrestling and reversals. Satomura nearly wiped out Quack with a kick to the head but he ducked in time. Quack took her to the mat and showed some real aggression against her. Satomura came back with a flurry of kicks, so Quack tagged out.
Jigsaw and Sendai Sachiko went back and forth She hit a rana off the ropes. Dash Chisako and Toyota went back and forth. Dash was dropkicked to the floor. Toyota hit a dive from the top to the floor. Quack followed up with a moonsault to the floor on everyone.
Back in the ring, Quack and Toyota double teamed Dash. Dash came back with a rana into a rollup on Toyota. Toyota nailed a big German suplex with a bridge for a two count. Quack tagged in and locked her up in several submissions. Quack went for a backbreaker but Dash turned it into a armdrag and tagged in Sachiko who nailed a DDT and a flip splash for a two count.
Totoya tagged in and drilled Sachiko with a dropkick and a crazy big boot to the face. She tried up Dash in the ropes and dropkicked her to the floor. Toyota nailed another missile dropkick for a two count. Sendai caught Toyota with an insane DDT for a near fall.
Quack hit the ring but accidentally nailed Jigsaw with a palm strike. The Sendai Girls triple teamed hm. Quack was nailed with an insane Pele style kick and pinned.
Your winners, Team Sendai Girls!
Just an excellent match from start to finish., So great that it was impossible to keep up This is one you will want to get the DVD of from www.smartmarkvideo.com.
Sugar Dunkerton vs. Tatanka
Tatanka got a monster pop. They locked up and Tatanka worked over his arm. They went back and forth. Icarus came down to ringside.
They continued battling back and forth. Dunkerton locked on an armbar but Tatanka chopped him to get out of it. Dunkerston screamed as he staggered around and it was awesome.
Dunkerton came back with a running headbutt and knee to the face. Dunkerton Tatanka made a comeback and continued beating Dunkerton. Tatanka nailed a suplex for a two count. The crowd chanted "Defense" since Sugar is a throwback basketball gimmick.
Dunkerton worked over Tatanka who made the big Indian War Dance. Tatanka nailed a series of chops. Tatanka went to the top and came off with a missile chop.
FIST got involved and tried to interfere but Dunkerton shoved them away. Tatanka grabbed him in a Samoan drop for the pin.
Your winner, Tatanka!
OK match. It was a nice showcase for Tatanka. Dunkerton had some memorable moments.
The crowd chanted, "Please come back."
King of Trios Quarter-Finals: Team ROH - The Young Bucks & Mike Bennett (with Maria Kanellis) vs. Team Extreme - Jn & 2 Cold Scorpio & Tommy Dreamer
Team ROH blew off a handshake. The crowd chanted "Kill the Young Bucks." Lynn started off with Nick Jackson. They went back and forth trading holds and reversals. Lynn grabbed a side headlock but was shot into the ropes. He dropped down and was caught with an inverted atomic drop.
Scorpio and Matt tagged in and went back and forth. Matt nailed some chops but they weren't effective. Scorp nailed some great dropkicks and an awesome dropkick taking out the Bucks. He teased a dive and danced instead. The crowd loved it.
Matt returned to the ring and locked up with Scorpio. He used a head scissors takedown and a series of armdrags to gain control. Dreamer and Bennett finally tagged in and faced off. They locked up and Bennett grabbed an armbar. Dreamer reversed it and worked him over but was reversed again and snapped down. They continued into a nice series of reversals until Dreamer locked on an armbar.
Dreamer nailed a neckbreaker for a two count. Nick Jackson tagged in and nailed a bodypress. Dreamer caught him and nailed a Fall Away Slam. Matt Jackson hit the ring and went for a kick but was caught and nailed. Nick attacked Dreamer and the Bucks nailed a double dropkick and backdrop.
Lynn hit the ring for the save and drilled Matt. He nailed a rana off the top into the ring for a two count, then nailed a wheelbarrow into a facebuster for a two count. Lynn was maneuvered into the corner and triple-teamed by Team ROH.
Bennett and Scorpio tagged in and they went back and forth. Bennett dared him to fight. Scorpio tried to work over an arm but was nailed. Team ROH triple teamed Scorpio, tagging in and out. They worked him over for some time.
Dreamer finally made the hot tag and cleaned house, knocking down the Bucks and drilling Bennett into the buckles. Dreamer nailed a spinebuster for a two count. He went to tie Bennett to the tree of woe but was overwhelmed. He backdropped Matt and nailed a stunner and neckbreaker on the others in stereo. Dreamer hit a top rope splash for a two count.
He and Bennett battled back and forth. Bennett went to the top but was nailed. Maria got on the apron, distracting Dreamer, allowing Bennett to nail him. Scorpio and Lynn battled in the corner with Team ROH, setting up a Tower of Doom spot. Dreamer was recovering and was laid out in the melee. Some fans chanted for ROH while the rest of the venue booed that.
Lynn nailed a dive to the floor on Bennett. He then held Bennett for Scorp to nail a dive. The Bucks kicked them and nailed a dive. Dreamer went to the top and dove into the pile below. That got an ECW chant.
Back in the ring, Scorp and Lynn worked over Bennett. The Bucks took control on Scorp with a series of double team moves including a running powerbomb into the corner for a two count. Bennett grabbed Lynn and they laid him out. They went after Dreamer and he pulled out a remote and hit pause, a play off a funny spot ECW did last night. They froze and he walked around them as if they were frozen, then hit play. They charged for superkicks but he was nowhere to be found. They turned around and ducked his clothesline then superkicked him and nailed More Bang For Your Buck for the pin.
Your winners, Team ROH!
Really good hard hitting back and forth match.
The ECW team received a standing ovation on the way out.
&nb
Grand Champion of CHIKARA Eddie Kingston vs. Tadasuke
Nice reaction for Kingston. They locked up and went into a test of strength. Kingston was forced down to the mat and worked his way back Tadasuke worked over his arm but Kingston reversed.
Tadasuke worked over Kingston's back and arms, trying to surfboard him but Kingston reversed. It was a big struggle between powerhouses early. They went back and forth until Kingston gained control.
Kingston locked on a rear chinlock, forcing Tadasuke to make to the ropes to break. They faced off again and locked up. Kingston grabbed a side headlock. Tadasuke tried to force him off but Kingston held on. Kingston was sent into the ropes but rolled through with a big shoulderblock.
Kingston and Tadasuke began exchanging chops back and forth in the ring. Kingston applied a dragon sleeper. Tadasuke went to the floor to escape and Kingston hit a dive through the ropes to the floor.
Kingston drilled him with a stiff headblock. They battled back to the ring and then onto the ramp. Tadasuke drilled Kingston with a big clothesline and began hammering the back of his neck. He drilled the champ with a series of chops.
Tadasuke drilled Kingston with a series of knees and stiff shots, then choked him against the ropes. Kingston fired back with a hard chop and several headbutts but was cut off. Tadasuke dropped a legdrop for a two count and locked in a side chinlock.
Tadasuke continues to beat down Kingston, but he fired back with some stiff as hell shots and chops. They battered each other back and forth with some crazy forearms shots. Tadasuke laid waste to Kingston who came out of nowhere with a crazy lariat for a two count
Kingston went for the running backfist but was blocked and drilled with a lariat for a two count. They just killed each other with these massively stiff shots for two counts.
The crowd is chanting. "This is wrestling." "You don't say?"
Tadasuke nailed a F5 for a two count. He went for a Torture Rack but Kingston slipped out and nailed a spinning backfirst. He nailed a pair of backdrop drivers for the pin.
Your winner and still Grand Champion of CHIKARA, Eddie Kingston!
Tim Donst came out and cut a promo and said that ever since he lost his hair to Hallowicked, he's been miserable. He thought he didn't deserve to be happy but then he saw Kingston laying there bruised and beaten, and no a smile is on his face. He said that Kingston is everything that is wrong about pro wrestling. He said the carnies, the backstabbers and the politicians rise to the top and not him like people. He said Kingston is a violent monster. Kingston went to nail him but Donst laid him out and said that he made Donst do that. He said that karma doesn't exist but Tim Donst does.
Donst left. Kingston began to recover as the announcers tried to sign off. Kingston told everyone to shut up. He then apologized and said he was sorry and asked for a mic.
For more on CHIKARA, visit www.CHIKARAPro.com.
2012 - Ring of Honor held Death Before Dishonor X in Chicago Ridge, IL. Stu Carapola filed the following iPPV report:
Irish Airborne vs Roderick Strong & Michael Elgin
This is the first time we've seen Irish Airborne in an ROH ring in forever. Jake Crist and Strong trade wristlocks, Strong takes Crist down with a drop toehold as the afro-clad Truth Martini extolls his virtues from ringside. Strong hits the ropes and takes Jake out with a leg lariat, then raises the roof at Elgin for kicks. Strong with a chop to Crist, but Crist sweeps Roderick's leg and hits a leaping enziguiri from the floor. Dave Crist hits a quick Lionsault and Jake covers Roderick for 2. Irish Airborne with a quick double team sequence on Roderick for 2, but Roderick connects with a couple of well-placed boots for 2 and tags in Elgin. Jake uses his speed to outmaneuver Elgin briefly, but Elgin connects with a hard forearm for 2. Elgin with a (very) delayed vertical suplex for 2, then he flattens Jake with a clothesline in the corner. Jake Guile kicks Elgin as he charges the corner, and Jake tries a flying bodypress, but Elgin catches him, so Dave Crist comes in and dropkicks Jake onto Elgin for 2. Irish Airborne with a series of double teams ending with a double superkick, and Dave gets 2 on Elgin. Elgin blocks a suplex and reverses to one of his own, but Dave starts firing back and tries a DDT, Elgin blocks and counters to a windmill backbreaker. Airborne again take to double teaming Elgin, with Jake hitting a Northern Lights suplex for 2 on Elgin. Elgin goes for a tag but Roderick walks away from him, so Elgin goes out to the floor and gets into a shoving match with Strong. Jake tries a dive and Elgin catches him, but Dave comes over the top with a dive of his own and that takes Elgin out. Elgin with a double fallaway slam on both members of Irish Airborne and covers Dave for 2. Roderick is jumping up and down in the corner begging Elgin to tag him in now that Irish Airborne is basically down and out, but Elgin flips him off, powerbombs Dave into the corner, then gives him a normal powerbomb. Elgin backfists Jake and picks him up for another powerbomb, but Roderick tags himself in and quickly covers Dave as Elgin powerbombs Jake into the corner so hard he flips backward and out of the ring.
Winners: Roderick Strong & Michael Elgin
Truth Martini tries to raise Elgin's hand, but Elgin won't let him and walks off. Nigel McGuinness & Kevin Kelly are talking, but I can't hear a word they're saying and didn't for the entire last match. Looks like commentary is out.
Matt Hardy comes out for commentary on the next match, and Nigel McGuinness asks him for a few words and to tell people what he's looking to do here in ROH. Hardy says he's here to watch the TV Title Match, and that he's going to go to the broadcast table to call some professional wrestling right now.
TV Title Match: Adam Cole vs Mike Mondo
Mondo says that if they're going to do this, they're going to do it under No Fear Rules: no time limit, no countouts, just two men fighting until there's a winner. Cole says he's the TV Champion, and he never backs down from a fight, so if Mondo wants those rules, he's on.
They tie up and jockey for position for quite a while until Mondo takes Cole to the corner. Mondo breaks clean, but charges right back into the tie up and they both tumble out to the floor while holding onto the tie up. They tie up all around ringside and then back into the ring where Mondo goes to an armbar. Cole picks Mondo's leg, but Mondo rolls away as we get a shot of Matt Hardy sitting at ringside with Nigel and Kevin, with us completely unable to hear a word they're saying. Cole takes Mondo down with a side headlock, Mondo tries to suplex Cole, but Cole lands on his feet and takes Mondo out with a kitchen sing and knocks him out to the floor. Mondo comes right back inside and they go nose-to-nose in a tense staredown. Mondo takes Cole down with a Greco-Roman knucklelock and a headscissors, then tries to muscle Cole to his back. Cole fights his way out of the hold, but gets backdropped to the floor. Cole comes back inside and starts kicking at Mondo's leg, trying to take his knee out from under him, then hits a dragon screw legwhip for 2. Cole hangs Mondo's knee over the second rope and dropkicks it, covers for 2, then gets a rare kneebar on Mondo's bad wheel. Cole with a second rope dropkick for 2, but Mondo hits a divorce court out of nowhere and now Cole's arm is hurting. Mondo wraps Cole's arm around the ring rope and drives a knee into it, Cole gets a sunset flip for 2 out of nowhere but Mondo gets Cole's leg and uses it to climb the mountain and stomp Cole in the back. Mondo with a short armscissors, Cole tries a couple of times to roll Mondo to his back fo a pin, but can't quite put him away, so Cole whips Mondo hard into the corner to cause a flip sell instead. Cole cleans house, sending Mondo to the floor and wiping him out wih a dive. Now Cole is on the offensive, ramming Mondo from barricade to barricade. Mondo reverses one and sends Cole into the barricade, then they fight their way up the aisle until Cole picks Mondo up and dumps him on the floor. The go back down to ringside and Cole again goes flying into the barricade, with Mondo following soon after with a football tackle into the rail. They go back inside and go to-to toe in the middle of the ring. Cole with a big right hand that nearly knocks Mondo silly, but he's out at 2. Mondo gets an advantage and stomps Cole silly, then he goes to the top rope. Cole dodges a kneedrop, Mondo dodges a superkick but Cole takes Mondo down and goes for a figure four. Mondo tries to fight it, but eventually Cole completes the hold and has Mondo trapped right in the middle of the ring. Mondo reverses, but Cole reverses back and Mondo taps.
Winner: Adam Cole
Good match, but it probably would have come off better if we could hear the fans or commentary since Matt Hardy's presence was such a focal point of the match. Matt Hardy comes over to congratulate them on a good match, then Hardy comes in and shakes both men's hands. Matt says he wants to observe the Code of Honor, and he shakes both men's hands. He continues by saying that a lot of people have told him how Cole reminds them of a younger version of himself, but Matt says there's one big difference: he was better than Cole at his age, and he's MUCH better than him now.
Commentary finally returns before the next match as we go to ringside as Nigel and Kevin discuss the tag tournament finals that is up next. Nigel is holding what appear to be new title belts, and they discuss what winning the title will mean to each of the finalists.
ROH World Tag Team Title Tournament Finals: Rhett Titus & Charlie Haas vs Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs
Haas & Corino start us off and they spend a lot of time circling and feeling each other out before Haas tags out to Titus. Titus comes off the ropes with a pair of shoulderblocks, but nobody moves. Corino gets a deep armdrag on Titus, Titus counters to a head scissors and bars Corino's arm, so Corino tags out to Jacobs, and now Jacobs takes an armdrag. Jacobs gets Titus in a corner and gets a cheap right hand, but Titus hits a monkey flip and goes back to the armbar. Titus dodges a charge in the corner and backdrops Jacobs, but Corino comes in and blindsides Titus, leading to more double teams from SCUM. Haas kicks Jacobs in the back from the ring apron, then tags himself in to beat Jacobs up. Haas with an overhead release suplex for 2 on Jacobs and is in control, but winds up in the wrong corner and on the receiving end of a beating from SCUM. Haas makes the hot tag to Titus, who cleans house...oh wait, no he doesn't, Corino take him out with the Colby Shock for 2. Now Titus is on the receiving end of a series of double teams from Corino & Jacobs, and Haas tries to make the save, but Corino dumps him out to the floor. Titus takes advantage of the distraction to clean house on SCUM and make the hot...no, he changes directions and goes back after Jacobs, hitting a windmill slam for 2. Titus with the Razor's Edge for 2, and now Haas is in to go at it with Corino. Haas dumps Corino to the floor and hits the Hacker Slam on Jacobs, but Corino runs in and breaks up the fall at 2. Haas and Corino go at it while Jacobs pulls the spike out of his boot and goes after Titus with it. Titus dodges and goes at it with Jacobs, but Shelton Benjamin comes into the ring and superkicks Jacobs into next week. Shelton gets into a shoving match with Titus, who doesn't appreciate Shelton's interference, and Shelton pretends to back off, but comes back in after Titus turns his back and hits him with Paydirt. Shelton slips out to the floor as Jacobs crawls over and pins Titus for the win.
Winners: Jimmy Jacobs & Steve Corino
Haas starts arguing with Shelton because he cost them the match, but then a furious Titus gets to his feet and yells at both Haas & Benjamin before attacking them by himself. Titus ends up getting stomped out and takes a double team powerbomb from WGTT as a group of ROH officials comes out to break the situation up.
We see a video package looking back at a couple of weeks ago on ROH TV when Jay Lethal, who had been told that he wasn't getting a shot at Kevin Steen because he doesn't have enough of a killer instinct, kicked Matt Taven in the groin and laid out a referee to show that he can be nasty and have a killer instinct. We then go to a backstage promo where Lethal says he's not completely turning on ROH or rebelling against the company, but he's been pushed too far and he wants to show that he's got what it takes to beat Kevin Steen. He's wrestling a former ROH World Champion tonight in Homicide, and he's going to prove that he can hang on that level.
Jay Lethal vs Homicide
These two have a lot of history in ROH, which I touched on recently when I reviewed the Jay Lethal DVD set that covered much of the Lethal vs Rottweilers feud of 2005. Lethal and Homicide have an extended feeling out process, Homicide takes Lethal to the corner and nearly breaks clean, but fires in a right hand and Lethal responds with chops and punches of his own. Homicide sends Lethal to the floor with a flying headscissors and teases a dive, but stops short and flips off the fans. He goes to the apron instead and tries a running dive onto Lethal, but Lethal catches him and smashes his back into the ring apron. Now Lethal comes out of the ring with a dive and then rams Homicide into the barricade, Homicide tries to grab a chair but the referee pulls it away and leaves Homicide open to another shot from Lethal, who rams Homicide into the rail a second time. They finally head back inside and Lethal plants Homicide with a bodyslam and connects with a kneedrop for a 2 count. Lethal with a running shoulderblock to the ribs in the corner, but Homicide dodges a second one, sending Lethal crashing into the turnbuckle. Homicide picks Lethal up for what looks like an attempt at an atomic drop, but instead drops Lethal on his ass on the ring apron. Homicide brings Lethal back inside and starts throwing chairs and the ring bell into the ring, but took too long getting back in himself and Lethal goes after him as he slides under the bottom rope. Homicide quickly catches him with a kitchen sink and then goes out to the apron to try and suplex Lethal onto the timekeeper's table, Lethal blocks so Homicide drags him through the ropes and tries to piledrive him onto the table instead. Lethal again fights Homicide off and drags him back into the ring to hti another running shoulderblock to the ribs. Both men come off the ropes and try for a crossbody, with both men connecting and both going down as the referee starts to count. They trade blows as they get to their feet and then stand and exchange punches and chops in the middle of the ring. Lethal counters a Cop Killa attempt to a rollup for 2, but Homicide gets 2 off a tornado DDT. Homicide goes for the lariat, Lethal ducks and goes for the Lethal Combination, Homicide blocks that and Lethal hits the release Dragon suplex for 2. Homicide hits the lariat for 2, and appears shocked when Lethal kicks out, so he goes for another lariat but runs into a windmill backbreaker. Lethal goes to the top, Homicide runs over and tries a top rope Ace Crusher, but Lethal blocks and slips underneath Homicide to hit a running Death Valley Driver for 2. Lethal takes a charge and runs right into an overhead release suplex, then Homicide follows that right up with another running lariat for 2. Homicide hits the Ace Crusher and goes for another lariat, Lethal ducks and gets a running vertical suplex, then hits Hail To The King. Instead of going for the pin, Lethal picks Homicide up and hits the Lethal Combination, but intentionally doesn't hook a leg so Homicide can kick out and Lethal can hit another Lethal Combination. Homicide is out again at 2, so Lethal pauses for a moment to reflect before superkicking Homicide in the face and hitting a fisherman's buster. Homicide again kicks out at 2, then gets to his feet and spits right in Lethal's face, so Lethal nails him and hits a really devastating cradle DDT for the win.
Winner: Jay Lethal
This match kicked 17 different kinds of ass, Homicide put up a hell of a fight, and Lethal really had to dig deep to not only survive Homicide's offense, but bring out that killer instinct Jim Cornette thinks he needs to have a shot against Kevin Steen.
Speaking of Cornette, he comes out before the main event (much later that night) to inform us that since Steen retained against Eddie Kingston in a no DQ match, and Rhino earned this title shot by beating Eddie Edwards in a no DQ match, the Steen-Rhino match will now be anything goes!
ROH World Title/Anything Goes Match: Kevin Steen vs Rhino
They immediately start brawling and go out to the floor where Rhino rams Steen into the barricade, but then Steen returns the favor and takes Rhino around the ring to ram him into the barricade in front of a fan holding a sign that says "If Steen loses, I'll complain on the internet". Steen then takes the sign and rips it up, and Rhino rewards Steen's good showing of heelishness by suplexing him on the floor. Steen reverses an Irish whip and Rhino again hits the rail in front of the guy with the sign, then whips him all the way across ringside and into the opposite barricade. They finally head back inside and trade blows in the ring until Rhino hits a spinebuster and covers for 2. Rhino chokes Steen on the bottom rope, then hits a belly to belly suplex for a 2. You usually don't see Steen getting tossed around like that. Steen slumps over the middle rope and Rhino goes out to the apron to kick him in the skull, but Steen kicks the middle rope into Rhino's groin as he gets back in the ring and hits a hanging DDT. Steen with a running cannonball in the corner, Rhino tries to go to the top rope but Steen shoves him off and Rhino tumbles to the floor. Steen follows Rhino out and rams him into the barricade again, then pulls a table out from under the ring and slides it into the ring. Steen rams Rhino into the barricade again, then pulls the table back out of the ring and balances it between the ring and the barricade. Truth Martini sneaks up behind Steen to try and hit him with the Book of Truth, Steen sees him coming and tries to superkick him, but Truth Martini ducks and Steen catches Veda Scott instead. Steen is briefly stunned at what happened, and Truth Martini uses the opening to hit Steen with the Book of Truth and put him on the table so Rhino can put him through it with a splash off the apron. Rhino sends Steen back into the ring and hits him with a chair, covering for 2 as Veda Scott is carried to the back. Rhino puts the chair between the top and middle rope and tries to ram Steen into it, but Steen reverses and Rhino hits the chair instead. Steen rolls Rhino up for 2 with a schoolboy, then comes off the top rope with a Swanton for another 2. Steen goes out to the floor and gets a chair, hits Rhino with it, then puts it on Rhino's chest so he can go up top for another Swanton. Rhino pops up and nails Steen before he comes off the top and superplexes Steen instead, dropping Steen right on the chair. Rhino covers, but Steen is out at 2 so Rhino gets another table from Truth Martini and sets it up in the corner, hoping to gore Steen through it like he did to Edwards. Steve Corino comes into the ring to try and talk Rhino out of this due to their history in ECW. It gets heated and Rhino nails Corino, gores Jimmy Jacobs when he runs in, then gores Corino, then gores the referee. Steen quickly comes out of nowhere with a gore on Rhino and covers him as a second referee slides in and counts 2, then hits the F5 and Rhino again kicks out at 2. Truth Martini tries to attack Steen, but Steen gives him a package piledriver, then Roderick Strong comes in and charges Steen, but Steen pulls the top rope down and Strong sails out to the floor. Rhino hits a spinebuster for 2 and goes for a gore, but Steen moves and Rhino goes through the table. Steen quickly hits another F5 and gets the three count.
Winner: Kevin Steen
This was an unbelievable brawl, Rhino looked every bit as good as he ever has and I think they could have gotten away with giving him the title here. Michael Elgin comes into the ring and goes face to face with Steen, pointing at the belt and telling Steen that the title is coming to him. Steen spits in Elgin's face and Elgin nails Steen and sets him up for the powerbomb. Strong and Corino wind up going at it in the ring and Strong "accidentally" nails Elgin, allowing Steen and Corino to escape, then he tries to tell Elgin that it was unintentional and sticks his hand out. Elgin has finally had enough, kicking Strong in the gut and laying him out with the sitout powerbomb. Elgin stands over Strong as Kevin Kelly says we'll find out whether Elgin can take the title next time ROH is on iPPV at Glory By Honor.
The show opens with a video package looking at the announcement that the ROH World Tag Team Title was declared vacant and that a tournament would be held to crown new champions. We then see recaps of the opening round wins of the teams participating in our opening match...
ROH World Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinals: Cedric Alexander & Caprice Coleman vs Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs
After Tadarius Thomas' name pops up on screen for some reason, we start off with Jacobs and Alexander going back and forth and trading quick rollup attempts. They wind up back at a stalemate, so they tag in Coleman and Corino, and Corino wrestles circles around Coleman with a series of pinfall attempts, but Coleman dodges the sliding lariat and gets a crucifix for 2. Coleman with another couple of rollups but still can't put Corino away, so Jacobs tries to come in for a cheapshot, but Cedric Alexander comes in to even the odds. Corino and Jacobs get dumped out to the floor and Alexander comes over the top rope with a dive that wipes both men out. They head back inside and go at it again, but Corino dumps Coleman out to the floor and now Jacobs comes off the apron with a shot behind the referee's back. They double team Coleman for several minutes, but then he gets the hot tag and Alexander comes in like a house of fire, taking Corino out with a spinning enziguiri for 2. Corino comes back with a leg lariat of his own and tags out to Jacobs, who takes Alexander out with a series of clotheslines and a springboard elbowdrop for 2. Alexander blocks a suplex attempt and shoves Jacobs off to the corner, but charges into Jacobs' boot and takes a tornado DDT for 2. Jacobs sets up for a running boot, but Alexander blocks and dropkicks Jacobs' knee out from under him. Coleman tags back in and connects with a dropkick, then tackles Jacobs into the corner and hits a trio of rolling northern lights suplexes for 2. Coleman with a Ron Simmons spinebuster and then he puts Jacobs in a figure four stump puller. Corino comes over and kicks Coleman in the head to break the hold, then he tags in and delivers the Colby Shock for 2. Coleman blocks a lariat, but Corino connects with a second attempt and gets 2. Coleman with a sort of swinging, inverted bulldog for 2 on Corino and then he and Alexander hit a series of kicks and a modified double goozle, but that only gets 2. Alexander with an Uncle Slam and a top rope legdrop from Coleman also fails to put Corino away when Jacobs breaks up the fall. SCUM hit a neckbreaker/STO combo for 2, then they dump Alexander out to the floor and Jacobs hits a springboard Ace Crusher followed by the sliding lariat from Corino, but Coleman still manages to kick out at 2. Alexander comes rushing back in to the aid of his partner, but Jacobs spears Alexander on the ring apron to take him out of the equation. Coleman gets an O'Connor Roll on Corino, but Corino kicks out and the momentum sends Coleman into the ropes where Jacobs smashes him in the skull with a chair. Corino quickly hits the bridging Saito suplex and gets the win.
Winners: Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs
Corino & Jacobs move on to the finals, and are now one win away from saving their ROH careers and adding more gold to the collection of SCUM.
Tadarius Thomas vs Silas Young
Thomas uses some of his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu moves to evade Young, but Young takes him down with a wristlock. Thomas gets a headscissors, Young tries a schoolboy rollup but Thomas counters to a triangle choke and then lets Young go so he can connect with a martial arts kick to the head that sends Young out to the floor in a daze. Thomas tries a dive, catches himself when Young moves, but Young shoves him into the rail and then rolls him inside and covers for 2. Thomas gets whipped to the ropes and holds on, kicking backward to the apron and getting Young in a sleeper, but he lets to move go and tries a springboard cross body, and Young catches him coming in and rolls through, then picks Thomas up and hits a backbreaker for 2. Thomas fights back with some lightning-fast martial arts moves and sweeps Young's legs out from under him, then connects with a flurry of kicks and a slingblade for 2. Thomas with a cartwheel kick, but he comes off the ropes right into the backbreaker/clothesline combo from Young. Young covers for 2, but Thomas gets a swinging fisherman's suplex for 2. Young tries a Finlay roll, Thomas escapes but Young boots him in the face and connects with the Finlay roll on the second attempt. Young misses the headstand moonsault andThomas knocks him out with a spinkick to the face and covers for 3.
Winner: Tadarius Thomas
Great showing by Thomas, who truly brings something different to ROH.
Kyle O'Reilly vs ACH
Have I ever mentioned how lame I think it is when wrestlers have initials instead of a name? Some basic mat wrestling to start with neither man able to get an advantage, so they go to a Greco-Roman knucklelock. ACH takes O'Reilly to a bridge and tries to float on top of him, but can't break the bridge and O'Reilly ducks under his arm into a bridging suplex for 2. Series of armdrags as the cameraman decides to look at the ceiling and ACH counters a cross armbreaker attempt to a cradle for 2. ACH gets a couple of shoulderblocks, but O'Reilly with a Saito suplex out of nowhere and ACH bails out to the floor. ACH swings through the ropes and catches O'Reilly unawares, kicking him out to the floor and taking him out with a moonsault. ACH gets whipped into the rail and he blocks himself, but turns and charges at O'Reilly and runs right into an overhead release suplex. O'Reilly sends him back inside and covers for 2, then whips him to the ropes and connects with a kitchen sink for 2. ACH smacks O'Reilly in the face and O'Reilly responds, leading to a slap fight and O'Reilly finally losing his patience and beating the crap out of ACH with martial arts strikes. O'Reilly with an abdominal stretch and, like a good heel, he uses the ropes for leverage. The referee finally catches him and ACH gets a hiptoss, but O'Reilly connects with a high kneestrike and a running boot to the chest for 2. ACH finally starts a comeback, hitting a flying headscissors and a slingshot Ace Crusher for 2. ACH...um...dances to his feet and knocks O'Reilly into the corner, then hits a sort of diving IED that blows him right through O'Reilly and out to the floor. O'Reilly connects with a big right hand that floors ACH, but ACH gets to his feet and continues going strike-for-strike with O'Reilly. ACH with a tornado DDT for 2, then DDTs O'Reilly into the second turnbuckle, which I've never seen before. ACH goes for a second rope 450 splash, but O'Reilly gets the knees up and gets a triangle choke, then drives elbows into ACH's skull until the referee stops the match.
Winner: Kyle O'Reilly
O'Reilly refused to release the hold for several seconds after the match, finally letting poor ACH go. ACH looked okay, but didn't really stand out any more than your standard fiery indy babyface who does innovative moves that look like they could kill people.
After another video package looking at the first round victories of the Briscoes and Titus & Haas, it's time for our second semifinal match in the tournament.
ROH World Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinals: Jay & Mark Briscoe vs Rhett Titus & Charlie Haas
As promised, Haas brought Shelton Benjamin with him to stand innocently in the corner and not interfere. Titus still isn't on the same page as WGTT, and is arguing with them before the match even starts. Titus follows the Code of Honor, but his partner decides to pass on that. Titus starts off with Jay and they trade wristlocks, Jay whips Titus to the corner but charges into his boot. Titus tries a charge but winds up on the receiving end of a series of jabs before Mark tags in for a couple of Redneck Kung Fu chops and a vertical suplex for 2. Titus fires back with some shots of his own, but then Haas tags himself in and he whips Mark hard into the corner and follows in with a spear into the corner. Haas tries a release German suplex, but Mark rolls through and lands on his feet, and he and Jay lay Haas out with a double team. Jay charges Haas, and Haas pulls down the top rope and Jay goes out to the floor where he gets in Shelton's face. Titus goes out and tells Shelton to back off, and Haas uses the distraction to ram Jay into the barricade. Now Jay is in trouble and Haas works him over with some heavy offense, hitting a hard spinebuster and an overhead release suplex. Jay finally hits a Flatliner into the second turnbuckle on Haas, and he makes the hot tag to Mark, who comes in and unloads on Haas with redneck kung fu. Mark with a sitout Iconoclasm and then comes off the top rope with the froggy elbow, but he tweaked his arm on the way down and takes just long enough to make a cover that Haas is able to roll toward the ropes where Shelton can put his foot over the bottom rope. Haas nails Mark from behind and goes for a backdrop, Mark lands on his feet and connects with an enziguiri. Haas falls toward Titus, who comes in with a spinning kitchen sink and a big boot before going toe-to-toe with Mark. Titus hits another big boot and a discus clothesline for 2 on Mark, but Mark turns it around and the Briscoes hit a double team neckbreaker on Titus for 2. Mark kicks Haas out to the floor and they set Titus up for the Doomsday Device, but Shelton distracts Mark from the floor long enough for Haas to pop back into the ring and suplex him while Titus rolls Jay up for 3.
Winners: Rhett Titus & Charlie Haas
So the finals is set, and it's the two teams that weren't even supposed to be in the tournament.
Davey Richards makes his return to ROH for the first time since Best In The World, and Kevin Kelly asks what the future holds for him in ROH. Davey takes the microphone and asks Kevin to step aside, then tells the fans he told himself he wasn't going to cry. He said it's amazing because everyone knows his story, and everyone here is going to go home to their families, but he doesn't have a home or a family because this is his home and the fans are his family. He's always been proud of the person he is in the ring because he never came here to be a superstar, he's a small town guy who wanted to work his way off and be the best. He watched Joe vs Kobashi, Danielson vs KENTA, and Nigel vs Morishima, and he loved it. But he's not proud of the person he is outside the ring, he came out here to apologize because he trusted the wrong people, but starting tonight, the wolf is back. He realizes that he doesn't want to win another World Title, he doesn't need a shiny gold belt, but he wants to be the best in the world. He doesn't want it on a t-shirt, he wants to earn it, and there's going to be no more American Strong Style, no more Team Ambition, he's hunting alone from now on. Call him the Lone Wolf or whatever you want, he's entering Survival of the Fittest and Mike Bennett should know that the hunt is on.
We see a video package looking back at a couple of weeks ago on ROH TV when Jay Lethal, who had been told that he wasn't getting a shot at Kevin Steen because he doesn't have enough of a killer instinct, kicked Matt Taven in the groin and laid out a referee to show that he can be nasty and have a killer instinct. We then go to a backstage promo where Lethal says he's not completely turning on ROH or rebelling against the company, but he's been pushed too far and he wants to show that he's got what it takes to beat Kevin Steen. He's wrestling a former ROH World Champion tonight in Homicide, and he's going to prove that he can hang on that level.
Jay Lethal vs Homicide
These two have a lot of history in ROH, which I touched on recently when I reviewed the Jay Lethal DVD set that covered much of the Lethal vs Rottweilers feud of 2005. Lethal and Homicide have an extended feeling out process, Homicide takes Lethal to the corner and nearly breaks clean, but fires in a right hand and Lethal responds with chops and punches of his own. Homicide sends Lethal to the floor with a flying headscissors and teases a dive, but stops short and flips off the fans. He goes to the apron instead and tries a running dive onto Lethal, but Lethal catches him and smashes his back into the ring apron. Now Lethal comes out of the ring with a dive and then rams Homicide into the barricade, Homicide tries to grab a chair but the referee pulls it away and leaves Homicide open to another shot from Lethal, who rams Homicide into the rail a second time. They finally head back inside and Lethal plants Homicide with a bodyslam and connects with a kneedrop for a 2 count. Lethal with a running shoulderblock to the ribs in the corner, but Homicide dodges a second one, sending Lethal crashing into the turnbuckle. Homicide picks Lethal up for what looks like an attempt at an atomic drop, but instead drops Lethal on his ass on the ring apron. Homicide brings Lethal back inside and starts throwing chairs and the ring bell into the ring, but took too long getting back in himself and Lethal goes after him as he slides under the bottom rope. Homicide quickly catches him with a kitchen sink and then goes out to the apron to try and suplex Lethal onto the timekeeper's table, Lethal blocks so Homicide drags him through the ropes and tries to piledrive him onto the table instead. Lethal again fights Homicide off and drags him back into the ring to hti another running shoulderblock to the ribs. Both men come off the ropes and try for a crossbody, with both men connecting and both going down as the referee starts to count. They trade blows as they get to their feet and then stand and exchange punches and chops in the middle of the ring. Lethal counters a Cop Killa attempt to a rollup for 2, but Homicide gets 2 off a tornado DDT. Homicide goes for the lariat, Lethal ducks and goes for the Lethal Combination, Homicide blocks that and Lethal hits the release Dragon suplex for 2. Homicide hits the lariat for 2, and appears shocked when Lethal kicks out, so he goes for another lariat but runs into a windmill backbreaker. Lethal goes to the top, Homicide runs over and tries a top rope Ace Crusher, but Lethal blocks and slips underneath Homicide to hit a running Death Valley Driver for 2. Lethal takes a charge and runs right into an overhead release suplex, then Homicide follows that right up with another running lariat for 2. Homicide hits the Ace Crusher and goes for another lariat, Lethal ducks and gets a running vertical suplex, then hits Hail To The King. Instead of going for the pin, Lethal picks Homicide up and hits the Lethal Combination, but intentionally doesn't hook a leg so Homicide can kick out and Lethal can hit another Lethal Combination. Homicide is out again at 2, so Lethal pauses for a moment to reflect before superkicking Homicide in the face and hitting a fisherman's buster. Homicide again kicks out at 2, then gets to his feet and spits right in Lethal's face, so Lethal nails him and hits a really devastating cradle DDT for the win.
Winner: Jay Lethal
This match kicked 17 different kinds of ass, Homicide put up a hell of a fight, and Lethal really had to dig deep to not only survive Homicide's offense, but bring out that killer instinct Jim Cornette thinks he needs to have a shot against Kevin Steen.
Speaking of Cornette, he comes out before the main event (much later that night) to inform us that since Steen retained against Eddie Kingston in a no DQ match, and Rhino earned this title shot by beating Eddie Edwards in a no DQ match, the Steen-Rhino match will now be anything goes!
ROH World Title/Anything Goes Match: Kevin Steen vs Rhino
They immediately start brawling and go out to the floor where Rhino rams Steen into the barricade, but then Steen returns the favor and takes Rhino around the ring to ram him into the barricade in front of a fan holding a sign that says "If Steen loses, I'll complain on the internet". Steen then takes the sign and rips it up, and Rhino rewards Steen's good showing of heelishness by suplexing him on the floor. Steen reverses an Irish whip and Rhino again hits the rail in front of the guy with the sign, then whips him all the way across ringside and into the opposite barricade. They finally head back inside and trade blows in the ring until Rhino hits a spinebuster and covers for 2. Rhino chokes Steen on the bottom rope, then hits a belly to belly suplex for a 2. You usually don't see Steen getting tossed around like that. Steen slumps over the middle rope and Rhino goes out to the apron to kick him in the skull, but Steen kicks the middle rope into Rhino's groin as he gets back in the ring and hits a hanging DDT. Steen with a running cannonball in the corner, Rhino tries to go to the top rope but Steen shoves him off and Rhino tumbles to the floor. Steen follows Rhino out and rams him into the barricade again, then pulls a table out from under the ring and slides it into the ring. Steen rams Rhino into the barricade again, then pulls the table back out of the ring and balances it between the ring and the barricade. Truth Martini sneaks up behind Steen to try and hit him with the Book of Truth, Steen sees him coming and tries to superkick him, but Truth Martini ducks and Steen catches Veda Scott instead. Steen is briefly stunned at what happened, and Truth Martini uses the opening to hit Steen with the Book of Truth and put him on the table so Rhino can put him through it with a splash off the apron. Rhino sends Steen back into the ring and hits him with a chair, covering for 2 as Veda Scott is carried to the back. Rhino puts the chair between the top and middle rope and tries to ram Steen into it, but Steen reverses and Rhino hits the chair instead. Steen rolls Rhino up for 2 with a schoolboy, then comes off the top rope with a Swanton for another 2. Steen goes out to the floor and gets a chair, hits Rhino with it, then puts it on Rhino's chest so he can go up top for another Swanton. Rhino pops up and nails Steen before he comes off the top and superplexes Steen instead, dropping Steen right on the chair. Rhino covers, but Steen is out at 2 so Rhino gets another table from Truth Martini and sets it up in the corner, hoping to gore Steen through it like he did to Edwards. Steve Corino comes into the ring to try and talk Rhino out of this due to their history in ECW. It gets heated and Rhino nails Corino, gores Jimmy Jacobs when he runs in, then gores Corino, then gores the referee. Steen quickly comes out of nowhere with a gore on Rhino and covers him as a second referee slides in and counts 2, then hits the F5 and Rhino again kicks out at 2. Truth Martini tries to attack Steen, but Steen gives him a package piledriver, then Roderick Strong comes in and charges Steen, but Steen pulls the top rope down and Strong sails out to the floor. Rhino hits a spinebuster for 2 and goes for a gore, but Steen moves and Rhino goes through the table. Steen quickly hits another F5 and gets the three count.
Winner: Kevin Steen
This was an unbelievable brawl, Rhino looked every bit as good as he ever has and I think they could have gotten away with giving him the title here. Michael Elgin comes into the ring and goes face to face with Steen, pointing at the belt and telling Steen that the title is coming to him. Steen spits in Elgin's face and Elgin nails Steen and sets him up for the powerbomb. Strong and Corino wind up going at it in the ring and Strong "accidentally" nails Elgin, allowing Steen and Corino to escape, then he tries to tell Elgin that it was unintentional and sticks his hand out. Elgin has finally had enough, kicking Strong in the gut and laying him out with the sitout powerbomb. Elgin stands over Strong as Kevin Kelly says we'll find out whether Elgin can take the title next time ROH is on iPPV at Glory By Honor.
2023 - One day after taking over ownership of WWE, Endeavor enacted massive layoffs. Here is PWInsider.com's reporting from that day:
9:27 AM - PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources that Jamie Horowitz, who held the post of Executive Vice President of Development and Digital, WWE, is no longer with World Wrestling Entertainment as a result of the post-Endeavor aquisition layoffs. Horowitz had been with the company from June 2021 on, coming over from streaming DAZN, where he was Executive Vice President of Global Content. He was among those brought into the company by now-WWE President Nick Khan. In that regard, his departure is somewhat surprising.
10:10 AM - Catherine Newman, WWE's Executive Vice President and Head of Marketing, has departed the company as a result of today's post-Endeavor acquisition layoffs, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources. In WWE, she oversaw Marketing, Brand, Community Relations, Entertainment Relations, Creative Services and Photography. Newman joined the company in June 2022 after working as Chief Marketing Officer of Manchester United Media.
10:40 AM - Amanda Bloom, who held the post as WWE's Director, Enterprise Master Data & Governance is the latest confirmed departure from the company as part of the post-Endeavor acquisition layoffs, PWInsider.com has learned. Bloom was with WWE for the past seven years and was extremely important behind the scenes for the company's Technology Department in regard to Metadata, how the company used, scrutinized and evaluated that material. Bloom was also responsible for designing the foundational content data model for navigation and discovery on the WWE Network and managed a ton of internal classifications and categorizations to help the company's internal technology processes be as efficient as possible. This is a major departure from that area of the company and was a BIG part of the Network assembly as well as one of the employees doing the heavy lifting to migrate everything over to Peacock when they acquired the rights for the WWE Network.
12:30 PM - The latest on the WWE layoffs is that we have heard both the WWE Network and Podcasting divisions have been hit with employees being let go, but we haven't confirmed who or how many from those areas. Among WWE employees, there has been talk that already 40-50 employees are gone, potentially more. I give that number with caution since there's been a lot of information flowing and a lot of emotions among those involved and departing - we do not have a hard number at this time.
1:53 PM - PWInsider.com has confirmed that Andy Levine, who held the post of WWE Vice President, International & Platform Strategy is among the exits today as part of the post-Endeavor acquisition layoffs. Levine first came to the company in 2018 after working for Green Matters and Distractify. In WWE, Levine oversaw WWE’s International social and digital strategy, production, teams, and agencies in multiple international markets, working alongside WWE's programming, partnerships, marketing, monetization, brand development, talent, content operations, rights strategy, and business planning divisions. Lvine also led WWE's Platform Strategy team, which manages partner relationships, competitive analysis, and communications to accelerate growth and revenue across programming, e-commerce, and partnerships.
2:30 PM - PWInsider.com is told that WWE's Marketing division was hit pretty hard as part of today's company restructuring following the Endeavor takeover. PWInsider.com has confirmed Kimberly Kirkegard, Brand Director and Saverio Brighina, who held the position of Affiliate Marketing Manager, are among those departing that division and the company today. While we haven't heard any names, we've also heard the Live Events had multiple departures as well.
5:09 PM - The WWE layoffs are still ongoing, PWInsider.com is told. Alexa Gotthardt, who worked as a manager for digital campaigns, is the latest confirmed departure today. She had been with the company since early 2022. On her LinkedIn account, she announced her departure, writing:
I was on the #WWE / #TKO list nobody wanted to be on today.
Even though I can’t stay, I’ve got some epic memories to carry me through. It wasn't just rolling out and optimizing partners' digital campaigns- I got to enjoy so many more laughs and learnings with the team. From working with some of the best talent around, to writing some of the funniest social media copy we’ll ever think of, being able to help at productions, appearances or even to wrangling a French Bulldog- it’s been a very memorable time!
Please let me know if you happen to hear of an opening anywhere; I pride myself on being creative yet organized and am looking forward to continuing my career in a similar role.
Thank you for your support.
5:40 PM - In what has to be considered a surprising bit of news, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources that Dana Warrior departed World Wrestling Entertainment today as part of today's layoffs after Endeavor's acquisition of WWE. Warrior, the wife of late WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior, began her association with the company after her husband's passing in 2014, taking part in the WWE Hall of Fame's annual Warrior Award ceremony. Dana later joined the WWE Creative Team but exited that role in 2022 to concentrate on working in WWE's community outreach department, which she had been part of until today. Given the legacy of the The Ultimate Warrior character and Dana's strong connection to the company since his passing, this one has to be considered a surprise.
6:07 PM - Today's WWE layoffs have been completed, PWInsider.com has confirmed. We are told that over 100+ employees were let go over the course of the day, so this was a rough day for everyone in the company, whether they have remained or have departed. For those who have asked, there were zero talent releases today, nor were there ever any scheduled for today we are told. WWE President Nick Khan wrote the following email that received shortly after 7 PM Eastern by WWE employees:
Hi all
Thank you for your patience and understanding today.
All individuals impacted by today’s workforce reductions have now been notified.
We thank all of these colleagues for their contributions throughout the years and wish them the best.
Nick
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