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September 22nd
On this day in history in ....
1928 - Johnny Valentine is born.
1944 - Ole Anderson is born.
1952 - Former AWA World Tag Team champion Doug Sommers is born.
1966 - Baron Mikel Scicluna & Slasher Sloan defeat Johnny Valentine & Antonio Pugliese to win the United States Tag Team Title when Pugliese can't continue during the second fall due to injury. The title change took place during a WWWF TV taping in Washington, DC. The remainder of the taping saw the following results:
-Sonny Myers defeated Tony Nero.
-Mr. Kleen defeated Johnny Rodz.
-The Jamaica Kid defeated Irish Jackie.
-Bulldog Brower defeated Pete Sanchez.
-Miguel Perez defeated Ricky Sexton.
1969- An event in Fort Worth, Texas saw the following results
-Grizzly Smith beat Gary Hart.
-The Stomper beat Jose Lothario.
-Silento Rodriguez beat The Bushman.
-Thunderbolt Patterson beat Jerry Miller.
-Jessica Rogers beat Kay Noble.
1970 - Paul Jones & Nelson Royal defeated Gene & Ole Anderson for the NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title in Greensboro, North Carolina.
1971 - Luther Reigns is born.
1972 - An event promoted by Gene Reed in Denver, Colorado at the Auditorium Arena drew 4,325 fans to witness:
-The Crusher & Dr. X (Dick Beyer/the Destroyer) defeated AWA World Tag Team champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens by DQ.
-Wahoo McDaniel defeated Dusty Rhodes in 8:58.
-Lani Kealoha defeated Ivan Koloff in 17:49.
-Ramon Torres defeated Higo Hamaguchi in 12:50.
1972 - A WWWF event in North Attleboro, MA at Witschi's Sports Arena saw the following results:
- In a Best Three out of Five Falls, Sonny King, Chief Jay Strongbow & Gorilla Monsoon defeated Prof. Toru Tanaka & Mr. Fuji (WWWF tag champs) & Chuck O'Connor (the future John Studd), Three Falls to One.
-Blackjack Slade fought Joe Turco to a draw.
-The Spoiler (Don Jardine) defeated El Olympico.
-Arnold Skaaland defeated The Black Demon by DQ.
1972 - An event in Portland, Oregon saw the following results:
-Dutch Savage fought Bull Ramos to a draw
-Steven Little Bear defeated Haru Sasaki.
-Tony Borne fought Sabu (Jose Gonzales aka Invader 1) to a draw.
-Ricky Hunter defeated The Skull (Bugsy McGraw) by DQ.
-Tony Rocco defeated El Gringo.
1972 - An event in Modesto, CA saw the following results in the headline bouts:
-Beauregard defeated Kubla Khan in 16:36.
-In a 2 out of 3 Falls Match, Lars Anderson defeated Pepper Gomez.
-Little Brutus and Sky Low Low defeated Farmer Boy Jerome and The Tahiti Kid.
1972 - An event in Charleston SC saw the following results:
-Charlie Fulton vs. Randy Curtis went to a time limit draw.
-Debbie Johnson defeated Peggy Patterson.
-Frankie Hester and Angelo Martinelli defeated Jim Grabmire and Krusher Karlson.
-Art Neilson and Johnny Weaver defeated Lord Jonathon Boyd and Norman Frederick Charles III by DQ.
1972 - An event in Lynchburg, VA featured the following results:
-Bob Burns defeated Johnny Heidman.
-Joe Furr defeated Bobby Paul.
-Joe Soto defeated David Finlay.
-Gene Anderson, Ole Anderson and The Menace defeated Jim (JJ) Dillon, Ronnie Garvin and Sandy Scott.
1972 - An event in St. Joseph, Missouri promoted by Central States Wrestling saw the following results:
-Billy Howard fought Bobby Whitlock to a 15 Minute draw.
-Les Thornton defeated Chati Yokouchi in 1:58.
-Bob Geigel defeated Yasuyuki Fujii in 12:08.
-The Destroyer defeated The Viking by countout.
-Omar Atlas and Les Thornton defeated NWA North American Tag Team champions Roger Kirby and Black Angus by disqualification in a Best of Three Falls bout.
-Omar Atlas defeated Roger Kirby by disqualification.
1972 -A Championship Wrestling from Florida event in Tallahassee saw the following results:
-Bob Griffin defeated Black Bart.
-Mike Webster defeated Scott Casey.
-Boxing Match: Roy Welch defeated Chuck Riley.
-Jimmy Golden and Robert Fuller defeated Dick Murdoch and Bobby Shane.
-Buddy Colt vs. Johnny Walker ended without a winner as the time limit expired.
1972 - A Mid-Atlantic Wrestling event in Roxboro, NC at Optimist Park is headlined by Jerry Brisco & Thunderbolt Patterson beating Rock Hunter & Matti Suzuki in a Best Two out of Three Falls match and The Kentuckian Big Boy Brown & Klondike Bill beating Rip Hawk & Swede Hanson in two straight falls. Les Thatcher worked the undercard.
1983 - A WWWF card in Philadelphia, PA featured:
-Mr. Fuji defeated Mike Pappas.
-Vicki Williams & Debbie Johnson defeated Toni Rose & Donna Christianello.
-Stan Stasiak defeated El Olympico.
-Prof. Toru Tanaka defeated Gorilla Monsoon via countout.
-WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales, Haystacks Calhoun, & Tony Garea defeated Mike McCord, Blackjack Lanza, & Lou Albano.
1977 - A live event in New Orleans, LA featured the following results:
-Jerry Oates beat Harley Race via DQ.
-Porkchop Cash & Killer Kox beat Dick Murdoch & Skandar Akbar.
-Ray Candy beat The Assassin.
-Vicki Williams & Wenona Littleheart beat Terry Shane & Leilani Kai.
-Jimmy Golden beat Doug Somers.
-Carl Fergie beat Mike Hammer.
1980 - At a WWF event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race via disqualification after a thirty minute match. However, due to the disqualification rule, the titles remained with their respective champions. Here are the full results from the show:
- The Hangman defeated Dominic DeNucci.
- Rick Martel defeated Rick McGraw.
- Les Thornton defeated Jose Estrada.
- Pat Paterson defeated Johnny Rodz.
- Pedro Morales defeated Samoan Afa.
- Tony Atlas defeated Samoan Sika.
- Ken Patera defeated Rene Goulet.
- Larry Zbyszko defeated Tony Garea via disqualification.
- Andre The Giant defeated Hulk Hogan when special referee Gorilla Monsoon gave Hogan a fast count after dealing with Hogan cheating for a majority of the match.
- WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund defeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race via disqualification when Race, in order to escape a Backlund sleeperhold, pulled the referee into Backlund.
1981 - CZW star Nick Gage is born.
1982 - WWF ran Plymouth, MA with the following results:
-Pete Doherty defeated Fred Marzino.
-Tony Garea defeated Pete Mitchell.
-Salvatore Bellomo defeated Swede Hanson.
-Jose Estrada pinned Steve Travis.
-Ivan Putski fought Buddy Rose to a double disqualification.
1982 - WWF ran Brooklyn, NY with the following results:
-Johnny Rodz defeated Mac Rivera.
-Pete Sanchez defeated Frank Williams.
-SD Jones defeated Charlie Fulton.
-Jimmy Snuka fought WWF Intercontinental champion Pedro Morales to a double disqualification.
-Chief Jay & Jules Strongbow defeated WWF Tag Team champions Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito via disqualification.
1982 - A Championship Wrestling from Florida event in Miami, FL saw the following results:
-Dusty Rhodes won via DQ over Kamala.
-Ric Flair defeated Sweet Brown Sugar.
-Hacksaw Butch Reed & Ron Bass defeated John Studd & Bruiser Brody
-Jake Roberts defeated Mike Graham.
Barry Windham fought Jimmy Garvin to a draw.
-Brian Blair & Kevin Sullivan defeated Kendo Nagasaki & King Kong Tonga. (Haku/Meng)
-Terry Allen (Magnum TA) defeated Vic Rosettani.
1984 - Big John Studd, subbing for Jesse Ventura, defeats WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan via countout at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan makes his WWF debut in this match as the manager of Studd. Heenan, who had just come in from the AWA, was originally scheduled to be Ventura's manager, but due to health issues (blood clots in his lungs), Ventura would soon go into semi-retirement.
1984 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Miami, FL at the Convention Center drawing 8,000 featuring:
-Pez Whatley beat Kevin Sullivan.
-One Man Gang beat Sir Oliver Humperdink.
-One Man Gang beat the Saint.
-Scott McGhee beat Dick Slater.
-Billy Jack Haynes & Mike Graham battled Dory Funk Jr. & Jesse Barr to a double disqualification.
The Rock 'n' Roll Express beat The Koloffs.
-NWA World Champion Ric Flair beat Dusty Rhodes via countout.
1986 - Hulk Machine (Hulk Hogan under a mask) teams with Big Machine & Super Machine to defeat King Kong Bundy, Big John Studd and Bobby Heenan at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The show also saw The Rougeau Brothers make their MSG debut, defeating the Hart Foundation. Additional results of the event, which was broadcast on the MSG Network, featured:
-The Islanders defeated the Moondogs when Tama pinned Rex with a splash off the top at 13:17.
-Nick Kiniski pinned Steve Lombardi with a back suplex into a bridge at 8:57.
-Bob Orton (with Jimmy Hart) pinned Billy Jack Haynes at 9:31 b grabbing the tights for leverage.
-In his final match in MSG, Ted Arcidi defeated Tony Garea via submission at 4:30 with the bearhug.
-Steve Regal pinned Jose Luis Rivera with a belly to belly suplex at 7:53.
-S.D. Jones pinned Mr. X at 8:09 with a standing headbutt from the middle turnbuckle.
- King Harley Race (with Bobby Heenan) pinned Tito Santana.
-Sika (with the Wizard) pinned Lanny Poffo with the Samoan Drop at 7:28
1995 - Gran Hamada defeats Koji Kanemoto for the UWA World Welterweight Title in Nagoya, Japan.
1996 - WWE holds their "In Your House: Mind Games" Pay-per-view at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Corestates Center. Here are the results:
- In a match that aired on the Pre-Show, Savio Vega defeated Marty Jannetty by reverseing a cross bodyblock into a pin. Justin Bradshaw attacked Vega after the match, following an interview where he complained about not being on the PPV. Vega then challenged Bradshaw to a Caribbean Strap Match on the PPV.
- Savio Vega defeated Justin Bradshaw in a Caribbean Strap Match by touching all four corners. During the match, ECW's Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman and Paul Heyman (who came out and took seats in the front row during the preshow) were seen at ringside and Sandman spat beer at the wrestlers, leading to a brief scuffle and the ECW stars being ushered out. This was a planned angle between ECW and WWE, although they did a fairly good job of making it look like a "shoot" incident. Tazz and Perry Saturn, also with ECW at the time, were seated in the crowd as well.
- Jose Lothario defeated Jim Cornette in under a minute following two punches.
- Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith defeated WWF World Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns to win the belts when Smith powerslammed Bart after Billy had shoved his partner. Previously, Bart had collided with Billy accidentally. After the match, Sunny, who was managing the Gunns, fired them.
- Mark Henry defeated Jerry Lawler with a backbreaker. During the match, Marty Jannetty, Leif Cassidy and Triple H tried to interfere, but Henry ran them off and press slammed Triple H on top of the New Rockers on the floor.
- The Undertaker defeated Goldust with a tombstone piledriver.
- WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels defeated Mankind via disqualification when Vader interfered. Sid Vicious came out and brawled with Vader, and the Undertaker came out of a casket that Mankind and brought to the ring and chased Mankind off. This match is available on the History Of The WWE Championship DVD.
1997 - WWF held Raw at Madison Square Garden in New York City with the WWF debut of Cactus Jack. Prior to a scheduled streetfight with Triple H, Mick Foley appeared on the screen as Dude Love (who was scheduled for the match), Mankind and finally Cactus. Cactus Jack then won the match with a piledriver through a table on the stage. This match is available on the Mick Foley: Hard Knocks And Cheap Pops DVD. Mike Johnson filed the following live report of the taping for the Wrestling Lariat Newsletter:
Cactus Back!
by Mike Johnson
The World Wrestling Federation pulled out as much as they could when they brought Raw is War to their home base building in New York City, Madison Square Garden, on 9/21. I was in attendance at the show, and yes, they even surprised me, as you’ll see in the report!
The show opened with a dark match as Northeastern Indy workers Steve Corino and Jimmy Cicero met each other. Corino controlled most of the bout with armdrags and armbars, boring the crowd, who started chanting, “Let’s go Rangers”. Cicero came back with a head and arms Tazplex style move and a swinging neckbreaker but Corino got the pin with a Northern Lights suplex. It was pretty flat as doing all the matwork totally bored the crowd waiting for stars but the work itself was good.
They followed with a battle royal, which in local advertising had the stipulation that the winner would get a WWF World title shot at the next Garden show. From the result, I’m assuming that's no longer the case. Since there was nothing of note in the bout, the order of elimination was as follows: Blackjack Bradshaw, Headbanger Mosh, Brian Christopher, Chainz, Blackjack Windham, The Bruise Brothers, Boriqua Jesus, Crush, Tiger Ali Singh, all three Truth Commission members, Savio Vega, Miguel Perez, Jr., Scott Taylor. At this point, Sal Sincere and Headbanger Thrasher both flipped over the ropes together, leaving longtime jobber Steve “Brooklyn Brawler” Lombardi as the winner. The place popped and there were scattered “Brooklyn” chants.
The rumor going around was Shamrock was supposed to win and challenge Hart at the next show, but he’s injured with a lung infection. In any case, the match sucked. Why couldn’t we have gotten a Christopher-Taylor match instead?
The Spanish announcers come out to Tito Santana’s music, followed by Jim Ross & Jim Cornette, as they were going to be taping Shotgun Saturday Night first.
They opened with Vader & the Patriot taking on the Godwinns. The bout started with Vader & the Patriot taking over on Phinneas, including Patriot dropkicking him through the ropes. Henry tried to jump the Patriot but he fought him off. The Godwinns took over by choking Del Wilkes with the Confederate flag. The Patriot hit a sunset flip for a two count but was shrugged off. Henry tried to come off the top but the Patriot got his foot up and tagged Vader, who killed all three Godwinns and pinned Phinneas with a Vader Bomb. Eh.
They followed this with the Blackjacks meeting Boriquas members Savio Vega & Miguel Perez Jr. Talk is the Blackjacks will be broken up soon and Justin Bradshaw will get a makeover. Poor Bradshaw- he can’t keep up with his action figure! I mean, geez, just ship the guy to ECW to build him back up. Vince, you blew it. Windham was wearing a knee brace but still took a bump over the top rope from a Perez dropkick. Fans at ringside were chanting, “Wookie” at Perez. Windham and Savio chopped each other stiffly. Savio was beaten by Bradshaw for a bit but then hit a sunset flip. He followed with a spin kick on Bradshaw and a suplex on Windham. Perez then hit a bad frankensteiner on Windham. The other two Boriquas came down and Windham confronted them. Bradshaw set Perez up for a powerbomb but Savio spinkicked him in the side of the face, gaining the pin. Flat match.
They introduced Jerry Lawler, who joined the commentary desk. Remember what I said about Bradshaw and having blown it? Out came another worker who fit that category, Flash Funk, who was taking on Jesse Jammes. Neither guy got any real reaction. Funk started out fast with a leapfrog into a dropkick and a leaping clothesline. James hit a running clothesline on Funk in the corner. Funk dropkicked Jammes off the top, then hit a forward flip legdrop off the middle turnbuckle. He went to the top but Jerry Lawler, for no reason, pulled his legs out and crotched him. HUH? Jammes pulled Scorp off the top and picked him up in a cradle like position, then slammed him down for the pin. Lawler leaves ringside. Ugh. Funk chased Jammes back. As you can guess, at this point the show wasn’t very good.
Vince McMahon and Lawler come out to the commentator’s desk as two members of the Truth Commission (I don’t know who and frankly I don’t care) met Crush & Chainz of the DOA. Has anyone lost his personality quicker than Brian Lee? This was really quick and nondescript as the other Truth Commission members interfered, leading to the Bruises jumping in and the DOA winning by DQ. All the refs came out to break it up. Yawn.
They then went live on the air and there were a TON of fireworks. The show opened with a really cool Garden history retrospective. Live, Hogan’s image was booed while Piper & Savage’s were cheered. It was pretty cool to watch live as the place was “ooohing” to the older clips.
They opened the show with the return of Ahmed Johnson, as he took on the NOD’s Rocky Maivia in an Intercontinental Title tourney match. While Sgt. Slaughter made the other NOD members go to the back, Rocky spit at the fan who had the initial “Die Rocky” sign and dared him to meet him outside the building. Ahmed clotheslined him through the ropes. Lou Albano came out and as wandering around ringside taking notes for some reason that wasn’t clear live. Rocky threw Ahmed into the ringside steps, cutting open Ahmed’s hand. Oh no! He’ll be out another two months and come back even bigger! Ahmed finally got the pin with the Tigerdriver.
Steve Austin was in the upper level of the building with a live mic and did a promo saying that one way or another, somebody’s going to get their ass kicked. It was hard to make out live but it popped the house anyway. Half the building swarmed Austin as he tried to leave.
They showed old boxer Floyd Patterson in the crowd and recapped Shawn Michael’s European title victory over Davey Boy Smith at the "One Night Only” PPV show.
Vince McMahon then interviewed the Undertaker and they announced the winner of the UT-Shawn Cage match would get a title shot at Survivor Series in Montreal this November. As an aside, there was a nice effect here. After UT set off an explosion, the smoke was rising from under the ring, giving an eery effect which was nice given the character. Michaels interrupted the interview, saying the WWF was trying to put him in another no-win situation and the pair argued.
After Sunny came out to be the guest ring announcer, they had Legion of Doom taking on NOD members Kama & Faarooq. This was real boring but real quick. They knocked Kama out of the ring and went for the clothesline on the shoulders finisher but the other NOD members ran in. Ahmed Johnson, his hand taped, made the save.
They followed this with Hart Foundation members Owen Hart and Brian Pillman coming out for their match against each other in the IC title tourney. Hart was accompanied by four NYC cops, who were really Indy workers like Bud Licious, Cpl. Punishment, and Wild Bill. Marlena was there, looking like she stepped out of any New York City club that I frequent. She’s even got a navel piercing now. Pillman and Owen were joking and he asked Owen if he wanted a piece of her ass.
Pillman had a sling on and announced he was forfeiting as he hurt his arm, “Making Marlena squeal like a pig last night”. Sgt. Slaughter came out and asked where his proof was. Pillman said, “In the car and in the hotel”. Slaughter tossed the mic to Pillman, who caught it with his “hurt” arm. Slaughter told them both to wrestle or they’ll be suspended forever. They both get mad but agree.
The two wrestle the match as a joke, getting two counts after snapmares and the like. I found it hysterical but the building was chanting “Boring”. They did a spot where Owen wound up outside the ring and Marlena hit him with the purse. Pillman took it away and Owen accused him of hitting him. Marlena told him it was him and Owen hit Pillman. The pair brawled back into the ring. The two crisscrossed the ropes and both hit a flying bodypress on the other and are down.
As they got to their feet, Goldust hit the ring, shoved Owen down and attacked Pillman. Owen wins by DQ. The officials stormed the ring and held Goldust, as Pillman pulled Marlena away. Owen took the mic and dedicated his hard fought win to his brother Bret.
Steve Austin attacked him from the crowd and the NYC “cops” grabbed him as Owen has the restraining order. Vince McMahon tried to calm down Austin and told him that they understand he’s upset but he has to wait until he can wrestle. McMahon told him that no one wants to see him in a wheelchair. Austin pondered, apologized, then kicked McMahon and hit him with the Stone Cold Stunner! Austin jumped on Vince and gave him the finger. The place erupted! The cops arrested Austin, who gave Vince the finger from the cuffs. McMahon was carried off, but really should have been stretchered. Other than that, great angle to finish off the first hour.
They opened the second hour with more explosions that were really cool and loud.
They recapped the Austin angle, and previewed the Falls Count Anywhere match between Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Dude Love. HHH and Chyna come out but when Dude Love’s music started, he was nowhere to be found. What followed that was truly a Mick Foley classic. Dude Love appeared on the screen and said that a Falls Count Anywhere match really wasn’t his thing and he said he knew a “Kind” man who would be perfect for it. Using split screen technology, Mankind sat next to him and they spoke. He said that as much as he’d like to brawl all over the building, he knew someone who would be even better - and Cactus Jack appeared on the screen!! THE PLACE GOES NUTS!!!
Music starts. Garbage is tossed from behind the curtain. A shovel. A Mop. A Trashcan. Finally, after a year and a half, Cactus Jack returned to life in the US and appeared. The place gave him a standing ovation, even louder than they were for the Austin angle. The place chanted “ECW” and “Cactus” as Foley smirked and hit the ring. He hit the Cactus clothesline and they brawled on the floor. He slammed HHH for a two count. They brawled into a backstage area where Helmsley got a two count, but Jack shot him with a fire extinguisher.
Cactus whipped Hunter into the rail, then stomped him, taking the whole side of railing down. He got Hunter back in the ring and threw him into the corner, where HHH took a cool bump over the top. Jack throws a trashcan at him but missed the Cactus elbow off the apron, hitting the can instead. Chyna threw him into the stairs and Hunter got a two count. The place was chanting “Cactus” as Hunter put him in an abdominal stretch, but the ref caught him using the ropes and made him break it. Hunter shoved the ref, and the ref shoved him back, knocking him on his ass, a la Ric Flair. The place popped. Cactus put the Mandible Claw on Hunter but Chyna hit him low. Hunter then broke a broom over Cactus’ back. What’s the difference between that and Sandman’s cane, USA Network?
Cactus came back and knocked Hunter off the apron, then hit a sunset flip to the floor for a two count. He backdropped Hunter on the ramp but Chyna hit him with a chair. He snatched it and went to go after her but HHH tackled him. Chyna was sandwiched between Cactus and the stairs in a great spot. They brawled up the ramp and Cactus hit a belly to back suplex. He hit HHH with another trash can for a two count. HHH hit Cactus with a shovel and slammed him down headfirst on the ramp hard. He retrieved a table from backstage as the place chanted “ECW”. He tried to give Cactus the pedigree but Cactus got out and piledrove HHH through it for the pin. Great match, probably the best Helmsley has ever been in.
On an aside, Chyna works really hard and is a great personality. Welcome back Cactus. I hope you stay around. This was a great moment for me personally, as I hated Dude Love and never really got into the Mankind character. Let’s see some of those great promos, Mick.
What happened next was weird to say the least. Shawn Michaels came out saying he was going to talk about his title win and him being the first and only Grand Slam champion of all four belts, but then started slamming the Undertaker and daring him to come out. Next thing we know, the cameras are off and Michaels goes backstage looking for the Undertaker. Huh? He comes back out clucking like a chicken saying UT fears him.
Michaels finally went to leave but UT’s music came on. UT headed to the ring and was jumped by Michaels, Chyna, Rick Rude and HHH, who had gauze on his head showing some red soaking through. They beat him up but the Undertaker rose and chased them away. It was like, what was the point of that?
They finished off the live show with the WWF World champ Bret Hart facing Goldust. Hart did a promo saying he beat UT already and that sooner or later, Shawn Michaels would be getting what was coming to him. Hart dominated the entire match, working on Goldust’s leg. Michaels showed up on the ramp and the crowd was on him, chanting “F***t” and “Shawn is gay”, which he played up to and preened around. Hart gave Dust the figure four on the ringpost. The ringside fans were really on Hart so he gave them the finger. He finally got the submission with the Sharpshooter.
Michaels must have ignored his cue as Pat Patterson came storming out of the curtain shoving and screaming at Michaels, who then hit the ring and attacked Bret. Owen Hart, Hunter, a limping Davey Boy Smith, Rick Rude, Chyna, and even Jim Neidhart, hit the ring and brawled before the Undertaker showed up and chokeslammed Michaels and Hart to end the live show.
This left us with an immediate three way for the WWF title with UT vs. Bret vs. Shawn and everyone at ringside. Once the cameras were off the guys at ringside were goofing with the crowd. Owen asked an ECW regular to buy him an ECW hat next time she saw him and Bulldog chanted “ECW” softly at him. Neidhart looked bigger, if that’s possible. Bret hit a Russian legsweep on Shawn. Fans at ringside were calling for Bret to shoot, making the Harts laugh at ringside, while Hunter was glaring at said fans. Hart tied Shawn up in the ropes and hit him. UT recovered and tied up Bret, then took turns kicking both in the mush.
Both eventually got free and Hart went to slam Michaels off the top rope. Michaels yelled, “I’m nature boy!” before he was slammed. Michaels got a chair and went to hit UT but he kicked it in his face. He tombstoned Shawn but HHH pulled him out of the ring and Bret jumped on Shawn for the pin. Shawn does the job. I was shocked. The Harts pulled Bret out as UT trashed the “Kliq”. Eventually he left and they played Shawn’s music. The heels got up joking and all three did the Fargo Strut out of the Garden.
MSG Notes:
Overall, the show was fine, although the crowd was dead and leaving starting with the Bret-Goldust match. Marc Mero was advertised as appearing for this show, but there was no sign of him anywhere. I’ll assume Merro, who is now bald and does an aggressive gimmick, was held off as they had so much going on and he would have been lost in the shuffle.
Samoan Gangsta Party members Big Matty Smalls & Tahitian Warrior were backstage.
There were rumors of Yokozuna returning tonight as well.
The show came off flat live for the most part but it was the TV audience that they were shooting for.
I saw signs confiscated but it was because they were hindering the cameras, and they were taken away after their owners were warned to please keep them down.
The entire Raw set, with the screen and ramp and explosions, is pretty impressive live.
They return to the Garden this November. I guess we'll find out if the Brawler gets his title shot!
1997 - Bill Goldberg, who would go on to becomes one of the biggest stars in WCW history, officially made his WCW TV debut during Monday Nitro broadcast at the E Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The show was the first-ever wrestling event held in the venue, which had just opened, featuring the following results:
-Bruiser Mastino defeated Damien in a dark match.
-El Dandy, El Texano, & the Aztec Warrior defeated Super Astro, Oro Jr., & Pantera in a dark match.
Monday Nitro broadcast:
-Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Silver King
-Bill Goldberg pinned Hugh Morrus with the Jackhammer at 2:43; late in the bout, Goldberg kicked out of Morrus' moonsault; after the bout, Gene Okerlund attempted to interview Goldberg in the aisle but Goldberg walked off.
-Disco Inferno defeated WCW TV Champion Alex Wright to win the title
-Hector Garza defeated WCW Tag Team Champion Scott Hall.
-The Ultimo Dragon, Juventud Guerrera, Lizmark Jr., & Ciclope defeated La Parka, Psychosis, Villano IV & V.
-Meng & the Barbarian defeated Rick & Scott Steiner.
-Randy Savage defeated Stevie Richards.
-Booker T defeated Scott Norton & Buff Bagwell via disqualification in a handicap match.
-WCW U.S. Champion Curt Hennig defeated Jeff Jarrett.
2000 - Spanky (Brian Kendrick) defeats American Dragon (Bryan Danielson) in Vicksburg, Mississippi to win the Memphis Championship Wrestling Light Heavyweight Title.
2000 - Extreme Championship Wrestling ran Salem, New Hampshire with an ECW on TNN taping, featuring the following results:
Dark match: Michael Shane defeated Red Dogg
Simon Diamond & Johnny Swinger defeated Christian York & Joey Matthews
Julio Dinero defeated Prodigy
The Blue Boy (w/ Jasmine) (sub. for Chris Chetti) defeated Nova
Prodigette defeated Jazz
Mikey Whipwreck pinned Psychosis with a Whippersnapper off the top
ECW Tag Team Champions Little Guido & Tony Mamaluke defeated Danny Doring & Roadkill when Doring was pinned
Jack Victory & the Blacksmith defeated Lou E. Dangerously, Bilvis Wesley, & CW Anderson in a handicap match
Balls Mahoney defeated EZ Money & Chris Hamrick in a handicap streetfight
Justin Credible, Danny Daniels, & Rhino defeated Steve Corino, Jerry Lynn, & HC Loc when Credible pinned Lynn with That's Incredible
Rob Van Dam & Kid Kash defeated the Baldies following a hurricanrana off the top by Kash and the Five Star Frog Splash from RVD
2002 - WWE broadcast a live edition of Sunday Night Heat before their WWE Unforgiven PPV. John Keane filed the following TV report:
Heat Report for 9/22/2002.
Live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Your Hosts are Jonathan Coachman and D’Lo Brown.
Your Unforgiven pre-game show.
Coach and D’lo say howdy as the crowd begins to file into the arena. D’Lo quickly confirms the rumors-tonight, right here on Heat, Chavo Guerrero will go one on one with Rey Mysterio. He and Coach move on to talk up the top 2 matches on the PPV card-later on, Rob Van Dam will challenge HHH for the World title, and Brock Lesnar will defend his WWE Title-his opponent, The Undertaker. After ‘Taker’s ‘Desire’ video airs (Giant Gonzalez sighting!), we see the Dead Man riding into the arena parking lot. Break.
Back, our hosts preview another match on the card, Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit. Video rolls documenting their feuding over the last few weeks-lots of Stinkfaces, lots of embarrassment and bruised egos. Break.
Snap of the Night: Smackdown GM Stephanie McMahon and her boys Billy and Chuck invade last weeks Raw to lay a beating on that shows GM, Eric Bischoff, and his henchmen Rosie and Jamal.
Coach and D’Lo return to hype tonight's inter-promotional tag match of Billy/Chuck vs. Rosie/Jamal. Stipulation in place: Steph’s boys win, Eric kisses her butt-literally. Eric’s pals win, Steph engages in Hot Lesbian Action. Next, we see footage of Bischoff’s appearance on FoxSports ‘Best Damn Sports Show, Period’. Eric revealed to the hosts that before his recent appearance on Smackdown (disguised as an elderly Justice of the Peace), he wandered the backstage area and was unrecognized due to the make-up.
Our hosts move on to preview another match on the card, an 8-man tag pitting the Un-American faction against Booker T, Goldust, Kane and Bubba Ray Dudley. We go backstage, where Terri interviews the Un-Americans (Test, William Regal and Tag Team Champions Christian and Lance Storm). Boys go for the cheap heat, Christian gets the fans to react by talking smack on L.A. Break.
Back, after Jeff Hardy’s ‘Desire’ video airs, Coach and D’Lo go over all the matches on the PPV card:
1. Rob Van Dam challenges HHH for the World title.
2. Ric Flair goes after Chris Jericho’s Intercontinental Championship.
3. The Un-Americans vs. Booker T, Goldust, Kane and Bubba Ray Dudley.
4. Trish Stratus challenges Molly Holly for the Women’s Title.
5. Billy/Chuck vs. Rosie/Jamal, previously mentioned stipulation in place.
6. Edge vs. Eddy Guerrero.
7. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit.
8. The Undertaker challenges Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title.
Backstage, Chavo and Eddy Guerrero are all smiles-Eddy plans to lay a world-class beating on Edge, Chavo plans on doing the same to Rey. Chavo even gets in a ‘Cheat to Win’ reference! We go to break.
WWE Rewind: Last week on Raw, Chris Jericho defeated Rob Van Dam to become our new Intercontinental Champion. HHH was at ringside late in the match, inadvertently became involved physically, (arguably) costing RVD the victory.
Back, our hosts talk up Flair/Jericho. Terri interviews Ric backstage-tonight he plans on proving he’s still able to compete at the highest level by defeating Y2J to become our new IC champ.
Next, our hosts hype HHH/RVD. Extended video documents their recent feud, which began when Bischoff appointed Hunter World Champion a few weeks ago. Before we break, Coach announces a big announcement regarding next years Wrestlemania PPV will be made this upcoming Tuesday.
Back, Coach and D’Lo get in their last bit of PPV shilling, then send us down to (former Heat co-hosts, current Smackdown announcers) Michael Cole and Tazz at ringside…
Heat match: Chavo Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio.
Mild heat for Chavo, decent pop for Rey-Cole and Tazz observes the crowd seems to be arriving fashionably late. Bell rings, lockup, Rey scores first with an armdrag takedown, Chavo down and up quickly. The 2 circle, again lock up, Chavo slaps on a waist lock, Rey reverses, Chavo counters with an armdrag, Rey down and up. The 2 again circle, Chavo gets in a kick to the gut, follows up by wringing Rey’s left arm and laying in forearm shots to the shoulder. Rey grabs the ropes, somersaults through arm-wringer, Chavo gets in another kick to the gut, follows up by laying in a side headlock. Rey gets in some elbows to the gut, forces Chavo to ropes, breaks out of hold, Chavo off ropes, sends Rey down with a shoulder. Chavo off ropes, over Rey, off ropes again, Rey to feet, leapfrogs over Chavo, Rey goes for the monkey flip as Chavo tries for the sunset flip, both men land on feet. Rey ducks a clothesline, goes off ropes, Chavo tries for a hiptoss, Rey counters with an acrobatic armdrag takedown, Chavo down and up in corner. Rey gets in a pair of forearm shots to the face, Chavo counters with a knee to the gut, follows with boot to same, goes behind, lays in a bearhug. Rey elbows out, goes off ropes, tosses Chavo through ropes and out of ring. Chavo up outside, Rey goes off ropes, baseball slide into a swinging head scissors sends Chavo down. Rey tosses Chavo in, ascends a top turnbuckle, Chavo to feet, Rey flies, Chavo scores with a mid-air standing dropkick, both men down. Rey up at ropes, Chavo gets in another boot to gut, Rey staggers to corner as Chavo continues with kicks and forearms. Chavo brings Rey up, scores straight punches to gut, gets warned off by ref. Chavo shoots Rey off ropes, brings him up on the rebound, Rey goes face first to mat, Chavo turns him over, makes the cover, just gets 2. Chavo brings Rey up, locks in an abdominal stretch, Chavo grabs ropes for leverage out of line of sight of ref. Abdominal stretch continues, Rey fires off elbows to gut, gains leverage, springboard standing crossbody (I think…) sends Chavo down for 2. Both men up, Chavo continues to work on gut with forearm shots and kicks, Rey to corner, Chavo brings him out, attempts whip, Rey holds ropes, Chavo opts for more forearm shots, Rey goes down by ropes. Chavo applies boot choke, takes another warning from ref, Chavo brings Rey up, whips him of ropes, Chavo tries to bring him up on the rebound, Rey pushes off, lands on feet, ducks a clothesline, scores with a low dropkick, both men down. Up, Rey goes off ropes, Chavo scores with a vicious knee to the gut, Rey down. Chavo takes a quick breather in corner as Rey crawls toward ropes, Chavo back in with a quick kick to Rey’s face. Chavo brings Rey up, sets him in corner in tree of woe, Chavo scores with a dropkick to back, Rey down in corner. Chavo takes pose break as Rey writhes in pain, finally goes for the cover, just gets 2. Chavo brings Rey up, quickly scores with a snapmare into a chinlock, Rey makes it to feet, fires off elbows, breaks out of hold, goes off ropes, Chavo scores with a powerslam, Rey reverses into a roll-up, good for 2. Both men up, Chavo gets in another kick to gut, whips Rey into corner, Chavo gets in one more shot to the back before setting Rey on top turnbuckle, back to the ring. Chavo ascends second turnbuckle, attempts to remove Rey’s mask, Rey fires off elbows to send Chavo to canvas. Rey ascends top turnbuckle as Chavo gets to feet, Rey flies, moonsault into a roll-up is good for 2. Up, Rey whips Chavo to ropes, charges, Chavo tosses him over top, Rey lands on apron, Chavo gets in an elbow to the face, dropping Rey to the mats outside. Chavo goes outside, rolls Rey in, attempts to follow, Rey gets in a pair of boots to the gut to send Chavo down outside. Chavo to feet, Rey springboards off top rope, both men go down outside. Rey rolls Chavo in, follows, goes for the whip, reversed, Rey into corner, Chavo approaches, Rey gets a boot up to the side of Chavo’s head. Chavo doubled over, again approaches corner, Rey leaps onto his back, Chavo counters by slingshotting Rey into corner. Rey still standing, Chavo brings him up, scores with a backbreaker, just gets 2. Chavo tries a pair of covers, can’t get the pinfall, attempts to drop a knee, Rey gets the boots up to send Chavo back to a standing position. Rey tries for a standing head scissors, Chavo shoves him down, Rey lands on feet, scores with a spinning kick, sending Chavo to knees at ropes. Rey goes off ropes, scores the 619, sends Chavo sprawling in the center of the ring. Rey to apron as Chavo staggers to feet, West Coast Pop, Chavo goes down for the 1-2-3.
Winner: Rey Mysterio.
Cole and Tazz get in their last-second PPV hype, video piece focusing on Brock and ‘Taker ends the show.
Standard pre-PPV show, Rey/Chavo was fantastic-but, just a thought, wouldn’t a backstage bit explaining the 2 Smackdown guys appearance on Heat (a Raw-brand show) seem in order? Just a little thing, sure, but the little things friggin’ matter! Whatever, great match, nice to see Cole and Tazz on the show,
2002 - WWE holds Unforgiven at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Here are the results:
- In a Heat match, Rey Mysterio defeats Chavo Guerrero with the West Coast Pop.
- Booker T, Kane, Goldust & Bubba Ray Dudley defeated Lance Storm, Christian, William Regal & Test when Kane pinned Storm with a chokeslam.
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho defeated Ric Flair with the Walls Of Jericho.
- Eddie Guerrero defeated Edge with a sunset flip-style powerbomb.
- Three Minute Warning defeated Billy Gunn & Chuck Palumbo when Rosey pinned Gunn with a Samoan Drop. As a result, Smackdown General Manager Stephanie McMahon had to perform "Hot Lesbian Action" and Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff said he found the "ugliest lesbian" around for the job. However, it turned out to be Rikishi in drag, who then gave Bischoff a side kick and a stinkface.
- World Champion Triple H defeated Rob Van Dam with a Pedigree.
- Trish Stratus defeated Molly Holly to win the WWE Women's Title with a bulldog.
- Chris Benoit defeated Kurt Angle by turning an anklelock into a rollup and putting his feet on the ropes for leverage.
- WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker ended in a double DQ when the referee couldn't control the two as they brawled in and out of the ring.
2002 - Afa the Wild Samoan released the following remembrance of the late Ted Petty, who passed away on 9/21/02 at the age of 49:
AFA SPEAKS ON PASSING OF TEDDY
World X-Treme Wrestling was shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Ted Petty, better known as Rocco Rock from Public Enemy. Before joining ECW, WWF, or WCW, he started his career as the Cheetah Kid, competing in many regional independent promotions, including the Trans World Wrestling Federation, one of the predecessors to WXW.
Ted's last WXW appearance was at the 2001 Awards Banquet where he was recognized for his longtime friendship with Afa the Wild Samoan, and achievements in the ring. Afa explained that Ted was one of his former students and trainers, then the two shared a few brief but fond memories. Afa joked about something that happened during a trip to Pittsburgh, while Petty said that Afa almost got him killed three times, including being held hostage in Beirut for three days while on tour overseas. The two laughed about the memories and shared an emotional hug. It was very clear to all of us at WXW that Afa (Pops) thought of Teddy as a son, as Teddy so lovingly referred to Afa as Pops.
When Pops was notified late last night of the passing of Teddy, he was in total shock. Pops said "here is a guy that never drank, smoked, or did drugs, and was taken away at the best time of his life. I will miss Teddy very much. We shared a 20 plus year friendship and I'm very sad to not have Teddy as part of my life any longer.
One thing for sure, I know Teddy is in a much better place and I guess our dear Lord needed a new star for the Federation that he is building in heaven. My heart goes out to Teddy's family.
WXW would like to send their sincerest of condolences to the Petty family.
I hope no one minds that I feel the need to add this brief recap of memories that I will honor for the rest of my life.
When I first received the news last night that we lost yet another great superstar, I was heartbroken. Teddy was like a son to me, I trained him and he worked as one of my trainers some years ago. He was one of the most respectful men that I have ever met, if you were lucky enough to become friends with him, you were considered a friend FOR LIFE.
Teddy was loyal, hard working, honest, reliable, trustworthy, and a downright great person.
There are so many stories that I could share, but I know that I must limit my space. So just a few memories I thought I would mention.
There was a time when I got a call from Teddy to replace my good friend Kamala on a tour in Germany. On the first day of the tour, during Teddy's match, he dove off the top rope and landed on his opponent who was outside the ring. As Teddy hit the floor, on top of the opponent, his ankle hit the steel rail, and he screamed out in pain. As everyone ran to ringside to bring Teddy back to the dressing room, he was obviously unable to walk on his leg. I grabbed him by the arm and laid him on the ground, and had another wrestler sit and hold his body. Before Teddy knew what was happening, I had his boot off and I was giving him a Samoan Rubdown. Teddy was screaming in agony as tears were coming down his face. Although I knew I was hurting him, I did not stop because his ankle was so swollen. He had a fracture, and I could feel it as I was massaging it. When I finally finished torturing him, I taped up his ankle, had him ice it, and got him back to his room. The next morning, he came into my room, walking with pressure on both legs, thanking me for fixing his ankle.
Another story that I know Teddy loved to tell was of a trip that I took to Beirut, Lebanon back in the early 90's. My WXW group was held hostage for three days by machine gun at the airport. Teddy often said that on this trip, I almost got him killed, but the truth of the matter was, that he trusted me so much that although former President Bush Senior warned us not to go on this tour, Teddy was one of the first to volunteer his services.
Teddy was also with me when we made a trip to my Island Samoa . We didn't have a wrestling ring in Samoa so Teddy, Ray Licamelli (Doink) and I built a ring for us to use for our tour. As you can see Teddy was indeed close and was like a son to me.
A few years back, I got a call from Teddy telling me that he was ready to retire his ring truck business, and wanted to turn it over to me because he knew that I would treasure his truck, ring, and steel cage. I was so honored to know that he could have given it to anyone, but he chose me. Although I had the truck painted black, and put my WXW logo on it, I still referred to it as Teddy's Truck. Having the truck makes me feel like I still have a part of Teddy that I will cherish because he was such a great person.
Thank you for allowing me to share these few memories with you, as I'm sure there will be many posts, because Teddy had many friends.
God Bless, and stay healthy - Afa the Wild Samoan
2004 - Former WWF and WCW star "Big Boss man" Ray Traylor passed away suddenly in his home. According to a report by Georgiann Makropoulis, Traylor's wife found him unconscious and paramedics were unable to revive him. He had not been complaining of feeling ill beyond a bad knee. Traylor is believed to have been 41.
A legitimate former prison guard out of Marietta, Georgia, Traylor first broke into the business as Big Bubba Rogers, working some smaller territories including Memphis (where he and Jerry Lawler held the Southern Tag Team titles, but as was par for the course in Memphis, he soon turned on Lawler). He ended up as the penultimate UWF champion, dropping the belt to Steve Williams right before the company was completely absorbed into Jim Crockett Promotions. He is best known during that time period for his role as the bodyguard of Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express, where he also had a series of taped fist matches with Ronnie Garvin.
Traylor was signed by the WWF in 1988 where he became the Big Bossman, an evil heel known for brutalizing enhancement talent with a nightstick after handcuffing them to the ropes, managed by Slick. During this time, Bossman had a huge main event run with Hulk Hogan including a Steel Cage series featuring a superplex off the top of the cage, which was a huge deal for two guys that big during that time period.
Bossman also formed a tag team with Akeem as The Twin Towers after his main event singles run was done, defeating The Rockers in Shawn Michaels' Wrestlemania debut at Mania 5. They headlined the 1989 Survivor Series as well against a team captained by Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. That set up a national NBC special where the teams met, which was the backdrop for Savage turning on Hogan to build to the Wrestlemania V main event.
Bossman was turned babyface during an angle where he was hired to retrieve Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Belt from Jake Roberts as it was in Robert's snake bag. After tiring of the browbeating from DiBiase, Bossman put the belt back in the bag and told DiBiase to get it himself. This led to a feud with DiBiase and Bossman dishing out "hard time" to the heels of the company, including a memorable feud with Rick Rude that stemmed from Rude and manager Bobby Heenan making fun of Bossman's mother. Perhaps the most memorable feud featured a storyline where a convict from Bossman's past, Nailz came to WWF for revenge.
Boss man left the company in the early 90s, working the independent scene including a revisiting of his feud with Nailz, who was working as "The Convict" for a number of companies. At the same time, he was working regularly for All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Traylor debuted for WCW in December 1993 as a last minute surprise to face Rick Rude at Starrcade '93 as "The Boss" due to copyright issues with his WWF name. That soon led to a series of gimmicks as he became "The Man," then "The Guardian Angel" (including vignettes filmed with the Angels in New York City ) and finally a return to Big Bubba Rogers. He was a member of the New World Order for a brief time as well.
Traylor (as Bossman) jumped back to WWF in 1998, appearing as a member of Vince McMahon's Corporation in a feud with Steve Austin. He remained with WWF in some capacity until last year when his deal expired. He was extremely well liked by management, especially McMahon himself, to the point that I recall a worker who debuted in 2000 once telling me he had to be careful with Bossman as hurting him was a surefire way to get on McMahon's bad side right out of the gate.
During his final WWF run, he racked up several championship reigns, defeating Mick Foley for the first of several Hardcore championships and a WWF Tag Team championship with Ken Shamrock.
Bossman had several more feuds during this run including The Big Show (which as irony has it given the Rick Rude feud, was based on Bossman badmouthing Show's father, who "died" during the storyline) and Al Snow, which saw the kidnapping and cooking of Snow's Chihuahua Pepper and one of the all-time greatest "bad" matches, the Kennel from Hell, which is one of Mick Foley's favorites.
Traylor underwent knee surgery in the Fall of 2000. He worked briefly was a trainer for Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2002. Earlier this year, Traylor had run Paulding County , Georgia 's Commission Chairman but was defeated in a three person race.
Traylor had been scheduled to appear alongside the Midnight Express on 10/30 at a big charity event in Waynesboro , Virginia and also this November for Frank Goodman's USA Pro Wrestling in Jamaica , New York . Greg Price had also hoped to include him in some of the upcoming conventions that were scheduled. He had also expected to return to WWE at some point, turning down a shoot interview offer a few months back, saying, "Call me in six months if I'm not back in WWE."
Atlanta TV Station WSB-TV reported that Ray Traylor's cause of death was a "massive heart attack."
2006 - CHIKARA ran Reading, PA. Ed Sherrifs filed the following live report:
Chikara held their 'Once in a Lifetime' show in Reading, Pennsylvania on September 22nd. It was a benefit for Matthew Kelly, who is waiting for a double lung transplant due to his cystic fibrosis (go to http://www.4mtk.com/ for information on how to help). The event saw the Young Lions Cup and Campeones de Parejas on the line. It was a really fun show with a lot of comedy and great action.
'Sweet and Sour' Larry Sweeney came out first to rile up the fans and put down Eddie Kingston, who he was scheduled to wrestle him in a mixed tag match later on. However, Sweeney informed the crowd that Mickie Knuckles, Kingston's scheduled partner, was not able to make it to the event, so it is going to be a handicapped match.
Match #1: The Colony & Equinox vs. Hydra & Los Ice Creams (El Hijo de Ice
Cream & Ice Cream, Junior)
Before the match, Hydra tried to jump on the apron, which was very low, like Brock Lesnar, but couldn't quite make it. Hydra started with out with Soldier Ant (I think) and couldn't muster enough strength to do anything to him. One of the Ice Creams and Equinox then fought, and the comedy took over. The other ice cream was doing a lot of posing on the apron, they tagged themselves in by clapping their own hands, and one ice cream ran in
to count the pin for the other. Fire Ant came in and Los Ice Creams pulled on the horns on his mask, which he sold like he was shot. Great stuff. The end saw a bunch of innovative near falls and even a triple pinning situation. The finish saw one of Los Ice Creams deliver a 'Jack & Jill Hammer' and throw Hydra onto one of the Colony for the victory.
Your winners, Hydra & Los Ice Creams!
Match #2 for the Young Lions Cup: Arik Cannon (c) vs. Lance Steel
Lots of counters to start the match, and some chops. Steel no sold Cannon's chops to the chest due to his breastplate. Steel got a snap suplex into a pin for a two count and hit a dropkick to knock Cannon out of the ring. Cannon comes back with a neckbreaker, but Steel got a jawbreaker. Steel rolled Cannon up and tried to use the ropes, but was caught by the referee. While he argued with the ref, Cannon rolled him up and got the pin.
Your winner, Arik Cannon!
Match #3: Rorschach & Crossbones vs. Jigsaw & Shane Storm
Rorschach and Jigsaw started out with various submissions on each other and reversals. Jigsaw hit a picture perfect dropkick to knock Rorschach out of the ring. Crossbones and Storm tagged in with Crossbones getting the better of him. Storm was worked over for a fairly long time by his opponents before getting the hot tag to Jigsaw. Jigsaw got Rorschach in a torture rack and followed it immediately with a power bomb. Jigsaw hit a Leap of Faith (top rope huracanrana) on Rorschach followed by a shining wizard from Storm, who got the pin.
Your winners, Jigsaw & Shane Storm!
Match #4: Gran Akuma vs. Reckless Youth
Youth dominated the early part of the match, and hit a bunch of arm drags on Akuma. Akuma soon took over and hit a suicide dive. In a weird looking spot, Reckless Youth got a top rope superplex. Normally I wouldn't give the move a second thought, but the ceiling was so low that they had to be careful about any top rope moves. Akuma hit a modified stunner on Youth. Youth followed that with a swinging fisherman suplex for a two count. Akuma tried to bring one of the chairs into the ring (no steel chairs, a normal chair) and hit Youth with a low blow while the ref got rid of it. He then got Youth in a Falcon Arrow for the win.
Your winner, Gran Akuma!
There was then an intermission. Lightning Mike Quackenbush came out was kind enough to talk to some fans, and was more than happy to speak to the children. I was really impressed considering he had yet to wrestle, but that's part of what makes this a great family show.
Match #5: UltraMantis Black w/ Hydra vs. Hallowicked
Hallowicked ran right out and jumped all over Mantis. He nailed some absolutely brutal chops and Mantis' chest was very red after all of them. Hydra interfered and hit Hallowicked with a stick. Mantis followed this up by biting his stomach. Mantis worked him over with submissions such as a half camel clutch. Hallowicked fought back, but Mantis got an STO for two. Mantis bit his back and loudly exclaimed, "Salty" after doing so. Mantis tried to lift Hallowicked up, but couldn't do it and yelled, "He is quite heavy." He hit a bulldog and announced the name of the move to the crowd for anyone who didn't know what it was. Hallowicked came back with a huge sit-out powerbomb. He then dove over the top rope and hit a sunset flip powerbomb onto the floor. Back in the ring, a Tiger Driver by Mantis gets two. Hallowicked hit a Yakuza Kick to the back of Mantis' head. Mantis summoned Hydra into the ring to help him. He yanked Hydra in front of him as Hallowicked set up for another Yakuza kick and then got the pin after rolling him up. Really entertaining match!
Your winner, UltraMantis Black!
Match #6: 'Sweet & Sour' Larry Sweeney & Daizee Haze vs. Eddie Kingston
Interestingly, Kingston is a face in Chikara, but a heel in CZW right now. This became a handicapped match due to Mickie Knuckles not being there. Eddie Kingston went right after Sweeney, but Haze distracted him. From then on, Sweeney and Haze dominated the match, working over Kingston's leg. Haze wasn't shy about tagging in and got fairly physical. Sweeney got the pin after punching Kingston with the brass knuckles. The match was basically a set up for next month's big showdown between the two in Philadelphia.
Kingston hardly got any offense.
Your winners, Larry Sweeney & Daizee Haze!
Match #7: Icarus vs. 'Lightning' Mike Quackenbush
Icarus spent a couple minutes before the match insulting various people in the crowd. Quackenbush got the offense at the start, hitting a springboard arm drag and tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. He went into various submissions such as the surfboard and bow & arrow. Quackenbush then repeatedly stomped on Icarus' chest and hit a slingshot senton, then rolling thunder. Icarus got back in the match by getting some illegal eye gouges. A reverse DDT got 2 for Icarus. A pedigree by Icarus also only got 2 and he started to flip out. Quackenbush came back and hit Quackendriver III (modified fisherman driver) for the three count.
Your winner, 'Lightning' Mike Quackenbush!
Match #8 for the Campeones de Parejas: The Kings of Wrestling, Claudio
Castagnoli & Chris Hero vs. The North Star Express, Ryan Cruz & Darin Corbin
The match was best 2 out of 3 falls. The Kings of Wrestling came out with the ROH belts as well and posed for pictures before the match. Hero and Cruz started out, and Hero got him in an arm submission. Ref: "What do you say, Cruz?" Castagnoli: "He says yes." The two continued to do a lot of mat wrestling. Corbin hit a bunch of innovative arm drags to frustrate Castagnoli. Hero came back in and there was a cool spot where the NSE hit
stereo dropkicks to sandwich Hero's head. Corbin had his arm worked over by the KOW for awhile before getting the hot tag to Cruz. A Side Effect on Hero gets two. The NSE cleaned house with double team moves and combined to hit Cruz Control on Hero for the pin and first fall.
First fall goes to the North Star Express.
During the 30 second break, Hero and Castagnoli started to fight with each other. Hero teased like he was going to walk out but he instead ambushed Corbin and throws him out the door into the parking lot and locked him out. The KOW dominated Cruz and turned him inside out when they combined for a 360 degree flip for the pin.
Second fall goes to the Kings of Wrestling.
Castagnoli attacked Cruz before the 30 second break was over. Hero put Cruz in the Camel Clutch, which Cruz fought out of, but they double teamed him in the corner. Castagnoli came in and hit a brutal European Uppercut. Miscommunication by the KOW on a double team move allowed Cruz to knock them both down, and Corbin finally made it back in the building to get the hot tag. A superkick and Ki Krusher on Castagnoli got a two count. The KOW fought back with a double team kick for their own two. Corbin hit the RKO on Hero, then knocked Cruz onto him for a very near fall. Cruz then got tied up in the ropes, which allowed the KOW to hit KRS-1 on Corbin for the third and final pinfall.
Your winners, and still Campeones de Parejas, the Kings of Wrestling!
Post match, Darin Corbin sold the move and acted knocked out, so he had to be carried out of the ring.
Notes/Thoughts:
The DVD is definitely worth going out of your way to pick up. The comedy matches were hilarious, Gran Akuma vs. Reckless Youth was a very good match, and the main event had a lot of suspense and good tag action. All the matches got plenty of time and the show more than delivered.
Chikara is an excellent show to take children to. All of the kids in attendance loved the goofy characters and had a great time. I can't recommend it enough if you have children, but are reluctant to take them to other indy shows or WWE.
Chikara returns to the the former ECW Arena on October 28 for a special double header. The first show is a Monster Mash where prizes will be given for costumes and such (take your kids!). The second show in the evening is the Cibernetico Forever event, featuring a 16 man battle royal.
Various wrestlers came out for commentary during the matches. Chris Hero did a couple, Larry Sweeney called the main event, but from what I could hear, UltraMantis Black was hysterical. During one match, he was cracking up the cameraman with comments like, "That's my move" after someone hit a bulldog. I might pick up the DVD just to hear what he said during the show.
Los Ice Creams come out to hilarious ice cream truck music and only speak in Spanish, randomly shouting stuff like 'Fuerte!' They're really funny and it was a solid comedy match and a great way to start the show.
Arik Cannon takes the old Kool Aid 'Ohhh Yeeaaahhh!' catchphrase, which of course leads to his opponent yelling, 'Ohhhh Noooo!'. Cannon was one of the most over faces of the night.
One of the great things about such a closed setting is being able to hear the wrestlers. Some of them are very funny and play to the crowd, who can hear everything. UltraMantis Black was absolutely hilarious with his comments. I almost died when he said 'Salty' after biting his opponent. He also sells like a champ when he screams.
Daizee Haze looks better than all the WWE Divas, has a great ring presence, can talk, and wait for it, wrestle. They are missing the boat by not pursuing people like her because she could definitely help fill the void left by Trish Stratus.
Castagnoli and Hero are a great tag team. They also had a lot of funny comments, Castagnoli in particular. Even on the apron, he is very animated and involved in the match, almost to the point where you'd rather watch him just to see how he is reacting to what is going on in the ring. As for the match, it was very competitive and the crowd was really into it at the end. It looked like the North Star Express was going to pull off a huge upset but it didn't happen. Awesome main event.
2007 - During a press conference before a NASCAR event at the Dover (DE) International Speedway, Ric Flair once again denounced reports (including one that was posted on the Dover website) that he has or had quit WWE. He said that "those reports were totally incorrect" and that he never gave notice. The piece in the Press said that "Flair spoke in glowing terms about WWE, noting that Chairman Vince McMahon could run NASCAR if he had a month to get up to speed." Flair added that plans to retire in the next year so that he can spend more time with his family.
2007 - Raw ran Champaign, IL. Tiony Khan filed the following live report:
WWE returned to the Assembly Hall in Champaign, IL on Saturday night for a Raw brand house show.
By my estimation, the crowd was the largest for a WWE house show at the Assembly Hall since a 2001 show with Austin vs. Angle and Rock vs. Jericho. I would guess there were over 4,500 in attendance. I would attribute the improved turnout (I believe a show in January that was headlined by Batista vs. Mr. Kennedy drew about 3,000) to the appearances of John Cena and Triple H. The difference between the way the crowd treated those two compared to the rest of the guys on this show was like night-and-day. The people were absolutely rabid for both Cena and HHH.
The show began with Tony Chimmel introducing Maria.
MATCH ONE: Maria announced a 15 man Battle Royal with the winner receiving a title shot against John Cena in the main event. The competitors she introduced were Daivari, Cody Rhodes, the Highlanders, Paul London, Brian Kendrick, Super Crazy, Val Venis, Hacksaw Duggan, Lance Cade, Trevor Murdoch, Santino Marella and Shelton Benjamin. I counted several times, and indeed there were only 13 guys in the ring. Then, Santino Marella gave a long speech, saying he would win the battle royal and defeat Cena for the WWE Title for Maria. The crowd roundly booed this. Obviously, Marella was the first man eliminated, which did get a decent pop. Most of this Battle Royal was really sloppy stuff until the final sequence, which was pretty strong.
A few minutes after the intros, Jeff Hardy walked to the ring looking confused and handed the Intercontinental Title to the referees. He climbed in the ring, and the crowd immediately began chanting "HARDY." He was pretty much the only wrestler besides Cena or HHH to command any reaction, except for Hacksaw's USA chants.
The final 5 in the ring were Hardy, Rhodes, Murdoch, Cade and Benjamin. There was a really entertaining spot where Rhodes and Benjamin were both "skinning the cat" and trying to knock each other off the apron to the floor. Both men climbed up, and Benjamin springboarded into the ring while giving Rhodes a modified Hot Shot, knocking Rhodes to the floor.
Murdoch and Cade made a pact with Benjamin against Hardy. However, they quickly turned on Shelton and knocked him out of the ring. Hardy then followed it up by knocking both Cade and Murdoch out to win the 14 man Battle Royal at 13:20 and earn a WWE Title shot against John Cena. Jeff Hardy is, however, NOT the Intercontinental Champion of punctuality. **
MATCH TWO: WWE Women's Champion Candice Michelle pinned Beth Phoenix at 9:18 with a schoolgirl roll-up. The best sequence of this match was Candice doing a springboard huracanrana followed by a spinning heel kick for a near fall. But really, it was way too long and the crowd was starting to turn on them. 1/2*
MATCH THREE: Super Crazy pinned Jay Bradley at 5:35 after a Moonsault. Bradley is a semi-local talent, but because he isn't known from TV, the crowd had no interest in him. *
MATCH FOUR: Val Venis pinned Roughhouse O'Reilly at 10:26 after the Money Shot. There were a few good sequences that I enjoyed, and both guys were moving well, but this was too long and was the recipient of "Boring" chants. *1/4
MATCH FIVE: Hacksaw Jim Duggan pinned Daivari at 7:41 after a Running Clothesline. This match followed pretty much exactly the formula it needed to, and most of the crowd enjoyed it even though Hacksaw isn't exactly very mobile right now. There were big USA chants, and Hacksaw got a very nice reception. 3/4*
There was an intermission at this point.
MATCH SIX: Cody Rhodes pinned Shelton Benjamin at 12:08 after a DDT. I was hoping this match would be a strong showcase for both men, but it wasn't. I thought they set their match up well with the entertaining segment in the Battle Royal, but both guys were off in this one. They could've done better. *1/2
At this point, Carlito came out and ran down Triple H going into their cage match on Monday's Raw. Then Triple H's music hit and the building exploded. HHH talked down Carlito for a few minutes, and then their match began.
MATCH SEVEN: Triple H pinned Carlito at 7:53 after a Pedigree. This match was fairly by the numbers, but the atmosphere in the arena was electric because the crowd saw HHH as such a major star. Carlito went for a chair, but the referee stopped him and took the chair away. As his back was turned, Carlito used a low blow. Triple H recovered and was sneak in a low blow of his own. Then he did a "Suck It" gesture to a big pop and hit the Pedigree for the pin. *3/4
MATCH EIGHT: WWE Champion John Cena and Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy battled to a no-contest when Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch hit the ring after about five minutes and attacked Hardy. Cena and Hardy challenged Cade & Murdoch to a tag match.
MATCH NINE: John Cena and Jeff Hardy beat Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch at 13:17 when Hardy pinned Cade after a Cena F-U and a Swanton Bomb. Decent match. Cena and Hardy make a good team because both guys are good as a face-in-peril and both guys can get the crowd fired up as a hot tag, especially Cena. **1/4
Overall, I think the crowd went home happy. The people seemed restless as the show dragged after the initial Battle Royal, but the fans were clearly there to see Cena and Triple H.
2008 - A promotional trailer for released for Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling, which ran for one season on CMT.
2008 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following report:
Last week, we found out who Chris Jericho would be defending his World Heavyweight Title against after defeating CM Punk in a steel cage match. Now that we are going to get another match between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels. We also found out that the number one contender for the title is going to be determined when Batista faces John Bradshaw Layfield. We have one more match that has been announced for the brand and that features Candice Michelle trying to get her title back from Beth Phoenix. We are now less than two weeks from No Mercy, so what will these six people do to get ready for their matches? Who will Randy Orton deal with this week and what will happen if he passes Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, or Manu in the back? What will this week’s Honk-A-Meter fact be? Will Charlie Haas adopt another persona this week?
We are live from Cincinnati, Ohio and your announcers are Michael ‘Les Nessman’ Cole and Jerry ‘Dr. Johnny Fever’ Lawler.
Chris Jericho comes out and he climbs the ladder in the ring and he sits under his title belt. Chris hears the chants of ‘HBK’ and then he tells them to leave it to HBK to rewrite history. Last week, Shawn Michaels , in an attempt to permanently disfigure him to take away Chris’s title in a ladder match. Then Shawn said that he created the ladder match. Chris points out that the fans blindly accepted what Shawn said. Just because Shawn Michaels says something, it is not true. But when Chris Jericho says something, it is real because he is an honest man, and a good man. Chris says that he always tells the truth. Chris says that he won three titles in ladder matches and has won more high profile ladder matches than Shawn has been in during his entire life. When the match is through at No Mercy, everyone will see Chris taking the belt off the hook.
Shawn wants to disfigure him? Shawn already did that when he was whipped. He says that he has trapped Shawn in a corner because in order for Shawn to feed his ego, he has demanded a ladder match, but he has given Chris the weapon to finish off Michaels.
Randy Orton’s music plays and he comes out and he eventually makes his way to the ring. Chris addresses Randy and he says that it would be a matter of time before Randy came out to talk to the champion. Randy points out that if it weren’t for him kicking CM Punk in the skull, Chris would not be champion. Randy says that it does not matter who wins at No Mercy because the winner of the ladder match will be on borrowed time. Jericho says that Orton talks a lot of trash but he cannot back it up. Jericho calls Orton a dreamer with a big mouth. Jericho wonders what would stop him from punching Orton in the mouth. When he punched Rebecca, it was an accident. If he does it tonight, it will be on purpose. Orton tells Jericho that he is not going to do a damn thing to him. Orton says that he talked to Mike Adamle. Orton says that he is the future of the company so he needs to be protected. Orton says that he cannot hit anyone, and nobody can hit him. Orton says that if anyone touches him, they are suspended. Orton tells Jericho that he is untouchable. When you are a third generation superstar and the most valuable commodity on Raw, you tend to get what you want. Jericho says that the most valuable commodity on Raw is the World Champion. He says that he tends to get what he wants. Jericho says that he wants to get away from Randy Orton because Orton is wasting his time. Jericho tells Orton to get well soon.
Orton tells Jericho that he will be champion once again and long after Jericho’s days in the industry are gone. Orton throws the ladder out of the ring.
CM Punk’s music plays and he comes out and he has a new t-shirt. Punk approaches the ring and he gets in Orton’s face. Punk and Orton snarl in the center of the ring and then he backs Orton up a few steps. Punk slaps Orton twice.
Mike Adamle comes out and he runs to the ring. He tells Punk to stop what he is doing. Adamle tells Punk to calm down. Adamle says that Punk defied one of his edicts, and as a result of his actions, Punk is suspended.
Shane McMahon comes out and he jogs to the ring. Shane tells Mike that they will do their review later. Shane tells Mike that he is doing a lot of on the job training as general manager. Shane says that what Punk just did is a ‘receipt’. Shane says that normally he would respect Mike’s edict, but not tonight. Shane overrules the suspension of CM Punk. Orton wants to know what Shane is doing because Adamle is the general manager.
Shane tells Randy that he can do that. He also expects Randy to respect him as a third generation superstar. The ‘Touch Randy get Suspended’ edict starts now. Shane tells Randy to leave the ring. Shane tells Punk that he is going to be in the opening match. Punk will wrestle Cody Rhodes tonight. Shane reads Adamle’s mind and the main event will be Chris Jericho and Bradshaw versus Batista and Shawn Michaels. Shane does the Shane-O Shuffle and then leaves the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back and this time, the ego stroke is read to us by Michael Cole.
Match Number One: CM Punk versus Cody Rhodes
They lock up and they go into the corner and the referee has to separate them. Punk misses a kick as Rhodes moves out of the way. They lock up again and Punk is separated again by the referee. Rhodes with a side head lock followed by a forearm. Punk with a forearm of his own and Rhodes goes down. Punk grabs Rhodes’s leg and hits an elbow. Punk with a back kick, but Rhodes sends Punk out of the ring to the floor. Punk kicks Rhodes from the floor and then kicks Rhodes in the chest. Punk with kicks on the floor. Rhodes slams Punk’s head into the apron. They return to the ring and Rhodes with a cross body from the top but Punk rolls through and gets a two count. Punk with punches to Rhodes. Punk with a kick to the chest. Rhodes with a kick but Punk sends Rhodes into the corner. Punk with a snap mare followed by a kick to the back. Punk continues the attack with punches. Orton reverses an Irish whip and Rhodes works on the back with a knee and gets a near fall. Rhodes with an elbow to the head and then he tries to work on the head. Punk gets Rhodes up for the Go To Sleep but Rhodes escapes the hold and goes to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Rhodes is working on Punk’s ankle. During the commercial Rhodes was able to crotch Punk on top and then he started to work on the leg. We return to live action and Rhodes is still working on the leg. Punk punches Rhodes but Rhodes hold on to the leg. Punk with knees to Rhodes and then Punk returns the favor and he puts Rhodes in an ankle lock. Rhodes does not want to tap and Rhodes tries to make his way to the ropes and Rhodes is able to do so. Punk takes his time releasing the hold. Punk with slaps to Rhodes followed by a kick to the head and a kick to the back. Punk with a spin kick followed by a knee lift. Punk with the knee into the corner followed by a bulldog attempt but Rhodes gets out of the hold. Rhodes cannot get out of the Go To Sleep and Punk gets the three count.
Winner: CM Punk
After the match, DiBiase and Manu attack Punk and Manu punches Punk in the head. Kofi Kingston comes out and he drop kicks DiBiase. Kingston kicks Manu out of the ring. Rhodes falls out of the ring.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see some members of the Cincinnati Bengals because when you are 0-3, why not see some wrestling.
Time for the Smackdown Rebound.
Mike Adamle is with Shane McMahon and he says that he felt embarrassed. Shane says that sometimes you have to step on some toes to get things done.
Kane enters and he says hello to Shane while looking at Adamle. Kane appreciates getting Evan Bourne tonight, but he wants Rey Mysterio. Adamle tells Kane that the match has been made for No Mercy. Kane tells Shane to say hello to his mom.
Adamle wants to know if he did okay. Mike asks Shane how Kane knows Linda and Shane tells Mike about some of the things that Kane has done to his family.
Kelly is in the back talking to a production worker. Kelly turns around and see Beth and Santino. Santino says that Batista almost brokeded his face. Beth says that she asked for her match with Kelly tonight. Santino says that Kelly was laughing at him because Batista is not funny. Santino makes fun of Batista’s open but then he turns around and sees Batista. Beth tells Batista not to get involved or her boyfriend will take care of him.
Santino’s music plays and Santino says that Batista is lucky. Santino runs away as we go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage of Batista giving Beth a spinebuster onto Santino’s face. Santino gets on the mic and he says that is not funny. It is time for the Honk-A-Meter. The Honky Donkey Man was champion for 64 weeks. Santino has been champion for five weeks. Santino is interrupted by Deuce’s music. Santino has one thing to say. He tells Batista that he hopes he is watching because he is going to beat him up the same way that he is going to beat up Fonzie. Santino says that that happy days are over.
Match Number Two: Santino Marella versus Deuce
They lock up and Deuce with a clean break. Deuce with a kick and then he slams Santino’s head into the turnbuckle. Deuce with a side head lock and then he punches Santino in the face followed by a knee to the head. Deuce with a leaping fist drop for a two count. Deuce with an Irish whip but Deuce and Santino bang heads. Santino with a sunset flip for the three count.
Winner: Santino Marella
After the match, Santino says that is one win for Glamarella. Santino tells Kelly Kelly Kelly that she will lose to the woman who orders him to be the contraceptics. Beth Phoenix comes out and kisses Santino.
Evan Bourne and Rey Mysterio are walking in the back and Rey is telling Evan what to do. Evan is now able to walk on his own. We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Rey Mysterio versus Kane last week on Raw and Evan Bourne making the save.
Match Number Three: Kane versus Evan Bourne
Bourne leaps over Kane and kicks Kane in the arm. Bourne with an enzuigiri as he continues to use his athletic ability to outquick Kane. Kane backs Bourne into the corner but Bourne with forearms. Kane with a kick but Bourne with a drop kick to the knees. Kane with a kick and a forearm to the back. Kane with a boot to the head. Kane misses an elbow drop but Bourne does not miss a drop kick to the head. Bourne with a kick and double stomp. Bourne continues to kick Kane. Bourne tries for a crucifix but Kane does not go down. Bourne tries for a sunset flip but Kane with a punch. Bourne with a running drop kick but Kane does not budge for an Irish whip. Kane charges into knees from Bourne. Kane sends Bourne to the apron and Kane misses a big boot and gets caught in the ropes. Bourne sends Kane to the floor and then Bourne with an Asai Moonsault.
Kane rolls back into the ring and Bourne goes up top for the knees to the throat and he gets a near fall. Kane tosses Bourne into the air and hits an uppercut. Kane punches Bourne in the corner and then he kicks him. The referee tries to keep Kane off Bourne. Kane with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker and then he picks Bourne up for another back breaker. He hits a third back breaker. Kane runs Bourne into the turnbuckles and then hits a power slam. Instead of finishing off Bourne, he taunts him. Kane with a choke slam for the three count.
Winner: Kane
After the match, Kane stands over Bourne and chokes him. Rey Mysterio comes to the ring and Rey with forearms to Kane. Rey kicks Kane but when Rey tries for a springboard cross body, Kane with a big boot to Rey. Kane punches Rey and then he choke slams Rey.
Jamie Noble is talking to Shane and he wants another shot at William Regal. Dolph Ziggler stops by to say hello. Randy Orton arrives and Shane asks Noble to leave. Orton says that he does not want Shane to take things the wrong way, but what Shane did out there was not cool. Shane says that he respects Orton and everything that he accomplished. Shane says that Orton got off easy after what he did to Punk. Orton points out that they are third generation superstars, and it would be a bad thing if they got on their bad side. Shane points out that he is fourth generation. Shane walks away and we go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Beth Phoenix with Santino Marella versus Kelly Kelly Kelly
Beth with a side head lock followed by punches to the head. Beth with a forearm in the corner followed by an Irish whip. Beth misses a charge and Kelly kicks Beth. Kelly works on the arm and then hits an arm drag after using the ropes for leverage. Kelly tries for a rana, but Beth holds on and she power bombs Kelly into the corner. Beth rakes the face and tells Kelly to call for Batista. Beth with an elbow to the shoulder followed by a key lock.
We see Candice staring at the monitor that happens to have the match. Beth misses an elbow as we return to the ring. Kelly with forearms and a kick to Beth followed by a drop kick and flying clothesline. Beth sends Kelly onto the turnbuckles and then Kelly hits a cross body for a near fall. Kelly is tripped by Santino and then Santino gets on the apron. Kelly moves out of the way and Beth almost hits Santino. Kelly gets the three count with a rollup.
Winner: Kelly Kelly
After the match, Beth holds Kelly for Santino and Batista’s music plays. Beth gets in Batista’s face and that allows Santino to get in a shot. Batista uses the face mask and then he hits a spear on Santino. Batista leaves the ring and Beth checks on Santino.
We see footage from the Dirt Sheet and Word Up from Cryme Tyme. Each team tries to one up the other. We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: John Morrison and Mike Mizanin versus Cryme Tyme
JTG and Morrison start things off. They lock up and Morrison backs JTG into the corner and then Morrison misses a punch on the break and JTG connects with a punch of his own. Morrison draws Shad in and while the ref deals with Shad, Miz attacks JTG from behind. JTG with a punch to Morrison followed by a neck breaker for a two count. Shad tag in and Morrison turns into Shad and Shad presses Morrison over his head. Miz tags in and he gets a back elbow. Miz with a kick but he misses a knee lift. Shad does not miss Miz. Shad sends JTG over the top rope onto Miz and Morrison on the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Morrison with a head scissors and arm bar combination. We see footage during the commercial when JTG was knocked off the turnbuckles by Miz. We return to live action and Morrison slams JTG to the mat and holds on to the arm. Morrison kicks and punches JTG after a near fall. Miz tags in and then Miz with a running clothesline into the corner. Miz gets a near fall and then he goes to the arm bar and cross face combination. Miz runs JTG into the corner but JTG fights his way out of the corner. Miz with a drop toe hold and he stops JTG from making the tag. Morrison tags back in and he returns to the reverse chin lock. JTG avoids Miz and Morrison and Shad is tagged in. Shad takes care of Miz and Morrison. Shad with a flapjack to Morrison and a back body drop to Miz. Shad with a power slam to Miz for a two count but Morrison breaks it up. Morrison trips JTG and Miz gets a two count with a rollup on Shad. Miz with forearms to Shad but Shad with a gourdbuster for a two count. Morrison sends JTG into the ring post and Miz tries for a rollup using the ropes. The referee focuses on Miz and he misses the kick from Morrison that allows Miz to get the three count.
Winners: John Morrison and Mike Mizanin
We go to commercial.
Chris Jericho and Lance Cade are in Mike Adamle’s office. He says that Shane is here to challenge him to see what kind of spin he puts on what Shane sets. Chris has some ideas for the main event.
Time to run through the card for No Mercy.
Michael Cole mentions Charlie Haas. We have footage of Haas from earlier today. We go to nighttime at Dave and Busters and he introduces himself and he says that he is here to pay tribute to Mr. Perfect. Charlie says that is the perfect tribute. Charlie has some trouble with the things that Curt did in his vignettes. Charlie even injures a few people. Charlie says that it proves that there is only one Mr. Perfect.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for Jerry Lawler to read the same ‘WWE fun fact of the night’ that Michael Cole did earlier.
Lillian Garcia makes an announcement that the match is now a two-on-three handicap match.
Match Number Six: Chris Jericho, Lance Cade, and Bradshaw versus Batista and Shawn Michaels
Michaels stares at Jericho as the bell rings and Cade starts off the match. They lock up and Michaels with a clean break. Michaels slaps Cade and then they exchange punches. Michaels does the Michaels flip off the Irish whip. Michaels punches Cade and then he goes after Jericho, but Jericho goes to the floor and Bradshaw punches him. Jericho tags in and he punches Michaels while he is down. Jericho with punches to the head followed by a belly-to-back suplex. Jericho with a snap mare and reverse chin lock and arm bar combination. Jericho slams Michaels’s head into the turnbuckle and the referee admonishes Jericho. Michaels with chops to Jericho but Jericho with an enzuigiri and Bradshaw is tagged in. Bradshaw with punches to Michaels followed by a kick and swinging neck breaker. Bradshaw with an elbow drop for a near fall. Bradshaw with a forearm and boot to the head. Bradshaw with an abdominal stretch and Bradshaw applies more pressure by holding the leg. Michaels with a hip toss and both men are down. Cade tags in and he punches Michaels.
Cade follows that with kicks and he chokes Michaels. Cade takes the ref out of the corner while Jericho attacks Michaels. Bradshaw tags in and he kicks Michaels. Bradshaw punches Michaels, but Michaels blocks a punch and Michaels fights back. Bradshaw with a big boot and then he punches Batista to draw Batista into the ring. Bradshaw gets a two count on Michaels. Bradshaw with a forearm but Michaels with a chop. Michaels with a punch followed by a cross body but Bradshaw catches him and he tries for the fallaway slam, but Michaels is able to counter it with a DDT. Jericho and Batista tag in and Batista runs Jericho into the corner and follows that with shoulders. Batista with a running clothesline into the corner. Jericho with a kick but Batista with a spinebuster and it is time to shake the ropes. Batista punches Cade and then Batista with a power slam. Michaels with the elbow drop and he sets for Sweet Chin Music. Jericho moves out of the way and Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho but Michaels with a rollup for a two count. Jericho tries for the Codebreaker but Michaels avoids it. Batista and Bradshaw battle in the ring but Bradshaw back body drops Batista over the top rope to the floor. Batista with a spear to Bradshaw on the floor. Jericho with a bulldog to Michaels but he misses the Lionsault. Cade is tagged in and Michaels with punches followed by a flying forearm and kip up. Michaels does not care who he kicks. Jericho goes to the floor and Cade hits the sit out spinebuster for the three count.
Winners: Lance Cade, Chris Jericho, and Bradshaw
2009 - Colt Cabana worked a dark match for TNA. Although he received a huge reaction from the crowd, he was not signed by the company.
2009 - Judge Roslyn O. Silver ruled that The Ultimate Warrior will have to cover World Wrestling Entertainment's attorney costs and expenses in defending themselves against the breach of contract lawsuit he brought against them to the tune of $18,967.46.
2009 - Former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler announced via her twitter that she booked a role on The USA Network series Psych.
2009 - The Associated Press featured a piece on Linda McMahon's first Senatorial bid, noting that although she helped formed WWE's Smackdown Your Vote campaign, she herself actually missed voting in several elections, including the 2008 Presidential election.
2009 - WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Tulsa, Oklahoma and your announcers are Matt ‘Will Matt Hardy Slam Tornados Tonight’ Striker and Josh ‘Supersonic’ Mathews.
We start off with Tony ‘Magic’ Atlas and he is ready to introduce Abraham Washington. Abe gets the reaction that he deserves and you could hear a pin drop. Abe thanks Tony for the introduction and then Abe welcomes everyone to the most critically acclaimed talk show. Abe says that he has a great show and he has a special guest all the way from Ireland to prove himself. Abe brings out Sheamus. Abe puts on some sunglasses because Sheamus is very pale and Tony laughs like he is sitting next to Jerry Lawler on Monday nights. Abe asks Sheamus about his problems with Shelton Benjamin. Sheamus talks about how Shelton stole his glory two weeks ago. Abe then asks about Sheamus eliminating Shelton after Sheamus was already eliminated in the battle royal. Sheamus says that it is an eye for an eye.
Abe has a surprise and it is Shelton Benjamin. Abe wants there to be peace on the couch. Abe comments on Shelton’s hair color. Shelton wonders how Abe’s show has not been cancelled and the crowd finally reacts. Shelton tells Sheamus that in America there are a few concepts and that is team. Shelton says that if he wins, his partner wins. Sheamus talks about how Shelton comes from an area where people take the easy way out and steal. Sheamus says that he knows about respect and honor. Shelton says that he looked at Sheamus’ family tree. Shelton says that he comes from a family of legends and we see the family tree and Tony almost dies laughing at the graphic. Shelton and Sheamus get face to face and Shelton lays down the gauntlet. Tony tells Shelton that he is better than that, but Sheamus uses that opportunity to attack Shelton. Security comes out to try to separate the men and it doesn’t work too well.
Yoshi Tatsu walks in the back and we go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage of Paul Burchill taking care of the superhero of ECW with a jackhammer.
Match Number One: Paul Burchill with Katie Lea versus Yoshi Tatsu
They lock up and Burchill with a forearm to the back and punches to Yoshi. Burchill works on the arm but Yoshi uses the ropes to reverse things and he works on Burchill’s arm. Yoshi with a side head lock and shoulder tackle for a near fall. Yoshi with a sunset flip followed by a Japanese arm drag and drop kick. Yoshi with a clothesline that sends Burchill over the top rope to the floor and then he follows that with a pescado. Yoshi returns Burchill into the ring. Katie distracts Yoshi and the ref and that allows Burchill to stop Yoshi on the turnbuckles. Burchill with a fisherman superplex. Burchill gets a near fall on Yoshi followed by a slam and a knee drop for a near fall. Burchill with a reverse chin lock. Yoshi with punches but Burchill with a Samoan drop for a near fall. Burchill works on the neck with a cravate. Burchill with a full nelson slam and then he holds on to the full nelson as Yoshi tries to escape the hold. Yoshi uses the turnbuckles to get a near fall but Burchill with a kick and forearm. Yoshi with a series of kicks followed by the rolling snap mare and kick to the head. Yoshi goes up top and hits a spinning heel kick for a two count. Burchill sends Yoshi into the turnbuckles and Burchill goes up top and brings Yoshi with him. Burchill sends Yoshi to the mat and hits a knee drop for a two count. Burchill tries for a slam but Yoshi sends Burchill into the turnbuckles and hits a roundhouse kick for the three count.
Winner: Yoshi Tatsu
It is time to take a look at how Zack Ryder got his ECW Title match.
Savannah is in the interview area with Zack Ryder. Zack says that he will not squander his opportunity and he will take advantage of it. He says that he will win the ECW Title tonight. We go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that Do You Know graphics can underline.
Katie and Paul are angry as they walk in the back and Gregory Helms asks Katie a few questions. She says that Helms better stop with the mind games and then Burchill attacks Helms. Burchill says that he is not done with Helms.
Match Number Two: Team Bromance (Vladimir Kozlov and Ezekiel Jackson) with Bill Regal versus Dustin Brady and Brandon Young
Young starts off and Kozlov with an arm drag take down into a key lock. Young with a punch but Kozlov with a head butt. Kozlov with a kick and then he tags in Jackson. Jackson with a forearm to the back. Zeke sends Young into the ring post and Brady tags in. Jackson with a hard Irish whip. Kozlov tags back in and hits head butts to the chest. Kozlov with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex and then Kozlov kicks Young off the apron. Kozlov throws Brady into the turnbuckles and then Jackson tags in and he hits a clothesline followed by the uranage for the three count.
Winners: Ezekiel Jackson and Vladimir Kozlov
After the match Kozlov hits the spinebuster on Young.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to run through the card for Hell in a Cell.
Regal, Jackson, and Kozlov walk in the back and they see Goldust. Regal wants to remind Goldust about their match on Thursday. Regal says that it is all a joke, just like the ECW Title match. Regal says that he is the only one with the prestige to be ECW Champion.
For a change of pace, we get a Smackdown Rebound.
Christian is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Christian versus Zack Ryder for the ECW Title
They lock up and Ryder with a side head lock and shoulder tackle for a near fall. They lock up again and Zack pushes Christian but Christian punches Zack and hits a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Ryder with a knee and forearm to the back followed by a forearm to the head. Christian with a kick and punches. Ryder with another knee and a kick to the head. Ryder chokes Christian in the ropes with his boot followed by a forearm. Ryder blocks a hip toss but Christian with a rana. Christian throws Ryder out of the ring and Christian goes to the apron and kicks Ryder and hits a baseball slide followed by a double jump plancha onto Ryder. We return to the ring and Christian is pulled off the turnbuckles and Ryder gets a near fall. Ryder with a kick to the head and we go to commercial.
We are back and Christian with elbows to the head but Ryder with a back body drop for a near fall. Christian with elbows and a kick followed by a sunset flip for a near fall. Ryder with a knee but Christian responds with a drop kick. Ryder rolls to the apron and Christian follows. Ryder sends Christian off the apron and into the ring steps. Ryder sends Christian into the apron as he works on the ribs. Ryder gets a near fall and then applies a body scissors. Christian with punches to Ryder but Ryder with a knee to the midsection for a near fall. Ryder drops Christian on the top rope and Ryder with a knee lift for a near fall. Ryder returns to the body scissors after some elbows. Ryder goes to the turnbuckles but Christian hits a flapjack when Ryder comes off the turnbuckles. Christian gets his second wind and he punches Ryder followed by a running forearm and he chokes Ryder in the ropes. Christian goes to the apron but Ryder with a knee and hip toss back into the ring. Ryder misses the leg lariat and Christian hit an inverted DDT followed by a forearm for a near fall. Christian goes to the turnbuckles and then he goes up top and avoids Ryder charging at him. Christian catapults Ryder into the turnbuckles. Christian tries for a sunset flip but Ryder drops down but can only get a two count. Christian with the pendulum kick as Ryder misses a charge into the corner. Christian with a missile drop kick for a near fall. Christian tries for the Killswitch but Ryder sends Christian to the floor. Christian misses a cross body and then Ryder hits a leg lariat but he can only get a two count. Christian tries for the Killswitch again but Ryder with a double leg sweep and tries to use the ropes but Christian kicks out. Christian drops Ryder on the top rope and then Christian with the corkscrew elbow from the turnbuckles followed by the Killswitch for the three count.
Winner: Christian
After the match, William Regal comes to the ring and he tells Christian now that the farce of an ECW Title match, the slate is wiped clean and one more time, he will be the number one contender when he becomes the ECW . . .
We will never know what Regal was going to say because Christian punches Regal and Regal makes his way to the floor.
2010 - TNA signed Mickie James.
2010 - SpikeTV announces October will be "Brocktober" built around former WWE and UFC champion Brock Lesnar.
2011 - TNA broadcast Impact Wresting. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the Impact Wrestling Report here on PWInsider.com!
We open the show with a video package looking at the history of the Hulk Hogan-Sting feud over the last year leading into Sting earning a match with Hogan at Bound For Glory by beating Ric Flair last week. We then head to the arena where Sting comes skipping down to the ring with a contract in his hand, and he talks about how he beat Flair and will now get to fight Hogan, who he calls out to the ring. Hogan comes out and says the match isn't going to happen and he isn't medically cleared to wrestle. Sting literally throws himself on the mat and starts kicking his feet while laughing, then plays the video of the time a few weeks ago when Hogan beat Sting senseless with a chair. Hogan is mad he played the footage, but Sting says that's proof that Hogan still has it. Hogan still refuses to wrestle Sting at Bound For Glory, so Sting says to forget Bound For Glory and just fight him right now. Hogan backs off and Eric Bischoff comes out asking Sting who he thinks he's talking to and starts ranting and raving at him, so Sting just turns around and punches him in the face. Sting gets in Hogan's face and says there will be a match at Bound For Glory and there's nothing Hogan can do about it.
Karen Jarreyy is backstage telling Brooke Tessmacher and Mickie James that they're facing off tonight in the Knockouts Challenge, and tells Brooke that she doesn't want to see any of that erotic stripping tonight. She then tells Tracy to cover up her boobs because she's not running a ho house. Frankie Kazarian comes in to lead his wife away and calls Karen a madam who's only worth fifty cents an hour. Karen flips her lid and calls Jeff on her cell phone as we go to commercial.
Jeff Hardy is backstage, and he's...WALKING!
Time for our opening match...
Knockouts Challenge Opening Round Match: Brooke Tessmacher vs Mickie James
They fight over a wristlock, Mickie takes Tessmacher down with a headlock so Tessmacher drills her with a pair of forearms. Mickie responds with a snapmare into a dropkick, but Tessmacher surprises her again with a victory roll for 2, then knocks Mickie into the corner and grinds her ass into her face. Mickie looks really pissed off, and takes her head off with a pair of clotheslines, then hits a flapjack. One leaping DDT later and Mickie advances.
Winner: Mickie James
HARDCORE COUNTRY! We go out to the parking lot where Mexican America is talking about getting tattoos. They hop into their lowrider pickup truck and drive off.
Al Snow is backstage telling Jeff Hardy that he respects him apologizing and asking for forgiveness, and he appreciates him making the effort. He tells Jeff not to make the same mistake and to start at the top with his apologies andwork his way down.
X-Division Title Match: Austin Aries vs Jesse Sorensen
Aries easily outwrestles Sorensen to start, and Sorensen starts to fire back but Aries rolls out to the floor and...runs around with a football a fan gave him. Sorensen baseball slides Aries from the inside and then wipes him out with a slingshot dive. Kid Kash comes out, distracting Sorensen as he comes off the top with a flying bodypress for 2. They have a little bit of miscommunication on whatever they tried next, but Sorensen started firing away without slowing down to panic. Sorensen dropkicks Aries as he comes off the second rope, then gets his boot up when Aries tries the IED and Aries rolls out to the floor. Sorensen gets into it with Kid Kash, who shoves the football at him, but Sorensen throws the football at Kash and they go face to face and Aries hits the IED from behind and rolls Sorensen up for 3.
Winner: Austin Aries
Kash tries to get into the ring to fight Sorensen and has to be held back by the referee. We then go backstage to Ken Anderson and Rob Van Dam, who I think wanted to kill each other a few months ago but are buddies now. They're facing Bully Ray and Jerry Lynn tonight and they can't wait.
We go to the tattoo parlor where Anarquia is getting ink done. The tattoo artist has another appointment, but she'll send another artist over to do the tattoo. Anarquia is scared of needles, so he asks Hernandez to pray with him. Theyh have a nice religious moment, then open their eyes just in time to see Ink Inc attack them. Jesse picks Hernandez up and throws himthrough the artist's table and asks him who the bitch is now, then we go out front where Anarquia gets his ass kicked by Shannon Moore. Anarquia tries to use one of the tattoo girls as a human shield, but she elbows him in the face and Anarquia goes back to getting beat up. They throw him over a chair and push the camera away while they forcibly tattoo him, no doubt with something embarrassing.
Matt Morgan brings Jeff Hardy into a room backstage and closes the door, then says that professionally speaking, he's pissed at Jeff for the frame of mind he showed up in on PPV, but he'd be a hypocrite if he didn't give him one more chance because he's a painkiller addict and he got one more chance. But this is just one last chance, and if Jeff screws this one up, he'll be the first one to hunt him down.
The Mystery Cameraman finds Rob Van Dam backstage where he is laying unconscious in a pile of debris like chairs and table fragments. We then go to Jeff Hardy with Kurt Angle, who says he doesn't want him here and nobody else does. Jeff asks Kurt who he is to judge him, and Kurt says he's an Olympic gold medalist and a 14 time World Champion and tells Jeff to get out of here. Kurt goes to walk off, but Jeff holds him by the arm and says Angle wants him out of here because he's the biggest threat to Angle. Angle blows him off and walks out to the ring where he invites Bobby Roode to join him. Roode comes down the entryway as we go to commercial.
We're back, and Angle congratulates Roode on making it past Frankie Kazarian, but now he's got Christopher Daniels, who took advantage of his friend just a few weeks ago. Roode says he's sacrificed everything for this business, and Angle is the greatest wrestler there ever was, but nothing is going to stop him from winning the World Title at Bound For Glory. The crowd chants "next World Champ" at Roode, but Angle says there may be one man who will stand in his way, his best friend in the business. James Storm comes out and Roode looks like he's wondering what the hell is going on. Roode and Storm go face to face and Storm says he knows Roode is thinking Immortal bought him out, but Roode knows he makes his own damn rules and he's not here to get into it with Roode, he's here to get into it with Angle. Storm says he hopes Angle is a better matchmaker than he is a beer drinker, and he says Angle should make himself against James Storm tonight. Angle asks Storm if he thinks he's going to show Angle up, and Storm says he's going to earn Angle's respect tonight because he helped build this company and it's time to get his recognition. He tells Angle to get his gear on and says he's sorry about Angle's damn luck.
Bully Ray & Jerry Lynn vs Mr Anderson & Nobody
Looks like the doctor in the back wouldn't let RVD wrestle, so Anderson's going it alone. Anderson and Bubba start, but Bubba tags right out to Lynn and Anderson starts beating up both men. Anderson with a Finlay Roll on Lynn and he goes up for the Swanton, but Bubba trips him up from the outside. Lynn chokes Anderson and then tags in Bubba, who comes in now that Anderson is down. Bubba slams Anderson and hits a big splash for 2, then gets a rear chinlock. Lynn tags in and gets a forward roll into an eye poke, then fakes going for Rolling Thunder and just stomps Anderson instead. Anderson starts fighting back against both men, hitting a spinning enziguiri to Bubba for 2. Anderson dumps Lynn to the floor and hits Bubba with the Mic Check and goes for the cover and Lynn pulls him off at 2. Bubba goes to the second rope, Anderson punches him in the nuts and gets him in a fireman's carry,but Lynn runs in and dropkicks Anderson, then distracts thereferee while Bubba nails him with the chain and gets the win.
Winners: Bully Ray & Jerry Lynn
James Storm is backstage saying he's happy for Bobby Roode, but just because he didn't win the Bound For Glory Series doesn't mean he doesn't still have plans to make trouble for Kurt Angle.
Time for our next match...well, wait a minute, Christopher Daniels comes out in his street clothes and says he hates to ruin Kurt Angle's plans, but he won't wrestle Bobby Roode tonight, and it's not because they're both members of Fortune, it's because he has nothing left to prove after he beat AJ Styles a few weeks ago. Roode's a great wrestler, but AJ is a four time World Champion and, after the way he dominated AJ, there's no point bothering with Roode. AJ Styles comes out and he doesn't look happy. AJ asks if this is a joke because Daniels takes jabs at him every time he gets a microphone in his hand. Daniels says not to worry about it, and AJ says he's over it and Daniels needs to get over it. Daniels says he proved that he's the better man, but AJ says that if he keeps bringing AJ's name up, they can have another match. Daniels says they agreed that would be the last time and Daniels has already beaten him, so- well, we never get to hear Daniels finish because AJ slaps the microphone out of his hand. They have words out of earshot for a moment and AJ goes to leave, so Daniels says he didn't know AJ was a sore loser AND a bitch. AJ's finally had enough and goes after Daniels, and security comes running in. They manage to pull them apart, but then AJ leaps over them and goes back after Daniels as we go to commercial.
We're back from commercial and Styles and Daniels are still fighting at ringside after apparently fighting off the entire security team. They fight to the back and into the Direct Auto Insurance office that's set up in the back of the building. They fight back into the ring where Kazarian finally comes in to separate them. Kazarian succeeds in calming both men down, but Daniels kicks AJ square in the nuts as soon as he lowers his guard, then heads to the back as Kazarian tends to AJ.
Kurt Angle is backstage talking about how hard he's been training, and his trainer Scott Steiner says that Angle's the greatest of all time and he's going to kick James Storm's ass.
Before the main event, we go to the locker room where Frankie Kazarian is still trying to reason with Christopher Daniels, who doesn't want to hear it. Daniels is tired of AJ overshadowing him because he's not AJ's +1, and tells Kazarian to talk to AJ because he's done talking. Kazarian goes and finds AJ, who says that's their family member right there. Kazarian says we know what he and Lisa have been through the last three years, but AJ says it's not his fault because Daniels has to run his mouth every time he gets a microphone in his hand. Kazarian says he's trying to be the voice of reason, but this is ridiculous. AJ grabs a trash can and starts to puke in it, and I know there's a joke to be made about TNA booking here, but I'll take the high road.
Instead, we go to Hogan's office where he says he's going to drop a bombshell on Sting next week, then we're off to the ring for our main event...
World Champion Kurt Angle vs James Storm
Angle shoves Storm, so Storm takes Angle down with a double leg takedown and Angle easily outwrestles Storm and forces him to go to the ropes. Angle goes for a boot to the gut, but Storm catches hit foot and clocks him, then takes Angle down with a side headlock. Angle reverses to a facelock and then rocks Storm with a European uppercut, but charges and gets backdropped to the floor. Storm goes out after Angle and rams him into the barricade, then the stairs, but Angle elbows Storm in the ribs and rams him into the steps. Angle with an overhead release suplex that drops Storm onto the entry ramp, and Storm lands with an audible thud. They head back in and try for simultaneous crossbody blocks and both go down. Storm starts firing back with right hands and hits a lungblower for 2. Angle comes out of nowhere with another overhead release suplex for 2, but Storm escapes the Angle Slam, so Angle gets the anklelock instead and Storm tries to kick his way out, but Angle maintains the hold and drags Storm back out to the middle. Storm almost taps, but rolls Angle into a victory roll for 2. Angle charges Storm in the corner and Storm dodges and Angle hits the post, then Storm rolls Angle up for 2. Storm sets up for the Last Call, but Angle blocks and hits the rolling German suplexes. Angle goes for the moonsault, Storm rolls out of the way and hits hard, and Storm heads up top. Angle goes up for the top rope belly to belly, but Storm knocks him off and hits a top rope elbow for a very close 2. Storm goes for the Eye of the Storm, but Angle slips free as Gunner runs out. Storm nails him, and Angle comes frombehind with the Angle Slam and only gets 2. Angle is shocked that Storm survived, and argues with the referee before slapping Storm around. Storm goes for the superkick but Angle moves and Storm knocks the referee out. Storm tries again and hits the superkick this time and covers, but it takes a moment for another referee to come out and make the count and Gunner pulls the second referee out at 2. Gunner lays Storm out with the belt, but Bobby Roode runs in and fights Gunner down, then turns around and surveys the situation, picks up the belt and has a staredown with Angle, and holds the belt high as Beer Money's music hits. Roode drops the belt in front of Angle and then goes to check on Storm as the show comes to a close.
Hey, so what was the official decision on this match? Well, if TNA can't be bothered to tell me, then screw it.
2012 - WWE ran White Plains, NY. Rafi Stern filed the following live report:
WWE returned to the Westchester County Center on 9/22.
The show opened with AJ Lee coming out to make an announcement but she was cut off by CM Punk and Paul Heyman interrupting her. Punk said he doesn't need to work tonight because John Cena is hurt and is not there to compete. AJ tells him the fans will decide what match he was have and it will be against the Big Show. The choices were Best Two out of Three Falls or a Lumberjack Match and they had the fans voting via text messaging.
*Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara defeated the Miz and Tensai via Swanton bomb on Tensai.
After the match Miz grabbed the mic and says he never lost and is tired of partners losing and holding him down. He says he could beat Rey. Rey comes down the ramp and they start a match...
*Rey Mysterio defeated the Miz via a 619 in a non-title match.
*Michael McGuillicuty defeated Dean Ambrose. The crowd wasn't into this match but Ambrose got a decent reaction from people who knew him.
*WWE United States champion Antonio Cesaro defeated Zack Ryder. A solid match that went back and forth. Crowd was very pro Ryder.
Intermission
*Damien Sandow defeats Justin Gabriel.
*In a match with special guest referee Aksana, WWE Divas champ Eve defeats Leyla. Match had great spots that the crowd enjoyed. They both were doing a split on the mat while throwing punches at each other. Solid match by both performers. Eve caught Layla with a neckbreaker after she almost nailed Aksana, who purposely stepped in the way. Layla pushed Aksana away, allowing Eve to nail the finisher.
*Brodus Clay defeats Heath Slater with a splash and danced with some kids.
*Big Show defeated WWE champ CM Punk via DQ when Punk nailed him with the WWE title belt. The fans decided it's a lumberjack match. The match starts and CM punk is trying to escape, but gets thrown back by Ryder and Gabriel. There was a nice spot with a chokeslam attempt turned into a DDT delivered by Punk. A few chops from Big Show to Punk. Punk tried escaping a few times and even ran up the aisle, but kept getting thrown back in. Big Show hit his chokeslam finisher on Punk but Damien Sandow put Punk's foot on the rope. Show nailed several heels who got on the apron. The lumberjacks started fighting with each other. Heyman slid Punk the belt and he nailed Show. Punk worked over Show. Rey hit the ring to make the save but was clobbered with the belt. Cara then hit the ring and was laid out as well. Punk celebrated on the buckles but Show recovered behind his back and KO'd Punk as he came off the ropes. Show left with the Luchadors. An unconscious Punk was dragged to the back by officials as Heyman screamed concern.
Overall, it was a poor show. Not a lot of talent compared to a lot of shows I've gone to.
2013 - EVOLVE ran Brooklyn, NY with a live iPPV. Mike Johnson filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of EVOLVE from the Lyceum in Brooklyn, NY. Due to the set-up of the facility, we may not have coverage as detailed as usual, but we will have regular updates after every bout.
They announced at the onset of the show that they intend to make NYC their home base and will be returning 11/16 at the Queensborough Elks Lodge and 11/17 back here at the Lyceum.
Freestyle: Green Ant vs. Psycho Mike Rollins (with Larry Dallas) vs. Mr. Touchdown vs. Lince Dorado
Lots of support for Green Ant. Everyone faced off with different combinations. When it came down to Dorado and Ant, they had a nice exchange with some Lucha style moves. Dorado chopped Ant. He bounced Dorado off the ropes and slammed him down. Dorado came back with a boot to the face.
Rollins entered the fray and backdropped Dorado to the floor. Touchdown fakes the crowd out by teasing a dive, leaving himself to be nailed from behind by Ant. He sent Touchdown to the floor and came off the top with a dive down on Touchdown.
Touchdown was tossed back in but Dorado nailed a headscissors takedown over the top back to the floor. Dorado nailed a moonsault from the top to the floor on all three as they were battling. The Meow chants began.
Lince went for a bodypress but Rollins caught him. Before he could do anything, Ant nailed him with a missile dropkick for a two count. All three teamed on Rollins. Touchdown tossed Ant over the top to the outside. Dorado and Touchdown battled back and forth. Touchdown went for a superplex but Rollins came underneath and they had a Tower of Doom spot. Ant came off the top with a big splash on Rollins for a two count.
They battle back and forth. Rollins powerbombed Dorado for a two count. He set up Dorado for a superplex but Ant attacked him from behind. Rollins came off the top but Ant caught him and slammed him. Dorado broke it up with a double stomp. Touchdown broke it up as well.
Touchdown nailed a Cactus Clothesline on Rollins to the floor. Ant and Dorado battled back and forth. They went for an enziguiri on the other at the same time. They went into a great back and forth series of near falls until Lince finally scored the pin.
Your winner, Lince Dorado!
Good opening match with all four looking strong.
Matt Jackson vs. Shane Strickland
Strickland had some offense early. Jackson tossed him to the outside and when he returned, Jackson stomped the heck out of him. Strickland made a comeback and Jackson retreated to the floor. He went for a move but Jackson pulled him off the apron and drilled him with a superkick.
Jackson worked over Strickland who came back with a headscissors takedown on the floor. Strickland came off the apron with a move. He tossed Jackson in and came off the top but was superkicked. Jackson worked him over and scored several two counts.
Jackson worked over Strickland with several Northern Lights suplexes and then an exploder into the corner. Jackson cinched in a side chinlock. Strickland fought his way out and nailed a series of right hands. Jackson was monkey flipped over the top to the floor. Strickland went for a dive but Jackson moved. Strickland landed on his feet and leapt up, drilling Jackson with a kick on the apron.
They battled back and forth in the ring. Strickland nailed a leaping DDT for a two count. Jackson caught Strickland with a pair of powerbombs and a another in the turnbuckles. Jackson came off the top with a moonsault for a two count.
They battled back and forth with chops and strikes. Strickland came back to capture a big upset win.
Your winner, Shane Strickland!
Really good match. Jackson has a really good act as a smart ass heel.
Ivelisse Velez vs. Su Young (with Tony Nese & Mr. A)
This was billed as a SHINE challenge match. They started out strong with some fun back and forth. Young, who reminds me a lot of Francine in terms of the personality and the way she plays to the crowd, is a star waiting to be found as a manager.
Young took Velez down and locked her in a rear chinlock. Velez came back with a stiff kick and a rana. She worked over Young but her knee buckled and Young attacked her and scored the surprise win.
Your winner, Su Young!
Tony Nese said he has an open contract and sais he wanted to see what jackass in the back wants to try and get in the ring with a Premier Athlete like himself. Out came Josh Alexander.
Josh Alexander vs. Tony Nese (with Mr. A and Su Young)
They had some nice back and forth mat-wrestling reversals early. Nese kept Alexander controlled for some time but was finally shoulderblocked and powerslammed down for a two count.
Nese went to the apron and was sitting on it, Alexander nailed him with a bodyblock, sending Nese to the floor hard. Alexander worked him over on the apron. Mister A distracted Alexander, allowing Nese time to recover, then cartwheel over an advancing Alexander, then drill him with a lariat on the floor.
Back in the ring, Nese controlled Alexander and scored a series of two count. Nese slammed Alexander down, then legdropped him for a two count. He locked in a side headlock, then a series of crossfaces but couldn't put Alexander away.
Alexander fired back with a series of forearms. He went for a sunset flip into the ring but Nese held on and drilled him with a kick to the head. Nese went to the top but Alexander caught him and superplexed him into the ring for a two count.
They went back and forth with a great series of reversals and stiff shots. Nese nailed a superkick but was turned inside out with a hard clothesline. Alexander covered him for a two count. Nese muscled Alexander over and drilled him down with a powerbomb for another two count. Really good match.
Nese went back to the top but Alexander drilled him with a stiff slap. He went for another superplex but was tossed down hard. He charged Nese but Nese leapfrogged him. Alexander sent him hard into the buckles and scored a two count with a Dragon suplex.
They battle back and forth. Mister A tripped up Alexander. Nese nailed a reverse rana and a 450 off the top for the pin.
Your winner, Tony Nese!
Really good showing for both men. They are trying to build Nese as a franchise player here. Alexander had an awesome debut weekend.
Alexander got a nice round of applause on the way out.
Trent Baretta came out and said that he was here to sign autographs, but since he has an open contract, he wants to see who's going to face him. Out came Maxwell Chicago, singing "New York, New York."
Maxwell Chicago vs. Trent Baretta
Chicago is a very verbal, funny personality in the ring, so they did some silly stuff early. Chicago was putting holds on Baretta and Baretta was telling him how to do them better. Maxwell then bit him on the hand. He tried to nail an overhead chop but Baretta hit him in the mid-section and he went up and over.
Baretta controlled Maxwell, drilling him with rights and kicks. Maxwell did his double springboard and then came down and hit a neckbreaker. That silliness popped the crowd, since it was completely different from everything else on the show so far.
Baretta rolled to the outside and Maxwell followed. He teased a move, then just rolled Baretta in. He acted like he did a big move and the crowd chanted "Holy sh**." He returned to the ring, only to be drilled by Baretta.
Baretta nailed the Dudebuster and scored the pin.
Your winner, Trent Baretta!
Silly but fun match.
Out came Caleb Konley. He said that Baretta is a big TV star but the fans want to see more of him. He said that he wanted to challenge Baretta. Baretta attacked him and told the ref to ring the bell.
Trent Baretta vs. Caleb Konley
Konley was worked over but made a comeback with a powerslam. Konley has really looked good of late and is one of those talents that is really underrated but always has good to great showings.
Konley ended up on the apron where Baretta nailed him several times. Baretta tried to slide under and powerbomb him to the floor but Konley fought him off. He nailed several chops on the floor and tossed Baretta back in.
Konley chased Baretta back to the outside but was cut off and slammed down on the apron. Baretta scored several two counts. Baretta tossed him back out to the floor again.
Baretta worked him over and brought him back into the ring, beating Baretta in the corner. Baretta went for a running knee in the corner but Konley moved and he nailed the corner and went over the top to the floor. Konley nailed a sliding dropkick to the outside then an Asai Moonsault to the floor.
Konley nailed a clothesline and a back elbow when they returned to the ring. Konley hit an awesome missile dropkick for another two count. Baretta cut him off and went for the Dudebuster but Konley countered with a Code Red for a two count.
Konley charged Baretta, who kicked him and down. They went back and forth. Konley came out with an awesome tornado DDT out of the corner for another two count. Baretta snapped him throat-first on the ropes and complained Konley used his move. He went to do the tornado DDT but Konley escaped and nailed a German suplex for a two count.
Baretta went for a rana off the top but Konley turned it into a sunset flip for a two count. They went back and forth until colliding in the center by going for high cross bodyblocks at the same time. The crowd applauded and rallied them. They battled back and forth with chops. Baretta and Konley fought back and forth with hard kicks.
Konley got the better of the exchange and scored a two count. Konley nailed a double jump moonsault but Baretta rolled out of the way. Baretta went for the DudeBuster and nailed it, scoring the pin.
Your winner, Trent Baretta!
Just a really great match designed to make Konley stronger by showing he could hang with a former WWE name and even beat him. Konley's been one of the most improved guys of 2013. Really nice stuff here.
Tag Team Freestyle: The Bravado Brothers vs. Chuck Taylor & Orange Cassidy vs. Dos Ben Dejos vs. Jigsaw & The Shard.
They did the Jigsaw "Forever" bit.
I am going to just give highlights as no way I can cover all of this madness.
Harlem Bravado and Chuck Taylor started out with some decent wrestling. Los Ben Dejos tagged in and worked over Bravado. Jigsaw and the Shard took control on Cruz. They controlled him for some time, until Taylor blind tagged in.
Jigsaw and Shard soon returned and worked over Rios of Los Ben Dejos with some nice double team moves. He finally tagged out to Taylor and the Gentlemen's Club worked over the Shard and scored several two counts. Shard cut off Orange Cassidy and tagged out to Jigsaw. Jigsaw controlled him and tagged out to Cruz of Los Ben Dejos.
Jigsaw and Shard soon took over and controlled Ben Dejos but one of the Bravados blind tagged in and slammed Rio over and over again. The battle went back and forth with the three teams all tagging themselves in and Cruz of Los Ben Dejos being the unfortunate victims, but still kicking out.
Shard locked Cruz in a Gori Guerrero Especial and held him for Jigsaw to chop him over and over again. Cruz finally kicked Jigsaw off during a charge and tagged in Riot. Los Ben Dejos cleaned house on Jigsaw and Shard. The Bravados were on the floor as well. Ben Dejos went for a dive but Bravado cut off one of them and pressed and slammed him into his partner, who was standing on the center rope, forcing them to crash and burn backwards onto everyone else on the floor. That was nutty!
Jigsaw and Shard cornered one of the Bravados and nailed a series of moves on him. They covered him but the Ben Dejos broke it up. They worked over Jigsaw with several stiff shots and kicks. They went into a crazy dive sequence. Cruz hit an Asai Moonsault to the floor.
Chuck Taylor and Lancelot Bravado returned to the ring and battled back and forth. Everyone battled in the ring. They had a crazy sequence that tore down the house. They went back into some more insanely great flurries of moves, kicks and dives. It was blowaway stuff.
The Bravados then got the shock win with the Gentlemen's Agreement on Orange Cassidy.
Your winners, The Bravados!
Lots of great wrestling and spots here. Great showcase for some really talented performers. Jigsaw and Shard are just great as a team. Bravados, who just returned from a 53 day tour of Europe, have really matured and improved. Taylor and Cassidy looked good and Los Ben Dejos showed some really good work.
The Bravados said that by going 2-0, they are the winner of the Young Bucks Invitational. They called out Matt Jackson to name them the winner. Jackson told them that he doesn't do this much and then offered his hand to shake theirs. They went to take it and he said "Psych!" and called them a bunch of marks. Jackson's whole spiel on the mic this weekend was to go really inside as a way to mock criticism the Bucks get from fans online.
The Bravados were pissed and went to get him but Jackson rolled out. Lancelot said that they weren't young boys setting up the ring anymore, so he should go get his brother so the Bravados can beat their asses.
Drew Gulak vs. Biff Busick: Style Battle Finals
They had a long feeling out process early, playing off their grappling skills. Gulak worked over Busick's arm and cinched in an armbar. They had some great back and forth old school athletic mat wrestling. It was glorious. I loved it.
They continued to go back and forth with great stuff until they faced off. The crowd applauded them. Busick began taking control of the bout with hard chops as Gulak went from corner to corner trying to avoid him, only to be caught and chopped again.
Gulak finally avoided one and rebounded off the ropes only to be kicked hard in the gut. Busick drilled him with a neckbreaker and a Dragon suplex for a two count. Busick pulled up Gulak and slapped him hard. Gulak tried to take Busick off his feet but as still chopped hard. Busick began breaking down Gulak with shot after shot.
Gulak finally had enough and fired back with explosive chops. Gulak nailed a series of clotheslines and finally a flying lariat off the top for a two count. He slammed him hard into the ropes and scored a two count. Busick fought back and sent Gulak to the floor, the hit an awesome tope con hilo over the top to the floor. That blew the crowd away, since it was completely different from the style of the bout.
Back in the ring, Gulak locked in a submission. There was a back and forth chant between people asking him to tap and not to tap. Gulak slipped out and locked in a Dragon Sleeper. The ref picked up Gulak's arm and they dropped twice but he held on the third time. Gulak was finally able to power out and drapped Busick across the top rope hard.
The other members of the Gentlemen's Club came out and started cheering on Gulak. Busick grabbed Gulak in a choke and scissored his body while sitting on Gulak's body. Gulak finally makes the ropes, forcing a break. Busick powerbombed Gulak down for a two count.
Busick went for a powerbomb into the corner but Gulak escaped and nailed an exploder into the buckles. Gulak went for a clothesline but was caught with a back suplex. He powered up but was clotheslined down. They went back and forth. Both were wiped out. This is awesome.
They returned to their feet. They traded STIFF slaps. Gulak finally tagged Busick and took him down, then continued the assault like a UFC fight. Busick covered up and went to fight back but was grabbed with a rear naked choke and tapped out.
Your winner, Drew Gulak!
Absolutely freaking amazing. You need to see this match,
Gulak showed respect to Busick and thanked everyone, then said he wants his rematch with Jon Davis. This was a career making turning point for both of these guys - just unbelievable stuff. People will be talking about this one as a classic as their careers progress.
DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate champion Johnny Gargano vs. Rich Swann
Gargano came out and held onto the title for a long time, knowing his number could be up against the man who beat him last night in Queens. He tried to tell Swann that they didn't need to do this and that he loves Swann. He told Swann that he was Gargano's best friend and he would "appreciate it if you would lay down" for Gargano. He asked him to do it for the kids with cancer because he's their hero and he was his hero too.
Swann agreed to do it and laid down but the second Gargano got near him, he exploded with a series of right hands, beating the hell out of his former best friend. Gargano went to the floor to escape and Swann teased a dive and bounced off the ropes. Gargano hit the ring and nailed a lariat. The idea was that Gargano knows Swann inside and out.
He worked over Swann and sent him to the floor. Gargano went for a dive but Swann smashed him as he hit the ropes. Gargano made a comeback and beat the hell out of Swann, telling the fans he was doing it for them. He locked in a standing Texas Cloverleaf.
As all this was going on, something in the ring snapped, because the ropes began sagging a little. They played up that this was going to change Swann's strategy but the word is something that holds a section of the ring together snapped in one of the corners.
Swann tried to fight back but Gargano cut him off and slammed him hard. Gargano smashed him into the buckles. He peppered him with punches in the corner. Gargano worked over Swann for a long time but he finally nailed a sunset flip to break the momentum. He nailed a series of punches and strikes and sent Gargano to the floor, then hit a flip dive to the outside.
Swann chopped Gargano hard on the outside. He worked over Gargano until he was caught out of nowhere with a hard kick. Gargano controlled Swann and dared him to fight back. Swann did with a ton of stiff kicks and shots. They exchanged superkicks and nailed each other with a leg lariat at the same time. Swann hit a nice flurry of kicks and offense including a handspring elbow, which with the state of the ropes, was a lot harder than usual.
Gargano cut him off and worked him over. They battled to the outside, where Swann used the ropes to springboard towards Gargano and nail a cutter. They returned to the ring where Swann nailed a Phoenix Splash for a two count.
Swann splashed him but Gargano grabbed him and locked in a Crossface. Swann makes it to the ropes and fights back. He locked oin Gargano's old Crossface but Gargano made it to the ropes. Swann used a reverse rana for a two count.
Gargano pulled the referee in front of him but Swann stopped short. Swann went for a superkick but the referee was pulled in front again and was KO'd. Swann wiped out Gargano but there was no referee to make the count. He tried to revive the referee. Gargano kicked him low and the crowd booed the hell out of that.
Gargano went to the outside and grabbed the DGUSA title. He swung but Swann ducked and kicked him. Swann went for a 450 splash but Gargano pulled the belt over and Swann smashed himself into the belt. Gargano locked on the Crossface on the dazed Swann. The referee recovered and lifted Swann's arm three times. He ruled a submission.
Your winner and still DGUSA champion Johnny Gargano!
Good match. Gargano has grown into a hell of a worker and is awesome as the heel flagbearer. Swann has just amazed athletically.
Gargano stood over his beaten former friend.
They spent a long time trying to get the ring fixed but they can't jury-rig it so they are going to have to make due. As you can imagine, EVOLVE officials are anything but thrilled about this.
EVOLUTION'S END: EVOLVE champ AR Fox vs. Ricochet
Inside the ring, they had to adhere to EVOLVE rules. Outside of it, anything goes.
Fox took the mic and said, "I have a few things to say. First of all, F*** this ring." He then said they should just make it No DQ, Falls Count Anywhere. They are obviously going on the fly
Fox nailed a big dive on Ricochet. He went to do another but was smashed in the face with a chair. They battled to the outside. Ricochet smashed Fox's throat into the back of a chair. They battled around the ring. Fox was whipped into the corner.
Ricochet grabbed a piece of wood - perhaps a board from the ring - and nailed Fox with it. Fox fought back and smashed his back into the apron. They battled around the floor. Fox gained control and laid Ricochet over a chair on the apron. He went to the top, despite the entire crowd yelling at him not to do it, and dropped a legdrop. The ropes are so shaky that Fox going up there it nuts.
Ricochet cut off Fox and snapped the top rope free. He choked Fox with it and then slammed Fox atop the exposed buckle in the center of the ring. He then stood on "the top rope" which was laying on the canvas and moonsaulted onto Fox. The crowd chanted "Holy sh**."
Ricochet choked Fox against the ropes and brought him to the outside. They battled into the crowd. Ricochet destroyed Fox with chair after chair. Fox drilled him with something and then hit a running clothesline off the apron into the crowd.
They brawled over to another area where, of course, I was sitting. They grabbed the chair I was using and destroyed it, hitting each other with it and with Ricochet suplexing Fox onto it. Ricochet opened this MASSIVE ladder in the corner using for the venue and tried to send Ricochet into it. He stopped Fox, kicked him down and then nailed a standing moonsault off of it.
The crowd chanted, "F*** the ring."
They battled to a balcony area and tried to toss each other off. Fox was clobbered with a big piece of paneling that was up there. The first time Fox's head was caught in it. Ricochet was whipped hard into the brick wall of the building. They battled to the floor where a Singapore Cane was used over and over.
They return to the ring where Fox nails a splash off the remaining ropes. He nails a twisting splash for a two count. Ricochet battles back with a series of suplexes but Fox kicks up. Ricochet calls for a chair and gets ten. Fox makes a comeback with a DVDR. He nailed a swanton off the remaining ropes.
They continued to destroy each other. Fox made a comeback and drilled Ricochet, burying him under all of the weapons in the ring. He then hit a crazy twisting splash for the pin.
Your winner and still EVOLVE champion AR Fox!
Just an absolutely incredible f**king brawl. The ring breaking turned out to be the best thing to ever happen to EVOLVE as it allowed them to have an absolutely incredible impromptu brawl that gave EVOLVE their best top to bottom show ever - this show will go down as legitimately legendary. If you want to see something awesome, go order the VOD by clicking the link below:
Ricochet and Fox showed respect to each other. Fox said that Ricochet made him a better man. Ricochet then said he was tired of distractions and wanted to go for the DGUSA title. Tony Nese's crew came out and invited him to join Nese's Premiere League. Ricochet said he wasn't going to be second to anyone and turned them down. Nese got angry and tried to get in his face, allowing Mr. A to attack Ricochet andd lay him out. Nese took the mic and that's what happens when you disrespect him and his brand.
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