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October 3rd
On this day in history in ....
1961 - Former WWE and WCW star Max Payne aka Man Mountain Rock during his WWF run is born.
1967 - Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis defeat Fritz & Waldo Von Erich for the NWA American Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas, ending the Von Erich's second reign as champs, and starting their own second run with the belts.
1974 - A Mid-Atlantic Wrestling event in Greensboro, NC before 5,250 fans featured the following results:
-Mid-Atlantic champion Johnny Valentine pinned Wahoo McDaniels in 28 minutes with a backslide.
-Mid-Atlantic TV champion Paul Jones pinned Ivan Koloff with a cradle.
-Swede Hanson & Tiger Conway Jr. defeated Mid-Atlantic Tag Team champions Rip Hawk & Ric Flair by DQ.
-Johnny Weaver & Sandy Scott defeated Cowboy Parker & Ken Dillinger.
-Art Nelson beat Abe Jacobs.
-George "Two Ton" Harris defeated Billy Ash.
-Tito-Tito fought Frank Morrell to a draw.
1974 - Championship Wrestling from Florida ran Jacksonville, FL at The Coliseum featuring the following results:
-Lumberjack Match: Pak Song & Professor Tanaka beat Dusty Rhodes & Jos Leduc.
-Lights Out Match: Mike Graham beat Dick Slater.
-Jerry Brisco beat Ron Fuller to earn a Florida championship bout.
-The Hollywood Blondes, Buddy Roberts & Jerry Brown beat Tony Charles & Vic Rossitani..
-Bob Backlund beat Greg Valentine.
-Dennis Stamp beat Mike Pappas.
-John Gray drew Gil Hayes.
1977 -Former WWE star Doug Basham was born.
1979 - John Hennigan aka John Morrison was born.
1982 - A live event promoted by The Tunney Family in Toronto, ON at The Maple Leaf Gardens featuring the following results:
-Abe Jacobs pinned Kenny Hall at 6:42.
-Tony Parisi & Nick DeCarlo defeated the Destroyer & Rick Conners at 6:10.
-Salvatore Bellomo defeated Jose Estrada at 7:02.
-Buddy Rose defeated Tony Garea at 12:24.
-Pvt. Nelson & Pvt. Kernodle defeated Johnny Weaver & Leo Burke at 24:11.
-Jimmy Valiant pinned NWA TV Champion Ivan Koloff at 15:03; Koloff remained the champion since the title was only on the line during the first 15 minutes of the bout.
-WWF Champion Bob Backlund defeated Bob Orton at 23:56.
1983 - Austin Idol defeats Stan Hansen for the AWA International Heavyweight Title, starting his third reign with the belt.
1983 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Fayetteville, NC with the following results:
-Terry Gibbs beat Golden Boy Grey.
-Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin beat Ric McCord & Keith Larson.
-Dory Funk Jr. defeated Rufus R. Jones.
-Roddy Piper beat Greg Valentine.
-Dick Slater & Bob Orton Jr. defeated Ric Flair & Wahoo McDaniel via DQ.
1988 - The Continental Wrestling Federation ran Birmingham, AL at The Boutwell Auditorium with The "Road to Birmingham" tournament to determine the first CWF champion.
In the first round:
-Dirty White Boy Tony Anthony beat the Bullet
-Dutch Mantell beat Mr. Wrestling II
-Jerry Stubbs beat Tim Horner
-Austin Idol beat Terry Gordy
-Tom Prichard beat Kokina Maximus
In Round Two:
-Tony Anthony beat Dutch Mantell.
-Jerry Stubbs beat Austin Idol
-Tom Prichard beat Jerry Stubbs
Finals:
-Tom Prichard defeated Tony Anthony to become to the CWF champion.
1989 - Former ROH star TK O'Ryan was born.
1991 - WWF holds an event at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, and broadcasts the event on Sky Movies in the UK. Here are the results o the show, later dubbed "The Battle Royal at Royal Albert Hall" -
- The Nasty Boys defeat The Rockers.
- Ric Flair defeats Tito Santana.
- Earthquake defeated The Big Boss Man.
- The Mountie defeats Kerry Von Erich.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions The Legion Of Doom defeat Power & Glory.
- The Undertaker defeated Hacksaw Jim Duggan via countout.
- Davey Boy Smith defeated The Barbarian.
- Davey Boy Smith won a 20-man battle royal that included Roddy Piper, Typhoon, and everyone that had already wrestled on the card.
1991 - A USWA event in Bedford, Indiana featured the following results:
-Nightmare Danny Davis fought Tom Prichard to a draw.
-Dutch Mantell defeated Billy Joe Travis by disqualification.
-Bill Dundee defeated Bull Pain.
-Jeff Jarrett and Robert Fuller defeated Austin Rhodes and Scorpion.
-Eric Embry defeated Dirty White Boy.
1992 - Eastern Championship Wrestling ran Philadelphia, PA at the Tabor Youth Association before 375 fans with the following results:
-Ivan Koloff won a Battle Royal.
-Nikolai Volkoff pinned Vladimir Markoff.
-Larry Winters & Jimmy Jannetty beat Scott Summers & King Kaluha.
-Tony Stetson beat Terry Taylor.
-Tommy Cairo beat Ivan Koloff.
-Rip Sawyer & Dave Casanova & Glenn Osbourne beat The Super Destroyers & Max Thrasher.
-The Hell Riders beat The Metal Maniac & The Rockin' Rebel.
-JT Smith & Tigra beat Mr. Sandman & Peaches.
-Jimmy Snuka beat ECW Champ Don Muraco via DQ.
1998 - WWF ran Fayetteville, NC with the following results:
-Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated Brian Christopher & Scott Taylor
-Mark Henry pinned Golga with a powerslam
-DOA defeated Scorpio & Farooq
-Edge pinned Gangrel with the Downward Spiral
-WWF Tag Team Champions the Road Dogg & Billy Gunn defeated Jeff Jarrett (sub. for Mark Cantabury) & Dennis Knight when Gunn pinned Knight with the Rocker Dropper
-Steve Blackman pinned Owen Hart with a roll up
-WWF European Champion D-Lo Brown pinned X-Pac with the Lo Down
-Sable & Val Venis defeated Marc Mero & WWF Women's Champion Jackie when Sable powerbombed Jackie
-The Rock pinned Ken Shamrock with the Rock Bottom
-Steve Austin defeated Kane, Undertaker, and Mankind when Austin pinned Kane with the Stunner
1999 - Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara, writers for the World Wrestling Federation, jump to WCW shortly after a secret weekend meeting with WCW management in Atlanta, GA.
Neither Russo or Ferrara were under contract with WWF, leaving them free and clear to make the jump. Russo called Vince McMahon to inform him that neither he or Ferrara would be at Raw the next night.
WWF.com posted a brief message stating:
" Effective Sunday, October 3 at 9:45 pm ET, Vince Russo, one of the creative writers, will no longer be with the World Wrestling Federation. Russo abruptly resigned over the phone and will now be working for WCW."
This was seen as a devastating blow to WWF, who were preparing for their Initial Public Offering into the stock market, although time would show the move was more detrimental to WCW.
2002 - Paul Bearer announced in a final column for the WWE website that he was leaving the company. He had recently been working in a behind-the-scenes role and announced that he would be leaving when his deal runs out on 10/14/02. He signed off his column as "Percy Pringle III, Formally the WWE character known as Paul Bearer".
2002 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Buck Woodward filed the following TV report:
Smackdown for Ocotber 3rd was taped in Lafayette, Louisiana.
The show opened with a Stephanie McMahon video introducing herself to the audience, then announced that Edge vs. Kurt Angle, Undertaker vs. Matt Hardy and Chris Benoit vs. Rey Mysterio for tonight. She then announced a WWE World Tag Team Title tournament, with the finals to be held at No Mercy. She then said the tournament would begin right now.
They went right to the ring, with Michael Cole and Tazz calling the action. It was Eddie & Chavo Guerrero vs. Mark Henry & Rikishi. The Guerreros attacked at the start, but Rikishi and Henry were soon overpowering them. Michael Cole mentioned Eddie's great performance with Edge from last week, and that he had nine stitches from the match. Eddie worked with Rikishi, careful to avoid his rear end. Chavo tagged in, but was downed with a Samoan Drop. Henry tagged in, and flung Chavo from the ring. Henry pressed Eddie, but Chavo clipped his leg out. Chavo and Eddie began to work over the leg, tagging in and out, and preventing Henry from tagging out. Rikishi ran in, and while the referee backed him out, Chavo hit Henry in the knee with a chair. Eddie applied a cloverleaf variation, pulling back on the legs, and Henry tapped out. Eddie & Chavo move on in the tag team tournament.
After the commercial break, we saw a replay of the end of the match we just watched. We then saw that Mark Henry needed to be helped to the back, favoring his leg.
Torrie Wilson was in the back with her father, who was in town on business. Torrie introduced Billy & Chuck to her dad, and wished them luck in the tag team tournament. Dawn Marie came over and introduced herself to Torrie's dad, then wished Torrie luck in their bikini contest tonight. Torrie seemed bemused by Dawn being so nice to them.
Brock Lesnar was watching himself laying out the Undertaker on the monitor. Paul Heyman told Brock that he would have to wrestle Taker at No Mercy, and that Stephanie would not tell him what the stipulation for the match will be. "She's such a McMahon" he remarked. Matt Hardy entered, and promised that it would not be a Falls Count Anywhere match, because after his match with Undertaker tonight, he would not want to wrestle in that kind of match again.
We saw Undertaker getting ready for his match with Matt Hardy.
Prior to the commercial break, we saw an ad for the RAW World Title vs. Intercontinental Title match between Triple H and Kane at no Mercy.
After the commercial break, we had the Undertaker vs. Matt Hardy match, Falls Count Anywhere. Undertaker pounded Matt in the corner to start the match, and legdropped him across the ring apron. Taker took it to the floor, and tossed him across the announce table. Undertaker went for a chokeslam on the table, but Matt hit a low blow to get away from it. Undertaker knocked Matt over the security wall, and pounded him through the crowd and around the building. Matt tossed a beer at Taker, and ran for the back. Undertaker gave chase, and Matt jumped out from a doorway to attack Taker, but UT shrugged it off and continued his assault on Hardy. Hardy yelled "We'll meet again" and tried to run away, but he was cornered. He climbed up some chain link fence, and as Undertaker was about to follow him, Brock Lesnar attacked Taker. UT beat Lesnar down, and Matt jumped him from behind. Undertaker began pounding Hardy again, and Lesnar hit him from behind. Lesnar delivered an F5 into a pile of bagged popcorn, and Matt covered Undertaker for the pin. Lesnar, Hardy and Paul Heyman were leaving, when Lesnar went back, picked up a metal helium tank, and smashed Undertaker's hand as he was pulling himself up by the chain link fence. Undertaker screamed in pain, cradling his hand, as they went to break.
We saw a replay of the attack after the commercial, including a slo-mo shot of the tank shot to the hand. Undertaker was in the back, holding ice on his right hand, and refusing any help. The trainer said it looked to be broken, and was going to try to get Undertaker to go to the hospital for X-Rays.
Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble, with Nidia, vs. Crash Holly was up next. They traded armbars at the start, then Nidia tripped up Crash, allowing Noble to hit a jumping knee in the corner. Noble worked over Holly, choking him on the middle rope. Noble dropped a pair of elbows to the back, and applied a camel clutch. Crash battled out, and hit a lariat. Crash hit a series of clotheslines and a flapjack. Nidia got on the apron, but Crash ran Noble into her, and the two started to trade pinfall attempts. Crash went for the Crash Landing (Styles Clash) but Noble blocked it, and rolled up Crash for the pin, using the ropes for leverage.
Kurt Angle was interviewed backstage, and pointed out that Chris Benoit, not him, lost to Rey Mysterio last week. He said that Benoit would probably lose to Mysterio this week as well, because he is a regular person. Angle said he was more like a work of art. Edge walked into the picture and said that Kurt didn't suck, but that he wasn't perfect. Angle said his gold medals proved he was. Edge said his bald head proved he wasn't. Angle said that he has wanted a shot at Edge ever since Edge shaved his head. Angle sucker punched Edge as he left the set.
After the commercial, clips of last week's Edge vs. Eddie Guerrero match.
Kurt Angle vs. Edge was next. Edge and Angle traded holds at the start, while Cole bragged about the ratings for Smackdown last week, mentioning it beat FOX, ABC and WB. Edge and Angle exchanged armbars and headlocks, then criss-crossed the ring until Edge hit a hiptoss, dropkick and armdrag, then went to work on the left arm of Angle with a keylock and an armbar. Edge hit a back elbow on Angle, then went back to the armbar. Angle backed Edge to the ropes, and resorted to punches and kicks in the corner. Edge returned fire with kicks to the gut, and hit a spinkick after Angle missed a clothesline for a two count. Angle backdropped Edge to the apron, and Edge yanked Angle's arm across the top rope while jumping to the floor. Angle went out for a breather, but Edge put him back in the ring, and tossed Angle into the ringpost shoulder first. Edge applied an armbar, and Angle grabbed a fireman's carry and tossed Edge to the floor. Angle dropped Edge over the security wall chest first, and stomped him on the floor. Angle hit a vertical suplex in the ring for a two count. Angle punched Edge and kicked him on the mat. Edge fired back with punches, and Angle ran into a boot, but Edge then ran into an overhead belly to belly suplex. Angle snapmared Edge, then applied a rear chinlock with a body scissors. Edge battled up, broke free, but Angle hit a knee to the gut and kicked him in the ribs. Angle stomped Edge and covered him for a two count. Angle applied an abdominal stretch, and drove his elbow into Edge's side. Edge finally hiptossed out. Angle went for the knee to the gut again, but Edge turned it into a cradle for two. Angle hit a back suplex for a two count. Angle applied a reverse bearhug with a bodyscissors on the mat. Edge elbowed out, and hit an overhead belly to belly suplex. Both men were slow to get up, and they exchanged punches when they did. Edge hit a flying forearm and a series of clotheslines, followed by a back body drop and a face plant for two. Edge flipped out of a back suplex attempt, and hit a superkick. Edge measured for the spear, but Angle grabbed him in a released overhead belly to belly, sending Edge crashing into the referee. Angle went for the Angle Slam, but Edge floated out and hit the Edgecution. Edge covered, but the ref was still out. Angle hit Edge with a low kick, then hit the Angle Slam. Angle covered, as a second referee came out, but Edge kicked out at two. Angle pulled the straps down, and applied the ankle lock, but Edge made the ropes. Angle went after Edge, who yanked Angle throat first across the top rope. Edge went to the top rope, and Angle went for the walking the ropes superplex, but Edge shoved him off. Angle went and crotched Edge on the top, and hit a superplex. As they landed, both men attempted to roll over, and their legs became entangled. The second referee counted Edge' shoulders down, and declared Angle the winner. However, the first referee raised Edge's hand. The two referees argued, with the first referee (Mike Chioda) slugging the second (Mike Sparks). More referees came out, as Cole and Tazz wondered who actually won the match.
After the commercial break, we saw that the match was continuing. Michael Cole explained that both referee's had seen that the other wrestler was pinned, which explained the confusion. Mike Chioda, the first referee, then decided to continue the match. We saw that Angle had hit a belly to belly suplex on Edge on the floor during the break. Back to live action, Angle speared Edge, who was tied in the ropes, twice. On the third try, Edge moved and Angle went through the ropes to the floor. Angle got on the apron, and Edge speared him back to the floor. Edge went to the top rope, and hit a bodypress on Angle on the floor. Back in the ring, Edge hit a missile dropkick for a two count. Edge and Angle traded reversals, and Edge hit a reverse facebuster for a two count. Angle hit a German suplex. Angle then hit three consecutive German suplexes, as Chris Benoit walked out. Angle went and hit a fifth German. He went for a six, but Edge turned it into a rollup for a two count. Angle hit a clothesline, but was distracted by Benoit. Angle ran into a Edge boot. Edge went for a sunset flip, but Angle rolled through into an ankle lock. Edge kicked out, sending Angle through the ropes to the floor. Angle grabbed a chair, but Benoit grabbed at it. Angle went to hit Benoit with it, but missed, and hit the ropes. The chair sprung back and hit Angle in the face. Edge then hit Angle with a spear and got the pin. Benoit was laughing at Angle as he walked to the back.
They showed a Rey Mysterio highlight video, hyping that he would wrestle later tonight.
After the commercial, they replayed the finish of Edge-Angle. Angle was in the back, screaming for Benoit. Angle found him, and charged, but the locker room held them apart. Stephanie ran in, and declared that Benoit and Angle would be a tag team in the title tournament next week, and that they had to get along, or they would be suspended. Angle sucker punched Benoit, then Stephanie said they needed to start getting along right now.
Paul Heyman was psyching up Brock Lesnar. Matt Hardy walked in, boasting of his win over Undertaker. Matt said that he didn't think Undertaker could wrestle at No Mercy because of his hand, and since he was the number one contender, and Matt beat him, that meant Matt should be number one contender. Matt said he was going to talk to Stephanie about it. Paul Heyman nodded along with Matt's points, then as he left, turned to Brock and said that Matt would "kill him". Brock and Heyman both chuckled.
Billy Gunn & Chuck Palumbo got ready for their tag team title tournament match with Reverend D-Von and Batista.
An ad for "Divas Undressed" on the Fanatics series was shown at the end of the commercial break.
Billy & Chuck vs. D-Von & Batista was next, but D-Von came out with Faarooq instead. The announcers were puzzled at the new pairing. Billy Gunn got on the mic, and asked "Ron Simmons" what he was doing. Faarooq took the mic, and then hit Billy with it. Faarooq hit a suplex on Chuck for an early two count. D-Von tagged in, but Chuck hit him with a side throw. Faarooq tagged back in, and Chuck fired off with right hands, but Faarooq hit a drop toe hold and pounded him. D-Von tagged in, pounded Chuck and told Billy to "suck it". D-Von and Faarooq continued to work on Chuck, until he and Billy reversed a "What's Up" headbutt attempt, with Billy shoving D-Von off the top rope into Faarooq. Billy tagged in, hitting a backdrop on D-Von and cleaning house, until he was double teamed. Faarooq and D-Von hit a back suplex/neckbreaker on Billy for a two count. Billy escaped a reverse suplex by D-Von, but Faarooq grabbed Billy in a spinebuster. D-Von covered Billy for the pin, as Faarooq kept Chuck at bay. D-Von & Faarooq advance to the next round.
Backstage, Dawn Marie showed Torrie Wilson's dad her bikini. He seemed to like what he saw.
After the break, the bikini contest was up, hosted by Tazz. Torrie came out in a white robe, sucking on a lollipop. Dawn Marie came out in a black robe. Each woman would have thirty seconds to display their wares, then the fans would decide the winners. Both ladies strutted their stuff, and Torrie was declared the winner. Dawn offered a left handed handshake, which Torrie accepted, and Dawn slapped her. Dawn then tossed Torrie out of the ring and to the floor, then walked away. Torrie was left on the floor, clutching her knee.
Backstage, Stephanie informed Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman that the Undertaker's hand was broken. Brock and Heyman joked about whether the stipulation for No Mercy would be thumb wrestling or having a hand tied behind their back, when Stephanie informed them that it would be a Hell in a Cell match.
Clips of last week's three way with Mysterio vs. Benoit vs. Angle was the "Color Of The Night".
Michael Cole and Tazz discussed the announcement that Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker at No Mercy would be a Hell in a Cell match.
Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Benoit was the final match of the show. Benoit started off strong, hitting a backbreaker and whipping Rey hard into the corner. Benoit ran into a pair of Mysterio boots. Mysterio avoided a tilt-a-whirl, but Benoit caught him with a chop. Benoit put Rey in the corner, and went for a crucifix powerbomb, but Mysterio turned it into a rana. Mysterio kicked up the speed, hitting a bulldog out of a body scissors, and using a rana to send Benoit to the floor. Rey hit a springboard somersault senton on Benoit. Back in the ring, Benoit hit a press style backbreaker. Benoit hit a back suplex for a two count. Benoit hit a high backdrop, and kneed Mysterio in the back in the corner. Benoit applied a crossarmed chinlock, but Mysterio rolled out and reversed the hold. Mysterio turned it into a sunset flip for a two count, but Benoit stopped his momentum with a clothesline. Benoit hit a chop, and stomped Mysterio on the mat. Benoit worked over Rey in the corner, ramming him back into the buckles. Benoit applied a surfboard, and Mysterio got out. The two traded reversals, but Benoit forced him over with a wheelbarrow suplex for a two count. Benoit hit a short-arm clothesline for a two count. Benoit went for a flapjack, but Rey shifted in the air and hit a dropkick. Rey hit a series of punches, and went for a springboard moonsault. Benoit caught him, but Mysterio floated over, shoved Benoit into the corner and hit a dropkick. Benoit slumped in the corner and Rey dropkicked him in the face. Rey hit a split-legged moonsault for a two count. Mysterio went for a victory roll, Benoit avoided it, but Mysterio hit an enzugiri. Mysterio went for the 619, but Benoit caught him and hit a shoulderbreaker. Benoit went to the top and hit the flying headbutt. Benoit was slow to cover, and Rey kicked out at two. Benoit grabbed the crossface, but Mysterio grabbed the ropes. Benoit went for a German, but Rey floated over and hit a dropkick, and followed with a leg drop off the ropes to the back of the head. Rey hit the 619. Mysterio went for a springboard rana, but Benoit ducked under it. Kurt Angle appeared at ringside, grabbing Benoit and yanking him throat first across the middle rope. As Benoit staggered back, Mysterio caught him in a rana for the pin.
Benoit and Angle went nose to nose and began trading punches. Angle hit a German suplex and applied the ankle lock, but Benoit reversed it into a crossface. Officials broke it up, but then they went back at it, only to be broken up again, as the announcers reminded us that they have to tag together next week, and get along, or they will be suspended.
2002 - Combat Zone Wrestling and Ring of Honor issued the following joint press release, announcing they would work together in an attempt to stave off XPW's insurgency into Philadelphia:
CZW Endorses Ring Of Honor's 10/5 Show & Zandig Will Be There!!!
PHILADELPHIA- Has hell frozen over?
RF Video presents Ring Of Honor returns to the Murphy Recreation Center just five blocks from the ECW Arena in South Philadelphia this Saturday night with its huge "Glory By Honor" event. Tickets & directions can be obtained by calling 215-891-9404 or by visiting RFVideo.com and ROHwrestling.com. For bus trip info from Queens, New York email Agentclpt@aol.com. The Amazing Red, Jose & Joel Maximo will be special guests on the bus!!!
Combat Zone Wrestling endorses this Saturday's ROH show. In fact, John Zandig and other members of the CZW roster will be in attendance at the Murphy Recreation Center this Saturday night. What are they doing at the Ring Of Honor event? Be there this Saturday night at the Murphy Recreation Center off 4th and Oregon Ave. this Saturday night to find out!!!
Glory By Honor will be the biggest show in ROH's history. The lineup has:
-Low Ki vs. Samoa Joe in a Fight Without Honor.
-Chris Daniels vs. the winner of Doug Williams vs. Dick Togo in a Respect Match.
-Dick Togo vs. Doug Williams with the winner facing Daniels (note: Togo is day to day on whether he will be able to compete due to an ankle injury).
-Spanky vs. Michael Shane vs. Paul London winner gets the Show Stopper name.
-ROH champion Xavier vs. Jay Briscoe in a non-title.
-James Maritato vs. Tony Mamaluke winner gets FBI gimmick.
-Da Hit Squad vs. Loc & Devito Falls Count Anywhere.
-The Amazing Red vs. Ikuto Hidaka in an international dream match.
-Christopher Street Connection & Allison Danger vs. Joey Matthews, Christian York & Alexis Laree in Mixed Tag Team action.
-Steve Corino vs. Rudy Boy Gonzalez in a Texas Death Match.
-Natural Born Sinners vs. SAT vs. Divine Storm vs. Izzy & Dixie in a Tag Team Scramble.
Be there this Saturday night as John Zandig and other members of the CZW roster will be at Ring Of Honor!!! Glory By Honor will continue ROH's high standard of producing top quality shows!!!
2002 - It was announced that former WCW and WWE star Brian Adams would make his professional boxing debut:
FORMER WWF /WCW SUPERSTAR TO STEP INSIDE A DIFFERENT RING
Brian Adams’ Professional Boxing Debut Set for Nov. 16th Pay-Per-View
St. Petersburg, October 3, 2002 – Brian Adams, former WWF and WCW professional wrestling superstar, will be making his professional heavyweight boxing debut on the “Never Surrender” pay-per-view event November 16th. This championship card, headlined by the World Boxing Council Featherweight World Title fight between Erik “El Terrible” Morales and Paulie Ayala, is promoted by Bob Arum and Top Rank, Inc. and will emanate from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
Brian Adams (6’6”, 270 pounds) currently holds the All Japan World Tag-Team Championship along with partner Bryan Clark, having defeated Keiji Mutoh & Taiyo Kea on July 17, 2002 in Osaka. Adams, who has had a long and successful career in professional wrestling, is looking to make a huge impact on the boxing world.
Adams has received glowing evaluations from several trainers in the St. Petersburg area, and is currently being trained by Dan Birmingham. “I’ve never felt anyone hit the mitts so hard,” Birmingham stated. “He takes this very seriously… and I think he’s going to impress a lot of people.” Among Birmingham’s other impressive charges is IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Winky Wright.
Adams will be challenging an as-yet unnamed heavyweight opponent in what is being billed as a special attraction on the “Never Surrender” pay-per-view November 16th. As an added bonus, “Macho Man” Randy Savage – former WWF/WCW World Champion – will be in Brian Adams’ corner, cheering his close friend on in his professional boxing debut.
In addition to Brian Adams’ debut and Morales vs. Ayala for WBC Featherweight World Title match, the “Never Surrender” pay-per-view event on November 16th will also see Bones Adams face Guty Espadas in a showcase of two former world champions battling it out in a featherweight match-up. Also, WBC lightweight flyweight champion Jorge Arce will make a title defense -- his opponent will be announced.
Tickets for this night of boxing are priced at $300, $200, $100 & $50 and can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. To charge by phone call (702) 632-7580. Tickets on sale now.
The “Never Surrender” pay-per-view telecast on November 16th is being produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to over 48 million pay-per-view homes. The “Never Surrender” pay-per-view telecast begins at 9pm ET/6 pm PT and carries a suggested retail price of $39.95. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry.
2003 - WWE Raw ran Guelph, Ontario with the following results:
-Maven pinned Rodney Mack with a swinging DDT
-Trish Stratus & Lita defeated WWE Women's Champion Molly Holly & Gail Kim; Jazz was the guest referee for the contest and became biased toward the heels late in the match; Charles Robinson made the eventual pinfall after she was taken out by Lita's Twist of Fate
-Lance Storm pinned Test with a superkick after Test became distracted by Stacy Keibler
-Garrison Cade & Mark Jindrak defeated Steven Richards & Tommy Dreamer when Jindrak pinned Richards
-Shane McMahon pinned Kane in a streetfight with the Van Terminator
-Mark Henry pinned Val Venis with the powerslam
-WWE IC Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Randy Orton with the Five Star Frog Splash
-WWE Raw Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz defeated Rob Conway & Rene Dupree in a tables match after Spike Dudley interfered, allowing Bubba Ray to hit a powerbomb on Conway through a table
2004 - WWE presented their No Mercy PPV. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
WWE No Mercy began with a video setting up the show, interspersed with comments from Big Show, Kurt Angle, Booker T, John Cena, John Bradshaw Layfield, and The Undertaker.
Eddie Guerrero vs. Luther Reigns. Guerrero made his usual low rider entrance. Luther was accompanied by Mark Jindrak. The crowd started an "Eddie" chant at the bell. They locked up and Luther powered Eddie into the corner and shoved him in the chest. They locked up again, and Luther pulled Guerrero into a short arm clothesline. Eddie responded with a thumb to the eye, then hit a back elbow and drove Luther into the turnbuckle face first. Eddie hooked a drop toe hold and applied a side headlock. Luther tried to punch out of it, then tossed Eddie into the ropes and hit a shoulderblock. Eddie grabbed a single leg takedown, then went back to the headlock. Eddie hit a dropkick to the midsection, snapmared Luther, and got a two count. Eddie applied an armbar, but Luther reversed a whip and gave Guerrero a press slam for a two count. Luther kicked Eddie down in a corner, then whipped him hard into the opposite turnbuckle. Luther applied a bearhug, and Eddie dug his thumbs into Luther's eyes and headbutted out. Luther hit a boot to the face for a two count. Luther hit a series of punches, then a backhand punch for a two count. Luther applied a rear chinlock, then switched it into a surfboard. Guerrero escaped, falling back and kicking Luther to break free.
Luther hit a back suplex for a two count, then hit a side backbreaker, pushing down on Eddie's chin to add pressure to it. Luther sent Eddie to the floor, and Jindrak got some kicks in when the referee wasn't looking. Back in the ring, Eddie ducked a Luther kick and grabbed a waistlock. Luther powered out of it and hit a knee to the midsection. Luther hit a back elbow for another two count. Luther hit a side backbreaker, and again pushed down on the chin, bending Guerrero over his knee. Luther scooped Guerrero and planted him with a powerslam for two. Luther got set for his reverse neckbreaker, but Eddie kneed him in the head and walked up the ropes to float over Luther and into a reverse DDT. Eddie started punching Luther in the ribs, pounding him in the corner. Eddie drove back elbows into Luther's midsection, then hit a standing dropkick. Eddie hit some short lariats, then delivered two consecutive vertical suplexes. On the third, Luther blocked it and threw Eddie with a gourdbuster. Eddie rolled to the floor to regroup. While Eddie was on the floor, he "accidentally" bumped into a police officer on the floor. Eddie stole something off the officer's belt and placed it in his boot. Eddie grabbed a chair and headed into the ring. Luther grabbed it from him, almost hitting Jindrak. Guerrero dropkicked the chair into Luther (and into Jindrak) and went to the top rope. Eddie missed the frog splash, and both men were down. The referee was getting the chair out of the ring, and Eddie pulled an extendable baton (what he took from the officer) out of his boot and clocked Luther with it. Eddie then got back down on the mat as the referee turned around. Eddie went to the top rope and hit the frog splash for the win at the thirteen minute mark. Winner: Eddie Guerrero.
The Miss Jackie-Dawn Marie catfight was recapped. Dawn Marie was interviewed, saying what she said about her and Charlie Haas having an affair was true, and that she was going to tell Miss Jackie again, right now. Dawn walked in on Miss Jackie, who was topless. Dawn said that Jackie probably proposed to Haas, and that their engagement would never last. Dawn said she was with Haas last night. They exchanged more pleasantries, with Dawn telling Jackie (who was holding her breasts in her hands) that she didn't "measure up" to her.
Cruiserweight Champion Spike Dudley vs. Nunzio. Nunzio was accompanied by Johnny Stamboli. Spike was accompanied by D-Von & Bubba Ray Dudley. They locked up and grappled on the mat in a collar and elbow tie-up, until Spike went to the ropes for a break. Nunzio hit a forearm and a shoulderblock. Spike hit a shot to the midsection, but Nunzio delivered a pair of hiptosses to send Spike to the floor. Back in the ring, Spike kicked Nunzio in the gut, but missed a leapfrog. Spike flipped out of a suplex attempt, but Nunzio shifted his weight on a slam attempt to land on top of Spike. Nunzio went to an armbar, but Spike punched out and applied a hammerlock. Nunzio escaped, sending Spike to the floor. Spike tried to pull Nunzio outside, but Nunzio kicked Spike down and hit a pescado on the outside. Nunzio rolled Spike into the ring for a two count. Nunzio hit a slam and went to the top rope, but Bubba distracted the referee and D-Von shoved Nunzio off the top rope. Spike covered Nunzio for a two count. Spike put Nunzio into a full nelson, but Nunzio elbowed out, and kicked away a backdrop. Spike hit a drop toe hold and went for a La Magistral, but Nunzio blocked it for a two count. Nunzio went to the middle rope, but Spike dropkicked him on the way off for a two count.
The Dudleys took a cheap shot at Nunzio when he was against the ropes. Spike went back to the full nelson, but Nunzio rammed him into the corner to break free. Nunzio hit a pair of shoulderblocks in a corner, and when Spike went to the second rope off an Irish whip, Nunzio grabbed him in a one-arm powerbomb for a two count. Nunzio hit some punches, then a back suplex for a two count. Nunzio hit the Sicilian Slice (second rope Rocker Dropper) for a two count, but Bubba put Spike's foot on the ropes. They battle spilled to the floor, and Nunzio backdropped Spike on the outside. Back in the ring, Spike hit a headbutt to the midsection and went for the Dudley Dog, but Nunzio turned it into a backslide for two. Nunzio hit some right hands. Bubba got on the apron, but Nunzio knocked him down. D-Von grabbed Nunzio's leg from the floor, and Stamboli attacked D-Von. Nunzio went for an avalanche, but Spike moved out of the way. Spike then distracted the referee while Bubba tripped Nunzio and pulled him groin first into the ringpost. Spike then covered Nunzio for the pin at the nine minute mark while Stamboli brawled with D-Von. Winner: Spike Dudley.
They did a flashback to when Undertaker won his first WWF World Title by defeating Hulk Hogan at the Survivor Series in 1991.
The events leading to Billy Kidman vs. Paul London were shown.
Billy Kidman vs. Paul London. London charged the ring as he came out, and Kidman bailed out to the floor. London hit Kidman with a baseball slide kick and tossed him into the ring to start the match. London hit some forearms and a backdrop. London snapmared Kidman and hit a kick to the back. Kidman reversed a whip, but London caught him with a back elbow, kicked Kidman in the back and he leapfrogged him off the second rope, then hit a spinkick. London stopped short as Kidman went for a leapfrog, hit him, then hit a Dropsault, sending Kidman to the floor. London hit a springboard moonsault off the middle rope in the ring to the floor, hitting Kidman. Back in the ring, London hit a slingshot splash for a two count. Kidman poked London in the eyes and kicked him in the face. Kidman threw London into the ringpost, sliding him across the ring so that London would hit it ribs first. London was up against the post, and Kidman kicked him into it. Kidman applied a ground Cobra Twist (like a seated abdominal stretch) and punched London in the gut. London battled back with punches, but Kidman kicked him to the mat for two, then applied a surfboard. London was bleeding slightly from the nose.
London struggled in the surfboard, and broke out, hitting a series of rights. London went for a leapfrog in the corner, but Kidman caught him in a fireman's carry, then turned it into a gutbuster for two. Kidman hit a high flapjack on London, and scored a two count. Kidman went back to the ground Cobra Twist, and again punched at London's ribs. London broke free, but Kidman punches and kicked at London's ribs. London came back with a hard forearm to the head. London avoided a charging Kidman then hit a series of forearms in the corner. London hit a spinkick, but Kidman kicked him in the gut. Kidman went for a walking the ropes bulldog, but London threw it off and hit an enzugiri. London went for a powerbomb, but Kidman turned it into a BK Bomb for a two count. Kidman charged, but London backdropped him to the apron. They battled across the ropes, with London ramming Kidman into the turnbuckle. Kidman floated back into the ring and went for a flapjack, but London turned it into a rana for a two count. London whipped Kidman into the corner, but Kidman came back with a dropkick. Kidman went to the ropes, then stopped, and started walking down the aisle. The referee counted, and Kidman decided to come back to the ring. Kidman picked up London and went for a back suplex, but London floated over and hit a superkick. London went to the top rope and went for a Shooting Star Press, but Kidman got his knees up. Kidman then went to the top rope and hit the Shooting Star Press for the win at the eleven minute mark. Winner: Billy Kidman.
Blood was pouring out of the mouth of Paul London. Kidman got on the mic and told the crowd that they "made him do it" and now London has "broken ribs or internal injures". London was being loaded on a stretcher, as the announcers put over that Kidman drove his knees into London's ribs on the Shooting Star Press. Kidman went to the top rope again and gave London, who was strapped onto the hardboard, another Shooting Star Press. Kidman walked off as London was finally loaded onto the stretcher and carried out.
The showed a flashback to Undertaker's second WWF World Title win, at Wrestlemania 13 over Sid Vicious in 1997.
Josh Matthews interviewed John Bradshaw Layfield, who said the show was biased for the Undertaker, due to them showing all his World Title wins tonight. JBL said the WWE was as biased as Dan Rather. JBL said he has guaranteed victory every time he has had to defend the WWE Title. However, he didn't say he guaranteed victory tonight. Instead, he said that Undertaker would have to take the WWE Title "over his dead body".
WWE Tag Team Champions Rene Dupree & Kenzo Suzuki, with Hiroko, vs. Rey Mysterio & Rob Van Dam. Rene Dupree did some pre-match mic work in French. Hiroko then got on the mic, and said Suzuki had something to say in honor of New Jersey's Bruce Springsteen. Kenzo then sang "Born In The U.S.A.". Well, actually, all he knew was the title of the song, which he sang over and over. Dupree started things off with Rob Van Dam, trading holds on the mat. Dupree floated over a slam attempt and went for a piledriver, but RVD backdropped him, and they went into a series of reversals for two counts. Both men then missed or countered elbowdrops and legdrops. After stalemating, Dupree went for a kick, but RVD caught it, grabbed a headlock, and tagged Mysterio. RVD and Rey did a double leapfrog, then RVD split under Dupree while Rey dropkicked him. Dupree rammed Rey into his corner and tagged in Suzuki. Rey and Suzuki battled back and forth, until Rey ducked under Suzuki and kicked him in the face, then hit a baseball slide kick in the corner. Suzuki rolled to the floor. Dupree ran in, Rey ducked, and Dupree went over the top rope to the floor. RVD and Rey hit stereo dives over the top rope onto their opponents. Back in the ring, RVD worked over Suzuki with kicks and went to the top rope, but Dupree shoved him off and to the floor, crashing into the security wall.
Back in the ring, Suzuki worked over RVD with kicks and chops in a corner. Suzuki slammed RVD and drove his knee into RVD's throat. Suzuki hit a snapmare and tagged Dupree, who hit a rolling reverse neck snap. Dupree applied a head vice, but RVD elbowed out. Dupree pulled RVD down by the hair, then knocked Rey off the apron. Dupree tagged in Suzuki and held RVD in a surfboard while Suzuki chopped him. Suzuki hit RVD with a kneedrop, but Rey broke up the cover. Suzuki put RVD in an armbar, then hit some punches to the head. RVD stopped an attempt to ram him into the corner, and RVD kicked Suzuki in the head. RVD tagged Rey, who hit a springboard headbutt on Suzuki, then delivered Tornado DDT. Dupree ran in to break up the cover, and Rey knocked him to the floor. Rey punched Kenzo in a corner, then hit a springboard seated senton on Suzuki for a two count. Suzuki came back with a chop, but Rey tripped him into the ropes for a 619. Dupree ran in to stop him, but as he tried to powerbomb Rey, RVD legsweeped him. RVD tossed Rey onto Dupree, then hit Rolling Thunder on him. RVD hit Kenzo with an enzugiri, sending him into 619 position. Rey hit the 619, and was setting for a springboard, but Dupree yanked on his leg, causing Rey to fall throat first across the top rope. RVD dove off the apron onto Dupree. In the ring, Suzuki rolled up a stunned Rey for the pin, grabbing the ropes for leverage, at the ten minute mark. Winners: Rene Dupree & Kenzo Suzuki.
The events leading to The Big Show vs. Kurt Angle were shown.
The Big Show vs. Kurt Angle. If anyone interferes in this match, they will be fired. Both men looked very serious as they came to the ring. Angle rolled out of the ring as Big Show entered. Angle slowly entered the ring, and the bell rang. Show backed Angle into the corner on a lock up, broke clean and said "your ass is mine". Show and Angle locked up, and Show tossed Angle to the mat. Angle rolled to the floor to regroup. Angle grabbed a headlock out of a lock up, but Show lifted Angle, tossed him into the ropes and hit a shoulderblock, downing Angle. Show dared Angle to come at him. Angle grabbed a waistlock, but Show back him into a corner and rammed his rear end into Angle. Show flung Angle across the ring with a Beel throw, then hit a vertical suplex. Show stepped on the chest of Angle. Show whipped Angle hard into a corner and then pressed Angle over his head before slamming him. Angle rolled to the floor again, and this time headed up the aisle. Angle ran back towards the ring, but then stopped and let the referee count him out. Big Show was declared the winner at the four minute mark via countout. Angle jumped into the crowd to get away from the Big Show, when General Manager Theodore R. Long came out. Long ordered Angle back into the ring, saying he wanted a decisive winner tonight. Long told Angle he had another ten count to get back in the ring, otherwise he would be fired.
Angle finally came back to the ring (tripping on the ring steps on his way in) and the match continued. Show hit Angle with some chops, then stood on his chest. Show hit a Beel throw, then threw Angle into a corner, sending him over the top rope and to the floor. Angle picked up a chair on the floor, but Show came outside and punched the chair into Angle's face. Show tossed Angle back into the ring, then hit a legdrop. Show chopped Angle in a corner, but Angle elbowed a charging Show in the head. Angle jumped off the second rope onto Show, who caught him and slammed him. Show called for the Chokeslam, and lifted Angle, but Angle turned it into a bodyscissors and rolled into an anklelock. Angle added a leglace to the anklelock, and Show was down in the middle of the ring. Angle stood up with the anklelock, and Show screamed in pain. Show managed to roll over and kick Angle off, and Angle fell into the referee.
Seeing the referee was down, Angle went for a chair. Angle clipped Show's left leg from behind with the chair, then slammed the chair across the left knee of Show. Angle dropped an elbow on the knee, then drove his weight onto it. Angle then pulled Show's leg across the ring apron, yanking down on it with all his weight from the outside. The referee was up again, and had Angle break the hold. Angle clipped Show's leg in the ring, and applied a spinning toehold. Angle dropped an elbow on the leg and applied a leglace. Angle applied a stepover toehold, but Show kicked him away. Angle charged Show, who hit a lariat and a slam. Show hit a big boot to the face, but missed a second kick and hung his own leg over the top rope. Show staggered back, and Angle lifted Show and hit an Angle Slam for a two count. Angle went to the floor and reached under the ring for a Tranquilizer Gun and brought it into the ring. However, before he could get it loaded, Show grabbed it and broke it in half. Angle hit a few punches, but Show grabbed Angle and lifted him into a powerbomb. However, instead of throwing Angle down, Show tossed Angle over his head and fell back, sending Angle face first into the mat. Show then grabbed Angle for a Chokeslam, stood him on the top rope, and flung him to the mat with a wide arc Chokeslam. Show got the clean pin at the fifteen minute mark. Winner: Big Show.
Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak came out to help Kurt Angle to the back.
The history between Booker T and John Cena was shown. Booker T was shown in the back, heading for the ring.
U.S. Champion Booker T vs. John Cena, final match in a Best of Five series (series tied 2-2). John Cena wore a Nets throwback (Erving) jersey to the ring. Both men went face to face in the ring, as the referee explained that a disqualification could cause the title to change hands, since this is a Best Of Five series. Booker and Cena went at it as the bell rang, with Cena grabbing quick two counts with shoulderblocks before Booker grabbed a drop toe hold and applying a front facelock. Cena avoided a back kick and knocked Booker to the floor, where Booker regrouped. Booker hit a series of punches and kicks when he got back in, but Cena caught him with a boot to the face and a lariat for a two count. Cena went for a whip, but Booker reversed it and hit a spinebuster for a two count. Booker tossed Cena to the floor, then flung him into the ringsteps. Cena reversed a second attempt and sent Booker into the steps. Back in the ring, Booker gave Cena a Hot Shot on the ropes, and then hit a superkick for a two count. Booker applied a reverse chinlock, but Cena kneed out and got Booker down for a two count. Booker reversed a whip and sent Cena hard into the corner.
Booker put Cena in a sleeperhold. Cena battled up, blocked a Booker T suplex, and hit a Fisherman's suplex. Cena then charged Booker, who caught Cena with a flapjack for two. Booker pounded Cena on the mat with right hands. Cena rallied, and hit a clothesline, a back elbow and a shoulderblock for a two count. Cena hit a bulldog and did his "You can't see me" gesture. Cena hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop for a two count. Cena pumped up his sneakers, and went for the FU, but Booker floated over and hit the Bookend for a two count. Booker went to the floor and grabbed a chair, but the referee threatened to disqualify him, so Booker tossed the chair down. Booker got back into the ring and went for an ax kick, but Cena ducked it and Booker crashed to the mat. Cena hit the FU for the pin at the eleven minute mark. Winner and New U.S. Champion: John Cena.
John Cena grabbed a sign in the crowd that said "New Champ In New Jersey". Cena grabbed a Sharpie and autographed his jersey, and tossed it into the crowd.
They showed a clip of Undertaker defeating Steve Austin for the WWF World Title at Over The Edge in 1999. This is one of the only times I recall WWE ever showing ANY footage from that event since it took place.
The Dudleys (Bubba Ray & D-Von) & Dawn Marie vs. Charlie Haas, Rico & Miss Jackie. Dawn Marie had a shirt on that said "Charlie *heart*'s Dawn Marie). Bubba started out with Haas, but it was just a ruse so D-Von could hit Haas from behind. D-Von and Haas went at it, and when Haas was down, Dawn Marie ran in to "console" him. Miss Jackie came in, tore the shirt off of Dawn, and choked her with it. Bubba yanked Jackie down by the hair on a whip attempt, and Dawn tagged in Bubba. Bubba grabbed Jackie by the hair and stuck his tongue out for a kiss. He then closed his eyes (and let go of her hair) so Jackie could kiss him. Jackie, of course, tagged in Rico and he kissed Bubba. Bubba, disgusted, rolled to the floor and started washing his mouth out with anything he could get his hands on. Bubba walked off, disgusted, as D-Von and Rico traded pinfall attempts. Rico hit a back kick and went to the top rope. Bubba got back in time to crotch Rico on the top rope. D-Von hit Rico with an elbow for two. Bubba tagged in and mauled Rico for the kiss. Bubba tossed Rico to the floor, and D-Von rammed him into the ringsteps. Back in the ring, Bubba choked Rico with his wrist tape. Bubba stepped on Rico's face, saying "Kiss this". Rico came back with a DDT, and both men were down. D-Von and Haas tagged in, and Haas cleaned house on both Dudleys. Haas gave Bubba an Exploder, and D-Von a flying forearm. Haas gave D-Von a German suplex, and made a blind tag to Rico, who gave D-Von a flying bodypress. Dawn Marie ran in to break it up, and Miss Jackie came in for a catfight. Miss Jackie was thrown to the floor. The Dudleys went to work on Rico, and set up for the "What's Up" headbutt, but Rico waved it on, as if he wanted D-Von to drive his head into his crotch. D-Von didn't want to do the move, and this distraction allowed Rico and Haas to take over. Miss Jackie speared Dawn Marie. Rico gave Bubba a superkick, and Haas gave D-Von a flying forearm off the top rope. Rico then hit D-Von with a moonsault for the pin at the nine minute mark. Winners: Charlie Haas, Rico & Miss Jackie.
They showed Undertaker defeating Hulk Hogan for his fourth WWE Title at Judgment Day 2002.
The events leading to the main event were shown.
WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield vs. The Undertaker in a Last Ride match. To win the match, you had to place your opponent in a hearse that was parked near the entrance set. Bradshaw attacked before the bell, hitting a series of right hands. Undertaker returned fire, pounding JBL in a corner and headbutting him. Taker stomped him down, then dropped a pair of elbows. Taker hit a headbutt and grabbed an armbar. Taker did the Old School rope walk and dropped a forearm on JBL. Taker hit some punches and choked JBL against the ropes. Undertaker went for a backdrop, but JBL hit a forearm across the back. Taker just glared at JBL, hit a short right hand, and a boot to the face. Undertaker missed an elbowdrop, but sat right up. JBL went on the attack with punches and kicks, but missed a clothesline and Undertaker planted him with a chokeslam. Undertaker started to drag JBL from the ring, but he clutched onto the ropes, so Undertaker drove an elbow into his head across the ring apron, then kicked him in the head. With JBL's head hanging over the apron, Undertaker hit a legdrop on the apron. JBL fell to the floor, and Taker started to drag him up the aisle.
Undertaker drove JBL back first into the security wall and then whipped him into the ringsteps. Undertaker decked JBL on the floor, then cleared off the Spanish Announce table. JBL picked up a section of the ringsteps and hit Undertaker in the head with them. JBL hit a series of punches as they went around the ring, then hit a big boot. They went up the aisle, and JBL rammed Taker into the guardrails. JBL picked up another section of the steps and hit Taker with them. JBL dropped an elbow on the floor and dragged Taker closer to the hearse. Taker hit an uppercut, and staggered back towards the ring. JBL went after him, hit a pair of rights, and tossed Taker back into the ring. JBL went to the top rope and hit a flying shoulderblock. JBL hit a neckbreaker, but Taker grabbed JBL's arm and applied a jujigatame/triangle choke variation. JBL tapped, but there are no submissions in this match. JBL faded out, and Taker released the hold. Undertaker sent JBL to the floor, hit him with a right hand, and kicked him in the head. Bradshaw reversed a whip, and sent the Undertaker knees first into the steps. Bradshaw went for a piledriver on the bottom half of the ringsteps, but Undertaker backdropped him to the floor.
Undertaker knocked Bradshaw over the security wall and into the crowd. Undertaker went after him and hit some right hands. Taker threw Bradshaw into a barricade, then back over the security wall into the ringside area. Undertaker scooped up JBL and gave him a tombstone piledriver on the bottom half of the ringsteps. JBL was busted open, and bleeding a gusher. Taker lifted him up and gave him a bionic elbow, then unloaded with punches on the bloody Bradshaw. Undertaker tossed JBL over the announce table. JBL picked up a chair and cracked Undertaker in the head with it. JBL grabbed a TV monitor and hit Taker in the head with it. JBL tossed Taker on the announce table, then got up on it with him, holding a steel chair. JBL lifted the chair to hit him, but Taker grabbed him by the throat and chokeslammed him off the announce table and through the Spanish Announce table. Taker lifted JBL in a fireman's carry and carried him to the hearse. Undertaker went to open the hearse, when Heidenreich popped out of it. Heidenreich hit a series of right hands, and pulled out some ether and a towel. Heidenreich smothered him with it, and placed Taker in the hearse. The door was closed, and the hearse started to drive off. From the camera in the hearse, we could see Undertaker sit up. Taker got out of the hearse and ran back over to Heidenreich and JBL. However, as Taker went after Heidenreich, JBL hit him with the Clothesline From Hell. Heidenreich and JBL put Taker back in the hearse, and it drove off, as the bell rang at the twenty minute mark. Winner: John Bradshaw Layfield.
JBL got on the microphone and bragged about how he was unbeatable.
Backstage, the hearse pulled into a spot, and the driver, Paul Heyman, emerged. Heidenreich was standing next to a SUV, and at Heyman's command got in. Heidenreich got in the SUV and drove it into the side of the hearse. There was an explosion (not quite sure how) from the SUV hitting the side of the hearse. Heidenreich, his nose bloodied and clutching his shoulder from the crash, got out of the SUV as Heyman screamed "We did it, we did it". Heyman and Heidenreich then left the scene of the crash as the show ended.
2005 - WWF's Monday Night Raw returned to the USA Network for a "Homecoming" episode with the following results:
Shawn Michaels fought Kurt Angle to a draw in a 30-minute Ironman match, 2-2; fall #1: Angle pinned Michaels with the Olympic Slam off the top at 8:08; fall #2: Michaels pinned Angle by reversing an ankle lock attempt into a modified victory roll at 14:48; fall #3: Michaels submitted to the ankle lock into a heel hook at 18:46; fall #4: Michaels pinned Angle with the superkick at 25:14; fall #5: the time limit expired just as Michaels covered Angle following the superkick; after the bout, Michaels grabbed the mic and challenged Angle to continue in sudden death but Angle rejected the offer and left ringside
Edge (w/ Lita) defeated Matt Hardy in a ladder match at 13:48 after swinging Hardy from the cable so that he landed across the top rope, then tying Hardy's arms in the ropes and having Lita lock him in a crucifix to prevent him from escaping; due to pre-match stipulations, Hardy was forced to leave Raw; had Hardy won, he would have claimed Edge's Money in the Bank world title shot and Edge would have been forced to leave the Raw brand (The Ladder Match)
Triple H & WWE IC Champion Ric Flair defeated Carlito Caribbean Colon & Chris Masters at 9:56 when Triple H pinned Carlito with the Pedigree after Flair prevented Masters from using the sledgehammer on HHH; after the bout, Triple H and Flair celebrated until Hunter hit Flair in the face with the weapon, busting him open; moments later, Triple H slapped Flair, punched him in the face, hit him in the face with the sledgehammer a second time, and continued to assault him at ringside right in front of the legends sitting in the front row; during and after the commercial break, Hunter continued to attack Flair backstage and even punched Michael Hayes when he tried to intervene; moments later, Triple H threw Flair into a limo and smashed the window with his sledgehammer before it drove off (Triple H's return to the ring following Vengeance)
WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus & Ashley defeated Torrie Wilson, Victoria, & Candice Michelle in a handicap bra & panties match at 3:37 when both Trish & Ashley depantsed Torrie
World Heavyweight Champion Batista, WWE US Champion Chris Benoit, & Rey Mysterio Jr. fought John Bradshaw Layfield, Eddie Guerrero, & Christian to a no contest when Eric Bischoff came out on the stage immediately after the match started, said he was in charge since Vince McMahon had left the building, ordered that the lights be shut off so that the wrestlers couldn't compete, and then ordered that the show go to commercial break; Michael Cole, Tazz, & Teddy Long did guest commentary for the bout; during the commercial break, Todd Grisham interviewed JBL backstage, who said he once beat Kevin Von Erich for the NWA World Title and then cut a promo on Bischoff, saying someone would pay later in the night
WWE World Champion John Cena pinned Eric Bischoff (w/ Kurt Angle) in a No DQ match with the FU at 1:45 after fighting off an interfering Kurt Angle; earlier in the broadcast, Bischoff asked Vince McMahon to make the match No DQ but Vince rejected the offer; since McMahon had left the building, Bischoff made the stipulation himself; after the bout, Teddy Long interrupted Cena and Angle's fight in the ring and sent in the 6 previous Smackdown! wrestlers, along with Ken Kennedy, to the ring; moments later, a number of Raw wrestlers came out as Batista attempted to hit the powerbomb on Bischoff; the show came to a close as all the Raw and Smackdown! stars brawled in the ring
2006 - WWE announced the following:
WWE's Eight-Day Promotion Across Multiple Media Platforms Demonstrates Unparalleled Command Of New Media World
Tuesday October 3, 11:26 am ET
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--World Wrestling Entertainment will showcase a wide array of original programming across multiple distribution partners for eight consecutive days starting Friday, October 6, through the opening of WWE's new theatrical movie, "THE MARINE."
Starring WWE Champion John Cena, Kelly Carlson and Robert Patrick, "THE MARINE" opens in theaters on Friday, October 13.
During the "8 Days A Week" promotion, WWE will produce and distribute original programming, specials and world premieres on broadcast and cable television, pay-per-view, the On Demand platform, broadband, satellite, WWE.com and mobile, all highlighting WWE's powerful and unparalleled consumer reach.
"Our '8 Days A Week' promotion demonstrates that WWE is harnessing the future of entertainment, today. As a cutting edge content provider, WWE is uniquely positioned in the entertainment world to utilize and capitalize on each and every medium that currently exists, and to drive our passionate fans to those media," said Kurt Schneider, Executive Vice President, Marketing. "Whether it's broadcast and cable television, pay-per-view, movies, video on demand, the web, broadband, mobile phones, or home entertainment products, WWE is meeting our goal of providing our fans around the world with WWE content, how they want it, when they want it and where they want it. We are the ubiquitous global content provider."
The lineup for "8 Days A Week" is:
Friday, October 6: "Friday Night SmackDown(R)" on the new CW, 8 p.m./7C (Broadcast TV), and "THE MARINE" SMS Alert Initiative Kick-Off (Mobile).
Saturday, October 7: Live, interactive chat with Mr. McMahon(TM) on WWE.com, Noon ET/9 a.m. PT (Web), in which fans can ask the controversial Chairman anything they want.
Sunday, October 8: WWE SmackDown presents "No Mercy(R)," 8 p.m.ET/ 5 p.m. PT (Pay-Per-View).
Monday, October 9: Live, three-hour season premiere of "Monday Night RAW(R)" on USA, at a special start time of 8 p.m./7C (Cable TV).
Tuesday, October 10: "ECW(R): Extreme Championship Wrestling" airs on SCI FI, 10 p.m./9 C (Cable TV), featuring Extreme Strip Poker starring all WWE Divas and ECW Vixens.
Wednesday, October 11: "WWE 24/7 Presents Legends of Wrestling: Hulk Hogan" (Free On Demand-Digital Cable, and Satellite TV), 8 p.m. ET.
Thursday, October 12: "WWE's Top Ten Divalicious Moments," streamed on WWE.com, Noon/11 a.m. C (Broadband).
Friday, October 13: "THE MARINE(TM)" opens in theaters nationwide (Movies) and "Friday Night SmackDown" airs on CW, 8 p.m./7C (Broadcast TV).
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE - News), is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
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2007 - TNA champion Kurt Angle was arrested in Moon Township, PA on a DUI charge. After getting a report of an erratic driver that matched Angle and his vehicle, police went to his home. The story stated that Angle admitted driving his car home from a local bar. They said that Angle failed a field sobriety test but refused a blood test. Angle was the charged with driving under the influence and careless driving. The charges were dropped when the original witness did not testify in the case.
2007 - Hulk Hogan signed a deal to become the host of a revived American Gladiators on NBC. The series, which was launched as a prime time series to fill the void from an upcoming writer's strike, would start strong in the ratings before sliding backward over the course of its two seasons.
2007 - TNA President Dixie Carter did a short conference call with members of the wrestling media this afternoon in association with SpikeTV to discuss the company's move to two hours. Mike Johnson penned the following Highlights from the conference call:
-When asked about TNA expanding to two hours, she noted that they have changed timeslots on SpikeTV several times since they debuted on the network, which is unheard of. She praised SpikeTV for their role as a broadcast partner, saying that "they know how to market wrestling." Carter noted they currently have a "four year deal" with the network, although she didn't go into detail on that and said that live specials and other "forms of programming" could be in the future for the company on Spike.
-Carter commented that she had hoped for a Monday night timeslot but Spike opted to leave Impact on Thursdays. Carter stated that a move to Monday to compete with WWE's Raw "would be an ultimate goal, obviously." Carter noted changes to the company's TV taping schedule but did not clearly answer whether live broadcasts could be in their future.
-During the conference I asked Carter about whether she felt criticisms of the TNA Creative Team were fair and what she herself wanted to see changed about the creative process now that the company had a longer timeslot to work with. In regard to the criticism, she said that everyone is entitled to their opinion and not everyone is going to like everything the company produces. She then stated that their audience size has grown tremendously since they debuted on Spike, praising it as something that any company would be happy with. I brought up Vince Russo's name as someone that is often criticized by the online fan base, but she didn't respond to that. Regarding changes Carter would like to see in the TNA product, she stated that she wants to see longer in-ring matches and more characters being developed. She said that with their previous 42 minute time slot (discounting commercial time for a 60 minute series), there were performers who deserved TV time and TNA was forced to either feature them in rushed segments or to slow down and only focus on a smaller crop of performers and storylines.
-I also asked Carter about the presentation of the X-Division in today's TNA product, comparing it to the earlier days of the company where names such as Senshi and Christopher Daniels were given a chance to shine and build their names while today names such as Jay Lethal and Sonjay Dutt are not often provided that same forum to have stellar bouts and break out, noting that criticism is something fan response here on PWInsider.com has been vocal about. Carter pointed out that Lethal had just had "one of the best matches I've seen in a long time" against Kurt Angle at No Surrender. She said that when the company was formed, they had the time and ability to give the X-Division stars a chance to perform on the two hour Wednesday PPVs. She stated that the two hour expansion will give the X-Division a chance to go back to doing what it does best.
-When asked about a company steroid policy, Carter stated that they have a drug policy in place that prohibits all illegal drugs, including steroids that is reviewed regularly.
-Carter was asked about TNA running live events in several markets including Canada and New York City. She noted that TNA has a firm commitment to getting out on the road with live events in 2008 and that it will be a big expansion year. Carter didn't confirm any new markets but said that the company is working on a lot of new cities.
-When asked about Judas Mesias' status for Bound for Glory next week, Carter stated that they learned of his injuries just the day before their first two hours tapings and she couldn't confirm anything in regard to his appearing on the PPV. She noted he was going to need at least 4-6 weeks of recovery from the back injuries suffered falling off a ladder in Mexico working for AAA.
-When asked about signing any additional free agents, Carter said there are some performers out there that could do "exciting things" with TNA but she's proud that the two hour debut features wrestlers that "brought [TNA] to the dance" and it's a testament to those wrestlers that they've helped TNA come so far.
2008 - Former ECW World champio James "The Sandman" Fullington plead guilty in a Yonkers, NY court to a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest, stemming from a fight that happened at Captain Lou Albano's birthday party in July 2008. Fullington was fined $1,000, had to pay another $200 in court costs and was given a one-year conditional discharge. Criminal mischief and assault charges were dropped in return for the guilty plea.
2008 - WWE Smackdown debuted on MyNetwork TV. Mike Grimaldi filed the following TV report:
-WWE Open
-Smackdown Open w/ a new...and really bad theme song
-Jim Ross and Tazz voice over a preview of tonight's show, with images of the majority of superstars on the show, last of which was the Undertaker.
1. Jeff Hardy/Rey Misterio/Finlay (w/ Hornswoggle)/Batista vs. MVP/JBL/The Brian Kendrick (w/ Ezekiel Jackson)/Kane- During the entrances, JR mentions that Vickie Guerrero is not at the show tonight and he hopes we'll get an update on who is running the show. Also, during MVP's entrance, we get the pop-up Gregory Helms talking about MVP being the highest paid athlete on Smackdown and says, " man we got hosed on that...I want my money back" and closed with I guess his new catch phrase, "I'm just sayin'."
Finlay and The Brian Kendrick started the match off and Finlay took to laying the beating. Batista made a quick tag in, go a few shots in and then tagged back out to Finlay. Finlay pounded on Kendrick again. Kendrick went for a baseball slide on Finlay (who was on the outside) but Finlay did his "pull the ring apron up" gimmick and slugged away on Kendrick. Hornswoggle came running along the apron and dove off on to MVP who was coming around the corner.
BREAK
Back from commercial, Finlay laid Kendrick out with a clothesline and then tagged in Misterio. Rey landed a kick on Kendrick who was out of it. Jeff Hardy got the tag and come off the top down onto Kendrick. Hardy hit a dropkick to a seated Kendrick's back and got a two count. Kendrick knocked Hardy back to his corner and Finlay tagged in again, but he was caught by a standing dropkick. Kendrick made it to his feet and started to strut around a bit, even though he had taken all the heat in the match. Hornswoggle then entered from behind wearing Kendrick's jacket and mocking his struts. Kendrick chased Hornswoggle to the outside and around the ring and was met with a clothesline from Finlay. While the ref ordered Hornswoggle to the other side, Big Zeke came through w/ a clothesline on Finlay, finally turning the tide of the match. Now, the heels took their turns tagging in and out and working over Finlay. First JBL, then Kane, then MVP with knee strikes and a knee drop. JBL was back in with a big clothesline on Finlay, but moments later Finlay hit a DDT on JBL. Both men made tags and Batista and MVP came in. The match started to break down as the heels took turns taking a run at Batista. Both Kane and MVP got hit w/ spine busters. Batista set MVP up for the Batista bomb, but Kendrick rushed him, and was back dropped to the corner. Batista powerslamed MVP and then tagged in Misterio, who ascended to the top, stood and Batista's shoulders and came off with a splash. Misterio, who had both MVP and Brian Kendrick set up for the 619, hit the ropes but Kane, from the outside, grabbed Rey's leg and pulled him out of the ring to the floor.
BREAK
Kane hit a low drop kick on Misterio and was in control out of the break. As Kane wore down Rey, Tazz told us how losing one's mask, in Mexico, is like being disgraced and what would happen if Rey is forced to unmask this Sunday (if history proves out, he'll lose some of his popularity and join a lame group led by Konnan...just a guess). Brian Kendrick was tagged in and laid a few kicks in and got a two count. Kendrick applied a seated Japanese strangle hold on Rey, who eventually fought to his feet but was cut off quickly. JBL then came in and taunted Batista and hit a fall away slam on Rey, which brought Batista in to break up a pin attempt. MVP tagged in, but referee Scott Armstrong made them do the tag again because he didn't see it (every once in a while it's a good move to have the refs bring a little reality into their jobs). After a few moments, MVP tagged in Kendrick who came in with a stomp off the top. Rey made a comeback reversing a tilt-a-whirl into a inverted DDT. Rey made the hot tag to Hardy while Kendrick tagged in MVP. Hardy came in with a few hooking clotheslines. MVP blocked an attempted Twist of Fate, pushing Hardy off, but Hardy the hit the Whisper in the Wind. The match broke down again as each man came in and hit a move and then was knocked out. Rey hit a missile dropkick off the top on Kane and then a 619 on MVP. Rey then hit a seated senton onto Kane on the outside while Hardy came off with the Swanton on to MVP for the pin.
Slow start to the match, but it got better when the heels had the advantage (oddly since that normally isn't the case). The last segment was pretty good and the finish was a good way to make fans happy who may be tuning in for the first time.
-JR and Tazz talked about the move to MyNetwork and then Big Show/Undertaker.
-A video recapping the Big Show/Undertaker feud aired
-Big Show was shown walking backstage.
BREAK
-Teddy Long and Tiffany as well as Mike Adamle were in the GM's office. Big Show came in and asked why they were there and then proceeded to kick them out of, as he called it, "My office." Chavo then came in complaining about his back.. Show said it was Chavo's fault Taker got to Vickie last week. Big Show said Chavo was abducted and Chavo exclaimed, "Abducted? I was kidnapped!" Ummmm...Chavo...that's the same thing. Hell, in the definition of "abduct" it says, "see Kidnap." Anyways, English semantics aside, Big Show told Chavo that he (Show) was in charge. Chavo said he's a Guerrero so he should be in charge. Show said he Chavo has a match, and if he kept questioning him, his match was going to be with Show. Chavo left, because he had a match to prepare for.
-Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix made their way to the ring. Pop Up Helms appeared again saying the Honky Tonk Man would roll over in his grave...and the was informed that HTM isn't dead. But, he's just sayin. Apparently during his year off from injuries and suspensions, Helms put in a tape of a 1990 WWF show and just figured it was a safe bet that one in three of the guys on those shows is no longer alive. Maybe they should have re thought that line...I'm just sayin. Santino had them put up the Honk-a-Meter, and now Santino has been champion for 6.71 weeks, which means he is only 57.29 weeks short of the Honky Donkey Man's record. He then said Shelton Benjamin was only champion of one country, but he (Santino) was champion of the planet.
BREAK
2. WWE IC Champion Santino Marella vs. WWE US Champion Shelton Benjamin- We get another faux Titan-Tron promo from Shelton before hand where he calls Santino Beth Phoenix's girlfriend and a joke. Very short match with Shelton hitting "Pay Dirt" early. As he was setting up to hit the move, R-Truth's music hit. Truth came from the crowd doing his rap. Shelton tried to keep focused, but eventually, while Shelton was on the middle rope looking out to Truth, Santino powerbomed him off the ropes into a pinfall. Truth just keep rapping up the aisle while Shelton fumed. Truth asked, "What's Up" and then walked to the back.
BREAK
-Big Show made his way to the ring. He said he knows Vickie is watching and that he was in control of the show and had a special surprise for Chavo. Chavo came out, looking unsure. Justin Roberts introduced his opponent...Mark Henry. Then, Roberts introduced Henry's partner in this "Handicap Match," The Great Khali.
3. Chavo Guerrero vs. Mark Henry (w/ Tony Atlas) & The Great Khali (w/ Ranjin Singh)- Show stayed at ringside for the match. Henry headbutted Chavo and tagged out to Khali, who came in and hit Chavo with the big head chop. Henry was tagged back in and hit the World's Strongest Slam to Big Show's approval. Khali finished off Chavo with the head vice. Chavo was tossed out to Big Show's feet. Show ko'ed Chavo with a punch and then got in the ring and told said that the Undertaker needed to start being scared. The bell tolled and lights went out and Show got out of the ring. 2 bell tolls later, Undertaker appeared in the ring and stared down the aisle at Show. Taker did a throat slash as we fade to break.
BREAK
Priceless is already in the ring and we get some pre-recorded comments from the trio on their opponents. The new WWE Tag Team Champions, Carlito and Primo make their way to the ring (with new matching pleather pants). Carltio says that since it was supposed to be a tag match, but they didn't want Manu to stand around looking like an idiot...more than he normally does, they're making it a 6 man tag. Primo then steals Carltio's "That's cool" line and the bicker about the line. Too bad as the Colons were waking their way to the ring, Justin Roberts had already announced it as a 6 man tag. Anyway, Carlito and Primo's partner is CM Punk, who comes out to a good reaction. Punk immediately slapped Cody Rhodes in the face.
4. CM Punk & WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Carltio vs. Priceless (Manu & World Tag Team Champions Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes)- Primo and DiBiase start off and quickly, both tag team championship teams are in the ring. Primo and Carltio hit a double dropkick on DiBiase, Carltio is low bridged by Manu and tumbles over the top rope and to the floor. Manu tags in and hits a running/diving headbutt on Carlito. Carlito fought to the corner and Primo made the tag (I don't know if he was supposed to make it, but the ref did enforce the tag). Cody came in and took down Primo with a Russian leg sweep and then an arm bar/chin lock hold. Primo made a tag to CM Punk he came in with the springboard clothesline on DiBiase who was tagged in as well. Punk hit his combo of strikes and then the running knee/bulldog combo. The heels hit the ring but were run off by the Colons. Primo hit a pescado on Cody and Carltio hit a flip plancha on to Manu to the outside. Punk had DiBiase up and hit the GTS and got the pin.
-Jesse and Festus were shown backstage and JR congratulated them on helping the move to MyNetwork TV.
-All the WWE Divas were shown making their down the aisle for a lumberjack match
BREAK
5. WWE Women's Champion Beth Phoenix vs. WWE Diva's Champion Michelle McCool (lumberjack match)- Beth used her power early to gain the advantage. McCool got a two count with a school-girl roll up. She tried a victory roll but Phoenix didn't go over and then pulled her back up into a high angle back suplex. Phoenix then locked McCool into an over the shoulder back breaker. McCool got out and got a near fall on a sloppy jackknife cradle. McCool fired away with forearms and Beth bailed to the outside. The heel lumberjacks didn't protected Beth, but when Michelle went to the outside, they jumped her. The babyface girls made their way over and we had a brawl on our hands. Maryse pulled Michelle's leg out while she tried to get back in the ring and then later got involved again while Michelle was on the middle rope. Beth hooked the double chicken wing and hit the "Glam Slam" (sit out implant buster) for the pin. Candace Michelle looked on from outside with a little worry on her face.
BREAK
-A video recap of the Jericho/Michaels lead up to Sunday's ladder match is shown
-JR and Tazz run down the No Mercy card (I'll have a preview late Saturday/early Sunday on CarltonPrescott.com)
-Matt Hardy, then Triple H make their way to the ring for the main event.
BREAK
6. ECW Champion Matt Hardy vs. WWE Champion Triple H vs. World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho- I'd like to tell you about the first segment of this match...but I don't have it. My copy picks up, I assume after Jericho makes his way to the ring and they do some stuff and then take a break. So, out of this second break Matt Hardy delivers and elbow to the back of Jericho's head "off the second tunrbuckle on the inside" (my shout out to Gorilla Monsoon). Hardy sets up for the Twist of Fate but is shoved off towards the ropes and Triple H, who was on the outside, pulls down the top rope and Hardy goes over it and to the floor. Jericho catches HHH with a kick as HHH is stepping into the ring to gain the advantage. During (I guess) the most recent commercial break, Jericho and Triple H were fighting on the outside and Jericho sent The Game into the steel steps. Back to the present, after laying some kicks into Triple H, Jericho is hit with a spine buster. As Triple H tries to go for the Pedigree, Matt Hardy slowly makes his way back up, climbing the the top rope. Jericho blocks the Pedigree with a double leg take down, and then sling shots HHH into the corner that Hardy was climbing, crotching him on the top turnbuckle. Jericho goes for a superplex, but HHH comes underneath and provides the powerbomb part of a powerbomb/suplex tower of doom move. Triple H applies a sleep, but Jericho turns in to it and counters with a back suplex. Jericho goes for the Lionsault but HHH moves and Jericho lands on his feet and sells "tweaking" his knee on the landing. Triple H goes to apply a figure 4 but is kicked off into Hardy, who was still selling the superplex. Jericho locks in the Walls of Jericho on Triple H. The Game tries to power out but is dragged back into the middle of the ring. Hardy comes in and breaks the hold, but Jericho double legs him and goes for the Walls on Hardy, but Matt catches him in a small package for a two count. Hardy blocks a bulldog attempt and send Jericho into the corner. Hardy hits a bulldog for a two count. Jericho ducks a clothesline but his attempt at the Code Breaker is blocked and turned into a jackknife pin attempt for another 2 count. Jericho counters another Twist of Fate attempt, but Hardy hits the Side Effect. Triple H slides in from the outside and hits the Pedigree on Hardy for the win.
After the match, Jericho hits the Code Breaker on HHH and the grabs a ladder from under the ring. Jericho hits Matt Hardy with the ladder and then goes to do more damage until Jeff Hardy makes the save. Jeff takes Jericho out and over the top rope. Triple H comes to his feet and goes to turn Jeff around, Jeff does and hit HHH with the Twist of Fate. Hardy then sets the ladder up and climbs it about to come off on HHH when Vladimir Kozlov comes into the ring. Hardy jumps off the ladder at Kozlov and gets headbutted. Kozlov then hits his slop drop move on Triple H and the only one left standing in the ring as the show ends.
Final Thought:
The first match was decent, and what I saw of the last match, it was really good. The counter wrestling between Jericho and Hardy was particularly smooth. Kozlov is certainly getting a shot...and having seen a decent amount of his OVW work, he's going to need to be protected and so far they are doing just that. All in all, a good show, but hardly a great sell job for the PPV Sunday. Other than the Big Show/Undertaker thing, the PPV is matches are not hyped well during these "all star" matches.
2009 - TNA ran Dublin, Ireland. David Long filed the following live report:
TNA House Show results from The O2 in Dublin October 3rd 2009.
TNA got the show underway with JB telling the fans he had lots of backstage passes to give away during the night.
Match 1: Sheik Abdul Bashir v Super Mex Hernandez
Sheik got great heat when he went on the mic and spoke in his native tongue, fans were fully behind Super Mex in this one.
Winner: Super Mex Hernandez
Earl Hebner was introduced by JB as the most controversial referee in wrestling history, lots of " You Screwed Bret" chants.
Match 2: Taylor Wilde v Awesome Kong v Velvet Sky
Lots of chants for Angelina Love during this one, Velvet and Taylor are incredibly hot in person.
Winner: Velvet Sky
Match 3: Samoa Joe v Black Machismo Jay Lethal for the TNA X Division Championship
When Joe came to Dublin in January he got an unbelievable response. It was slightly different this time because he was heel and he wasn't doing all the crazy things that he did as a face but he was still awesome in the ring and so was Jay. Loads of near pin falls in this one. Fans were really into it.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Match 4: British Invasion v Beer Money Inc
This was the match of the night without a doubt. British Invasion came out to solid heat and built on that by talking about the Lisbon Treaty and how Ireland would be better off rejoining the United Kingdom than being part of the EU, this did not go down well with the Irish fans and they then proceeded to sing God Save The Queen until Beer Money came out to an amazing response that lasted for their whole entrance music. They got on the mic and got the fans on one side of the arena to chant Beer and the other side to chant Money, great back and forth match with plenty of near pin falls.
At the interval I got handed a card for Irelands only dedicated wrestling radio show World Wrestling Revolution on www.wwr.ie, will check that out at some stage
Match 5: Rhino v Suicide
Rhino came out to a great response at first but quickly turned it around by rejecting the ECW chants and saying Ireland sucks.
Winner: Suicide
Match 6: Kurt Angle and TNA Tag Team Titles Booker T & Scott Steiner v Abyss & Team 3D
Team 3D came through the crowd to a great response, great heat by Booker T having a go at security to make sure no kids touch him. Tables and chairs were legal.
Winner: Team 3D & Abyss
At the end of the match Team 3D went on the microphone and said that Ireland has the toughest tables to break, they invited a fan into the ring and gave him a piece of the table. The fans mother was invited in, and Bubba dared D Von to kiss her and he did! There were chants to put the kid and the mother through a table and Bubba laughed and said, "You are sick son of a bitches!"
Even though the arena was nowhere near capacity this was a great TNA show and hats off to the roster for pulling out a great event and giving a 110% effort.
2010 - WWE held their Hell in A Cell PPV. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
The PPV opened with a video package featuring the "Cell" speaking about its excitement over "it's two favorite sons" Kane and Undertaker battling within it.
WWE United States champion Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz vs. John Morrison: Submissions Count Anywhere.
They made it clear before the match that the first submission wins the match. Miz had the last entrance and said that the entire situation was ridiculous, as he was "mentor to both" of them and that none of the fans would know who Bryan and Morrison would be without the Miz, but without them, he would still be the champion. Miz said that he has "it" and would be the new champion tonight. He claimed that he never tapped out before going into his catch phrase.
Miz was overwhelmed early by Bryan and Morrison before powdered out of the ring. They chased him around before taking him out in the ring and knocking Miz back outside of the ring. Bryan and Morrison went back and forth with some solid mat wrestling. Bryan locked in a leglock. Morrison grabbed the ropes but due to the rules, that wouldn't force a break. They go to the floor, where Bryan holds onto the move. Miz attacks both, breaking it up and tosses Morrison back into the ring.
Morrison was whipped into the corner but slipped away from Miz as Miz charged and locked in a Tarantula. Bryan dropkicked both, sending Miz to the floor. Danielson went for the Cattle Mutilation, which Matt Striker called under that name. Miz tried to get involved but Danielson caught him in a leglock. The crowd came alive when they thought Miz would tap. Miz kicked Bryan in the face and went for a heel hook. Bryan reversed it back into a leglock. Morrison came off the top with a corkscrew moonsault on both, then locked in a Haas of Pain on Bryan. Miz broke up the submission.
Morrison nailed a corkscrew plancha over the top onto Miz on the floor. He charged Miz but was backdropped into the crowd. Miz followed him and they battled back and forth into the crowd. Miz slammed Morrison into the barricade, then locked on an armbar in the crowd. Morrison punched Miz and followed him through the crowd as Miz tried to escape. They began battling up a flight of stairs, where Miz slammed Morrison into a steel guardrail. Miz slipped Morrison through the rail and tried a Dragon Sleeper but Bryan joined the fray to break it up. Miz kicked him down some stairs, then slammed him into a plastic trash can cover.
Danielson grabbed Miz., surprising him with a Fujiwara armbar submission. Morrison got involved but was elevated and dropped across a piece of the arena's steel sectioning. Miz threw Bryan into a guard rail, which collapsed, by the stage area. Morrison grabbed Miz and tossed him out of sight with Miz disappearing behind the stage. Morrison tossed Bryan into a wall. Miz returned with a large box on wheels, slamming it into Morrison. He placed Bryan atop of it and rammed it into the entrance ramp, with Bryan bumping off the box and onto the ramp. Morrison tried to lock a triangle choke on Miz on the box but Bryan interfered. Miz slammed Bryan into the barricade, then hit the Skull Crushing Finale on Morrison.
Miz and Bryan brawled up to the entrance stage. Morrison recovered and scaled the fencing that was used as decoration on the stage, then dove off a good 8-10 feet down onto Miz and Morrison. Morrison went for a Texas Cloverleaf on Miz but as Miz was about to tap, Alex Riley hit the scene and attacked Morrison. Bryan took out Riley (and a cameraman) before locking the LeBell Lock on Miz, who tapped.
Your winner and still United States champion, Daniel Bryan!
You knew we were getting a good match with these guys involved and they delivered. Real interesting stuff and a very entertaining brawl here. Lots of unique submissions. I really enjoyed this.
After the match, Michael Cole finally admitted, "I get it. Daniel Bryan is for real."
Legendary promo. I'm at the point I am hearing "I want my son back" in my dreams.
HELL IN A CELL: WWE champion Randy Orton vs. Sheamus
They showed a replay of Orton punt kicking Chris Jericho on Monday. They did the big ring introductions for the title match. They locked up once the cage was locked and went back and forth across the ring without either getting the advantage. They began slugging it out with Orton getting the better of it early but Sheamus mounted a comeback. Orton cut him off with a kick to the gut. He went to slam Sheamus into the turnbuckles, but it was blocked and Sheamus worked him over in the corner.
Sheamus whipped Orton into the ropes but Orton nailed a clothesline and tossed him to the floor. Orton followed and tried to slam Sheamus into the cage but it was blocked. Sheamus jumped right back into the ring to avoid the cage. Orton took him down and began stomping away at him. Sheamus came back with a slingshot shoulderblock off the apron into the ring, then began pounding Orton with elbows and punches. Sheamus brought him out to the cage but Orton fought him off. Sheamus finally whipped Orton into the cage and clotheslined him on the floor.
Sheamus grabbed the upper half of the steel ring steps and threw them at Orton but missed. Orton attacked Sheamus and rammed him backwards into the cage several times. Orton then grabbed the stairs and nailed Sheamus with them. Orton brought him back into the ring and attempted a suplex but Sheamus reversed it and draped Orton over the ropes. Sheamus tackled him, knocking Orton off the apron and into the cage. Sheamus tossed Orton into the ring for a two count.
Sheamus began stomping the hell out of Orton in the corner. Orton pulled himself up and fired back but was caught with a series of knees to the mid-section. Sheamus ripped the top turnbuckle off one of the corners. He tried to ram Orton into it but Orton blocked himself and fought back before being cut off. Orton rolled out of the ring to regroup but Sheamus grabbed him and raked his face against the cage. Sheamus grabbed the ring steps again. He set them up, picked up Orton for a suplex and dropped him across them. Orton began selling the ribs in a major way as Sheamus dropped a knee on them. He tossed Orton into the ring and scored a two count. Sheamus locked in a body scissor but Orton finally fought his way to his feet.
Orton began using rear elbows to fight off Sheamus, dropping him with a suplex. Orton sold the ribs as he made his way back to his feet. Sheamus charged but Orton evaded him and Sheamus nailed the buckle corner he removed. Both men went down, hurting but made their way back to their feet. They began slugging it back and forth. Sheamus went for a slam but Orton nailed a clothesline and powerslammed Sheamus. He whipped Sheamus into the corner but was caught with an elbow. Orton came back with a suplex for a two count.
Orton nailed a backbreaker but when he went for the RKO, Sheamus kneed him in the ribs. Sheamus pulled the ring steps into the ring. Orton began firing with rights but a knee to the ribs ended that. Sheamus picked up Orton for a slam but Orton escaped and ended up nailing a scoop slam on the stairs. Orton covered him but Sheamus got the shoulder up at the last second. Sheamus and Orton battled back and forth, ending with Orton snapping Sheamus' throat over the ropes. Back on the floor, Sheamus tackled Orton on the floor. They were treating it like a war of attrition where both were taking extreme punishment and were hurting. Both were doing a really good selling job.
Sheamus brought Orton back into the ring and nailed an over the knee backbreaker on Orton on the stairs. He nailed Orton with the pump kick but Orton kicked out and Sheamus' facial expression of shock was just plain awesome. Sheamus went under the ring and pulled out a chair, bringing it down over Orton's back and ribs a number of times, but only getting a two count. As Orton made his way to his feet, Sheamus went for a swing with the chair but missed. Orton nailed an RKO but Sheamus rolled out of the ring, killing the effectiveness of the move.
On the outside, Orton snapped to attention and teased the punt kick but missed it. Sheamus nailed the pump kick to Orton on the outside. He rolled Orton back into the ring but only garnered a two count. Frustrated, Sheamus set the stairs up in the ring again, then pulled Orton toward them. He went for the High Cross but Orton took Sheamus' legs out from under him, slamming Sheamus back-first on the stairs. Orton was too tired to take advantage so Sheamus went for another High Cross but Orton slipped out and nailed the RKO on the stairs for the pin.
Your winner and still WWE champion, Randy Orton!
Really well worked match but I don't think people will be touting this when the night is over. That said, I think they did a really good job telling their story.
Orton scaled the Cell to celebrate atop of it after the bout.
They aired a Bragging Rights PPV commercial, with Nexus as one of the selling points.
Josh Mathews was with all the NXT Season 3 Rookies, pushing that one of them may be eliminated this Tuesday. Mathews asked Kaitlin how worried she was about elimination, but before she had a chance to answer, The Nexus came on the scene. Mathews asked Wade Barrett if he was worried about the Raw GM's ruling that if Nexus interferes, Barrett loses and the Nexus will be no more. Barrett said that he's already shown that he can beat Cena on his own and tomorrow, they will have a special gift for Cena on Raw, showing a Nexus armband.
Alberto Del Rio made his way to the ring with Rodrigo Rodriguez doing his big introduction in Spanish. Del Rio took the mic and bragged that tonight was his PPV debut and he wanted to make it special. He said that a man like him can take days counting his fortune but instead he's in Dallas, trying to help the fans. He told the fans not to cheer him, but they can thank him. He mocked Rey Mysterio and Christian, then asked who was going to be the next man to face him. He said that since this was Texas, he thought things were bigger but said he could buy each and every one of you. He continued ripping on the fans until Edge came out.
Edge said he was not out here to defend anyone but he was in a battle against stupidity. He ripped on the little dog on Smackdown dressed like Rey Mysterio and Del Rio's scarf. Del Rio told him to think very carefully about what he said. Edge began insulting Del Rio in broken Spanish. Edge ripped on Del Rio's announcer, calling him stupid and ripped his jacket. Del Rio and Edge looked like they were about to go down when Jack Swagger came out and said what's stupid is a Mexican and a Canadian fighting on the PPV when Swagger isn't wrestling. Swagger complained about Edge beating up his mascot. Edge said he would pay the mascot's medical bills and then he'd pay Swagger's as well. Del Rio attacked Edge from behind and Swagger joined in.
The General Manager's email advisory came through. Michael Cole announced that Edge would have to issue a public apology tomorrow and right now, it will be Edge vs. Jack Swagger.
Jack Swagger vs. Edge
Swagger worked over Edge early. Edge came back to nail several rights but Swagger whipped Edge into the turnbuckles. Swagger used a step over toehold but Edge escaped and began fighting is way back to his feet. Swagger took Edge out and covered him for a two count. Swagger locked in a body scissors to work over Edge on the mat. Edge escaped and used the Hot Shot on the ropes. Edge went for the spear but Swagger dropped down and Edge bounced off the ropes. Swagger covered him for a two count.
Swagger teased hitting a back suplex off the apron to the floor on Edge. Swagger locked on an abdominal stretch as both were between the ropes. Edge came back with a boot to the face as Swagger jumped over the ropes to return to the ring. Edge had a swollen eye at this point. Edge came back with several clotheslines. Swagger went for the ankle lock but edge escaped. Edge ducked a clothesline and nailed the inverted DDT, then pulled swagger into a pinfall combination. Swagger kicked out and went for the ankle lock but Edge grabbed the ropes to force a break. Striker mentioned Edge's Achilles' Heel injury.
Swagger charged Edge, who backdropped him over the top to the floor. Edge went for a shoulderblock but Swagger avoided it. He went for the anklelock on the floor but was kicked off, with Swagger taking a bump into the ring steps. Edge rolled Swagger back into the ring and went to the top rope. Swagger leaped up to grab a suplex but Edge battled him off. Edge nailed a missile dropkick to the face. He covered Swagger for a two count.
Swagger came back to whip Edge into the corner but Edge slipped out of the ring, nearly taking out another cameraman in the process. Edge went to the ropes but Swagger caught him with a top rope Belly to Belly suplex. Swagger nailed a back suplex. Swagger had a bloody bottom lip. He went for the Vader Bomb out of the corner but Edge kicked him as he came down and set up for the spear. He went for it but Swagger nailed the Doctor Bomb for a two count with Edge kicking up at the last second.
Edge went for an enziguiri as Swagger went for a Dragon Screw, which looked bad. The referee checked on Edge before they kept going. Swagger locked in the ankle lock but Edge rolled through and nailed the spear and scored the pin.
Your winner, Edge!
Solid match. Fans didn't seem to know what to think about Edge in the babyface position. Other than one spot towards the end, this was solid all the way through.
Backstage, the Nexus were talking about Wade Barrett's match against John Cena. Barrett was not there. David Otunga had a plan on how they can get involved but not get disqualified. The others didn't seem to believe in the idea but Otunga dismissed them and told them he would explain on the way.
John Cena vs. Wade Barrett: Cena joins Nexus vs. the end of the group
They played up that there was a huge amount of pressure on Cena tonight. They noted that since Cena was the face of the company, a lot of the stars on both brands were rooting for him to come through.
They went back and forth early with several near falls in a feeling out process. There were some dueling chants early. Cena nailed a hiptoss and a dropkick for a two count. Cena got the better of Barrett in wrestling early. Barrett worked over Cena with right hands but Cena came back with a double leg takedown and peppered him with punches. Cena went for the Attitude Adjustment but saw Nexus coming out to ringside. Cena was distracted so Barrett nailed him from behind. Barrett got out of the ring and told them to stick get away from ringside and that he had it. Otunga told them that the plan would work. Nexus remained at ringside.
Barrett whipped Cena into the barricade and then back into the ring for a two count. Barrett drilled Cena with a right hand and covered him for a two count. Barrett drilled Cena with an over the knee backbreaker. Barrett drilled Cena with an elbowdrop off the middle rope but Cena kicked out at two. Barrett controlled Cena, stomping and punching him. Cena fired back but missed a charge into the corner. Barrett drilled him with a hangman's neckbreaker for a two count.
Barrett drilled his knee into the small of Cena's back and extended his arms backward. Barrett catapulted him into the ropes and Cena snapped backwards over Barrett's knees. Barrett went right back to working over Cena's back. Cena finally came back with a pair of flying shoulder tackles, a suplex and went for the five knuckle shuffle. Nexus surrounded the ring as Cena nailed it. Big Show came running down to the ring and began brawling with Nexus. A ton of Raw and Smackdown babyfaces followed and they beat the hell out of the Nexus, running them off into the crowd. Cena had a big smile on his face. Officials removed the others from ringside as Cena smiled that it was now one on one.
Cena went for the STF but Barrett escaped and drilled him, working on Cena's back. Cena mounted a comeback. He went for the Attitude Adjustment but Barrett escaped and whipped out an AWESOME Billy Robinson style Butterfly suplex for a two count. Barrett went after Cena in the corner, but Cena kept kicked him off. He charged but Cena was caught with a side slam for a two count. Barrett went for the second rope elbow but missed. Cena went to the top rope but Barrett recovered. They battled back and forth until Barrett finally set up for a superplex. Cena powered his way out of it and headbutt Barrett down, dazing himself in the process. Cena came off with a top rope legdrop for a two count.
Cena went for the AA but Barrett turned it into his finisher, the Wasteland, which Cena kicked out at the last second. Barrett looked to be thinking about what to do before he finally went to grab Cena. Cena nailed the AA for another two count. Barrett missed a punch and Cena locked in an STF. Michael McGuillicuty (not identified) hit the ring from the crowd but was tackled by the referee and the security guard. Husky Harris then hit the ring from another part of the crowd (not identified either) and drilled Cena. Barrett scored the pin.
Your winner, Wade Barrett!
Your new member of Nexus, John Cena ...and obviously, Harris and McGuillicuty will be soon as well.
John Cena spent a long time in the ring after his match. They showed a lot of shots of shocked fans. Cena hugged some kids before leaving the ringside area.
Backstage, Josh Mathews was wandering through the darkness and found Paul Bearer. Mathews asked why he returned after a six year absence. He said that Kane may think he is the only one with a master plan, Bearer has his own plans and he's been biding his time for the last few years waiting. He said that Kane may be the "Devil's favorite demon" but he'll never be the "Father of Destruction's favorite son."
They ran the WWE promotional video on the company's work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
WWE Unified Divas champion Michelle McCool vs. Natalya
Natalya took McCool down immediately and controlled her but McCool went to the ropes. McCool went outside. Natalya followed, drilling Layla El in the process, but was caught with a clothesline on the floor. McCool dropped a number of knees to Natalya's back once when they returned to the ring. McCool snapmared her over and cinched in a body scissor to wear down Natalya. Natalya got to her feet with the scissor still locked on and ran McCool into the buckles. McCool held onto into and ran her back down to the mat. Natalya began firing her way out of the move. Natalya finally escaped and drilled McCool with a clothesline. Layla got on the apron and Natalya grabbed her. McCool threw a kick but got her partner instead. Natalya rolled her up for a two count.
McCool went for the Styles Clash but Natalya turned it into the Sharpshooter. McCool reversed it into a heel hook but Natalya turned it back into another Sharpshooter. Just as McCool was about to tap (and she started tapping), Layla tossed a shoe at Natalya. J.J. Dillon would approve.
Your winner by DQ, Natalya.
Obviously, no title change.
WWE World champion Kane vs. The Undertaker.
They brawled outside of the Cell, but the bell never rang. They finally battled inside the cage and around ringside. Kane grabbed a chair but Taker battled him off. They locked the Cell and rang the bell.
Taker followed Kane into the ring and clotheslined him in the corner several times. He dropped Kane into the corner with snake eyes, then dropped a legdrop for a two count. Kane grabbed a chair and drilled Taker over the back. Kane worked over Taker with a series of punches and kicks in the corner, then kicked him off the apron to the floor. On the floor, Taker battled back with a series of rights. He rammed Kane backwards into the cage.
Taker went to whip Kane into the steel steps at ringside but Kane reversed it and Taker ate the steel. Kane grabbed a chair and drilled Taker in the back of Taker's leg. He ran Taker's leg into the ringpost. He then wedged Taker's leg between the post and the steps and slammed them. Kane continued beating on Taker. He charged Taker on the floor but missed, eating the cage face-first. Taker began working over Kane in the corner with boxing combinations, wearing him down. Taker nailed the guillotine legdrop on the apron.
Back in the ring, Kane went right back to attacking Taker's bad leg. Kane, who had a trickle of blood running from the back of his head, went after Taker's leg and ankle. Taker made his way back to his feet and they battled back and forth, slugging it out. Taker ducked a clothesline and nailed the heat seeking missile. He grabbed Kane's arm and went to the ropes for the Old School walk but Kane took his bad leg out and Taker crotched himself. Kane superplexed Taker into the ring.
Kane went to the top rope for a clothesline but was drilled with a right hand in mid-air. Taker locked in the Hell's Gate submission but Kane pulled himself out of the ring to break the hold. Kane returned and they each went for big boots at the same time, connecting with each other and crumbling to the mat. Both did the sit up and began fighting back and forth on their knees. Kane whipped Taker into the ropes but left his head down and Taker caught him with a DDT for a two count.
Taker nailed a chokeslam for a two count. Taker went for the Last Ride but Kane attacked the bad leg and chokeslammed Taker. He covered Taker, who kicked up at the last second. Kane drilled Taker a number of times in the corner and mounted the corner to throw punches but Taker pulled him into a Last Ride for a two count. Undertaker went for the tombstone but Kane reversed it and drilled it. Taker kicked out at two. Kane began screaming, "No" and punched the referee out.
The officials opened the cage so they could attend to the referee. Paul Bearer entered the cage and began trying to rally the Undertaker. Kane forced Bearer into the ring and screamed at him that he shouldn't have come back. Taker sat up behind them and grabbed Kane for a chokeslam. Bearer motioned at Taker. Taker did the throat slash and the lights began flickering as pyro exploded on stage. Undertaker went to grab Kane when Bearer opened his urn and a light came out, blinding Taker. Everything went back to normal as Taker looked confused. Kane recovered and Bearer was between them. He looked back and forth, then handed the urn to Kane. Kane drilled Taker with it, then chokeslammed him for the pin.
Your winner and still WWE World champion, Kane!
So, the story was Bearer took Taker's power and handed it to Kane, all along.
2011 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Lafayette, Louisiana and your announcers are Michael ‘Simon Cowell’ Cole, Jim ‘Boomer Sooner’ Ross, and Booker ‘Randy Jackson’ T.
Match Number One: Randy Orton versus Drew McIntyre
They lock up and they go around the ring and Drew backs Orton into the corner. The referee separates the men. Drew with a kick and punch to Orton but Orton with a clothesline out of the corner after an Irish whip. Orton with a boot to the hand followed by a European uppercut and a drop kick that sends Drew to the floor.
Orton throws Drew into the ringside barrier and then he sends Drew into the barrier on the other side of the ring. They are back in the ring and Orton punches Drew in the corner. Drew goes into the ropes to try to stop Orton and that allows Drew to use the referee to distract Orton for a big boot. Drew punches Orton followed by a boot to the head.
McIntyre with a snap suplex for a near fall. Drew chokes Orton in the ropes. Orton with punches and European uppercuts followed by more punches until Orton is warned by the referee. Orton with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot and Drew gets a near fall. Drew with an arm bar on Orton but Orton with a head butt. Drew with a kick to the knee and a neck breaker for a near fall.
Drew goes to the turnbuckles but he is met with Orton’s boots and Drew is staggered. Orton with a clothesline or two followed by a power slam. Orton has that look in his eyes and he sends Drew to the apron for the IEDDT and he hits it. Orton stares to the rafters and then he turns into the RKO warm up position. He pounds the mat and then he hits the RKO on Drew and he gets the three count.
Winner: Randy Orton
Orton waits for his music to end after his match and he gives Drew another RKO.
Mark Henry’s music plays and the owner of the Hall of Pain makes his way to the ring. Henry holds the title belt over his head as if he is trying to take Kelly Kelly’s title and Orton attacks Henry. They exchange punches and security comes out to separate Orton and Henry. John Laurinaitis comes out and just like his run as Executive VP of Talent Relations, his supervision fails. Henry breaks free and then Orton. Orton sends Henry over the ringside barrier and into the crowd. Orton is held by security and led up the ramp.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Mark Henry is in the ring. We go to a video package for the Hall of Pain.
We find out that Big Show will be back on Smackdown.
Match Number Two: Mark Henry versus John Morrison
Morrison with punches and kicks to the back but Henry knocks Morrison to the mat. Henry sends Morrison into the corner and he punches Morrison. Henry with a head butt. Henry tries for a biel but Morrison lands on his feet but he runs into Henry and goes down after a body block. Henry with a forearm to the back. Henry tries to toss Morrison over his head but Morrison lands on his feet. Morrison with a super kick that sends Henry to his knees. Morrison with a drop kick followed by a Shining Wizard.
Morrison hits the springboard corkscrew split legged moonsault but Henry kicks out. Henry with a boot to Morrison. Henry with the World’s Strongest Slam and he gets the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
After the match, Henry picks up Morrison and hits another World’s Strongest Slam.
Mark tells Morrison that now he knows what it is like to be in the ring with a beast. Randy Orton knows too. He tells Randy that he is done with him. Mark mentions that he saw that somebody is looking for him on Friday, but he is not a hard man to find. He reminds us that he is the World Heavyweight Champion. He tells Big Show that when he shows up it is going to be the shortest return in WWE history because he is going back on the shelf. He is going to enter the Hall of Pain again.
John Laurinaitis is with the disgruntled ones and he wants to know if David has anything to do with the lawsuit that Miz and Truth filed. Otunga is non-committal and he wants to make sure that Hunter deals with the legitimate ones. Vickie says that they are going to go to the ring to deal with their grievances.
John Laurinaitis texts his mystery texting partner as we go to commercial.
We are back and Christian, David Otunga, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, Vickie Guerrero, and Cody Rhodes are in the ring. They are joined by Alberto Del Rio who has to make his own entrance.
Alberto is the first to talk and he reminds us that he became the WWE Champion last night. He could not celebrate his victory because two people who were supposed to be fired jumped the rail, entered the cell, and attacked him. It happened because of Triple H. He says that Hunter cannot run this company. In the moment he became victorious, the cell magically got raised so John Cena and the hooligans could enter the ring. Then magically, the cell was lowered. Only one man has the power to take that position and that man is Triple H. He says that Triple H is a pig.
Christian says that it is fine that Hunter is the COO, but ever since he took the day to day operations of Raw, it has become unsafe. Christian says that he is not going to take it anymore.
Cody says that this is not a conspiracy, it is a fact that they have fallen victim to his negligent actions. Is it because of someone’s enormous ego?
Ziggler says that Hunter’s lack of any actions have gone on too long. They are going to take action into their own hands.
Jack says that thanks to Triple H, his friends and family are concerned for him whenever he steps into the ring every time he is on Raw.
Vickie gives a few excuse mes and she says that as a woman she feels especially vulnerable with Triple H in charge.
Otunga says that when he was a law student, he read about cases like this. He says that there are two options. They can work and risk their likelihood or they can band together and contemplate legal action.
The Countersuing Operating Officer comes out. Hunter wants to know what happened to the WWE? There used to be a time when men stood in the ring and fought. It didn’t matter if they got beat up, jumped, or got screwed over . . . they fought.
They didn’t stand in the ring and whine and cry like little kids. They didn’t threaten lawsuits. They fought like men. He doesn’t give a damn about Miz and Truth’s lawsuit or their lawsuit. Hunter cares that when all of them walk down to the ring to stand in the ring with Evan Bourne, Kofi Kingston, Sheamus, CM Punk, and John Cena. He doesn’t want them to whine at them, cry at them, or threaten to sue them. He wants them to stand in the ring and do what these people pay them to do. That is to shut up and fight.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Beth Phoenix finally winning the Divas Title . . . with help from Natalya.
Match Number Three: Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres versus Beth Phoenix and Natalya
Beth and Kelly start things off and Beth with a kick and she sends Kelly to the floor. Kelly sends Beth into the announce table and Kelly screams while she sends Beth into the announce table. Eve stops Natalya while Kelly continues to attack Beth and the referee calls for the bell.
No Contest
After the ‘match’ Kelly screams like Melina and uses the announce table as a weapon on Beth.
Hunter is on the phone and John Laurinaitis enters and he apologizes to Hunter for what happened with Miz and Truth. John figures that Hunter blames him for everything, but he would like an apology back. John points out that Hunter knocked him down during the brawl. He wants Hunter to ask the talent for a vote of confidence to see how they think he is doing his job. Can Hunter stand up to the talent and hear how they think he is doing. Hunter grabs John by the tie and tells John that he is not afraid. He says that the man closest to him is trying to undermine him or he is too stupid. Hunter tells John to get everyone in the ring and then he tells John to be in the ring too.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we have deleted scene from Fast Five, which will be out tomorrow on DVD. That movie features the guy who is going to wrestle John Cena at Wrestlemania.
Jinder Mahal is in the ring and he speaks to the crowd in his native language. He is interrupted by his opponent’s music.
Santino mocks Jinder and his promo. They go back and forth and then they have their match.
Match Number Four: Jinder Mahal versus Santino Marella
Mahal with a kick and knees to the midsection. Mahal sends Santino into the corner but he misses a splash. Santino calls for the Cobra and he hits it and gets the three count.
Winner: Santino Marella
We go to commercial.
We are back with a Brodus Clay video package featuring the man who is destroying local talent on Superstars each week.
Michael Cole talks about what Miz and R Truth did after Alberto Del Rio became a two time WWE Champion. Booker says that he has never seen WWE like this before. We go to the footage from last night’s Hell in a Cell pay per view.
Booker wants to know who raised and lowered the cage. Jim Ross wants to know how Truth and Miz avoided security. Cole introduces a video with Miz and R Truth on Youtube. They are doing this as Mike and Ronny. Miz apologizes that they had to get the lawyers involved, but they wanted their jobs back. Ron says that they had to make a statement. Mike says that they did what Triple H would have done. Mike says that they surrendered when they saw the cops get involved. Ron says that him and Mike got assaulted by the COO while handcuffed. Mike says that they have filed a wrongful termination lawsuit as well as pressing assault charges against Triple H. Mike apologizes to the WWE Universe for the WWE having a sorry excuse for a COO.
Match Number Five: John Cena, CM Punk, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne, and Mason Ryan versus Alberto Del Rio, Christian, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and David Otunga
Cena and Christian start off and Cena with punches and a back body drop. Otunga tags in and Cena punches his former Tag Team Champion partner. Cena with a clothesline and Ziggler tags in. Mason Ryan tags in and Ziggler slaps Ryan. Ryan with a clothesline and punches and then he knocks Swagger off the apron. Ryan presses Ziggler over his head and he slams him onto Swagger on the floor.
We have a pow wow on the floor as they discuss strategy.
Swagger distracts Ryan and Ziggler attacks him from behind. Ryan catches Ziggler and hits a power slam for a near fall. Sheamus tags in and he punches Ziggler in the ribs. Ziggler makes the tag to Swagger. Swagger with a forearm to the back and punches in the corner. Sheamus with kicks and forearms to Swagger as they fight across the ring. Sheamus with kicks to Swagger.
Sheamus with an Irish whip but Swagger with an elbow and a shot to the knees. Swagger with forearms followed by a kick. Sheamus with a uranage back breaker for a near fall. Punk is tagged in and he hits a double sledge to the head followed by a slam to Swagger. Punk goes up top but Swagger tags in Cody.
They lock up and Punk with a side head lock and take down. Cody backs Punk into the corner and he connects with a shoulder and punches followed by kicks. Rhodes with punches to Punk followed by an arm drag and a chin lock and arm bar. Punk with a leg lariat and a running knee into the corner followed by a bulldog. Punk signals for the Go to Sleep and Rhodes avoids the hold.
All twelve men are in the ring and we go to commercial.
We are back and Kofi with an Irish whip to Cody and then he leaps over Cody. Cody with Beautiful Disaster on Kofi for a near fall. Del Rio tags in and he kicks Kofi followed by a snap mare and drop kick to the back of the head for a near fall. Christian tags in and he punches and kicks Kofi. Christian with a punch to Kofi but Kofi with kicks and punches but Christian is able to stop Kofi with a neck breaker and he gets a near fall.
Christian works on the neck followed by a back elbow. Christian draws in Punk and Bourne so Cody can kick Kofi and Swagger is able to enter the match and he punches Kofi. Ziggler tags in and he kicks Kofi. Ziggler with a drop kick and he gets a near fall on Kofi. Ziggler with a key lock and then he has Kofi in a quarter nelson. Ziggler pulls Kofi to the mat by his hair and then he tags in Cody while Dolph has Kofi’s arm trapped. Cody sends Kofi to the floor. Swagger with a boot to the chest on the floor.
Kofi sends Cody into the ringside barrier and then he tags in Christian and he stops Kofi from making the tag. Christian goes after Sheamus and Ziggler is able to come in and attack Kofi before Swagger tags in and he works on the leg. Ziggler tags back in but he waits too long and misses the leaping elbow drop. Ziggler catches Kofi and runs him into his corner.
Otunga tags in and he punches Kofi and then he slams Kofi and hits an elbow drop. Ziggler tags back in and he punches Kofi. Ziggler misses a clothesline and each man tries for a cross body and they go down.
Bourne and Swagger tag in and Bourne with a flying head scissors and knee. Bourne misses a kick but he hits a back heel kick. Bourne stops Christian from attacking him. Bourne with a knee to Swagger and then he goes up top and hits the Shooting Star Press but Vickie puts Swagger’s foot on the rope to stop the count. The referee sends Vickie to the back.
Vickie refuses to leave at first but then she goes while screaming her way up the ramp.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ziggler with a reverse chin lock to Bourne. Christian is tagged back in and he kicks Bourne. Christian punches Bourne and chokes him in the ropes. Christian slingshots to the floor and he punches Bourne and gets a near fall. Christian with a front face lock on Bourne. Del Rio tags back in and he punches Bourne. Del Rio with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Del Rio punches Bourne and then he slaps Bourne. Bourne with a boot and a tornado DDT and both men are down.
Cena tags in with the two flying shoulder tackles followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb and the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Del Rio avoids an Attitude Adjustment and he hits a leaping arm breaker. Swagger tags in and he kicks Cena. Rhodes tags in and he kicks Cena some more. Ziggler kicks Cena while the referee was not looking. Christian tags in and he continues to work on the arm with kicks.
Del Rio tags back in and he kicks Cena in the head. Del Rio gets a near fall and then he applies a reverse chin lock. Del Rio kicks Cena and tags in Swagger. Swagger kicks and punches Cena. Swagger with a hard Irish whip and Swagger hits the Swagger Bomb for a near fall. Swagger punches Cena in the corner. Swagger with another hard Irish whip and Swagger sets for another Swagger Bomb but Cena rolls toward the corner to avoid the move. Sheamus and Ziggler tag in and Sheamus with running double sledges followed by aslam and Irish whip followed by a clothesline and running knee lift. Christian tries to stop Sheamus on top but Del Rio is able to knock Sheamus off the turnbuckles. Ziggler with a leg lariat to the back of the head. Christian with a spear to Ziggler. Bourne with leaping knees to Christian. Cody with Cross Rhodes to Bourne. Ryan tries to press slam Cody, but Swagger and Cody clothesline Ryan over the top rope. Kofi with a cross body to Swagger and Cody. Del Rio with a German suplex to Kofi. Punk with Go To Sleep to Del Rio. Otunga with a neck breaker to Punk but Cena with an Attitude Adjustment to Otunga. Ziggler with a Zig Zag to Cena but Sheamus with a Brogue Kick to Ziggler for the three count.
Winners: John Cena, CM Punk, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne, and Mason Ryan
We go to commercial.
We are back, but we will have to wait until Friday for Big Show’s return.
The wrestlers come to the ring from the back and they are separated by Raw heels, Smackdown faces, Divas, Referees (with no music), Smackdown heels, and Raw faces. The final man to come to the ring is Jerry Lawler.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the ring is populated on three sides by superstars, divas, and referees. After a bit of an awkward silence, Triple H’s music plays and the COO makes his way to the ring.
Hunter says that we are out here for a vote of confidence so that means that everyone gets to tell him how he is doing as the boss of Raw. Hunter says that this job is a lot more difficult than he thought it would be. It was a job he did not ask for. He was given this job. Hunter says that Miz and R Truth want to say that he is a hypocrite and mad at them for doing what Hunter would have done. Hunter says that they should be apologizing to everyone for being a bunch of babies. Hunter says that he is not mad at them for what they did, but for their reaction to the punishment.
Hunter says that he is a bit ‘old school’. Hunter says that he likes seeing people beat the hell out of each other. He enjoys confrontation, the battles, and the chaos that is Monday Night Raw. Hunter says that he would bet his life that the WWE Universe enjoys it too. At the end of the day, isn’t that who we work for . . . all of them? At the end of the day, isn’t it the WWE Universe who signs our paychecks?
Hunter says that when it comes to running Monday Night Raw, it is his responsibility to make it the best possible show for all of them. He says that he does not work for the wrestlers, he works for the fans.
Hunter says that he is curious for their opinions.
Wade Barrett says that he has been nominated by the people at ringside to voice his grievances. He says that they think that Triple H has created an unsafe working environment. They came to WWE because they are competitors and they are professionals. They like to adhere to rules and regulations. They don’t like being attacked by people in parking lots. They shouldn’t be in an unsafe working environment if Hunter cannot control the wrestlers. Hunter said that he enjoys the chaos as well as placing your hands on the talent. The problems are due to Hunter and he is out of control.
Hunter introduces everyone to Wade Barrett, the man who led Nexus in an attack to try to shut this company down. Hunter says that the only reason Wade has a problem is because Wade is not causing it.
Mike Chioda says that as a WWE Official, he has never seen this much abuse taken at the hands of the superstars. They are supposed to be unbiased. How are they supposed to get respect for doing their jobs.
Hunter says that they were attacked and Hunter fired the two men who attacked them.
Mike says that those two guys made their way into the ring. Ricardo Rodriguez attacked Chad Patton and then Miz and Truth attacked him and Charles Robinson.
Beth points out that they are girls and on behalf of the Divas, all of the bedlam means that something might happen and it could be intentional.
Hunter wants to know one thing that has happened to the Divas.
Beth says that it could happen.
Jerry Lawler gets into the ring and he says that he is only speaking for himself. He says that this show is spiraling out of control. Raw has always been volatile, but it is becoming hazardous. Lawler says that it is not Hunter’s fault. It is what CM Punk says the problem is. It is someone behind the scenes trying to sabotage him. Everyone around the ring is paying the price.
Lawler says that there is someone who does not want to see Hunter run this company and it will get worse as long as Hunter is in charge.
Christian says that they want a vote of confidence right now. Christian says that they have no confidence in Hunter. The referees concur as well as the Divas.
Lawler is with everyone else. Lawler says that actions speak louder than words and Lawler says that he is reluctantly walking out.
The wrestlers walk out followed by the Divas and then the referees. More wrestlers leave. Michael Cole leaves while we have a few wrestlers standing at ringside waiting to make their decision. Eventually the Raw faces leave. Booker is the next to leave followed by Justin Roberts.
The only person left at ringside is Jim Ross after the cameramen leave. We see Hunter’s shoes as we go to a wide shot.
Jim Ross gets up and he looks at Hunter and Good Ole JR joins the exodus from the HHH Titanic.
The head rat returns to the ship as John Laurinaitis makes his way onto the stage. Laurinaitis turns around and goes to the back.
2012 - WWE Main Event on The Ion Network debuted. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live on tape from Tulsa, Oklahoma and your announcers for the debut episode of WWE Main Event are The Miz and Michael ‘Another Hour of Me’ Cole.
Michael Cole and Miz are in the ring and Michael welcomes everyone to the show. Miz says that he is on the most must see show on Wednesday nights. Cole says that our main event will see the World Champion Sheamus face WWE Champion CM Punk.
Miz points out that CM Punk has held the title for 318 days and he mentions that Sheamus won the World Title in eighteen seconds at Wrestlemania.
Miz says that CM Punk has the credentials to be considered the Best in the World. Michael Cole says that CM Punk is the most controversial superstar in WWE today.
CM Punk talks about how he has had so many roadblocks put in his way to fail. Punk says that he is here to make things better for the people who are going to come into the company> Punk says that he was always a wrestler and he needed to create a persona.
We see a promo from CM Punk in his days before the WWE. Joey Mercury says that he did not like CM Punk at first. He might have thought that he was the best in the world, but he wasn’t at the time.
Paul Heyman says that the WWE signed him as a guy who had a lot of buzz.
Michael Hayes says that CM Punk was very opinionated.
We see some of CM Punk’s promo when he started the pipe bombs.
Hayes says that people thought CM Punk tarnished the title.
Punk says that he is not going to make everyone happy, and he will probably piss some people off.
CM Punk is in the locker room with Paul Heyman and Matt Striker wants some comments about his match against the World Champion. Punk says champion versus champion doesn’t get any bigger than that. He has been the champion for 318 days but people have not been giving him the respect he deserves. He is looking forward to beating Sheamus and then people like Matt Striker won’t barge into his locker room without knocking. Punk says that Paul Heyman will tell Matt why Punk will win.
Paul tells Matt that CM Punk is the best in the world.
Michael and Miz are in the ring and Miz says that if you don’t want to be the best in the world, you don’t have to bother.
Sheamus is in the interview area with Josh Mathews. Josh asks Sheamus about Punk’s comments. Sheamus says that CM Punk is on his crusade for respect. Tonight, he will show CM Punk respect the only way he knows. He will take his boot and shove it down Punk’s throat.
We take a look at Sheamus. He says that he has been watching WWE since he was five years old. He was on a different planet when he debuted in WWE. Every step he has taken down the ramp was rewarded at Wrestlemania when he defeated Daniel Bryan. Winning one of the WWE’s biggest prizes opened a lot of doors.
We see footage from Sheamus’ appearances on television.
We see Sheamus visiting children in hospitals.
Chris Jericho says that he is the perfect example of a champion. Daniel Bryan says that he is very entertaining to the fans.
Match Number One: Sheamus versus CM Punk (with Paul Heyman) in a Non Title Match
They lock up and Sheamus backs Punk into the ropes but Punk pushes Sheamus off when he breaks the hold. They lock up again and Punk with a side head lock. Sheamus with a top wrist lock into a side head lock and take down. Sheamus holds on to the side head lock when Punk tries for an Irish whip and Sheamus takes Punk to the mat. Punk tries for a rollup and gets a near fall.
Sheamus with a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Sheamus with a side head lock take down and he gets a one count before pulling Punk’s shoulders off the mat. Sheamus with a shoulder tackle and Punk with a leg lariat to the head and Sheamus goes down. Punk with knees to the head followed by a knee to the chest and kicks in the corner.
Punk runs into a boot from Punk and Sheamus pulls himself up to the turnbuckles and Punk pushes Sheamus off the turnbuckles and to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Punk gives Sheamus a taste of his own medicine with crossfaces on the apron until Sheamus drops Punk on the top rope. Sheamus with punches and kicks to Punk. Punk stops Sheamus and then he gives Sheamus a snap mare followed by a kick to the back. Punk with a leaping knee drop to Sheamus’ head. Punk with a hammer lock and he sends Sheamus’ shoulder into the turnbuckles.
Sheamus kicks Punk in the knees but Punk with a drop kick to Sheamus. Punk with a neck breaker to Sheamus and he gets a near fall. Punk with a chin lock that is getting close to being a sleeper. Sheamus with punches to the midsection but Punk with a kick. Sheamus with two double sledges followed by a running shoulder into the corner and a running knee lift. Sheamus with a running power slam for a near fall.
Sheamus puts Punk on the apron and he tries for the crossfaces but Sheamus takes too long and Punk with a round kick to the head and Punk gets a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus is outside the ring while Punk waits for him to get back in. Punk tries for a suicide dive but Sheamus with a forearm and then Sheamus with the slingshot shoulder tackle but Sheamus can only get a two count. Sheamus gets ready for the Brogue Kick but Punk sees it coming and he goes to the corner. Sheamus puts Punk on the apron and into the ropes and this time he is able to hit the crossfaces.
Sheamus gets Punk up for White Noise and he hits it but Punk kicks out at two. Sheamus with knees to the back to possibly set up for the Cloverleaf but also to keep Punk from hitting the Go To Sleep.
Sheamus tries for the Cloverleaf but Punk kicks Sheamus away. Punk with a running knee into the corner followed by a clothesline. Punk goes up top for the elbow drop and he hits it and gets a near fall.
Punk signals that it is time for someone to go to sleep. Punk gets Sheamus on his shoulders and he blows a kiss to someone. Sheamus escapes the hold and Sheamus applies the Cloverleaf. Punk is able to get to the ropes and Sheamus has to release the hold.
Punk notices that the turnbuckle has been exposed in the corner. Punk with a head butt to the midsection. Punk with a spinning back heel kick. Sheamus catches Punk as he tries for another running knee into the corner and hits a uranage back breaker. Sheamus charges into the corner and Punk with a drop toe hold that sends Sheamus into the exposed turnbuckle. Punk gets the three count.
Winner: CM Punk
After the match, Matt Striker is in the ring to interview Sheamus. Sheamus takes the mic and he says that for the past few months all he has heard is CM Punk talking about demanding respect. The way the finish of this match ended, there is a reason why CM Punk keeps asking for respect and not getting it.
Sheamus says that he is not going to cry about this or make excuses. He will take it on the chin. When they meet again, he promises Punk that he will be the one taking it on the chin from a Brogue Kick.
Michael Cole and Miz have a discussion about Sheamus’ demeanor after the match as well as whether Punk was right or not to use the exposed turnbuckle during the match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and CM Punk is in the locker room with Josh Mathews. Josh mentions the controversy over the finish of the match. Paul interrupts and he says that CM Punk soundly defeated the World Champion. What does it take to earn Josh’s respect as the Best in the World?
Josh talks about the pressure from the WWE Universe for CM Punk to face John Cena at Hell in a Cell.
Paul wonders how Josh got his job. The World Champion was defeated by the WWE Champion. Josh is standing in the presence of greatness, a first ballot Hall of Famer, and the Best in the World.
Michael Cole tells us that next week we will see Randy Orton versus the Big Show.
Matt Striker is in the interview area with Big Show. Show tells Matt that he will make this quick and short. Next week, it will be their first appearances on the show, but it will be Randy Orton’s last appearance. Show says that he will introduce this audience to something that Randy Orton is familiar with. He tells Randy to look closely at his fist because it will be the last thing that he sees.
We go to commercial.
We go to the Goldman Box and Zack Ryder says that they are always on the same page and Santino says that they finish each other’s sentences.
Match Number Two: Zack Ryder and Santino Marella versus Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel in a Tag Team Number One Contender Tournament First Round Match
Gabriel and Santino start things off and they shake hands. Gabriel with a waist lock but Santino with a standing switch. Gabriel with a wrist lock and side head lock. Gabriel with a shoulder tackle. Santino with a hip toss but Gabriel lands on his feet. Gabriel with a kick and Santino with a kick of his own.
Kidd and Ryder tag in and they shake hands. Kidd with a side head lock but Ryder with a flapjack for a near fall. Ryder with a side head lock and Kidd with a drop toe hold. Gabriel with a chin lock and Kidd with a kick to the head. Gabriel gets a near fall. Gabriel with a forearm followed by a European uppercut.
Kidd tags in and kicks Ryder from a headstand on the turnbuckles. Gabriel with a kick for a near fall. Kidd with a front face lock. Gabriel tags in and gets a near fall with a sunset flip. Ryder with a kick but Gabriel tries for a suplex. Kidd makes the blind tag and he kicks Ryder from the apron followed by a springboard elbow for a near fall.
Santino sends Gabriel to the floor but Kidd sends Santino to the floor. Ryder with a rollup but Kidd rolls through and kicks Ryder. Kidd with a near fall and Irish whip but he runs into knees from Ryder. Ryder with the Broski Boot and then he tags in Marella who hits the Cobra while Ryder hits flip dive onto Gabriel on the floor.
Winners: Santino Marella and Zack Ryder
Ryder and Marella advance to face Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes in the semifinals.
2012 - WWE broadcast WWE NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We begin this week’s show with a look back at the issues that have developed between Kassius Ohno and Richie Steamboat over the last few weeks, culminating in their match last week on the show. We saw the victory by Steamboat thanks to an inside cradle and Ohno’s attack after the match. What is next for these two men?
We go to footage from earlier today when Kassius Ohno arrived at Full Sail and he was stopped by Briley Pierce to get some comments. Briley asks Ohno about his attack on Steamboat. Ohno snaps back at Pierce. He says that he taught Junior a lesson that his father would have taught him if he would have been at home. He says that he did Richie a favor.
Richie attacks Ohno from behind and he says that his father taught him enough.
We are live on tape from Winter Park, Florida and your announcers are William ‘WWE is beginning to sound a lot like me’ Regal and Byron ‘The Third Leg of the Tripod’ Saxton.
Match Number One: Drew McIntyre versus Richie Steamboat
The referee warns Drew about using the cast before the match. Drew with a waist lock but Steamboat with an arm drag and rollup for a near fall and McIntyre goes to the apron. They lock up and Richie works on the injured arm and Drew gets to the ropes to force the break. Drew with a punch on the break followed by a forearm.
Steamboat with a drop kick and forearms followed a chop and punches in the corner. Steamboat climbs the turnbuckles to punch Drew but Drew pushes Steamboat off and he chops Drew. Steamboat with more punches but Drew with an Irish whip. Steamboat tries for a float over but McIntyre with an enzuigiri to the ribs for a near fall.
Drew kicks and punches Richie in the corner until the referee warns him. Drew with a suplex for a near fall. Drew with a seated abdominal stretch. Richie gets to his feet and he connects with shoulders and punches but Drew with an elbow to the head and Steamboat is sent to the apron. Steamboat with a sunset flip for a near fall.
Drew gets Richie up on his shoulders and he drops Richie on his chest and he gets a near fall. Drew with a boot to the head as he continues to work on Steamboat. Drew gets him on his shoulders again but Richie was able to escape.
Richie with running forearms followed by a super kick. Kassius Ohno comes to ringside to distract Steamboat and the referee. Drew hits Steamboat from behind with the cast and then Drew hits the Future Shock DDT for the three count.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
After the match, Ohno looks proud of his actions as he stands on the ramp.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Two: Big E Langston versus Aiden English
English punches Langston a few times and it only angers Langston. Langston with knees to the midsection and then he picks up English and gives him a back body drop. Langston with a running body block and the straps come down. Langston hits the Big Ending and gets the five count.
Winner: Big E Langston
After the match, Langston picks up English and hits another Big Ending and makes his own five count, showing the referee that there is no pause after three.
Langston picks up English again and he gives English a third Big Ending and counts another five count.
Richie Steamboat is walking through the back looking for Kassius Ohno. He asks Michael McGillicutty if he has seen Ohno and Michael says that he has not seen him.
We go to commercial and we are told that CM Punk will be on next week’s show.
Michael McGillicutty makes his way to the ring. Byron mentions that Michael will face Seth Rollins next week for the NXT Title.
Michael says that he heard that he is the number one contender to the NXT Championship. He also heard that this is Seth Rollins’ first title defense. It may be his first, but it will also be his last. He could talk about that all day but he wants to say something to Seth Rollins’ face. He wants Rollins to come to the ring right now.
Seth Rollins makes his way to the ring and Michael calls him a paper champion. Seth asks Michael if anyone told him that he talks too much. He tells Michael that when he is in the ring, no one can deny how talented he is, but it is easy for us to forget because he runs his mouth non-stop.
Seth says that Michael wants to call him a paper champion, but it seems like Michael does not have any respect for him.
Michael says that he never had any respect for Seth and he never will.
Seth says that there is nothing phony about his title and that is all the proof that you need. Seth says that he never had the footsteps beating a path for him. Seth says that he has earned everything. He says that the time for talk is over so why not do it right now, instead of waiting for next week.
Michael backs to the apron when Seth appears to be ready for a fight. Michael says that he will do this when he is ready and he leaves the ring.
We go to comments from Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel from earlier in the day. Briley Pierce asks for their thoughts on their match against the Ascension. Tyson says that they know how tough the Ascension are and they both trust each other. The Ascension usually brings the fight to their opponents, but they will bring the fight to the Ascension.
Justin says that outside the ring, they do not know much about the Ascension. They are dark and mysterious . . .
The music and lighting for the Ascension starts and we see them in the control booth.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Percy Watson versus Kassius Ohno
Richie Steamboat attacks Ohno from behind on his way to the ring. Officials have to pull Steamboat off Ohno.
Ohno looks a bit startled before getting in the ring.
Ohno appears to be playing possum and he kicks and punches Watson. Ohno with a side head lock. Watson with a leg lariat followed by jabs to the head and a roundhouse to take Ohno to the mat. Watson picks up Ohno for a slam but drops him on his chest. Watson with boots to the chest and then he stomps on the solar plexus.
Watson with a leaping leg drop for a near fall. Ohno with a chin lock and a neck breaker. Ohno with kicks to Watson followed by punches. Ohno with a chop but Watson chops back. Ohno with a knee and forearm to the back. Ohno with a knee to the midsection but Watson with a reverse atomic drop and drop kicks.
Watson with the Showtime Splash for a near fall. Watson gets Ohno on his shoulders but Ohno gets to the ropes. Watson with a kick and Irish whip but he runs into a knee. Ohno with the roaring elbow to the back of the head for the three count.
Winner: Kassius Ohno
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the main event so Jim Ross has joined William Regal and Byron Saxton at the announce table.
Match Number Four: Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel versus The Ascension
Cameron and Kidd start things off and Cameron goes for the legs but Kidd moves. Kidd with a waist lock take down but Cameron with a side head lock. Gabriel with a bling tag and they hit a double hip toss followed by a double round kick for a near fall.
Gabriel with a back heel kick and he tries for a rana but Cameron pushes him off. Gabriel tries for an O’Connor Roll but Cameron holds on to the ropes. Cameron with a wrist clutch German suplex and he tags in Conor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Conor continues the attack on Gabriel with punches and then he applies a waist lock. Gabriel is able to tag in Kidd and he kicks Conor in the legs followed by a back heel kick and a drop kick to the head. Kidd with a kick and he goes to the apron. He knocks Cameron off the apron and then he hits an enzugiri on Conor followed by a springboard drop kick.
Kidd tries for a baseball slide but Conor catches him and he tosses Kidd to the floor. Conor sends Kidd to the floor and then runs him into the apron. Conor with a forearm across the upper chest followed by kicks. Conor kicks Kidd in the corner and he tags in Cameron who kicks Kidd. Conor tags back in and he continues with the kicks to Kidd. Cameron with another tag and he kicks Kidd again.
Cameron with a leaping elbow drop and he applies a rear chin lock and body scissors. Cameron with elbows to the head as he continues to hold the body scissors. Conor tags back in and he kicks Kidd while still in the body scissors. Conor works on Kidd’s head and gets a near fall. Conor with a body scissors and chin lock. Cameron tags back in and he kicks Kidd while Conor held on to a front face lock.
Kidd with punches and forearms but Cameron with a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Cameron chokes Kidd while keeping himself between Kidd and his corner. Cameron with kicks to Kidd. Cameron with a European uppercut.
Conor tags back in and he kicks Kidd. Conor chokes Kidd with his boot and Gabriel wants the referee to do something about it. Conor with a front face lock and Cameron tags back in. Kidd with a kick to Cameron and he avoids Conor and Cameron and he struggles to try to make the tag. Cameron is sent into the ropes and Gabriel is able to be tagged in.
Gabriel with a springboard cross body followed by kicks and a jumping back heel kick. Gabriel with a flying shoulder tackle and then he goes up top for the 450 Splash but Cameron is able to move and while this is going on in the ring, Conor sends Kidd into the ring steps and O’Brian and Cameron hit the Fall of Man for the three count.
Winners: The Ascension
2013 - The first-ever Rocks Off Pro Wrestling Film Festival was announced for The Kraine Theater in NYC. The festival featured:
THURSDAY 11/21: OPENING NIGHT
$10 - "Double Feature" featuring opening night reception, 90 minutes of short films on pro wrestling and Colt Cabana and Friends on Stage watching bad wrestling.
FRIDAY 11/22: SEVEN LEVELS OF HATE SCREENING
$5 - World Premiere Screening of Adam Pearce's Seven Levels of Hate documentary looking at his feud against Colt Cabana and the backstage politics that changed its plans forever. Pearce will take part in a post-screening Q&A with Kevin Gill.
SATURDAY 11/23: A FULL DAY OF PROGRAMMING!
11 AM - Special NYC screening of Adam Backer's Sadermania documentary, looking at the close friendship between Hulk Hogan and his top fan, Chris Sader. .
4 PM - Special screening of ECW documentary Barbed Wire City, looking at the rise and fall of what was one of pro wrestling's most unique sub-cultures and the lasting mark the promotion made on fans and performers, good and bad. Directors & Producers Kevin Keirnan and John Philapavage as well as a number of ECW personalities, will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A and discussion.
8 PM - NYC debut of Cody Knotts' Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies as Roddy Piper, Kurt Angle, Matt Hardy, Terry Funk, Shane Douglas and more face off against an army of darkness. Director Cody Knotts and more from the cast and crew will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.
2013 - WWE signed Dylan Mile, a 25 year old from Colorado who recently went through a tryout at their Performance Center last month. Mile isis 6'3 and 285 lbs. He wowed trainers with his agility, including a 37 inch vertical leap. He has not yet made his NXT debut.
2013 - WWE signed Leah Van Dale, a former New England Patriots and Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader. She started at the Performance Center this week. Her father, Paul Van Dale, did enhancement work for the WWF in the 1990s and worked independently. She now works on NXT under the ring name Carmella.
2013 - Hulk Hogan's final appearance in TNA aired on Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:
Welcome to the Impact Wrestling Report on PWInsider.com!
We start off with a look at last week's life-altering developments involving Dixie Carter and Hulk Hogan, the continued disintegration of Aces & Eights, and Ego's continued targeting of Brutus Magnus. We then go to the arena where AJ Styles comes out to a loud reaction from the crowd, and as much as he'd like to talk about Hulk and Dixie, he's here to talk about his opponent at Bound For Glory: Bully Ray. He knows exactly who Bubba is: he's the World Champion and the man he's going to beat for what he wants. It's put up or shut up time for AJ, and he doesn't have a contract, so he's all in. He hasn't even looked at the World Title in over a year, he's hungry to get it back, and Bubba may be the most dangerous man in the building,but he begs to differ. Bully's music hits and he comes out with Brooke Tessmacher in tow. He tells the sound guy to shut his music off, then tells AJ that Dixie must really be in his head because he hopes to win the World Title, with the emphasis on hope. If AJ was a true winner and champion, he'd know he could beat him, but since Dixie is in his head, he even doubts himself. Dixie's a gorgeous woman, not as gorgeous as Brooke, but AJ shoun't worry about Dixie because he has to worry about him. Bully says to look what he did to Hogan, Sting, Hardy, Anderson, and his own brother Devon, then think about what he's going to do to him. He'd normally ask AJ if he knows who he is, but AJ already knows who he is: the guy who beat him two years ago in a Last Man Standing match. AJ has nothing to take except for one thing: Bully wants to take AJ away from the fans because he's sick of hearing the fans chant for him. The fans chant for AJ just to be cute, and Bubba says to smile now, "kid", because after October 20th, they won't be smiling anymore. AJ says Bubba is no different than Dixie Carter because he bleeds people for everything they're worth and then kick them to the curb as if they never existed. Bubba says thank you, he'll take that as a compliment because they're both ruthless millionaires, and he's going to beat AJ, send him home without a contract, and condemn him to live with his miserable wife and three kids. AJ tells Bully he'd better get focused on his match tonight, and Bubba says he doesn't have a match, but AJ says Hogan must really hate Bubba because he booked him to face Samoa Joe. AJ says that Joe is gonna kill him, but the fans don't pick up on that and chant along, so AJ's music hits and he takes a walk while Bubba does "WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT? WHAT IS THIS?" while making confused faces at Brooke.
Tonight: Magnus loses his mind and signed on to wrestle all three members of Ego in a Gauntlet Match! Also, Hulk Hogan will have his decision for Dixie Carter!
AJ Styles is backstage telling Dixie that she doesn't know what she's in for, but Dixie reminds AJ that he's not under contract anymore, and he's gone after he fulfills his one last obligation at Bound For Glory. Dixie starts to have Atlas Security throw him out, but AJ says to save their energy because he doesn't want to breate the same air as Dixie.
Austin Aries joins Mike and Taz at the broadcast table for our next match...
Kenny King & Chris Sabin vs Manik & Jeff Hardy
Sabin distracts Manik and allows King to jump him from behind, immediately trapping Manik in the heel corner. Manik repsonds with some nice moves that send Sabin out to the floor, then Hardy tags in and goes to work on Kenny King, dumping him on the mat and hitting a second rope splash for 2. Manik comes in and gets King in the Royal Octopus, then cradles King backward into a pinning combination and gets 2. King turns it backaround by dropping Manik's throat over the top rope and puts Manik back in trouble, but Manik outmaneuvers both King and Sabin and tags in Jeff Hardy, who cleans up on both King and Sabin. King gets ahold of Hardy long enough to hit a northern lights suplex, but Manik breaks the pinfall attempt at 2, then shoves King into Sabin and knocks him to the floor. Manik hits the double chickenwing into a facebuster, then Hardy tags in and hits the Swanton for the win.
Winners: Manik & Jeff Hardy
Sabin comes back in after the match and attacks both Manik and Hardy, but Aries gets up from the broadcast table and chases him off. Sabin is halfway up the ramp when Aries says that if Sabin wants to run his mouth, he suggests a four way at Bound For Glory between Aries, Sabin, Manik, and Hardy. Hardy gets a mic of his own and says they should make it something he's never done before...ULTIMATE X! So I guess Kenny King doesn't get to be in this either? Too bad.
Sting and Hulk Hogan are backstage and Sting says that the last time we were in this kind of situation was when Bischoff was on his power trip, and Hogan says he thought he'd seen it all and that Bischoff was bad, but Dixie's worse and it's going to be a tough decision. So he hasn't thought about it at all in the last week? Do these people just climb into a hole somewhere and deactivate for a week when the show ends, or what? Anyway, Dixie sends a gift and it's apparently the same watch she gave Sting last year. I don't remember this if it was a storyline and have no idea what it means, but Hogan says it means "let the games begin."
We look at a backstage segment that took place after last week's show when Sting caught up with Magnus backstage to check on him after the beating he took, and Magnus says to leave him alone because he thought he wouldn't let Ego in his head, but he was wrong. He wants to get his hands on Ego, and he wants Sting to stay out of his way.
Ganutlet Match: Brutus Magnus vs Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Bobby Roode
Daniels is the first one in line and Magnus unleashes a week's worth of fury on him, Daniels begs off and tries to take a cheapshot, but Magnus sees it coming and flattens him with a clothesline. Daniels catches Magnus with an STO and gets a 2 count, then bulldogs him onto the top rope. Daniels grounds Magnus with a somewhat poorly applied Cobra Clutch and Magnus easily escapes, Daniels goes for Angel's Wings, but Magnus backdrops out and runs over Daniels with more clotheslines. Magnus hits the Marufuji clothesline and heads up top, but takes too long and Daniels yanks Magnus down by the arm, dropping the arm over the top rope on the way down. Daniels gets the Koji Clutch, but applies it too close to the ropes and Magnus is able to force the break. Daniels goes for the BME, but Magnus gets his boot up in Daniels' face, hits the Michinoku Driver, and gets 3 on Daniels. Now Kazarian comes out, stopping to check on Daniels on his way down, but Magnus doesn't feel like waiting and goes out after Kazarian. He tosses Kazarian back into the ring and Kazarian immediately bails back outside as we go to commercial.
We're back as Kazarian drills Magnus with a bicycle kick and grounds him with a front facelock. Magnus is able to power his way to his feet and elevate Kazarian onto the toprope, Kazarian leaps over Magnus and hits him with a leg lariat. Magnus is back up before too long, catches Kazarian on a crossbody attempt, and plants him with a Snowplow. Magnus goes to the top, hits the flying elbow, and makes a cover, but they're too close to the edge of the ring and Kazarian gets his foot over the bottom rope. Magnus goes to the second rope and isn't able to come off before Kazarian hits a leaping bicycle kick. Kazarian goes for Fade To Black, Magnus counters to a sunset flip, but forgoes the pinfall attempt and hooks Kazarian into the Texas Cloverleaf. Kazarian is trapped in the middle of the ring with nowhere to go and is forced to tap out. Magnus is two thirds of the way there as Bobby Roode comes out to face Magnus. Magnus is so focused on Roode that he misses Kazarian climbing back into the ring to clip his knee, and Roode slowly and confidently takes his robe off before climbing into the ring and stomping on Magnus' knee as we go to commercial.
We're backagain and Magnus is in trouble as Bobby Roode is still putting the boots to him. Magnus tries to fight back, but Roodegoes back to the knee, smashes Magnus with a kneelift, and runs Magnus over witha charging clothesline. Roode doesn't make a cover, choosing instead to jaw with the fans, but Magnus is too hurt to take advantage of it and Roode is able to go back to the knee. Roode takes another charge, but Magnus sees him coming and hits a powerslam for 2, then goes right back to the Texas Cloverleaf. Roode escapes and Magnus tries to go to the top for the elbow, but his knee prevents him from making it up there in a timely fashion and Roode is able to move out of the way when Magnus finally comes off the top. Magnus hits the mat hard and Roode immediately gets him in the cripper crossface, Magnus crawls for the ropes, but Roode releases the crossface and goes to ananklelock and grapevines the knee. Magnus is trapped in the middle of the ring and tries tomake the ropes, but is finally forced to tap out.
Winner: Bobby Roode
Hell of a showing by Magnus, he definitely came off like a monster after going through all three guys. Magnus looks so furious over losing that he doesn't know what to do, and Sting finally comes down to talk to him. Magnus takes this loss really hard, and Magnus is ready to walk off on him, but Sting takes a mic and says he didn't want to address this publicly,but he's making a spectacle of this and wants him to come to the back so they can talk this over. Magnus says no, he's had enough, because Sting, Angle, and Joe all see something in him, but he hasn't been able to take advantage of his opportunities just yet because he only gets so close each time before losing. Magnus says that Sting knows that you're either inor out, and he's not producing the results. Sting says he was there one time, but he didn't give up on the shortcomings and he ended up getting in the ring with Ric Flair and finally making his name there. Magnus says he knows, he saw the match with his own eyes, and he studied Sting for years before getting in the business, but he hasn't had that match and has nobody to have it with. Sting says he'll do it, and that he'll face Magnus at Bound For Glory. They shake on it, and we have another match for TNA's biggest show of the year!
Austin Aries knocks on Hulk Hogan's door and comes in with a present: vitamins to help him make his decision. Hogan asks what he wants, and Aries says they didn't always see eye to eye, but Hogan helped him out by giving him the opportunity with Option C, so he has something to say. Aries knows two Hulk Hogans: the red and yellow Hulkster, and the black and white Hulk Hogan, and tonight, he's looking at the black and white Hogan because there's not a lot of grey area here. That's all he has to say, so he tells Hulk to enjoy his watch and leaves.
We look at a video package looking at the history of Hulk Hogan in TNA, from his entry into the company on January 4th, 2010, through the Immortal and Aces & Eights eras, and finally to recently when he started running into the friction with Dixie Carter. We then go to a backstage promo with Chris Sabin where the mystery cameraman asks him why he isn't going to the ring with Velvet Sky for her match, and Sabin says he doesn't need to because she's the toughest Knockout in TNA, and he's just going to sit back here and do his Tai Chi.
Ego is backstage celebrating their win over Brutus Magnus earlier, but Daniels and Kazarian have great news for Roode: he's going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame! Roode tells them to shut the front door, and Daniels says that indeed he will be the first EVER inductee into the Outstanding Gentlemen's Club Hall of Fame! Because Roode is the Prime Minister of Suave and Debonaire, they know he'll be dressed to the nines because he's off the chain and in the Hall of Fame! I love these guys.
Brooke Tessmacher and Velvet Sky come out for a #1 contender match for the Knockouts Title, but Lei''d Tapa comes out before the match and lays Velvet out with a single big clothesline, then waits for her to get to her feet so she can drill her with a big boot to the face. Tapa chases the referee away so she can put the boots to Velvet, give her a TKO, and shout at the fans before walking off and leaving Velvet in a heap. The bell never rang, so I guess no match.
Time for a series of video packages: James Storm and Gunner talk about why they love teaming with each other, Ethan is coming, then IT'S MAIN EVENT TIME!
TNA World Champion Bully Ray vs Samoa Joe
Joe and Bubba with an extended feeling out process, neither man budges on shoulderblock attempts, then Bubba backs Joe to the corner and call him a stupid Samoan sonova...he doesn't get to finish because Joe unloads on him with jabs and a leaping enziguiri before hitting the chop/kick/kneedrop combo. Joe gets the Kokina Clutch and gets it, but Bubba runs forward and drops Joe face first on the top turnbuckle. Bubba gets the chain, the referee takes it away, then Bubba low blows Joe when the referee gets rid of the chain. Brooke loved that one and applauds Bubba as we go to commercial.
We're back as Bubba catches Joe with a charging clothesline in the corner and follows it up with a short clothesline. Joe dodges an elbowdrop, then unloads with jabs, an inverted atomic drop, running boot, and running senton on the champ. Joe comes off the second rope with a boot to the face for 2, but Bubba reverses a whipand sends Joe crashing into the referee. Joe gets the Kokina Clutchagain and Bubba is tapping, but there's no referee, so Joe drops Bubba and goes to check on the ref. Bubba gets the chain and wraps it around his fist, but Joe doesn't notice and nails Bubba, then sits him in the top rope. Joe turns to check on the ref again, but turns around as Bubba comes off the second rope with a double axhandle with the chain. Bubba drops the chain on the way down and the referee sees it and disqualifies Bubba.
Winner: Samoa Joe by DQ
Bubba shoves the referee down after making that call, then tosses Joe out to the floor and yells to Taz that he's going to piledrive Joe on the concrete. Bubba pulls back the ringside mats and sets up for the piledriver, but AJ comes out through the crowd and springboards off the barricade with a flying forearm that wipes Bubba out. Atlas Security comes after AJ, but he runs off into the crowd where the fans mob AJ and actually shield him from Atlas Security. Wow, that's pretty cool actually.
Hulk Hogan is backstage, and he's...THINKING! It's decision time for him when we come back from commercial!
Okay, Dixie and her crappy entrance music come out to the ring so she can say that she knows some people aren't happy with the decisions she makes, but people simply have no concept at all of business and the complexities of it. She can't be mad at them because they don't know any better, she gets that, but someone who does know a bit about business is Hulk Hogan, so she wants Hulk to come out so they can take care of it right now. Hulk comes out and Dixie says she knows what a great career he's had, but asks if he's ready to take it to another level. She's tickled to see he's wearing the watch she got him, but that's just a token of all that could happen with them, but she needs to know if he's ready to take a ride on the Dixie Train, or if he's going to force her to make a decision she knows he's going to regret. Hulk starts by thanking her for the watch, then says he thought about his 35 year career and how he always dreamed about being in a power couple, but at the end of the day, it's an amazing offer...for someone else, because he quits. Hogan throws down the microphone and starts to walk off, but Dixie goes running after him. We can't see what she's saying, but she's obviously begging him to stay. Hulk's not having it and tries to walk off, so Dixie clings to his leg and starts dragging her with him before she finally lets go and Hulk walks off to the back as Dixie yells after Hulk that he's fired because she had enough of him anyway.
2017 - The great Lance Russell passes away.
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