November 29th
On this day in history in ....
1962 - Two of the most important figures in the history of Florida wrestling face off, as Eddie Graham defeats Boris Malenko in Jacksonville, Florida for the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title, starting his third reign as champion.
1980 - Killer Karl Kox defeats The Grappler for the Mid-South Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Shreveport, Louisiana.
1986 - NBC airs the eighth WWF "Saturday Night's Main Event" special, which was taped on November 15th in Los Angeles, California. The show, which scored a 9.7 rating, featured the following matches:
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage vs. Jake Roberts ended in a double disqualification when both men hit referee Dave Hebner. After the match, Randy Savage went for a steel chair, but Jake Roberts put his snake Damian on Savage's back, and Savage ran off. This was a very rare (at the time) heel vs. heel match, although the fans ended up siding with Jake Roberts during the match.
- WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Hercules Hernandez with a legdrop.
- Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated Cowboy Bob Orton with a rollup.
- The Killer Bees defeated The Hart Foundation when Jim Brunzell pinned Bret Hart with a small package. Hart had been wrestling B. Brian Blair at the time, but Blair and Brunzell switched places unbeknownst to Hart and the referee, as both were wearing masks.
- Koko B. Ware defeated Nikolai Volkoff with a cradle from behind.
- Magnificent Muraco defeated Dick Slater with a clothesline after Mr. Fuji tripped Slater.
1986 - Al Perez defeats The Mighty Igor in San Juan, Puerto Rico to win the WWC Puerto Rican Heavyweight Title.
1992 - Smoky Mountain Wrestling held their "Thanksgiving Thunder" card at the City Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee, drawing over a thousand fans. Here are the results of the show:
- The Night Stalker defeated Robbie Eagle.
- Tracey Smothers defeated Dutch Mantel.
- Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden defeated Bobby Fulton & Dixie Dynamite.
- Ronnie Garvin & Danny Davis defeated Paul Orndorff in a Handicap match.
- SMW Heavyweight Champion Tony Anthony defeated Tim Horner in a lumberjack match.
- The Mongolian Stomper defeated Kevin Sullivan via disqualification.
- Ronnie Garvin won a battle royal.
- The Rock N' Roll Express defeated The Heavenly Bodies (Stan Lane & Tom Pritchard) in a Steel Cage match to win the SMW Tag Team Championship for the third time. This victory ended Lane & Pritchard's fourth reign after only one day, and ended four straight days of title changes between the two teams.
1994 - Tito Santana defeats Cowboy Bob Orton Jr. in Chicago, Illinois to become the first American Wrestling Federation World Champion. With the exception of a brief exchange with Orton in 1996 (Orton wins the title, but is stripped due to interference, and Santana wins it back in a rematch the same night), Santana would be the champion for the entire existence of the AWF.
2003 - Larry Booker aka Moondog Spot tragically passed away at the age of 51 while performing during a Memphis Wrestling event in the Mid-South Coliseum. Jess McGrath penned the following:
The 11/29 Mid-South Coliseum show, which was promoted as a birthday bash for Jerry Lawler, ended on a tragic note with the passing of Moondog Spot (Larry Booker, 51) after his match on the show. Spot was part of a four-team concession stand battle royal with the Rock 'n' Roll Express, the Lifeguards, and Alan Steel & Money Mike. Spot was working with Brad Martin of the Lifeguards when he just sat down in the corner and wasn't moving. Martin initially thought Spot was working with him, but it was apparent quickly that this wasn't the case. One source indicated the referee had asked Larry if he was OK, and he told him he was, but then he didn't move or do anything. They reportedly did a fast finish where the Rock 'n' Rolls went over, then everybody left ringside except the Moondogs and manager/valet April Pennington. Security and medics hit the ring to work on Booker as the ring announcer told the fans to stay seated and that this was "not part of the show". One source told me that by the time Booker was taken to the back on a gurney, it had been several minutes and he had already turned blue. They tried CPR on him before he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He apparently had never regained consciousness after collapsing. Word got back to the locker room, and it's unclear if this is the case or not, that they had brought him around a couple times during the ambulance ride, but they weren't able to keep him. It appears the death was the result of either a heart attack or stroke. Booker was diabetic, but a family member said he had his insulin checked that day and was fine. Before they went to intermission (after the concession stand match), the announcer told the crowd that Booker was still breathing. But then after the main event, it was announced that he had died. They did a ten-bell salute for him. Brian Christopher got on the mic and said everybody loved Spot, and he asked for the crowd to pray for his family.
The death of Larry "Moondog Spot" Booker was covered by the local Memphis TV news broadcasts. ABC 24 reported that the coroner said his death was from a massive heart attack "due to complications from diabetes". Corey Maclin told WREG (CBS affiliate) that Booker was breathing on his own when he was taken to Methodist University Hospital, but he then died there. WMC (NBC affiliate), from whose studios wrestling was broadcast from 1977 through 2001, had only a brief item about the incident. The Memphis Wrestling TV show this week will be a special "tribute to Moondog Spot". Spot's partner in his final match was an older wrestler going by the name of Moondog Puppy Love. I'm not sure of his background. He was Spot's second partner on the UPN TV show, replacing Son of Moondog, who several months back was given a new gimmick of Gravedigger and then promptly disappeared.
Two of the most famous matches of Spot's career were concession stand matches. Early in his career, he worked as Larry Latham, teaming with Wayne "Honky Tonk Man" Ferris as the Blond Bombers, managed by Sgt. Danny Davis (the current OVW owner and head trainer). On June 15, 1979, they won the Southern tag team titles from Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee, but in the post-match, the two teams fought into the Tupelo Sports Arena's concession stand area, where they engaged in a wild brawl using any and all available weapons, including the condiments. The footage of all four men brawling in the concession area is burned into my memory, and no doubt is the same for anybody who grew up in that era and saw that match when it happened. The Blond Bombers team with Wayne Ferris broke up in late 1980 when Ferris got an offer to go to Puerto Rico. Ferris was taking the place of Dennis Condrey, who was going to team with Dutch Mantell but for whatever reason backed out of going. Carlos Colon had already printed up programs with "Condrey" in them, so Ferris became Danny Condrey.
Thirteen years later, he was part of another famous concession stand brawl, this one in Kennett, MO. He and his Moondog partner Spike (Bill Smithson) brawled with Lawler and Jeff Jarrett, using the trash cans, a broom stick, and even a glass bottle. Jarrett's back was bleeding from numerous glass shots. The Moondogs' several-month run in Memphis in 1992 revived what was thought to be a dead territory through insane ECW-style (before there was an ECW) brawls each Monday night, in conjunction with brutal Saturday morning squash matches where the 'Dogs stiffed the hell out of the job guys. One of the unique twists they developed in the feud was to do a lumberjack match where the lumberjacks were all jobbers who had been terrorized by the Moondogs.
While Booker will be best remembered for playing Spot, he did have some success as Larry Latham. After doing jobs on Georgia TV, he and Ferris worked on top for both Jerry Jarrett and Nick Gulas. They were the top heel tag team for Jarrett from June 1979 (with their title win and concession stand brawl with Lawler & Dundee) through November of that year, when they dropped the titles to Steve Regal (not William Regal, but "Mr. Electricity") & Hector Guerrero. Latham and Ferris went to work for Gulas, where they had a couple runs with the Mid-America tag team titles. The two returned to Memphis briefly after that to work a program with the Gibsons. Latham had another stay on his own at the end of 1980, garnering a one-week run as Southern tag champions with Bill Irwin.
In May 1981, Booker got the job that turned him into Moondog Spot and changed his career forever. The Moondogs, Rex (Randy Culley) and King (Sailor White), were the WWF tag team champions at the time, but King had been unable to get back into the U.S. after going to Canada. So Booker took over for White and became Spot, walking right into a run as one-half of the WWF champions. They dropped the titles at a TV taping in Allentown, PA on July 21, 1981 to Tony Garea and Rick Martel. When he returned to Memphis in 1983, it was with Culley as the Moondogs, in a memorable feud with the Fabulous Ones during that team's incredibly hot run at the box office. They did a couple famous angles during the program. The first was when the Moondogs destroyed the Fabulous Ones' jackets. This was a huge deal because the jackets supposedly had been given to the Fabs by Jackie Fargo, the area's top draw pre-Lawler and the original "Fabulous One" (who, as the storyline went, put Stan Lane & Steve Keirn together and gave them their gimmick and his blessing). Then, during one of their Mid-South Coliseum matches, the Moondogs hung Keirn in the ropes and "injured" him to set up Fargo coming out of retirement to team with Lane to get revenge. The latter was an unbelievable brawl, one of the best of the 80s. The Dogs returned to the WWF in 1984 and worked there as a mid-card team managed by Jimmy Hart through 1986.
In the 90s, Spot, with a revolving door of new partners, revived his career doing wild brawls. Aside from the legendary Memphis run in 1992, he also spent several months in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, teaming with a new Rex (Lanny "Cousin Junior" Kean, who worked as Moondog Cujo in the 1992 USWA run after Smithson departed) in a feud with the Bruise Brothers, Ron & Don Harris. He and Splat (Bubba White) went to Puerto Rico for the WWC's 1994 Aniversario show under booker Dutch Mantell, going to a double DQ with tag team champions Rey Gonzalez & Bronco #1. And he would also have several short runs in the USWA from 1993 through its close in 1997. In recent years, he had kept busy working independent dates, as well as opened a wrestling school in Osceola, AR (which has since closed), where he promoted shows under the Moondog Championship Wrestling banner. Back in March he worked a match for TNA, teaming with Hacksaw Duggan to beat Mike Sanders and Glen Gilberti.
The results of the live event: The Jerry Lawler vs. Dutch Mantell match was turned into a tag with Lawler & Brian Christopher vs. Mantell & Doug Gilbert. They did an angle where Gilbert attacked the East Coast Bad Boys, giving one of them a piledriver and then cutting some of his hair (I guess as a response to Gilbert getting his head shaved on TV that morning). Christopher made the save, then they cut promos to make it a tag match. They went more than 20:00 before Lawler KO'd Mantell with a gimmick and got the pin. Mantell and Gilbert worked over the Lawlers afterward, but they then made their own comeback. The Rocky Johnson-Mabel boxing match was ruled a no contest. After a couple rounds, Mabel took off his boxing gloves and went to piledrive Johnson. Right there, that should be a DQ. Mo (Mabel's former partner in Men on a Mission in WWF) hit the ring to seemingly help Mabel, but then he turned on him, giving him a spin kick. Mo's turn got a big reaction. Kevin White won a scaffold match over Bill Dundee. Making Dundee fall off a scaffold at his age would be criminal, so they changed the rules to where the first person to jump off the scaffold would win. Strangely, this rule change was not announced until after White jumped off the scaffold and the bell rang. The two fought around ringside, then up the scaffold, then back down and around ringside again. Several undercard guys came out to watch, which led to White doing a dive off the scaffold onto everybody, at which point the bell rang and White was named winner. Reggie B. Fine won the chicken suit match over Koko Ware by DQ. Koko got DQ'd for refusing to stop choking Reggie. The stip here was that the loser has to wear a chicken suit on Beale Street. Koko threw a fit and wouldn't put on the suit. He then left. Corey Maclin & Short Dawg beat Jimmy Hart & Lo IQ in the mixed (men & midgets) match. As one might expect, this was played for laughs. Maclin and Dawg actually did the Dudleys' "wassup" spot. That must have been pretty funny. Dawg pinned Hart. Hart and IQ beat up the midget ref, Midget P, afterward. Christie Ricci beat ODB to retain the XWF women's title. Tracy Brooks ran in afterward and issued a challenge.
2003 - Earlier in the day, Memphis TV ran on the local UPN affiliate. Gregory White filed the following report:
November 29 2003
UPN Studios, Memphis, TN
Hosts: Jimmy Hart and Lo IQ
Before they show they show some highlights of Lawler matches from the 70s set to "My Way". They show Lawler vs. Nick Bockwinkel, Bill Dundee, Rocky Johnson, Dory Funk Jr., Jackie Fargo and Jimmy Valiant.
The crowd is very lively today. The hosts for today's show is Jimmy Hart and Lo IQ. Jimmy Hart mentions that on today's show is the hair match between Jerry Lawler and Brian Christopher. Jimmy Hart tells the fans to sit down and thanks for the standing ovation. They show the video of why Corey is not the host today. They show the video from last week of Corey getting his face smashed in the cake by Lo IQ and then Corey quitting. Jimmy Hart then says, "Who needs a clown when you have Corey Maclin. People call me Scrooge. You know where the ghost of Christmas past visits Scrooge. I had a dream of that. I dreamed that Elvis' ghost came and visited Jimmy Hart. An Elvis lookalike comes out with a Gentry's record. He says that George Klein tried to ruin Jimmy Hart and Elvis Presley's career. He said that he found the record at Shangri-La records and that he paid $820 for it and gives it to Jimmy Hart." Jimmy Hart then says if it was not for George Klein that Graceland would be known as Jimmyland. Hart then wants to start a match and asks where is the bell ringer.
Corey comes out with Brian Teigland and Corey says that he is not a quitter. "I challenge you and Lo IQ to a match with you and my mystery partner." They show a video of a midget named Short Dawg giving Jerry Springer a Coke, and Springer giving Short Dawg his jacket, and Short Dawg eventually throws the jacket in the trash. Short Dawg comes out and says, "Lo IQ don't want no part of me," and then he makes fun of Lo IQ's voice which sounds like the little bad guys on the old Johnny Quest Cartoons. Corey then introduces a special midget referee Midget B.
Corey and Brian take the announce positions. Corey mentions the Ladies' XWF title tonight with the champion Christie Ricci. Ricci comes out with Jimmy Hart. Jimmy Hart warns Corey to watch his hands. Christie then says, "Unlike most of you, I am well educated and every athletic and have been everywhere and have done just about everything. I am well rounded. I am ODB (one dirty babe) and she will not be leaving with the belt."
Jimmy Hart then mentions that Mabel will be going against Rocky Johnson in a boxing match with a surprise in Rocky Johnson's corner. They show a Mabel video with Mabel saying, "Rocky, you are an idiot, and it is good to see that you are working out, but you gotta eat lots of high protein foods." Mabel gets something with high protein out of snack machine and puts it in the microwave. "You gotta eat lots of protein to be big like me. I am a giant and you will not beat me." Jimmy Hart then starts insulting Rocky and says that Rocky will not show up. Rocky shows up, and Jimmy Hart hides behind Christie Ricci. Rocky says he wants that big ape, Mabel, and that weasel Jimmy Hart will be after Mabel.
The Rock 'n' Roll Express comes out. Ricky that they will be in the concession stand battle royal with the Moondogs with any team invited to join in and that he remembers the Tupelo concession stand battle. Robert then says that they are there to celebrate Jerry Lawler's birthday.
The first match of the day is Doug Gilbert and Money Mike vs. Pokerface and Ricky Montana. Mike distracts ref and Gilbert does a piledriver on Pokerface and Gilbert pins Pokerface.
Winners: Gilbert and Money Mike.
They show Dutch Mantell at the Hoot Owl County Store. Dutch wonders how the cameraman found him and notes he has moved from the suburbs of Oil Trough to Hoot Owl. "I have Jimmy Hart in my corner in my corner vs. Jackie Fargo. I hear that a person gets as many licks as how old he is on his birthday." Dutch starts hitting the cameraman with shoo baby.
Hart is standing with the AWA world title.
They show a video of Isaac Hayes doing a "Jerry" chant and wishing Jerry Lawler a happy birthday.
They show the video from last week of Bill Dundee sucker punching Kevin White's dad and beating him up. Bill Dundee comes out and says that Bill Dundee got what he deserved and that Kevin White would not show up. Kevin White comes out and says that he will be at the Coliseum tonight and that he cannot wait to get his hands on Dundee. Dundee then replies, "We will see how bad you are 20 feet off the ground," and Dundee mentions all the people he fought in scaffold matches. "White, you better be there, Jack." White then lays out Bill Dundee. White says he did not bite off more than he can chew that Dundee did.
Reggie comes out on crutches. I cannot fight Koko tonight because of my broken leg. Koko then jumps Reggie. Reggie starts whining and crying in pain while being helped and threatening to sue Koko. While Reggie tries to get composure on crutches he takes a step or two with no help.
Jerry Lawler comes out. Corey then gives him a framed certificate from the fans in honor of the day. Jerry then mentions that today is special and he shows the Unified World title belt. The fans ask that he set Mantell on fire and Jerry says that Dutch has so much hair that he would be on fire for two weeks. It would ruin things if he had to wrestle that night bald headed. He then introduces his special ref to the crowd, Jerry Calhoun. Somebody is gonna get their head shaved and it will not be a nice day for somebody.
Brian Christopher comes out and says that it is easier for people to hear what people say when they want to hear them. the People are happy for Lawler but they feel weird because they know that Jerry Lawler will be shaved and who is better to shave Lawler than Grandmaster Sexay. "He did not want me to become more famous than him. I spend 45 minutes a day grooming my hair. You are about to become the laughing stock of the country as you will be bald on Raw." Christopher does his evil cackle.
The second match of the day is loser gets hair shaved, Jerry Lawler vs. Brian Christopher. Christopher acts cocky and says that Lawler will be bald in a while. Christopher dominates most of the match and does his cackle. Christopher pushes Lawler into ref Jerry Calhoun and he goes down. Christopher does his hip hop drop with glasses. Doug Gilbert runs in and hits Christopher with a chain. Lawler starts to pin Christopher and refuses to do the pin. Gilbert goes in the ring and shoves Lawler and Lawler shoves back and Christopher pins Gilbert. Lawler mentions that the loser gets his head shaved, not necessarily Lawler or Christopher.
The show returns from a commercial and they say that Christopher had Gilbert in a sleeper hold and Gilbert is shown getting his head shaved by Guy Coffee and held by Jerry Calhoun. Jerry Lawler takes a razor and helps. Gilbert wakes up after he has no hair and starts having a fit. He chases after Guy Coffee with the razor and partially shaves Guy Coffee.
2003 - Gedo & Jado defeat Hiroki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi in a tournament final to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship in Miyagi, Japan. The belts had been vacated by former champions Jushin Liger & Koji Kanemoto when Kanemoto was unable to defend the belts after fracturing his cheekbone. Liger teamed with El Samurai for the tournament, but lost to Gedo & Jado in the semifinals.
Complete results from the show at the Miyagi Sports Center before 3,000 fans: Yutaka Yoshie beat Toru Yano….In the tournament final to decide who would enter the decision bout for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team championship, Gedo & Jado defeated Jushin Liger & El Samurai….Heat & Tiger Mask IV beat American Dragon & Wataru Inoue….Manabu Nakanishi & Osamu Nishimura defeated Shinya Makabe & The Shadow….Yuji Nagata & Masayuki Naruse beat Mitsuya Nagai & Ryushi Yanagisawa…U-30 Openweight champion Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Blue Wolf….Scott Norton defeated Josh Barnett….Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Tadao Yasuda.
2003 - NEO Spirit Pro Wrestling ran St. Catharines, Ontario Canada in front of 350 fans at the Merriton Arena with Robin Knightwing and Joey Knight winning a Three-Way Dance over the teams of Eric Young & Derek Wylde and The Hacker & Jace Fury to win the Neo Spririt Pro Tag Team championships….Sean Spears pinned Knoxx….Primo Scordino and Tony Carbonie Beat Marco Malaquis and Crazy Steve…. Angel Beat Phoenix in a Women’s Match….Sinn Beat Kris Chambers….Floyd Osbourne Beat TJ Harley….Tyson Dux Beat Cody Steele in what was said to have been a really good bout….Neo Pro Spirit champion JT Playa pinned Lazz.
2003 - The latest "final" Elks Lodge show in Queens, NY drew a packed house. The crowd was said to be the largest there since ECW, around 1,100-1,400 (or whatever a packed house was in the ECW days). Like most USA Pro Wrestling shows, it went on forever, starting at around 6:30 PM and running until 12:30 AM. The reviews suggest that it was a good show up until the final three matches, although one report called it the best USA show ever. They did fifteen matches, closing with Raven and Al Snow going nearly 48:00 in the main event. Obviously, going on at that point in the night is difficult in general, but then they paced this like a one-hour draw, so the crowd was dead and uninterested. There was a chant of "let's go home" at one point. Raven KO'd Snow with Head to get the pin. The Triple Threat (Shane Douglas, Chris Candido, and Bam Bam Bigelow, reunited for the first time since ECW) ran in and attacked Raven and his Flock (Mikey Whipwreck, Wayne, Tara Charisma). This leads to a Raven-Douglas match for the next USA show on 2/14. All three Triple Threat members had matches on this show. Douglas beat Sandman, while Bigelow & Candido defeated Simon Diamond & Striker in a 31:00 match. Douglas cut promos before both matches. In one of them, he ripped on people who were crying for New York after 9/11 but not Pittsburgh, since one of the planes went down near there. I think this is the very definition of cheap heat in the wrestling dictionary. He also cut a promo on Francine. Bigelow interfered to lead to Douglas winning in the singles match. Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten had an "ECW-style" hardcore match. Both guys got on the mic beforehand and put over the ECW fans. Axl said New York was the most hardcore town in the country, except for Philadelphia. Which of course meant a "Philly sucks" chant was next. Crowd chanted "ECW" at times during this. They used a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, a pizza cutter, a fork, scissors, and thumbtacks as weapons. Both guys juiced. Ken Scampi came out afterward and complained that they didn't use chairs, so Axl and Balls creamed him with chairs, which got a big pop. Low-Ki and Sonjay Dutt had a tremendous match, reportedly one of the two best of the night (Axl-Balls being the other). Dutt's chest was red by the time it was over from brutal chops and kicks. The crowd was quiet throughout most of it, but apparently they were into it, because they gave it a standing ovation when it was over. "Crowbar" Devon Storm lost to Mike Kruel in a match for the vacant U.S. title. The last champion, Billy Reil, was stripped because he had to miss the show due to his girlfriend giving birth (or expecting to give birth) over the weekend. They did a deal afterward where Kruel slapped around valet Simply Luscious, who apparently liked it. Knight Life (Simon Diamond, Striker, Bobcat) came out, and Diamond offered Kruel a spot in the group. He accepted. He also tried to strut, which was pretty funny. Mikey Whipwreck & Wayne retained the tag titles beating the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Mikey, Wayne, and Tara Charisma were dressed like the SAT's and came out to their music. This was after the DRS had cut a promo talking about beating the SAT's. Mikey blew mist in both DRS members' eyes to lead to their win. Prince Nana lost to Mike Tobin, who had Tony Lo and Bobcat (remember when she had a WWF developmental deal?) in his corner. Lowlife Louie Ramos won a hardcore match over Johnny Bravado, Danny Demanto, and the New Dynamite Kid. Reportedly it was entertaining for that style of match. Demanto and Bravado took off Louie's boot and stapled dollar bills to the bottom of his foot. They then hit him in the heel with a bat with thumbtacks, followed by them lighting the bat on fire and using it. D-Lo Brown had been advertised up until 11/24, but obviously he wasn't going to make it since he's in All Japan right now. Grim Reefer was pulled off the show by the state athletic commission because of a foot injury. They almost did the same to K.C. Blade of the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, but he was allowed to work. Monsta Mack, Slyk Wagner Brown, and April Hunter were among the workers cancelled off the show in the week beforehand. Hunter and Slyk were told it was due to insurance costs. Jess McGrath reporting.
2003 - The Dutch Wrestling Federation ran Forum Kwadraat at Voorburg (near The Hague) in The Netherlands with Team Gentleman defeated Team Renegade in an Elimination bout….Damien Grimson defeated Wesley Croton….Ashwin defeated 187….4: DWF Tag Team Champions The Extreme Aggressors defeated Blade & The Trouble Maker….Kenzo Richards & Richie Julio defeated The Brick & Panther….Santos won a 10 Man Royal Rumble….DWF champion The Grizzly Renegade defeated The Gentleman.
2003 - All Japan Pro Wrestling at the Tajimi City Wholesale Center drawing an announced 1,200 fans for the following: Masa Fuchi & Ryuji Hijikata beat Taichi Ishikari & Masayuki Kono….Abdullah the Butcher, Kendo Ka Shin & Yasu Urano defeated Mitsu Hirai Jr., Hi69, & Shigeo Okumura….In real World Tag League events, D-Lo Brown & TAKA Michinoku beat La Parka & Parka Guerrera….Kaz Hayashi & Satoshi Kojima defeated Tomoaki Honma & Kazushi Miyamoto….Nobutaka Araya & Toshiaki Kawada beat Bull Buchanan & Gigantes….Arashi & Keiji Muto defeated Jamal & Justin Credible.
2003 - Pro Wrestling NOAH at the Sapporo Teisen Hall drawing 1,600 fans as Kishin Kawabata & Mitsuo Momota beat Haruka Eigen & Mark Goddeker….Doug Williams defeated Tsuyoshi Kikuchi….Takeshi Morishima & Takeshi Rikio beat Masao Inoue & Akira Taue….Yoshinari Ogawa & Scorpio defeated Daisuke Ikeda & IZU….. KENTA, Naomichi Marufuji, & Kotaro Suzuki beat Ace Steel, Michael Modest, & Richard Slinger….Tamon Honda & Kenta Kobashi defeated Mitsuharu Misawa & Mohammed Yone….Jun Akiyama & Makoto Hashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Akitoshi Saito beat Masashi Aoyagi & Naoki Sano & Takashi Sugiura, & Yoshihiro Takayama.
2003 - Westside Xtreme Wrestling ran WXW Fight Club at the Roxy Club in Essen, Germany before 190 fans. Felix Kohlenberg reporting:
1. Paul Birchall beat Darksoul (16:28)
Really good Face/Heel Match with lot ot power and technical moves. Darksoul had no chance after a wristclutch exploder, the Standing Shooting Star Press and the finishing Standing Moonsault. Birchall best performance in Germany yet.
2. Three Way Dance: X-Dream vs. Eddy de la Combe vs. Alex Pain - Alex Pain beat Eddy de la Combe (7:58)
- X-Dream beat Alex Pain (12:17)
WHEW! Spotfest-o-mania! Eddy debuted for wXw, he is a young highflyer form the Netherlands and did very well. Alex Pain mainly overpowered both of his opponents and hit some crazy power moves (including a double uranage from the top rope!). X-Dream proves once again that he is a top talent. He countered a Top Rope DVD into a DDT (like Jonny did with AJ at British Uprising), showed one of the best Split Legged Moonsaults I have ever seen, the 0-G-Kick (you have to see that one!), the Paul London Dropkick wiht landing on his feet! and finished Alex Pain of with the Shooting Star Press.
3. Swiss Money Holding beat Murat Bosporus & G-ses (21:25)
For some fans that was the match of the night and I can't disagree. A great mix between Old School Wrestling, British Style Chain Wrestling and Lucha Libre. Double C got the lucky pin against G-Ses with pissed off Murat once more. Murat wanted a singles match against Double C at the 3rd Anniversary Show on December 27th but Double C said he had something different to do - the fans started to chant "HUSS" all over it! But then Murat asked for January 31st and Double C was fine with that idea. So you fans have the second match for "When Hero met Punk...in Germany". For the first time ever two of the finest technical wrestlers in all over Europe will square off one on one!
After the intermission Mike Quackenbush entered the ring and got an outstanding reaction! I felt like Hulk Hogan would enter the MSG 20 years ago. [Note from MKJ: That line cracked me up!] Quack told the fans about the Mexican Title, hyped his match and told about his injury and always getting loud pops!
4. Hardcore Title - I Quit Match: Thumbtack Jack beat Steve Douglas (19:50)
Thumbtack Jack proved that he isn't only a garbage wrestler or a highflyer, he can really tell a great story! Both tried to wear each other done, hitting some big moves (and I mean BIG - as an exampale a sitout Tighe-Tanic on a chair, a Half Nelson Suplex or an Exploder onto two chairs!) but also used lot of submissions. Douglas worked all over TJs leg but he wanted to destroy his opponent and that was his fault. He invited his valet Shadow into the ring but TJ countered and then it was Douglas hanging in a Tree of Woe and TJ had Shadow in the Death Valley Driver position. He signaled he wanted to put hear through the Thumbtack-Chair but Douglas said "I Quit" to stop that. Afterwards Alex Pain entered the ring, attacked TJ and put him with a Firemen's Carry Innovation through this Hardcore-Chair!
5. wXw Cruiserweight Title & IPW/AULL Mexican Middleweight Title & FWA/XPW European Title: Mike Quackenbush double pin Jonny Storm (15:45) Super-mega-ultra cool Match-Up! Jonny finally proved that he is one of the best technical wrestler and not only a flippy-floppy-spot wrestler. Many great reversals and counters I have never seen before! Lucha vs. British Wrestling! A match which you have to see to believe I can really express into words. Both signaled after the match they want a rematch!
6. Team Westside Xtreme Wrestling beat Team World Xtreme Wrestling It continued the wXw vs. WXW story and wXw was not a strong as they imagnied before. Hate was not able to compete, TJ stepped injured in the match and also Darksoul was not 100% after his match with Birchall. Anyway, Darksoul got the victory over Mot van Kunder. Afterwards Bellomo continued the war and announced HEAD SHRINKER SAMU for the 3rd Anniversary Show.
2003 - Syndicated radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge wrestled at the Full Impact Pro show in Pinellas Park, FL at the Pinellas Expo Center. Bubba teamed with Dusty Rhodes against Rhodes' 80s nemesis Kevin Sullivan and Ralph Mosca. Match ended up in a four way, with Bubba hitting a splash off the second rope on Mosca for the pin. They are going to start a tournament for their heavyweight title at the next show on 12/19, so this one had a battle royal to determine the 16th seed. Jack demanded a match with Hack Myers at the next show, so promoter Sal Hamaoui booked Jack vs. Myers as a first round tournament match. At the last FIP show, Myers had attacked Jack. Here, Jack did a run in to save Antonio Banks from a beating with a chain by Myers (Myers, nicknamed "Mad Dog", is carrying a dog collar and chain with him). Cyborg (Dresden, from XWF and Memphis Wrestling) beat Jeff Bradley (O.D.D.) in a battle of big men. They did a deal where Bradley tossed chewing tobacco in Cyborg's eyes and pinned him, but then the ref saw it and ordered a restart. Cyborg rolled up Bradley to win. Scoot Andrews beat Lex Lovett. Also working the show were the Hell Raisers (Axis & Python), Brian Gamble, Dagon Briggs, Phi Delta Slam, and Mike Graham (as in the son of Eddie). Jess McGrath reporting.
2003 - WWC ran Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, bringing in Sabu and Carly Colon for it. Carly beat Universal champion Dominican Boy by DQ. DB KO'd Carly with his loaded glove. The ref counted to two, but then Eddie Colon stopped him and tried to stooge off the glove shot. Dominican Boy hit Eddie with the glove. Carly then caught DB with the stunner. A second ref came out to count, but Bronco ran in for the DQ. Broncos #2 and #3 then attacked Carly. Stacy Colon came out and gave the shovel to Eddie Colon, which he used to run everybody off. Dominican Boy actually quit the company and returned the Universal title belt back on 11/11, but they paid him some of the money owed him, so he returned. Sabu and Rico Suave had a hardcore match. Chris Joel held a chair in the corner, with Suave then shoving Sabu into it. Enrique Cruz came out and kicked the chair back into Suave, but Suave fell on top of Sabu for the pin. Sabu attacked the ref afterward. Eddie Colon and Jose Rivera Jr. had what was reportedly an excellent scaffold match, with Colon winning to keep the Puerto Rican title. Shane Twin #1 (Mike Shane) and Steve Madison from Florida indies lost to tag team champions Thunder & Lightning. Chicky Starr returned. He had left back on 11/9 due to problems with pay. Jess McGrath reporting.
2008 - Judge Russell G. Vineyard ruled that there was probable cause in the six search warrants issued against Benoit family physician Dr. Phil Astin for authorities to raid records from his office and storage unites in the wake of the Benoit family tragedy. Those raids left to Astin being indicted on seven counts of overprescribing medication.
2008 - WWE Smackdown became the center of a major controversy in Indonesia, as the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission called for the show to be banned in their country. This comes in the fallout of an investigation into the death of a nine year old boy in Bandung who allegedly died as a result of mimicking wrestlers he saw on the program. It should be pointed out that the official cause of death for the child, who had suffered blows to his body in October before dying a month later, has yet to be determined However, his death has become a major news story in the country, and a platform for those that are against violence on television.
In an article released by Reuters, Commission member Ade Armando was quoted as saying, "We have SmackDown posters, shirts, cards, and other things. It has become some kind of specific culture with its own community. If there is no television show, we assume those other things will lose audience. So our conclusion is stopping the show altogether. We will not tolerate its showing anytime."
Lativi, a private broadcaster which carries the show, has moved the program from 9pm to 10pm, but has not indicated that they will drop the program.
The Reuters article noted that WWE is also popular on the underground video market (bootleg videos of wrestling, concerts, movies, etc. is big in the country). In the last decade, political changes have resulted in less government censorship when it comes to broadcasts and other forms of entertainment, opening the door for programs that would be seen as "controversial" in the past. The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission does not have the power to ban the show, but they obviously will be putting pressure on Lativi to drop it.
In response to the Reuters article, WWE issued the following press release:
A Statement From World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
WWE first learned on Thanksgiving Day of sketchy and incomplete information that a father of a child in Indonesia was attempting to blame WWE's SmackDown program for the death of his child. Today, the chief of the Detective Bureau charged with investigating the highly suspicious nature of the child's death specifically stated in the media that the accusations of the family could not be taken at face value and that there is no reason to believe the death of this child had anything to do with watching wrestling.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that false allegations of this type have been used to deflect attention away from those directly responsible for the death of a child, and WWE urges caution in making such unsubstantiated, and now repudiated, statements, especially in light of the ongoing police investigation into the actual and true circumstances of this child's death while in the custody of others.
The police noted an autopsy was forbidden by the child's family for religious reasons. As a result the police have indicated in the media that because there is no permission to conduct the autopsy, they are currently asking for the child's medical records from the hospital.
Although the death of any child is a tragedy, WWE is confident that the investigative conclusions will be that the death of this child had nothing to do with WWE programming.
"We are committed to working with the appropriate parties in Indonesia to address any issues, while still allowing Indonesian viewers the choice to watch WWE programming," said Gary Davis, Vice President of WWE.
2009 - WWE Raw ran Charlottesville, Virginia. Derek Clark filed the following live report:
To start off with, the event was in no way near sold out. A LOT of seats were still available. But the ones that were there had a good time and were loud. We had front seats so we saw everything.
I could be wrong, but I do think they used "fake" crowd noise to start off with. The "screaming" was way too loud for those in attendance. But then again, maybe I'm wrong.
Instead of giving an in-depth play by play of every match, I'll just go through win/loss details.
Mark Henry beat Jack Swagger.
Melina and Eva beat Jillian and Maryse in a tag bout.
Shamus pinned Primo after a vicious "Razor's Edge".
Chris Masters beat Alex Riley, who came out in a lettermen's jacket.
Santino Marella pinned Carlito.
INTERMISSION
The Miz comes out and talks some trash then a match against Evan Bourne in which The Miz won. GREAT MATCH though.
HHH and Kofi Kingston vs Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase. Huge pops, great crowd reaction. HORNSWOGGLE came from under the ring and distracts Legacy. HHH, Kingston get the win.
Main Event: John Cena vs...guess who...Randy Orton. For the Championship. Yea, wasn't that a big no no? Anyway, the reason given for the title match was laid on Ventura and said that Ventura made the match happen since he was the guest host earlier that week. Good match but your typical Cena/Orton stuff. Cena gets the win.
2010 - Ignacio Jimenez, 33, who wrestled as El Hijo de Cien Caras, was murdered in Coyoacan, Mexico. Jimenez was not related to the Caras (the Gonzalez family) but was the brother of LA Park (the original La Parka), the nephew of Super Parka and the cousin of Volador Jr. Reports indicate that Jimenez was sitting in a vehicle with an unidentified woman. They were approached by an unknown individual who, without exchanging words, fired four shots at Jimenez before fleeing. Along with Mascara Ano 2000 Jr, El Hijo de Cien Caras was a two time IWRG Tag Team Champion.
2010 - Paul Heyman signed a deal with Gallery Books to pen an autobiography. The book titled, "The Heyman Hustle: Wrestling's Most Extreme Promoter Tells All" was slated for a summer 2011 release but to this day, has never been released.
2010 - Sheamus is crowned the WWE King of the Ring during a special edition of Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We start off with a look back at the WWE Title match from last week when Randy Orton was weakened for his match with Wade Barrett but Barrett is not able to finish off the Viper. Then we found out that you need to be AWESOME to kill a Viper and The Miz successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to become the new WWE Champion.
We are live from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and your announcers are Michael ‘Why did they give me Redskins merchandise to wear tonight’ Cole, Jerry ‘I’m calling gimmick infringement’ Lawler, and ‘The King of Straight Edge’ CM Punk.
Michael Cole is a little too happy that the Miz will be here tonight.
The throne, cape, and crown are on the stage for the man who can outlast seven other men.
Alex Riley comes out and he is wearing a suit. He tells everyone that the Miz is the WWE Champion. Alex says that he is honored to be a part of one of the greatest moment in entertainment. It is the same as knowing where you were when man walked on the moon. Alex says that there is nothing left to do but party and Alex says that he ain’t afraid to party. Alex says that he is going to throw one of the most over the top celebrations in history. The show is going A-Ri tonight and it is going to be awesome.
Match Number One: Alberto Del Rio versus Daniel Bryan in a King of the Ring Quarterfinal Match
Del Rio gives his scarf to Rodriguez and then they lock up and Del Rio backs Bryan into the corner. Del Rio with a kick in the corner and punch. He sends Bryan into the corner and kicks him some more. Del Rio with a side head lock takedown and Bryan gets a near fall with a rollup. Del Rio with a shoulder tackle and then he stands over Bryan before going off the ropes. Bryan with a drop kick to Del Rio and then he gets a near fall. Del Rio sends Bryan into the turnbuckles and then hits a spinebuster but Bryan with a LeBell Lock. Del Rio gets to the ropes and then he goes to the floor as we go to commercial.
We are back and Del Rio has Bryan in a reverse chin lock. We go to footage from the commercial break when Del Rio knocked Bryan off the apron with an enzuigiri. Del Rio takes Bryan to the mat and gets another near fall. Del Rio with knees to the back of the head and then he stomps on Bryan’s head. Del Rio returns to the reverse chin lock. Bryan with forearms to get out of the hold and Del Rio with a slam. Bryan with a kick to the midsection and then he gets a near fall with a rollup. Bryan with a crucifix take down for another near fall. Del Rio with a knee and kick to Bryan. Bryan with a European uppercut or two. Bryan flips over Del Rio and then we get a series of waist locks and standing switches until Bryan hits a German suplex and gets a near fall. Del Rio with a kick but Bryan with a kick to Del Rio.
Bryan with the drop kick into the corner and Bryan gets a near fall. Bryan with a series of kicks to the chest but Del Rio with a German suplex and bridge of his own for a two count. Bryan side steps Del Rio and Del Rio goes to the floor. Bryan with a suicide dive and Bryan appears to have hurt his shoulder. Bryan goes up top but misses the missile drop kick. Del Rio waits to pounce and he puts Bryan in the cross arm breaker and Bryan taps.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
We see that Del Rio will face the winner of the John Morrison/Cody Rhodes match.
It is time to take a look back at some of the people who have won the King of the Ring since 1985. We see Edge, Steve Austin, Triple H, Bret Hart, and Brock Lesnar.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know that WWE is available in a lot of homes.
R Truth comes to the ring and he says last week John Cena was forced to quit WWE. He says that he doesn’t care what nobody says, John is still his friend and he went out like a champ. Truth is that when all of this started, he tried to get John to quit on his own terms, but he wasn’t having that. John had to pay the piper too many times and it cost him what he loved and cherished the most . . . the WWE Universe. Nexus may have won the battle but the war hasn’t even started yet. Truth makes a challenge to any member of Nexus to go one on one with him.
Josh wants to get a word from someone in Nexus and Michael McGillicutty says that Truth wants to issue challenges and be a hero. He will show what happens when you issue a challenge to a member of Nexus.
Michael is attacked by someone who wears jean shorts and tennis shoes as the camera is knocked down. We see someone wearing John Cena wrist bands show that we can’t see him as we go to commercial.
We are back Michael Cole is very very very excited that the Miz is the WWE Champion.
Cole, Lawler, and Punk talk about who could have attacked Michael McGillicutty. Punk knows it is John Cena.
Match Number Two: ‘Dashing’ Cody Rhodes versus ‘Parkour’ John Morrison in a King of the Ring Qualifying Match
They lock up and Morrison with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Morrison tries for a punch but Cody avoids it and then he punches Morrison and chokes him in the corner. Cody misses a charge into the corner and hits the turnbuckles. Cody goes to the floor because someone hit him in the face. Morrison brings him back into the ring and hits a clothesline and then rakes the face with his boot. Rhodes with a clothesline and then he stomps on Morrison and follows it with a punch. Rhodes with a hard Irish whip and gets a near fall. Rhodes with knees as he Irish whips Morrison and then hits a side Russian leg sweep for a near fall. Rhodes with a front face lock with the arms locked. Morrison punches Cody in the midsection and Rhodes kicks Morrison.
Morrison punches Rhodes a number of times in the head and Rhodes backs away. Morrison punches Rhodes in the corner and the referee warns Morrison. Morrison with clotheslines followed by a leg lariat for a near fall. Morrison misses a Shining Wizard and Rhodes gets a rollup for a near fall. Rhodes with an elbow to Morrison and they each go for their springboard moves off the ropes but Morrison is the one who connects. Morrison with a Shining Wizard for the three count.
Winner: John Morrison
Morrison advances to face Alberto Del Rio in the semifinals.
We are told that the new Miss USA will be crowning the new King of the Ring.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Drew McIntyre versus Ezekiel Jackson in a King of the Ring Qualifying Match
They lock up and Jackson backs Drew into the corner and they break. They lock up again and Drew sends him into the corner. Drew pie faces Jackson and Zeke punches Drew and takes him down with shoulder tackles. Zeke with a running clothesline into the corner and then he hits a running splash into the corner and Zeke gets a near fall. Drew takes the pad off the turnbuckle and Drew drops Zeke on the exposed turnbuckle and Drew gets a near fall. Drew runs Zeke into the corner and punches him and then hits a clothesline or two in the corner. Drew with a short arm clothesline.
Zeke takes Drew through the ropes and they go to the floor. They fight on the floor and Drew with a Thesz Press and Zeke punches Drew and they are both unable to get back into the ring before the ten count.
Double Count Out
They return to the ring and Drew tries for the Future Shock DDT but Jackson with a back body drop and then he clotheslines Drew over the top rope to the floor.
This means that the winner of the Kofi Kingston/Sheamus match will advance to the finals.
Brie wants to see how Daniel Bryan is doing and Daniel asks him how he is doing. Nikki stops by and they argue. Alex Riley stops by and tells them to get the dancing girls and stop dealing with the nerd. Alex gets a phone call and he tells the Bellas that they are unneeded.
Alex says that Daniel missed out on the biggest opportunity and be mentored by the Miz.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to take a look back at the way that Wade Barrett couldn’t beat Randy Orton after being injured by Nexus only to see Miz do what he couldn’t.
Cole shows the excitement for all three men that Miz will be here soon. Jerry Lawler says that Randy Orton will not be on Raw tonight because of a knee injury.
Miz comes out with his cheerleader a few feet behind him as well as at the announce table.
Miz says that he had a huge celebration planned for tonight, but in the end, he didn’t need the balloons, streamers or pyro because he has something that would describe the World Wide reaction to his victory. First there was shock and we see ‘I Hate the Miz Girl’. Then there was anger, and we see the same girl. Miz says that those two pictures were better than a thousand celebrations. He wants to thank Miz Girl for reminding him of the struggle he made to get to this point. To all of the people at MTV who said he would never be a WWE Superstar. Then there were the people in the locker room who said he would be nothing. To the JBLs, Triple Hs, and John Cenas . . . the Miz is WWE Champion.
Miz says that Randy Orton isn’t here because of a ‘knee’ injury. The only thing injured on Orton is his pride when Orton lost his title. Now Orton is ashamed to show his face. Orton is simply the first in a long list of people he is going to demoralize. When he says something, he will accomplish it. Miz vows to become the longest reigning WWE Champion in history.
Miz says that if you are going to take anything from this speech, if anyone tells you that you can’t live your dreams, you can’t. It takes an exceptional person to prove them wrong. He says that he is nothing like the people in the arena or at home. Miz says that he is one in a billion because he has achieved his dreams.
Two weeks ago, Roddy Piper came to the ring and he said that people in his generation made things happen. Roddy never made anything happen. Miz has Riley hold up the WWE Title book and Miz says that Roddy Piper and Ricky Steamboat have never won the WWE Title.
Jerry Lawler interrupts Miz and says that as someone not on the list of WWE Champions, he congratulates the Miz but points out that Miz beat someone who was attacked by seven other people before he won. It might make him clever and an opportunist, but it doesn’t make Miz awesome.
Miz lets out a Really and he says that it sounds like ramblings of a bitter old man who couldn’t do in four decades what Miz did in one night.
Cole tells Lawler to stop because he is saying bad things about Miz and his victory. Cole narcs on Lawler and says that Lawler called Miz’s victory a fluke. Cole wants to allow Miz to have his moment.
Lawler tells Miz that if he is a champion, he would call out someone who hasn’t been beaten down by seven guys and give them a title match.
Michael Cole says that if Lawler doesn’t stop, Miz might make an example of him.
Lawler says that some of the people who never became WWE Champion because they never had a title match. Jerry says that he has been here since 1993 and has never had a WWE Title match. Lawler tells Miz to be the champion he says he is and give him a title match.
Miz says that is a great idea, but he isn’t in the mood to defend his title tonight.
Lawler says that Miz just verified what he was saying. Miz might be a champion, but he isn’t awesome. He calls Miz a coward.
Miz says that Lawler is a man who never did anything.
Cole has to take away his devotion to the Miz to deal with his pen pal, the Raw General Messenger.
And Cole quotes. Congratulations Miz, what you did last week was impressive, but that was last week and this is tonight. While you might not be interested in defending the WWE Title, but he is. Miz will face Jerry Lawler for the WWE Title.
In three weeks, there is the TLC pay per view. What better way to start the countdown to the pay per view, not only a title match, but a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know who bought tickets for Wrestlemania already?
We are have 33% fewer announcers on this Cyber Monday announcer sale since Jerry Lawler will be getting ready to become the WWE Champion.
Match Number Four: Kofi Kingston versus Sheamus in a King of the Ring Quarterfinal Match . . . Fella
They lock up and Sheamus with a knee and forearm to the back. Sheamus backs Kofi into the ropes and connects with a forearm. They go over the top rope to the floor. Sheamus sends Kofi back in but Kofi kicks Sheamus and punches him. Kofi with another kick but Sheamus with a back breaker and he gets a near fall. Sheamus with kicks and knees to the back and then he hits a short arm clothesline and drops another knee into the back as he works on Kofi’s back with a rear chin lock. Sheamus with a head butt but Kofi with elbows and a back heel kick. Kofi with kicks to the legs and then he kicks Sheamus in the corner with the referee pulling him out of the corenr.
Kofi with chops and a drop kick and a Superman punch. Kofi with the Boom drop for a near fall. Kofi leaps into the corner but Sheamus moves and he sets for the Celtic Cross and Kofi escapes and hits Trouble in Paradise. Sheamus rolls to the apron and then Kofi tries to pull him into the ring but Kofi grabs the ring apron. Sheamus with a knee to the head and then Kofi hits a pendulum kick. Kofi goes up top but Sheamus with a kick to the head for the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
Sheamus gets to advance to the finals and wait for the winner of the John Morrison/Alberto Del Rio match.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: Yoshi Tatsu and Mark Henry versus Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel in a Non Title I forgot those guys are on the Raw Roster Match
Yoshi and Gabriel start things off and Yoshi with an arm drag and drop kick for a near fall. Gabriel with a jawbreaker and he tags in Slater. Slater with kicks after an Irish whip into the corner. Gabriel tags back in and he continues to kick Yoshi. Slater tags in and he punches Yoshi while John Cena goes to his seat in the building.
Gabriel and Slater attack Yoshi. Slater with a snap mare and reverse chin lock. Yoshi tags in Henry and he punches Slater and then he clotheslines Slater and gives him a head butt. Henry with a slam to Slater and then Henry with a splash for a near fall. Yoshi takes Gabriel over the top rope to the floor. Henry charges into boots from Slater. Slater comes off the turnbuckles and he is caught by Henry and Mark hits the World’s Strongest Slam for the three count.
Winners: Mark Henry and Yoshi Tatsu
After the match, John Cena trespasses and grabs Heath Slater out of the ring and gives him an Attitude Adjustment through the table.
The other surviving members of Nexus comes to ringside but they are too late to get Cena but they help Slater out of the ringside area.
We go to commercial.
We are back and we have an Earlier Tonight montage of what John Cena did so far tonight even though he isn’t a member of the WWE roster any more.
Nexus are in their new shirts and Otunga says that this is a mess because John Cena has been fired. Now Cena has no restrictions. He took out McGillicutty and Slater, now they are sitting ducks.
Wade says that there are no restrictions for what they can do to him as well. Wade says that he is going to call out John Cena.
Jerry Lawler is in the back and Arn Anderson stops by to see if it is true that he has a title match. Arn says that it is long overdue. He wants to tell Jerry that TLC matches are dangerous and you can get hurt in those matches. People won’t think less of him if he doesn’t wrestle in that match. Jerry says he has never been in a TLC match, but he has also never been in a WWE Title match. Arn tells Jerry to beat him.
We go to what is left of the announce table and Cole says that there is no way that Jerry Lawler will walk out of the match and might never walk out again. Punk says that Lawler can pull it out and win the title.
Match Number Six: Alberto Del Rio versus John Morrison in the King of the Ring Semifinal Match
Del Rio has to scoff at his opponent before locking up. Del Rio with kicks to the leg and he pushes Morrison into the corner and connects with an elbow and Irish whip. Morrison with kicks and a missile drop kick for a near fall. Del Rio drops Morrison’s arm on the top rope and he starts to focus on the arm. Del Rio with punches to the arm and then he stomps on the arm and gets a near fall. Del Rio with an arm bar on Morrison but Morrison with forearms. Del Rio with a punch to the head. Morrison with a kick and forearm followed by a leg lariat for a near fall. Del Rio with a waist lock and Morrison with a standing switch but Del Rio with an arm breaker on Morrison. Del Rio with an Irish whip followed by a step up enzuigiri.
Someone is honking the horn in Del Rio’s car and we see Rey Mysterio come out of the car. Morrison with a springboard round kick for the three count.
Winner: John Morrison
Morrison advances to the finals to face Sheamus.
Wade Barrett is walking as he prepares to call out a person who is ‘no longer a WWE Superstar’. We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Wade Barrett losing to Randy Orton last week thanks to John Cena’s actions.
Wade Barrett comes to the ring and he says that John Cena must think that he was born yesterday. He can see through Cena’s plan. Wade says that the Raw General Manager says that he is the only person who can get Cena his job back. He figures that Cena will attack the other members of Nexus and him so John will be given his job back so Wade can get revenge on Cena. Wade says that Cena will never work for WWE again. Wade says that Cena had the element of surprise tonight, but that is now gone.
We go to the back where John Cena says that it isn’t about keeping his job. It is about keeping his word. John says that he lost his job for keeping his word. John reminds Wade that he would take out everyone in Nexus.
Wade wants security to take care of John Cena. John points out that Nexus took care of security so they are in no hurry to stop him.
We see Justin Gabriel, David Otunga (in his hoodie), and Husky Harris are in front of Cena. Cena reminds Nexus that he isn’t their only enemies and a lot of the members of the Raw roster ambush them. Cena gives Justin Gabriel an Attitude Adjustment.
Cena says that it does not stop until he gets his hands on each and every one of them. Cena tells Wade he will see him next week.
We are back and we return to the parking lot where Nexus was ambushed. In case you missed it, here is a video recap.
We see what happened last week between Santino and Tamina in the back.
Match Number Seven: Tamina, Maryse, and Alicia Fox versus Natalya, Melina, and Gail Kim
Melina and Maryse start things off and they get face to face and Maryse face washes her. Melina with punches and then they roll around the ring and Maryse goes to the floor but Melina follows after her. Maryse drops Melina on the top rope to stop her from screaming. Maryse gets a near fall. Alicia tags in and she gingerly slams Melina’s head into the mat. Alicia chokes Melina in the ropes. Melina avoids Alicia but she cannot make the tag. Alicia tries to punch Melina but Melina avoids it and she drops Alicia on her knees.
Santino appears on the stage with a guitar and he serenades Tamina as the ghost of Jillian Hall weeps.
While the action in the ring stops, Tamina takes Santino to the back.
Natalya tags in and clotheslines Alicia a few times and she hits a Michinoku Driver and tries to put Alicia in the Sharpshooter. Maryse attacks Maryse from behind but Gail with a clothesline. Natalya with the sharpshooter and Alicia taps out.
Winners: Gail Kim, Melina, and Natalya
Since he will be wrestling later tonight, we have a video package for the birthday boy Jerry Lawler.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Did You Know the work that WWE does with Make a Wish Foundation?
WE see Ted DiBiase with the new mechanical WWE belt and Maryse enters asking if he is serious that he is playing with a toy instead of going for the real title. Maryse says that Ted tapped out to a geek smaller than her twice. Maryse has something else to say about Santino and Tamina but Ted tells her to shut up.
Husky and Otunga are traveling together in the back and they are making sure that nobody gets them because no one in Nexus is safe. Otunga says that he has a plan for how to fix this situation.
Josh Mathews is in the interview and he is joined by the participants in the finals of the King of the Ring Tournament. Josh says that Sheamus has an advantage because Sheamus has wrestled one fewer match, but John beat Sheamus at Survivor Series. Sheamus says that the victory at Survivor Series was the biggest win of John’s career. Sheamus says that Morrison’s arm is hurt and he will leave nothing left when he is done.
Morrison says that it is convenient that Sheamus got a bye to the finals. Morrison says that it doesn’t matter because at the end of the night, only one man will walk out King of the Ring.
We get the awkward and dramatic stare down before we see the throne and accessories.
We go to commercial.
We are back and The Slammys are back in two weeks . . . and let’s hope that they are nothing like last year’s.
It is time for the guest ring announcer and it is Rima Fakih, Miss USA 2010 and she is accompanied by the anti-arm candy Santino Marella.
We see the path that each man had to get to the finals. Sheamus had to defeat Kofi Kingston and double count out; while John Morrison had to beat Cody Rhodes and Alberto Del Rio (with an assist from Rey Mysterio and his horn honking abilities).
Match Number Eight: John Morrison versus Sheamus in the King of the Ring Finals
They lock up and Sheamus works on the arm but Morrison with knees but Sheamus with a kick that knocks Morrison to the mat. Sheamus works on the injured arm with kicks and knees. Sheamus with an arm bar. Morrison with a kick and he tries for the springboard round kick but Sheamus pushes Morrison into the ropes and then knees Morrison off the apron as we go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus continues to work on the arm and gets a near fall. We see Sheamus sending Morrison shoulder first into the ringside barrier during the commercial break.
Morrison with punches but Sheamus wraps the bad arm into the ropes and then hits a single arm DDT and gets a near fall. Sheamus with forearms across the chest to wear down Morrison. Sheamus stands over Morrison and then drops a knee and then he puts Morrison in a key lock. We see the empty throne watching the match as Sheamus continues to work on the arm.
Morrison punches and knees Sheamus but Sheamus with a punch and he stays in control of the match. Morrison with punches but Sheamus with a punch of his own. Morrison with a series of forearms followed by a kick and clotheslines. Morrison with a leg lariat for a near fall. Morrison punches Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus pushes Morrison off the turnbuckles and then Sheamus misses the pump kick but Sheamus with a clothesline and he gets a near fall.
Sheamus gets Morrison up for the High Cross but Morrison counters and he tries for a back slide but Sheamus stays on his feet. Morrison with an elbow and then Morrison hits a tornado DDT but Sheamus gets his hand on the rope to stop the count.
Morrison tries for the Shining Wizard but Sheamus kicks Morrison in the thigh. Morrison with a kick when Sheamus tries to send him into the ring post. Morrison goes up top and Sheamus slams him to the mat but he can only get a near fall. Sheamus with a Fujiwara arm bar on Morrison and Morrison gets to his feet. Sheamus with a knee and then he pulls Morrison over his back and he puts Morrison back in the Fujiwara arm bar.
Morrison rolls through and kicks Sheamus. Morrison with an enzuigiri that knocks Sheamus down. Morrison tries for the corkscrew shooting star press but he lands on Sheamus’ knees. Sheamus with the pump kick and then he sets for the High Cross and hits it. Sheamus gets the three count.
Winner: Sheamus
Sheamus goes to the throne area where Miss USA puts on the crown and robe and Sheamus gets his royal scepter.
Sheamus says that finally the royal lineage from the high kings of Ireland has been completed. He says Long Live the King.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the ladders, chairs, and tables are around the ring and the WWE Title belt is above the ring.
Match Number Nine: The Miz with Alex Riley and the briefcase . . . and the Spirit of Michael Cole versus Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler for the WWE Title in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match and for the Sports Fandom Title of Cleveland
They lock up and Miz backs Lawler into the corner and he gives a clean break. Lawler punches Miz and then they circle each other. They lock up again and Miz slams Lawler. Lawler returns the favor with a slam of his own. Miz with a kick and punch followed by kicks and another punch to Lawler. Miz throws Lawler out of the ring and to the floor. Miz grabs a chair and he hits Lawler in the back with it. Lawler takes another chair shot to the back. Miz rolls Lawler back into the ring and he sets up a few chairs in the center of the ring. Miz punches Lawler and then he tries for a suplex onto the chairs but Lawler blocks it and Miz avoids the chairs as well. Miz with a neck breaker combination using the chair. Miz with kicks to the back as he tries to wear down Lawler.
Miz has his manservant bring a ladder into the ring but Miz doesn’t see Lawler recover and he hits Miz repeatedly in the back with the chair. Riley tries to stop Lawler but Jerry punches Riley and then he brings a ladder into the ring but he fights over it with Miz and Lawler hits Miz in the chin with the ladder. Lawler brings the ladder into the ring and he misses Miz when he runs it into the corner. Miz with a forearm to the back and then they avoid the ladder in the corner until Lawler back body drops him onto the ladder. Riley with a clothesline to Lawler. Riley tries to suplex Lawler to the floor but Riley takes a punch from Lawler and he goes through a table.
Lawler sets up the ladder in the center of the ring and he starts to climb but Miz pushes him off. Miz with a boot to the head. Miz with a suplex onto the chair as he works on Lawler’s back. Miz grabs the chair while Punk tells Miz to climb the ladder to win the match. Instead, Miz hits Lawler again with the chair. Miz goes to the top turnbuckle but Lawler crotches him and Lawler tries for a superplex but Miz with a head butt and Lawler goes to the mat. Lawler knocks Miz off the apron and Miz goes through a table.
Lawler is down in the ring but he is next to the ladder. Michael Cole gets up from the announce table and he tries to help Miz up. Lawler climbs the ladder and he is a few feet from the title. Michael Cole grabs Lawler’s leg and Jerry wonders what the heck is going on. Lawler asks Cole and Cole says he didn’t mean it. They circle the ladder and Cole wants to hug it out but Lawler punches Cole and who cares about the title when you can punch Michael Cole.
Miz climbs the ladder and Lawler stops him. They both have their hands on the title. Miz takes some punches from Lawler but Miz hits Lawler with the title belt and then Miz grabs the belt and wins the match.
Winner: The Miz
We go to credits.
2011 - WWE released Stone Cold - The Bottom Line on Wrestling's Most Popular Superstar", looking at WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin on DVD and Blu-Ray.
2011 - Patrice O'Neal, an extremely funny comedian who had a short run on WWE Creative in early part of the decade, passed away at the age of 41 due to complications of a stroke suffered the previous month. O'Neal, who was a regular on the Comedy Central roasts, often joked about his short run working with WWE during appearances on the Opie & Anthony radio show, noting that when he blew off a meeting to do standup, Stephanie McMahon was so angry she called and fired him, and then called back several times to fire him again and again.
2011 - WWE Smackdown broadcast a live special. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are live from Charlotte, North Carolina and your announcers are Josh ‘Golden Dragon’ Mathews and Michael ‘Nat King’ Cole.
Mick Foley makes his way to the ring to assume his hosting duties. Mick welcomes everyone and wishes them a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays, but Mick says that he is a Christmas fanatic. Mick says that he listens to Christmas music year round. He says that he is to Christmas what Jim Ross is to BBQ sauce and Ultimate Warrior is to colorful arm tassels.
Mick throws out his first Mick Foley Cheap Pop of the night. Mick talks about what is in his bag of goodies. He mentions the World Championship match between ‘Tiny Tim’ Daniel Bryan and the ‘Ghost of Christmas Fear’ Mark Henry inside a steel cage. There is a Miracle on 34th Street Fight, an All I Want for Christmas is an Over the Top Rope Battle Royal with the winner getting his wish from Santa Claus. Mick says that he might have suggested that Michael Cole would not be here tonight, but he is bound by contract to be here tonight. Mick says that he has taken the opportunity to dress Michael tonight and he comes to the ring dressed like something resembling a reindeer.
Mick says that he had the entire announce team dress up and he talks about how Josh Mathews has to get back to the North Pole to help with some toys. Booker T comes out and he is dressed like Santa.
Booker stops in the ring before taking his position at the announce table. Mick tells Booker that he wants this to be inclusive so he wants Booker to show some love for the Jewish people in the WWE Universe and do a Spinaroonie and act like a dreidel. Mick says that he is trying to make up for ‘This is Your Life’ a few weeks ago.
Booker says that the holiday spirit is here and he can dig that.
Cody Rhodes interrupts the holiday party. Cody says that in the past he would have let this farce continue unabated. However, he is no longer wearing a protective piece of plastic so he can see things more clearly. What he is seeing is a lowly announcer making a fool of him in the ring by indulging in childish antics taking away from people like him who still have the skills to compete.
Booker says that he doesn’t know what Cody’s problem is because he doesn’t have any beef with him. Booker says that he can still handle his business inside the ring. Booker tells Cody that before he tests him, he calls Cody ‘son’.
Cody shushes the crowd and he says that Booker does have a beef with him. Cody tells the announcer that it is because he will never hold something like the Intercontinental title belt over his head again. He says that Booker will never be called a champion again.
Mick says that Booker is a man he respects and a friend of his. He says that Cody is affecting his ability to have fun tonight. Cody has a match tonight against Booker T.
Cody says that he is looking forward to it.
Mick asks Booker if he is cool with that and Booker says that he is.
We are back and Mick says that this is a special Mistletoe Match. The winner will get to cash in a special prize between now and Christmas.
Match Number One: Alicia Fox, AJ Lee, Kaitlyn, Rosa Mendes, Natalya, Aksana, Tamina, Nikki Bella, and Brie Bella in a Mistletoe on a Pole Match
Tamina kicks Aksana as they battle in the corner. Kaitlyn battles with the Bellas. Alicia climbs the turnbuckles and then the Bellas stop her. Brie trips Nikki and takes the mistletoe to win the match.
Winner: Brie Bella
Mick tells Brie that the winner did not get a future championship match. The winner gets to give a kiss to the superstar of her choice between now and Christmas.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jinder Mahal tells a Christmas story in Punjabi. He talks about buying gifts with money they don’t have for people they don’t even like. He says that everyone is living a lie.
Match Number Two: Justin Gabriel versus Jinder Mahal
Gabriel with a wrist lock but Mahal with a knee and forearm to the back. Mahal with a knee to the midsection and then he hits a butterfly suplex and then he kicks Gabriel in the ribs. Mahal drops Gabriel on the top rope and then he chokes Gabriel. Mahal with an Irish whip and he connects with a shoulder into the corner.
Ted DiBiase’s music plays and he comes to the ring with a bag of presents while Mahal Irish whips Gabriel. Mahal is about to put Gabriel in a camel clutch but he releases the hold to argue with DiBiase. Gabriel with a back heel kick and an STO. Gabriel goes up top for the 450 splash and he hits it and gets the three count.
Winner: Justin Gabriel
Mick is in the party room learning the Siva Tau with the Usos. Roddy Piper made it to Charlotte and he has a wish list for Mick and Mick walks away. Maxine and Hornswoggle are also there and so is Dusty Rhodes. Dusty turns around and it is HIS THUN . . . the other one and he snarls at his dad before Dusty walks away. Roddy talks to Trent Barreta about how to spike a drink. David Otunga stops by with his travel mug of boredom.
David has a message for everyone from John Laurinaitis that they can only play public domain Christmas music.
Mick says that Otunga is Smackdown talent tonight and he can put Otunga in the Miracle on 34th Street Fight. Mick tells David that he will be facing Randy Orton.
We are back and it is time to take a look at the issues between Booker T and Cody Rhodes and how they started two weeks ago with the water toss heard round the world.
Matt Striker is in the interview area and he asks Booker if he knows why Cody Rhodes has a problem with him. Cody interrupts Booker and attacks him with the Intercontinental Championship Title and Booker holds his elbow.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Kofi Kingston versus Tyson Kidd
Kidd with a waist lock but Kofi with a standing switch. Kidd with a key lock and Kofi uses the ropes to reverse it and he gets a rollup for a near fall. Kofi goes for a monkey flip but Tyson pushes Kofi off and Kidd with a drop kick for a near fall. Tyson with a running back elbow for a near fall.
Tyson with a Dragon Sleeper but Kofi escapes. Tyson with a front face lock and then each man hits a clothesline and they are both down. Kofi with punches and a clothesline and chops followed by a drop kick and Superman punch.
Kofi with the Boom Drop followed by a set up for Trouble in Paradise but Kidd goes to the floor. Kofi avoids a clothesline on the floor and hits a Yakuza kick. Kofi laughs at Michael Cole’s attire and Cole gets in Kofi’s face. Kidd kicks Kofi and then Kofi with an Irish whip into the apron. Kofi puts on the reindeer head and goes up top and hits the cross body for the three count.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
We go back to the party and Kaitlyn tells Hornswoggle that he should ask Santa to be a little bit taller for Christmas so he could put ornaments on the top of the tree. Sheamus asks Teddy what the rules of the battle royal are tonight. Teddy says that he doesn’t know because it is Mick’s idea.
The Sin Cara lighting goes on and the saxophones play. Aksana talks about Christmas in Lithuania. She asks Teddy what mistletoe is. Teddy tells Aksana to do what comes natural. Aksana eats the mistletoe and Aksana says that it tickles her tonsils.
Randy Orton walks in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with footage from last night when Wade Barrett assisted Dolph Ziggler against Randy Orton last night.
Match Number Four: Randy Orton versus David Otunga without his travel mug in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight Match
They lock up and Orton with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Otunga with a kick but Orton with a kick of his own and then he clotheslines Otunga over the top rope to the floor. Orton goes to the floor and Otunga with a kick and he tries to send Orton into the apron but Orton blocks it. Orton sends Otunga into a tree and Otunga spears the tree. Orton sends Otunga into a second tree. Otunga sends Orton into the apron a few times and then he connects with a forearm. Orton with a punch and then he sends Otunga into the announce table.
Orton takes some cookies and tastes one and then he hits Otunga with the cookie sheet. Orton puts a wreath over Otunga’s head and then he sends David into the ring steps. Otunga Irish whips Orton into the ring steps and then Otunga with a suplex on the floor. Otunga looks under the ring and he has found the Badd Blaster, or is it a candy Singapore Cane? Orton stops Otunga from using it and he punches Otunga.
Orton hits Otunga with the stick and then he throws a present at Otunga to stop him on the ramp. Orton points to the big tree on the stage and Orton sends Otunga into the scenery. Orton punches Otunga down the ramp. Orton puts Otunga on the apron and hits the IEDDT to the floor.
From out of nowhere, Wade Barrett attacks Orotn from behind and hits a big boot to send Orton into the ringside barrier. Barrett rolls Orton into the ring. Barrett sends Otunga into the ring and Otunga can only get a two count.
Barrett heads to the back while Otunga kicks Orton and chokes him in the corner. Otunga with punches and kicks. Otunga with shoulders in the corner. Orton with a kick and then he hits two clotheslines. He avoids a clothesline from Otunga and hits the power slam. Orton sets for the RKO because he already did the IEDDT. Orton with an RKO for the three count.
Winner: Randy Orton
Mark Henry is getting his ankle taped and Teddy Long wants to know why Mark isn’t in the Christmas Spirit. Mark blames Teddy for having to defend his title. Mark blames Show for being in the walking boot. He will take care of Show at TLC. Mark says that he is in the giving spirit and he is going to give Daniel Bryan the beating of his life. He says that Bryan’s dream will be the Nightmare Before Christmas. Mark tells Teddy that he should be leaving the room.
We see footage from Friday night when Daniel Bryan tried to take advantage of Mark Henry being knocked out.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Five: All I Want for Christmas Battle Royal
Hornswoggle goes under the ring before the bell rings and everyone punches and kicks each other. Sheamus eliminates Darren Young and Jey Uso is eliminated. Percy Watson and Titus O’Neil work over Curt Hawkins while JTG is eliminated. Jinder with a kick to Watson. Reks pushes Titus and kicks him. Ted and Gabriel try to kick Hawkins to the floor. Percy with a kick to Yoshi but he is able to get away. Jackson biels Hawkins over the top rope to the floor.
Jackson and Sheamus stare each other down and they exchange punches in the middle of the battle royal. Sheamus with forearms to Jackson’s back and then he tries to slam Jackson but Jackson with a clothesline and he charges at Sheamus but Sheamus drops down and Jackson gets eliminated. Johnny Curtis is eliminated and so is Jimmy Uso. Kofi Kingston is eliminated while Yoshi Tatsu kicks Tyson Kidd. Yoshi is eliminated and Ted tries to eliminate Tyson but Tyson skins the cat and he eliminates Ted with a head scissors. Hornswoggle emerges from under the ring to eliminate Tyson. Hornswoggle goes back into hiding and we go to commercial.
We are back and we are down to Hunico, Titus O’Neil, Justin Gabriel, Jinder Mahal, Sheamus, Heath Slater, Tyler Reks, and Hornswoggle.
Mahal eliminates Gabriel after he tries for a springboard move and Mahal with a shoulder. Titus sends Hunico into the corner and then he hits Clash of the Titus on Reks but then he barks and gets eliminated by Sheamus. Slater and Mahal work over Sheamus. Sheamus with double sledges to everyone. Reks hits Sheamus from behind and Sheamus with a double leg take down and Reks goes under the ropes to the floor.
Everyone fights on the floor as Hunico, Slater, Reks, and Mahal attack Sheamus. They send Sheamus into the ringside barrier. Everyone not of Irish descent return to the ring and Mahal tells everyone that Hornswoggle is under the ring. They go under the ring to look for Hornswoggle. Mahal picks up Hornswoggle and brings him into the ring.
Hornswoggle realizes that he is probably screwed but he tries to get out of the ring. Slater and Hunico send Hornswoggle to the mat. They debate over how to eliminate Hornswoggle. Sheamus returns to the ring and he cleans house. Reks, Hunico, and Mahal are eliminated. Sheamus sets for the Brogue kick and he eliminates Slater.
We are down to the final two and it is Hornswoggle and Sheamus. Hornswoggle wants a piece of Sheamus and Sheamus tells Hornswoggle to eliminate himself. Hornswoggle tells Sheamus to eliminate himself. Hornswoggle kicks Sheamus in the shins. Sheamus grabs Hornswoggle by the throat and he tries to eliminate Hornswoggle but the little guy holds on to the ropes. Sheamus goes over the top rope to the apron and he tells Hornswoggle to get down.
Hornswoggle wants a hug from Sheamus and he pushes Sheamus to the floor to win the match.
Winner: Hornswoggle
After the match, Sheamus returns to the ring and Hornswoggle thinks that Sheamus is going to destroy him. Sheamus puts Hornswoggle on his shoulder and then he leaves the ring.
We go to a commercial for Neverland, coming to SyFy.
We take a look back at the Fatal Four Way from last week.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the party is still ongoing and the Bellas are making Ricardo get them drinks. Roddy and Dusty are talking about John Cena. Santa shows up and Piper acts like a six year old. Hornswoggle tells Santa his wish. Sheamus stops by and he says that Hornswoggle wants the ability to talk. Santa tells Hornswoggle he always had the power to talk . . . instead he tells Hornswoggle that he needs to hug. Hornswoggle starts rattling off things and he calls Vickie ‘grandma’. She storms off while Hornswoggle is talking again. Mick Foley enters the room and people look to Santa’s chair. Mick wants to know what he missed.
Daniel Bryan is getting ready in the back and AJ stops by to wish him luck and she gives him a good luck kiss.
Matt asks Daniel for his thoughts. He mentions that he pinned the World Champion and it felt great to hold the title belt. Daniel says that he knows that Mark Henry is not 100% and he says that everyone eventually taps. Daniel says that his dream becomes a reality tonight.
Daniel walks in the back as the Official Cage Lowering Music plays.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Six: Daniel Bryan versus Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Steel Cage Match
Bryan tries to climb the cage and Henry pulls him down. Bryan tries to climb the cage one more time and Henry stops him a second time. Bryan avoids Henry in the corner and then he kicks Henry in the leg but Henry pushes Bryan to the mat. Bryan with more kicks to the leg but Henry sends Bryan into the cage. Henry with a splash to Bryan against the cage and we go to commercial.
We are back and Henry continues to use the cage as a weapon and he punches Bryan and wishes him a Merry Christmas. We see footage from the commercial break when Henry sent Bryan face first into the cage. Henry works on the neck and Bryan kicks Henry.
Henry with a shoulder tackle and he wishes Bryan a Happy New Year. Henry wants the door opened and Bryan with a running drop kick to the back to stop the champion. Henry pushes Bryan away and then he hits a clothesline that flips Bryan. Henry covers Bryan and gets a near fall.
Henry wants the door opened again but Bryan grabs Henry by the ankle. Bryan works on the injured leg and Bryan with boots to Henry’s leg. Bryan lands on the leg even though Henry got it off the ropes. Bryan tries to climb the cage again but Henry hits the ropes and Bryan is crotched. Henry with a running clothesline that sends Bryan back to the mat.
Bryan grabs the ankle again but Henry kicks him off. The cage is closed again and Henry with another clothesline. Henry continues to show the damage that has been done to his leg. Henry tries to get Bryan up for a slam but Bryan stops him and he tries for the LeBell Lock and he gets it applied.
Henry is about to tap out but Henry is able to get out of the hold and he gets a near fall. Bryan with an ankle lock to Henry and he pulls him into the center of the cage. Henry rolls over and kicks Bryan into the turnbuckles.
Bryan climbs the cage but Henry pulls him off the cage. Henry climbs the cage and Bryan stops him and Bryan goes over Henry. Henry grabs Bryan by the arm to keep him from getting to the floor. Bryan tries for a rana from the turnbuckles but Henry holds on. Bryan escapes and he gets to the top of the cage but Henry pulls him back.
Henry with a World’s Strongest Slam from the top and he hits it and gets the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
Henry celebrates his victory as we go to credits.
2012 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Mike Johnson filed the following TV report:
TNA Impact Wrestling opened with clips from last week's apparent reveal that something romantic was going on between Brooke Hogan and Bully Ray, Wes Brisco facing the Gutcheck Judges and Aces & Eights taking out Eric Young on Thanksgiving night.
Hulk Hogan came to the ring. He said there is no doubt that as the TNA General Manager, he runs the show so he was demanding answers from Bully Ray. Ray came down. Hogan demanded to know what was going on. Ray said that Hogan doesn't trust him, but he wants to know what was going on. He said Hogan didn't trust him when he was Sting's partner and he didn't trust Ray when he was here every week for TNA but now he wants answers.
Hogan demanded Ray to cut the crap and tell him what was going on. Ray asked him if he really wanted answers over who the number one man is in his daughter's life. Brooke Hogan came to the ring and got in between them. Hogan asked her what the hell was going on. She said she isn't 18 anymore and asked why he is doing. She said it wasn't what he thinks.
Hogan said that as long as he is alive, he doesn't want to see her with another wrestler, especially him. Austin Aries appeared on the screen and said that all the Hogan drama was out for the world to see. He was on the desk in Hogan's office, standing and asked when Hogan was going to stop messing around in the ring and work as the General Manager of TNA. He said there were four wrestlers waiting to find out who was going to get their shot at the X-Division title tonight.
Kenny King, Kid Kash and Zema Ion were in the office with him waiting and Kash asked Aries where Hogan was. Aries said he was standing there in the ring instead of taking care of business. Aries said he was going to lay on the desk and wait. He then said it was uncomfortable and asked Brooke how she does it. Brooke was beside herself and Hogan stormed off.
They showed Mickie James warming up as we went to commercial.
Gail Kim vs. Mickie James
Kim controlled James early and worked her over in the corner. She nailed several kicks and hit a nice leaping splash against the turnbuckles. Kim worked her over and scissored James on mat, trying to force a submission. Kim covered her for a two count.
James kicked Kim off and nailed her with a flapjack. James went to the rop for the Thesz Press but Kim evaded her and nailed a big dropkick into the corner. Kim covered her and used the ropes but the referee stopped her.
James nailed Kim in the ribs and nailed the Chick Kick. James nailed a series of dropkicks and played to the crowd. Kim grabbed her by the hair but James nailed her with a neckbreaker for a two count. She went for a DDT but Kim shoved her against the turnbuckles. Kim responded by battling back and nailing a tornado DDT.
Your winner, Mickie James!
Real good back and forth match.
Backstage, James Storm was doing an interview. He said that he has to live with his choices but when someone brings his daughter into it, that's what pisses him off. AJ Styles cut in and said that isn't something to be bitter about, unlike someone who can't get a shot at the title for a year. Storm told him to stop worrying about the past and get himself back on track and he can start tonight with their tag match. Styles walked off, sort of blowing off Storm.
Backstage, Hulk Hogan stormed into his office, where the X-Division challengers were waiting. Aries told him to calm down because he's the GM. Hogan said he's also Hulk Hogan the father. He told Aries to sit down. Hogan began asking Kenny King why he should show him any respect since he hasn't done a thing in the business yet (OUCH) when King is laughing at Aries' jokes. King said that it was a funny joke, but he wasn't meaning any disrespect. He said that since he walked into TNA, he was making waves and pointed out his Destination X performance. Hogan turned to Ion and asked him to plead his case. Ion said he's the former X champion and is the natural choice. Kash stood up and said he started the division and is a two time champion. Aries said that means he lost the belt three times. UH, How? Hogan booted Kenny King from competition. Long flight from Las Vegas for that cameo! Hogan threw the rest of them out. Aries said he was Hogan's guy as he left and commented, "Aries knows best." That was funny!
Bobby Roode came out to cut a promo and said that last week, he came out and made a statement - and that statement was that he would be the new champion at Final Resolution. They played clips of the attack on Jeff Hardy last week. Roode said that Hardy was called out last week by a nobody, a Gutcheck rookie. Roode said that Hardy was close to losing to a rookie but Roode took him out with one move. He called Hardy a paper champion and said he would prove it at Final Resolution. He said that if you want to make a name for yourself, you don't call out Hardy but the most dominant champion in TNA history.
Christian York, who Roode was referring to, came out and hit the ring. Roode told him to calm down and said he would give him some advice. Roode said it was his time and no one interrupts him. He told York to get out of his ring. York slapped him in the face. Roode ran off. York said that since Roode wanted someone to call him out, York is calling him out. Roode lost it at ringside.
Bobby Roode vs. Christian York
York controlled Roode early. They battled to the floor, where York reversed a whip into the stairs. Back in the ring, Roode cut him off and smothered him in the corner with his boot.
Roode whipped York into the corner but was caught with an elbow. Roode cut him off with a quick clothesline. Roode nailed a snap suplex and went to the top. Roode came off the turnbuckles but was kicked in the face. Roode did the Flair flop.
York unloaded with a series of elbows and a clothesline on Roode. He flapjacked Roode and went to the top. Roode cut him off but was nailed and went down. York nailed a double stomp and hit a cannonball in the corner for a two count.
York went for the Moodswing but Roode cut him off. York small packaged him for a two count. Roode tried to leave the ring but York pulled him back in. Roode nailed him and hit the Northern lariat. Roode locked in the crossface and got the submission.
Your winner, Bobby Roode!
Another good match. York looked great and had he gone over, it may have made him a player. He looked that good.
Roode grabbed a chair and teased going after York with it, but Jeff Hardy hit the ring and backed him off. So, the focus is on Roode vs. Hardy for the PPV.
They showed highlights of Aces & Eights destroying Eric Young. We will hear from ODB later tonight.
We go to Aces & Eights. They were talking and said Doc would face Kurt Angle. Devon cut a promo saying if he gets a shot at the TNA TV title he never lost, he gives their word no one would get hurt tonight.
We came back from commercial to see clips of Wes Brisco in the Gutcheck from last week. The Judges discussed Brisco. Bruce Prichard said he made a lot of mistakes in the ring. They talked about his heritage. Taz pointed out that Kurt Angle put his stamp of approval on Wes. Prichard said that Angle isn't making the call.
All that must have been taped last week, because we went live backstage to Prichard and no one has seen Al Snow all day. D-Lo Brown said he's been calling and looking for him, but there's no response. Prichard said it isn't like Snow to be so late. Angle showed up and said he wanted to talk to Prichard about Brisco, saying he needs a TNA contract and Bruce knows his father and Uncle. Prichard said that no one knows their family better than he but they need to find out where Snow is. Angle left, offering to look for him.
Kazarian cut a promo and said he was sorry about AJ's luck. He said in ten days, he is going to hear the words that will haunt him for the rest of his miserable, redneck life...and announced Daniels as the winner "forever."
Daniels and Kazarian vs. AJ Styles and James Storm
Styles and Kazarian started and locked up. Kazarian went for a go behind but Styles backed him into the corner. They grappled on the mat, where Kazarian locked in a front facelock. Styles leapfrogged Kazarian but missed a dropkick.
Storm tagged in and tagged Kazarian with some offense before hitting a neckbreaker. Daniels tagged in but was hit with a big back bodydrop. Styles tagged in and they sent Daniels into the ropes but Styles didn't go for an elbow at the same time as Storm to show they weren't on the same page. That allowed Daniels and Kazarian to overwhelm Styles and nail some double team maneuvers.
Storm tagged in and nailed a series of big punches on their opponents, then drilled Kazarian with an enziguiri. Storm went for the Backstabber but Daniels saved his partner and Storm crashed to the mat. Kazarian nailed a springboard into a legdrop. Daniel drilled Storm with a headbutt. Daniels and Kazarian are now known as Bad Influence.
Styles ended up arguing with the referee, allowing Daniels and Kazarian to double team Storm. Influence danced Gangnam Style. Taz said that thing sucks. Storm made the hot tag after avoiding them. Styles went nuts with offense and hit a springboard splash but missed a dive to the outside on Kazarian.
Daniels and Kazarian worked over Styles on the floor. Kazarian knocked Storm off the apron, then hit a powerbomb, neckbreaker combination on Styles for a two. Styles fought back as Storm dragged Kazarian out of the ring and whipped him into the guard rail.
Daniels set up for Angel's Wings on Styles but Storm drilled him with the Last Call superkick and pinned Daniels. Styles was upset Storm saved him and pinned Daniels, so he just walked out, looking heartbroken.
Your winners, James Storm and AJ Styles!
Another good match with a lot of good wrestling and a good story about the upset and lost Styles trying to rebound and failing after losing his chance at the TNA title for a year.
We went backstage to the X-Division challengers. Kid Kash said he's fought RVD all over the world. He said he's beaten Rob and Rob has beaten him, so he deserves one last shot, if that's what it is. Ion was kissing up to Hogan in an arrogant way. Aries mocked them both and said that if Hogan needs a stick to stir things up, he should pick the best stick. Hogan picked Aries, saying he to see RVD kick Aries' ass. Hogan was pissed off and a lot more genuinely intense than usual, as opposed to his frenetic on screen character. Kash said he was tired of this. Hogan told him that his day is coming.
Backstage, Samoa Joe responded to Devon's challenge. He said Devon wasn't beaten for the belt but he abandoned it. He said Devon couldn't hack it, so Joe took over. He told Devon to come get the belt and next week, he will get beaten.
Douglas Williams vs. Matt Morgan (with Joey Ryan)
Ryan gave Morgan a big introduction. Morgan is now wearing what was claimed to be Hogan's old cape from when Hogan was a heel managed by Freddie Blassie in the WWWF.
Morgan killed Williams with a clothesline and then a big elbow in the corner. Morgan showed a lot of angry fire, stalking Williams. He used his boot to choke Williams in the corner. He caught Williams with a big sideslam.
Williams kicked off several charges in the corner but was grabbed and nailed with a chokelam. Morgan set up for the Carbon Footprint for the win.
Your winner, Matt Morgan!
An effective old school squash to showcase Morgan.
Backstage, D-Lo Brown and Bruce Prichard were talking. There was still no sign of Al Snow Brown said he watched the match and offered to judge if they needed him too. Prichard said that might not be a bad idea. He noted he was going to call Snow's wife Cyndi (who some of you may remember as the former WWE Hardcore champion the Hardcore Ho). I this the start of an angle where Brisco, a covert Aces & Eights member, gets voted in thanks to Brown, who is on their side?
Announced for next week:
*TNA champion Jeff Hardy & James Storm & AJ Styles vs. Bobby Roode & Kazarian & Daniels.
*TNA TV champ Samoa Joe vs. Devon.
*Doc vs. Kurt Angle.
It was time for Wes Brisco to be judged. Bruce Prichard noted that Al Snow did not show up and no one, including his family, have heard from him. He explained that D'Lo would be sitting in for Snow.
Prichard said that if he was judging Brisco based on last week, he wouldn't make the decision he is going to make, because it wasn't a good match. But, he believes in Brisco and gives him a yes. Taz said that he respects Brisco but the answer was no.
They gave Brisco the chance to speak. He said that all he's ever wanted to do was being in the ring. He said he was doing it for his fans and his family, especially his late uncle Jack (Brisco, the former NWA champion).
It came down to Brown's decision. The crowd chanted, "Yes." Brown thanked the others for letting him stand in for Snow. He said that Brisco laid out some powerful words and he's known Brisco' family for a long time. The match last week left him conflicted and he doesn't know if Brisco is ready to be on the roster. He pointed out that he has Kurt Angle and Bruce Prichard sticking up for him and that's good enough for him. He says Yes.
Brisco dropped to his knees as if he was praying and celebrated. Kurt Angle and Garett Bischoff embraced him. They said that Brisco's father Gerald must be watching proudly.
Backstage, Hogan was asked why he made the double elimination. He said he wasn't himself today. Bully Ray grabbed him and said he wanted to ask Hogan a question. He asked if Austin Aries offend him, his daughter and Bully Ray, He said yes, yes, and yes. He asked why Hogan didn't come to him if they wanted his head kicked in. He said that maybe for the first time, he's confusing business and personal. Hogan accused Bully of being the one doing that and stormed off.
They plugged that Jeff Hardy would be on Inkmaster on Tuesday.
Backstage, ODB said that Eric Young is in the hospital with a shattered ankle. She was too upset to talk more and walked off.
They plugged the Final Resolution PPV card.
TNA X-Division champion Rob Van Dam vs. Austin Aries
They noted it was their first ever meeting. Jeremy Borash did the big time ring introductions.
They went back and forth. RVD went for the Rolling Thunder but Aries rolled out of the ring., RVD dropkicked him into the guard rail and hit a dive to the outside as they went to commercial.
When we returned from commercial, Aries backdropped RVD over the top to the apron. Aries nailed a dropkick, sending RVD to the floor. RVD set him up on the rail and went for the corkscrew legdrop but Aries moved and RVD's foot was caught on the rail. Aries nailed him with a neckbreaker on the rail.
Aries brought RVD back into the ring for a two count. Aries rolled him up again for another two count. Aries dove down with a nice forearm smash and covered RVD for another two count.
RVD fired back with several kicks but Aries ducked one and nailed a DDT for a two count. Aries mocked RVD by nailing him with a variation of the Rolling Thunder for a two count. He then tried to mock the Five Star Frog Splash off the top but Van Dam moved.
RVD came back with a series of shoulderblocks and a spinning kick in the corner. RVD nailed Rolling Thunder for a two count. RVD nailed the Hollywood Star Press but Aries placed his foot on the ropes. Aries ducked the windmill kick and nailed a roaring forearm. He mocked RVD again and ended up nailed.
RVD went to the top for the Five Star Frog Splash but Aries shoved him off the top to the rail, Aries dragged him in and took the mic. He began ripping Van Dam and said he was laying there all sweaty with his hair a mess, kind of like Brooke Hogan. He said he was going to win the X-Division title. Bully Ray hit the ring and tried to attack Aries. DQ city.
Aries escaped and said Ray cost him the match, calling him a son of a bitch. He tried to back off but Hulk Hogan came out. Aries was trapped between the two but Hogan just stared at Ray. Ray walked towards Hogan and said, "You still don't trust me, do you? You still don't trust me? What's it going to take?"
And..........we are off the air.
Thumbs up show all the way. Good storytelling. Lots of good wrestling up and down the show with clean finishes and the main event was solid with the finish meant to build the issues between Hogan, Ray and Aries, so you can give them a pass on the DQ. Hulk Hogan and Brooke Hogan were way better tonight than any other time I can remember them on Impact. You can see they are slowly building lots of possible/eventual reveals and the pacing was great, far superior to Raw of late. If you haven't been watching Impact, now is a great time to start.
2013 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
We are in Uncasville, Connecticut and your announcers are Michael ‘Black Friday’ Cole and John ‘We make deals on Friday Nights’ Layfield.
Renee Young is in the ring and she brings out the WWE Champion Randy Orton.
Renee asks Randy about the controversy when Big Show knocked him out during Survivor Series, but by some measure of luck, The Authority came out and that allowed Orton to recover and win the match on Sunday.
Randy says that he begs to differ with Renee on a number of issues. Randy says that he was not knocked out, he has an iron jaw. Randy says that he was playing possum and that is strategy. He did not need Hunter and Stephanie for help. It may have tainted his victory.
Renee asks Randy about John Cena’s comments on Monday about the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match at TLC. She asks Randy how he felt after that. Did he feel betrayed, abandoned, or challenged? Did he feel threatened?
Randy does not say anything and he leaves the ring.
We go to the back with the Vickie Guerrero Annual Excuse Me Thanksgiving Party. She wants to make sure that everyone is having a fun time. This will not break down into mayhem. They will have competition. There will be a food eating contest. The participants are Titus O’Neil and Great Khali.
While the eating continues in the back, Mark Henry makes his way to the ring with Big E Langston and we go to commercial.
Match Number One: Curtis Axel (with Ryback) versus Mark Henry (with Big E Langston)
Axel with a kick and punch but Henry backs Axel into the corner and connects with a shoulder. Henry with an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Axel tries to take advantage of Langston talking to Henry on the apron but he runs into an elbow from Henry. Ryback pulls Langston off the apron and Langston goes after Ryback.
The referee calms down Langston . Axel with a kick to the knee and then he hits a DDT for a near fall. Henry throws Axel to the floor and Axel returns and goes after the back of the leg. Axel with elbow drops to the leg and then he rubs his forearm across Henry’s face. Axel with a reverse chin lock.
Henry with a head butt and big boot. Henry with head butts and then he drops to the knees for some JYD head butts and Axel rolls to the floor. Henry goes after Axel and Axel tries to get away but he turns around and sees Langston. Ryback tries to attack Langston from behind but Langston takes care of Ryback.
Henry and Axel return to the ring and Henry with a body block and then he hits the World’s Strongest Slam for the three count.
Winner: Mark Henry
We are in the back and R Truth is talking to Xavier Woods about his entrance with Cameron and Naomi. Brodus Clay enters the locker room and Clay is not smiling. Clay says that he gave Woods permission to borrow his music and the girls, but not steal them. Woods and Truth say that they are having fun.
Clay says that we don’t need rookies around his feeding off the main event players like him.
Truth tries to calm Clay down but Clay tells Woods to keep his mouth shut and speak only when spoken to.
Clay pushes Woods and Tensai enters as Truth and Tensai separate them.
We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time to go to the food eating contest and Hornswoggle is helping Khali while Darren helps Titus.
AJ Lee and Tamina Snuka enter and Vickie says that she does not want this to be a food fight, but if they do, it will be the two of them against everyone. AJ and Tamina leave.
Khali has passed out and Titus is declared the winner.
Vickie tells Titus that he has won the opportunity to face Antonio Cesaro tonight.
Vickie cackles while everyone else laughs at Titus.
Match Number Two: Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal, and Drew McIntyre (as Plymouth Rockers) versus Fernando, Diego, and El Torito
Slater wants to start off with Torito and it is on. Torito avoids Slater in the corner. Mahal and McIntyre come from behind but Diego and Fernando with a double drop kick. Torito with a tope con hilo onto Slater while Fernando and Diego hit suicide dives onto Mahal and McIntyre. Fernando tags in and Slater drops him on the top rope.
Mahal tags in and kicks Fernando. Drew tags in and they drop Fernando on the top rope. Drew with forearms to the back and then he sends Fernando to the mat. Drew punches Diego off the apron but Fernando with a kick and DDT to Drew.
Torito tags in and hits a head scissors from the top. Torito knocks Mahal and Slater off the turnbuckles. Torito with a head scissors that sends Drew into the ropes. Torito with a satellite arm drag and he tags in Diego who connects with a forearm. Fernando tags in and they hit the double Samoan drop for the three count.
Winners: Diego, Fernando, and El Torito
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Brodus Clay and Tensai (with Cameron and Naomi) versus Xavier Woods and R Truth
Truth and Tensai start things off and they shake hands. They lock up and Tensai backs Truth into the corner and he gives a clean break. Truth with a side head lock but Tensai sends him to the mat and both men start dancing.
Truth with a punch to Tensai but Tensai with a shoulder tackle. Tensai with a splash into the corner and Truth is down. Tensai runs into a boot from Truth and Truth with a split followed by a leg lariat. Woods tags in and he goes after Clay before focusing on Tensai.
Woods with punches and then he goes for a drop kick to the knees and a kick to the head. Woods with another boot to the head but Tensai grabs Woods by the throat. Woods tries for a kick but Tensai blocks it. Woods with an enzuigiri and Clay makes the blind tag. Clay with a forearm to Woods’ back before he enters the ring.
Clay knocks Truth off the apron and Clay with a splash in the corner and then he goes to the turnbuckles for a splash and he gets the three count.
Winners: Tensai and Brodus Clay
After the match, Clay wants to dance but Cameron, Naomi, and Tensai are not really in the dancing mood.
Renee Young is in the interview area with CM Punk. Renee asks Punk about what happened to him and Daniel Bryan on Raw.
Punk says he does not know where to start. He has not heard from Daniel Bryan since he was carted off. He can talk about his bruised ribs due to the spear from Roman Reigns. He can talk about why would the Shield attack him in the first place. Is it because they want to be close to the best in the world? Do they not like his tattoos?
Maybe they were acting out orders from someone with ‘Authority’. When he gets to the bottom of this, it will be The Shield who needs protection.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Bray Wyatt says that when his visions come to him when he dreams, he sees mannequins posing as people. They are living in a world where they are intoxicated with their own vanity. We all symmetry in beauty. He has felt the sharp teeth of society. He knows what it feels like to be thrown in a groveling pit with people laughing, but look at him down. He is getting stronger by the day. He tells ‘daddy’ that he got his wings back.
They could never know him like he does. Daniel Bryan will be safe with them. He will enter the lion’s den as a man, but he will emerge as a monster.
Match Number Four: Titus O’Neil (with Darren Young) versus Antonio Cesaro (with Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter)
Titus is a little slower than usual but he puts Cesaro in a side head lock. Titus with a shoulder tackle and Titus is not moving too well. Titus with another side head lock. Cesaro with a drop kick followed by a European uppercut and head butt. Cesaro with a punch and Irish whip but Titus floats over and he connects with a boot.
Titus barks but he did not get the full dog effect going. Cesaro with punches to the midsection and Darren gives Titus some words of encouragement. Cesaro with a dead lift side salto and then he signals for the Giant Swing. Cesaro gets Titus up for the Giant Swing and Young hits Cesaro and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Antonio Cesaro (by disqualification)
After the match, Titus picks up John’s hat and he decides to put some of his dinner into the hat. Titus continues to make a deposit into the hat. Titus puts the hat on Michael Cole. Titus continues to move around ringside while Cole tries to get rid of the smell.
Cole tries to get to the back and Layfield stops him. Titus goes to the back but he sees Zeb and Titus decides to spread some Thanksgiving cheer on Zeb.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Dean Ambrose has joined John and Michael at the announce table.
Match Number Five: Cody Rhodes and Goldust versus Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns for the Tag Team Titles
Cody and Rollins start things off and Rhodes with a side head lock and he holds on. Cody with a side head lock take down. Rollins pulls the hair but Rhodes holds on to the side ehad lock. Rollins with a waist lock but Cody with a single leg take down. Rollins has a kick blocked and Cody tries for a hip toss and Rollins blocks it. Rollins tries for a hip toss and Cody blocks it. Cody with a slam to Rollins.
Goldust tags in and he goes to the turnbuckles with a punch to the chest. Goldust with a punch and snap mare followed by a forearm to the head for a near fall. Cody tags in and he goes upt op for an elbow to the arm. Cody with a gourdbuster for a near fall. Goldust tags in and they mise a double clothesline. Reigns is tagged in.
Goldust gasps in Reigns face and then he blocks a punch from Roman. Goldust with punches but Reigns with a knee and forearm to the back. Reigns with a running shoulder tackle and Goldust goes to the floor. Cody checks on Goldust and Goldust returns to the ring.
Reigns with a kick and uppercut. Reigns with a head butt and Goldust with a drop kick. Rollins tries to interfere but Cody with a drop kick. Cody and Goldust clothesline Reigns over the top rope to the floor and then they do the same to Rollins.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Cody with an arm bar on Rollins. Rhodes with a back elbow to Rollins followed by an elbow to the top of the head. Rollins with an Irish whip and Rhodes catches Rollins and he tries for the Alabama Slam but Rollins counters with a sunset flip for a near fall. Rollins with an enzuigiri and both men are down.
Seth gets a near fall. Reigns tags in and he kicks Cody. Reigns with a hard Irish whip to the sternum and Reigns gets a near fall. Reigns sends Cody into the turnbuckles and then he tags in Rollins who goes up top for a punch. Rollins works on Cody’s face in the ropes. Rhodes with an elbow to Reigns on the apron followed by one to Rollins. Rollins with kicks to Rhodes and then he chokes him.
Reigns tags in and he goes to the floor after Cody and he connects with a punch off the apron. Reigns returns Rhodes into the ring for a front face lock. Cody with punches but Reigns with an elbow.
Reigns with a near fall. Rollins tags in and he punches Cody in the ribs. Rollins with forearms across the chest. Rollins with kicks in the corner and when the referee deals with Rollins, Cody with elbows to Reigns and then he connects with an elbow to Rollins. Cody back drops Rollins over the top rope to the floor. Rollins tags in Reigns and Goldust tags in.
Goldust with a clothesline followed by a drop down uppercut and reverse atomic drop and boot to the head. Goldust punches Reigns in the corner and he takes care of Rollins on the apron as well. Goldust with a cross body for a near fall.
Reigns with an Irish whip but Reigns runs into a power slam for a near fall. Goldust tries to go up top but he sees Reigns move so he punches Reigns. Rollins comes off the turnbuckles to try to interfere but he is met with a reverse atomic drop and then Goldust clotheslines Rollins over the top rope to the floor. Reigns sends Goldust over the top rope to the floor.
We go to commercial.
We are back Rollins chops Goldust while Reigns holds Goldust. Rollins with another chop as he continues to wear down Goldust. Rollins with kicks to Goldust. Rollins chokes Goldust and the referee warns him. Rollins taunts Goldust but Goldust with punches. Rollins with a forearm and then he hits a back senton for a near fall.
Rollins with a reverse chin lock. Goldust with punches and then he holds on to the ropes when Rollins tries for a drop kick. Goldust with a jackknife cover for a near fall. Goldust with a kick and DDT and both men are down. Reigns tags in and he knocks Rhodes off the apron.
Reigns with a clothesline for a near fall but Rhodes breaks up the cover. The referee sends Cody back to the apron and Reigns with punches as he pulls Goldust away from his corner. Reigns gets another near fall. Reigns with a side head lock. Reigns with a forearm to the back of the head and then Rollins tags in.
Goldust with a double back elbow from the turnbuckles and everyone is down. Cody tags in and he hits a springboard drop kick followed by a leaping knee. Rhodes with a float over into a sunset flip for a near fall. Cody with a kick and drop down uppercut. Cody goes up top for the moonsault but Rollins stops him and Rollins has Cody on his shoulders. Cody is able to escape and he sends Rollins into the turnbuckles.
Rollins with a flatline into the turnbuckles. Rollins goes to the turnbuckles but Cody with a punch and he hits the musclebuster and he gets a near fall because Reigns breaks up the cover. Goldust sends Reigns to the floor and Reigns pulls Goldust to the floor and they brawl.
Reigns sends Goldust into the ringside barrier and Reigns helps pick up Rollins. Cody with a double jump cross body onto Reigns and Rollins and everyone is down on the floor. Rhodes rolls Rollins back in and Cody goes up top for the moonsault but Rollins moves and Cody hits the mat. Rollins pulls himself up and he goes for a springboard Black Out but Cody moves and Rhodes hits Cross Rhodes but Ambrose gets up from the announce table and he attacks Rhodes. The referee calls for the bell.
Winners: Goldust and Cody Rhodes (by disqualification)
After the match, Ambrose attacks Rhodes, but CM Punk’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring with a chair. Punk hits Reigns with the chair in the midsection and back. Punk gets in the ring and Ambrose gets to the floor.
Vickie Guerrero Excuse Mes her way to the stage. She says that if Punk wants to get a shot at the Shield and wants to be in action so much, we are going to have a six man tag match.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Six: CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and Goldust versus Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns
The match is joined in progress and Punk with a hard Irish whip to Ambrose and he kicks Ambrose. Punk climbs the turnbuckles and he punches Ambrose. Punk with a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Punk sends Ambrose into the corner and he tags in Goldust. Goldust with a clothesline for a near fall. Rhodes tags in and he punches Ambrose. Rhodes with punches and kicks. Ambrose with punches of his own.
Rhodes with an Irish whip and back body drop followed by a punch to the head. Punk tags in and he goes up top for a punch to Ambrose. Punk with another punch and chop. Punk with an Irish whip but he misses the running knee into the corner.
Rollins tags in and Punk with a drop toe hold followed by a step over toe hold and then he falls back to the mat. Goldust tags in and he drops a knee to the let. Rhodes tags in and he punches Rollins. Cody with more punches and then he sends Rollins through the ropes to the floor. Cody goes to the floor and he Irish whips Rollins into the ringside barrier.
Rollins is sent back into the ring and Cody tags in Goldust. They make a wish and Goldust gets a near fall. Rhodes tags in and he kicks Rollins. Punk tags in and he kicks Rollins and then he connects with a back breaker for a near fall. Punk with a step over toe hold and he turns it into a Muta Lock. Cody tags in and he adds a single leg crab.
Cody with kicks to Rollins. Rollins sends Rhodes into the turnbuckles and Ambrose aggressively kicks Rhodes as we go to commercial.
We are back and Ambrose stomps on Cody’s hand. Ambrose with more kicks. Ambrose with a hard Irish whip and then he stomps on the hand again. Ambrose goes for a belly-to-back suplex and Rhodes lands on his feet. Rhodes with a drop down uppercut. Ambrose charges into the corner but Rhodes with a boot to the face.
Punk tags in and he hits a running double sledge followed by a clothesline and leg lariat. Punk with a running knee into the corner followed by the short arm clothesline. Punk with a swinging neck breaker and he says that it is time for someone to go to sleep.
Punk gets Ambrose on his shoulders and we get the Wyatt Blipvert and the lights go out.
The lights come back on and Punk is alone in the ring while Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan are at ringside.
Ambrose with a back elbow and he pulls Punk into the corner and Reigns tags in and he kicks and punches Punk. Ambrose with kicks to Punk and Rollins tags in and he kicks Punk and drops an elbow to the leg. Rollins with kicks to Punk followed by an elbow drop for a near fall.
Ambrose tags back in and Punk with a kick to Ambrose followed by a neck breaker to Rollins while hitting a DDT on Ambrose at the same time. All three men are down in the ring and Wyatt, Harper, and Rowan pull Goldust and Rhodes off the apron before Punk can make the tag and the referee calls for the bell.
Winners: CM Punk, Goldust, and Cody Rhodes (by disqualification)
While the Wyatt Family attacks Goldust and Rhodes, The Shield go after Punk. Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso make their way to the ring to go after the Wyatts.
Rey Mysterio’s music plays and he makes his way to the ring and he drops down and Reigns goes over the top rope to the floor. Rey with a head scissors or two to Rollins but Rollins with a kick. Rey with another head scissors and Rollins dives into the ropes. Rey sets for the 619 but Ambrose trips him.
The Emergency Excuse Me Alert goes off and Vickie makes her way back out to the stage. She says that this chaos will not happen on her show. It will not happen on Smackdown. The match will now be a 12 man tag match.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Seven: Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan versus Rey Mysterio, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Goldust, Cody Rhodes, and CM Punk
We are back and the match is joined in progress. Jimmy gets a near fall on Ambrose but Ambrose with a punch and he tags in Harper. Harper runs Jimmy into the turnbuckles with a head lock. Harper with punches and then he rakes the face. Harper with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot and Jimmy with a rollup for a near fall. Harper with a back elbow.
Rollins tags in and Bray yells at Harper. Rollins brings Jimmy back into the corner while the referee tried to control things. Wyatt tags in and he kicks Jimmy. Wyatt follows with an elbow drop and he tags in Harper. Harper with a boot to Jimmy. Harper with a Gator Roll into a side head lock. Harper with a European uppercut to Jimmy followed by an Irish whip. Jimmy with an uppercut and he is able to get through Harper’s legs to make the tag to Mysterio.
Rey with a DDT to Harper for a near fall. Rey with a kick to the leg but Rey is pushed into the corner. Rey with a kick but Harper goes for a splash and Rey moves. Rey with a seated splash from the top but Harper with a boot to Rey and Harper gets a near fall. Harper tags in Wyatt while Harper blocks Rey’s access to his corner. Wyatt with a hard Irish whip and a splash in the corner for a near fall.
Rowan makes the tag and he slams Rey. Rowan with a bear hug to Rey and he swings Rey around like a doll. Rey with an elbow to try to escape. Rowan with a side slam for a near fall. Rowan picks up Rey and he puts him on the turnbuckles. Ambrose tags in and Rowan with forearms to Rey. Rey tries to get through Ambrose’s legs but Ambrose grabs the leg and he floats over into a front face lock.
Rey with punches but Ambrose with a knee and he gets a near fall. Rollins tags in and they pick up Rey and Irish whip him. Rey holds on to the ropes and Ambrose goes over the top rope to the floor when Rey ducks down. Rey with an enzuigiri to Rollins and he is down. Rey tags in Punk and Punk with a springboard clothesline to Rowan. Punk with clotheslines to Rowan but Erick stays on his feet. Punk with a kick and round kick that sends Rowan to the floor but Rowan lands on his feet. Punk with a suicide dive and Rowan is down.
Punk sends Rowan back into the ring and Punk with a knee in the corner followed by a second knee. Punk goes for a third and he connects. Punk with a swinging neck breaker on Rowan and Punk goes up top for the elbow drop and he connects but can only get a near fall because Rollins and Ambrose break it up.
Goldust and Cody send Rollins and Ambrose to the floor. Reigns with a spear to GOldust but The Usos with a double super kick to Reigns and Harper. The Usos with stereo planchas onto Rollins and Harper.
Punk says that it is time to go to sleep for Rowan and Punk gets him up but Wyatt with a kick. Wyatt sets for Sister Abigail, but after he kissing Punk on the forehead, Rey connects with a drop kick that sends Wyatt to the mat. Rey with a rana to Rowan and Rowan cannot get out of the ropes. Rey with a 619 and then Punk gets Rowan up again for the Go To Sleep and the three count.
Winners: CM Punk, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Cody Rhodes, Goldust, and Rey Mysterio
We go to credits.
2015 - WWE ran Huntington, West Virginia. Barry Allen (not that one) sent the following results:
Ryback beat Erick Rowan.
Zack Ryder beat Bo Dallas.
Finn Balor beat Baron Corbin, who is from the area. Both got good reactions.
In a Triple Threat match for his Intercontinental Title, Kevin Owens beat Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler. It was a great match.
Kane and The Usos beat Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Braun Strowman.
Charlotte and Becky Lynch beat Sasha Banks and Naomi.
Alberto Del Rio beat Neville to retain the US Title.
Roman Reigns was on his way to victory over Sheamus when Kevin Owens ran in for the DQ. Dean Ambrose made the save and the faces laid out the heels.
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