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September 17th
On this day in history in ....
1958 - Billy Wicks defeats Buddy Fuller for the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Lafayette, Louisiana.
1961 - One of the greatest talkers in the history of professional wrestling, Jim Cornette is born.
1963- WWWF ran Bridgeport, CT with the following results:
The Fabulous Kangaroos defeated Lucas Pestano & Arnold Skaaland
Gorilla Monsoon defeated Pete Sanchez & Tony Nero in a handicap match
Vittorio Apollo defeated Frank Martinez in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0
Bobo Brazil defeated Tony Altimore
Pedro Morales defeated Boris Malenko
Dory Dixon defeated Joe Quinones
Karl Von Hess defeated Ron Reed
WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated the Shadow via count-out; after the bout, Sammartino recieved a trophy from the Mid-City Health Club
1965 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Bill Watts in the main event of a WWWF event in Pittsburgh, PA.
1966 - Betty Boucher defeats The Fabulous Moolah in Seattle, Washington for the NWA World Women's Championship, ending Moolah's first reign as champion.
1970 - The Texas Outlaws, Dick Murdoch & Dusty Rhodes, defeat Jose Lothario & Argentina Apollo in Jacksonville, Florida to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Title.
1981 - Ric Flair defeats Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City, Kansas to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. This was Ric Flair's first World Heavyweight singles title victory.
1982 - Harley Race defeats Dick The Bruiser in St. Louis, Missouri to win his fourth Missouri State Heavyweight Title.
1983 - The World Wrestling Council holds their 10th anniversary show at Roberto Clemente Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, drawing a crowd of 32,000 fans. Here are the results:
- Miguel Perez defeated Barrabas.
- Pete Sanchez defeated Assassin #2 in under thirty seconds.
- Bob Sweetan defeated Gama Singh.
- Hercules Ayala defeated The Iron Shiek.
- Pierre Martel defeated Don Kent.
- Abdullah Tomba defeated Gorilla Monsoon in less than two minutes.
- WWC World Tag Team Champions The Super Medics defeated Chief Thundercloud & Chuy.
- WWC North American Champion Pedro Morales defeated Ric Flair via disqualification.
- WWC Puerto Rican Champion King Tonga (Meng/Haku) defeated Dory Funk Jr.
- Invader #2 defeated Ox Baker.
- Kendo Nagasaki vs. El Gran Apollo ended in a twenty minute draw.
- WWC Universal Champion Carlos Colon vs. NWA World Champion Harley Race ended in a one hour draw.
- Mil Mascaras & Dos Caras defeated The Infernos.
- Andre The Giant defeated Abdullah The Butcher via countout.
1986 - At a WWF television taping in Salisbury, Maryland, Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan are permanently paired together as the hosts of Wrestling Challenge, creating one of the most celebrated announcing teams in wrestling history.
1987 - WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeats Harley Race in a steel cage match in Kansas City, Missouri. Because the match was held in Race's old stomping grounds of Kansas City, he had a large amount of crowd support during the match.
1988 - TNT (Savio Vega) defeats Buddy Landel in Bayamon, Puerto Rico to win the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title for the second time.
1988 - Ron Garvin defeats Greg Gagne in Nashville, Tennessee to win the AWA International Television Title. Garvin would be the only man to hold the title other than Gagne (the belt only existed for two years).
1993 - Tommy Dee's Universal Wrestling Superstars ran Our Lady of Guadaloupe in Brooklyn, NY with the following results:
-The Kodiak Bear fought Gino Caruso to a 15 minute draw.
-Damien Stone (the future Nunzio in WWE) pinned the Metal Maniac.
-Tony Rumble cut a promo ripping on the crowd and Gino Caruso.
-Malia Hosaka pinned The Black Widow.
-The Big Bossman pinned The Prisoner (former WWF star Nailz, billed under another name to prevent copyright issues)
-Tito Santana beat Tony Atlas (managed by Tony Rumble) by DQ.
-In a Brooklyn Brawl, S.D. Jones (with Bodyguard for Hire) fought "Crazy" Don Rock (with the Cuban Assasin) to a double DQ when all four kept brawling. Bodyguard finally cleared the ring when he tossed his trademark snake into the ring.
1995 - WCW held their Fall Brawl event in Asheville, North Carolina with the following results:
In matches that aired on TBS' Main Event:
- Big Bubba Rogers defeated Mark Minh.
- Disco Inferno defeated Joey Maggs.
- Alex Wright vs. Eddie Guerrero ended in a no-contest.
- The American Males defeated The Nasty Boys after interference from Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater.
In matches broadcast on the PPV:
- Johnny B. Badd defeated Brian Pillman when both men went for a cross bodyblock, and Badd came out on top.
- Craig Pittman defeated Cobra in under two minutes with a cross armbreaker. Cobra was distracted by one of Pittman's "soldiers" and Pittman repelled into the ring from the ceiling and got the quick win.
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated The Renegade with a Diamond Cutter (and help from Maxx Muscle) to win the WCW Television Title.
- Harlem Heat defeated Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater to win the WCW World Tag Team Title for the third time after interference from the Nasty Boys.
- Arn Anderson defeated Ric Flair with a DDT after Brian Pillman kicked Flair from the outside.
- Hulk Hogan, Sting, Randy Savage & Lex Luger defeated Kamala, Zodiac (Brutus Beefcake), Shark (John Tenta) & Meng in a War Games match when Hogan forced Zodiac to submit to a chinlock. As a result, Hogan got five minutes with Kevin Sullivan, but The Giant attacked Hogan.
1998 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran the Elks Lodge in Queens, NY with the following report:
-Mikey Whipwreck defeated Jerry Lynn.
-Spike Dudley defeated Sal E. Graziano.
-Lance Storm defeated Chris Candido.
-Tracy Smothers, Little Guido, & Tommy Rich defeated Chris Chetti, the Blue Meanie, & Super Nova.
-Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley defeated Mike Awesome & Balls Mahoney.
-Tommy Dreamer, New Jack, & John Kronus defeated Danny Doring, Jason, & Jack Victory in a streetfight.
-ECW World Champion Shane Douglas fought ECW Tag Team Champion Sabu to a no contest.
2000 - Miho Wakizawa defeats Nanae Takahashi for the All Japan Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2000 - WCW held their Fall Brawl event in Buffalo, New York. This would be the final Fall Brawl event. Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:
WCW's Fall Brawl from Buffalo proved to be their best PPV in quite some time. I thought that most everyone worked really hard and there seemed to be signs that some of the younger guys are starting to get some fan reactions. The Buffalo crowd was hot, which helped the show a lot. There were a few of the usual problems, such as too much stuff being thrown out at once, with the result that none of it means all that much. But on balance this was a good, solid show and a step in the right direction. Commentary was okay, as the new team of Schiavone, Madden, and Hudson are a pretty good trio most of the time.
ELIX SKIPPER defeated KWEE WEE in 11:03 to retain the Cruiserweight Title. Paisley was with Kwee Wee and they have good charisma together. Skipper brought out the captive Major Gunns with him. Kwee Wee dropkicked Skipper out. They traded some good spots, but messed up a leap frog attempt. Skipper did a somersault off the ropes over Kwee Wee, and then suplexed him. After Skipper hit a twisting legdrop for a near fall, Hudson compared him to Johnny Walker. I'll bet most of the current fans don't remember Mr. Wrestling II, let alone Johnny Walker. Skipper hit an Asai moonsault that took out a cameraman. I believe it was Jackie Crockett. Kwee Wee blocked the overdrive and hit a powerbomb. Kwee Wee scored several two counts as the Natural Born Thrillers came out to watch. Skipper bumped out and with the ref momentarily distracted, Mike Sanders hit Kwee Wee in the leg with a stick. Skipper hit a crossbody but Kwee Wee rolled through for a near fall. However, Skipper began working on the injured leg and won with the Overdrive. The commentators wondered aloud why the Thrillers had attacked Kwee Wee. Good opener.
LT. LOCO & CPL. CAJUN & SGT. AWOL defeated THREE COUNT in 10:24. Three Count sang "I Can't Get You Out Of My Heart" before the match. It sucked. Shannon Moore started off hot, hitting a moonsault. Awol came in and got a huge pop using power moves. Moore and Shane Helms doubled on Cajun. Evan Karagias got some near falls on Cajun, who remained tied up in the wrong corner. Cajun hot tagged Awol, who cleaned house until taking a low blow. Moore, Loco, and Karagias all did dives to the floor. Awol got bumped off the apron and went through a table. Before bumping he did a spot where he held Moore up by the hair. Loco was getting tripled on by Three Count when Cajun nailed Helms with his powerbomb-type move and got the pin. Good, all action match.
They aired a segment where Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, and Jeff Jarrett refused to sign autographs for some kid. The kid was laughing, which kind of undermined the intent.
THE HARRIS BOYS defeated KRONIC in a chain match in 6:37. Brian Adams upped the ante and had this made into a First Blood match. This was better than you'd think, partly because the crowd was into it and partly because these guys are passable at generic brawling. And basically they just brawled around and into the crowd. Ron Harris juiced first but the ref had been bumped and didn't see it. Mark Madden denied that Harris was bleeding and Hudson sarcastically said that maybe he's just having his period or something. Funny! Anyway, Adams then juiced and the ref saw it, ending the match. Kronic gave the ref High Times afterward.
LANCE STORM beat COL. RECTION to retain the U.S. Title in 6:44. Storm did his Canada routine, as usual. He brought out the captive Major Gunns. Question: Why bring her out when she's likely to interfere to help your opponent? Hacksaw Duggan was with Rection. Rection no sold some chops and sent Storm out of the ring. Rection hit a superplex. Storm came back with crossbody to the floor. Rection scored a series of twos, with Storm bailing out, though Duggan tossed him back in. Gunns distracted the ref to allow Duggan to interfere, but instead of helping Rection, he used the 2x4 on him and removed his shirt to reveal a Canadian Maple Leaf logo shirt underneath. This would have drawn incredible heat if A) it had occurred 15 years ago in Bill Watts' promotion, and B) it had involved a country more threatening than Canada. As it is, it was about as memorable as Dusty Rhodes' turn a couple of years ago, which no one remembers. At least it was better than Heidi's Canuck sell-out. Storm quickly won with a sharpshooter type submission. The other MIA's ran in but Duggan laid them out with the 2x4. Overall, a decent match.
THE FILTHY ANIMALS went to a no-contest with THE NATURAL BORN THRILLERS in 16:33. A pretty good match which had to be abbreviated due to a legit injury. Before the match, Gene Okerlund interviewed the Thrillers and was doing the obscenity gimmick, calling them pricks and piss ants. Weird! Mike Sanders said the Filthy Animals are composed of midgets and one Cheez Whiz sucking trailer park hoochie. Madden said he didn't know Disco Inferno liked Cheez Whiz. Anyway, this was an elimination match and they did keep it moving. Rey Mysterio Jr. & Juventud Guerrera did some little man/big man spots with Mark Jindrak & Sean O'Haire. Big Vito cleaned house. Konnan came in and was doing well until Disco accidentally gave him the Last Dance and O'Hair pinned him. Disco ended up pinned by Reno when his own partners abandoned him in retaliation for the Konnan pin. Vito was looking good in there but got pinned by Reno after a kendo stick shot. Paul Orndorff, who was on the Animal team, gave his partners a pep talk. Juvie went in and did some good moves before pinning Reno. Juvie bumped out and Jindrak & O'Hair hip tossed him back in from the floor. O'Haire then pinned Juvie with the Seanton Bomb. Orndorff went in and gave Jindrak two piledrivers, but on the second one Jindrak apparently didn't go up right and Orndorff collapsed, telling trainer Danny Young that he lost feeling in his arm. The wrestlers continued on for a minute or so, not really knowing what to do (the original plan was for the Animals to win in the end) before ref Charles Robinson decided to just declare a no-contest due to the seriousness of Orndorff's injury. Orndorff was stretchered out and at press time it appears he suffered a stinger (compressed nerve) and should be okay.
SHANE DOUGLAS & TORRIE WILSON defeated BILLY KIDMAN & MADUSA in a scaffold match in 4:54. Douglas vowed to refund the fans' money if he lost. Boy, does that ever telegraph the result. The word "bitch" was heard quite often during the promos. This was billed as a Pittsburgh Plunge scaffold match. It was 15 feet up, billed as 20, which is typical. Instead of being over the ring, this scaffold was over a heavily padded area in the entranceway. For everyone's safety, that was good, but it also destroys the aura of these matches when people fall off and are obviously landing on cushioned pads. Shane and Kidman wrestled around on the scaffold and teased going over. Madusa got on the ladder and Shane caused her to fall off, and she clearly landed on padding. Torrie, who didn't do much, gave Kidman a low blow and Shane then hurled him off. He also visibly landed on padding. Both falls would have otherwise been deadly, and it put the commentators in a bind because they couldn't sell the falls as horrendous when everyone watching could see the falls were padded, and they couldn't downplay the falls either, for obvious reasons. It's probably best to put the scaffold gimmick in mothballs for a few years.
Sting did a promo and Jeff Jarrett attacked him, laying him out. Okerlund was continuing to use four-letter words to the point that Madden said if Stacy Kiebler's baby comes out swearing, we'll know Okerlund is the father.
Speaking of the baby, Mike Tenay visited David Flair at home. He was out of it, as usual, with candles all over (even though it was daylight) and pizza boxes and beer bottles laying around. Tenay asked about who the father is, hinting at Ric Flair. The postman arrived, delivering mail, and David accused him of being the father and put him in a figure four. Madden said David has gone postal.
STING beat GREAT MUTA and VAMPIRO in a three way match in 5:10. Insane Clown Posse did commentary and were pretty funny, especially calling Muta the "Great Moolah". Not a good match. Muta mostly watched while Sting and Vampiro brawled around. Muta finally hit a moonsault and tried to pin Sting but Vampiro broke it up. Vampiro and Muta got into it, with the ICP running in. Sting laid everyone out with a bat and pinned Muta with the Death Drop. Afterward, Sting saved Muta from a three-on-one from Vampiro & ICP.
MIKE AWESOME defeated JEFF JARRETT in 9:03. Awesome, doing his "that 70's guy" gimmick, brought in Gary Coleman from the old TV series "Different Strokes". Awesome called Coleman a 70's star though Coleman insisted he was from the 80's. Jarrett came out wearing a Tennessee Titans jersey (hell yeah!) and ridiculed the hell out of several members of the Bills, who were on the front row. This was an okay brawl. They fought with chairs, and Awesome took a backdrop through a table. Jarrett got hurled into a table wrapped in barbed wire. Awesome got a near fall with a powerbomb. The Bills players got on the apron and began acting as lumberjacks, taking shots at Jarrett. Awesome got another near fall on Jarrett. Coleman ran in and gave Jarrett a low blow, but Jarrett barely sold it and busted a guitar over Coleman's head. Finally, Sting ran in and gave Jarrett the Death Drop and Awesome got the pin.
SCOTT STEINER defeated BILL GOLDBERG in 13:49 in a no DQ match. Goldberg shoulderblocked and press slammed Steiner. Steiner scored two with a lariat and an elbow. It was power move city and it was actually a pretty solid display with a hot crowd. Steiner hit a belly-to-belly suplex. Goldberg caught Steiner coming off the top and planted him. Each guy scored some twos. Midajah came out and gave Steiner a pipe but Goldberg speared him. Vince Russo then made his dramatic return from brain surgery and used a bat on Goldberg. Steiner slammed Goldberg through a table and hooked the recliner but Goldberg powered out. They put Goldberg over as superman by having Midajah and Russo hit him with the weapons again but Steiner still couldn't put him out with the recliner. Goldberg even came back with a neckbreaker but Russo used the pipe on him yet again and this time Goldberg passed out (but did not verbally submit) in the recliner. The Bills players helped Goldberg to the back afterward. He legit aggravated an injury in the match.
BOOKER T defeated KEVIN NASH in a cage match to regain the WCW World Tag Titles in 9:01. Booker started off hot but Nash nailed him and got a series of near pins. Booker carried this to an okay match, though as cage matches go it wasn't memorable. Nash removed the turnbuckle padding. Guess who got rammed into the exposed steel? Nash did the boot to the face and chokeslam spot for a near fall. Booker raked Nash across the cage and he juiced. The commentators noted, correctly, that Nash almost never juices. Booker hit a missile kick. Nash retaliated with a boot to the face. Booker blocked the jackknife and hit the Bookend out of nowhere to pin Nash and regain the belt.
2002 - Matt Stryker defeats Cody Hawk for the HWA Heavyweight Title in Cincinnati, Ohio.
2002 - WWE taped Smackdown in Colorado Springs. Charlie Bristol filed the following report:
I attended last night's WWE taping in Colorado Springs, CO. It was a good show and looked to be close to a sell out, if not one.
Dark Match
Val Venis beat Doug Basham.
Mark Henry and Mark Jindrak beat Horace Hogan and Bull Buchanan.
Velocity
Hurricane Helms beat Crash Holly. Good match.
Funaki beat Albert. Albert attacked him after the match.
Randy Orton beat Shannon Moore.
Tajiri beat Billy Kidman. Another good match.
Smackdown
In the opener, Torrie Wilson and Rey Mysterio beat Nidia and Jamie Noble. The crowd was into this match and it was good.
Billy, Chuck, and Steph came out. She took the mic (of course) and accepted Eric Bischoff's challenge. She said she and Eric would discuss the stipulations for the match in a live chat via satellite later in the show. Kurt Angle came out and made double entrendre remarks to Chuck and Billy about their sexuality. He challenged one of them to fight him. Steph said they only work as a team. Kurt told them that they could pick his partner for him, so they picked Chris Benoit, his opponent at Unforgiven on Sunday.
Paul Heyman announced that the Colorado Springs Police had been hired to work as security for Brock since Undertaker is on the warpath.
Brock Lesnar beat John Cena. The police would not come to ringside to work security for Brock, so he hurried to the back after the match.
Chavo and Eddie Guerrero beat Edge and Rikishi. Chavo pinned Edge, which was surprising.
Then it was time for the chat. Bischoff was said to be in Los Angeles, but was really backstage. Bischoff and Steph ripped each other for a few minutes and it was pretty funny. It's a really good segment. Anyway, the stipulations announced at Raw for the show are on. Stephanie even said she may enjoy doing HLA if she had to. My question is, will Hunter watch?
Matt Hardy beat Hurricane Helms.
Heyman and Lesnar are shown in the back. They wanted to go outside but since there is only security for them inside, they won't go.
I missed the result of the Angle/Benoit vs. Billy and Chuck match, but Angle and Benoit got into it with each other after the match. (Note: Angle & Benoit won the match)
The show ended with Taker coming out to the ring, followed by Brock Lesnar and Heyman. They faced off, but didn't come to blows. Matt Hardy came out and jumped Taker, but Taker threw him off and destroyed him. Taker went after Brock, but Brock was shielded by security. Hardy mouthed off at Taker from the ring, so he went back and trashed Hardy.
2002 - The following press release was issued by The Hersh & Hersh law firm concerning a lawsuit filed against California independent promotion and wrestling school All Pro Wrestling, which was showcased in the Barry Blaustein documentary Beyond the Mat. The suit alleged that fatal injuries were suffered by student Brian Ong during a training session.
The release reads as follows:
Complaint Filed by Law Firm Hersh & Hersh Against Bay Area Pro Wrestling School -- All Pro Wrestling
Sept. 17, 2002--
Student Dies of Injuries Suffered in Wrestling "Boot Camp" When Pitted Against Massive Sparring Partner
The San Francisco law firm of Hersh & Hersh (www.hershlaw.com) filed a complaint at the Superior Court of California in Alameda County against Roland Alexander, founder of All Pro Wrestling (www.allprowrestling.com) and Pacific Coast Sports Promotion companies. The complaint was made on behalf of the parents of Brian Ong of Berkeley, California who died as a result of injuries suffered during All Pro Wrestling's "Boot Camp" training. Headquartered in Hayward, California, Alexander's company bills itself as the number one wrestling school in America and markets wrestling "Boot Camps" to amateurs as a chance to "Live Your Dream" as a professional wrestler by providing wrestling training camps, career counseling and talent agency services to wrestling amateurs at fees of $6,000 or more.
Mr. Ong, age 24, enrolled in All Pro Wrestling's Hayward, CA Boot Camp and was fatally injured as a result of being thrown to the ground in a practice wrestling maneuver. According to the complaint, Mr. Ong suffered a concussion during a practice session and instead of being advised to seek medical attention and take time off from his training to fully recover, he was given a lower evaluation for not avoiding injuries and was told to continue practicing and performing.
The complaint goes on to state that Mr. Ong, at 5 feet, 7 inches and 185 pounds, was subsequently pitted against a sparring partner more than twice his size and that the enormous disparity in size between Mr. Ong and his opponent, a massive 7 feet, 3 inches and weighing 400 pounds, increased the risk of harm to Mr. Ong. He was thrown twice off his sparring partner's shoulders, lost consciousness when his head hit the floor and died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. All Pro Wrestling did not provide Mr. Ong with any protective gear or any supervision by APW staff, and the floor mats provided were not adequate to cushion the impact of such maneuvers.
"All Pro Wrestling lures wrestling `wanna be's' with the promise of fame and fortune on the exhibition wrestling circuit," stated Nancy Hersh, partner of Hersh & Hersh. "Legitimate wrestling organizations would never pair-up sparring partners from weight classes at such opposite ends of the spectrum. Tragically for Mr. Ong's family, they lost their son as a result of All Pro Wrestling's negligence and deceit."
The complaint, seeking damages and requesting a jury trial for injuries causing death and for fraudulent contract charges, will proceed to trial within the near future.
About Hersh & Hersh
Hersh & Hersh is a San Francisco-based law firm dedicated to protecting the safety and rights of consumers. The law firm represents clients both on an individual level and in class and multi-district litigation, and has pursued and won a wide range of civil suits, from product liability, medical malpractice and insurance bad faith to sexual harassment and employee discrimination.
For the past 32 years, Hersh & Hersh has been committed to using the law to protect individuals by making sure companies exercise due diligence in manufacturing their products and operate in good faith in delivering their services.
2002 - WWE issued the following press release:
Attention Sports, Entertainment, Business and News Editors: Television Ratings Growing For World Wrestling Entertainment(TM) Properties in Canada
TORONTO, Sept. 17 /CNW/ - World Wrestling Entertainment Canada Inc. has seen very positive growth in the Canadian market during the 2001/2002 broadcast season, and continues to attract viewers to its unique brand of entertainment.
WWE(TM)'s flagship program RAW(TM), which airs 9 p.m. Eastern time on TSN, has increased in ratings by 16% overall from the previous year; and SmackDown!(TM), which airs 7 p.m. Eastern time on The Score, has increased in ratings by 43% overall from the previous television broadcast season (all percentiles throughout are based on original plus repeat audiences).
World Wrestling Entertainment(TM) properties are the No. 1 ranked regularly scheduled programs on TSN and The Score against all viewers 2+, T12- 17, A18-34, A18-49, M18-34 and M18-49; and, RAW(TM) is the No. 1 ranked regularly scheduled program on all Canadian English specialty television against those same demographics.
WWE(TM)'s fan base is also growing in diversity. Women 18-34 tune into RAW(TM) 25% more than the previous television broadcast season resulting in a cumulative total of 81,000 female viewers. WWE(TM) SmackDown!(TM) possesses 60% more female (18-34) viewers than the previous television broadcast season.
"Our ratings in Canada have grown significantly over the past several months," said Carl DeMarco, President, World Wrestling Entertainment Canada, Inc. "Our fans in Canada are the best in the world, and are growing in number every day."
In addition to overall ratings, key selling demographics such as A18-34 and M18-34 have each increased by 23% for RAW(TM). Similarly, SmackDown!(TM) is up 25% for A18-34 and 23% for M18-34.
"The success of Smackdown!(TM) on The Score has had a profound impact on our overall audience growth." Said David Errington, Senior Vice President and General Manager, The Score "The Score's overall A2+ audiences have increased over 44% from last year, and our partnership with WWE(TM) has played an integral role in that success."
Additionally, WWE(TM) programs avoided the traditional summer drop-off faced by television with regards to ratings. RAW(TM) viewership increased 21% from last year's Summer season (an average cumulative total of 839,000 overall viewers over the last Summer season), and SmackDown!(TM) increased 12% from last year's Summer season (an average cumulative total of 138,000 overall viewers over the last Summer season).
"WWE(TM)'s RAW(TM) continues to be one of TSN's most popular shows," says Phil King, Senior Vice President of programming, TSN. "RAW(TM) never ceases to thrill fans with its unique blend of high-flying athleticism and off-the-wall story lines. Canadian wrestling fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming season."
Both WWE(TM) RAW(TM) and WWE(TM) SmackDown!(TM) will be coming to Canada next month. Fans can catch WWE(TM) RAW(TM) live at Montreal's Bell Centre on Monday, October 14 at 7:45PM and WWE(TM) SmackDown!(TM) at Toronto's Air Canada Centre on Tuesday, October 15 at 7:30PM. Tickets for both events are still available, but are going fast. Visit the arena's box office or log onto ticketmaster.ca to obtain your tickets to these highly anticipated events.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Chicago, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. Information regarding community activities can be found at parents.wwe.com.
TSN is Canada's Sports Leader. Setting the Canadian sports broadcasting standard, TSN's comprehensive schedule includes its flagship news program SPORTSCENTRE, as well as NHL, Toronto Maple Leafs and international hockey, the Olympic Games, Blue Jays baseball, F-1, NASCAR and CART auto racing, CFL, NFL, NBA, PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour, World Cup soccer, Season of Champions curling, figure skating and amateur sports action. Majority owned by CTV Inc., TSN is available in eight million households. TSN's programming and news content is also available on-line at tsn.ca. CTV Inc. is a division of Bell Globemedia Inc.
2004 - WWE holds a house show in Bossier City, Louisiana with a theme of being a "Tribute To Mid-South Wrestling". As Jim Ross (who got his start in Mid-South) addressed the crowd, he was interrupted by Jonathan Coachman, who insulted the legacy of Mid-South Wrestling. This resulted in Michaels Hayes and Arn Anderson beating up Coachman to the delight of the crowd.
2004 - IWA Mid-South presented their Ted Petty Invitational tournament. Larry Goodman filed the following live report:
IWA Mid-South presented a killer night one of the 2004 Ted Petty Invitational at the Lincoln Center in Highland, In. I'm thinking it made my all time list of live events. CM Punk vs. Austin Aries, Samoa Joe vs. Roderick Strong and Chris Hero vs. Mike Quackenbush were all amazing, each in a different way. The crowd of 300 saw a show that blew away last year's first night, which was an excellent show in its own right.
Ian Rotten opened the show with the announcement that the King of the Death Match Tournament wasn't dead after all. Rotten said that the 2005 tournament will take place at Korakuen Hall in conjunction with Big Japan Wrestling.
Rotten did a nice tribute to Ted Petty and asked for a moment of silence.
(1) Mercedes Martinez beat Lacey to win the IWA Mid-South Women's Title in 11:07. The crowd had fun with this match, enjoying it for what it was. Back and forth pin attempt early. Martinez's shoulder got rammed into post. From there, it was Lacey going after the injured arm, and Martinez making babyface comebacks with crabs and leglocks. Martinez applied an excruciating crossed-legged submission, and Lacey was in too much pain to get her shoulders off the mat.
Dave Prazak introduced the 24 man tournament field. Fans chanted for Super Dragon, A. J. Styles, Chris Sabin, Hero, Punk and Joe. Prazak announced that any westler involved in outside interference during a tournament match would be subject to a one-year suspension from IWA Mid-South.
(2) Matt Sydal beat Salvatore Rinauro in 9:36. Rinauro got the "faggot" chant. Sydal popped the crowd with a tope over the top. Rinauro used Azrael's Ted Bundy move (vertical suplex dropped into a uranage). They were both left hanging upside down after a battle on the middle rope. Sydal did a standing moonsault off Rinauro's back for a close two count. Sydal escaped from the Phoenix Fury Legdrop and won it with an overhead belly to belly superplex. Crowd chanted for Sydal.
(3) Nate Webb beat Hallowicked in 8:44. The crowd treated this like the winner was a forgone conclusion. Hallowicked has some skills, once you get past his awkward Igor like movements. The gimmick draws from both Shark Boy and Delirious. Webb went for one too many Nebraskan Tumbleweed. Hallowicked punished Webb in the tree of woe. Webb turned Hallowicked inside out with a clothesline. Hallowicked showed good explosiveness on his flying headscissors. Hallowicked dropped Webb on his head with a german. Hallowicked got too flippy for his own good, and Webb finished him with Soylent Green.
(4) Rainman pinned Chris Sabin in 10 minutes. A battle of contrasting styles. Sabin went with the air game wrestle and Rainman wanted to brawl to set up his signature power moves. Rainman hit the Spinesplitta for a near fall. Sabin came back with a pair of enzuigiris to put "the Soul Assassin" on the deck. Sabin nailed a springboard missile dropkick and hit a tiger suplex for a near fall. It was the night for the Wildside guys to borrow each other's moves, as Rainman used Seth Delay's Kool Krusher. Sabin used a wicked cradle piledriver variation (ala Kevin Steen). Rainman applied the Hillside Strangla but Sabin made the ropes. Rainman hit a pumphandle Michinoku Driver (Rinauro's finisher) for the upset victory. Crowd was obviously surprised to see Sabin out of the tournament but showed respect for Rainman's ability.
(5) CM Punk beat Austin Aries in 16:46. Damn, this was hot. Easily the best match of the first half of the opening round. Two great performances. The crowd was the third star of the match with vocal factions pulling hard for their guy throughout. The stiffness quotient was way up from anything so far. Aries stepped on Punk's mouth HARD. At 4:00, Punk hit a Tope Suicida. Aries freaking clobbered Punk's ass and hit a corkscrew pescado. Aries chopped the post. Punk rammed his knee into the post when Aries ducked a shining wizard. Aries destroyed Punk's knee, at one point using a knee DDT. Punk hit a shining wizard that did more damage to his knee. Punk rolled through on Aries' flying bodypress and hit a german suplex with a bridge. Aries missed on a 450. Great false finishes here, Punk with a hammerlock lariat and Aries with a top rope brainbuster. Aries teased a Pepsi Plunge before Punk caught him with a reverse Pepsi Plunge to score the pin. This match jumped the intensity level of the show up bigtme.
(6) Danny Daniels pinned Todd Sexton in 10:56. Daniels was all over Sexton early. Sexton finally ran Daniels to the ropes to shake him off. Sexton went to work on Daniels' knee with dropkicks to set up the sharpshooter. Daniels answered with a double stomp into a senton backsplash. Daniels hit a huracanrana from the top, but Sexton came back with an ankle lock. Daniels hit a tombstone piledriver for a great near fall. Sexton got the sharpshooter locked in good and tight, but Daniels was able to reverse it into the Walls. Daniels dropped Sexton on his head with the Rubix Cube. Strong pop for the finish.
B.J. Whitmer gave Daniels an exploder suplex into the first row of seats in the postmatch. Fans chanted "die, Whitmer, die."
(7) Jimmy Jacobs beat Delirious in a Ladder Match to win the IWA Mid-South Lightweight Title in 15:56. It didn't take long to get the ladder involved. Delirious gave Jacobs a flapjack onto the ladder at ringside. Delirious dropkicked the ladder with Jacobs standing inside of it. Jacobs took advantage of his small stature, executing offensive moves while standing inside the ladder. They each pulled out spikes. Delirious lost his spike taking a bump. Jacobs drove his spike through Delirious' mask and Delirious was busted open. Very effective use of blood to heighten the drama of the match. Delirious came back with Shadows Over Hell off the top of the ladder. Delirious taped Jacobs to the ropes and climbed, but Jacobs used the spike to free himself and knock Jacobs off the ladder. In the circus spot of the night, Jacobs set Delirious up on a table at ringside and tried to dive off the top of the ladder, but he slipped on the launch and impaled himself on the top rope. Jacobs put Delirious through the table with a cannonball senton off the top rope. Jacobs had the belt in his grasp when Delirious missile dropkicked the ladder out from under him. Jacobs hung onto the bungee cord that was suspending the belt from the ceiling and dropped to the mat with belt in hand. Great finish.
(8) Mike Quackenbush beat Chris Hero in 16:35. The crowd loved this match. This was billed as a battle of Chikara Wrestling Factory co-trainers. Both of them were treated like deities by the crowd, not that they didn't deserve it. They worked a slew of intricate arm reversals. Quackenbush went lucha style, which was a smart way to minimize the size difference. Hero hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and used his size to control Quackenbush on the mat. Quackenbush came back with some great submissions. Hero did the coolest hammerlock superplex ever. Quackenbush did a outside/inside tornado DDT. Hero hit the cravate suplex. The finishing sequence was back and forth reversals building to a cradle pin. Mega pop for the finish.
Rotten announced that Hero was leaving for his first tour of Japan in the morning. Rotten said was sending their best guy to represent the best promotion in the US. Rotten said the handful of fans that heckled Hero had to be true assholes not to appreciate his talent.
(9) A. J. Styles beat Jimmy Rave 12:45. This was another very good match. Rave worked heel. Rave tried to work for the cross ambreaker. Styles got pissed and tried to rip Rave's arm off. At 4 minutes, Styles suplexed Rave into the turnbuckles. Styles went with dropkicks. Rave responded with a rabbit lariat and a baseball slide to the nuts. Rave got the crossarmbreaker and Styles made the ropes. Style worked on Rave's neck. With Rave straddling the top rope, Styles nailed a flying roundhouse to the temple. Styles went high impact. Rave came back with Dusk Till Dawn. Styles submitted Rave with a kneeling Mutalock.
(10) Samoa Joe beat Roderick Strong in 14:20. A strong style classic. Stiff, stiff, stiff. Strong earned the crowd's respect by taking everything Joe could dish out. Joe got the best of an exchange that was stiff beyond belief. Both of their chests were beet red. Joe tried to cave Strong's chest in with kicks. Fans chanted "Joe is going to kill you." Joe busted Strong's mouth open with a face wash sequence. Joe hit a tope suicida. Just when it looked like Strong was dead meat, he countered the Ole Ole with a sidewalk slam on a chair. Strong pulled off some power moves that showed he's one deceivingly strong dude. Joe did a powerbomb into a crab into an STF into a crossface. Joe dropped Strong on his head a couple of times. The finish saw Joe take Strong's face off with a kick and hit a musclebuster from hell. The fans exploded with in "IWA" chant. They shook hands and the fans chanted for both men.
(11) Nigel McGuinness submitted Claudio Castagnoli with a Rings of Saturn in 13:30. Lots of European style. I like Castagnoli as a heel. He got heat hurling insults in German. McGuinness outwrestled Castagnoli and did a slow burn about his cheating. Castagnoli double crossed McGuinness on a handshake. Castagnoli took McGuinness to the mat with a cobra clutch and a Crippler Crossface, but McGuinness made the ropes. McGuinness befuddled Castagnoli with a headstand on the turnbuckles. McGuinness blocked Castagnoli's submission and stretched him on the mat to set him up for the tap out.
(12) Brian Danielson beat Alex Shelley (14:43). Great stuff. They went back and forth with variations on a Nirvana Strangle. Shelley emptied his nostrils on Danielson. Shelley got the Border City Stretch but Danielson quickly made the ropes. Shelley hit a lariat backbreaker. Danielson rocked Shelly with European uppercuts and returned the favor with the snot blowing. Danielson tortured Shelley with a surfboard dragon sleeper. Shelley put Danielson's head between his knees and hammered it into the mat. Danielson hit his awesome superplex. The key spot was Danielson doing a 30 revolution airplane spin that left both men dazed and confused. Danielson tried for the Cattle Mutilation and Shelley reversed it into the BCS, before Danielson got him with a backslide. Danielson was so dizzy that he headed in the wrong direction after the match. Shelley stopped to hurl on his way to the back.
(13) Arik Cannon beat Super Dragon with a shining wizard in 13:45. Good match, especially if you like stiff strikes and head drops. Tremendous response for Dragon's entrance. This was his first visit to Highland. Cannon looked quicker than Dragon on the mat. Dragon gave Cannon a curb stop. The fans called for an encore and Dragon obliged. The crowd was marking out for just about everything Dragon did in this match. Cannon came back with a curb stop of his own, so Dragon gave him one more. Cannon suplexed Dragon into the turnbuckles to take over. Cannon used a cravate surfboard. Cannon missed with a cannonball senton, and Dragon DESTROYED him with a barrage of strikes. Dragon did an ungodly top rope double stomp to the back of Dragon's neck. Cannon knocked Dragon out of the ring with a shining wizard but couldn't get the three. Cannon dropped Dragon on his head a couple of times to set up another wizard.
(14) Petey Williams beat B. J. Whitmer (with Jim Fannin) to retain the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title in 12:58. Fannin did his best to provoke a fan into a physical altercation prior to the match. Fannin ordered the ref to ring the bell. Williams ran in through the front door to schoolboy Whitmer, and it was almost over before it started. Williams was the aggressor. He hit a slingshot huracanrana that ruled. Whitmer came back with a spinebuster and beat Petey up. Some sick thudding soccer kicks here. Williams did a cool flying crucifix slam. Whitmer tried to choke Williams out. Whitmer blocked the Destroyer and hit an exploder suplex for a near fall. Williams got the sharpshooter but couldn't close the deal. Williams tried for a Super Canadian Destroyer. No go, thank God. Williams blocked another exploder and hit the Canadian Destroyer standard for the pin. Daniels had to be restrained from going after Whitmer in the postmatch.
2005 - Hardcore Homecoming ran a house show in Cleveland, Ohio. Matt Pocok filed the following live report:
I went to Hardcore Homecoming tonight in Cleveland and would say it was a decent crowd, not sold out but quite a few people in the place. Here are the results:
1. Blue Meanie defeated Tracy Smothers with a rollup. Comical match with referee getting involved and lots of double team moves by Meanie and Ref. Good opener.
2. Danny Doring defeated Chris Chetti with his jawbreaker/stunner move. Sorry, it's been years and I don't remember the name.
3. Johnny Grunge and Pitbull Gary Wolfe come out for a moment of silence for all their brothers that have passed, only to be interupted by J Rock. I think he's a local talent. Anyways he got a double team backflip onto the floor, followed by a chair shot or two by Gary Wolfe.
4. New Jack defeated Roadkill. Actually he pinned the ref with Roadkill making the count but he was declared the winner. Bloody fight right off the bat. New Jack was hit on his left arm with a metal grate, like from a barbeque grill and he never seemed the same. He eventually got sick of the ref interfering as he tried to use his sickle on Roadkill, and the two of them turned on the ref, knocking him out with the 187 chair shot off the top rope. After the match, New Jack thanked the crowd, and mentioned that he thought he may have broke his arm.
Intermission
5. Raven beat Rhino with the Evenflow DDT. Crowd way into this match. Lots of F**k McMahon chants towards Rhino due to his release earlier this year. Very good match, not so much Hardcore weapons as their Unbreakable match.
6. Shane Douglas beat Jerry Lynn and Sabu in a Triple Threat match. It was only one fall, which was disappointing. He pinned Jerry Lynn after hitting him with a chain he had hidden in his trunks. Highlights included Lynn spanking Francine, and Lynn and Sabu double teamed Douglas after the match, juicing him severely. Best match of the night.
7. Team 3D beat Balls Mahoney and Ian Rotten in the bloodbath of the evening after powerbombing Mahony through a table. Very bloody match, with scissors, cheese grater, and lots of brawling in the arena, with plenty of chair shots. Ending came when Mahoney was trying to cover table in lighter fluid, but was jumped and slammed through the table. Ian no doubt was the bleeder of the night. Once again, lots of F**k McMahon chants towards Team 3D, but they didn't react to it. I don't blame them, I understand they left on good terms and wanna stay that way.
8. Sandman beat Justin Credible in Singapore Cane match with a DDT in a ring covered with chairs. Yes, Sandman called for a chair, and got about 30-50 of them offered to him. Good match, and the crowd really dug seeing the Sandman again. Post match, had Sandman give a heartfelt speech about the Hurricane relief donations, mentioning some of his own family who lost everything. Great way to end the night.
The Fanfest had about a dozen wrestlers show up for autographs. I received Sandman, Raven, Balls, Chris Chetti, Devon, Tracy Smothers, Danny Doring, Roadkill, Justin Credible, Blue Meanie, and Jerry Lynn. Shane Douglas was out there for awhile, but I never got to him before he left. I also got to meet Tracy Brooks from TNA, and she is gorgeous. I'm off to bed.
2005 - Bryan Danielson captured the ROH championship at Glory by Honor IV in Long Island, NY. Mike Johnson filed the following report:
Ring of Honor returned to Sportplus in Lake Grove, Long Island on 9/17 for their Fourth Annual Glory by Honor event, headlined by three major turn of events. American Dragon Bryan Danielson returning to the company for the first time in months and capturing the ROH championship, trapping James Gibson in a crossface chicken wing at 32:25 of a good match. Dragon came out with his old look, as opposed to the bald demented Jedi features he was sporting during his last run here. The match saw a lot of mat work early before they began going into heated exchanges and false finishes. Danielson gave a speech after the bout putting over James Gibson for continuing to work for ROH after signing a WWE deal. When a fan yelled "Sellout", Danielson responded, "If what he just did in the ring makes him a sellout, then I'm a damned sellout too."
The promotion also took great strides in bringing Jay Lethal up to the next level. When the show opened, Lethal stormed the ring and demanded that Low Ki come out and face him right now in their "Fight Without Honor." Julius Smokes came out and said that Ki wouldn't come out because there was nothing in it for him, but if Lethal agreed that Ki would be officially reinstated to ROH, they'd do it. Lethal (how he has this power is a huge storyline gap as far as I know) agreed and was attacked by Ki, who came out of the crowd. They had a hot match with Lethal bleeding but kicking up out of all of Ki's moves. Lethal was finally pinned with a double stomp off the top rope onto a chair that was laid out across his chest at 16:21. After the match, Ki teased shaking his hand, but instead gave him the finger.
Following a Colt Cabana win over Homicide via DQ when Homicide used a chair (crowd wasn't happy with the DQ), Low Ki, Grimm Reefer, and Ricky Reyes got involved which brought out Samoa Joe. KI said on the mic that he was back in ROH full time and that Joe claims to be the greatest ROH champion ever, but he never beat the first ROH champ, so his claims mean nothing. Joe started to head to the ring but Jay Lethal, bandaged up (he had been bleeding in the first match) pushed past Joe to get to Ki. Joe tried to stop him but was shoved down and Ki and Lethal had an impromptu bout with Lethal getting the pin at 9:25. At one point, they teased a Dragon Suplex on the floor through a table set against the guard rail. Both matches in the Ki vs. Lethal series were really good.
ROH also closed out the AJ Styles vs. Jimmy Rave feud with an Anything Goes bout where you needed to use the Styles Clash to win, with Styles hitting the Clash off the top ropes through a table for the win in 18:44. The finisher was sick considering Rave's stomach and midsection were completely unprotected hitting the table. Mick Foley was in Styles' corner and ended up hitting his doublearm DDT on a chair on Nana. They had several masked men try to interfere on Rave's behalf during the bout but Foley and Styles ran them off. Foley gave a speech announcing he was leaving after tonight, but joked that he shouldn't say goodbye to the fans in attendance because he'd see them around town, listing a number of Long Island places before ending up with strip clubs, then saying he was just kidding. He said that he came close to signing a TNA deal but when you see the word persuasive in the dictionary, you see a picture of Vince McMahon on the phone with Mick Foley. Foley said that he tried to tell Vince that he'd always consider WWE his home, but he just wanted to leave home for a little bit, then quipped, "Yeah, he didn't buy that line of sh*t either." Foley put over the ROH locker room for being a bunch of hard working athletes and said that is why when guys like he and Ricky Steamboat go back to WWE, they praise the company. Foley noted that he's pushed for WWE to bring guys in, mentioning Punk and Homicide by name. He then noted that he helped ROH get their deal with the venue here in Long Island and he hoped that in some small way helped everyone have a good time tonight and that they should come back for the company's return on 11/19.
Other bouts on the card saw Austin Aries defeat Azrieal....ROH Pure champion Nigel McGinnis defeated Roderick Strong in 12:16...Davey Andrews defeated Eric Matlock in 2:31....Samoa Joe forced BJ Whitmer to go down to a choke in a four way also featuring Ricky Reyes and Adam Pearce at 18:40. Joe then challenged Whitmer (one half of the ROH Tag Team champions with Jimmy Jacobs) to get ready as Joe wanted a ROH Tag Team title run to make himself the first ROH Grand Slam champion. Pearce showed a lot of personality but didn't do anything inside the ring that immediately stood out.
Notes: The crowd appeared to be in the 550 range, with some latecomers arriving straight from Mick Foley's book signing in Huntington, Long Island....There were several student matches that were held unannounced as the crowd entered the venue....Interesting to note that when TNA was mentioned on the mic, it received some cheers while when WWE was mentioned, it was soundly booed. I noticed a lot of TNA-related shirts in the crowd, which is a sign that fans are starting to get behind that company for the first time....ROH's return to the New Yorker Hotel on 10/1 will be the promotion's final appearance in the venue as they are moving to a larger location in Manhattan. The 10/1 event features the debut of Kenta Kobashi as he faces Samoa Joe, plus Jack Evans vs. Homicide and James Gibson vs. the debuting Jimmy Yang....ROH returns to Sportsplus on Saturday 11/19.
2006 - WWE held their Unforgiven PPV. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
Welcome to our coverage of WWE Unforgiven. We will be updating this page throughout the evening, so check back often for updates. Coverage will begin at the conclusion of the first match.
Unforgiven opened with a video package highlighting the major matches (Edge-Cena, DX-McMahons & Show) on the PPV.
Intercontinental Champion Johnny Nitro, with Melina, vs. Jeff Hardy.
There was a "Hardy" chant as soon as the theme music ended. They locked up, with Hardy breaking clean on the ropes as Nitro stepped to the apron. Nitro got back in and grabbed an armdrag. Nitro bragged about his move. There was a "Nitro Sucks" chant. Nitro blocked a hiptoss, but messed up on flipping over it. Hardy came back with an armdrag of his own and applied an armbar. Hardy slid under Nitro as he escaped and then hit another armdrag. Hardy leapfrogged Nitro as he tried a whip in the corner, then hit another armdrag. Nitro came back with some kicks, but Hardy avoided an armdrag grabbed an Oklahoma Roll for two, then grabbed another armdrag.
Nitro started throwing forearms, but Hardy grabbed a backslide as he tried a neckbreaker for a two count. Hardy hit a double legdrop to the "lower abdomen" and Nitro went to the floor to regroup. There was a "Hardy" chant. Nitro hit some forearms and whipped Hardy hard into a corner, then measured him with big punches. Hardy reversed a whip, and Nitro tried a leapfrog, but Hardy avoided it and dropkicked Nitro into a corner. Hardy hit some punches and a kick out of the corner off the ropes, then set up for a Swanton. Nitro rolled out of the ring, and Hardy hit a baseball slide. Hardy brought back his old "walking the security wall" spot, hitting a clothesline on the floor.
Back in the ring, Hardy went to climb the ropes, but Nitro dropkicked him down. Nitro applied a spinning toehold and dropped down on the leg. Nitro hit the move again, then backed Hardy in a corner and kicked at his leg. Hardy battled back with punches. Hardy missed an enzugiri, and Nitro slammed Hardy's knee into the mat. Nitro scored a two count. Nitro stood on Hardy's foot and kicked his leg. Nitro stayed on the leg, kicking it out from under Jeff for a two count. Nitro went to the floor, pulling Hardy's leg across the apron, and pounded it. Nitro slingshotted onto the leg as it was stretched across the apron.
Nitro took it back into the ring, scoring a two count and continuing to work on the left leg of Hardy, putting on a modified Indian Deathlock. Nitro pulled on the leg, then hit a shinbuster before kicking the leg again. Nitro put Hardy's leg on the second rope and dropped his knee across it, then applied an ankle lock. Hardy tried to rally with some chops, but Nitro hit a chopblock on the knee. Nitro went to the top rope for a corkscrew moonsault, but Hardy moved out of the way and Nitro crashed to the mat. Nitro hit Hardy with a back elbow as they got up, but soon they were trading reversals on a rollup, ending in a two count for Hardy. Hardy hit some clotheslines, but Nitro kicked him and went for a neckbreaker. Hardy blocked it, and Nitro tried for a suplex, but Hardy blocked it and hit a back elbow.
Hardy scaled the ropes and hit the Whisper In The Wind, but Nitro kicked out at two. Nitro went back on the offensive, putting Hardy on the top rope and attempting a top rope rana. Hardy held onto the ropes, and Nitro crashed to the mat. Hardy then hit the Swanton, then crawled onto Nitro for the cover, but Nitro got his foot on the bottom rope. Nitro lunged at Hardy's leg, but Hardy grabbed a sunset flip, only for Nitro to roll through it into an ankle lock. Hardy hit a mule kick to escape, then went for a Twist Of Fate, but Nitro grabbed the leg to escape and applied an ankle lock with a leglace. Hardy reached for the ropes, but Nitro pulled him back into the center of the ring to reapply the hold. There were chants for Nitro and Hardy at this point. Hardy made the ropes to escape the hold.
Nitro went for the leg again, but Hardy kicked him away, and into Melina, who had gotten on the apron. Melina was knocked to the floor and Hardy rolled up Nitro for a two count. Nitro charged Hardy, who backdropped him to the ring apron. Nitro went to the top rope and jumped off, attempting a rana, but Hardy caught it and powerbombed Nitro to the mat. Hardy slumped against the ropes after the move, and Melina (who had removed her boot after falling to the floor), blasted Hardy in the head with the heel of her boot. Hardy fell to the mat and Nitro got the pin at the nineteen minute mark.
Winner: Johnny Nitro
We then had a video package on the Marine. Yep, on PPV.
Smackdown General Manager Theodore R. Long was shown watching the show from a skybox.
Backstage, Matt Hardy consoled Jeff Hardy on his loss. Lita showed up, and mocked her former teammates, pointing out how they would never be champions (like Edge and herself). Lita said that Matt would have the chance to face John Cena on Smackdown after Edge beats him tonight. Lita walked off grinning.
Umaga, with Armando, vs. Kane.
Armando did some mic work before the match, basically saying that Kane wasn't a monster, and that Umaga was "the only monster" in WWE. Kane then did his usual pyro filled entrance.
They locked up at the bell, with Umaga backing Kane in the corner. Kane fired off some punches, backing Umaga across the ring. They traded shots, with Umaga raking the eyes, but Kane hitting a boot to the face. Kane charged, but Umaga hit a spin kick. Kane sat up, and Umaga clotheslined him over the top rope, and Kane landed on his feet on the floor. Umaga came out after him, and they exchanged shots. Armando got too close, and Kane pulled off his jacket and ripped it. Umaga gave Kane a reverse legsweep, driving him face first into the floor. There was a "Umaga" chant from some fans.
Back in the ring, Umaga hit a diving headbutt on Kane. Umaga hit some shots and a bodyblock on Kane, then punched him down in a corner. Umaga measured Kane and hit the running butt bump to Kane as he was slumped against the bottom turnbuckle. Armando called for the Spike, but Kane hit Umaga with a punch to stop him. They went back and forth with punches, with Umaga getting the better of it. Kane booted a charging Umaga then fired off with lefts and rights in the corner. Kane hit a lariat in the corner, then delivered a second. Kane gave Umaga another clothesline, but Umaga wouldn't go down. Kane charged again, but Umaga caught him with a Samoan Drop. Umaga went to the second rope and dove at Kane, but Kane sat up and Umaga crashed to the mat.
Kane hit a top rope clothesline, and called for a chokeslam. Kane grabbed Umaga by the throat. Umaga went for the Spike, but Kane blocked it and hit some headbutts. Umaga hit a punch, but Kane grabbed Umaga and sort of belly to belly suplexed him over the top rope and to the floor. Kane clotheslined Umaga over the security wall, then went after him. As they brawled in the crowd, the referee counted out both men at the eight minute mark.
Result: Double countout.
They brawled all the way to the back, as fans booed the result.
Backstage, the McMahons were watching footage from Raw, and bragging about beating DX. Shane said he would take them down, and Vince could just cover them for the pin. Vince said that unlike Canada, which has all of their allies do the work, he wanted to be the one to put DX down and beat them.
World Tag Team Champions The Spirit Squad vs. The Highlanders.
Mikey and Kenny are wrestling for the Squad tonight. Rory started out with Mikey, grabbing a sunset flip for a two count. Mikey hit a back elbow, but missed a charge in the corner. Rory rammed Mikey into the turnbuckles, and then into the head of Robbie for a two count. Robbie tagged in and headbutted the outstretched arm of Mikey. Robbie headbutted and twisted Mikey's arm, then tagged in Rory, who hit a double axhandle on the arm from the second rope. Robbie tagged back in with a headbutt to the arm for a two count. Mikey hit a knee to the gut and Kenny tagged in. Robbie backdropped and slammed him, then tagged in Rory, who threw Robbie into a shoulderblock on Kenny. Robbie tagged in and did the same with Rory. Robbie hit a double knee to the chest in the corner and tagged in Rory, who did the same for a two count. Robbie tagged back in, but Kenny but on the brakes on a whip and tagged Mikey.
Mikey walked right into a double drop toehold and was give a double elbowdrop. Mikey pulled Robbie's hair to finally get things in the Spirit Squad corner, but as Kenny tagged in, Robbie went on the offensive, dropkicking Kenny to the floor. Robbie went for a tope, but Kenny dodged it and Robbie crashed to the floor. The other Spirit Squad members attacked Robbie while Kenny distracted the referee. Back in the ring, Mikey clotheslined Robbie for a two count. Mikey hung Robbie on the top rope and hit some kicks. Kenny tagged in and flipped Mikey onto Robbie, then scored a two count before applying a chinlock. Kenny scored another two with a clothesline, then threw Mikey into a flying forearm on Robbie for a two count. Mikey tried to jump off Kenny's back, but Robbie moved and Mikey crashed into the corner. Robbie then avoided Kenny and was about to make the tag, but Rory was pulled off the apron before a tag could be made. The Spirit Squad gave Robbie the Hart Attack, but Rory broke it up.
The Spirit Squad stayed on the offense, with Kenny giving Robbie a neckbreaker. Rory pulled Robbie out of the way of a Kenny top rope legdrop, and Kenny crashed to the mat. Rory got the tag and hit Mikey with double sledge shots. Rory gave Mikey a flapjack, then knocked the other Spirit Squad members off the apron. Rory threw Kenny onto his teammates at ringside. The Highlanders hit Mikey with a double slingshot gourdbuster, but Kenny broke up the pin. All four men were going at it, and Johnny hit Rory with a kick from the apron, allowing MIkey to hit a facebuster and get the pin at the twelve minute mark while Kenny held Robbie to keep him from breaking it up.
Winners: The Spirit Squad.
A video package on the McMahons-DX feud was shown.
Hell In A Cell: D-Generation X (Triple H & Shawn Michaels) vs. Vince & Shane McMahon & Big Show.
The McMahons and Big Show made they entrances, then the cell was lowered before DX entered. DX got a big pop for their entrance.
DX double low blowed Big Show at the bell, then went after the McMahons. There was a "You screwed Bret" chant as DX slugged it out with the McMahons. Shane was tossed to the floor by Michaels, as Triple H punched Vince to the outside. Big Show was getting up, so DX double kicked him in the groin again. Michaels rammed Shane into the cable that connects the turnbuckles to the ringpost, then used the ropes to slingshot Shane off the apron and into the steel mesh. On the floor, Triple H punched Vince in the head repeatedly. Shane was bleeding as Shawn Michaels punched him on the floor. Triple H threw Vince head first into the cage, and soon he was bleeding.
Michaels rubbed Shane's face against the cage and kicked him in the head. Triple H punched Vince in his forehead and then rubbed his face in the steel. Shawn tossed Shane into the cage wall again. Triple H drove a screwdriver into Vince's head, and McMahon screamed. Michaels punched Shane in his bloody forehead. All of the action was on the floor, while Big Show was recovering in the ring. Finally, Triple H took Vince into the ring and slammed him. Big Show got up and hit Triple H, then caught Shawn Michaels as he came off the top rope and slammed him.
Big Show whipped Triple H over the top rope and to the floor, then went after him on the floor. Michaels went for a pescado, but Show caught him. Michaels floated over him and shoved Show into the steel mesh, then DX whipped Big Show into the steps on the floor. DX went back into the ring to work over the McMahons again. Michaels chopped Shane, while Triple H hit Vince with a kneedrop. Big Show got back into the ring, clotheslining Michaels and headbutting Triple H. Shane McMahon clotheslined Michaels over the top rope and to the floor. Big Show pounded Triple H down in the ring, allowing Shane to kick him in the gut. Big Show headbutted Triple H, then chokeslammed him.
Show went to the floor to go after Michaels, giving him a headbutt, and then lifting him for a powerbomb, but tossing him backwards so he would go headfirst into the cage. In the ring, Shane hit Triple H with elbows. Shane worked him over with punches, while Vince cheered him on. Big Show lifted Shawn Michaels and rammed him head first into the cage. Vince hit Triple H with elbows in the ring. Show got back in the ring and headbutted Triple H. Shane McMahon went under the ring and got a trash can. Triple H was down in a corner, and Shane wedged the trash can in the ropes in front of him. Shane set up for Coast to Coast, as Big Show held the can in place. Shane came off the top rope and hit the dropkick into the can into the side of Triple H's head.. Triple H was bleeding from the ear and Vince attacked it with punches.
Big Show threw Shawn Michaels back into the ring, and he and Shane held Shawn Michaels so Vince could punch him over and over. Triple H rolled to the floor. Shane McMahon was taking apart the ring steps. Vince whipped Triple H into a Shane clothesline on the floor. Shane set up Triple H on a section of the ringsteps, then catapluted him off it into the steel fence. In the ring, Show knocked around Michaels while Vince told him to "brutalize him". Big Show hit a Vader Bomb (as called by JR) onto Michaels from the second rope. Vince covered Michaels, but pulled him up at the two count. Vince said he wanted to "teach him a lesson" and had Big Show give him the Cobra Clutch backbreaker. Show then gave Michaels the Showstopper. Vince covered Michaels, put pulled him up at two again.
Triple H got back in the ring. Big Show charged, but Triple H ducked and pulled down the top rope and Show tumbled out of the ring to the floor. Triple H started to clean house, and gave Vince a facebuster to his knee. Triple H set up for a Pedigree, but Shane grabbed Triple H in a Torture Rack and dropped Triple H into a neckbreaker. Shawn Michaels gave Shane a enzugiri, sending him to the floor. Vince McMahon gave Michaels a clothesline. Show got back in the ring, and Vince pulled down his pants. Vince hiked up his underwear, and wasn't paying attention to Triple H, who was standing back up. Triple H decked Vince McMahon, but Big Show decked Triple H. Show slammed Michaels, and Vince (who pulled his pants back up) held down Michaels and told Show to splash him. As Show went for the splash, Michaels sat up and pulled Vince down and Show accidentally splashed Vince across the back.
As Show stood up, DX tripped him and pulled him crotch first into the ringpost. Show was deposited on the floor. Shane crawled back into the ring, as DX also reentered. DX took turns punching him, then Michaels hit Shane with a flying forearm, kipped up, and gave Shane a reverse atomic drop. Shane turned right into a Triple H spinebuster. Triple H went under the ring for chairs, putting one around the head of Shane McMahon. Shawn Michaels hit a top rope elbowdrop with the chair closed around Shane's neck. Shane was shaking on the mat, clutching his throat with blood coming out of his mouth.
Big Show grabbed Michaels' leg from the floor and yanked him to the outside. Big Show then grabbed Triple H and yanked him throat first across the top rope. Show took a section of the ring steps into the ring and lifted them up, but Triple H hit him in the gut with a chair. Show fell down, his head resting in the "V" of the back of the steps, and Triple H hit him with a chairshot to the back of the head. Show slowly got to his feet, and Michaels hit him with a superkick. Show, unconscious, slumped against the ropes. Vince McMahon stood up, face to face with DX. Triple H dumped the ring steps to the floor. Vince yelled at them "Come on, damn it". Michaels and Triple H instead went to Show, who was slumped over the ropes, and pulled down his trunks, exposing Show's rear end. DX gave Vince a crotch chop and then rammed his face into Big Show's rear end. Show fell over the top rope to the floor, and Vince looked like he was going to puke in the ring.
Jim Ross suggested that Vince might need "Dr. Heinie". Triple H went for a sledgehammer. Shawn Michaels hit Vince with a superkick, and Vince was knocked to his knees. Triple H then hit Vince across the back of the head with the sledgehammer, with the hammer "breaking across his head". Triple H then covered Vince for the pin at the 27 minute mark.
Winners: D-Generation X.
Doctors and EMT's rushed the ring as the cage lifted up. Shane was convulsing, eyes open, in the ring, and Vince wasn't moving. Both men were fitted with neck collars and put on stretchers.
They showed a video package on Trish Stratus' career.
WWE Women's Champion Lita vs. Trish Stratus.
Lita came out first, and the fans were chanting "Thank You Trish" already. Big pop for Trish's entrance. Jim Ross claimed that Trish and the Fabulous Moolah are tied with six title reigns each, and Trish could make it seven with a win tonight. They locked up, with Trish backing Lita into the ropes and breaking clean. Lita shoved Trish a few times, but ran into a Trish clothesline for a two count. Trish did a handstand into a spinning headscissors. Lita went to the floor, and Trish hit a Thesz Press off the ring apron. They fought on the floor, and Trish gave Lita a handstand into a rana on the outside.
Back in the ring, Trish pounded Lita near the bottom rope. Lita kicked Trish, then rammed her face first to the mat repeatedly. Lita choked her on the bottom rope, then snapmared her and applied a sleeper. Trish fought up, hitting elbows, but Lita yanked her to the mat by the hair. Lita rammed Trish head first into the turnbuckles, then kicked her repeatedly in the gut. Trish reversed positions and choked her with her boot. Trish chopped Lita against the ropes, licking her hands before the last one. Trish hit a Stinger Splash, but ran into an elbow. Lita got on the ropes, and Trish went for the handstand rana, but Lita grabbed her and pulled her onto the ropes with her. They slugged it out on the top rope, and both of them tumbled to the floor.
Lita went to the ropes and again, but Trish met her there and they slugged it out again. Lita ended up pulled Trish off the top rope and throwing her into the ring while standing on the ring apron. Lita went for a moonsault, but Trish moved and Lita crashed to the mat. Trish scored a two count. Trish went for Stratusfaction, but Lita dumped her over the top rope and to the floor. Lita tossed Trish back into the ring and scored a two count. Lita, frustrated, hit Trish with a series of shots on the mat, then started kicking her. Lita hit a knee to the gut and knocked Trish to the mat.
Lita suplexed Trish to the mat for a two count, then kicked her in the gut. Lita drove some knees into Trish's back, then trash talked her while slapping her in the face. Trish fired back with shots to the face, but Lita hit a side Russian legsweep and delivered a series of rights. Lita rammed Trish to the mat, then applied a sleeper again. Trish fought up and hit a neckbreaker. Both were slow to get up, and then they began exchanging punches. Trish ran into a Lita elbow, but caught her with the handstand rana out of the corner. Trish measured Lita and hit the Chick Kick, but Lita kicked out at two.
Lita raked Trish's eyes and went for the Twist Of Fate, but Trish reversed it and went for the Stratusfaction. Trish shifted mid-move and turned it into a sunset flip. Lita dropped down on it and went for the ropes, but Trish used her legs to hook Lita down. Trish rolled completely through the move instead of pinning Lita, and ended up on her feet holding Lita's legs. Trish applied the Sharpshooter, to the loudest pop of the night so far. Lita struggled, but tapped out at the twelve minute mark.
Winner and new Women's Champion: Trish Stratus.
Trish stood in all four corners, then bowed in the center of the ring. She pointed at Lilian Garcia, who pointed back at her, tears in her eyes. Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler stood up and applauded her. Trish was still celebrating as they went to a commercial for Smackdown.
Todd Grisham interviewed Randy Orton backstage. Orton said no one cares about Trish's retirement, unless you're Canadian, which means you have no life. Orton said Trish was the past, he was the future. Orton noted that two years ago he won the World Title here in Toronto. Orton said that Trish is "a bitch", and tonight he would "make Carlito his".
Randy Orton vs. Carlito.
There were a group of fans at ringside with wigs and shirts, dressed like Carlito. Carlito looked angry with Orton as he came to the ring. Orton smirked at him as he entered.
They locked up, with Orton backing Carlito into the ropes twice and breaking clean. Orton yelled at Carlito to "come on" and Carlito spat in his face. Carlito grabbed a double leg takedown and hit some punches. Orton went to the floor to regroup. Carlito backflipped over Orton when he got back in and hit a dropkick. Carlito mocked Orton's pose. Orton poked Carlito in the eyes, then hit some punches on the mat and in a corner. Orton went for a slam, but Carlito floated over and slammed Orton, then hit a senton off the middle rope and rolled right into a Quebrada moonsault for a two count. Orton was bleeding from the mouth, as Carlito apparently landed on his face on the moonsault. Orton backdropped Carlito to the ring apron, then dropkicked him off the apron and to the floor, right into the security wall. Orton rolled Carlito into the ring for a pair of two counts.
Orton stomped Carlito's legs and body. Orton delivered a kneedrop for two, then applied a rear chinlock. They showed a replay that Carlito caught Orton in the mouth with an elbow as he had hit the moonsault earlier. Carlito fought up and hit a kneedrop, but Orton came back with a bodyslam for a two count. Orton applied a rear chinlock again, but Carlito fought up and they traded punches. Carlito flipped over a suplex attempt and hit a slingshot back elbow off the ropes. Carlito hit a kneelift and a pair of lariats for a two count. Carlito chopped Orton in a corner, but Orton caught him with a boot to the face. Carlito grabbed Orton with a modified Exploder suplex, but Orton came back with his side backbreaker.
Orton measured Carlito for the RKO, but Carlito blocked it and hit a backcracker. Orton slumped against the ropes. Carlito went for a neckbreaker, but Orton blocked it. Carlito kicked Orton from the corner, then went for a springboard, but ended up launching himself right into an RKO for the clean pin at the nine minute mark.
Winner: Randy Orton.
The events leading to Edge vs. John Cena were recapped.
Tables, Ladders & Chairs: WWE Champion Edge vs. John Cena.
No Lita with Edge, who got a monster pop coming out to the ring. There was a "Cena Sucks" chant before his music could even hit. Definite negative reaction to Cena for his entrance, although there were some pro-Cena signs in the crowd. They did the ring introductions after both men were in the ring. Edge played it humble to his hometown crowd.
The belt was hung above the ring, and the bell rang. They locked up, and Cena applied a side headlock. Cena hit a shoulderblock and went back to the headlock. Cena hit another shoulderblock, and the fans are booing his every offensive move. Another shoulderblock, then Edge leapfrogged Cena and slapped him, to a pop. Cena charged Edge and hit some right hands, then went for a backdrop, but Edge stopped short and gave him a neckbreaker. Edge went to the floor and got a chair. Cena came out, and Edge hit him in the gut. Edge missed a swing with the chair and hit the ringpost. Back in the ring, Cena hit a Fisherman's suplex, but missed a charge and Edge hit an Implant DDT.
Cena went to the floor and slid a chair into the ring, then tossed in a second. Edge set up the chairs, facing each other, and went to suplex Edge into them. Cena blocked it and went for a suplex, but Edge floated over and dropped Cena with a reverse DDT, driving his back across the two set up chairs. Edge went for a ladder, then set it up in the center of the ring. Edge started to climb, but Cena knocked it over. Edge landed on his feet and clotheslined Cena. Edge choked Cena on the middle rope, then hit him with a ladder from the floor. Edge leaned the ladder against the ring, in front of where Cena was slumped on the ropes. Edge jumped off the security wall, dropkicking the ladder into Cena's head.
Back in the ring, Edge charged Cena with a ladder, but missed. Cena hit some right hands, whipped Edge into a corner, then hiptossed him into the ladder, which was leaning against the middle rope. Cena started looking at two tables that were set up on the floor. Cena lifted Edge for an FU, trying to dump him over the top rope. Edge blocked it and landed on the apron. Cena punched Edge, and charged, wanting to knock him off the apron, but Edge punched him in the head to block it.
Edge went to the top rope, but Cena crotched him. Cena went outside for a table. Some woman in the front row was cursing Cena out, and it looked like a referee told her to stop. Cena set up the table in the ring, and went for a superplex, but Edge blocked it. Edge went for a sunset flip powerbomb off the ropes, but they fell right down from the corner, rather than hitting the table. Cena fired off some punches, but then ran into an Edge powerslam, putting him through the table. Cena rolled to the floor. Edge ran up the ladder that was against the ropes in the corner, and dove out of the ring onto Cena. There was a "Holy S***" chant for the move.
Edge rolled Cena back into the ring and tossed in some chairs. Edge took a long time measuring Cena, but then blasted him with a chairshot to the back. Edge set up for a one-man Conchairto, but Cena rolled away and legsweeped Edge. There was a slight "Cena" chant amongst the boos. Cena hit a rolling necksnap, driving Edge into the chair. Cena set up a ladder, opened it, and put Edge's body in it. Cena slammed the ladder down on Edge, then put him in an FU, with Edge still in the ladder. Edge tapped out, which doesn't matter in a TLC match. Cena released the hold, then hit Edge with the ladder.
Cena then gave an FU to the ladder, driving it on top of Edge. Cena set up the ladder in a corner, then gave Edge a backsuplex into a powerbomb. Cena did the "You Can't See Me", getting a lot of boos. Instead of running the ropes, Cena climbed the ladder and did the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop off the ladder. Cena then went under the ring for another table. While Cena set up the table, Edge got a chair, and when Cena turned, Edge blasted him in the head with a chairshot. Edge put Cena on the table in the ring, then went under the ring for another table, which he set up on top of the one Cena was on, so Cena was between tables. Edge went to the top rope, but Cena rolled off the table and knocked Edge off, sending him into the security wall.
Cena went to the floor and pulled out a larger ladder than the one already in the ring. Cena set it up and started to climb. Edge climbed the top rope and then the ladder in the corner, and jumped off, spearing Cena off of his ladder and to the mat. Edge climbed up the big ladder, but when he saw Cena getting up, he dove off at him. Cena caught Edge and set him up for an FU. Edge grabbed the ladder to try and escape, but Cena pulled him off in powerbomb position and threw him into the smaller ladder in the ring. Edge rolled to the floor. Cena went outside after him, grabbing a chair. Cena gave Edge a relatively weak chairshot to the head. Cena got back in the ring and started climbing the ladder. Cena had a hand on the belt, when Lita ran in and toppled the ladder. Cena fell over the top rope and through a table at ringside.
Edge crawled back into the ring, set up the ladder, and began climbing. Cena crawled back into the ring. Lita hit Cena from behind with a chairshot. Cena fell forward, into the ladder, and then tipped the ladder, sending Edge over the top rope and through another table at ringside. Cena gave Lita an FU. The table that was stacked on top of another in the ring toppled down. Cena set it back up, for some reason, then stared at the belt and Edge for a while. Cena finally went to position the ladder, and began to climb up. Cena crawled back in and climbed up the other side of the ladder. Both men were on the ladder, and slugged it out. They both reached for the belt. Cena grabbed Edge and gave him an FU, dropping him off the top of the ladder and through the double stacked tables.
Cena, looking upset, grabbed the title belt to win the match at the 26 minute mark.
Winner and new WWE Champion: John Cena.
There was a pop for Cena for the final spot and the win. Cena went to ringside and hugged his father. Cena did not look happy at all, as he slung the title over his shoulder and walked away. There were still boos for Cena, but some cheers as well. Cena stood at the entranceway and held the belt over his head. They showed replays of some of the big table bumps. Back live, Cena held up the title belt and saluted. Edge was being checked in the ring. The announcers played up that Cena "did what he had to do" as the show ended.
2007 - The New York Daily News featured an article on WWE Diva Ashley Massaro taking part in CBS's Survivor: China. Massaro's version is that she found out about the casting and contacted WWE about getting her involved. She said that she hoped during the casting process that producers wouldn't know who she was and that she could get on the show of her own accord.
2007 - Ring of Honor issued the following statement following a gory angle that closed their "Man Up" PPV taping: "After discussion among ROH officials today we have decided to pull the footage of Jimmy Jacobs, Tyler Black, Necro Butcher and Lacey (collectively known as The Age Of The Fall) attacking The Briscoes from the third pay-per-view. This does not represent the product ROH wants to promote on television or the conduct expected from ROH's athletes. When you purchase ROH PPV you can expect to see great, athletic wrestling and competitive matches of true skill. ROH "Driven" has several matches that exhibit those qualities. "Driven" will debut this Friday on TVN and the DISH Network. It will debut 9/28 on iN DEMAND. Thank you for your support."
2008 - Dwayne Johnson has signed on to star in another Disney film "Tomorrowland", which according to an article in Variety, will be a new science-fiction entity despite sharing the name of one of the "lands" in the Disney parks. The film has yet to film as of this writing.
2008 - WWOR MyNetworkTV Channel 9 in New York City sent the following announcement out today:
My9's SmackDown Block Party - 1211 Avenue of Americas between 47th and 48th, New York City, NY from 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Don’t miss out on your chance to celebrate the launch of Friday Night SmackDown on My9 on Friday, October 3rd with your favorite SmackDown Superstars Jeff Hardy, Zach Ryder & Curt Hawkins*, act out your favorite SmackDown entrance and take home a DVD of the experience, get exclusive SmackDown airbrushed tattoos, compete in SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 video games & more!!!
SmackDown has a new home, new attitude. SmackDown premiers on Friday October 3rd only on My Network TV. Check your local listings or log on to www.mynetworktv.com to find your local station.
*Limited space available, pick-up a wristband at the start of the event for a guaranteed Superstar photo or autograph.
2008 - TNA announced Mick Foley would debut on TNA Tv, shortly, having signed a deal with the company.
2008 - After concern was made about his behavior after boarding a flight in Nashville, TN, WWE star Jeff Hardy was asked to remove himself from the flight. Hardy left without incident and found another way home.
2008 - Word began making the rounds that Kurt and Karen Angle had filed for divorce.
2009 - Playboy's website released an interview and "preview photos" of TNA star Traci Brooks' shoot
2009 - TNA broadcasts Impact. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off tonight with a look back at the history between Homicide and Hernandez and how their friendship is apparently over after Homicide attacked Hernandez after joining the World Elite.
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Taz and Mike ‘Remember the PPV on Sunday’ Tenay.
Mick Foley is walking in the back with his young bodyguards, or maybe they were his children. Kevin Nash was also walking into the Impact Zone earlier today.
Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley are still doing announcing work and Mike cannot believe they are still doing the announcing.
We see footage of the first round matches involving the participants in our first match.
Match Number One: Tara and Christy Hemme versus Angelina Love and Velvet Sky in a Women’s Tag Title Tournament Semifinal Match
Tara and Angelina start things off Tara swings at Velvet on the apron and that allows Angelina to attack her from behind. Angelina with a chop but Tara with a kick and punch followed by a chop. Tara pulls Angelina by the hair and lets go. She does it again and Angelina goes to the mat one more time. Christy tags in and Tara with a kick and then Tara helps Christy kick her. Christy with a kick to the back of the head but Angelina with a drop toe hold that sends Christy into the turnbuckles. Velvet tags in and tosses Christy by the hair a few times and Velvet gets a near fall. Angelina tags in and hits a drop kick for a near fall. Angelina with a forearm but then each pull the other down by the hair and both women are down. Velvet and Tara tag in and Tara with punches. Tara with a kick and a snap suplex and kip up. Tara screams before hitting the shimmy standing moonsault for a near fall. Tara with a slam and Christy tags in. Christy goes to the turnbuckles and hits the leg drop but Angelina breaks it up. Tara throws Angelina to the floor.
Madison comes to the ring with the spray and bag. Madison tries to spray Velvet but she accidentally sprays Christy and Velvet gets the three count with a rollup.
Winners: Velvet Sky and Angelina Love
After the match, Madison has the bag and it says ‘I’m Sorry’ and we have a reunion.
Lauren is with D’Angelo Dinero. She asks Dinero about his issues with Suicide. He says that it is true that he has extended the opportunity to enlighten someone who has created his own land. He says that everyone is dealing with darkness. He says that Suicide has created his own living hell. He says that he will reach down and resurrect only to pimp slap him straight back to hell.
Suicide is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage of Dinero costing Suicide his match with Doug Williams in the tournament.
Match Number Two: D’Angelo Dinero versus Suicide
Suicide attacks Dinero as the bell rings and they fight to the floor. Dinero tries to send Suicide into the apron but Suicide counters. Suicide with a slingshot leg drop for a near fall. Dinero with an STO and a snap mare followed by a boot to the chest. Dinero with a slam or two followed by a pimp slap but Suicide with a chop. Dinero with a kick and uppercut. Dinero gets a near fall followed by a choke. Dinero with a knee but Suicide with a drop kick that sends Dinero into the turnbuckles. Suicide with another drop kick. Suicide with a fireman’s carry slam and then he goes up top but he lands on Dinero’s knees. Dinero with the running knees to the back for the three count.
Winner: D’Angelo Dinero
Rhino is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and The World Elite are with Lauren. Kiyoshi takes the mic from Lauren and he interviews Eric. Eric says that what they did was for love for a brother. Eric says that Hernandez turned Homicide on Hernandez. Eric says that Hernandez wouldn’t have been in TNA if not for Homicide. Eric says that Hernandez got greedy and wanted to do things on his own. Eric says that Hernandez forced their hands. Eric talks about their match at World Elite. He says that he would never fight his own brother so he says that he will see Hernandez there, brother. Homicide takes the mic and he says that Hernandez died while he lived. He says they are not familia any more. Homicide says that Hernandez left the gang and he will destroy Hernandez.
Rhino is in the ring and he has something to say. Rhino says that he is not one for ego or one who looks for the spotlight. He says that he does not play politics and since he does not play politics, people jump ahead of him. He has seen people move ahead of him and he doesn’t say anything. Then TNA says to give Rhino a push so they can exploit him, his family, and his personal demons. Everyone moves ahead and then TNA gives him Jesse Neal. He says that he liked Jesse’s story and said that he wanted to train him. Rhino says that he stood by Jesse and then Jesse humiliated him in the ring. That is why he had to kick Jesse’s ass. Now Rhino turns his attention to Bobby Lashley. He tells Lashley that he knows he is undefeated in MMA, but this isn’t MMA, it is TNA. Rhino says that he will wrap a chair around Bobby’s head. Rhino talks about Dixie’s interview when she was with Bobby. Rhino wants to know when was the last time that Dixie talked to him. Rhino tells the sweetheart Dixie that his name is ‘The War Machine’ Rhino.
Team 3D’s music plays and Devon comes to the ring. Devon says it doesn’t sound like a guy who is mad or angry. It sounds like a guy who is crying like a little (word too icky for Spike). Devon says that he had to calm Bubba down in the back because he was not happy with what Rhino did to Jesse. Devon says that he told Ray that he would try to talk some sense into Rhino. It was not about politics. Rhino went to help Jesse and Rhino took advantage of him. Devon utters the ‘three letters’ and mentions that when Rhino came into that company, Team 3D was the part of Rhino while Rhino was like Jesse. Devon tells Rhino that they should go to the back and talk about old times. Devon offers his hand and Rhino shakes it, but Rhino says that if they are going to put TNA on top, it starts with him whipping Devon’s ass. Rhino attacks Devon and he sets for a GORE and Ray comes out and he attacks Rhino. Security and referees come out to separate them as we go to commercial.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see Hernandez being suckered into an attack by the World Elite.
Match Number Three: Sheik Abdul Bashir and Kiyoshi versus Hernandez in an Epsenhart Special
Kiyoshi and Bashir meet Hernandez as Hernandez enters the ring but Hernandez tosses Kiyoshi across the ring by his shirt. Hernandez with a back body drop to Bashir followed by a splash into the corner and a double hip toss. Hernandez sends Bashir out of the ring and Hernandez with a reverse Samoan drop. Bashir gets on the turnbuckles for a missile drop kick and Hernandez goes down. Bashir punches Hernandez and kicks him in the leg. Bashir punches Hernandez some more and then he hits a very delayed neck breaker. Kiyoshi goes up top and misses a moonsault by a few feet. Hernandez press slams Bashir and then hits a shoulder tackle on Kiyoshi followed by a POUNCE to Bashir. Hernandez with a border toss to Kiyoshi for the three count.
Winner: Hernandez
After the match, Homicide comes to the ring and Hernandez grabs Homicide by the throat but Eric Young has a chair and he hits Hernandez from behind. Homicide punches Hernandez and then Homicide puts the briefcase on Hernandez’s throat and Young uses the chair on the case.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Lauren is with ODB and she asks her about her women’s title match against Cody Deaner. Lauren asks if a Cody victory will affect what the women did for the division. ODB says that a man will not win the title because of what they have done. ODB says that the title is coming home on Sunday.
Match Number Four: Alyssa Flash versus Cody Deaner in a Lumberjack Match
Alyssa pushes Cody over the top rope to the floor and Cody squares off with Tara and Christy but Kong with a body block from behind. They all go after Cody. Cody falls victim to a double suplex from Roxxi and Bolt. Then Cody is sent into the ring post. Alyssa gets the three count.
Winner: Alyssa Flash
After the match Tara and Kong battle while ODB waits for Deaner to make his way up the ramp. ODB hits Deaner with the flask and we go to commercial.
We are back and Lauren is with Kevin Nash talking about being his valet. On a more serious note, Lauren asks Kevin about his match with Mick Foley and she wonders if an open casting call is a bad idea. Nash is busy looking a portfolios and he cannot answer Lauren’s questions. Nash tries to woo Lauren.
Jeremy is with Mick Foley and he asks Mick why Nash isn’t focused on their match. Mick says that Nash took his title, but he gave him a chance to return to the man he used to be. Mick says that he starts to take back TNA.
Match Number Four: Mick Foley versus Kevin Nash in a Legends Title Match
They lock up and Nash with a knee in the corner. Nash with punches followed by an elbow to the head. Foley punches Nash followed by a kick and a running knee lift. Foley punches Nash in the head. Foley with a running knee into the corner and it is time to bring out Mr. Socko. Nash throws Foley to the floor but Foley pulls Nash down but Nash sends Foley into the guardrail and Foley hits hard. Nash sends Foley into the ring steps and steals Foley’s sock. Nash sends Foley into the apron and the ring steps. They are back into the ring and Nash with a vintage elbow to the head in the corner. Nash chokes Foley in the ropes and punches Foley in the head.
Abyss’ music plays and he comes out with a barbed wire baseball bat. Abyss comes into the ring and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Kevin Nash by disqualification
After the match, Abyss wants a hug but Foley turns his back to Abyss. Foley takes his barbed wire baseball bat and goes home. Foley tells Abyss not to follow him.
Lauren is in the back with Storm, Roode, and Team 3D and Ray says that it is an important match because for the past year, Storm and Roode along with Team 3D have been setting the standard for tag team wrestling. Ray says that tonight means everything because the winners get the advantage in the Lethal Lockdown match on Sunday. Ray says that Devon always had his back and tonight they have each other’s back. Roode infringes on Devon’s gimmick with a testify.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Lauren is with Chris and Chris says that he was trying to help Mick because who knows what Kevin would have done. Lauren tells Mick to give him some time before he confronts him. Abyss pulls his hair out and he looks for Foley.
Match Number Five: Scott Steiner and Brutus Magnus with Rob Terry, Doug Williams, and Booker T versus Robert Roode and Brother Ray with James Storm and Brother Devon in a Who Gets the Advantage in the Lethal Lockdown Match on Sunday Match
Steiner and Roode start things off and Steiner has some words for his tag team partner. Steiner with a leg take down and then he sends Roode into the turnbuckles. Steiner with a chop and forearm. Steiner with a shoulder tackle but Roode with an elbow and a leaping knee drop for a near fall. Magnus tags in but Roode with a clothesline. Ray tags in and they hit a double hip toss. Ray with a chop in the corner. We have more corners so there is time for more chops. Rey with a uranage for a near fall. Steiner hits Ray from behind and Magnus with a suplex for a near fall. Magnus punches Ray and then Steiner is tagged back in. Steiner kicks Ray away from his corner and Steiner chokes Ray in the corner. Steiner with the clothesline and time for the flex elbow drop. Magnus tags back in and he punches Ray. Steiner tags back in and he chops Ray but Ray with a punch to fight back. Steiner with a t-bone suplex for a near fall. Steiner misses a clothesline and Ray with a BubbaBomb and both men are down. Roode and Magnus tag in and Roode with a flying forearm and clothesline. Roode with a back body drop and then he hits a running clothesline into the corner. Roode with a clothesline of his own. Magnus with a boot but Roode with a spinebuster for a near fall. All four men are in the ring for a moment but then things get out of hand. Roode hits the Payoff but Terry distracts the referee and Williams hits Roode with the title belt and the three count.
Winners: Brutus Magnus and Scott Steiner
Sarita and Taylor Wilde are in the back and they walk into commercial.
We are back and Bobby Lashley was found by TNA cameramen. Bobby says that he is going to knock his ass out.
We see highlights from the first round matches of the tournament involving the semifinalists.
Match Number Six: Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed versus Sarita and Taylor Wilde in a Women’s Tag Title Tournament Semifinal Match
Kong and Wilde start things off and Wilde with kicks to the leg but Kong with a body block. Wilde with a kick to the head and the leg followed by forearms. Kong drops Wilde on the mat and then Saeed is tagged in. Kong hits a wheelbarrow slam using Saeed for a near fall. Sarita is tagged in and Sarita with an arm drag. Saeed with a side slam for a near fall. Saeed with a chop and Kong is tagged in. Kong chokes Sarita in the corner. Kong with a chop followed by an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Kong with a snap mare and sleeper. Kong tosses Sarita to the ground one more time before Saeed is tagged back in and she snap mares Sarita. Saeed with a snap suplex to Sarita for a near fall. Saeed with a slam but Sarita kicks Saeed away. Sarita sends Saeed into the corner and Wilde is tagged in. Wilde with a clothesline and drop kick followed by a head scissors and a rana for a near fall but Kong makes the save. Sarita with a drop kick to Kong. Kong sends Sarita to the apron and then to the floor. Saeed with a chop and a single leg sweep. Wilde with a German suplex and bridge for the three count.
Winners: Taylor Wilde and Sarita
Lauren is with Taylor and Sarita at ringside to ask them about their victory. Taylor says that there is one more hurdle to jump before they make history. Sarita says something in Spanish and we go to commercial.
We are back and Kurt Angle is dressed to impress and he is with Jeremy Borash. Jeremy asks Kurt about his three opponents on Sunday. Kurt points out that he is the top guy and his opponents will have to put everything out there to become the champion. Kurt says that he is the very best. He says that you can love him or hate him, but you can never say that Kurt never gave his all in the ring. Kurt says that he has more pride than all of his opponents combined. Kurt says that he cannot and will not be defeated.
It is time to run through the card for the pay per view.
Lauren is now with A.J. Styles and make up free Sting. Lauren asks what will happen if they are in the ring together on Sunday. Sting says that they all want to be the best. Twenty years ago, Sting wanted to be the best and he wants to be the best on Sunday. Sting says that he might be A.J.’s teacher, but he is not going to let A.J. walk in the ring without putting up a fight. A.J. talks about how Sting kept A.J. from walking away from something he loves. A.J. says that Sunday will be his night.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Kurt Angle comes to the ring to join Taz and Tenay.
Match Number Seven: Samoa Joe versus Matt Morgan
Joe punches Matt as the bell rings. Joe with a running back elbow and an enzuigiri. Joe with more jabs to Matt and then he puts Morgan in the ropes and he chokes him. Joe with more punches followed by a chop. Joe runs into a boot from Morgan. Morgan with elbows in the corner and then he hits a splash into the corner. Morgan gets Joe up for a side slam but then he just drops Joe. Morgan stares at Angle and then he puts Joe in the ropes and hits a splash to the back and then goes to the floor. Matt with a near fall when he returns to the ring. Morgan suggests that it is time but Joe with kicks to the leg followed by a chop. Joe with a belly-to-back suplex but Matt is back up and Matt with a choke slam Morgan sets for the big boot because he slaps his knee but Joe goes to the floor. Joe goes to the floor and then Morgan is pulled out. Joe sends Morgan into the ring apron. Morgan punches Joe followed by a head butt. Joe sends Morgan into the announce table and Angle thinks that Morgan was going after him. Angle punches Morgan and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Samoa Joe by disqualification
Daniels comes out of the back and he attacks Joe. Joe and Daniels continue to battle while security separates Morgan and Joe.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Morgan and Angle are still fighting because security cannot control these two men. Morgan and Angle fight onto the ramp and we have a giant rugby scrum. Security gives up and Angle with a kick and Angle slam through the video gamers announce table.
We go to credits wondering what happened with Joe and Daniels.
2010 - WWE bans somas, adding them to their WWE Wellness Policy. The rule change is made following the release of Matt Hardy, who had been sent home from a tour of Europe after concern over his behavior. The official wording from the updated WWE Wellness Policy wording of the ban, even with a valid medical prescription, is as follows:
"Regardless of whether there is a prescription, the use of muscle relaxers known under the generic name carisoprodol (Trade Name Soma ® and others) and/or meprobamate (Trade name Miltown® and others) will be considered a non-medical use for purposes of this Policy and is prohibited."
2010 - KDOC-TV in Los Angeles debuted NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood with a one hour special on the legacy of the National Wrestling Alliance. Danyel Johnson filed the following TV report:
David Marquez from the National Wrestling Alliance welcomes us to the show. In two weeks a new season of NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood kicks off on KDOC, Los Angeles. Marquez promises we'll meet the new stars of the NWA such as Adam Pearce, Joey Ryan, Colt Cabana, Claudio Castagnoli and The RockNES Monsters. This week, however, we'll celebrate the illustrious history of the NWA with clips from historic matches.
1956 -Lou Thesz defeats Argentina Rocca, live from Madison Square Garden, in a two minute, edited match. Marquez calls this the genesis of the NWA.
Dory Funk Jr. vs. Carlos Colon is joined mid match and runs about eleven minutes. Both men are disqualified when their bloody brawl spills out into the crowd.
Back to the studio, Marquez announces midgets and Ric Flair will be seen tonight.
1979- Comedic midget tag team wrestling featuring Little Beaver and Tiger Jackson. Three minute clip.
After another break we're back.
1982 -Abdullah the Butcher defeats Fred Martino with Les Thatcher on commentary. This bell to bell clip runs two minutes and it's time for another commercial break.
We're back. Marquez expounds on the international scope of the NWA as he introduces the next clip featuring former NWA World Champion, Blue Demon Jr.
This tag match features Demon and Nicho, versus El Hijo del Santo and Rey Mysterio Sr. A bell to bell clip that ran nine minutes and telling an awesome story of Blue Demon to unmask Santo. Demon got the clean three count to win for his team. Todd Keneley and Kris Kloss on commentary.
Back in studio, with the same shot we've had all night, the host in front of a green screen with the NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood logo behind him. Marquez promises Ric Flair after the ads.
Returning from the break, Marquez gives a brief history of Flair joining the NWA in in the '70s and becoming its biggest star. To this day," Marquez says, "No single wrestler has meant more to the NWA than Ric Flair."
"It's hard to be humble when you look like this." -Ric Flair vs. Pat Rose, voiced by Gordon Solie, Nick Patrick, referee.
"Now we go to School" -Ric Flair wins in six minutes with the figure four.
After this brief history of the NWA, Marquez says we'll return from break with a look at the stars of today. This ad break features a promo for the upcoming October 6th taping at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, tickets on sale now. The spot features shots of Bryan Danielson, X-Pac and Blue Demon Jr.
The announced card lists: Adam Pearce, Joey Ryan, The RockNES Monsters, Colt Cabana and Claudio Castagnoli.
Back from break, Marquez is excited about the upcoming TV season of NWA Wrestling. He throws it to a series of video interviews he did with members of the NWA team.
Jeff Resnick -Broadcaster -Says the new show will reintroduce Southern California fans to NWA Wrestling and hopefully bring in some new fans as well.
Johnny Yuma -NWA Heritage Tag Team Champion -Says Southern California is ready for something different and NWA Hollywood would bring it.
Joe Franciosi -NWA Producer -Says a wrestling promotion needs Talent and Television to succeed these days. Good television sells the product.
David Marquez, uncredited, says -Some might call this a "throw back show" but he looks at it like a typical wrestling hour. Good guys, bad guys and a clear distinction of who's who.
Jon Ian -NWA Executive -Says it's been a great experience to be a part of something this groundbreaking for the NWA.
Nick Madrid -NWA Wrestler -Says it's a great opportunity and learning experience to work weekly on television.
Johnny Yuma -Says everyone watches KDOC and the show will be a great opportunity for the RockNES Monsters.
David Marquez -Says these guys are all fresh, new and giving their all. Viewers may not know who any of the guys are but if a viewer gives the show a chance they will eventually know every one of their names. Turning to the camera he says it'll will take us, the viewer, to make this new show a success.
Todd Keneley -NWA Broadcaster -Says, when you find NWA on KDOC you'll never know what you'll get but he guarantees we will get great action. NWA is constantly bringing in the best talent from around the world.
The video interviews come to an end and we're back in studio with Marquez as he wraps up. Next week, an hour long sit down with the reigning NWA World Champion "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce. This will lead into the first show with fresh matches on October 1st. Marquez thanks us and signs off, "Goodnight."
Overall, I had a favorable impression of the show. All of the clips were "new to me" and pretty interesting. The retrospective did set a high bar for future shows, as in, I'm expecting quality wrestling and storytelling like I saw in many of the clips.
I expected the interview piece to feature the same wrestlers mentioned at the top of the show and in the promo for the Oct. 6 taping. I got over my disappointment quickly as the guys did a good job of selling me on NWA and the show.
Not too much to say about the production quality as we only had the one studio shot and then the video interviews. If I were to nit pick, it was disconcerting to have to "figure out" that the untagged interviewee was Marquez. He was at a 3/4 angle with different lighting which didn't make it immediately obvious that he was the same guy as the host.
I watched the show from a DVR recording so the numerous ad breaks didn't bother me but six good sized ad breaks in an hour long show would make me channel surf if I was watching live.
I can't commit to the drive to Santa Ana but I will most definitely tune in for the next TV show. I liked what I saw this week.
2010 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following report:
We are live on tape from Detroit, Michigan and your announcers are Matt ‘I can see Canada from my window’ Striker and Todd ‘I know whose favorite place is TGI Fridays’ Grisham.
We will hear from Kane tonight to see if he is going to agree to the No Holds Barred stipulation. CM Punk will face Christian later tonight.
Christian will get some extra exposure tonight because he is in the ring for the Peep Show. Christian welcomes everyone to the Peep Show and before he can introduce his guest, he is interrupted by Ricardo Rodriguez who tells Christian that he is the only person who can introduce Alberto Del Rio.
Alberto shows off his smile for the people of Detroit. Christian welcomes him to the Peep Show and he says that Alberto has made quite the impression in his short time on Smackdown. He has his own ring announcer, he drives the great cars, has tailor made suits. He thinks he is seeing two different guys. There is the guy we see now and the guy we were exposed to in numerous boring and brutal videos. Christian wants to know if it is the guy who is great or the guy who is a cheap fajita . . . all sizzle no steak.
Alberto says that all you need to know about him is what he did to Rey Mysterio. Alberto says that was phenomenal. It tells him everything that Christian needs to know about him.
Christian says that he has been around the WWE for a long time and the WWE Universe knows Christian’s credentials. He has seen the next big thing, a pack of guys dress up like cheerleaders, and he has seen a guy who ate worms and thought he was the Boogeyman. Christian says that he has outlasted them all. He wants to know if Alberto is a flash in the pan or is he the Most Interesting Man in the World.
Alberto asks Christian if he thinks he is funny. He says that of course Christian has done everything because he is the great Christian. Alberto says that he is the man who will change Smackdown forever. He will bring pride to the Mexican people. He says that Christian will be cleaning his house.
Christian reminds Alberto that Rey is a good friend of his. He says that he has pride. Christian challenges Alberto to a match, fight, or whatever he wants at Night of Champions.
Alberto says that he does not think so. He says that if he faces Christian, he will end up like the rest of the people. He will be a peasant. He says that he likes Christian, but in a weird way. Alberto says that it is time for him to go and the interview is over. Alberto says that he will think about the match.
Christian gives him one to think about and he slaps Alberto in the face. Alberto takes off his jacket and scarf and instead of attacking Christian, he leaves the ring. Alberto says that he is done with Christian. He says that his answer is no.
We go to commercial.
Match Number One: David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd with Natalya versus Drew McIntyre and ‘Dashing’ Cody Rhodes
Smith and Drew start things off and they lock up. David backs Drew into the corner and he gives a clean break. They lock up again and Drew backs David into the corner. Drew with a kick and forearm to the back. Drew continues the attack with a punch. Hart with a jackknife cover but Drew bridges out of it and tries for a back slide but Hart tries for a short arm clothesline and misses. Smith with a power slam and he gets a near fall. Drew with a jawbreaker and he tags in Rhodes. Smith with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and then he tags in Kidd.
Smith and Kidd with a double shoulder tackle for a near fall. Rhodes with a leg sweep but Kidd kicks him away. Rhodes with a forearm to Kidd and then he tries to throw Tyson over the top rope but Kidd holds on. Rhodes slides to the floor but Kidd skins the cat and then goes through and hits a drop kick using the ropes. Natalya comes up behind Cody and slaps him in the face. Cody yells at the referee and we go to commercial.
We are back and Drew with a side head lock on Smith. Kidd makes the tag and Kidd with a drop toe hold and elbow drop followed by a kick. Drew with a snap mare followed by a kick to the back. Drew with a slam to Kidd and then he stomps on Kidd’s chest. Drew with an arm bar and he adds a chin lock. Kidd goes to the ropes to escape the hold and he avoids Rhodes trying to interfere and he slingshots into an arm drag. Kidd with a back kick to Rhodes on the apron. Kidd with a rollup for a near fall.
Kidd with a kick to Drew and he goes to the apron. He sees Rhodes trying to interfere and that distraction allows Drew to knock him off the apron and Tyson hits the ringside barrier. Rhodes kicks Kidd while the referee was dealing with Natalya. Rhodes tags in and he sends Tyson into the apron. They return to the ring and Cody with kicks to Tyson. Rhodes with a slam and then he hits the Ric Flair rolling knee drop and he gets a near fall. Drew tags in and Drew stomps on the hand. Drew returns to the arm bar and chin lock. Kidd with an arm drag and he is unable to make the tag because Rhodes knocks Smith off the apron. Rhodes grabs the leg and he takes Kidd to the mat and he stomps on Kidd. Rhodes with a modified camel clutch but Kidd gets to his feet. Rhodes runs into an elbow. Kidd escapes a belly-to-back suplex but Rhodes with a springboard round kick and he can only get a near fall. Kidd appears to have tweaked his knee when escaping the suplex attempt. Drew tags in and he sends Kidd into the corner and he hits a series of short clotheslines in the corner. Drew sets for the Future Shock but Kidd counters and hits a swinging neck breaker and both men are down.
Rhodes and Smith tag in and Smith punches Cody and hits a running shoulder tackle and clotheslines. Rhodes with a drop down uppercut but Smith with a knee and then he sets for the Sharpshooter but Drew interferes. Smith grabs Rhodes for the Hart Attack but Drew trips Kidd and pulls him out of the ring. Smith tries for a power slam but Rhodes counters it and hits Cross Rhodes for the three count.
Winners: Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes
We go to commercial.
We are back and before our next match, Kofi Kingston has something to say to the WWE Universe about his match against Dolph Ziggler at Night of Champions. Kofi reminds everyone that the only reason why Dolph is the Intercontinental Champion it is because of one person, Vickie Guerrero. What kind of woman has his man fight his battles for him? A coward? He says that Dolph’s woman is a nasty, loudmouth beast of a woman. He says that Vickie is keeping the title on her flavor of the month by any means necessary. This time, if Dolph gets disqualified he loses the Intercontinental Title. If he gets counted out, he loses the Intercontinental Title. Kofi says that he is going to do something for the WWE Universe. He is going to win the Intercontinental Title and he will rid the WWE of the most repulsive couple in Smackdown history. As soon as the gold is removed from Dolph’s waist, Vickie will remove herself from Dolph Ziggler. At Night of Champions, there will be Trouble in Paradise.
Match Number Two: Kofi Kingston versus Jack Swagger
Swagger goes for the leg but Kofi stays on his feet. They lock up and Swagger with a single leg take down but Kofi kicks Swagger away when he tries for the ankle lock. Swagger goes for the leg again but Kofi with a kick. Kofi with a kick but he misses a second one and Swagger with a waist lock and forearms to the kidneys followed by a waist lock take down and then he rolls Kofi on the mat. Swagger holds on to the waist lock and then he goes for the ankle but Kofi rolls Swagger through into the ropes. Kofi with punches and forearms to Swagger. Swagger misses clotheslines but Kofi does not miss with a flying forearm and he gets a near fall. Kofi with kicks to Swagger in the corner and the referee warns him. Swagger goes to the floor.
Swagger takes his time getting back into the ring and then he kicks Kofi and connects with a forearm. Swagger with a double overhook into an arm bar. Swagger blocks a kick and then he sweeps the leg. Swagger with a catapult but Kofi holds on to the ropes and then Kofi with a shoulder. Kofi tries for a springboard Superman punch but Swagger catches Kofi and hits a gutwrench power slam and we go to commercial.
We are back and Swagger with forearms to the back while Kofi is hanging into the ring from the apron. Swagger with an abdominal stretch in the ropes while Striker tells us that Swagger was working on the midsection during the break. Kofi with punches but Swagger with a one arm uranage slam. Swagger goes for the Swagger Bomb and he gets a near fall. Swagger with a front face lock and then he rolls Kofi around the ring and pulls Kofi to the apron. Swagger chokes Kofi in the ropes and punches him while on the floor. Swagger returns to the choke and then he gets a near fall when he returns to the ring. Swagger with forearms to the back and then Swagger returns to the waist lock and turns it into a body scissors. Kofi tries to get out of the hold and he succeeds. Swagger runs into a boot from Kofi and then he tries for the pendulum kick but Swagger blocks it and tries for an ankle lock. Swagger pulls Kofi back into the ring and gets a near fall.
Kofi flails at Swagger to keep him from working on the leg for the ankle lock and then the referee warns Swagger. Kofi gets slingshot into the bottom rope and then he connects with a forearm to the back of the neck. Swagger with a snap mare and a seated abdominal stretch. Swagger with elbows to the ribs to add extra pressure to Kofi. Kofi is able to get to his feet but Swagger with a forearm to the back. Swagger throws Kofi over the top rope but Kofi stays on the apron. Swagger tries for a shoulder but he misses. Kofi with a series of kicks and then he struggles to get to the top turnbuckle but he hits a cross body but he can only get a two count. Kofi still holds his ribs but he is able to connect with a series of chops and then he hits a drop kick. Kofi misses the Superman punch but Swagger misses it. Swagger blocks the SOS and then Kofi tries for Trouble in Paradise but Swagger moves out of the way. Swagger goes for the ankle lock but Kofi is too close to the ropes and he gets them to force Swagger to release the hold. Kofi goes to the floor. Swagger tries to drop kick the steps into Kofi’s knee but Kofi moves. Kofi with a Thesz Press off the steps and then he punches Swagger.
Swagger throws Kofi off and then Swagger returns to the ring. Kofi also returns. Kofi leaps to the corner for punches but Swagger tries for a power bomb. Kofi tries for a rana but Swagger holds on and tries to get Kofi into the ankle lock but Kofi fights out of it and kicks Swagger off. Swagger with a boot to the upper chest and Kofi is down. Swagger goes for the Swagger Bomb but he connects with Kofi’s boots. Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
We go to commercial.
We are back and Matt and Todd mention the professional sports franchises in Detroit. Todd also mentions that while Matt has no problem talking, there is someone who has problems communicating with people. That person is Hornswoggle. It is time to see the latest attempt to get Hornswoggle to talk. We see the attempt with shock therapy two weeks ago. This time he has a nun to help him. Teddy wants to keep it between them and the man upstairs. Teddy introduces Hornswoggle to Sister Mary Frances Andelicious and she corrects him and says that her last name is Aloysius. She is there to teach Hornswoggle how to talk. She calls him Mr. Swoggle and Teddy says that he calls him ‘Horny’ She gives Teddy one strike. She has them write out the first few letters and she is impressed with what Hornswoggle has done (even though it was what Teddy wrote). Teddy doesn’t want the nun to see what he has in front of him and she gives him strike two. Hornswoggle hits her in the back of the head with a paper airplane and Hornswoggle gets Teddy in trouble. She tells Teddy that is strike three. Hornswoggle does not let her hit him in the hand with a ruler. Teddy takes the ruler from the nun and then Hornswoggle bites her hand then cleans the erasers in her face. She says that Hornswoggle needs an exorcism.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Rosa Mendes and Kelly Kelly with Naomi versus Michelle McCool and Layla with Kaval
Rosa and Kelly attack Michelle and Layla while Michelle and Layla have something to say to Naomi at ringside.
Michelle and Kelly get in the ring and Michelle wants Kelly to get back. Michelle says that she can’t do this because of the smell. Layla tells Michelle to take deep breaths. Kelly runs over Michelle and knocks Layla off the apron as the match officially begins.
Kelly with slaps to Michelle and then she sends her to the mat and slams her head into the mat. Michelle tags Layla in and then Kelly with a double clothesline to Layla and Michelle. Kelly sends Layla into her corner and Rosa is tagged in. Rosa tosses Layla by the hair followed by a forearm. Michelle hits Rosa from behind and that allows Layla to hit a back heel kick and then she sends Rosa to the mat. Michelle with a choke and Layla gets a near fall. Layla with a reverse chin lock. Layla sends Rosa to the mat but Rosa with a kick to the head. Layla knocks Kelly off the apron. Rosa with a knee and Kelly distracts the referee and that allows Michelle to kick Rosa in the back and Layla hits the Lay Out and gets the three count.
Winners: Layla and Michelle McCool
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that WWE has been working with Make-A-Wish for 25 years?
Todd and Matt talk about Night of Champions and it is time to look at the Six Pack Challenge Elimination Match.
Layla and Michelle are in their dressing room with Kaval. They have a message for Melina and then call her Lady WaWa. They say that Melina must be eager to see who they are going to face. Michelle says that they have put their names in a hat and they are going to pick out the name of the person who will beat her at Night of Champions. Kaval is going to draw the name. Kaval picks one of the slips and it says Michelle. Michelle is excited while Layla is in a bit of shock. Michelle has to leave while Layla is still bummed out. Kaval tells Layla that Michelle’s name was on all of the slips. Kaval asks Layla if she is surprised. Layla says that Michelle will be surprised when she is standing alone on Sunday at Night of Champions.
Alberto Del Rio has joined Matt and Todd at the announce table. Matt is excited to have Alberto at the announce table with them and Todd wonders why Alberto is at the announce table. Matt asks Alberto about Christian and he says that Christian is a nobody and does not deserve to be in the ring with him. He says that Christian has no class. Todd wants to know when the time will be to accept his challenge and Alberto wonders why Todd is talking to him.
Match Number Four: CM Punk versus Christian
Christian with a side head lock and shoulder tackle for a near fall. Shoulder with another shoulder tackle and he gets another near fall. Punk rolls to the ropes to stop Christian. They have a Greco Roman knuckle lock and Punk with a kick and punches. Christian with a punch to Punk and then he stands on Punk’s back and then he slingshots to the floor and connects with a punch. Punk with a knee to a charging Christian. Punk gets a near fall. Punk with a back breaker and he gets a near fall. Punk with a body scissors on Christian and he rakes the eyes. Christian escapes the hold but Punk kicks Christian away and then connects with a kick to the back of the head and gets a near fall. Christian with an elbow but Punk with a double sledge. Punk with a punch to the ribs and then he connects with an elbow to the head as he goes for Christian’s injured forehead. Punk tries for a suplex but Christian blocks it and punches Punk. Punk drops Christian on the ropes and then Punk with a springboard drop kick that knocks Christian to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Punk with a body scissors and chin lock but Christian with elbows to Punk to get out of the hold. Punk tries for an abdominal stretch and Christian fights it off for a few seconds, but Punk is able to apply it. Punk gets a near fall and then he hits a back breaker as he continues to work on Christian’s back. Christian escapes a back breaker and then they both bump heads and they are down. They both get to their feet at nine and then Punk with a kick but Christian with a punch. They exchange punches and then Christian with a running forearm and he connects with a slap. Christian with the corkscrew back elbow from the turnbuckles and then Punk with a kick and he gets Christian up for the Go to Sleep but Christian escapes and he hits the sunset flip from the turnbuckles for a near fall. Christian tries for the Killswitch but Punk turns it into a rollup. They roll through a few times and Christian with a near fall. Punk with shoulders in the corner. Punk sets for the running knee into the corner and he connects and he tries for the bulldog but Christian hits an inverted DDT and gets a near fall.
Alberto gets on the mic and he says that he has reconsidered and that distraction allows Punk to hit the Go To Sleep and get the three count.
Winner: CM Punk
After the match, Alberto gets a chair and he brings it into the ring. Alberto puts the chair on top of Christian and chokes him while he tells Christian that his answer is still no.
Pyro goes off and Big Show comes to the ring. Punk gets out of the ring. Alberto and Show are in the ring. Alberto stands with the chair but it was a distraction to allow Punk to try to hit Show from behind. Punk with a kick and he goes for the knee in the corner but Show pushes him off and connects with the right hand and Punk is out.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to find out if Kane is going to accept the Undertaker’s stipulation for their match on Sunday night.
Kane makes his way to the ring. He says that on Sunday at Night of Champions, the final chapter in the epic rivalry between Kane and his brother the Undertaker will be written. This time the story will not end as it always has before with the vindictive Undertaker triumphantly returning . . . summoning the power of the dark side and vanquishing his opponent with righteous fury. It won’t happen this time. This time, Kane says that he will be the author of the Undertaker’s demise. This time it ends the same way that it started. With the Undertaker sprawled helpless at his feet. A force of nature rendered empty and broken. A myth dispelled. A legend eclipsed. This time, big brother, the dark side will betray you because the powers that were once yours now belong to me. This time, not only will he emerge from Night of Champions still the champion, but the plot that he hatched thirteen years ago will be realized when the phenom becomes a distant memory. Kane says that it ends on his terms.
Last week, Taker said that the match must be No Holds Barred. Kane says that is exactly what he wanted. Kane says that Taker’s pride has played right into his hands. Now there are no limits. There are no rules. There will be No Holds Barred.
Kane tells his big brother that at Night of Champions, the devil’s favorite demon will make sure that Taker rests in . . .
Taker’s gong goes off and the fires go off on the stage while Taker’s video plays on the TitanTron.
The Undertaker comes out and walks to the ring. The lights go down and when they come back up, Kane is behind the Undertaker and he attacks him and sends him into the barrier. Kane runs Taker into the apron and ring steps. Taker struggles to get back to his feet but Kane punches and kicks Taker. Kane sends Taker into the ringside barrier and the ring post. Kane punches Taker in the ribs but Taker fights back and connects with some punches until Kane runs Taker into the ringside barrier and connects with a punch before choking Taker with his boot. Kane sends Taker into the ringside barrier with an Irish whip. Kane sends Taker into the announce table.
Kane rolls Taker into the ring and he waits for Taker to get to his feet. Kane with a splash into the corner and then he gives Taker Snake Eyes and hits the big boot to the head. Kane sets for the choke slam on Taker while Taker struggles to get to his feet. Kane gets Taker by the throat and hits the choke slam. Kane continues to mimic his brother as he waits for Taker to get up for a Tombstone and Kane hits it.
Kane gets to his knees and he mimics Taker’s pose in the center of the ring as his pyro goes off. We go to credits.
2011 - WWE ran Canton, Ohio. Kyle Stanton filed the following results:
9/17 WWE Supershow Results from Youngstown, Ohio:
1. Tag Team Title Match: Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston) beat The Miz and R-Truth when Evan Bourne hit AIr Bourne on R-Truth.
2. US Championship Match: Dolph Ziggler beat Alex Riley with the Zig Zag.
3. Sin Cara beat Heath Slater with a Swanton. Sin Cara worked as a face.
4. Mason Ryan beat Primo.
5. Intercontinental Championship Match: Cody Rhodes beat Ted DiBiase after he took off his mask and hit Ted with it.
6. WWE Championship Match: Alberto Del Rio vs. CM Punk, the winner will face John Cena later in the show. Alberto Del Rio beat Punk with a roll up after a distraction from Ricardo Rodriguez.
7. Divas Championship Match: Kelly Kelly beat Beth Pheonix with a roll up.
8. Sheamus and Daniel Bryan beat Mark Henry and Christian when Sheamus hit the Brogue kick on Christian.
9. WWE Championship Match: John Cena beat Alberto Del Rio by DQ when Ricardo Rodriguez hit Cena with a chair. Del Rio and Rodriguez worked over Cena until CM Punk made the save. Punk and Cena hit their finishers on Del Rio and Rodriguez to end the show.
2011 - Ring of Honor held Death Before Dishonor IX on iPPV. Stu Carapola filed the following report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's ongoing coverage of ROH Death Before Dishonor IX! For information on ordering the internet PPV, click on the poster above.
Kevin Kelly and Dave Prazak welcome us to the show and run down the card, then send us to the ring for our opening match...
Rhino & Tommaso Ciampa vs Homicide & Jay Lethal
Lethal and Ciampa start off going face to face, and Lethal takes Ciampa down and outwrestles him before getting to his feet and breaking clean. Ciampa comes back with a shoulderblock off the ropes, but Lethal gets a hiptoss and a dropkick to again frustrate Ciampa. Rhino tags in and immediately begins overpowering Lethal with the heavy offense, but Lethal with the Tajiri handspring elbow for 1. Homicide tags in and starts firing right hands at Rhino, but Rhino simply boots him in the gut and flattens him with a press slam. Homicide comes back with a tornado DDT, but Ciampa tags in and goes nuts beating Homicide down in the corner with boots and right hands, but Homicide drills Ciampa with a clothesline and tags out to Lethal for a double team flying elbow. Lethal winds up on the ring apron and Rhino distracts him long enough for Ciampa to dropkick him to the floor where Rhino works him over and rolls him back inside so Ciampa can get a 2 count. Ciampa and Lethal trade chops, but Ciampa springs from a seated position and dropkicks Lethal's knee out from under him, which was pretty impressive. Rhino comes in now and unloads on Lethal with multiple short clotheslines and covers for 2, then tosses Lethal with a belly to belly suplex. Rhino sets for the gore, but Lethal moves out of the way and lays Rhino out with a superkick. Lethal makes the hot tag to Homicide, who comes in and goes to work on Ciampa with rolling vertical suplexes and a t-bone suplex for 2. Rhino comes in and takes a flying headscissors that sends him to the floor where Homicide wipes him out with a tope con hello. Homicide heads back in and Ciampa nearly pins him with a northern lights suplex and then kills Homicide with a succession of running knees in the corner. Ciampa goes for the powerbomb over the knees, but Homicide blocks and hits an Ace Crusher for 2. Rhino tries to come in and go after Homicide, but Lethal clotheslines him out to the floor. Homicide goes for the Cop Killa, but Ciampa blocks and hits the powerbomb over the knees for the win.
Winners: Tommaso Ciampa & Rhino
The entire Embassy starts putting the boots to Homicide in the middle of the ring, but Lethal runs in with the TV Title belt and starts swinging wildly to clear the Embassy out to the floor where they celebrate in the entryway.
Mike Bennett vs Shelton Benjamin
Shelton is, of course, one half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions, and he easily outwrestles Bennett at the start. Bennett responds by trying to fight Shelton, but winds up on the short end of that stick as well and bails out to the floor to confer with Brutal Bob Evans. Bennett in and takes Shelton down with a running shoulderblock, but Shelton hits a hiptoss and Bennett rolls back to the floor. Shleton goes after him this time and chases him around ringside, but Evans grabs Shelton's ankle on the way back into the ring, allowing Bennett to baseball slide Shelton to the floor and then side suplex him on the ring apron. Bennett pounces like a shark raining down right hands on Shelton and hitting a snap suplex for 2. Bennett goes to a chinlock, Shelton fights his way out and tries to boot Bennett in the face, but Bennett grabs his leg and wraps him up in the ropes where he hits a nice backbreaker. Crowd chants "you can't wrestle" at Bennett as he tries for a vertical suplex, and Shleton capitalizes on the distraction by rolling Bennett up in a small package for 2, and Bennett immediately regains his feet and dropkicks Shelton square in the jaw, then yells "Who can't wrestle now?" at the crowd. Shelton counters a vertical suplex to a neckbreaker and they start trading blows. Shelton comes out on top and whips Bennett to the ropes for a BIG backbreaker and starts rolling over him with clotheslines and hits a fallaway slam for 2. Shelton with a Sky High for 2 and then he motions that he's getting ready to put Bennett away and goes for Paydirt, but Bennett catches him in midair and counters to a backbreaker for 2. Excellent counter, and Bennett follows up with a missile dropkick for 2. Bennett goes for the Side Effect, Shelton counters to a victory roll for 2, then nearly German suplexes Bennett out of his shoes. Shelton covers and Evans puts Bennett's foot on the bottom rope, Shelton chases Evans into the ring and superkicks him, superkicks Bennett, and hits Paydirt for the win.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
Great match, both guys looked good in there. Bennett has a great right hand and he got a good chance to show it off here with all the punch exchanges.
Elimination Match: Bravado Brothers vs Future Shock vs Young Bucks
This will be a lot of fun to try and recap. Bravados attack Future Shock to start, but they wind up on the floor and everyone does dive after dive to the floor like this was 2003. O'Reilly comes out of nowhere and kills Lancelot with his diving dropkick off the apron, then they go back inside to go face to face with the Bucks, but Lancelot comes back in to interrupt and gets pummeled with kicks from O'Reilly. Cole tags in and hits a running dropkick followed by a springboard splash by Nick Jackson for 2. Nick dropkicks Harlem out to the floor, then everyone else takes free shots at Lancelot, but Harlem comes in and big boots everyone in sight. Harlem covers Cole for 1, then hits a brainbuster for 2. Cole with a crucifix out of nowhere for 2, but the Bravados with the double team enziguiri/German suplex for 2. Matt Jackson comes in and hits a combination Guile kick/Sliced Bread #2 on the Bravados, then Nick hits a slingshot facebuster. Nick slides out to the apron to try and moonsault to the outside, but O'Reilly catches him on his shoulders so Cole can hit a dive through the ropes. Nick vertical suplexes Lancelot to the floor, and Future Shock hits Shocking Elimination on Harlem to eliminate the Bravados.
The Bravado Brothers are eliminated.
It's down to the Bucks and Future Shock, and the Bucks take the advantage with Max repeatedly powerbombing Cole, powerbombing him into the corner, and then hitting a double team Tombstone on Cole for 2 when O'Reilly makes the save. O'Reilly begins cleaninghouse on both Bucks, suplexes Matt, then gets his knees up on a Nick splash attempt and locks him in a triangle choke while Cole gets Matt in a fron guillotine choke. Matt rams into O'Reilly and Nick to break both holds as the crowd chants "this is wrestling" at the remaining teams, and they go back and forth firing superkicks at each other until all four men are down. Future Shock go for their finisher, but Nick pulls down the top rope and O'Reilly sails out to the floor, allowing the Bucks to hit More Bang For Your Buck on Cole for the win.
Winners: Young Bucks
This was an awesome showing of athleticism, you had three hungry young teams going out there and leaving it all in the ring. I really enjoyed this because these are the kinds of matches and feuds that make young tag teams. Cole & O'Reilly stick their hands out to the Bucks, but the Bucks just walk off because they don't shake hands.
El Generico vs Jimmy Jacobs
Crowd chants Mr Wrestling as Generico uneasily shakes Jacobs' hand. They tie up and go to the corner, but Jacobs breaks clean as the crowd chants Little Jimmy at Jacobs. Headlock and escape sequence, wristlock sequence, and Generico goes Ole at him. Jacobs armdrags Generico and goes Huss at him (for the old time fans), Generico comes off the ropes with a shoulderblock, Jacobs comes back with a flying headscissors, and Generico gets him back with a spinning backbreaker for 2. Generico unloads with chops in the corner, then slams Jacobs and hits a standing moonsault for 2. Generico with more chops, but Jacobs rolls over Generico with a pair of clotheslines and a legsweep neckbreaker. Generico goes for a Yakuza Kick, but Jacobs pulls the top rope down and Generico tumbles to the floor where Jacobs wipes him out with a dive through the ropes. Jacobs back in with a big boot to the face and a tornado vertical suplex for 2, catches Generico's boot on another Yakuza Kick attempt, and Generico gets a Blue Thunder Driver for 2 and then a Michinoku Driver for another 2. Generico and Jacobs go toe to toe and Generico hits the half and half suplex and goes for the Yakuza Kick yet again, but Jacobs catches him coming in with the End Time. Generico tries to suplex out but Jacobs counters to a rollup for 2 and an Ace Crusher out of the corner for another 2. Jacobs goes for a charge into the corner but Generico follows him in and finally hits the Yakuza Kick. They wind up fighting on the ring apron and Jacobs hits a spear onto the ring frame and quickly makes a cover, but only gets 2. Jacobs goes up top but Generico hits another Yakuza Kick and goes for the top rope brainbuster, and Jacobs blocks and counters to a top rope tornado DDT.
That was awesome, and both men are down as Kevin Steen hops the rail and grabs a microphone, telling Generico he's back and is never going away. He starts an ROH chant and then tells Jacobs to tell Corino that he's a f***ing p****, and then ROH cuts his mic, but Steen keeps talking anyway as security comes out to eject him. Jacobs comes out of the ring and jumps onto Steen, but Steen powerbombs him onto the ring apron so Generico hits a dive that wipes out everyone except Steen, who rolls into the ring to avoidthe move. Steen starts fighting off security by himself so Cary Silkin gets into the ring to try and reason with him, and Steen tries to give him the Package Piledriver but he is mobbed again by security. Jim Cornette comes in and starts yelling at Steen, but Steen spits at him, causing Cornette to physically go after him as Steen is again physically restrained and carried out of the building while Jacobs and Generico both have to be restrained from attacking him. Generico grabs a chair as Jacobs gets into a shouting match with Cornette, and everyone simply throws their hands in the air and head to the back.
NO CONTEST
Even though the Steen stuff will overshadow it, this was actually a really good match. The crowd really got into this whole series of events and popped big for the way things broke down.
INTERMISSION
Michael Elgin vs Charlie Haas
This ought to be a lot of fun between two big bulls. Test of strength teased, but Elgin pulls away as the crowd starts chanting his name. Haas with an armdrag go behind, Elgin shakes him off but Haas takes him down with a side headlock and a series of armdrags. Haas with a really nice armbreaker where he underhooked Elgin's arm like he was going for a hiptoss, but just rotated the arm down and across his knee, then went for a REALLY high armbar on the mat. Elgin makes the ropes and dumps Haas to the apron, Haas drills him in the face with a right hand, but Truth Martini grabs Haas and allows Elgin to tackle him to the floor. Martini gets in Haas' face and slaps him, and Haas chases Truth Martini around ringside and is blindsided by Elgin, who comes off the apron with a flying clothesline. Elgin tosses Haas back inside and hits a top rope shoulderblock for 2, then rams Haas hard into the corner and goes to a kneeling surfboard. Haas makes the ropes and then they start rocking each other with double clotheslines until they both go down in the middle of the ring.
They make it back to their feet and trade right hands until Elgin goes down. Haas drives Elgin into the corner, follows him in with a charging elbow, hits a big boot, and launches Elgin into the air with rolling German suplexes, and Kevin Kelly also said on commentary that he's never seen anyone throw Elgin around like that. Elgin takes a run at Haas and gets powerslammed for 2, but he grabs Haas for a pair of short elbows and hits the Here It Is Driver for 2. Elgin winds up and goes for a running clothesline, but Haas dropkicks Elgin to the floor and goes out after him. Elgin reverses a whip and sends Haas into the barricade, but Haas picks Elgin up and back suplexes him onto the barricade. They head back into the ring and Haas goes up top, but Elgin nails him and hits a superplex and slowly makes a cover for 2. Haas with a big boot, but Elgin with a leaping enziguiri as he once again pulls out something awesome I didn't expect out of him, but only gets 2 off a cover. Elgin goes up top apparently for a moonsault, but Haas pops up and runs up the turnbuckles to hit a top rope German and then runs Elgin over with a hard clothesline for 2, and then a second gets the win.
Winner: Charlie Haas
Really hard hitting power match, and Elgin never ceases to amaze me with the stuff he comes out with in his matches. I'd like to see these two face off again.
Ringmaster's Challenge: Roderick Strong vs Eddie Edwards
Okay, the rules here are the first fall is pinfall only, second is submissions only, and the third if necessary will be a 15 minute Ironman rules fall. Roderick goes right to Eddie's arm, stepping over a wristlock and dropping all his body weight on the arm. They duck one another's chops and Roderick bails out to the floor for a moment, then comes back in and gets an O'Connor Roll for 2, Eddie counters with a rollup of his own for 2, and they go to a stalemate. Another tieup and Roderick takes Eddie to the corner and just batters him down with forearms, but Eddie comes out of the corner with a flying headscissors and a double underhook suplex for 1. Eddie with a stepover chinlock, but Roderick gets out and they go back to trading blows. Roderick with a schoolboy rollup, Eddie rolls through, and Roderick knocks Eddie silly with a Tylerkick to the jaw. Roderick with a hard back suplex for 2 and an elbow to the top of the head, then puts the boots to Eddie in the corner. Roderick dumps Eddie to the floor and they briefly exchange chops until Roderick starts pounding Eddie to the ground. They head back inside and Roderick covers for 2 and goes to a chinlock. Crowd is pretty evenly split between both guys. Eddie escapes with a chinbreaker, but Roderick with a dropkick and a backbreaker for 2. Eddie starts firing back and they again trade blows in the middle of the ring, Roderick with a series of roaring forearms and elbows, but Eddie hits a backdrop suplex that dumps Strong right on his head. These two are just destroying each other. Eddie with a running forearm in the corner and a snap suplex, then he goes up top and hits a missile dropkick that sends Strong careening across the ring. Eddie covers but only gets 2, so he goes for the Backpack Driver, Roderick slips out, and hits a suplex for 2. Roderick tries a charge into the corner but Eddie gets the boot up and comes off the second rope with a Codebreakerand goes for a suplex, but Roderick reverses to the vertical suplex into a backbreaker and wins the first fall.
We have a 30 second rest period, and then go right into the second fall which is submissions only, and Roderick doesn't waste any time stomping Eddie's guts out. Roderick with straight right hands to the ribs of Edwards and makes a cover, but there's no pinfalls in this fall so he chokes Eddie over the second rope instead. Strong gets the LeBell Lock and then releases the facelock portion and goes to a top armbar that looks like it's going to rip Edwards in half. Edwards makes the ropes so Strong picks him up for a back suplex into a backbreaker and then catapults Eddie into the bottom rope. Strong comes off the ropes, but Eddie picks him up in a fireman's carry and dumps him with a sitout F5. Eddie catches Strong's boot on a kick attempt and locks him into an STF, but Strong manages to make it to the ropes. Strong rolls out to the apron and Eddie hits a running kick that sends him to the floor and then tries a dive over the top rope, but Strong moves out of the way and Eddie hits hard, then Strong drills him with a leaping knee to the jaw as soon as he regains his feet. Roderick sets up a chair in the corner of the ringside area and then bodyslams Edwards onto it in probably the most sadistic move I've seen this side of a Necro Butcher match. Roderick then takes the chair out to the middle of ringside and suplexes Eddie through the chair, then mercifully dumps Eddie back into the ring and locks him in the Stronghold. Eddie somehow gets to the ropes, so Roderick pulls him back out to the middle of the ring and gets a conventional Boston Crab as the crowd chants "please don't tap" at Eddie as he crawls to the ropes. They somehow start trading chops again, then forearms and big boots, and Roderick hits a gutbuster and tries a half nelson backbreaker, but Eddie rolls through and catches Strong in the Achilles Lock. Roderick goes for the ropes but Eddie pulls him back out to the center of the ring and Strong taps.
Another 30 second rest period later, the third fall starts, which is a 15 minute Ironman fall. Eddie starts with a baseball slide through the ropes that sends Strong crashing into the barricade, and then Eddie continues battering him around ringside, with Strong running and using a female photographer as a human shield. He can't get away, and Eddie catches up and suplexes Strong on the floor, then rolls him back inside and hits a running enziguiri for 2. Eddie with a sunset flip, Strong rolls through, and Eddie hits a Falcon Arrow suplex for 2. Edwards goes up top, but Strong catches him with a pair of leaping enziguiris and hits a backbreaker onto the top turnbuckle. Strong covers for 2, then hits a torture rackbreaker for another 2. Strong goes for the Stronghold again, but he's too close to the ropes and Eddie gets the break.
Ten minutes left in the Ironman period with no falls scored yet, and Strong hits a backbreaker for 2 and then dumps Eddie out to the floor. Strong goes to the outside as well and whips Edwards hard into the barricade and then takes him up to the entranceway and hits a Gibson Driver onto the entrance ramp. Strong calmly walks back to the ring and rolls inside while the referee counts and Eddie barely makes it back in. Strong covers for 2, covers again for another 2, and goes for the Stronghold again. Eddie blocks and repeatedly chops Strong in the neck to break the hold. Strong goes for another Gibson Driver but Eddie rams Strong into the corner, sits him up top and hits a leaping enziguiri, then two more, and now hits the Backpack Driver for 2. Eddie dumps Strong with another backdrop suplex and goes for a cover, but Strong gets his foot across the bottom rope at 2.
Five minutes left and we're still dead even. Eddie sits Strong on top and pummels him with chops before another leaping enzigiuri knocks Strong to the floor. Eddie goes after him and Roderick rams him into the ring apron, then rolls him back inside. Strong goes up top but Eddie runs in with a big boot to the face and hits a superplex for 2 as we hit the three minute warning. Eddie with a superkick and goesforthe 2K1 Bomb, and they exchange rollups back and forth as we hit two minutes but still no pinfalls. Strong gets a backslide out of nowhere and Truth Martini holds Eddie's feet so Roderick can get the fall and go up 1-0 with a little over a minute left. Eddie chases Truth Martini around ringside and into the ring. Strong nails Eddie and holds him so Truth Martini can hit him with the Book of Truth, but Eddie moves and Truth hits Strong. Eddie superkicks Martini to the floor and hits a 2K1 Bomb to tie it up at 1-1. The rest period ends with 15 seconds left, and we end with a tie.
Bobby Cruise announces that the match ends in a draw since they're tied on falls, but Jim Cornette comes out and asks both men if they want to accept the draw or prove who the better man is, then tells referee Todd Sinclair that they're not getting five more minutes, this one's going to a decision with the first man getting a fall winning the match.
Much like Rocky and Apollo in the 15th round, they slowly come to the middle of the ring and go face to face before pummeling each other once again. Punch for punch, chop for chop, Strong with a leaping knee, Eddie with a superkick, Eddie with another superkick, Eddie with a Tiger suplex for 2. Eddie chops Strong in the face and covers for 2 and then goes for the Achilles Lock, but Strong kicks his way out and hits another kneestrike and the Sick Kick for 2. Strong with the Gibson Driver, but that only gets 2 so he sits Eddie up top for a top rope gutbuster, but Eddie hits a Frankensteiner into the ring. Strong with another leaping knee, Eddie with a gutbuster of his own, and Strong with another Sick Kick for 2. Crowd is going nuts for this match as Strong brings Eddie back to the top rope again and tries a top rope Gibson Driver, but Eddieslips out and hits a pair of leaping enziguiris and then comes off with a double stomp to Strong on the apron. Strong rolls back in and Eddie hits another top rope double stomp for 2. Eddie with a powerbomb, then a sitout powerbomb for 2. Eddie offthe ropes with a clothesline and then another 2K1 Bomb finally gets the win.
Winner: Eddie Edwards
This was just unbelievable, these guys went around 40 minutes and absolutely tore it up. This was just intensely physically grueling, and the appreciative crowd chants "that was awesome" at them in recognition of the effort they just put forth. Eddie very slowly makes his way back to his feet, and Bobby Cruise again announces him as the winner and the crowd again pops for him.
It's main event time!
Ladder War III: Jay & Mark Briscoe vs All Night Express
The Briscoes jump the ANX on their way into the ring and we're off. The winners here get a shot at the ROH World Tag Team Title at the upcoming show in Chicage Ridge in November. The crowd chants "we want blood" as the Briscoes set up a ladder in the corner and beat King down and try a double Beell, but King blocks it and they all go out to the floor and continue brawling. The Briscoes ram both members of the ANX into the barricade and then Jay takes a chair and DRILLS Titus with it. King lays Mark on a table and goes for a charge, Mark blocks and tries to suplex King through the table, King blocks and runs across the ring to hit Shotgun Knees and drive Jay into the barricade, then charges back at Mark and gets backdropped through the table. Mark stomps Titus down in the corner while Jay lays a ladder between the ring apron and the barricade. Mark tries to powerbomb Titus through the ladder, but Titus escapes and instead has his head taken off by a running boot from Jay. Crowd chants "man up" as the Briscoes take turns throwing chairs at Titus' head, but Titus fires up and starts battling his way back until Jay hits another chairshot, then sits the chair between the top and middle turnbuckle and hits a Flatliner into the chair on Titus. Mark keeps King out on the floor while Jay continues to brutalize Titus. Mark tries to backdrop Mark onto the ladder, but Titus lands on his feet on the apron and suplexes Mark out of the ring and onto the ladder. A now bloody Titus mugs for the camera before hitting a somersault dive to the floor onto Jay. The ANX brings another ladder into the ring and double team Jay, sitting him spread eagle in the corner, opening the ladder and laying it point first in front of Jay's crotch, and then each baseball sliding one of the ladder's legs to drive the ladder into Jay's Doomsday Device.
Now they're keeping Mark on the floor while brutalizing Jay, repeatedly slamming him onto the ladder and then putting the ladder around his head and ramming him into the cornerpost. King takes a dive onto Mark on the floor, but Mark uses a portion of the broken table to nail King on the way down and then Mark throws a chair at him. Titus hits a leaping enzigiuri on Mark on the floor as we see that Jay has been busted open, and he nearly rams King through the barricade. King comes backand moonsaults off the barricade onto Mark as Jay picks up a ladder in the ring and throws it to the floor onto Titus. Jay goes to the outside and suplexes Titus onto the ringpost, then gets to his feet and stalks back toward the ring with a look on his face that would send Chuck Norris running for cover. Mark hits a dive off the apron onto King as Jay makes a pseudo table out of a ladder and two chairs, puts Titus on it, and hits a running dive off the apron onto Titus. Mark whips King into the ropes and Jay nails King with a chair from the floor. The crowd chants "make them bleed" at the Briscoes, and they try to oblige by setting another ladder up in the corner and launch King onto it. The crowd chants "you killed Kenny" as Mark baseball slides Titus on the floor, and Jay repeatedly drills King in the head and Mark throws a chair at King's face as the crowd chants at him to bleed. Mark holds a chair in front of King so Jay can dropkick it into King's face, and then Mark repeatedly headbutts King before Jay tosses another chair at his head. King still isn't bleeding, so the Briscoes go for a spike Jay Driller, but Titus suddenly pops up out of nowhere and pushes Mark off the top rope and through a table at ringside, then slams a chair into Jay's skull.
The tide has turned, and King chokes Jay in the corner with his boot as Titus gets another table from under the ring. The ANX sets up the table inside the ring and hit a powerbomb/Blockbuster combo through the table on Jay. Titus brings what appears to be the only climbable ladder left into the ring and starts his way up. Mark comes off the top and dropkicks the ladder, sending Titus crashing to the mat, then picks the ladder up on his shoulders and takes the ANX out helicopter style. The Briscoes go to the outside and pull a gigantic ladder out from under the ring and set it and a table up in the aisle. Mark climbs the ladder as Jay lays Titus on the table, and then dives off and they both go through the table as the crowd starts their favorite religious chant. Jay and King head back into the ring with the giant ladder and King goes for the Royal Flush, Jay blocks and goes for the Jay Driller, and King blocks that and hits a spinebuster. King goes up top and hits a shooting star press, then sets up the giant ladder and starts climbing. Jay climbs up the opposite side and they duke it out on the top of the ladder, King comes out on top and sends Jay crashing to the mat, and grabs the contract to get the win.
Winners: All Night Express
King puts the dot on the exclamation point by dipping his fingers in the blood on Jay's forehead and signs "ANX" on the contract in Jay's blood. Jay is flat on his back with blood literally pooling under his head as Titus comes into the ring to celebrate with his partner.
2012 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Bridgeport, Connecticut and your announcers are Michael ‘I guess I will play the straight man again’ Cole, John ‘Not the same as being on television with Jonathan Hoenig and Wayne Rogers’ Layfield, and Jim ‘Back in the saddle again’ Ross.
CM Punk’s music plays and Paul Heyman makes his way to the ring.
Paul introduces himself and he says that he felt like everyone last night because at Night of Champions, he got to witness history in the most enormous fashion. He got to see CM Punk successfully defend the WWE Championship against John Cena.
Paul says that the ending is embroiled in controversy and everyone is talking about it. Paul says that in the interest of clarity, he wants the referee, Chad Patton, to come out to defend his decision to the entire WWE audience.
Paul thanks Chad for coming out and he shows Chad a photo of the end of the match with both men’s shoulders down.
Paul says that everyone is on Chad’s case and there is no bigger critic than John Cena. Paul says that Chad did not make the wrong decision. He made the right decision.
Chad agrees with Paul.
Paul says that he and CM Punk congratulate him for making that decision. Paul says that there is more evidence to vindicate Chad. Paul mentions that someone posted footage from a camera phone on YouTube, but that video was taken down and Paul blames John Cena.
Paul wonders what more needs to be seen. The match was a tie and the tie goes to the champion. The match is a draw and the match goes to the champion. That means that CM Punk is the WWE Champion for a 303rd day.
Paul says that CM Punk is now worthy of the fan’s respect and the people are not giving it to him. Punk walked into Boston last night . . .
and Paul is interrupted by John Cena’s music.
John tells Paul to shut up when Paul starts to talk. He says that he agrees with Paul. Chad made the right call last night. John says that he did not take down the video. Chad is a known and respected official and he knows that Chad would have no bias against him.
John talked to Chad after the match. It was not about the decision, but it was about the finality of the decision. The match last night was epic and it built to a match of Wrestlemania proportions. When Chad explained that the match was a draw, he says that is like ending the Super Bowl in a tie.
John says that everyone wanted to see who would have won that epic match. Cena asks Chad if a draw is how he wanted to see that match end.
John says that Paul has been a CM Punk supporter and Punk has always clamored for respect. Last night, to retain the title in a tie? Did CM Punk earn the respect that he has been seeking.
Paul tells John ‘Yes’.
Cena says that the people agree with him and the definition of respect that Paul and Punk have is different than his.
Respect is not hitting someone with a belt after winning a match by a tie. It means beating anyone on any given night to say that you are the Best in the World. Respect is being able to hold your head high after a definitive decision.
John says that he wants to know who the winner is going to be. John says that he will do it on one leg. Cena says that he wants to relive Night of Champions and all they need is CM Punk.
Paul says that CM Punk will be happy to tell Cena to his face what he thinks of the challenge, but Punk will tells Cena . . . when he gets here.
Paul says that he is the voice of the voice of the voice of the voiceless.
Before we get Paul’s answer on behalf of Punk, we are interrupted by the man who lost the World Title Match, Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez).
Alberto tells Cena to stop crying about last night. He had his chance and he lost. Del Rio says that he never got a first chance. The Brogue Kick was banned two weeks ago and then suddenly from nowhere, it was reinstated before his title match.
Alberto says that he was not ready for his match at Night of Champions and he deserves his rematch.
AJ Lee comes to the ring as any General Manager would, she skips to the ring.
AJ says that on behalf of Booker T, they both deserve second chances. AJ will combine the main events from last night to make a Super Main Event. CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio will face Sheamus and John Cena. The winner might go a long way towards determining if there will be a rematch for either of them.
AJ skips out of the ring and Paul tries to catch up to her.
Sin Cara and Rey Mysterio are walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Michael Cole provides a medical update about Jerry Lawler while wearing a “Love Live the King” t-shirt. We see the Tout that Jerry Lawler recorded on Thursday. Michael says that Jerry is now back in Memphis to recover. Michael also mentions that he will be interviewing Jerry next week.
Match Number One: Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara versus Epico and Primo (with Rosa Mendes)
Primo and Cara start things off and Primo with punches. Cara with a handspring back elbow and kick to the leg. Cara with a wrist lock and then he goes to the ropes for a double jump arm drag. Rey tags in and Cara with a splash off Rey’s back. Rey gets a near fall on Primo. Cara tags back in and they give Primo a double snap mare and then they hit kicks to Primo.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Epico with a front face lock on Cara. Primo tags back in and he punches Cara. Primo with a cross arm choke but Cara with an arm drag. Primo stops Cara from making the tag but Cara with a DDT and both men are down.
Epico and Rey tag in and Rey with an arm drag and drop kick to the knee and a kick to the head for a near fall. Epico with an Irish whip and Rey floats over. Rey with a head scissors into the corner and then Rey sends Epico into the ropes. Cara sends Primo into the ropes. They sit on the ropes and Rey hits a double 619. Rey with a seated senton off the apron to Primo. Sin Cara with a swanton for the three count.
Winners: Sin Cara and Rey Mysterio
After the match, Rey and Cara celebrate on the turnbuckles. Darren Young and Titus O’Neil attack Rey and Cara. Darren hits the gutbuster onto the knees on Cara and Titus hits Clash of the Titus on Rey.
Titus gets on the mic and he says that they were the legitimate number one contenders for the tag team titles, but it was taken from them. They are now going to do all of the taking. Darren says that they are the takers and nobody is going to take anything from them.
Speaking of the tag team title situation, it is time to take a look at the dueling ‘I am the Tag Team Champions’ moment. We will have a rematch tonight for the Tag Titles.
The announcers talk about the WWE’s work with the Susan G. Komen organization for Cancer Awareness.
We go to commercial.
We are back and tonight we will have the Debut of MizTV. His guest will be Booker T.
Layla is at the announce table for the next match.
Match Number Two: Beth Phoenix versus Eve Torres in a Non Title Match
Eve offers her hand but Beth refuses. They lock up and Beth sends Eve to the mat. Eve with a side head lock. Beth with a running shoulder and then she punches Eve. Beth pulls Eve from the ropes and she punches Eve until the referee stops her.
Beth sets for the Glam Slam but Eve with a kick to the knee and forearms to the back. Beth with an Irish whip and splash into the corner followed by kicks. Beth with another Irish whip but Eve floats over. Beth with a kick and she tries for an Oklahoma Stampede but Eve escapes and sends Beth into the turnbuckles and gets the three count with a rollup.
Winner: Eve Torres
After the match, Eve gets in Layla’s face and holds up her title belt. Eve thinks about skipping away but she walks to the back.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Antonio Cesaro’s attack on Tyson Kidd only to have Brodus Clay come out to even the odds.
Antonio Cesaro and Aksana are at the announce table.
Match Number Three: Brodus Clay (with the Funkettes) versus Heath Slater
Slater pushes Clay but Clay with a clothesline. Clay punches Slater but Slater with a drop kick to the knee. Slater punches Clay and then kicks him in the hamstring. Slater with a drop kick to the head and he applies a reverse chin lock. Slater with elbows to the head and then he applies a front face lock. Clay is able to pick up Slater and send him to the mat. Clay with a shoulder tackle and flying forearm.
Clay with an Irish whip into the corner but Cesaro gets on the apron to distract Clay. Slater with a snap mare driver for a near fall. Slater goes up top but he makes contact with Clay’s head and then Clay with the splash for the three count.
Winner: Brodus Clay
While Brodus and the Funkettes celebrate with the children of Bridgeport, Cesaro and Aksana go to the back.
The Miz is walking through the back and we go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the debut of MizTV. Miz asks what do you give to an Intercontinental Champion who has everything? You get him something that befits a man of his talents. You give him his very own talk show.
He welcomes everyone to the most must see WWE talk show in history. When you consider Piper’s Pit, the Cutting Edge, and the Highlight Reel, they were missing something to make them truly great. Roddy Piper, Chris Jericho, and Edge were never as controversial, charismatic, or awesome as him.
Miz mentions that he beat three of the best superstars that his guest could throw at him.
Miz brings out that man who thought he had him beat. Miz brings out Booker T.
Miz asks Booker how it feels to be the first guest on MizTV. Miz says that it is probably an honor and better than when he was a Five Time WCW Champion. Better than his first Wrestlemania match . . . almost better than Miz beating Sin Cara, Rey Mysterio, and Cody Rhodes while blindfolded last night.
Miz asks Booker why is he against him and put him against three competitors last night. Miz wants to know why Booker banned the Brogue Kick only to bring it back. Miz says that Booker misses the spotlight.
Booker does not say anything and then Miz pulls the mic away and says that Booker misses the spotlight and the realization that his time is over.
Booker takes the mic from Miz and he tells Miz that was interesting. He says that Miz likes to talk . . . a lot, but it is time for Miz to get a new guest. A superstar who is used to defeating multiple challengers at one time.
Ryback’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring but Miz gets out of there before Ryback can tell us what Miz tastes like. Ryback throws the furniture to the floor.
Michael Cole reminds us about Jerry Lawler’s heart attack last week and the Tout that Jerry sent on Thursday. Michael mentions that Jerry is back in Memphis.
We go to commercial.
Paul Heyman and CM Punk are talking in the back and Josh Mathews wants to get some comments from Punk about teaming with Alberto Del Rio. Punk says that he is not looking to team with anyone. It is another sign of disrespect. What does he have to do to get some respect.
Match Number Four: Santino Marella versus Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero)
They lock up and Santino with a hip lock. Ziggler with a drop kick. Santino with the power walk across the ropes and then he gets a near fall after a double leg take down and jackknife cover. Santino with an arm drag into an arm bar. Ziggler with a punch followed by a swinging neck breaker.
Ziggler with a leaping elbow drop and he gets a near fall. Ziggler puts the cobra in Santino’s face and he calls Santino a joke. Santino blocks a punch and connects with forearms of his own. Ziggler with a forearm to the head.
Ziggler with jabs to Santino but Santino blocks the punch and he connects with punches of his own followed by a split and hip toss. Santino with a diving head butt and then Santino looks for his cobra but he forgets that it is on the ground. Vickie grabs it and Ziggler hits the Zig Zag. Ziggler with a second Zig Zag for the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
After the match, Vickie puts the cobra in Santino’s mouth.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: The announcement of the opening of the Barrett Barrage and the reveal that someone will get to sample the product next week.
Match Number Five: Wade Barrett versus Justin Gabriel
Gabriel with a kick to the leg and he avoids Barrett and gets a near fall with a rana and rollup. Gabriel comes off the turnbuckles but Barrett moves and connects with a back heel kick. Gabriel goes to the floor and Barrett follows after him and he connects with a knee to the midsection. Barrett pulls Gabriel into the ring post as he continues to work on the ribs.
Barrett wraps the arm in the ropes and he punches Gabriel in the ribs. Barrett with an Irish whip and back breaker followed by an elbow to the ribs for a near fall. Barrett with more punches to the ribs. Barrett gets a near fall and then he applies a seated abdominal stretch. Gabriel with a drop toe hold that sends Barrett into the turnbuckles.
Gabriel with a series of kicks to Barrett but Barrett returns to the ribs with a punch and then he tries for a pump handle slam but Gabriel counters with an elbow drop and then he hits a quebrada from the top rope for a near fall.
Gabriel with punches and kicks but he misses a round kick. Barrett sends Gabriel into the air and he lands on his chest. Barrett with a fish hook and then he turns Gabriel around and connects with a forearm for the three count.
Winner: Wade Barrett
We are back and R Truth wants Little Jimmy to put on his birthday hat for Subway’s birthday. Jared Fogle is here to celebrate in the home of the original Subway. Truth tells Jared that Little Jimmy has a few ideas for sandwiches.
Damien Sandow enters and he suggests the Damien Sandow with Cornish game hen. Zack Ryder enters and he suggests the Woo Woo Woo You Know It Sub.
Jared turns around and it is Ryback and he wants to be fed more. Jared gives him a sandwich but Ryback takes a second one.
Sheamus is in the locker room and he says that when the Brogue Kick was reinstated, there was no better feeling than when he kicked Bertie in the head. Sheamus tells Cena that he should have won last night.
Cena says that neither of them won last night so he wants to win so he can make a statement for a rematch against CM Punk.
Sheamus says they will win with their backs against the wall and then they will celebrate after their victory.
Daniel Bryan is walking through the back telling everyone that he is the Tag Team Champions. We go to commercial with Kane telling everyone on the other side of the building that he is the Tag Team Champions, but with a red light in the background.
We are back and Michael Cole reminds us about Jerry Lawler’s condition. We see footage of Jerry coming off the jet in Memphis with the doctor who saved his life last week in Montreal.
Match Number Six: Kofi Kingston and R Truth versus Kane and Daniel Bryan for the WWE Tag Team Titles
Kane and Bryan argue before the bell rings about who is the Tag Team Champions.
Now they argue over who will start the match.
Kofi and Bryan start things off and they lock up with Bryan applying a side head lock. Bryan with a shoulder tackle but Kofi with a back elbow and a front face lock before tagging in Truth. Truth with a punch to the shoulder and he continues to work on the arm. Bryan with a reversal and Bryan refuses to make the tag. Truth with a kick and Kofi makes the blind tag.
Kofi with a cross body for a near fall. Bryan tags Kane in with a chop to the chest. Kane misses a punch and Kofi with kicks. Kane sends Kofi into the turnbuckles and he connects with a series of punches until the referee warns him. Kane with a kick to the chest and head butt. Kane with an Irish whip but Kofi floats over and kicks Kane in the leg. Kane with knees to Kofi.
Kane charges at Kofi but Kofi drops down and Kane goes to the floor. Kofi sends Bryan onto Kane and that means that they are going to argue for a while. We go to commercial.
We are back and Kane with a bear hug on Truth. We see footage during the break when Truth focused on Bryan on the apron and that allowed Kane to connect with a big boot. Kane runs Truth into the turnbuckles but Truth with kicks to Kane and both men are down.
Kofi tags in and hits a springboard clothesline and drop kick but it only backs Kane into the turnbuckles. Kofi leaps to the turnbuckles and punches Kane. Kofi rolls off Kane and then he connects with a pendulum kick before a cross body and he gets a near fall.
Kofi with a kick and it is time for the Boom Drop and he hits it. Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise but Kane grabs Kofi by the throat. Kofi escapes and he tries for a triple jump cross body but Kane with an uppercut.
Kane signals for the choke slam but Bryan tags himself in. Bryan tells Kane that he is the Tag Team Champions. Kane pushes Bryan and then Truth tags in. Truth with clotheslines followed by a flying corkscrew forearm. Truth with a sit out gourdbuster for a near fall. Truth with punches to the head and Kofi is tagged back in. Truth with a slam and then Truth slams Kofi on Bryan and Kofi gets a near fall. Kofi with a key lock.
Bryan with punches to the ribs but Kofi with a drop kick for a near fall. Truth tags back in and they hit a double side Russian leg sweep and an elbow drop and knee drop combination on Bryan for a near fall.
Truth punches Bryan and then he Irish whips Bryan but Bryan with a drop toe hold that sends Truth into the turnbuckles. Kane tags in and he goes up top for the clothesline and then Kane with a drop kick for a near fall. Kane with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner followed by a side slam out of the corner.
Kane signals for the choke slam but he sees Bryan trying to tag himself in and Kane moves out of the way. Kane grabs Bryan by the throat and Kane is dropped on the top rope. Truth with the Little Jimmy and Bryan breaks up the cover. Kofi takes care of Bryan.
Kane with a choke slam and Bryan tags in and he applies the No Lock and Truth taps out.
Winners: Daniel Bryan and Kane
After the match, Bryan celebrates with both title belts, proclaiming that he is the Tag Team Champions.
Kane takes the belts and proclaims that he is the Tag Team Champions.
The fans want a hug and Daniel Bryan has assumed the position. JBL wants them to go to commercial. Kane thinks about the hug and he does it.
Bryan takes his title belt and we have dueling I AM THE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS.
It is time to take a look back at the Be A Star event from last March.
We see some of the Be A Star kids in the crowd.
Randy Orton is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
Match Number Seven: Randy Orton versus Tensai (with Sakamoto) in a Remember this Match from Smackdown last week Match
They lock up and Tensai backs Orton into the corner but Orton escapes. Tensai grabs Orton by the throat but Orton with punches. Tensai with a back elbow but Orton with a European uppercut. Orton with an elbow but Tensai with a shoulder tackle. Tensai sends Orton into the corner and he connects with head butts and shoulders to the lower back. Tensai with a forearm to the kidney and then Tensai connects with a second one. Tensai rakes the face and he tries for a third forearm but Orton with punches. Tensai with a power slam and he gets a near fall.
Tensai rubs his taped wrist across Orton’s face and then he head butts Orton and connects with an elbow drop and gets a near fall. Tensai with a bear hug but Orton with forearms to try to escape. Orton with shots to the head but Tensai with a head butt and Orton goes down again.
Tensai with a boot across the head followed by knees to the back. Tensai with a nerve hold. Orton gets back to his feet and connects with elbows but Tensai with a punch. Orton with a power slam and Orton appears to have used a lot of his energy to hit the move so he cannot make the cover. Tensai rolls to the floor and Tensai with an uppercut.
Orton with kicks to the chest and Orton sets for the IEDDT and hits it. Orton gets up and he looks around and then he twists to the mat for the RKO.
Tensai escapes the RKO for a moment but Tensai misses a splash into the corner and Orton with the RKO for the three count.
Winner: Randy Orton
We go to commercial.
We are back and CM Punk and Paul Heyman are talking in the back. David Otunga tells Punk that on behalf of Alberto Del Rio, he expects Punk to follow Del Rio. Paul reminds David that Punk has been champion for 303 days so he follows nobody’s lead.
David tells Heyman that it looks like Punk sleeps in a cardboard box. Otunga slurps some coffee while Paul and Punk talk. Paul suggests that Del Rio should get a time machine to go back to last year’s Survivor Series when Punk beat Del Rio for the title.
Punk tells Del Rio that he is looking forward to teaming with him. Del Rio says that it is an honor.
Damien Sandow comes out and he tells them to silence the music because he is about to speak. The season of sloth . . . or Summer Vacation has come to an end. We stand at the dawn of his most beloved season . . . Back to School. As your intellectual savior and martyr, he wants to prepare everyone for this season since no one in the WWE Universe appears to be doing so.
He tells Jim Ross that Slobberknocker is not a word. He has prepared a list of vocabulary words to better arm the children for the upcoming school year.
Word number one is temerity. Word number two is ignoramus. Word number three is miscreant.
Damien demands silence as he gets through is words. He tells them that he is trying to help the half wits.
Zack Ryder apologizes for interrupting Professor Buzzkill and he has some vocabulary words. The first one is shut, the second is up, and the third is now.
Zack says that they have a match right now.
Match Number Eight: Damien Sandow versus Zack Ryder
The match is joined in progress and Sandow with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Ryder with a flapjack and then he clotheslines Sandow over the top rope to the floor. Ryder with a pescado onto Sandow. Ryder sends Sandow back into the ring and gets a near fall. Sandow sends Ryder’s throat into the top rope and then Sandow with boots to Ryder.
Sandow with a knee drop and he gets a near fall. Sandow with a knee to the midsection and then he rubs Ryder’s face into the mat. Sandow gets a near fall. Sandow with a leaping knee drop and then he gets a near fall. Sandow with a reverse chin lock. Ryder with punches but Sandow with a punch and side Russian leg sweep followed by the Elbow of Disdain and he gets a near fall.
Sandow sends Ryder into the corner and connects with shoulders. Sandow with an Irish whip but he misses a charge into the corner and Ryder with a rollup for a near fall. Ryder with another near fall after an inside cradle. Sandow with a kick and then he tries for a slam but Ryder escapes and connects with a forearm to the head and clothesline.
Ryder sends Sandow face first into the mat followed by a clothesline. Ryder with a running forearm into the corner and then he sets for the Broski Boot but Sandow goes to the floor. Ryder with a clothesline on the floor. Ryder sends Sandow back into the ring and Sandow with a shoulder to the midsection.
Sandow kicks Ryder in the corner. Ryder with knees to Sandow and then Ryder with the Broski Boot. Ryder gets a near fall on Sandow. Sandow with a kick to the quadriceps and then Sandow with the straightjacket neck breaker for the three count.
Winner: Damien Sandow
After the match, Sandow with the cartwheel of temerity.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Nine: Sheamus and John Cena versus Alberto Del Rio (with Ricardo Rodriguez) and CM Punk (with Paul Heyman)
Cena and Punk start things off but they never lock up and Punk tags in Del Rio. Punk talks to Heyman about something. Del Rio has something to say to Punk before locking up with Cena. Del Rio with a side head lock but Cena rolls through to escape. Cena with a side head lock and Del Rio with a kick. Del Rio with punches and kicks.
Del Rio with a knee but Cena with an Irish whip and a monkey flip. Cena with a back body drop and Cena gets a near fall. Cena with a front face lock and Sheamus tags in and he punches Del Rio in the back. Sheamus with punches to the midsection and head. Sheamus with an Irish whip but kick to the head. Sheamus with a fireman’s carry slam for a near fall. Cena tags back in.
Del Rio with a kick and Punk is tagged in. Cena with a kick and he sends Punk into the corner and then hits a bulldog after an Irish whip. Cena gets Punk on his shoulders but Punk with a rake of the eyes and he gets to the floor.
Punk and Del Rio have some words while Cena tries to get his vision back. Punk with kicks to the head and then he chokes Cena with his boots. Del Rio tags back in and he kicks Cena in the chest. Del Rio kicks Cena and chokes him in the ropes.
Punk with a shot to Cena while the referee was not looking. Punk tags himself back in and he connects with a kick to the ribs. Cena with punches and elbows in the corner but Punk with a drop toe hold but Sheamus tags in and connects with a double sledge and punches and kicks in the corner. Sheamus with a short arm clothesline for a near fall.
Sheamus with an Irish whip but Punk with a kick and Del Rio is tagged in and Del Rio with a savate kick to the head and Del Rio taunts Cena. Del Rio with punches to Sheamus but Sheamus sends Del Rio into the ropes when Del Rio tries for a splash in the ropes. Sheamus with the forearms of ten fella on the apron.
Sheamus hits White Noise and then he looks around. Sheamus signals for the Brogue Kick but Punk distracts him. Del Rio with a lungblower but Del Rio can only get a two count. Del Rio chokes Sheamus in the ropes. Punk chokes Sheamus as well and he tags in. Punk with a kick to Sheamus followed by a chop. Sheamus with punches but Punk with a drop kick to the knees. Punk with a bow and arrow. Sheamus counters with a lateral press and a near fall.
Punk keeps Sheamus from making the tag and Del Rio tags in and kicks Sheamus in the ribs. Del Rio with a reverse chin lock. Del Rio with a knee to the midsection and then he hits a version of a curb stomp but only gets a two count.
Del Rio with a kick to Sheamus but Sheamus with a uranage back breaker. Cena and Punk tag in and Cena with two flying shoulder tackles, a Blue Thunder Bomb, and then it is time for the Five Knuckle Shuffle but Punk tries to kick Cena. Cena blocks the kick and Cena with the STF. Del Rio breaks it up. Sheamus with a Brogue Kick to Del Rio. Cena takes care of Sheamus and then he hits the Attitude Adjustment on Punk to get the three count, but Punk’s foot was on the rope.
Winners: John Cena and Sheamus
After the match, Punk and Heyman tell the referee that Punk’s foot was on the rope. They try to argue their case but the referee says that he did not see it. Punk stops the referee as he leaves the ring. Punk tells the referee that he saw the replay and he wants the referee to acknowledge that his foot was on the ropes.
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