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October 16th
On this day in history in ....
1976 - A big NWA Mid-Atlantic event in Greensboro, North Carolina saw three title changes take place on one card. Tim Woods defeated Angelo Mosca to win the Television Title (ending Mosca's second reign), Ric Flair defeated Wahoo McDaniel for the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title (ending McDaniel's third reign and beginning Flair's third), and Paul Jones defeated Blackjack Mulligan to begin his second reign as United States Champion.
1976 - Eric The Red defeats Carlos Colon for the WWC North American Heavyweight Title in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. On the same show, Higo Hamaguci & Gordon Nelson defeat Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez for the WWC North American Tag Team Title.
1981 - Les Thorton defeats Jerry Brisco in Knoxville, Tennessee to become a three-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion.
1982 - Invader I defeats Dory Funk Jr. in San Juan, Puerto Rico to win his second WWC Puerto Rican Heavyweight Title.
1987 - Nelson Royal is awarded the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title, making him a four time champion. The previous champion, LazerTron (Hector Guerrero) had left the company.
1987 - The Sheepherders (Butch Miller & Luke Williams) defeat The Lightning Express (Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner) to win the UWF Tag Team Title in Kansas City, Missouri. The Sheepherders would be the last UWF tag champs, as the company was soon absorbed into Jim Crockett Promotions.
1988 - Brad & Bart Batten defeated Chicky & Ron Starr to win the WWC World Tag Team Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico, ending the Starrs second title reign and beginning the second reign for the Battens.
1988 - WWF held their King Of The Ring tournament in Providence, Rhode Island at the Providence Civic Center. Here are the results:
First Round:
- Ted DiBiase defeated Brutus Beefcake.
- Ken Patera defeated Nikolai Volkoff.
- Ron Bass defeated The Barbarian.
- Shawn Michaels defeated Danny Davis.
- Hercules Hernandez vs. Bad News Brown ended in a double DQ.
- Randy Savage defeated Virgil.
- Iron Mike Sharpe defeated Boris Zuhkov.
- Terry Taylor defeated Marty Jannetty.
Quarterfinals:
-Ted DiBiase defeated Ken Patera.
- Ron Bass defeated Shawn Michaels.
- Terry Taylor defeated Iron Mike Sharpe.
- Randy Savage received a bye.
Semifinals:
- Ted DiBiase defeated Ron Bass.
- Randy Savage defeated Terry Taylor.
Finals:
- Ted DiBiase defeated Randy Savage to win the King Of The Ring tournament. Savage's WWF World Title was not on the line.
1995 - The Monday Night Wars continued, with WWF Monday Night Raw on USA Network earning a 2.6 rating, while WCW Monday Nitro on TNT did a 2.2.
1997 - Bam Bam Bigelow defeats Shane Douglas for the ECW World Heavyweight Title in Queens, New York at the Elks Lodge, which was dubbed the "Madhouse Of Extreme". The storyline was that Rick Rude had been acting as an advisor to Douglas, and lining up opponents (like Al Snow and Phil LaFon) in order to make Douglas a better champion. However, Rude "f***ed with the Franchise" on this night by bringing out Bam Bam Bigelow, Douglas' stablemate in the Triple Threat. Bigelow, who punched out fellow Triple Threat member Chris Candido when he tried to stop Bigelow from having the match, defeated Shane Douglas with a powerbomb to win the title.
1997 - On the same show, Justin Credible scored a major win over Japanese legend the Great Sasuke.
1999 - Lobo defeats Justice Pain in Mantua, New Jersey to win the CZW Ironman Title, beginning his second reign with the belt.
2000 - William Regal defeats Al Snow for the WWF European Heavyweight Title in Detroit, Michigan.
2002 - Phoenix Championship Wrestling broadcast their weekly TV in New Jersey. Eric McHugh filed the following report:
PCW "Firebird TV"
10/16/2K2
Hello once again Phoenixphiles. Welcome to this week's edition of "Firebird TV", just a few days before our next event in Toms River, NJ. Matches this week took place in Lavallette and Toms River, and we'll look ahead to the upcoming shows as well. First, let's summarize the program: on this week's PCW "Firebird TV", no one accused anyone else of raping a corpse, no one decided to throw away 40 years of history by disposing of a championship, no one said "Ruthless Aggression", and no one screwed Bret. OK? Now for the specifics…
The show begins with the Prophet sunning on the beach. He claims to be back home in Jamaica, as there's nothing but sand and water and a blue sky to see. Prophet talks about the Haas Cup and how he and his United Nations partner Tiger Khan made it to the second round, but fate intervened. Prophet suffered a broken nose during that match and was then eliminated as his partner was hit with his country's flagpole. Not to worry, says the Rasta Imposta, because the United Nations are still strong, even stronger than before.
We then go to the ring, with more action from the outdoor event in Lavallette. It's the challenge match with the loser never being allowed to wrestle in PCW ever again. To the ring comes Donnie Bon Jovi to a chorus of boos. Oddly, he comes out with not the usual electric guitar, but what appears to be a heavy wooden one a la The Honky Tonk Man. PCW owner "Big 80's" Donnie B comes out next and dances around as the crowd salutes him, hoping he'll wipe DBJ from the PCW roster. As Donnie B is standing atop the turnbuckles, DBJ attacks him from behind. He lays in the punches and whips Donnie B into the corner. Donnie B reverses it, but DBJ springs out with a cross bodyblock and a series of armdrags. Donnie B blocks a punch and hits a couple of hiplocks, followed by an Ultimate Warrior-like press slam and drop, before clotheslining DBJ to the outside asphalt. DBJ walks around the ring to yell at the fans before Donnie B finally catapults him back in. "Big 80s" hits a suplex and a 360-spin elbowdrop, then decides to get some help from the fans. As he convinces the ref to listen to the crowd, Donnie B drops a low knee to DBJ. Donnie hits a slam and goes to the top, but misses a flying elbowdrop. DBJ then opens up on the PCW owner, hitting a spin heel kick off the ropes, followed by a series of punches, a suplex and a dropkick to the seated Donnie B. DBJ comes off the ropes into a spinning neckbreaker for 2. Donnie B fights back with some punches, but misses one and spins into a DBJ full nelson slam. DBJ then goes to the top for his missile dropkick and hits it, but Donnie B falls backwards into the referee. DBJ sees his opportunity and gets the guitar he brought to the ring. He swings at Donnie B, but misses his target. Donnie punches the guitar out of DBJ's hands and delivers the El Kabong that New Jack would smile at. He covers, but the ref is still out. Donnie goes to revive him, and during this time DBJ struggles to his feet. He schoolboys Donnie B and yanks the denim shorts for leverage, and gets the 3-count. Donnie Bon Jovi wins the match, and his winning streak is now at….erm….ONE! Afterwards, Donnie B says on the mic he made the stipulations and will abide by them. He won't wrestle in PCW anymore, but he's still promoting it, and he's proud of the company and all of its staff and fans.
We're back to the Prophet on the beach. He motions that Toms River is "way over there" as the cameraman seems to start turning to the side. Prophet warns him to keep his focus on where he is. After a few more seconds, the cameraman laughs and tilts the camera around. Prophet freaks out as we see the strange sight of what looks like the Jersey Shore in Jamaica. Prophet loses his accent as he yells for the cameraman, then remarks "It's a resort, it may look like Point Pleasant but it isn't!" This was funny stuff.
Back to the ring outdoors, as Malice is set to defend his PCW championship against one-half of Precious Metals, "Platinum" Mike Preston. Preston jumps Malice from behind in the ring and lays into him with punches and a back elbow smash. Preston lays in some blows to the head and then takes the champ to the corner, but Malice reverses positions and gets in his own punches. Malice is reversed into the ropes and Preston gets in a knee to the gut. Preston hits a few more shots before whipping Malice into the corner, but the champ runs out with a thunderous clothesline. He then signals to the crowd and delivers a boot to the face off the ropes, followed by a one-armed chokeslam for the pin! Your winner in his usual dominant fashion, and still PCW champ, is Malice!
The next match comes from Toms River at the Recreation Station. Out comes Julio Dinero and Kara Slice, who circle the ring yelling at the fans. Dinero yells into the camera that we're all fat potatoes. Dinero then gets on the mic for an anti-Jersey soliloquy. He says Nova took a step up by leaving Toms River for Louisville [OVW], Malice isn't in the arena tonight because he scared him last time out in Pine Hill (to which Steven Michael Payton reminds us he wanted to play basketball instead of wrestle the champ), and Bam Bam Bigelow is stuck in NJ because he has to pay his trailer off. Finally, out comes his opponent, the aforementioned and much slimmer Bam Bam Bigelow. Crowd gives him a great reaction, and for several minutes Dinero does everything possible not to have to get in the ring with him. Before the match, Bigelow pulls a trick from his ECW days and asks the crowd which side wants to catch Dinero. They lock up and Bigelow easily shoves Dinero to the mat. Dinero gets in an armbar which is quickly reversed. Bigelow shouldertackles Dinero down and outside the ring. Kara tries to distract BBB, but he sees Dinero coming and kicks him right back outside again. Dinero stalls and stalls until finally referee Mike Kehner gets on the mic. The conversation goes like this: "If you don't get back in the ring…" Julio: "I lose! Fine!" Mike: "…you lose the match and you will never set foot in a PCW wrestling ring again!" Mike returns to the ring and gets to about 9.9999999994 before Julio flies back in….and right back out the other side. Dinero gets up to the apron and is brought back in by Bigelow, who then takes Dinero's head to 5 different turnbuckles a total of about 14 times. Bigelow hits a suplex and a falling headbutt, but Kara jumps up and distracts him, allowing for Dinero to recover and clip the leg of BBB. Dinero then works him over for awhile before sending him to the outside and delivering several chairshots to the back and left leg. Dinero tosses Bigelow back in and gets a 2-count. He slaps on a leglock but Bigelow takes Dinero's head to the mat to break the hold. Dinero shakes it off and hits a reverse neckbreaker for 2. Dinero slaps on a modified abdominal stretch before hitting an STO. Dinero then goes to the top but misses a moonsault. Bigelow hits a series of clotheslines and a standing bulldog. He then goes to the top, but Kara Slice trips him up and he falls to the mat. Dinero then climbs back up, but out comes Matt Vandal and Alexis Laree! Vandal pushes Dinero to the mat while Alexis chases Kara clear out of the side door. Bigelow nails a powerbomb on Dinero and gets the pin. Your winner is Bam Bam Bigelow!
Time for a quick reminder of the upcoming events. This Friday in Toms River, it's PCW's Monster Bash. 12 of the all-time greatest and scariest movie heels ever will compete for supremacy in a battle royale. Elimination is by over-the-top-rope, knockout…or death! Will it be Darth Vader? Perhaps Dr. Evil? How about Teen Wolf? Don't count out the Joker! In addition to that, Malice will defend the PCW title against Matt Vandal, United Nations defend the tag belts against Precious Metals, Frankie Kazarian defends the TV belt against Xavier, and AJ Styles will make his PCW debut. If Jerry Lynn is in the building, don't be surprised to see those two take their NWA feud right into PCW's rings. Also coming up on November 2 is a benefit show in Point Pleasant, NJ. Diamond Dallas Page will be the guest of honor, returning to his hometown for this event. Also, Devon Storm will challenge whoever wins the PCW title match this Friday. That and much more is coming at the future PCW events. Email dbd56@aol.com or PXCW007@aol.com for ticket info, or check out the site at www.phoenixwrestling.com!
The show ends up with coverage courtesy of News 12 New Jersey. We see Donnie B at the beach discussing DDP's appearance at the November 2 PCW event in Point Pleasant, a benefit for the Lion's Club. Also, PCW superstars Prophet and Slayer took part in the annual Tube Race on the beach. Slayer (in his straitjacket) and Prophet gave it a practice run while the news reporters tried their best to make sense out of Slayer. Both men grabbed a tube…and Slayer threw his down and starting swimming in the sand. Prophet tried to tell him they have to go in the water, but finally gave up and just superkicked Slayer before dragging him by the hair to where they were supposed to go. About a minute later the camera panned back to them and Prophet was dropping Slayer with a neckbreaker on the beach. This was hilarious although I know my words aren't doing it justice. Donnie remarked that the practice run wasn't going as planned. From that, we went to the actual tube race, where over a hundred people grabbed a tube, swam out 50 feet, and tubed back to shore. Webmaster Steve had Slayer on a chain, and Slayer grabbed the tube that Prophet was going for. Prophet got pissed at this and superkicked Steve to the ground before nailing Slayer and taking that tube. Slayer, undaunted, grabbed another one and flipped into the ocean, cracking up everyone. Later footage saw Prophet taking his time coming back to shore, and Donnie B narrated that he finished second-to-last. This was great footage.
And that wraps up the show for this week. Thankx, as always, for checking out the report, and don't forget to jump onto the PCW website for info on the upcoming shows. Until next week, I'm Eric McHugh.
2002 - NWA:TNA held their weekly Pay-per-view at the TNA Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. A major draw for the show was NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler teaming with BG James to defeat Jeff Jarrett and Bruce. The rest of the show saw: Brian Lawler defeat David Young, Sonny Siaki defeat Jorge Estrada, Ace Steel defeat Derek Wylde, Ron Harris defeat Norman Smiley, NWA World Tag Team Champions America's Most Wanted defeated Chris & Rick Michaels, AJ Styles defeated X-Division Champion X-Pac via disqualification, and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ron Killings defeated Curt Hennig. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:
NWA: Total Nonstop Action for October 16th opened with Don West and Mike Tenay welcoming us to the show, then airing a video package of events from the past weeks leading to tonight's matches.
Goldylocks interviewed Jorge Estrada backstage, wondering if there was still a Flying Elvises with Siaki out and Jimmy Yang in All Japan. Estrada said that "The King and Priscilla" was an item again. He then brought over his "Priscilla" (aka Joni, Jerry Lawler's babe). Estrada then said he was going to recruit a new Elvis tonight. Syxx-Pac walked into the shot from a doorway, then crept off. Brian Lawler interrupted, looking for April. Lawler, left, and April came out the same door Syxx did.
David Young vs. Brian Lawler was the opening match, with April running out as Lawler was halfway down the ramp. Lawler was angry that she was late, and sat her in a chair at ringside. Lawler was already irritable, getting into it with the fans and giving them the finger. Lawler attacked at the bell, beating Young down and posing for the crowd. Young came back with an armdrag, hiptoss and dropkick. Young clotheslined him to the floor, and Lawler's face landed right in April's lap. Lawler then grabbed a bottle of water to was his face off. Lawler tripped getting back into the ring, and Young was able to roll him up for a two count. Young hit an atomic drop and a reverse atomic drop, but Lawler came back with a superkick. Lawler dropped a fist, and hit a full nelson into a face plant. Lawler choked Young with his boot, stopping to argue with the referee. Lawler hit a low blow, and went for a piledriver, but Young turned it into a spinning flapjack. Young hit three DDT's for a two count. Young hit a series of punches, and slammed Lawler. Young missed a moonsault. Lawler had April hand him his goggles, and Lawler went for the hip-hop drop, but Young moved out of the way. Young started to go for a moonsault, but was distracted by April waving at him. Lawler climbed up on the ropes with Young, and hit a reverse DDT off the second rope for the pin.
The history behind Sonny Siaki and Jerry Lynn was shown, culminating in Lynn's injury last week when Siaki tossed Lynn off the stage into the guardrail.
Jerry Lynn, in street clothes, limped out to the ring. Lynn addressed said he would give Siaki the benefit of a doubt, and take responsibility for his knee injury on himself. Lynn said he would not take responsibility for what he does to Sonny Siaki next week. Lynn said he had taken out his type before, saying he is what was wrong with the business, people who have earned nothing, but want everything. Lynn said he would give Siaki a reality check next week. Lynn said he would have new respect for the business, and him. Siaki interrupted, coming out on the stage. Siaki said he had no respect for anyone, and unlike Lynn, he would not be a mid-carder for 15 years. Siaki charged the ring, and went after the leg, dropping elbows on the knee, and applying a kneebar. Ace Steel and Derek Wylde ran in, but Siaki knocked them down. David Young and Norman Smiley, along with security came in, but Lynn charged Siaki three times as they tried to keep them apart. Siaki broke free, then both men broke free, and went at it again. Bill Behrens and Bob Armstrong entered the fray, and finally Don Harris tossed Siaki from the ring and backed him up the ramp.
We then saw an interview from earlier today with Mike Tenay and Sean Waltman (called that by Tenay). Tenay made mention of his famous series of matches in Global with Jerry Lynn. Waltman talked about the X-Division being the cream of the crop. Tenay asked if he could still have the impact he had in WCW and WWF. Waltman asked if he meant a positive or negative impact, saying he used to "stir up s***" in the back. He said he was not here to recreate NWO or DX. He said NWA:TNA was professional wrestling, he is a professional wrestler, and that is why he was here. Waltman said he was legitimately sorry about what he said about Low Ki in the past, which is why he apologized on camera. He understands why AJ Styles is doing, saying he is looking for his chance to get respect. He said he was not proud of how he won the X Division title, and that he was an opportunist, but tonight he would prove he deserves it.
Sonny Siaki vs. Jorge Estrada was the next match. Estrada ran to the ring, with Priscilla accompanying him. Estrada attacked, and hit a springboard Rocker Dropper for a two count, and followed with a slingshot moonsault for another two. Siaki hit a belly to belly over the top rope, sending Estrada to the floor. On the outside, Siaki hit an overhead pumphandle slam. Siaki tossed Estrada into the ring steps, and back into the ring. Siaki missed a forward flip legdrop, but hit a slam into a stunner for a two count. Siaki ran into a boot, and Estrada hit a tornado DDT. Estrada hit a rana, and a rolling Samoan Drop, following with a Quebrada moonsault for a two count. Siaki came back with a lariat for a two count. Estrada hit a chinbuster for a two count. Siaki went to the floor and shoved Priscilla to the floor, as Estrada missed a dive to the outside. Siaki tossed Estrada into the ring and hit the Siakolypse (neckbreaker into DDT) for the win. Jerry Lynn ran out and attacked Siaki, with security and wrestlers pulling them apart again.
Derek Wylde vs. Ace Steel, who was accompanied by Mortimer Plumtree. Steel took Wylde down with a drop toe hold, then slapped him across the back. They traded holds, with Wylde hitting a hiptoss. Steel kipped up, and the two traded armbars and kip ups, until Wylde hit a rana. They criss-crossed the ring, with Wylde hitting a series of armdrags and floating into a frontfacelock. Wylde was placed on the apron, and he used a bodyscissors to flip Steel to the floor. Steel hit a headscissors on the outside. Steel caught Wylde as he came off the top rope, and placed him in the corner for a dropkick. Steel hit a superplex, and a double underhook into a series of knees to the face. Steel placed him in a Gory Special, which he then dropped into a neckbreaker (the Twist of Pain) for the win.
Bruce & Jeff Jarrett vs. Hermie Sadler & BG James was next. James took the mic and said he and Sadler were there to prove that Sadler could wrestle, and ripped on his opponents, calling Bruce a "homo". Jarrett then got on the mic, and said he was at the race this past weekend, and it didn't turn out the way Sadler wanted it be. He said Sadler would be cast in "The Last And The Furious". Jarrett and James started the match. Jarrett hit a hiptoss and worked over James, who came back with a flying forearm and a dropkick to the back of the head for a two count. Jarrett tagged out to Bruce. Sadler tagged in as well. Bruce took Hermie down and slapped him across the back of the head. Bruce hit a drop toe hold and slapped him again. Bruce hit an armdrag, then grabbed a side headlock. Sadler came back with a hiptoss, and tried to apply a headlock. Bruce slapped James, who was on the apron. Bruce tripped over Sadler, who had tagged James. James went for a low kick, but pretended there was no target. James went for the pumphandle slam, but Bruce pretended he liked it, and James released. Jarrett slugged James to the mat, and Bruce pounded him. Jarrett tagged in, and hit an enzugiri for a two count. Jarrett stomped James and choked him against the ropes. Bruce choked him from the outside as well. Bruce tagged in and stomped James off the ropes, then choked him. Bruce tagged Jarrett back in and they worked over James in the corner. James hit the dancing punches after a missed clothesline by Jarrett, and dropped the dancing kneedrop for a two count. Bruce and Hermie came in, and Sadler hit a vertical suplex on Bruce. James and Jarrett fought on the floor. Sadler hit a clothesline and a back drop for a two count. Outside, Brian Lawler hit James with a trash can. Bruce hit a back suplex on Sadler in the ring. Lawler was pounding James on the outside, and security broke it up. Jarrett continued the assault on James. In the ring, Sadler sat down on a Bruce sunset flip, hooking the legs for the pin. Jarrett and Bruce complained after the match, as James was helped to the back. Bruce and Jarrett argued, but Bruce wanted to make up and hug, but Jarrett gave him the Stroke, and walked off.
Norman Smiley vs. Ron Harris was next. They locked up twice, with Harris tossing him to the mat. Norman stopped a charging Harris so he could dance. Norman hit a hiptoss and armdrag. Norman applied a headlock and armbar. He leapfrogged Harris and hit a series of shots. He went for a hiptoss, but Harris shoved him off. Norman dropkicked his knee, and went for the Big Wiggle, but Harris elbowed him away and hit a big boot. Harris tossed Smiley to the floor, then tossed him back in the ring. Harris went for a slam, but Norman floated over and kicked at Harris' leg. Smiley hit an elbow and lariat with no effect, then took him down with a lariat. Smiley hit a wind-up slam, then went for the Big Wiggle, which he did. Harris, enraged, hit a boot to the face. Harris hit a trio of clotheslines in the corners, tossing him across the ring after each one. Harris hit a spinning side slam for a two count. Harris hit a Cobra clutch into a slam for the pin. Harris attacked Smiley after the match, but Smiley hit a series of forearms, and decked him with a spinning forearm. Smiley started screaming and choking Harris on the mat. Don Harris came out, pulled Smiley off, and tossed him to the floor. Security escorted Smiley away. Ron wanted to go after Smiley, but Don shoved him back. The brothers went nose to nose, arguing again.
The NWA World Tag Team Title match, with Chris & Rick Michaels challenging Chris Harris & James Storm, was next. Storm and Rick started out, going back and forth, until Storm shoved Rick to the floor on a waistlock. Chris came in, and Storm backdropped him out on top of his partner. Storm hit a plancha, with a boost from Harris onto Chris & Rick. Harris hit a pescado on both of them as they got up. Back in the ring, Chris was backdropped by Harris. Rick tripped Storm, dragged him to the floor, and rammed him into the rails. Rick & Chris worked over Storm, with Rick getting a two count with a legdrop. Storm hit a crossbody block on Chris for a two count, but Chris came back with a leg lariat. Rick hit a kneelift on Storm and stomped him. Storm hit a rana, but Chris stopped him from tagging. Storm hit an enzugiri on Chris, and tagged Harris. Harris cleaned house with clotheslines. Harris hit a bulldog on Rick, and a top rope bodypress on Chris for a two count. Harris clotheslined Chris to the floor. Storm hit a swinging DDT on Rick, but the referee was looking at Harris. Chris came off the top rope with a legdrop on Storm, and placed Rick on top, but Storm kicked out. Storm hit a superkick on Rick. Storm went to the top rope, but Chris shoved him off the the floor. Rick hit Harris with a DDT to the knee followed by a neckbreaker, and Chris followed with an elbow for a two count. Storm clotheslined Rick to the floor. Harris hit a catatonic (spinning uranage) on Chris for the pin. The Hot Shots then hit the ring and joined Chris & Rick in beating up the champions. Referees cleared the ring, but they came back to beat up the champions some more. Security came in, but they were beaten down as well, as the Hot Shots and Chris & Rick Michaels laid in some more punishment to Harris & Storm.
AJ Styles vs. Syxx Pac for the X Division title was next. Mortimer Plumtree escorted Styles to the ring. Syxx went for a handshake, but Styles kicked it away. Syxx offered it again, but Styles refused. Syxx went for a test of strength, but Syxx gave him a crotch chop. They locked up, and Styles hit an armdrag. Syxx applauded him as Styles posed. They locked up, and Styles applied an armbar. Syxx reversed, Styles rolled through, and hit an armdrag. Styles hit a knee to the gut, and applied a headlock. Styles switched to a hammerlock, Syxx reversed, rode him to the mat, and slapped him across the back of the head. They locked up, and Styles hit Syxx in the gut on the break on the ropes. Styles hit a shoulder block. Syxx leapfrogged him, went for a hiptoss, tried to flip over, and Styles hit a rana. Syxx came back with chops and kicks, hitting a spinkick in the corner. Syxx went for the Bronco Buster, but Styles slid out of the ring before Syxx jumped for the move. They locked up, Styles went for a headlock, but Syxx turned it into a wristlock, and used the ropes to flip out. Styles went to the floor for a breather. Syxx hit a kick to the gut, and some punches and chops in the corner. Syxx backdropped Styles to the apron, but Styles tripped him and pulled him groin first into the ringpost. Styles covered Syxx for a two count. Styles hit some chops, and straddled him on the middle rope. Mortimer reached in and choked Syxx. Styles covered Syxx for a two count. Styles applied a rear chinlock, but Syxx battled up, only to have Styles kick him back down. Syxx fired up with some chops, but Styles tossed him through the ropes to the floor. Plumtree attacked Syxx on the floor. Styles hit a somersault plancha onto Syxx on the floor. Styles applied a rear chinlock in the ring, but Syxx fought up, only to have Styles hit an ax kick to the head. Styles went to the top, but missed the Spiral Tap. Syxx hit a spinning heel kick, and a thrust kick. Syxx hit a spinning back kick, and went to the top rope. Syxx came off, but Styles dropkicked him in the gut. Styles went for a Bronco Buster, but Syxx caught him with his legs and monkeyflipped him over the top rope to the floor. Syxx hit a top rope senton onto Styles on the ramp. In the ring, Syxx hit a Northern Lights suplex for a two count. Syxx ran into a Styles boot. Styles went for a spinning lariat, but Syxx ducked and the referee got hit. Styles went for a powerbomb, but Syxx floated over and hit the X-Factor. Plumtree ran in and broke up the pin with a kick. Syxx was about to hit Plumtree, but the referee woke up and separated them. Syxx punched, kicked and headbutted Styles. Syxx went for the Bronco Buster, but instead of riding him, he punched him in the corner. The referee tried to pull him off, and Syxx shoved the referee. The referee disqualified Syxx Pac. Syxx punched out the referee. Security came in, as Mortimer screamed at him. Mortimer claimed Syxx was cheating the whole match, as he and Styles were escorted out. Syxx Pac retains the X Division title, since it was a DQ.
Don West hyped next week's show. Matches will include:
- Jerry Lynn vs. Sonny Siaki.
- BG James vs. Brian Lawler.
- Chris Harris & James Storm defending the tag titles.
- Curt Hennig, Syxx Pac, Jeff Jarrett, AJ Styles, and more.
Another sit-down Mike Tenay interview was shown, this one with Curt Hennig. They talked about his championship background, with Hennig saying he is based in wrestling, and that is what there is in TNA. Hennig talked about his debut last week, and put over Ron Killings, saying he would not take away anything from him, but he has had a belt in every other territory, and that he would do it here as well.
They did the tail of the tape for the main event, Curt Hennig challenging Ron Killings for the NWA World Heavyweight Title.
Killings took the mic and said it is time for the "moment of truth". He asked when NWA official would "grow a set of balls" and step forth to show their faces. He wanted to know who made all the "punk ass decisions" for the company. He said he was told by "the board" that he would be allowed to give minority wrestlers a title shot, but it only lasted one week before they stepped in. He said that the board complained that he was ducking contenders, and that tonight, Curt Hennig's blood was on their hands. Killings responded to the "overrated" chants, saying the crowd's "mama's" were overrated. Curt Hennig came out, and asked Killings if he knew what respect was. Killings was going to respond, but Hennig shut him up by saying he would "kick his ass" right now.
They locked up, and stalemated. They locked up again, and Hennig backed Killings into the corner. He broke clean, and the two mouthed off. Hennig applied a waistlock, and Killings hit him with an elbow. Hennig applied a waistlock, rode him down, and applied a front facelock. Killings made the ropes, and Hennig slapped him across the back. Killings went to the floor, and Hennig went after him, but Killings backdropped him onto the announce table. Killings clotheslined Hennig over the rail, and they briefly fought in the crowd. They went back to ringside, and Hennig hit two chair shots. Hennig hit a chop and tossed Killings back into the ring. Killings apparently tossed something in Hennig's eyes, blinding him. Killings slammed Hennig. Mortimer Plumtree appeared on the entranceway with Ace Steel, AJ Styles and Ron Harris. Killings worked over Hennig, kicking his leg out from under him for a two count. Killings hit some punches, leapfrogged Hennig, ducked a clothesline and hit a leg lariat. Hennig came back with a boot to the gut and a kneelift. The referee got bumped. Hennig went for the Perfectplex. The masked Mr. Wrestling III ran in, and brawled with Curt Hennig, then went after Killings. Syxx Pac and B.G. James ran in, and Mr. Wrestling III ran off into the crowd. Mortimer and his contingent ran down, and we had a brief brawl, then security came down and broke everything up. They cleared the ring, and the match was restarted. It was very confusing. Killings said there would be no restart, and tossed the referee. Ring Announcer Jeremy Borash announced that the match was restarted, and Killings slugged him. Killings grabbed a chair, and was swinging it on the floor. Bob Armstrong told Killings he had two choices, to either get in the ring and wrestle, or be counted out and have his title taken away. Killings reluctantly started to get in the ring. Meanwhile, Jeff Jarrett on the opposite side of the ring, hit Hennig with a low blow. Killings covered Hennig, and got the pin to retain the title. Killings rapped on the mic, and told the crowd to kiss his "black ass" to end the show.
As the show ended, and graphic was shown on the screen saying: "Evil knows no bounds, evil will never rest, evil returns, 10.30.02".
2002 - Ohio Valley Wrestling taped TV in Louisville Kentucky. Aaron Wilson filed the following report:
OVW TV Taping
Louisville, KY
10/16/02
Aaron "Lurch" Wilson
www.AaronLurchWilson.8m.com
AWLurch@hotmail.com
-Another interesting night of Ohio Valley Wrestling wrestling action. With the first match of the Run for the Rumble to be a very exciting and interesting bout, along with the in ring return of BJ Payne, in the TV Main Event.
-Matt Morgan vs. Lance Cade
DARK MATCH
-The usual pre-show dark match to check the lights and cameras took place and actually had some good crowd heat. The much larger Morgan knocked Cade right down to the mat after the opening tie up, with the crowd erupting into a huge "Big Bird" chant directed at Cade. It was overall a decent match, your typical opening Dark match, nothing too special. Matt Morgan ended up gaining the pinfall after a running chokeslam.
-Winner via pinfall Matt Morgan
-Mark Jindrak vs. Badd (Formerly Redd) Dogg
-Apparently the man formerly known as Redd Dogg is now Badd Dogg, coming out to "Another One Bites the Dust". Prior to the match Badd Dogg chained his Southern Tag Titles to the turnbuckle post making sure no one got hold of them. Jindrak managed to get the early take down of Badd Dogg gaining the early offense. At this point in the match two refs attempted to unwrap the chain that was holding the belts onto the post, but weren't able to as Badd Dogg saw them and stopped them from taking them. I'm not sure why the refs didn't just unbutton the belts and take them instead of unwrapping the chain, I guess common sense wasn't much of an issue here. The refs continued to try and get the belts, but to no avail. Badd Dogg eventually gained the pinfall after a double underhook powerbomb. Afterwards he delivered the same move to the referee and then another to Mark Jindrak, and left with his belts.
-Winner via pinfall Badd Dogg
-Johnny Jeter & Mark Magnus vs. Orlando Jordan & Johnny Spade
DARK MATCH
-A very good dark match, with Spade and Magnus opening things off working on each others arms, with a series of reversals. Magnus finally gained the early control with an armdrag, and eventually went on to tag Johnny Jeter in. Spade and Jeter went on to trade chops back and forth, from corner to corner, as Spade eventually went to tag in Orlando Jordan as the tag to Mark Magnus was made by Jeter as well. The two went at it, with Jordan getting some cheap shots in on Magnus, with Jordan eventually eye raking Magnus, gaining the unfair advantage. Magnus although managed to counter Jordan with an eventual sunset flip, but only managed to gain a two count out of it. With Spade and Magnus in Magnus managed to pull off a successful facebuster to Spade and gain the hot tag to Jeter. Jeter then came in and cleared house using all of his offensive kicks and eventually gained the pinfall after a huge spinkick off of the top rope.
-Winners via pinfall Johnny Jeter & Mark Magnus
-Rob Conway vs. Nick Dinsmore
RUN FOR THE RUMBLE
-This being the first round of the "Run For the Rumble" with two current tag team partners squaring off against each other to decide who would advance one step closer to wrestling in the 2003 Royal Rumble. Rob Conway came out to an odd reaction and a chant of "Conway Sucks", which was actually encouraged by his partner Nick Dinsmore on his way to the ring. The two opened up the extremely technical and very good match with a tie up, which went no where, as it appeared the two knew each other two well. Eventually, Conway opened off on Dinsmore with a waist lock followed by a head lock takedown gaining the early offense. The two kept it up, working their way back to their feet. In one very noticeable and impressive spot, Dinsmore went for an arm twist and Conway managed to roll out of it, almost simultaneously, an absolute must see. The two continued, turning up the pace a bit, with a series of moves which ended in Conway landing a second rope springboard cross body block to Dinsmore, sending him down to the mat very hard. Nick Dinsmore although managed to eventually mount a come back with a series of all kinds of atomic drops, followed by an overhear suplex, but couldn't manage to gain the three count. Dinsmore then applied the Crippler Crossface as the cameras went to a commercial break. During the break Conway actually managed to gain the upper hand applying a sleeper hold on Dinsmore and eventually went on to deliver a suplex to Dinsmore only gaining a two count. The two started brawling and fell outside of the ring, and continued brawling on the outside. There was then a double ten count and the bell rang, but senior referee Robert Brisko then came out and stated that this match was too important and that there had to be a winner. The match then continued with Robert Brisko as the referee and the two continued inside the ring. The two then seemed to be at the end of the tunnel, trying everything they could, but only managing to gain a two count, putting the Davis Arena crowd on the edge of their seats. The two, showing their last bit of energy began chopping each other at their attempts to break each other down, but still to no avail. Eventually Dinsmore started hitting his moves that he usually hits before his finish the German suplex. The Flying Forearm and the Missile Dropkick had hit their target or Rob Conway dead on, but Conway managed to make his way out of the ring. Conway then lead on towards his old days, loading his fist, which is the reason he is known as the "Ironman". He went into the ring and went for the big blow to the head, but the ring wise Dinsmore ducked his tag partners cheap shot and delivered his finish, the German Suplex, for the three count and the victory. After the match Conway acted like he was going to hit Dinsmore with the "Iron Fist" but instead offered to shake his hand, receiving a respectable applause for both wrestlers, in one must see match.
-Winner via pinfall Nick Dinsmore who will go on to face the winner of next weeks match between Doug Basham and The Damaja
-After a short break to fix a technical problem Kenny Bolin and Jerome Croney made their way to the ring to introduce Rene Dupree for an interview segment with Jim Cornette. When Dupree made his way to the ring, he got on the mic claiming that he's never really worked a day in his life outside of professional wrestling, as Jerome Croney went on to brush his hair for him. Shortly into the segment, Lance Cade, who has been referred to as "Big Bird" lately, made his way to the ring to discuss a bone he had to pick with Bolin and Croney. He was upset that Croney always ended up interrupting his match. I'm unsure of what was said after this as the crowd was a bit rowdy, but it ended with Cornette laying the law down to both Croney and Bolin.
-BJ Payne vs. Seven w/ Synn
TV MAIN EVENT - GRUDGE MATCH
-As soon as Seven was introduced BJ Payne stormed the ring and the brawl began. Almost immediately the two took it to the outside going right towards the crowd area and actually brawled right into the fire exit doors knocking it wide open. The outside brawl continued even longer as they went into the concession stand area, which was actually the first fight in the new concession area. BJ Payne grabbed one of the cookie sheets laying there and drilled Seven hard in the back of the head, showing his very enraged aggression that must have been boiling for months. The match eventually made its way into the ring, with Payne showing little to no ring rust after being on the shelves for months, impressive in his in ring return. The match came to an end as BJ hit the Sky High on Seven, as well as the top rope Frog Splash. Synn then made the run in breaking up the three count, and the referee called for the bell awarding BJ Payne the win via DQ. BJ although did managed to get his revenge on Synn delivering a huge Sky High to Synn. This was immediately interrupted by the run in of Travis Bane, who is apparently somewhat aligned with the Disciples of Synn, as they all attacked BJ Payne. As the cameras went off the air Synn was hitting BJ Payne repeatedly with her whip, which was eventually stopped by Jim Cornette as he got on the house mic. He announced that if Synn or anyone hit BJ Payne one more time that each one of them would be fined $1000. Eventually the referees helped BJ Payne out of the ring and back to the back concluding another excellent, and must see week of Ohio Valley Wrestling.
-Winner via DQ BJ Payne
2003 - Izzy & Dixie of Special K defeat The Backseat Boyz (Trent Acid & Johnny Kashmere) in Glen Burnie, Maryland to win the Ring Of Honor Tag Team Championship.
2007 - Former WWE and WCW World champion Booker T posted the following statement on his official website www.BookerTOnline.com in regard to the WWE depature of he and wife Sharmell from World Wrestling Entertainment:
We want to begin by thanking the many wonderful WWE fans that we have had the privilege of entertaining over the last eight years. Sharmell and I have enjoyed the opportunity to put smiles on your faces night after night. We also want to thank everyone in the wrestling community for their support of our very own P.W.A. (Pro Wrestling Alliance). The dream of bringing professional wrestling back to my home town of Houston, Texas is coming to fruition, and we have you to thank for it.
I want to address something that has been on my mind for quite some time now in regards to my recent suspension from WWE. I want to state for the record that I was not taking any illegal substance, or anything outside of my physician's care, and that the suspension was unwarranted. However, rather than fight the suspension or publicly voice my discontent, I used this recent hiatus to rest, work with the P.W.A., and reflect on the direction of my career as a professional wrestler. I also, for the record, have never at any time ordered anything from "Signature Pharmacy". This allegation is upsetting, and the careless and slanderous reporting of this matter is currently being addressed by my legal counsel.
I would like to also address any possible rumors or misinformation regarding our release from WWE. I had been unhappy for quite some time with the direction that the Company was going in. In fact, I asked for my release back in July for that very reason. However, after further contemplation, I decided to continue on with WWE because of my passion for this industry and my desire to entertain the fans. Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that my unhappiness with my work environment was beginning to take a great toll on other aspects of my life.
I knew that it was time to make some extremely tough decisions. Therefore, in the interest of my mental, physical, and spiritual well being, I along with my wife, asked for our release from World Wrestling Entertainment for the second time within months. We were graciously granted our release and we have since amicably parted ways.
While the business relationship between ourselves and the WWE has ended, we will continue to be i involved in Professional Wrestling. We hope that our loyal fans will follow us as we make this transition.
Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts, and we will see you soon!
Booker T. and Sharmell
2008 - TNA broadcasts Impact. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off tonight’s show with a look back at Bound for Glory. Did you know that Sting won the title? We see Booker defeat Christian Cage and A.J. Styles. Taylor Wilde held on to the title as did James Storm and Robert Roode. Jeff Jarrett beat Kurt Angle with some help from Mick Foley. Kevin Nash shows that someone from Detroit can make contact with a bat.
We have comments from Jeff Jarrett after the pay per view. He says the last place he needs to be is in a wrestling ring. It is one and done for him.
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike ‘Home Sweet Home Next Week’ Tenay and Don ‘How Bout Them Titans’ West.
Don gives us an update on Abyss. He was released from the hospital after suffering some serious burns.
Match Number One: Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin versus Sheik Abdul Bashir and Sonjay Dutt with So Cal Val
Sabin and Dutt start things off and Dutt with a knee and wrist lock. Sabin reverses with an arm drag. Dutt with a satellite head scissors to Sabin and then he dances for the camera. Sabin with a leg sweep and back senton. Sabin sends Dutt outside the ring by Bashir and Sabin with a somersault plancha onto Bashir and Dutt. Sabin with punches to Dutt and Bashir trips Sabin and that allows Dutt to hit a drop kick. Dutt with a punch and then he charges into boots. Shelley tags in and he hits Bashir. Shelley drops Dutt on the mat and then he hits a superkick on Bashir. Shelley with a face driver to Dutt and then he hits a suicide dive on Bashir. Val trips Shelley and then Dutt falls victim to a clothesline from Sabin.
Dutt with a kick to Sabin but Sabin with an enzuigiri that stops Dutt. Sabin with a rana from the top turnbuckle and then Shelley with a frog splash for the three count.
Winners: Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin
After the match, Kurt Angle’s music plays and he comes to the ring. Shelley and Sabin stand in the ring and then Angle kicks Sabin and clotheslines Shelley and sends him out of the ring. Angle tosses Sabin out of the ring. Angle with a clothesline to Shelley on the floor followed by one to Sabin. Angle hits the Olympic Slam on Dutt.
Angle takes a mic and he is going to address the fans. Angle says that nobody gets a win over him and leaves wrestling. Angle says that with the help of Foley, Jarrett might have won the battle, but he did not win the war. Angle asks Jarrett if he is a champion like him or a candy a** hick from Nashville. Angle says that he is going to pick apart the TNA talent until it is just the two of them. Angle says that he will get Jarrett back into the ring. Until then, the bloodshed will be on his hands.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we go to footage from the main event when Sting got his third chance to win the title at Bound for Glory and he succeeded.
Sting comes to the ring and he is going to have something to say. He says that he stands here the new TNA Heavyweight Champion. He says that it is not him who is supposed to be standing here with the belt. It is supposed to be Samoa Joe who is standing here. Sting says that he could look Joe in the eye and tell Joe that he was the better wrestler on Sunday. Sting tells Joe that he is the better wrestler. Sting tells Joe that he bit off more than he could chew. He also tells Joe that he was taken places he never went before. Sting says that Joe had him beaten ten minutes into the match. But Joe chose to do what he always did. That was to mock him and his generation. Sting says that Joe tried to embarrass him and Joe put him out of wrestling while Joe humiliating him. Sting tells Joe that it is because of his disrespect that he is the champion. Sting asks Joe how many times he had Ric Flair in a place where he did not know where he was. Because of Joe’s disrespect, the title is his. After Bound for Glory, there were some guys who shook his hand and some did not. Sting says that A.J. was one of those people. Sting says that he knows that A.J. is friends with Joe.
A.J. Styles comes to the ring and he tells Sting that he is friends with Samoa Joe and has been his friend for a long time. If Sting would listen to what people had to say, then he would get his respect. The reason why Sting got no respect from Joe at Bound for Glory was because he showed no respect. A.J. says that Sting talks about how people aren’t giving him respect. A.J. says that he is on the road making money for the company while Sting is spending it. A.J. says that he is away from his family while Sting is coaching his son’s football team. In 2002, it was guys like Christopher Daniels and Low Ki who laid the ground work for the company. Him and Joe are laying the bricks for this foundation. A.J. says that Sting can think that he can come in and hang the fancy chandelier, but he can leave.
Sting tells A.J. that he did not like the way that his dad raised him. Sting tells A.J. that he is going to turn into his dad. A.J. slaps Sting. A.J. slaps Sting again and then Sting and A.J. fight in and out of the ring. Security comes out to separate them.
TO THE BACK and Kurt Angle is beating up Curry Man. Shark Boy tries to get involved but Kurt Angle takes care of Shark Boy. Eric Young comes over to help, but Angle goes after Young and they are separated. We go to commercial.
We are back and we go to Booker T with Jeremy Borash in his dressing room. Booker asks Jeremy if he wants to talk about power and size. Booker says that in his country, the lion is the king of the jungle, but the elephant is the real king of the jungle. Booker says that he is a big game hunter. Booker says that the ivory from the elephant is an aphrodisiac. Booker tells Jeremy never to rub him again. Booker says that Gonzalez is going to have the time of his life and he will fall at the feet of Booker. Jeremy asks about the briefcase. Sharmell says that next week, Booker will reveal the contents of his case.
Match Number Two: Hernandez with Homicide versus Booker T with Sharmell
They lock up and Hernandez over powers Booker. Booker with a side head lock and Hernandez with a shoulder tackle. They lock up again and Hernandez backs Booker into the corner but Booker with a knee and chops. Booker tries a suplex but Hernandez blocks it and hits a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Hernandez with an Irish whip but he charges into an elbow and Booker with a heel kick for a near fall. Booker with the back heel kick and he punches Hernandez. Booker with a reverse chin lock. Booker misses the axe kick and Hernandez with a shoulder tackle. Hernandez with a clothesline to Booker followed by an Irish whip and splash and body block for a near fall.
Hernandez with a slam and then he goes to the apron for the slingshot shoulder tackle for a two count. Hernandez sets for the border toss but Sharmell gets on the apron. Sharmell hands the briefcase to Booker. Booker with a low kick and then he hits Hernandez with the briefcase followed by an axe kick as the referee stops talking to Homicide and focuses on the action to make the three count.
Winner: Booker T
We go to commercial.
We are back and Kurt Angle is beating people up. This time it is Jimmy Rave and Lance Rock who are getting beaten up by Angle. Christy is begging for mercy.
Lauren is with Roxxi and Roxxi says that she doesn’t give a f*** about Kong. Lauren tells Roxxi to watch her language and then Roxxi says that she doesn’t give a f*** about SpikeTV. Roxxi says that she learned a long time ago, it is not about how many matches you win, it is that you are standing here. She got her head shaved. She is a survivor. Roxxi tells Kong to kiss her a**. Roxxi apologizes for swearing.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Lauren is with Christy Hemme. Lauren asks for an update. Christy is stopped by Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, and Kip James. Angelina asks Christy why she is taking their television time. They have a new set to debut tonight. They also have an HD test for next week’s show. Velvet says that HD will make every blemish make Christy look ten times uglier. Angelina punches Christy after Christy flips off Angelina. They attack Christy and they fight into the stairwell. They put a bag on Christy and leave.
Kurt Angle walks to the ringside area and he hits Dave Penzer. Angle throws Penzer into the ring. Angle with a short arm clothesline and then Angle beats Penzer with his own shoe. Angle with the ankle lock to Penzer and security comes into the ring and security goes down. Referees come to the ring and they are taken care of by Angle.
Jeff Jarrett’s music plays and he comes out. Angle says that he wants his rematch and he wants it now. Jarrett says that it is over. Angle wanted him at Bound for Glory and that is where he got him. Jarrett says the last place he needs to be is in the ring. Angle says that Jarrett didn’t beat him and that match was bulls***. Angle says that it isn’t over. Angle talks about the lunch that they had two years ago before he signed with TNA. Angle says that he knows where Jarrett lives and Kurt suggests that Uncle Kurt make a visit. Jarrett returns to the ring and then Kurt leaves. Jarrett tries to go after Angle but the referees hold him back.
Mick Foley is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Mick Foley comes to the ring. Mick says that he is not sure if he deserves the applause. Mick says that he has something to say that after twenty-three years he says that he is a junkie. A roller coaster junkie. When you wrestle the style he does and when you land on concrete floors, he was able to look at it successfully as if the world was his own personal theme park. As long as he had a coaster to look forward to, he could take the time away. Mick goes cheap pop for the Hulk roller coaster. Mick says that he has been on a twenty-three year thrill ride. Maybe the chair shot rattled his brain on Sunday. Some times you just need to step away and enjoy a nice swim at the pool so you can get ready for more thrills and more fun. This summer, he found himself having less fun and being more stressed. Mick says that his decision to come to TNA was like a nice refreshing swim in the pool. Mick says that he is ready for more thrills and more fun. With the athletes in TNA, the last few weeks have been one of the best thrill rides of his life. The reality is that you can only be the special guest enforcer so many times, and that is one. While he loved every minute of his time in TNA, it is time to say goodbye. Mick thanks the fans for a hell of a ride and he wishes that it would have lasted a bit longer.
Consequences Creed, Jay Lethal, and some of the referees come out to shake Foley’s hand. A.J. Styles comes out and hugs Foley. Jeff Jarrett comes back out and he applauds Foley. Jarrett says that he wants ten minutes with Foley to discuss a few things.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jim Cornette is on the phone from Las Vegas. Cornette talks about how Impact will be going HD. Cornette talks about how Kurt Angle has gone crazy on everyone. Angle will face Matt Morgan tonight.
Match Number Three: Raisha Saeed with Awesome Kong versus Roxxi Laveaux
Saeed charges before the bell but Roxxi moves. Saeed with a rake of the eyes followed by punches to the midsection. Saeed chokes Roxxi in the corner. Saeed with forearms and Roxxi goes to the mat. Saeed with a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Saeed with a suplex. Saeed tries for a surfboard and then she chokes Roxxi and gets a near fall. Saeed with a slam and then she goes up top for a missile drop kick, but Roxxi moves out of the way. Roxxi with forearms to Saeed followed by a roaring forearm. Roxxi with a running boot to Saeed followed by a fallaway slam. Roxxi goes outside and Kong with a clothesline. Kong misses the back fist and then Roxxi goes after Kong and kicks her. Roxxi with the Voodoo Drop for the three count.
Winner: Roxxi Laveaux
After the match, Kong with a body block followed by the Implant Buster.
TO THE BACK where Lauren is with Matt Morgan. Lauren updates us in case you missed anything earlier. Lauren asks Matt about Abyss. Matt says that he is a main event waiting to happen. He says that his mind is as far away from the match as possible. Matt says that his mind is on his best buddy, Chris Parks. Morgan says that he does not blame anyone else for what happened to Chris at Bound for Glory. We see footage of the fire table spot from Sunday. Matt says that Kurt has been talking about the wrong place at the wrong time, and tonight it is a seven foot understatement.
We are back and time for more comments from Christy Hemme who is with Lauren. Christy says that if she didn’t have to go to the hospital, she would be taking care of those sluts. Next week, neither will leave Las Vegas. Christy vows to be PMSing next week.
We run through the card for next week’s Impact.
Jeremy Borash is with Consequences Creed. Creed says that there is never a wrong time for opportunity. He will shoot his way to the top tonight. He tells Jeremy to tell Nash to bring everything.
We go to commercial.
We are back and TNA is on tour.
Match Number Four: Kevin Nash versus Consequences Creed
Nash with a knee to Creed followed by a forearm to the back. Nash with another forearm to the back followed by knees. Creed with a drop kick to the knee followed by jabs and a roundhouse punch. Creed dazzles Nash with his speed. Nash blocks a super kick and he hits a short arm clothesline. Nash with a Cobra Clutch slam and then it is time for the jackknife power bomb for the three count.
Winner: Kevin Nash
After the match, Nash gets on the mic and he talks about the new generation of wrestlers in TNA. He says that they are either the most arrogant or the stupidest sons of b****es he ever met. If Joe couldn’t see what was coming at Bound for Glory, I guess he didn’t remember running his mouth about Scott Hall ten months ago. The only person stupider than Joe are the people in the Impact Zone. Those people are still cheering for him. Nash says that everyone wonders what it is like to be Kevin Nash. Nash says that he is the most intelligent man this business ever produced. Nash says that he spends more in a strip club in a month than everyone in the Impact Zone earns.
TO THE BACK and Jeremy Borash is outside the office for the secret meeting. Mick Foley asks Jarrett if he is serious about what he is saying. Jeff says that he is serious. Mick says that he is also serious. Mick says that Jeff Jarrett is a maverick.
We go to commercial.
Lauren is with Team 3D in the back and she says that Sunday was an assault on Chris Parks, not a match. Ray says that you should have expected that from the most violent tag team in the most violent match. Ray asks if she was expecting a head lock or single leg take down. Ray says that Abyss and the fans got what they expected. In Las Vegas, the rematch happens. This time the fans pick the order of entry. They will take it to a new level in Vegas.
Match Number Five: Kurt Angle versus Matt Morgan
They lock up and Morgan back Angle into the corner and Morgan with a clean break. They lock up again and Morgan powers Angle to the mat. Angle with a side head lock and Morgan with a shoulder tackle and Angle goes to the floor. Angle returns to the ring and Angle with a kick and elbow followed by European uppercuts. Angle tries for a cross body and Morgan catches him and hits a fallaway slam. Morgan puts Angle in the ropes and Morgan with a splash to the back and Morgan goes to the floor. Morgan with a forearm to Angle and then he hits a leg drop on the apron and we go to commercial.
We are back and Morgan with a cross body for a two count. Morgan points to the heavens and he sets for the Hellevator but Angle goes out of the ring. Morgan chases Angle around the ring and then Angle beats Morgan back into the ring and works on the leg. Morgan kicks Angle off but Angle clips Morgan twice. Morgan with a clothesline to Angle and both men are down. Angle and Morgan exchange punches and Morgan with a back elbow and clotheslines. Morgan with a splash into the corner followed by a side slam for a two count. Angle tries for the Olympic slam but Morgan gets out of the hold and Morgan with the bicycle kick for a two count. Angle puts Morgan in the ankle lock. Morgan gets out of the hold and then he hits a uranage for a two count. Morgan sets for the Hellevator but Angle escapes the hold and hits the Olympic Slam for the three count.
Winner: Kurt Angle
After the match, Angle works on the leg and knee. Morgan tries to fight off Angle, but Abyss’s music plays and he is in street clothes and he is wearing his mask. Angle backs off Morgan.
Abyss turns around and that gives Angle the opportunity to attack Abyss and he punches Abyss in the head. Angle rips Abyss’s shirt off and we see his bandaged chest. Angle puts Abyss in the ankle lock.
TO THE BACK we go to Jeremy Borash who see Jeff Jarrett and Mick Foley. Jeremy wants to know what they are talking about. Jeff says that they were talking politics and the bailout package. Mick says that he is going to Vegas. Jeremy reminds Mick that he said goodbye tonight, but Mick says that things have changed. Mick says that he is going to make a declaration that will shake the foundation of the business.
We go to credits and to watch the rest of the American League Championship Series.
2009 - Shane McMahon quits WWE. WWE released the following announcement:
STAMFORD, CT – Shane McMahon, Executive Vice President of Global Media, announced today he has tendered his resignation effective January 1, 2010.
Shane stated, “It has been an incredible experience to help build WWE® into a global phenomenon. However, having been associated with this organization for the majority of my life, I feel this is the opportune time in my career to pursue outside ventures.”
“Even though I am personally saddened by Shane’s decision to leave the company, I am proud of the enormous contributions he has made. He will unquestionably bring passion, commitment and extensive business experience to any endeavor he pursues,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman and CEO.
2010 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution featured an article on the death of Chris Benoit and the belief that steroids caused him to kill his family before committing suicide. Benoit's father Michael is interviewed in the piece, noting his belief that the brain damage to Benoit from years of the physical abuse he took in the ring over the course of his career was the cause of his mental issues at the end of his life.
Michael Benoit noted that when the The Sports Legacy Institute examined Benoit's brain, it was the worst damage they had ever found while testing for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, including damage to the brain stem.
The article also noted that when the Benoit family doctor, Phil Astin, was sentenced to prison, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Horn told reporters that there was "no evidence in the court record" of a link between Benoit's drug use and the killings.
2011 - TNA held their annual Bound for Glory PPV. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:
Welcome to the Bound for Glory Pre Show, live on TNA’s Facebook page. Christy Hemme and Jeremy Borash welcome everyone to the pre show.
Jeremy and Christy discuss the matches on the show tonight.
We see the fans in the building as well as the ring.
We see a video package for the World Heavyweight Title Match between Kurt Angle and Bobby Roode.
Jeremy Borash is in the interview area and he talks about the Falls Count Anywhere Match and he is with Ken Anderson. Ken says that Bully Ray grew up in the mean streets of New York. Back when you had to know how to fight to protect yourself. He learned to be a bully. Ken grew up in a small town outside of Green Bay and there wasn’t much to do. You could drink, watch football, play football, and fight. It was people not unlike Bully Ray who forced him to learn how to defend himself and to fight. To take it to the person before they bring it to you. The best way is to walk up to the bully and punch them in their mouth. Ken points out that they are in Philadelphia and he knows about their reputation. They play hard, they live hard, and they like to fight. Ken says that if he wasn’t from Green Bay, Wisconsin there is no other place he would rather be from than the City of Brotherly Love.
It is time for our pre-show match but first we go to the ‘Tag Lines’ for the match.
Your announcers are Mike Tenay and Taz.
TNA Tag Team Championship Match: Ink Inc (with Toxine) versus Mexican America (with Rosita and Sarita)
Shannon and Anarquia start things off and Moore with punches followed by a back elbow. Moore with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Moore blocks a hip toss and connects with a hip toss of his own and applies a key lock. Neal is tagged in and they hit a double hip toss and Neal gets a near fall. Neal with a front face lock and Moore tags in. Neal with a suplex and Moore with a slingshot senton and then he knocks Hernandez off the apron with a drop kick. Hernandez hits a tilt-a-whirl back breaker while Sarita and Rosita distract the referee.
Anarquia gets a near fall and Hernandez tags in. Hernandez leap frogs Anarquia and hits a splash on Moore for a near fall. Hernandez gets Moore on his shoulder for a back breaker and then he drops down to his knees to add more pressure to the back and he gets a near fall. Anarquia tags in and Hernandez with an Irish whip and then he gets sent into the corner and Anarquia gets thrown into the corner for another splash and he gets a near fall.
Anarquia with a snap mare and reverse chin lock. Moore with punches to the midsection but Anarquia sends Moore to the mat. Anarquia throws Moore to the floor an Hernandez attacks Moore while Anarquia deals with the referee and Neal. Sarita and Rosita join in and Anarquia gets a near fall when Moore is returned to the ring. Anarquia rakes the eyes with his boots and then he applies a rear chin lock.
Moore with elbows but Anarquia with a forearm and an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow from Moore. Moore goes up top for a moonsault and both men are down. Anarquia does not know where his corner is but he makes the tag and Neal tags in too. Neal with forearms and a clothesline. Neal with a back body drop to Anarquia. Neal with a flying forearm to Hernandez. Neal with a face first driver to Anarquia and then Neal with a spear but Anarquia breaks up the cover.
Moore clotheslines Anarquia over the top rope. Moore sends Neal over the top rope to the floor but Neal moves. Moore with a baseball slide followed by an Asai Moonsault onto Anarquia. Hernandez is in the ring by himself and tries for a plancha but Moore moves out of the way.
Rosita and Sarita goe into the ring but Toxine with a spear to Rosita. Toxine with a head butt to Sarita and then she takes off Sarita’s mask and hits a neck breaker and face driver. Toxine with a head butt to Anarquia and then he pulls down Anarquia’s pants. Hernandez with a rollup on Neal as Moore and Anarquia are sent to the floor.
Winners: Mexican America
Jeremy Borash is at ringside with Christy Hemme and they talk about the crowd and that they have come from all over the world for this show.
They run through the show again and mention that the X Division Title Match will open the pay per view at the top of the hour.
Jeremy Borash is with Jeff Jarrett and Karen Jarrett. We are told that Jeff Hardy is not allowed in the arena. Karen says that it is bad enough that she has to deal with the wench Knockouts, but now Jeff has to worry about Hardy.
Jarrett says that he cannot believe that Hardy walked into the arena five minutes ago. He knows that Jeff could show up at the Fanfest because he was part of the DVD viewing party. He cannot believe that Hardy has the balls to show up. He warned Hardy on Thursday not to show up. He brought Hardy into the company and tonight he will remove Hardy from the company. Jeff and Karen storm off.
Jeremy and Christy do a final hard sell for the pay per view.
Welcome to PWInsider.com’s live, ongoing coverage of Bound for Glory from Philadelphia, PA!
The PPV opened with a great opening video previewing the TNA title bout and Hulk Hogan vs. Sting.
Mike Tenay and Taz welcomed everyone to the broadcast, noting that the future direction of the company would be determined tonight.
TNA X-Division champion Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick
Big pop for Aries since he really carved his name in Philly, which Taz pointed out. They locked up and Aries and Kendrick began exchanging holds. Nice chant for Aries early. Aries took him down with a headlock takeover but Kendrick reversed it and they faced off.
Aries was sent into the ropes but shoulderblocked Kendrick down. Kendrick came back with a headscissors. They led to a back and forth reversal until Kendrick dropkicked Aries out of the ring. Aries called for a time out, trying to slow Kendrick’s momentum.
Aries was kicked off the apron and Kendrick his a slingshot pescado to the floor. The crowd booed him for that. Kendrick sent him back into the ring and scored a two count with a flying bodypress. Kendrick nailed a pair of monkey flips but was shoved off while going for a trifecta. Aries drilled him with a clothesline for a two count.
Aries drilled Kendrick with an elbow across the top of the head. Kendrick rebounded off the ropes with a stiff elbow for another near fall. Aries nailed a back elbow to take Kendrick down for another two count. Aries continued to work on Aries until Kendrick fired back with a series of forearms and kicks. Aries avoided one but was nailed with a double axe handle for a two count. Kendrick comes off the top but Aries avoided it and nailed an STO and a Pendulum elbow for a two count.
Kendick kicked off Aries during a charge and nailed a tornado DDT. Aries kicked out and the crowd began chanting for him. Kendrick went for Sliced Bread #2 but was sent to the floor. Aries hit a nasty torpedo dive to the outside, leading to a “TNA” chant.
Aries drilled him with an elbow and hit a hard running dropkick in the corner. Aries went for the brainbuster but Kendrick drilled him with knees to the head and small packaged him for a two count. Kendrick superkicked Aries and went for Sliced Bread #2 but Aries stopped it and they battled on the top. Aries battered him with elbows and hit Sliced Bread #2 off the top rope but Aries draped his foot on the ropes at the last second.
Kendrick went for Sliced Bread again but was shoved to the floor. Aries punted Kendrick hard as he returned to the ring and nailed another stiff dropkick. Aries spiked him with a brainbuster and scored the pin clean.
Your winner and still X-Division champion, Austin Aries!
Very good, hard fought entertaining match to kick off the show. Both were really on their game.
Backstage, Jeremy Borash and Traci Brooks were playing with the Jarrett children when Karen Jarrett came in and was obviously pissed about it. She ripped on Brooks’ attire and then announced she would be refereeing the Knockouts title bout herself. Jarrett told Brooks that she was not to come to ringside unless she was in “harm’s way” tonight.
Full Metal Mayhem: Jerry Lynn vs. Rob Van Dam
Pretty large “ECW” chant for a few seconds, but it quickly died out. They went back and forth trying to take each other down. RVD went for an armbar but couldn’t lock it on. Van Dam used leg scissors to cover Lynn for a two count. RVD nailed a spinkick in the corner.
RVD went for Rolling Thunder but Lynn dropkicked him coming out of the somersault. Lynn went for a tornado DDT but RVD countered and they went back and forth with counters until facing off. Van Dam kicked Lynn in the gut and avoided a clothesline. They collided against each other near the ropes. Van Dam nailed a guillotine legdrop across the apron.
They battled on the floor. Van Dam went for a moonsault off the railing but Lynn moved and RVD hit the ground. Lynn pulled a ladder into the ring. Van Dam tossed Lynn into the ring but began favoring his leg from hitting the ground. Van Dam grabbed a chair from under the ring but as he returned, Lynn nailed a sliding dropkick into the ladder, slamming it into RVD.
Back in the ring, Van Dam nailed a bodypress off the ropes, crashing Lynn down onto a chair in the ring for a two count. Van Dam set up Lynn in the corner for the skateboarding dropkick. Van Dam set up a ladder in the corner and whipped Lynn hard into it. He fell with the ladder landing atop of him. Van Dam nailed Rolling Thunder onto the ladder. Big “ECW” chant.
Van Dam kicked at Lynn who dropkicked Rob into a chair. Lynn clotheslined RVD atop the ladder, who was leaning on the ropes. Lynn went for a flying legdrop but RVD rolled out of the way and Lynn ate nothing but ladder. Lynn slammed a chair into RVD’s face and hit a German suplex with a bridge for a two count.
They battled over a suplex near the ladder with RVD winning the war. All the crazy spots got ECW chants. Van Dam nailed a rolling thunder onto the ladder for another two count. Rob sent Lynn into the corner for a monkey flip but Lynn clotheslined Rob in mid-air. Lynn rolled to the outside to retrieve a second ladder. He bridged it between the ring and the ring barrier.
Lynn and RVD battled over the ladder. The ladder slipped off the apron as they battled. They still did a sunset flip powerbomb with RVD’s head bouncing nastily off the ladder and the ring barrier. Lynn rolled RVD back in but only scored a two count. Lynn went to nail RVD with the chair but Rob ducked and nailed the Van Daminator for a two count.
Van Dam set up a ladder over Lynn and went for the Van Terminator. The crowd chanted, “Holy sh**.” Van Dam pulled Lynn into the ring and scored the pin.
Your winner, Rob Van Dam!
It wasn’t a pure wrestling match but there were a lot of entertaining and scary looking spots. You could see they were giving you all they had to give. The crowd really enjoyed themselves and I can’t help but love the effort, but some of those spots looked way too dangerous for these guys to be doing. But, still quite the spectacle.
Van Dam and Lynn raised each other’s arms after the bout.
They showed footage of Dixie Carter and her husband Serg arriving at the arena earlier in the day.
Samoa Joe vs. Matt Morgan vs. Crimson
Joe immediately told the others to fight but they instead put the boots to Joe. The crowd booed them. Morgan nailed the rapid fire elbows in the corner. Crimson went to punch Joe but caught Morgan. That allowed Joe to work over Crimson. Joe was caught in the middle of them being punched back and forth. The crowd was booing all of this, since Joe has a history in Philly.
Crimson charged Joe but Joe dropped down and Crimson crashed to the floor. Joe took down Morgan. He tagged Morgan with some kicks to the chest. There were some “Joe is gonna kill you” catcalls. Morgan catches Joe with the sideslam and Crimson tried to catch the pin. Morgan wasn’t happy about that, allowing Joe to take them out, tossing Crimson out on top of Morgan. Joe hit a flying elbowsmash tope on Crimson.
Joe and Crimson battled on the floor. Morgan went to the top rope and dove off, wiping out Crimson as Joe stepped out of the way. Morgan was grabbing at his knee after. Joe rolled Crimson in as Philadelphia gave Earl Hebner static for screwing Bret. Joe peppered Crimson with punches. Crimson fired back and nailed a neckbreaker.
Crimson suplexed Joe but Morgan tried to steal the pin this time. Crimson wasn’t happy and they had words again. They jawed but Joe raked their eyes. They nailed Joe only this time, they prevented the other from making the pin. Joe rolled out of the ring as they argued and started battling back and forth. Morgan finally got the better of the exchange but Joe pulled him out of the ring and sent him into the railing. Joe then hit the ring and began drilling Crimson with strikes and a running kick to the head in the corner.
Joe placed Crimson on the top for a mucle buster. As he went for it, Morgan returned to the ring and kick Joe in the gut. Morgan nailed a running knee to Joe’s head. Morgan got caught up in the ropes. Joe staggered into a Crimson spear and was pinned.
Your winner, Crimson!
OK match but nothing of real note. They had a decent pace but it was more of a series of sequences than a hard fought back and forth competitive bout. The building tension between Morgan-Crimson was fine but Crimson still needs a lot of work. The story was that Crimson with the least experience, scored the win. The finish came off a little weak. The crowd booed Crimson on the way out. Welcome to Philadelphia!
Jeremy Borash interviewed Bully Ray. Ray said he didn’t need any introduction because he’s the meanest, toughest pro wrestler walking the Earth. He said that if Anderson thinks he’s gotten one over on him because it’s a Falls Count Anywhere match in Philadelphia, he has to be kidding. Ray ripped on Philly, saying he’s been milking the white trash fans there for every dime they are worth and has seven cars and five houses because of it. He said Screw you and Screw Philadelphia. Good usual Ray promo.
Bully Ray vs. Mr. Anderson: Philadelphia Falls Count Anywhere Match
Anderson ran into the ring and they brawled back and forth in the ring. Ray got the upper hand and smashed him into the turnbuckles. Anderson came back with a neckbreaker for a one count. Ray started to climb the ropes but was punched in the happy sacks. Anderson still was nailed with a kick to the face.
Ray ripped Anderson’s shirt off and chopped him hard in the chest. Anderson took out Ray and grabbed a sign from a fan, which was covering a “Dead End” sign. That had to have been planted but was a nice homage to ECW. Anderson nailed Ray again. Ray went to the floor. Anderson followed and beat him with punches. Anderson grabbed a beer and smashed it into Ray’s face. Anderson worked him over in the corner outside, then slammed him into the barricade. He followed that up by slamming Ray into a chair.
Anderson went to whip Ray into the stairs outside but Ray reversed it and Anderson ate the steel. Ray pulled a table out from under the ring. “ECW” chants for that. Anderson fired back before Ray could use it and they battled up the aisle towards the entrance stage. There was a trickle of blood coming from Ray’s head. Anderson went for a suplex but Ray reversed it and covered him for a two count on the stage.
Ray called for Anderson’s mic, which came down. Ray announced himself from Hell’s Kitchen. Anderson nailed him and said into the mic, “Welcome to Philly, bitch” and nailed Ray with the mic. They brawled backstage, which the crowd booed. Ray tried to nail Anderson with a pipe and then nailed a piledriver on the concrete backstage for a two count.
Ray threw a wooden table towards Anderson, which exploded. He then used a chair to choke Anderson. Ray dragged Anderson back towards the Arena and they battled on the floor behind the ringside seats. Anderson stomped him low. They brawled past Atlas Security and back into the ring. Anderson brought a section of the guard rail into the ring but was caught with a running clothesline by Ray. Ray pulled another table out from under the ring. He set it up in the ring and charged Anderson, but was backdropped over onto the railing.
Anderson went to the top for a swanton but Ray rolled and Anderson landed on the steel. Anderson was bleeding from the nose and mouth. Ray drilled him with the sit down Bubba Bomb through a table for a two count. Ray grabbed the railing as the crowd chanted, “Anderson.” He placed Anderson on the steel and went for a senton splash off the ropes but this time, Anderson moved. Anderson nailed the Mic Check on the rail but Ray kicked out.
Ray went to the outside. Anderson grabbed a trash can full of weapons. He nailed Ray with the trash can and Ray landed on the table. Anderson went to the top rope and nailed his rolling swanton splash but overshot and barely nailed the table or Ray. The crowd knew it. Anderson nailed a Mic Check through the table and scored the pin.
Your winner, Mr. Anderson!
Taz said, “Sometimes, you gotta call an audible.” No Kidding!
Entertaining, hard hitting brawl. Lots of stiff shots with weapons. Other than the miss at the end with the swanton, this was a decent hardcore style match. The crowd really got behind Anderson as the match went on. Ray is just a top notch heel.
Backstage, Eric Bischoff spoke to Jackson James and thanked him for doing everything he has done in the last few months, noting that no one has figured anything out. Bischoff told him tonight Hulk Hogan had to win and they had to take Sting out. Jackson said, “I got your back, Dad.” Bischoff thanked him and they shook hands and embraced. So, there’s the big reveal that James is actually Bischoff’s son (legitimately, as we broke here on the site the week he started with Impact).
I really HATE these backstage segments where guys are talking but don’t notice the camera is there. It’s compounded by doing these segments “through the closed windows” where we can still hear everyone clearly! Why the hell would Sting or anyone else let him referee their matches after that???
TNA Knockouts champion Winter (with Angelina Love) vs. Mickie James vs. Velvet Sky vs. Madison Rayne with Karen Jarrett as the special referee
Winter and Mickie started off. The story early was that Jarrett wasn’t in position early. Winter threw James into the corner and kicked away at her. She whipped James into the buckles again but James nailed her with an elbow and a rana. James nailed a neckbreaker, but Winter went to the outside.
Rayne entered the ring and hit the worst slap of all time on James. She and Jarrett giggled over it. James nailed her with a series of rights. Jarrett was obviously biased. Rayne tossed James outside. Sky hit the ring and nailed a running bulldog. Sky covered Rayne but Jarrett was too busy tying her shoe. Sky argued with her allowing Rayne to attack her. Winter re-entered but Jarrett convinced them to tag the babyfaces in as opposed to fighting the other.
Sky and James went back and forth but Jarrett wouldn’t count the pin on either. This is dying a slow death as you can hear the boring chants already. James was sent into the ropes but shoulderblocked Sky and nailed a dropkick. Rayne tried to get involved but James knocked her off the apron. Sky kicked at James and used a flying headscissor takedown. Winter tried to get involved but was knocked off by Sky.
James tagged Velvet with some stiff shots. The heels grabbed the babyfaces and pulled them to the outside. Back in the ring, the babyfaces used stereo double leg takedowns and began working over Winter and Rayne. Winter tossed Sky to the outside and worked over James. James sent her into the corner for a running clothesline. James peppered her on the mat with punches.
Jarrett began arguing with James as Angelina Love handed Winter something she put in her mouth. Jarrett pulled James off Winter. Winter spewed a spray at James, who ducked and Jarrett was blinded and went down. Traci Brooks ran to the ring. James and Winter were sent to the ring. Sky DDT’d Rayne and scored the pin with Brooks counting.
Your winner and new TNA Knockouts champion, Velvet Sky!
Way too much going on and the match was really more a backdrop for Jarrett antics than a hard fought wrestling match. You had to be happy for Sky, who really earned that position, but the match itself wasn’t strong.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Frankie Kazarian. He said he’s psyched for Bobby Roode but is torn over the AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels match. He said that he hoped they would beat the hell out of each other and get it out of their system, but the way Daniels has been, he doesn’t know. He just said that he’s torn.
I Quit Match: AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels
Daniels tried to attack Styles but was taken down. They battled back and forth with strikes. Daniels used an STO and began working over Styles. He screamed for Styles to say that he quit but Styles refused. Styles gained control and drilled Daniels with a series of kicks. He nailed Daniels with the mic and then tried to shove it down his throat.
Styles used a pump handle slam into a gutbuster. He locked on an armbar and tried to force a submission but Daniels refused. Daniels drilled Styles but missed a clothesline. Styles cinched in an abdominal stretch in the center of the ring. Daniels finally hiptossed him over. Daniels went for the suplex but Styles reversed it and held a delayed suplex. Styles locked on the Oriental Torture Device but Daniels refused to give up.
Daniels peppered Styles with forearms but Styles locked on a cross armbreaker. Daniels bit Styles’ fingers to break the hold. They exchanged chops. Daniels nailed an elbow to the back of the neck. Styles avoided Daniels and nailed him with a dropkick off the criss-cross. Daniels went to the outside and Styles hit a flip dive to the floor.
Styles sent Daniels into the ring. Daniels went under the ring but was pulled out by his feet. He had grabbed a toolbox. Daniels grabbed a wrench and nailed Styles with it. Styles returned to the ring and Daniels grabbed a screwdriver, trying to ram it down into Styles’ face. Styles used several knee strikes to break it.
They battled in the corner. Daniels tried to stab Styles with the screwdriver but Styles moved and the turnbuckle got stabbed. Styles got the better of their exchange. He tried to suplex Daniels to the outside but they landed on the apron. Daniels suplexed Styles into the ropes and he crashed dangerously across the apron and to the floor.
Back in the ring, Daniels began demanding that Styles give up but he refused. Daniels continued to trash Styles. He nailed the BME across Styles’ back as he was on his hands and knees. Daniels locked on a single leg crab. Styles clawed his way to the ropes and made it, forcing the break. Daniels began firing back with elbows and chops. Daniels cut him off with a backbreaker across the knees.
Daniels went to the outside to retrieve a chair. Daniels placed it over Styles’ thoat and sat on it. Daniels took the mic and said he’s been dreaming about this moment for months – the moment where he sees Styles pass out and breath his last breath. He said that everything Styles had in TNA should have been Daniels’ and now it will be. He said he never wanted Styles to quit, he wanted to bash his brains in. He said that he will tell Styles’ wife that his last words were, I love you. Daniels told Styles’ wife to take the kids out of the room so they don’t see their father murdered in cold blood.
This fired up Styles, who cleaned house and drilled Daniels with a spinkick. Styles used the moonsault into the inverted DDT and screamed. He nailed an enziguiri and clotheslined Daniels. Styles nailed the springboard flying forearm and called for the Styles Clash. Daniels blocked it and nailed the Uranage. Styles escaped a BWE attempt and nailed a Pele Kick. AJ nailed the Styles Clash.
Styles, who had a trickle of blood from his brow, grabbed the chair and went to use it, but saw the screwdriver embedded in the buckle. Daniels backed off and said that he quit. The referee rang the bell. Terrible ending!!!
Your winner, AJ Styles!
Styles still tried to nail Daniels with the screwdriver but Daniels ran from the ring like a marathon sprinter.
Nowhere near the level of their best matches and just as Styles was going to get his comeuppance, they went to a really lame finish. The work was fine but it was like watching the first half of a movie and seeing the reel break just as it was getting into the most dramatic part. Nowhere near adequate for the “biggest show of the year.”
As Styles left, Daniels attacked him and nailed Angel’s Wings on the stage. He screamed that Styles never beat him and asked who the real winner was.
Jeff Jarrett came out to the ring. He said that he told Jeff Hardy not to come to the building but it’s not about not wanting Hardy in the venue. He said that no one that works for the company want to see him back in the company. He said none of the fans want him here and claimed he and Karen polled fans and 9 out of 10 didn’t want to see him back.
Jarrett said that Hardy was hiding in the parking lot and catering and wherever he is now but he’s calling out Hardy now. He said, “I brought you into this organization bitch, and I’m taking you out.”
Hardy’s music start and he came out to new ring music. Hardy came out in street clothes. Hardy said that he only wanted to say one thing and attacked Jarrett. He drilled him with a clothesline but Jarrett nailed him with a right. Jarrett worked over Hardy in the corner. Hardy was whipped into the corner but came back out with a big clothesline.
Hardy worked over Jarrett but security hit the ring to break it up. Hardy broke free and dove across the ring on Jarrett. He was pulled away and Jarrett broke through and began working over Hardy. They start brawling again as several referees come out. Several agents and Ronnie Lang’s Atlas Security hit the ring but Hardy still attacks Jarrett again. Security pulled Jarrett out against his will and walked him out of the ring. Hardy mugged for the crowd.
Angle was fine for setting up Jarrett vs. Hardy down the line.
Next up is Hulk Hogan vs. Sting so the TNA title, as it should, is going on last.
Hulk Hogan vs. Sting
Nice pop for Hogan, who is wearing jeans and an Impact t-shirt. He has red kneepads over the jeans like Dusty Rhodes going into a Bunkhouse Stampede. They showed a concerned Dixie Carter and her husband in the crowd. Sting came out wearing a Hulkamania t-shirt over his tights.
They rang the bell and they stood in the center of the ring throwing jabs in the air. Hogan stopped and called for Ric Flair to come to the ring. Out came Flair in street clothes, complete with theme music.
Hogan and Sting locked up and Sting grabbed a side headlock. Hogan sent him into the ropes and shoulderblocks Sting down. Hogan did his poses and crotch chopped Sting. Sting went after Hogan but Hogan nailed rights and a thrust to the throat.
Hogan clamped down on Sting with a nerve hold but Sting fired back. Hogan clotheslined him down. Sting went to the outside. Sting returned to the ring and Hogan nailed him across the back. Hogan raked his back. Hogan nailed him with a right and Sting went down.
Hogan tossed Sting to the floor, where Flair used his jacket to choke Sting, then drilled him with a series of chops right in front of Carter. Hogan lowblowed Sting on the floor. Hogan slammed Sting into the guard rail. The entire bout has been all Hogan.
Hogan started biting Sting’s forehead. Flair slipped Hogan an object and Hogan drilled Sting in the forehead. Sting was whipped into the railing and Hogan started stabbing Sting in the forehead, busting Sting open. Of all the people to channel the Sheik and Sabu, Hogan?
Hogan brought Sting back in the ring, took him out with a right hand and pulled out the Fargo Strut. Sting fired back with a series of rights and Hogan went down. Sting chased Flair on the floor and then followed up with a another series of punches. Sting went after Flair again and Sting grabbed the object. He started spiking Hogan with it and Hogan was bleeding as well.
Sting nailed the Stinger Splash in the corner and nailed Flair. Sting nailed another Splash onto Hogan’s bad back in the corner and locked on the Scorpion Deathlock. Hogan almost immediately tapped and Bischoff’s son called it.
Your winner, Sting!
Flair immediately attacked Sting while Hogan was out. Immortal came to the ring. Ray drilled him across the back with a chair. Gunner and Scott Steiner followed suit with chairshots. They showed a shot of Abyss watching backstage. Bischoff’s son grabbed one of the chairs and told him to stop. Ray grabbed him and Bischoff drilled his own son with the chair. Immortal kept working over Sting as Hogan finally recovered to his feet and was hurt in the corner. They continued beating down Sting.
Sting asked Hogan to help him. Oh God, it’s Return of the Jedi!!! The crowd got into that and chanted for Hogan. Hogan tore off his shirt, turned babyface and started cleaning house on all the heels. Immortal regrouped and tried to jump Hogan but Sting jumped in and they cleaned house on the heels. Sting nailed a Stinger Splash on Flair. With Immortal dispatched, Hogan and Sting were left in the ring with a cowering Bischoff. Hogan drilled Bischoff with a big right hand. They showed Dixie Carter cheering in the front row. Hogan said, “I’m back.”
Hogan and Sting faced off. Hogan asked him if he wanted to go. Sting instead said he wanted Hulkamania back and lead cheers for Hogan. The crowd started chanting for “Hogan.” Hogan and Sting embraced in the crowd. Jackson James returned to the ring to raise their hands.
The match itself was exactly what you would expect given the limitations. The post-match angle was good for nostalgia but let’s hope the power struggle stuff is over and Hogan can stay out of the ring as it was obvious he shouldn’t be in there. Very strange that there was no post-match celebration with Dixie Carter and Sting.
TNA champ Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode
Not a lot of time here.
They started out fast with Roode going for the Crossface early. Angle’s leg is wrapped up. Angle and Roode ended up on the outside with Roode chasing Angle around the ring. Angle rolled back in and nailed Roode with a kick as he returned through the ropes.
Angle worked over Roode with shoulderblocks, then snapped him with a suplex for a two count. Angle rode Roode on the mat, working him over. Roode fired back with a series of elbows but was caught with another suplex. Angle kneed him and covered Roode for another two count. Angle held Roode to the mat with a waistlock. There was a “Let’s go Roode” chant.
Roode fought his way to his feet. He nailed several right hands and went for a clothesline but Angle ducked and started throwing German suplexes. Angle went to the ropes for a moonsault but Roode jumped up and nailed a crazy throwing suplex into the ring. Angle did almost a full rotation taking the bump.
The referee was counting both men down as they returned to their knees and battled back and forth with punches. They exchanged uppercuts and right hands. Roode nailed a flying forearm and a series of rights. He clotheslined Angle down. Roode went to the middle rope and nailed a neckbreaker off the ropes for a two count.
Roode chopped Angle but was caught with an overhead release belly-to-belly suplex for a two count. Angle and Roode went back and forth with reversals until Angle nailed a DDT for a two count. Roode began trash talking Roode as he went for the Angle Slam. Roode slipped out and nailed the spinebuster for a two count. Roode went to the top rope but was caught by Angle, who suplexed him off for a two count.
The referee counted them both down. Angle tried to grab Roode, who maneuvered him down and locked in the crossface. Angle grabbed an anklelock and forced Roode into the submission. Fans chanted for “Bobby.” Roode reversed it back into the crossface, rolling through. Angle slipped out and rolled Roode up for a two count. Roode kicked out and went right back to the crossface.
Angle nailed the Olympic Slam, slipping out for a two count. Angle grabbed the anklelock. Roode rolled through and kicked Angle off, then caught him with a spinebuster. Roode nailed a Perfectplex but Angle kicked out at the last possible second. The fans began with the dueling chant.
Angle went back for the anklelock but Roode rolled through with a forward roll for a two count. Roode slipped out of an Olympic Slam and Angle was sent into the corner. Angle kicked Roode low as the referee missed it. Angle nailed the Olympic Slam but Roode kicked out at the last second. Fans were chanting for “Bobby.”
Angle nailed a German suplex and began the sequences of Germans. Roode slipped out of the third and went right back to the crossface. Angle’s eyes were covered so he moved himself under the ropes reaching for them, forcing a break. Roode whipped Angle, who reversed it and speared Roode for a two count.
Angle went to the top rope for a double axehandle or something but Roode saw him coming and locked in the crossface again. Angle slipped out but missed the Olympic Slam. Roode missed the Perfectplex attempt. Angle nailed the Olympic Slam and covered Roode, who’s arm was under the ropes while Angle was grabbing the rope for the pin.
Your winner and still TNA champion, Kurt Angle!
Angle was helped from the ring as Roode sat up despondent over losing.
Match was OK but you could see they were rushing against the clock. They really needed a classic match for that sort of finish to work so the fans have this great sympathy for Roode coming out of it, but with the shortened time involved, it didn’t come across. In fact, I’d describe it as deflating Roode more than helping him.
2012 - On his morning radio show in Florida, Bubba "The Love Sponge" Clem used his platform to discuss and speak out against Hulk Hogan and the lawsuit brought against Clem by his former best friend, alleging Clem secretly filmed Hogan having sex with his ex-wife Heather and leaked the tape.
Clem referred to Hogan as a "hypocritical fraud" for filing the suit and said his ex-wife Heather was a victim in the situation.
While Hogan has claimed that Heather Clem pushed to be with Hogan, Clem claimed that it was Hogan who "drove him crazy" about sleeping with Heather.
Clem noted that he made a mistake by allowing it but said that at the end of the day, there were three people involved and they "all knew what time it was."
Clem claimed that Hogan was painting himself as a victim as a way to save his image publicly.
Clem has stated he cannot discuss the tape and the lawsuit due to a clause in his divorce from his ex-wife, so he instead focused on Hogan's claims and Hogan portraying himself as a victim. He did not discuss why or how the tape came to exist, nor his claims that he and his wife could "retire" off the tape.
2012 - Kofi Kingston defeated The Miz to win the WWE Intercontinental championship in Memphis, TN during a taping for WWE Main Event that would air the following day on the Ion Network.
2012 - Hector Garza publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed over the past few days with pulmonary cancer and would retire from the ring to begin the first of six chemotherapy sessions to try to rid him of the disease. Sadly, Garza would pass away in May 2013 from the disease.
2013 - WWE ran Querataro, Mexico. Miguelito Diaz filed the following results:
WWE came to Querataro this evening. It was a fun show with some surprises:
*Los Matadores beat 3MB.
*In surprise number one, Wade Barrett returned to WWE and beat Zack Ryder with the Bull Hammer.
*In surprise number two, Sin Cara challenged World champion Alberto Del Rio. Alberto won with the armbar. Fans were chanting "Dos" and "Mistico" at them. Del Rio refused to let the armbar go and in surprise number three, Rey Mysterio attacked Del Rio to rescue Cara.
*WWE Divas champion AJ pinned Natalya.
*The Wyatt Family defeated The Primetime Players.
*Damien Sandow pinned R-Truth.
*In a short match, CM Punk defeated Curtis Axel in a non-title match, so no Intercontinental title change.
2013 - WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off with Bo Dallas’ comments about the Bo Dallas Invitational and his thoughts about Sami Zayn. What happens tonight when these two men meet in the ring for the NXT Championship?
We are in Winter Park, Florida and your announcers are William ‘These are wrestling moves’ Regal, Renee ‘The Real Voice of WWE’ Young, and Tony ‘Swan Song’ Dawson
Match Number One: Conor O’Brian and Rick Victor versus Corey Graves and Adrian Neville for the NXT Tag Team Titles
Victor and Graves start things off and Graves avoids punches and Graves with a series of punches. Graves sends Victor into the turnbuckles a few times. Graves pulls Victor from the apron and then he sends him back into the turnbuckles and follows with punches until the referee warns him.
Graves sends Victor into the turnbuckles and he punches Victor but he does not tag in Neville. Graves with more punches. Victor with an Irish whip but he runs into an elbow. Graves with a head scissors in the ropes.
Neville makes the blind tag and he hits a springboard drop kick followed by clotheslines. Neville with an Irish whip and forearm in the corner. Neville with a slam and he goes up top but he sees Conor trying to interfere and he kicks O’Brian. Neville is forced to the floor when O’Brian pulls down the ropes.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Conor kicks Neville in his injured knee. Victor tags in and he punches Neville in the midsection followed by a snap mare and he gets a near fall. Conor tags back in and Neville with a kick and he tries to go through Conor’s legs but Conor stops him and he tosses Neville across the ring and he appears to have reinjured his leg.
Graves is able to tag in and he punches Conor and followed by back fists. He knocks Victor off the apron and then he connects with an STO and a forearm. Graves with a dive to the knee and he sets for Lucky 13 but Victor makes the save.
Graves tags Neville back in but Neville has trouble staying on his feet. Neville with punches but they have no effect. Conor with a kick to the injured leg. Conor sends Neville into the ring post shoulder first and he tags in Victor. Victor with a kick to the shoulder and he gets a near fall. Neville with a kick to the head and he gets Victor away from him.
Neville tries to make the tag as he crawls across the ring. Victor with a drop kick to Neville and he collides with Graves on the apron. Conor tags in and they go for the leg sweep and Canadian Lifter combination for the three count.
Winners: Rick Victor and Conor O’Brian
After the match, Victor and O’Brian celebrate in the ring. They leave the ring and Graves enters to check on his tag team partner.
Graves tells Neville that was their shot and now it is gone. Graves helps Neville up, but it is only to knock him down with a shoulder to the knee. Graves punches Neville. Graves tells Neville that they are gone and he wants to know what Adrian has to say about it.
We go to commercial.
We are back and William Regal says that Corey Graves was desperate and he took out his anger on Adrian Neville. Renee disagrees with Corey’s actions. William asks if there was anything else that Adrian could have done to win the match.
Match Number Two: Tyler Breeze versus CJ Parker
Parker and Breeze have something to say at the start of the match and Parker with chops. Parker with an airplane spin and Breeze staggers to the floor. Breeze cannot stay on his feet. They return to the ring and Parker with a shoulder and a sunset flip for a near fall. Parker with an arm wringer and Parker with a kick to the back.
Breeze pushes Parker and Parker pushes back. Parker pulls Breeze out of the corner. Parker misses a drop kick when Breeze holds on to the ropes. Breeze with a kick and then he goes to his phone. Breeze with punches and forearms to Parker’s back and then he kicks Parker. Parker with a punch and a La Magistral for a near fall.
Parker with a flying clothesline and Breeze wants Parker to stop. Breeze grabs the ring skirt and Breeze with a thumb to the eye when the referee was not looking followed by a spinning heel kick for the three count.
Winner: Tyler Breeze
After the match, Breeze tries to take a photo with Parker but Parker with a palm thrust to Breeze. Breeze rolls to the floor but the phone is still in the ring. Parker takes the phone and he takes photos at ringside.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Summer Rae and Sasha Banks versus Paige and Emma
Sasha starts things off and Paige tells Emma that she will start for their team. Paige with a Thesz Press and she punches Sasha but the referee holds Paige back. Paige sends Sasha throat first into the ropes and then she does the same to Summer. Paige tags in Emma and Emma goes after Summer but Summer retreats to Sasha.
Sasha tags back in and Emma with a drop toe hold and she sends Sasha into the turnbuckles. Sasha with an Irish whip and Emma goes to the apron when Sasha charges into the corner. Emma rolls in and gets a near fall. Emma with another rollup for a near fall. Sasha with a kick and Irish whip but Emma with a knee. Emma hits Summer and Summer pulls Emma down by the hair.
Sasha with a near fall. Sasha sends Emma into the turnbuckles and Summer tags back in. Summer chokes Emma in the ropes. Summer sends Emma to the mat and then she mocks Emma’s dance and drives Emma into the mat and gets a near fall with a rollup.
Emma with punches while Summer has her in a front face lock. Summer stretches Emma on the mat. Emma rolls back and gets a near fall. Emma with punches but Summer with a double leg take down. Emma tries to kick Summer away so she can make the tag but Summer holds on.
Paige tags in and she connects with a shoulder tackle before knocking Sasha off the apron. Paige with knees while Summer is hanging in the ropes. Paige with a scream before returning to the ring. Sasha grabs her leg but Paige kicks her away and Paige with a drop kick for a near fall. Paige with a fisherman’s suplex but Sasha makes the save. Sasha sends Emma to the floor but Paige sends Sasha to the floor.
Summer with a step over leg drop for the three count.
Winners: Summer Rae and Sasha Banks
We go to commercial.
Match Number Four: Sami Zayn versus Bo Dallas for the NXT Championship
They try to feel each other out before locking up. Zayn with a wrist lock and Bo with a reversal. Zayn with an arm drag. They lock up and Zayn with a wrist lock again followed by a snap mare and he gets a near fall. Zayn with an O’Connor Roll for a near fall. Zayn with another rollup for a near fall.
They lock up again and Zayn with a side head lock and hammer lock. Zayn returns to the side head lock. Dallas with a reversal into a hammer lock followed by a forearm to the head. Bo with a series of knee drops and he gets a near fall. Bo with more knees and he gets another near fall.
Bo with a cravate and Zayn tries to get to his feet but Dallas brings him back to the mat. Zayn with punches but Dallas with a punch of his own followed by a hard Irish whip and he gets a near fall. Dallas with an Irish whip but Zayn comes out of the corner with a clothesline and a second clothesline. Zayn with a back body drop and he connects with the Yakuza kick and the three count, but it looks like Dallas had his foot on the rope.
Winner: Sami Zayn
John Layfield comes out and he says that the JBL era in NXT will not start off with controversy in the first title match in the Wrestling God’s era.
We see the footage of Bo’s foot on the rope.
John tells the referee not to make him learn his name. The match is restarted.
Bo with a clothesline and Zayn is forced to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Bo with a cravate. Zayn with punches but Bo with a clothesline. Bo gets a near fall. Dallas returns to the cravate. Zayn with punches to Dallas. Dallas charges at Zayn but Zayn drops down and Bo goes over the top rope to the floor. Zayn with a flip dive onto Dallas.
Zayn rolls Dallas into the ring and Zayn goes up top and hits a cross body for a near fall. Zayn sets for another Yakuza kick but Bo blocks it and Bo misses a clothesline. Zayn with a Blue Thunder Driver for a near fall. Bo with a kick followed by a boot to the head and a bulldog off the ropes and he gets a near fall.
Dallas with a front face lock followed by an inverted DDT for a near fall. Bo tries for the belly-to-belly slam but Zayn holds on to the ropes. Zayn with a spear for a near fall. Zayn with a wrist lock and he sets for the head scissors but Bo crotches Zayn. Bo with a spear but Zayn kicks out at two.
Both men struggle to get back to their feet. Bo with a forearm in the corner and he puts Zayn on the turnbuckles. Dallas punches Zayn on the turnbuckles and he sets for a superplex and Zayn blocks it. Zayn with forearms to the back and he hits a sunset flip power bomb but Bo kicks out at two.
Zayn with a waist lock and he hits a German suplex but he holds on and he hits a second German suplex. Zayn holds on and he tries for a third one but Bo sends Zayn into the exposed turnbuckle and Dallas with the three count.
Winner: Bo Dallas
After the match, Dallas celebrates his victory while standing over his vanquished opponent.
We go to credits.
2013 - WWE broadcast Main Event. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in Kansas City, Missouri and your announcers are Miz and Josh ‘I miss Alex Riley’ Mathews.
Match Number One: Dean Ambrose versus Dolph Ziggler for the United States Championship
Ziggler with a drop kick and a near fall. Ziggler with a rollup for a near fall and Ambrose goes to the floor to stop Ziggler’s momentum. Ziggler follows Ambrose to the floor and Ambrose with kicks and a side head lock take down when they return to the ring. Ziggler with a reversal and shoulder tackle. Ziggler blocks a hip toss and he hits a neck breaker for a near fall.
Ziggler with a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler with another leaping elbow drop for another near fall. Ziggler hits a third leaping elbow drop but Ambrose kicks out again. Ziggler with punches in the corner but Ambrose with punches of his own. Ambrose sends Ziggler into the turnbuckles and then he connects with chops.
Ambrose sends Ziggler into another turnbuckle and then he connects with a jab. Ziggler sends Ambrose into the turnbuckles and he punches Ambrose. Ambrose with a back elbow followed by a snap elbow drop and he gets a near fall. Ambrose with a sleeper to Ziggler.
Ambrose tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Ziggler lands on his feet and then he connects with an elbow and clothesline. Ziggler with a kick to Ambrose and then he clotheslines Ambrose over the top rope and both men go to the floor as we go to commercial.
We are back and Ambrose with a knee to the midsection and he gets a near fall. Ambrose pulls Ziggler towards the corner. Ambrose goes to the turnbuckles and he comes off with a boot to the chest. Ambrose with a chin lock and he turns it into a straightjacket choke.
Ambrose with a short arm clothesline and then he stomps on the chest and gets a near fall. Ambrose stomps on the hand and then he applies a boot to the abdomen. Ambrose ties up the legs and he applies a chin lock. Ziggler with a jawbreaker and punches to Ambrose.
Ambrose with a knee and then he sends Ziggler through the ropes but Ziggler stays on the apron. Ziggler drops Ambrose on the top rope and Ziggler with a missile drop kick for a near fall. Ziggler leaps into the corner and he punches Ambrose. Ziggler with a sunset flip for a near fall. Ambrose with a cover for a near fall and Ziggler with a counter for a near fall.
Ziggler with a flying clothesline for a near fall. Ziggler misses the Fameasser and he tries for a back slide. Ziggler with a Fameasser for a near fall. Ambrose avoids the Zig Zag and he goes to the floor. Ambrose with a knee and suplex on the floor. Ambrose sends Ziggler back into the ring and then Dean goes to the turnbuckles. Ziggler recovers and hits a Super X Factor for a near fall.
Ambrose misses a punch and Ziggler with a sleeper. Ambrose gets a second wind and he runs Ziggler into the turnbuckles to get out of the hold. Ambrose misses a charge into the corner and Ziggler with a rollup after Ambrose hits the ring post with his shoulder. Ambrose moves and Ziggler lands on the turnbuckles but Ambrose pulls Ziggler off the turnbuckles and then he hits the Dean Driver for the three count.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
In case you missed it, John Cena is coming back at Hell in a Cell to face Alberto Del Rio. We take a look at Cena’s road to recovery.
Match Number Two: Santino Marella, Brodus Clay, and Tensai (with Cameron and Naomi) versus Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, and Drew McIntyre
Clay and Slater start things off and they lock up. Slater with a jab after Clay gives a clean break. Clay with a forearm and Irish whip followed by a butt splash in the corner. Santino is tagged in and Clay assists Santino to kick Slater. Tensai tags in and he wants to reciprocate but he cannot get Tensai up.
Mahal tags in and he applies a waist lock but Tensai backs Mahal into the corner. Tensai with a monkey flip to Mahal followed by a delayed butterfly suplex for a near fall. Clay tags back in and Tensai with a slam and Clay with a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Mahal with a jawbreaker and Drew tags in and Mahal with a punch to the midsection followed by a knee lift from Drew and a drop kick for a near fall. Drew punches Clay.
Slater tags back in and they hit a double suplex on Clay for a near fall. Mahal is tagged in and he kicks Clay in the ribs and follows with a knee drop or two for a near fall. Drew tags back in and he stomps on Clay’s head. Drew gestures to Santino and Clay is able to recover and he sends Drew into the corner but Drew with a kick and then he goes to the turnbuckles but he is met with a head butt to the midsection.
Mahal tags in and he knocks Tensai off the apron. Clay with a Sheeeplex to Mahal and then he tags in Santino who punches Jinder followed by a split and hip toss. Santino with a diving head butt. All six men get into the ring for a moment and then Mahal, Clay, Drew, and Tensai fight on the floor.
Santino with a split stunner to Mahal and then the Cobra is unfurled, only to be stopped by Slater. Drew helps out but Tensai and Clay pancake Slater and Drew, causing Santino to hit Mahal with the Cobra for the three count.
Winners: Santino Marella, Tensai, and Brodus Clay
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at the Tag Title Match from Raw.
Match Number Three: R Truth versus Damien Sandow
They lock up and Truth with a hammer lock. Sandow with a snap mare and he runs Truth into the corner and he punches and kicks Truth. Sandow with kicks and head butts to Truth. Sandow has a suplex blocked and Truth with an inside cradle for a near fall. Truth with kicks but he misses the scissors kick. Sandow with a knee followed by a suplex for a near fall.
Sandow tries to send Truth into the turnbuckles but Truth blocks it. Truth with a clothesline for a near fall. Sandow sends Truth to the floor and Sandow follows. Sandow slams Truth’s head into the apron and then he sends Truth into the ringside barrier before returning to the ring. Sandow gets a near fall.
Sandow with knees to the midsection followed by the side Russian leg sweep and the Elbow of Disdain for a near fall. Sandow with forearms to the chest followed by a reverse chin lock. Truth with a leg lariat and both men are down. Sandow runs into an elbow from Truth followed by clotheslines and a sit out gourdbuster for a near fall.
Sandow with an elbow but Truth with a kick and scissors kick for a near fall. Sandow tries for the suplex into a stunner but Sandow escapes and he hits The Silencer for the three count.
Winner: Damien Sandow
We see footage of CM Punk’s victory over Curtis Axel on Raw and the announcement of the stipulation for the CM Punk versus Ryback match at Hell in a Cell.
Match Number Four: Fandango (with Summer Rae) versus Great Khali (with Natalya and Hornswoggle)
Fandango with a chop and he goes to the apron. Fandango has a kick blocked and Khali pushes Fandango to the mat. Fandango with a chop but Khali sends Fandango into the turnbuckles and he chops Fandango. Khali with another chop. Summer gets on the apron to distract Khali but Natalya pulls Summer off the apron. Fandango goes for the knee and he takes Khali to the mat.
Fandango slams Khali’s leg into the apron and then he drops elbows to the leg. Khali with forearms to get Fandango to release the hold. Khali with a chop to the chest followed by an elbow to Fandango. Khali with a boot to Fandango when he charges into the corner. Khali with clotheslines.
Fandango falls into the corner but he connects with a drop kick to the knee and a kick to Khali. Fandango goes to the apron and then he goes up top but he is met with a chop as he comes off the turnbuckles and Khali gets the three count.
Winner: Great Khali
We go to credits.
2016 - I just drove over 1,100 miles from New Jersey to see the NXT show in Tampa. Well, that's sorta true. My wife and I are actually in Orlando for a conference, and I discovered that NXT was running two shows, one in Orlando (which is sold out) and one in Tampa (which wasn't). I decided to hit up the Tampa show tonight since who knows when I will have another opportunity to see NXT live. It was held at the UACDC gymnasium and it was a great show for the most part. A few idiots in the bleachers behind me were entertaining themselves all night with stupid catcalls and chants that only the four of them seemed to enjoy, but the rest of the crowd was completely into everything and it was a great night.
Before the show, Carmella, Sara Lee and Colin Cassidy (with crutches) did a meet-and-greet.
I believe Dasha was the ring announcer.
Match #1--Hugo Knox pinned Riddick Moss. Knox coming out as an overzealous club dancer seemed to have half the crowd wondering what they were seeing, but he got over with it as the match progressed and looked pretty good in the ring. Moss screamed "I'm the man!" a few times but looked OK too. Decent opener.
Match #2--Bull Dempsey pinned Marcus Louis. Louis is now buddies with Sylvester LeFort and they have an evil French tag team gimmick. Louis also now has hair and apparently lost his psycho persona. The French duo threw out a lot of "comme si, comme sa" insults to Bull and the crowd, so I guess that's their catchphrase too. Bull was over with his new music and the Bull-Fit stuff. Bull won with the top rope bombs away.
Before the next match, someone came out and wanted to have a fiesta. He was hard to understand at times but I think it was Levis Valenzuela, calling himself El Jefe. He warned that no one better interrupt his fiesta, so of course some music started up and out walked...erm...well, a VERY muscled up person that immediately got "H-G-H" chants. Ouch. He got in the ring and said his name was Tom something-or-other (I believe it's Thomas Kingdon, a former bodybuilder). He said he hates people that don't like to party and called out some dancers, and everyone danced around the ring and to the back. Crowd scratched their heads a bit at this, but OK, it introduced some new characters. Doing so would work better with a better sound system, perhaps.
Match #3--Carmella, Adrienne and Asuka defeated Emma, Peyton Royce and Cameron. Adrienne is Athena, but she was called Adrienne (her real first name) all night by the ring announcer, so I guess that's going to be her NXT persona. Asuka got a monster pop, and I think I was the first person in the audience to hear her music and realize it was her because I didn't see anyone else stand up until she came out. What an awesome treat to see her live. Everyone looked good, even the "Melina vs. Alicia Fox" girl seemed OK. The babyface trio mocked the heels huddling up at the start of the match, and when Asuka and Emma started off, Emma's partners on multiple occasions would jump off the ring apron when Emma wanted to tag out. Adrienne/Athena looked fantastic, winning over the crowd, many of whom had no idea who she was at first. Asuka made Peyton tap to the Asuka lock.
Match #4--Baron Corbin pinned Angelo Dawkins. Dawkins and his headband routine is pretty funny, and he looked good in there with Corbin, but the Lone Wolf won with his End of Days finisher. Good match.
Match #5--The Vaudevillains defeated Blake/Murphy (with Alexa), The Hype Bros and Jordan/Gable in a four-corners match to retain the tag belts. Oddly, this was mostly played as a comedy match, but it was still entertaining. Jordan and Gable are O-V-E-R big time, the most of any of these four teams. Beyond that, they're just awesome workers. There's $$$$ there. Simon Gotch also deserves a notation, he gets better every match. He and Aiden are very fluid together at this point. Blake and Murphy were bump machines, and I think the Ryder/Rawley combination has made both of them much better individually. Champs retained with the Whirling Dervish.
After intermission, Match #6--Apollo Crews pinned Tino Sabbatelli. No one knew Tino at all, and it seemed odd having him get so much offense on Apollo. With that said, he looked fine, but Crews should have mopped up the mat with him being that he's so unknown to the audience at this point. Crews won with his new finisher.
Match #7--Bayley pinned Eva Marie. Don't panic, the match was not bad at all. First off, Bayley can work with anyone and make it look good. Secondly, Eva Marie really is getting better day by day. It's still a work in progress, but she isn't lost in the ring anymore by any stretch of the imagination. Her repertoire continues to expand, she interacts well with the audience and she's getting her timing down well. Bayley won with a Bayley-to-belly suplex.
Match #8--Main event, and I must admit I had to leave halfway through since I had a 70-mile drive back to Orlando and a very early wake-up call tomorrow. Main was Samoa Joe versus Tye Dillinger. I probably can safely assume Joe won here, but I think it's worth noting that Tye Dillinger, despite coming up on the losing end of just about every match lately, is continually being put into high-profile matches and house-show main events against the likes of Joe, Crews, Finn Balor, etc. This tells me that NXT knows they have a top-flight talent here and in time, they're going to elevate him. The matches he's losing aren't hurting his stature with the fans, as the Perfect 10 gimmick is way over, plus he's excellent in the ring with every single person he's in there with. Joe and Tye had some comedy exchanges over Tye's "10" sign, with the best one being Joe threatening to stomp it and Tye begging him not to. Joe let up and Tye tried to sneak in a kick, but Joe caught his leg and wound up throwing it down so Tye stomped his own sign. Funny.
All in all, great show, great crowd (minus the few bleacher idiots) and well worth the time and money spent. NXT is so, so far ahead of WWE right now with the quality of its product that it's almost criminal.
2016 - WWE NXT ran Tampa, Florida. Eric McHugh filed the following live report:
I just drove over 1,100 miles from New Jersey to see the NXT show in Tampa. Well, that's sorta true. My wife and I are actually in Orlando for a conference, and I discovered that NXT was running two shows, one in Orlando (which is sold out) and one in Tampa (which wasn't). I decided to hit up the Tampa show tonight since who knows when I will have another opportunity to see NXT live. It was held at the UACDC gymnasium and it was a great show for the most part. A few idiots in the bleachers behind me were entertaining themselves all night with stupid catcalls and chants that only the four of them seemed to enjoy, but the rest of the crowd was completely into everything and it was a great night.
Before the show, Carmella, Sara Lee and Colin Cassidy (with crutches) did a meet-and-greet.
I believe Dasha was the ring announcer.
Match #1--Hugo Knox pinned Riddick Moss. Knox coming out as an overzealous club dancer seemed to have half the crowd wondering what they were seeing, but he got over with it as the match progressed and looked pretty good in the ring. Moss screamed "I'm the man!" a few times but looked OK too. Decent opener.
Match #2--Bull Dempsey pinned Marcus Louis. Louis is now buddies with Sylvester LeFort and they have an evil French tag team gimmick. Louis also now has hair and apparently lost his psycho persona. The French duo threw out a lot of "comme si, comme sa" insults to Bull and the crowd, so I guess that's their catchphrase too. Bull was over with his new music and the Bull-Fit stuff. Bull won with the top rope bombs away.
Before the next match, someone came out and wanted to have a fiesta. He was hard to understand at times but I think it was Levis Valenzuela, calling himself El Jefe. He warned that no one better interrupt his fiesta, so of course some music started up and out walked...erm...well, a VERY muscled up person that immediately got "H-G-H" chants. Ouch. He got in the ring and said his name was Tom something-or-other (I believe it's Thomas Kingdon, a former bodybuilder). He said he hates people that don't like to party and called out some dancers, and everyone danced around the ring and to the back. Crowd scratched their heads a bit at this, but OK, it introduced some new characters. Doing so would work better with a better sound system, perhaps.
Match #3--Carmella, Adrienne and Asuka defeated Emma, Peyton Royce and Cameron. Adrienne is Athena, but she was called Adrienne (her real first name) all night by the ring announcer, so I guess that's going to be her NXT persona. Asuka got a monster pop, and I think I was the first person in the audience to hear her music and realize it was her because I didn't see anyone else stand up until she came out. What an awesome treat to see her live. Everyone looked good, even the "Melina vs. Alicia Fox" girl seemed OK. The babyface trio mocked the heels huddling up at the start of the match, and when Asuka and Emma started off, Emma's partners on multiple occasions would jump off the ring apron when Emma wanted to tag out. Adrienne/Athena looked fantastic, winning over the crowd, many of whom had no idea who she was at first. Asuka made Peyton tap to the Asuka lock.
Match #4--Baron Corbin pinned Angelo Dawkins. Dawkins and his headband routine is pretty funny, and he looked good in there with Corbin, but the Lone Wolf won with his End of Days finisher. Good match.
Match #5--The Vaudevillains defeated Blake/Murphy (with Alexa), The Hype Bros and Jordan/Gable in a four-corners match to retain the tag belts. Oddly, this was mostly played as a comedy match, but it was still entertaining. Jordan and Gable are O-V-E-R big time, the most of any of these four teams. Beyond that, they're just awesome workers. There's $$$$ there. Simon Gotch also deserves a notation, he gets better every match. He and Aiden are very fluid together at this point. Blake and Murphy were bump machines, and I think the Ryder/Rawley combination has made both of them much better individually. Champs retained with the Whirling Dervish.
After intermission, Match #6--Apollo Crews pinned Tino Sabbatelli. No one knew Tino at all, and it seemed odd having him get so much offense on Apollo. With that said, he looked fine, but Crews should have mopped up the mat with him being that he's so unknown to the audience at this point. Crews won with his new finisher.
Match #7--Bayley pinned Eva Marie. Don't panic, the match was not bad at all. First off, Bayley can work with anyone and make it look good. Secondly, Eva Marie really is getting better day by day. It's still a work in progress, but she isn't lost in the ring anymore by any stretch of the imagination. Her repertoire continues to expand, she interacts well with the audience and she's getting her timing down well. Bayley won with a Bayley-to-belly suplex.
Match #8--Main event, and I must admit I had to leave halfway through since I had a 70-mile drive back to Orlando and a very early wake-up call tomorrow. Main was Samoa Joe versus Tye Dillinger. I probably can safely assume Joe won here, but I think it's worth noting that Tye Dillinger, despite coming up on the losing end of just about every match lately, is continually being put into high-profile matches and house-show main events against the likes of Joe, Crews, Finn Balor, etc. This tells me that NXT knows they have a top-flight talent here and in time, they're going to elevate him. The matches he's losing aren't hurting his stature with the fans, as the Perfect 10 gimmick is way over, plus he's excellent in the ring with every single person he's in there with. Joe and Tye had some comedy exchanges over Tye's "10" sign, with the best one being Joe threatening to stomp it and Tye begging him not to. Joe let up and Tye tried to sneak in a kick, but Joe caught his leg and wound up throwing it down so Tye stomped his own sign. Funny.
All in all, great show, great crowd (minus the few bleacher idiots) and well worth the time and money spent. NXT is so, so far ahead of WWE right now with the quality of its product that it's almost criminal.
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