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February 26th
On this day in history in ....
1920 - Mike Yokel wins the World Middleweight Title for the third time, defeating Waino Ketonen in Boston, Massachusetts.
1926 - Verne Gagne is born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1939 - Jim Londos is awarded the Maryland version of the World Heavyweight Title by the Maryland State Commission. He was also fined $100 for his failure to appear for a scheduled defense against The Golden Terror (Bob Weatherly) on February 14. The Golden Terror was temporarily recognized as Maryland champion.
1942 - Ali Pasha defeats Billy Thom for the Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio.
1944 - Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeats Rollend Kirchmeyer by knockout to win the Florida Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida. Kirchmeyer's head hit the floor knocking him out. Lewis refused the title, however, and it was returned to Kirchmeyer.
1951 - Sky Hi Lee defeats Al Mills to win the Calgary NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title in Edmonton, Alberta.
1952 - Duke Keomuka and Mr. Moto defeat Ray Gunkel and Miguel Guzmán for the NWA Texas Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas.
1957 - Guy and Joe Brunetti defeat Ivan and Karol Kalmikoff for the Minneapolis NWA World Tag Team Title in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1958 - Don and Jackie Fargo defeat Lee Fields and Lester Welch to win the Mid-America NWA World Tag Team Title in Mobile, Alabama, beginning their fourth reign.
1967 - Verne Gagne wins his eighth AWA World Heavyweight Title in St. Paul, Minnesota, ending the fifth reign for Mad Dog Vachon.
1969 - Bob Kelly and Ramon Perez defeat Mitsu and Sugi Sito to win the NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Title in Mobile, Alabama.
1971 - Vivian Vachon defeats Betty Nicoli for the NWA California Women's Title in Los Angeles, California.
1973 - The WWWF held an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The show featured AWA World Champion Verne Gagne, as well as Dory Funk, Sr. and his son Terry. The results:
- Susan Green and Lily Thomas defeated Paula Kaye and Peggy Patterson.
- Tony Garea defeated Mike Conrad.
- Mike Graham defeated Joe Turco.
- Terry Funk defeated Chuck Richards.
- Victor Rivera defeated Dory Funk, Sr.
- Mil Máscaras defeated Buddy Wolfe.
- AWA World Heavyweight Champion Verne Gagne defeated Eddie Graham (subbing for Ray Stevens).
- WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Pedro Morales defeated King Curtis Iaukea.
1973 - The WWWF held an event at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The results were:
- Manuel Soto defeated El Olympico.
- Sonny King, Gorilla Monsoon and Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Chuck O'Connor, Mr. Fuji and Prof. Tanaka in a three-out-of-five falls match.
- Edouard Carpentier defeated Killer Kowalski by disqualification.
- Jack Brisco defeated Bobby Shane.
- Bruno Sammartino defeated Moondog Mayne.
1977 - The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Don Kent) are billed on arrival as the first WWC World Tag Team Champions.
1978 - Dick Murdoch defeats Ted DiBiase for the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title in St. Louis, Missouri.
1979 - Bill Dundee and Robert Gibson defeat Don Carson and Dennis Condrey to win the AWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.
1979 - Bryan St. John and Randy Alls (Randy Rose) win a tournament for the NWA Central States Tag Team Title in Wichita, Kansas. The title had been revived after 18 years of inactivity, during which the Central States versions of the NWA North American and World Tag Team Titles were Central States Wrestling's titles.
1984 - Dos Caras defeats Enrique Vera to win the UWA World Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
1985 - The PYT Express (Norvell Austin and Koko Ware) defeat Jay and Mark Youngblood for the Florida NWA United States Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida.
1987 - Kyoko Aso defeats Megumi Kudo to win the vacant AJW Junior Title in Kawasaki, Japan.
1988 - Terry Taylor defeats Matt Borne for the World Class Texas Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas.
1988 - Masahiro Chono defeats Mike George to win the World Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title in St. Joseph, Missouri. The WWA was a short-lived promotion run by former Central States Wrestling promoter Bob Geigel after he withdrew his NWA membership. The promotion only was open during 1988.
1989 - Angel Azteca defeats Bestia Salvaje for the Mexican National Welterweight Title.
1990 - Jimmy Valiant defeats Jerry Lawler to win the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Lawler's fourth reign.
1993 - Heavy Metal defeats Rey Misterio, Jr. for the Mexican National Welterweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico, beginning his third reign.
1993 - The Ebony Experience (Stevie Ray and Booker T) defeat The Bad Breed (Axl and Ian Rotten) to win the Global Wrestling Federation Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas, beginning their third reign. At the same event, Calvin Knapp defeats Alex Porteau for the GWF Light Heavyweight Title, ending Porteau's second reign.
1994 - Colonel DeBeers defeats Bruiser Brian in Portland, Oregon for the Championship Wrestling USA Television Title, beginning his fourth reign.
1994 - Mike Samson defeats Wayne Rogers for the Southern States Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Morristown, Tennessee, ending Rogers' second reign.
1995 - Bobby Blaze defeats Jerry Lawler to win the SMW Heavyweight Title in Knoxville, Tennessee.
1996 - In its early months, the Monday Night War continued. WCW Monday Nitro narrowly defeated WWF Monday Night RAW, 3.2 to 3.1 in the ratings. RAW featured the official announcement of the Bret Hart-Shawn Michaels WrestleMania XII Iron Man Match. Eric Bischoff revealed RAW's results at the very beginning of Nitro as Big Bubba was heading to the ring for his match with Sting. Bischoff said, "I want to let all you fans know, with remote controls in your hands.. over at the World Whining Federation, here's how it goes down.. DQ, Yokozuna in a handicap match.. Jake "The Snake" Roberts.. you're talking about digging up some bones here.. over Isaac Yankem. Diesel over.. Bob Holly.. is still around. OK, now we got that out of the way, you are where the action is and the action is live."
WWF Monday Night RAW was taped one week earlier, as noted, on February 19, at the Cincinnati Gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio. The results were:
- Jake Roberts defeated Isaac Yankem.
- Diesel defeated Bob Holly.
- Ahmed Johnson defeated Shinobi (Al Snow).
- Yokozuna defeated Owen Hart and The British Bulldog (with Jim Cornette) by disqualification in a handicap match.
WCW Monday Nitro aired live from Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee. The results:
In dark matches:
- The Blue Bloods (Earl Robert Eaton and Lord Steven Regal) defeated Dick Slater in a handicap match.
- Brad Armstrong defeated Disco Inferno.
- WCW World Television Champion Johnny B. Badd defeated Diamond Dallas Page to retain the title.
In televised matches:
- WCW World Tag Team Champion Sting defeated Big Bubba.
- Lex Luger defeated The Renegade.
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) besiegen Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray).
- The Booty Man, Hulk Hogan and WCW World Heavyweight Champion Randy Savage defeated Arn Anderson, Ric Flair and Kevin Sullivan (with Miss Elizabeth and Woman).
1997 - The WWF taped the March 3 edition of Monday Night RAW, as well as matches for the March 8 Shotgun Saturday Night and March 9 Superstars at Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany, featuring the finals of the eight-man WWF European Title tournament. The March 9 episode of Superstars was the last to feature matches before becoming a weekly highlight show, and this episode of Monday Night RAW was the last before the name change to RAW is WAR the following week. The results were:
Shotgun/Superstars:
- Salvatore Sincere defeated Alex Porteau.
- Doug Furnas and Philip LaFon defeated Bob Holly and Aldo Montoya.
- Ahmed Johnson defeated Leif Cassidy.
RAW:
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Bret Hart by disqualification after Hart pushed the referee after he put Helmsley in a Tree of Woe in the corner. After the match, Chyna came into the ring and challenged Hart to fight her, with officials holding her back.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia defeated Vader (with Paul Bearer) by disqualification after Mankind interfered and hit Rocky with Paul Bearer's urn.
- The Sultan defeated Flash Funk by submission with the Camel Clutch.
- WWF Champion Sycho Sid pinned Mankind (with Paul Bearer) after a powerbomb.
- In a tournament final, WWF Tag Team Champion The British Bulldog pinned WWF Tag Team Champion Owen Hart after reversing a victory roll. Bulldog became the first-ever WWF European Champion. The tournament took place over seven German events in as many days, in Aschaffenburg, Chemnitz, Dresden, Cologne, Oberhausen, Hamburg and the RAW taping in Berlin. The other participants were: Flash Funk, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Bret Hart, Rocky Maivia, Mankind and Vader. Owen defeated Funk and his brother Bret, and Bulldog defeated Mankind and Vader on their respective roads to the finals.
1998 - WCW held a live Thunder at the Five Seasons Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The show earned a 3.6 rating on TBS. The results were:
- Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho defeated Dean Malenko and WCW World Television Champion Booker T.
- Fit Finlay pinned Brad Armstrong.
- The British Bulldog pinned Dave Taylor.
- Goldberg pinned Rick Fuller.
- Yuji Nagata pinned La Parka.
- Scott Steiner defeated Marty Jannetty by disqualification.
- Raven defeated Kevin Nash by disqualification in a battle royal. Others in the match included other members from Raven's Flock: Kidman, Riggs, Saturn and Van Hammer.
- WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page defeated Chris Benoit by disqualification.
1999 - Bestia Salvaje and Scorpio, Jr. defeat Negro Casas and El Hijo del Santo in Mexico City, Mexico to win the CMLL World Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.
1999 - Kumiko Maekawa wins her second AJW All Pacific Title in Tokyo, Japan, defeating Yasha Kurenai.
1999 - Lou Diamond defeats Don Montoya for the Jersey All-Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Secaucus, New Jersey. Then, in André the Giant fashion, Diamond then gave the belt to 911, which resulted in it being vacated. At the same event, The Big Unit (Dave Desire and Rick Silver) defeats Trent Acid and Billy Reil to win the JAPW Tag Team Title.
1999 - The Glamour Order of Discipline (Johnny Canuck and Michelle Starr) defeat The New Moondogs (Moondog Chomps and Moondog Manson) to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in New Westminster, British Columbia. This began the Glamour Order's third reign and ended the Moondogs' second. At the same event, Tony Kozina wins his fourth NWA Pacific Northwest Junior Heavyweight Title from Ladies' Choice.
1999 - Jimmy James defeats Cedric of Hollywood to win the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title in North Richland Hills, Texas.
1999 - Johnny Gunn defeats Mr. Showtime for the Warriors of Wrestling Federation Junior Heavyweight Title in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The WOWF became an NWA member in July of that year and was renamed NWA Mid-South.
2000 - ECW held an event at the Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The results:
- Danny Doring and Roadkill defeated The Full-Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Sal E. Graziano).
- Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Mikey Whipwreck.
- Rhino defeated Jazz.
- Super Crazy defeated C.W. Anderson.
- Chris Chetti, Kid Kash and Nova defeated Da Baldies (Angel, DeVito and Vic Grimes).
- Sabu defeated Scott D'Amore.
- ECW World Heavyweight Champion Mike Awesome defeated Rhino to retain the title.
- Tommy Dreamer and Masato Tanaka defeated ECW World Tag Team Champions The Impact Players (Justin Credible and Lance Storm) to win the title. This match aired March 3 on ECW on TNN.
2000 - The East Coast Wrestling Association held the fourth-annual Super 8 Tournament in Newark, Delaware at the Greater Newark Boys and Girls Club. The results were:
- Scoot Andrews defeated Trent Acid in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- Chad Collyer defeated Shark Boy in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- Jet Jaguar defeated Jeff Peterson in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- Christopher Daniels defeated Vic Capri in a Super 8 Tournament first round match.
- ECWA Mid-Atlantic Champion Ty Street defeated Glen Osbourne in a Lumberjack match to retain the title.
- Christopher Daniels defeated Ace Darling (subbing for the injured Jet Jaguar) in a Super 8 Tournament semifinal match.
- Scoot Andrews defeated Chad Collyer in a Super 8 Tournament semifinal match.
- Cheetah Master and ECWA Heavyweight Champion J.J. the Ring Crew Guy defeated ECWA Tag Team Champions The Inferno Kid and J.R. Ryder by disqualification. Inferno and Ryder retained the title.
- Christopher Daniels defeated Scoot Andrews to win the Super 8 Tournament.
2000 - XPW held "My Bloody Valentine: Day Two" at the Vogue Theatre in Los Angeles, California, which featured the first XPW King of the Deathmatch tournament. The results were:
- In a King of the Deathmatch Tournament first round match, Supreme defeated Kid Kaos in a Beds of Barbed Wire and Nails match.
- In a King of the Deathmatch Tournament first round match, The Messiah defeated Johnny Webb in a Thumbtack Barbed Wire match.
- In a King of the Deathmatch Tournament first round match, John Kronus defeated Carlito Montana in a Beds of Lightbulbs Wrapped in Barbed Wire match.
- In a King of the Deathmatch Tournament first round match, Axl Rotten defeated Homeless Jimmy in a Bed of Nails Barbed Wire Bat match.
- Chronic defeated Jay N.
- In a King of the Deathmatch Tournament semifinal match, Supreme defeated The Messiah in a Beds of Nails, Barbed Wire and Thumbtacks match.
- In a King of the Deathmatch Tournament semifinal match, John Kronus defeated Axl Rotten in a Nails and Barbed Wire Bat match.
- Chris Candido defeated XPW World Heavyweight Champion Damien Steele in a Falls Count Anywhere match to win the title, ending Steele's second reign.
- Supreme defeated John Kronus in a No Rope, Barbed Wire, Beds of Everything match to win the King of the Deathmatch Tournament and become the first XPW King of the Deathmatch Champion.
2000 - The New Foundation (The Blue Meanie and Jim Neidhart) win seperate battle royals to become the first Memphis Championship Wrestling Tag Team Champions in Memphis, Tennessee.
2000 - Disco Fury defeats Black Dragon in a tournament final for the NWA Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The title was vacated after then-champion Tony Kozina, who held the title since November 28 when he defeated Buddy Rose, Jr., defeated Vince Kaplack to win the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title on January 14.
2000 - The Luminous Warrior defeats Derek Stone to win the World League Wrestling Heavyweight Title in Iberia, Missouri, beginning his second reign and ending Stone's third.
2001 - The Monday Night War entered its final four weeks. WWF RAW is WAR beat WCW Monday Nitro in the ratings x.x to 2.1.
WCW Monday Nitro was live from the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana and featured the kickoff of the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Title tournament. It's a shame that the title didn't come into play earlier and/or that WWE didn't carry it over, it had real potential. The results:
- The Filthy Animals (Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio, Jr.) defeated Jason Lee and Johnny Swinger in a WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Title Tournament first round match.
- Team Canada (Mike Awesome and Lance Storm) defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo.
- Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Rick Steiner.
- Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page and Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner and Totally Buff (Buff Bagwell and Lex Luger).
- Shane Helms defeated Shannon Moore.
- WCW World Tag Team Champion Sean O'Haire defeated Kanyon.
- Jeff Jarrett defeated Dustin Rhodes.
WWF RAW is WAR was live from America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The results were:
Jakked:
- Christian defeated Grandmaster Sexay.
- WWF European Champion Test defeated Al Fleming.
- Essa Rios defeated Samoa Joe.
RAW is WAR:
- X-Factor (Justin Credible and X-Pac) defeated Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero, when X-Pac pinned Benoit after he pulled Credible out of the path of Benoit's diving headbutt.
- Lita (with Matt Hardy) pinned Molly Holly (with Crash Holly) after a moonsault to become #1 contender to Ivory's WWF Women's Title.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated Haku and Rikishi, when D-Von pinned Haku after the Undertaker and Kane interfered and Kane chokeslammed Haku. Taker and Kane chokeslammed the Dudleys after the match.
- Vince McMahon and Trish Stratus fought Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and William Regal to a no-contest after, while Vince and Stephanie were in the ring together, Vince got on the mic and said he always gets what he wants, after which he dragged Trish into the ring where she was slapped by Stephanie and given a neckbreaker by Regal. After the match, Stephanie brought a mop bucket into the ring and slathered Trish with an unknown brownish liquid, and Vince told Trish he was just playing with her and never cared about her, and dumped the bucket on Trish.
- WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko defeated Taka Michinoku (with Funaki) by submission with the Texas Cloverleaf to retain the title.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho pinned Raven with the Lionsault after interference from a masked woman (Tori) backfired.
- Jerry Lawler and The Acolytes (Bradshaw and Faarooq) defeated The Right to Censor (Bull Buchanan, The Goodfather and Val Venis (with WWF Women's Champion Ivory, The Kat and Steven Richards)), when Lawler pinned Venis with a knee to the throat.
- WWF Hardcore Champion Big Show pinned Essa Rios up against a wall, horizontally, backstage to retain the title.
2002 - Goldust defeats Maven for the WWF Hardcore Title in Boston, Massachusetts.
2005 - Okita-kun wins an eight-man battle royal to win the vacant Osaka Pro Wrestling World's Best Osaka Attraction Title in Osaka, Japan.
2005 - Mikey Batts defeats Naphtali to win the NWA Florida X Division Title in Brandon, Florida, ending Naphtali's second reign.
2005 - Sonny Siaki and The Wrestler defeat A.J. and Damien Steele for the Georgia (now Great) Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in Columbus, Georgia.
2005 - Manuel Majoli defeats Puck to win the Italian Championship Wrestling Interregional Heavyweight Title in Pavia, Italy.
2005 - Memphis Wrestling held "Throwback Night V" at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. The results:
- Soultaker pinned Kross.
- Reggie B. Fine pinned Chris Michaels.
- The Mid-South Idol pinned Mordecai.
- Kevin White defeated Jamie Dundee by disqualification.
- Bill Dundee pinned Simon Dean.
- Derrick King pinned Johnny Dotson in a loser-leaves-town match.
- Too Cool II (Tim Grind and Flex) defeated Team Canada (Johnny Devine and Eric Young), when Grind pinned Devine, to win the MW Southern Tag Team Title.
- Brian Christopher and Shock defeated Kid Kash and Koko B. Ware, when Christopher pinned Ware.
- Jimmy Hart and Jerry Lawler fought Memphis Wrestling promoter Cory Macklin and King Mabel to a no contest.
- In a 14-man tag team match, Bill Dundee, King Mabel, Cory Macklin, Chris Michaels, MW Southern Tag Team Champions Too Cool II (Tim Grind and Flex) and Kevin White defeated Masked Doom, Nicholas Doom, Jamie Dundee, Reggie B. Fine, Jimmy Hart, Jerry Lawler and Mordecai, when Mabel pinned Masked Doom.
2006 - Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX held the seventh and final event of their "Happening" tour in Tokyo, Japan at Korakuen Hall. The results were:
- Kamikaze pinned Osamu Namiguchi.
- Rikiya Fudo and Daisuku Shimoda defeated Fuyuki Takahashi and Takashi Uwano.
- GENTARO, NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion Minoru Fujita and Alex Shelley defeated Crazy Boy, Gamma and Kagetora.
- Takao Omori and Tatsuhito Takaiwa defeated Tatsutoshi Goto and Tadao Yasuda.
- Takuya Sugawara defeated AWA World Junior Heavyweight and NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Champion Ikuto Hidaka to win the AWA title.
- Yoshihito Sasaki, AWA World Heavyweight Champion Shinjiro Otani and Masato Tanaka defeated NP5 and NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champions The P-Force Men (Steve Corino and Y2P-160kg).
- Kohei Sato defeated Ryouji Sai to win the NWA United National Heavyweight Title. The title had been vacated by C.W. Anderson on February 3 due to injury.
2006 - Two Osaka Pro Wrestling titles change hands in Osaka, Japan. Billy Ken Kid and Black Buffalo defeat Flash Moon and Tigers Mask for the vacant Osaka Pro Tag Team Title, and Super Delfin defeats Super Dolphin (Super Demekin) to win his fourth Osaka Pro Singles Title.
2006 - The PRIDE Fighting Championships held "PRIDE 31: Dreamers", before 22,141 fans at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The event was shown in the United States under the name "Unbreakable". The results were:
- Roman Zentsov defeated Pedro Rizzo by knockout (punch) at 0:25 of round one.
- Quinton Jackson defeated Dong Sik Yoon by unanimous decision after three rounds.
- Fabricio Werdum defeated Jon Oley Einemo by unanimous decision after three rounds.
- Tsuyoshi Kohsaka defeated Mario Sperry by TKO (punches) at 1:20 of round one.
- Alistair Overeem defeated Sergei Kharitonov by TKO (knees) at 5:13 of round one.
- Josh Barnett defeated Kazuhiro Nakamura by submission (rear naked choke) at 8:10 of round one.
- Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira defeated Kiyoshi Tamura by submission (armbar) at 2:24 of round one.
- Mark Coleman defeated Mauricio Rua by TKO (broken arm) at 0:49 of round one.
- Mark Hunt defeated Yosuke Nishijima by knockout (punch) at 1:18 of round three.
2006 - Maryland Championship Wrestling reopened after it was closed for over three years, with an event titled "Resurrection", held at the MCW Arena in Dundalk, Maryland. The results were:
- Derek Frazier and Andrew Ryker defeated Qenaan Creed and Ruckus.
- Derek Frazier defeated Andrew Ryker to qualify for July's Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup Tournament and win the vacant MCW Cruiserweight Title.
- Genesis defeated The Blue Meanie in an MCW Heavyweight Title Tournament first round match.
- Josh Daniels defeated Danny Jaxx in an MCW Heavyweight Title Tournament first round match.
- The Slackers (Chad Austin and Dino Divine) defeated Jason Static & Judas Young, The Ghetto Mafia (2-Dope & Sydeswype) and The Holy Rollers (Earl The Pearl & Rich Myers) in a four-way elimination match to win the vacant MCW Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.
- Julio DiNero defeated The Bruiser in an MCW Heavyweight Title Tournament first round match.
- Danny Doring defeated Crowbar in an MCW Heavyweight Title Tournament first round match.
- Samoa Joe defeated Roderick Strong.
- The James Gang (B.G. James & Kip James) defeated MCW Tag Team Champions The Slackers (Chad Austin & Dino Divine) and The Holy Rollers (Earl The Pearl & Rich Myers) in a three-way match to win the title.
2006 - Mike Lee wins a battle royal to become the first Exodus Wrestling Alliance Junior Heavyweight Champion in Mooresville, North Carolina
2007 - WWE held a live RAW at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. RAW earned a 4.3 rating on USA Network. The results were:
- Jim Duggan defeated Bradley Jay in a dark match.
Heat:
- Eugene defeated Tony Jones.
- The Highlanders (Robbie and Rory McAlister) defeated Kabu (Kafu) and Oliver Stone (Oliver John).
- Val Venis defeated Charlie Haas.
- Cryme Tyme (JTG and Shad) defeated Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch.
RAW:
- Jeff Hardy pinned Shelton Benjamin after the Swanton Bomb in a Money in the Bank qualifying match.
- Johnny Nitro vs. Super Crazy never got underway, after Nitro attacked Crazy before the match and threw him into the ring steps.
- WWE Women's Champion Melina pinned Maria with a roll-up.
- Carlito (with Torrie Wilson) pinned Kenny Dykstra after the Back Cracker.
- World Tag Team Champions John Cena and Shawn Michaels defeated Rated-RKO (Edge and Randy Orton) to retain the title, when Cena pinned Orton after the FU after Michaels's Sweet Chin Music. Edge had walked out on Orton after he thought Orton hit him with one of the title belts, which was actually Michaels. Edge suffered a broken jaw during the match and wouldn't be in the ring again until WrestleMania 23.
2007 - D.C. Dillinger defeats Evan Siks for the New England Championship Wrestling Triple Crown Heavyweight Title in Quincy, Massachusetts. Also, Kristian Frost defeats champion T.J. Richter, Scott Reed, Kellan Thomas and Triplelicious in a five-way match to win the NECW Television Title.
2010 - WWE released a slew of talents, including Charlie Haas, Paul Burchill, Shane Helms and Maria Kanellis. WWE also released referee Scott Armstrong, who would return almost exactly one year later to the company, working the 2011 Elimination Chamber PPV. Kanellis would not return to the ring until 2/25/12, working for Family Wrestling Entertainment in New York City.
2011 - Ring of Honor held their Ninth Anniversary Internet PPV. Stu Carapola filed the following live report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live coverage of the ROH 9th Anniversary Show iPPV!
Colt Cabana vs Davey Richards
Great choice to start by kicking the show off with the hometown star. They follow the Code of Honor to start and we're off, with Cabana trying to confuse Richards with some of his British wrestling techniques but Richards was able to escape and Cabana barely dodges a hard kick. Cabana turns a Richards drop down into a modified O'Connor Roll for 2 and then gets a combination Indian Deathlock/Boston Crab, but Richards sits up out of the hold and turns it into a Thesz Press for 2. Cabana with a schoolboy for 2 and Richards tries to reverse to an anklelock, but Cabana rolls free and goes to the floor where Richards hits a baseball slide and the dive through the ropes, though he landed at ringside instead of the fifth row like usual. Richards takes Cabana down in the ring and tries for a LeBell Lock type move, but Cabana makes the ropes so Richards takes him down with a hammerlock and adds the half nelson, trying to stack Cabana to his shoulders but Cabana won't go over so Richards turns it into a bridging hammerlock. Cabana escapes so Richards takes him down with a side headlock and scissors the arm at the same time, which is a really nasty stretch. Richards keeps up the attack on the arm and Cabana again tries to escape, so Richards dropkicks him in the face and then hits a stiff kick to the back. Richards gets a hammerlock suplex and goes to the top, but comes off right into the raised boots of Cabana, who starts firing back with right jabs and the Bionic Elbow. Cabana with repeated double chops and goes for the Flying Apple, but Richards blocks so Cabana hits a Lionsault for 2 instead. Cabana goes up top and Richards nails him with a leaping enziguiri and then goes up, but Cabana picks him up with a fireman's carry and tries to drop Richards on the top rope, but seems to lose him and Richards hits in the ring. Cabana covers for 2 and then goes right back to the top and hits a moonsault for 2, then goes for the Colt 45, Richards escapes and rams Cabana's shoulder to the ringpost, then hits a missile dropkick and goes back to the top. Richards leaps almost the entire length of the ring with a diving headbutt for 2, then gets a cross armbreaker on Cabana. Cabana tries to roll Richards to his back but instead counters to the Billy Goat's Curse and Richards reverses that to a bridging O'Connor Roll for 2. Richards with another hard kick and a bridging German Suplex for 2, then hits a running forearm and running knee in the corner, and comes out with a swinging tornado DDT and a Falcon Arrow suplex into a cross armbreaker and Cabana taps.
Winner: Davey Richards
Excellent opener, a lot of action and their styles blended a lot better than you'd think they would. They follow the Code Of Honor again after the match in a nice display of sportsmanship.
Throughout the evening, we're going to see different choices for the top moment in ROH history, and the first of those was CM Punk's farewell back in 2005.
Four Corner Survival: Grizzly Redwood vs Mike Bennett vs Steve Corino vs Kyle O'Reilly
Corino and Bennett start us out, but Bennett tags out to Redwood before making contact. Corino shakes Redwood's hand and then takes him down with a shoulderblock, so Redwood tries a couple of shoulderblocks of his own and gets nowhere, so he stomps on Corino's foot and takes him down with a shoulderblock before tagging in O'Reilly, who appears to be sporting a new tattoo around his ribs. O'Reilly unloads with a series of kicks and a slap to the face, so Corino slaps him back and invites O'Reilly to give him some more kicks, so O'Reilly obliges and comes off the ropes and Corino powerslams him. Now Bennett tags himself in and goes after O'Reilly, hitting a dropkick and then making a blind tag to Redwood. O'Reilly boots Bennett to the floor and runs Redwood at Corino's boot, but Redwood changes directions and knocks Corino off the apron, so O'Reilly hits a running boot off the apron onto Bennett, and Redwood follows him with a dive of his own. Corino sets up for a dive of his own, but Bennett slides in and takes Corino out with a clothesline. Bennett with a slam that doesn't even get 1, so he takes Corino to the corner and hits some chops and then whips him hard into the opposite corner. Bennett rains down rights in the corner and then distracts the referee as Bob Evans drags Corino to the floor. Corino goes to nail him, but Bennett goes outside and nails Corino before he can get his hands on Bob. The video freezes for about a minute, and Grizzly Redwood is beating O'Reilly up when it comes back. Redwood unloads with chops and forearms, but O'Reilly hits the rolling butterfly suplexes for 2. O'Reilly goes up top but Bennett shoves him into the guardrail and I guess that counted as a tag because he comes in and goes after Redwood, who rolls to the other corner and tags Corino. Corino with a rolling elbow and a leg lariat, and he goes for the Magic Thumb, but settles for hitting a combo DDT/Flatliner on Bennett and Redwood. Bennett clotheslines Corino and Redwood hits a DDT on Bennett, O'Reilly goes for a German Suplex on Corino and Redwood sunset flips him into a German Suplex on Corino, and then Bennett hits a spinebuster on Redwood and they're all down. They get up and O'Reilly destroys everyone singlehandedly, then goes up top and hits a double missile dropkick on Corino and Redwood, but Evans grabs O'Reilly as Bennett gets an O'Connor Roll on Redwood and O'Reilly breaks with a stiff kick to Bennett's head. Redwood with an abdominal stretch on O'Reilly and Corino starts to go for the thumb on Redwood, but Bennett nails him and hits a Side Effect for the win.
Winner: Mike Bennett
Lots of action in this one. This is making for a pretty action packed undercard. O'Reilly looked like a monster in this one.
Our next Top 5 Moment is the main event of the first ROH show with Low Ki, Christopher Daniels, and Bryan Danielson going at it in a three way match.
Michael Elgin vs El Generico
They follow the Code Of Honor, but then Elgin suckerpunches Generico and works him over in the corner. They exchange blows in the middle of the ring with Generico coming out on top, so Elgin shoves him into the corner but misses a charge and Generico goes for a sunset flip, but Elgin blocks and yanks Generico back to his feet and pops him in the air, but Generico hits a dropkick in midair. Truth Martini grabs Generico's foot from the outside, allowing Elgin to nail him and hit the standing curb stomp. Elgin starts working Generico over with stomps and forearms and then hits repeated side backbreakers and a running senton for 2. Elgin takes Generico to the floor and tries to ram him into the ringpost, but Generico reverses and Elgin hits the post and then Generico tries for a tornado DDT on the floor, but Elgin blocks the move and runs completely across the ringside area and plows Generico into the barricade. Generico beats the count back in, so Elgin continues pounding on him. Generico tries to come back with some clotheslines, but can't take Elgin off his feet so he dodges a charge and Elgin tumbles to the floor. Generico follows him out with a dive, then sends him back in and hits a flying bodypress for 2. Elgin catches Generico with a back elbow and goes for a powerbomb, but Generico escapes and finally hits the tornado DDT for 2. Elgin hits Generico with a couple of hard forearms that make an audible WHAM and then hits a Here It Is Driver for 2. Elgin picks Generico up for a slam and drives him into the corner, then hits a Cyclone for 2. Elgin creams him with another hard forearm and hits a running charge in the corner, Generico tries a running Yakuza Kick in the corner but Elgin blocks him and hits a hard powerbomb type move for 2. Generico finally hits a Yakuza Kick but Elgin no-sells and rips his head off with a hard clothesline for 2. Elgin goes for another clothesline but Generico ducks and hits a half and half suplex for 2. Generico goes for the brainbuster but Elgin accidentally nails the referee and rams Generico into the corner. Truth Martini tries to nail Generico off the top rope but Generico moves and Martini lands on Elgin, but Elgin catches him and hoists him into a fireman's carry, then powerbombs Generico with Truth Martini still on his back. Generico suddenly rolls him up out of nowhere and gets the win.
Winner: El Generico
Crowd boos the Generico victory, and Elgin attacks him after the match. Generico fights back, but Roderick Strong runs in and nails Generico from behind with the ROH World Title belt, and then Elgin wipes Generico out and tosses him to the floor. Best match on the show so far, no doubt about it.
Roderick grabs the mic and tells Elgin he did a great job and sends him to the back because he's done for the night. He says that what we saw here was just a taste of what we're going to see later. Homicide doesn't deserve to be World Champion, but Strong was made to be a World Champion, and tonight is Homicide's chance to prove he's as tough as he thinks he is, but he promises that this pretty boy from Tampa is going to whup his ass and Homicide will realize that only the Strong survive. Homicide runs out to the ring, but Strong and Truth Martini head for the hills. He grabs the microphone and tells Strong that he's not waiting for later tonight, he wants to do this right now. Strong mulls it over, so Homicide hits a dive to the floor and wipes Strongh out, and the title is on the line right now!
ROH World Title Match/Barrio Streetfight: Roderick Strong vs Homicide
They brawl into the crowd and Homicide gets the advantage, ramming Strong into a chair and then chasing him into the entranceway. They exchange blows in the aisle and Homicide chases Strong back to ringside with a chair and rams it into Strong's ribs. Strong tries to escape into the ring but Homicide goes after him and hits the 10 punch count in the corner, then bites him on the ear. Homicide sets the chair up in the middle of the ring and bulldogs Strong into it, then threatens the referee with the chair. Strong kicks Homicide in the midsection and fires some forearms, but Homicide pokes him in the eyes and tosses him to the floor. Homicide goes out after him and rams him into the guardrail, then picks Strong up in a fireman's carry and dumps him on top of the barricade. Strong rams Homicide into the apron, picks him up in a Torture Rack, and dumps Homicide back first on the apron. Strong rams Homicide into the barricade again and then rolls him into the ring and whips him hard into the corner. Strong lays Homicide in the corner and stands on his face, then sets up a chair in the far corner and goes after Homicide and they end up exchanging blows until Strong dropkicks him in the ribs. Strong gets a second chair and nails Homicide with it, then sets it up in the corner in front of the first one and then takes a third chair and sets it up in the other corner. The crowd chants for one more chair so Strong has Truth Martini hand him one, then he tosses it to the floor just to piss off the crowd. Strong with a snap suplex in the middle of the ring and then gives him the Three Amigos and covers for 2. Homicide gets an overhead belly to belly out of nowhere and Strong gets to his feet and charges him, but Homicide moves and Strong crashes hard into one of the chairs, then Homicide rams him headfirst into another one and then a third. He knocked that last chair free, so Homicide set it back up and rammed Strong into it again and finally hit a bridging T-Bone Suplex for 2. Strong tries to whip Homicide into one of the chairs and Homicide puts on the brakes, but Strong hits a running knee and covers for 2. Strong gets a table and slides it into the ring and sets it up in the corner as Truth Martini tells Homicide he got the streetfight he wanted. Strong goes for a Gibson Driver into the table, but Homicide slips out and hits a tornado DDT through the talbe for a close 2. Homicide sits Strong up top and goes for a top rope Ace Crusher, but Truth Martini runs in and grabs him so Homicide nails him and goes for the Cop Killa, Michael Elgin runs in and Homicide promptly tosses him and then hits the top rope Ace Crusher and running lariat and goes for the cover, but Truth Martini breaks the cover. Homicide grabs Truth Martini, who begs for mercy and then lowblows Homicide and starts mocking him. Truth Martini picks him up and sets for an Ace Crusher, but Homicide spins out and hits an Ace Crusher on Truth Martini. All this distraction gave Strong enough time to recover, hit the Sick Kick, and finish with a vertical suplex into a backbreaker for the win.
Winner: Roderick Strong
I'm not sure I liked Strong getting rammed headfirst into those chairs so many times, but awesome streetfight and Strong gets another big win as champion. Elgin helps both Strong and Truth Martini back to the locker room as Homicide gets back to his feet. Homicide takes his t-shirt off and lays it in the middle of the ring, then flips out and slams the table in the middle of the ring, picks up a chair, and cracks the table with it.
Since this was supposed to be the main event, Kevin Kelly informs us that the Briscoes vs Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin will now close the show.
INTERMISSION
We see some videos during intermission, including a look at all of the Top 5 Moments in ROH History (as chosen by someone with different taste than me) and some of the hype videos they ran on TV and HDNet.
We come back from intermission, and Kevin Kelly is in the ring with Jim Cornette and says that there's been a lot of talk about what's next for ROH. Cornette puts the crowd over for selling the place out and also thanks the internet crowd for showing up and seeing the best wrestling product in the world. He announces that the next time ROH will be on iPPV will be the Wrestlemania weekend events on April 1st and 2nd, and Cornette says that the winner of tonight's World Tag Team Title Match will defend against the winner of Haas & Benjamin vs the Briscoes at one of the shows, and whoever the ROH World Champion is will defend against Christopher Daniels at the other.
MsChif vs Sara Del Rey
They duke it out to start and exchange pinning combinations with neither girl getting an advantage. MsChif hits a standing moonsault for 2, but Sara gets a savate kick and a series of running boots to the chest. Sara gets MsChif up in the Gory Special and bridges way forward, but MsChif rolls out of the hold and hits a Northern Lights Suplex for 2. Del Rey bridges out of the move and almost breaks MsChif in half with a powerbomb and covers for 2. MsChif kicks over her own head and gets a Rocker Dropper type move for 2. Sara whips MsChif to the corner and follows in with a rolling somersault kick, but MsChif rolls her up out of nowhere for 2. Sara gets a wrist clutch Angle Slam for the win.
Winner: Sara Del Rey
This was good, but much shorter than I expected it to be, and I didn't think MsChif would go down so easily. Sara puts the mouth on MsChif after the match and spits at her, so MsChif spits the green mist in Sara's face. Sara goes down and rolls to the floor.
ROH World Tag Team Title Match: Kings Of Wrestling vs All Night Express
Titus and Hero start the match and do a feeling out process, Titus tries a shoulderblock but Hero doesn't move. Hero tries one and Titus doesn't move. Hero kills Titus with a chops and then picks a single leg and goes to the ankle, Titus reverses to an abdominal stretch but Hero hiptosses out and Titus hits him with a high knee for 2. Hero backs off and tags Claudio, so Titus tags in Kenny King. Claudio slaps King in the face so King fires some rights at him. Claudio with a pair of knees to the ribs and goes to a hammerlock, but King slips out and hits a series of armdrags and atomic drops Claudio into a flying shoulder tackle by Titus, who covers for 2, so I guess he tagged in. Claudio lays in some chops so Titus chops him back and Claudio tags Hero, but Titus slams him and he and King hit a double team for 2. King back in and nails Hero, and Claudio got a blind tag and tried to sneak in, but the ANX pepper him with a chain of double team moves and then Titus hits a leapfrog bulldog on Hero. KOW go to the floor so King hiptosses Titus over the top onto the champions and then King hits a dive of his own. Titus rolls Claudio back in and covers for 2, but Claudio backdrops Titus to the apron and Titus hits a big boot to Hero, but charges Claudio and then Claudio pops him up into a European Uppercut and Titus falls all the way to the floor. Hero rolls Titus back in and Claudio covers for 2, then yells at the crowd for going HEY! Hero tags in and Claudio whips Titus into a running Yakuza kick, then goes to an armbar. Titus with a hammerlock backbreaker for 2 (that was pretty innovative), then Claudio comes in and just punches Titus in the face before flipping on the crowd for going HEY again. Claudio goes to an armbar then then Hero tags in and they hit a European uppercut and rolling elbow to the back of the head in rapid succession on Titus for 2. Claudio with a running European uppercut for 2, then they get the suplex/running elbow combo that's won them a bunch of matches, but it only gets 2 so Hero just starts kicking Titus in the head instead and then cheapshots King off the apron. Titus nails Hero and puts him up top, but Hero shoves him off and comes off the top rope with a knee to the back of the head and a rolling elbow for 2. Hero with a senton for 2 and then Claudio tags in and puts Titus up top, but Titus blocks the superplex and slips out, dumping Claudio on the top turnbuckle, and makes the hot tag to King. King comes in and cleans house, ripping Hero's head off with a leg lariat and catching the roaring Yakuza kick and turning it into a cradle suplex for 2. Hero counters a spinning boot and hits the roaring Yakuza on the second try, then tags Claudio in. Claudio hits a running European uppercut in the corner and a running kneestrike to the face for 2 then goozles King, but King fights his way out so Claudio just kills him with a clothesline instead. Claudio goes up top but King nails him and goes up as well and Claudio tries to chokeslam King off, but King turns it into a backflip and lands on his feet and hits a big leaping enziguiri, and Titus runs up for a top rope Sex Factor and King covers for 2. King hits the Royal Flush but Hero breaks the cover at 2. Titus tosses Hero to the floor as King kicks Claudio in the head, and Titus suplexes Claudio and King hits a Shooting Star Press and Hero again breaks the cover at the last possible second. All four men are in the ring now and they all lay each other out, and the crowd erupts in applause as all four men are down. Shane Hagadorn tries to toss the loaded elbow pad to Hero but King catches it and tries to nail Hero with it, but Hero escapes and Claudio goes for the UFO. King slips out, but by this time Hero got the elbow pad and nails King with a rolling elbow and Claudio covers for the win.
Winners: Kings Of Wrestling
Excellent match, and Titus & King showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can hang at the top of the mix. They get a huge pop from the crowd as they leave after the match, and Kevin Kelly puts over how far they've come in the last year.
World TV Title Match, 2/3 Falls with a 30 Minute Time Limit: Christopher Daniels vs Eddie Edwards
They go face to face to start and then they tie up, Edwards takes Daniels to the corner and breaks clean. Daniels goes to the arm with a wristlock, but Edwards with a drop toehold and floats over to a front facelock. Daniels counters to a hammerlock and Edwards reverses to one of his own and then catches the other arm to try and turn it to a guillotine, but Daniels rolls through and breaks clear for a stalemate. Daniels takes Edwards over with a side headlock but Edwards gets to his feet and takes Daniels to the corner again, but this time rams his shoulder into Daniels' ribs and then they exchange armdrags with Edwards coming out on top with an armbar. Edwards converts it into a wristlock and Daniels slips out and goes to a side headlock and takes Edwards down with it. Edwards tries to headscissors his way out of the hold, but Daniels blocks it and keeps the hold, trying unsuccessfully to roll Edwards to his back as we hit the 5 minute mark.
Edwards gets to his feet and tries to shove Edwards off, but Daniels goes back to the headlock and takes Edwards back down. Edwards shoves Daniels off into the ropes and Daniels takes him down with a shoulderblock and then a second one, but Edwards blocks the third and takes Daniels off his feet with a chop, then picks him back up and floors him with a second one. Edwards whips Daniels to the ropes and hits a knee to the ribs, then snapmares Daniels and kicks him in the back for 2. Edwards goes to a rear chinlock and Daniels elbows his way out, but Edwards hits an inverted atomic drop, superkick to the knee to chop Daniels down, then a Shining Wizard for 2, then it's back to the chinlock. Eddie takes Daniels to the corner and lays in some more hard chops and a running boot to the chest, then facewashes Daniels and hits the running facewash. Edwards covers for 2, then hits another hard chop and goes for a whip but Daniels counters to a backdrop suplex and slowly makes his way to his feet. Daniels runs Edwards over with a clothesline but is still hurting from the last few minutes and can't go for a cover, so he puts Edwards in the corner facing the turnbuckle and chops him in the back, then does it a gain and follows it up with a side neckbreaker for 2.
We're at 10 minutes now as Daniels kicks Edwards in the back and drops a series of elbows to the back of the neck, and then hits a Northern Lariat for 2. Daniels gets a weird hold that I can only describe as a Million Dollar Dream with the legs, but Edwards rolls backwards and puts Daniels to his shoulders for 2. Daniels recovers right away with a clothesline, but Eddie fires back with chops and forearms and Daniels responds by tackling Edwards to the floor. Daniels goes out after him and they exchange blows on the floor, but Daniels rams the back of Eddie's head to the barricade and then rolls him back into the ring and stomps on the back of his head. Daniels chokes Edwards in the corner with his boot and hits a vertical suplex for 2, then locks Edwards in a neck vice. Edwards fights free, but Daniels nails him and puts him up top for a superplex. Edwards blocks and crotches Daniels on the top rope and then comes leaping out of the corner with a top rope Frankensteiner.
We're at the halfway point now as Edwards dumps Daniels to the apron and hits a running kick to the chest and then hits a slingshot double stomp and they both tumble to the floor. Edwards rams Daniels into the barricade and hits a running Yakuza kick that sends Daniels tumbling into the crowd. Daniels begins to collect himself and get to his feet as Eddie climbs to the top rope and dives into the crowd and onto Daniels. Eddie dumps Daniels over the guardrail and they head back into the ring, and Edwards hits a missile dropkick, running forearm in the corner, and a bridging Tiger Suplex, but releases the bridge at 2 because of the pain Daniels inflicted on his neck. Edwards hangs Daniels in the Tree Of Woe and hits a running dropkick to the face, then goes out to the aisle and runs clear across the ring to leap up and baseball slide Daniels in the head. Crowd popped big for that and Edwards goes for a top rope double stomp, but Daniels moves, palmstrikes him in the face, bulldogs him into the second turnbuckle, and curb stomps Edwards off the second rope for 2. Daniels with a running forearm to the back of the head and a Burning Hammer for 2. Edwards blocks a uranage attempt, armdrags out of a second, but catches Daniels charging and suplexes him into the corner.
Both men are down as we hit the 20 minute mark, but Edwards gets to his feet and hits a running forearm in the corner and puts Daniels on top and hits the Backpack Driver for 2. They exchange chops in the middle of the ring and Daniels palmstrikes Edwards and comes off the ropes, but Edwards rolls backwards right into the Achilles Lock. Daniels goes for the ropes and Edwards drags him back to the middle, but Daniels uses the opening to roll through to the Koji Clutch and now Edwards is in trouble. Edwards goes for the Achilles Lock again but Daniels rolls through and gets an Achilles Lock of his own on Edwards. Edwards kicks out of that and gets a Koji Clutch on Daniels. Paul Turner checks the arm but it only drops twice and Daniels rolls Edwards to his shoulders for 2. Daniels with a leaping enziguiri, Edwards responds with a superkick, and Daniels gets a rolling leg cradle for the first fall at the 23 minute mark.
Daniels: 1, Edwards: 0
Edwards doesn't stop for a second and drops Daniels with a clothesline. Daniels rolls to the apron and Edwards goes for a double stomp off the top, but Daniels moves and then rams Eddie's back into the ringpost and gets a Blue Thunder Driver on the apron and they both tumble to the floor. THAT looked nasty. Daniels makes it back in the ring first as the referee counts Eddie on the outside.
We've got five minutes left, and Eddie barely beats the count back in and Daniels spikes him with a piledriver for 2. Daniels pounds the mat in frustration and then goes for the Angel's Wings, but Edwards rams Daniels into the corner with 4 minutes left. Daniels hits a uranage into the corner and goes for another second rope curb stomp, but Edwards rolls through into the Achilles Lock and Daniels taps.
Daniels: 1, Edwards: 1
We're tied up with three minutes left. Edwards desperately tries to get the Achilles Lock and Daniels blocks and goes for the Angel's Wings, but Edwards trips him and hits a running kick to the chest. Edwards with an STF and Daniels goes for the ropes, but Edwards pulls him back and hits a full rotation back suplex for 2 with two minutes left. Edwards puts Daniels up top and hits a Superfrankensteiner for 2. Daniels is busted open with one minute left, and Eddie hits a pair of superkicks and charges Daniels, and Daniels tries to hiptoss Eddie over the top rope but they both go to the floor with 30 seconds left. Edwards rolls back in first and the referee continues to count but the bell rings for the time limit.
Time Limit Draw
Crowd chants for five more minutes as a bloody Christopher Daniels rolls back into the ring. Edwards goes to check on Daniels along with Kevin Kelly and several officials. Jim Cornette comes out to survey the scene, and he gets the microphone and tells the fans that Daniels is hurt and can't continue the match like last time. Eddie comes out to protest this decision as Daniels is carried to the back, but it looks like it's all said and done, so he waves to the crowd and heads to the back.
I was hoping for someone to make the challenge for a decisive finish, but it didn't happen, which was a little disappointing. That was the only bad thing about this, however, because they went out there and kicked ass for a full half hour in an excellent match.
It's main event time!
Jay & Mark Briscoe vs Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin
Jay and Shelton start the match and do a feeling out process. They tie up and go to the corner, but neither man gets an advantage, so they pull apart and Jay shoves Benjamin on the break. Jay gets a go behind and a waistlock, but Benjamin pops the hips and goes behind with a waistlock of his own. Jay reverses back to one of his own, Benjamin with a drop toehold, Jay floats out to a front facelock, Benjamin reverses to one of his own and then goes to a wristlock. Jay rolls out of that and drop toeholds Shelton and goes to a front facelock. Jay drags Benjamin to his corner and tags to Mark, who takes Benjamin down with a hammerlock and scissors the head. Benjamin rolls through and slips out, then goes to a side headlock. Mark gets to his feet and shoves Benjamin into the ropes, Shelton takes him down with a shoulderblock and goes for a second, but Mark dumps him to the apron. Shelton skins the cat back in and Mark gets a sunset flip for 2 and they exchange pinning combinations and end in another stalemate. Haas asks for the tag and Shelton obliges, so Haas comes in and snaps Mark down with an armdrag and drops several knees to Mark's arm and goes to a top wristlock. Haas rams Mark's arm into the corner and then whips him across the ring and follows in with a running forearm. Mark tries fighting back with some chops but Haas no sells and lays in several chops of his own. Mark no sells those and lights Haas up with a hard chop and they tie back up. Mark with a knee to the midsection and tags Jay and they run Haas over with the double football tackle. Jay lays in several boots in the corner, but Haas reverses a whip and hits a hard running forearm in the corner and a dropkick to the face for 2. Shelton comes back in with a hard kick to Jay and Jay tries a whips to the corner, but Shelton leapfrogs into a sunset flip for 2. Shelton goes for a German Suplex but Jay rolls through into a cradle for 2 and we're at another stalemate. Benjamin takes Jay to the corner and rams a hard shoulder to the ribs and then bricks Jay with a chop, Jay responds with one of his own, and they exchange hard forearms until Shelton whips Jay to the ropes and almost literally puts his boot down Jay's throat for 2. Jay tries to get to his corner, but Shelton cuts him off, tags Haas, and slams Jay on Haas' knee. Haas snapmares Jay and flat out punts Jay in the back. Jay gets to his feet and snapmares Haas and punts him in the back, then tags Mark, who comes in with a fistdrop. Mark makes a blind tag as Haas goes for a waistlock and Jay hits a running boot to Haas and then nails Shelton on the apron. Jay gets a European uppercut and then rams several shoulderblocks into Haas in the corner. Jay puts the boots to Haas and chokes him with his boot, then Mark tags in and hits a running clothesline in the corner, followed by a running Yakuza kick in the corner from Jay, and then a hard double whip across the ring and Haas crumples into the ring and Mark covers for 2, then goes to a neck vice. Mark dumps Haas to the floor and he and Jay go out and pick Haas up for a double back suplex and drop him backfist on the barricade. Mark rolls back in as the referee starts the count, but Jay goes after Haas and rolls him back in. Haas fights out of a suplex attempt and goes for a dropkick, but Mark dodges and tags out to Jay. Jay clubs Haas with forearms and goes for a back suplex, but Haas rolls through and hits a release German suplex. Haas makes the hot tag and Shelton comes in and cleans house on the Briscoes, hitting an inverted atomic drop on Mark and then turning him inside out with a running palmstrike. Samoan Drop on Mark followed by the Stinger Splash and a T-Bone Suplex for 2. Mark comes back with Redneck Kung Fu and Shelton tries for a backdrop, but Mark lands on his feet and superkicks Shelton and then Jay kills him with a running Yakuza kick for 2. Jay with a fireman's carry and Shelton slips out, goes for the superkick, Jay catches it and spins Shelton out so Shelton can spinkick him for 2. Haas runs in and hits a BIG Angle Slam on Jay and then they set Jay up for the World's Greatest Leapfrog, but Mark comes in and nails Shelton, Haas nails Mark, and Jay nails Haas. Jay hits a Death Valley Driver on Haas and Mark goes up top, but Shelton runs across the ring and leaps up to the top rope and suplexes Mark clear across the ring and goes for the cover, but Jay makes the save at 2. Shelton and Mark duke it out in the middle of the ring and Mark comes off the ropes right into a superkick to the jaw. Jay pulls Shelton to the floor and dumps him into the crowd, but Haas nails him and they go into the crowd as well. Mark gets to his feet and you know what's happening next: Mark slingshots onto the top rope and springboard off with a somersault dive into the crowd and onto Haas & Benjamin. The Briscoes toss Shelton back into the ring and Mark hits a Finlay Roll and Jay comes off the top with a legdrop and goes for a cover, but Haas breaks at 2. Briscoes work Haas over as the crowd gets a "this is awesome" chant. Jay picks Haas up on his shoulders and Mark goes up top for the Doomsday Device, but Haas slips out as Shelton superkicks Mark off the top and then they hit a Shelton Blockbuster into a Haas spinebuster for the incredibly hard fought win.
Winners: Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin
This was just off the charts and blows away any match I've ever seen Haas & Benjamin in. These guys beat the crap out of each other for over 20 minutes and it was just unbelievable. The Briscoes hang their heads in the corner as Haas & Benjamin celebrate, then get to their feet with angry looks on their faces. The two teams face off as the crowd is on their feet applauding, then Haas & Benjamin point to Jay & Mark and the crowd starts chanting for the Briscoes. Haas & Benjamin extend their hands and the Briscoes shake. All four men raise their hands in the middle of the ring to the cheers of the crowd as we go off the air.
Great show and the last two matches blew me away. If you didn't watch this live, I highly highly highly recommend you get the replay when it's available.
2013 - WWE held a Smackdown taping in Oklahoma City. JC Money filed the following results:
They opened with a dark match. Bo Dallas beat Curt Hawkins.
Main Event:
Sheamus beat Cody Rhodes with the Brogue Kick in a competitive match.
Mark Henry beat Justin Gabriel. Well, he destroyed him.
Saturday Morning Slam:
Booker T announced that Mick Foley in the GM for Saturday Morning Slam. Since Mick writes kids' books, Booker says he is the perfect man for the job.
Dolph Ziggler, AJ and Big E Langston came out and AJ said the GM said that she should be running the show. Daniel Bryan came out and disagreed. Mick Foley made a match between Dolph and Bryan. Bryan won, of course.
Brodus Clay and Tensai, with new matching outfits, destroyed Epico and Primo.
SmackDown:
Alberto Del Rio beat Damien Sandow. Again, of course.
Jim Ross is here and will interview Zeb and Swagger later.
Daniel Bryan and Kane have a rematch with the PTP tonight. This time Bryan has one hand tied behind his back. Kane is going to be blindfolded. They are arguing.
Antonio Cesaro beat The Miz 2-1 in a best of three falls match. Miz was not happy.
Randy Orton will face The Big Show later. Sheamus said he has his back.
JR brought out Swagger and Zeb. JR talked about their Oklahoma roots and JR recruiting him out of college. Swagger said OU had no heart. Ross asked Swagger what happened to him and Zeb stepped up and did an anti immigrant rant. They said Alberto isn't American and needs to leave. It led to Swagger taking a swipe at JR, which led to Alberto coming out. Swagger said JR isn't a real American and left.
Next up was the tag match. Bryan put a goat face on Kane's mask. The story was that Kane had the win for the team but tagged in Bryan and Bryan then lost. After the match Kane took off the mask and saw the goat face and hit Bryan. He then left.
Sin Cara beat Heath Slater (who was with Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre).
Fandango did a promo saying he is trained in the art of the dance, or something like that. Matt Striker said his name wrong so he will debut when Striker can say it correctly.
Randy Orton beat The Big Show after The Shield ran in and attacked Orton. Show didn't want their help and KO'd Roman. After the match, Sheamus came in and kicked Show.
Dark Match:
Kane came out when Show left. He joined Orton and Sheamus vs. The Shield. They won, sending some of the crowd home happy.
2014 - Triple H hosted the first in a series of conference calls with reporters to promote the WWE NXT brad, specifically the NXT ArRIVAL special on the WWE Network. Dave Scherer filed the following report:
The call opened with Adam Hopkins Director, Public Relations/Corporate Communications. They are live at the WWE Performance Center. He turned the call over Triple H.
He made a great line about the horrible music that we listen to before the calls. Cracked me up.
He said it's a great time to be a wrestling fan. He talked about flying on a plane with Hulk Hogan a few days talking about 30 years of WrestleMania and here they are again rolling the dice with the WWE Network. He talked about the Network and all it offers. He talked about NXT and it being the future. He said it will be evolving in front of our eyes.
He talked about tomorrow live Arrival special. He is obviously proud of the Center and the talent that is down there. He said that Arrival will be an amazing opportunity for the future Superstars of WWE to show their craft in a way that they never have before. He said that the way WWE and Vince are trusting the NXT talent to be the first live product that they put on the WWE Network shows how much the company and Vince have pride in the Center.
He said that Cesaro, who he thinks will explode in WWE over the next few years, will take on Sami Zayn. He said that they have had match of the year candidates already and he thinks it will be the same tomorrow.
Bo Dallas vs. Adrian Neville in a ladder match will be exciting. The pre-show starts at 7:30 and has Bret Hart, Paul Heyman and Kevin Nash on it. H said he tried to create a situation where opinionated guys can give their honest views on the business.
Then it was time for questions.
The first question came from Mike Johnson, of course.
H was asked why it was decided to go forward with NXT as the first live event instead of say WrestleMania. H said that it was the future. They have the past in the vault. The present in the content. They wanted people to see the future in the NXT talent. People have been able to see it Hulu, but they want to open it up to the masses. They found in the research for the Network that people really wanted to see more NXT. Vince is behind it too.
He was asked about the NXT brand and whether it will change, like become more WWE like.
H said that he loves that it's at Full Sail and the fan base there is rabid, it's their show. He said it has something like an ECW show. He said those fans own the show. Oldtimers come over and say they love it too. It's reinvigorating. He said it does open up more options for touring and that is the life blood of what they do. He said in the end though he doesn't want to lose sight that this is a learning experience and that has to be remembered. He said the ultimate goal is to prepare them for the big roster and this helps prepare them for that. He wants to keep perspective for it is and what it's for.
Scott Fishman asked what the atmosphere and feeling is like down at NXT vs. a regular show.
H said it's like WrestleMania for them. They are grasping that this is huge for them. They are going without a net and they know it. They are getting a chance to be the first live show.
He was asked who he sees being the next WWE stars, and who is ready.
He said that they have a great group, they are in the on-deck circle. It depends on what the roster needs. He says he knows who they will be, he just can't tell you and laughed. He said he hates giving things away. He said it's hard to keep anything a surprise any more and he wants to make it more fun.
Brian Fritz was next. He was asked about where the talent system was before and where it is now.
He said he never really looked at it as being in bad shape, he said people come from anywhere. He said he realized that it needed to grow. He said he realized that WWE evolved while the system stayed what it was. So they took it and ramped it up.
He was asked what he thinks it the next step.
H said that probably touring it a little bit. He doesn't want it to go global, but more touring would help the folks in the system. He wants to get the reach out for the brand and to get more people globally into the company. Great potential wrestlers are everywhere and they are looking all over the globe for wrestlers. They want to let people/athletes know that WWE is an option.
Mike wrote the next part, where I asked questions.
Dave then got on the call and thanked HHH for the muzak comment. HHH joked it was to sooth everyone for "softball questions."
Dave asked HHH what his reaction was when Vince asked him to take a bigger role in the company. HHH said it was a conversation that took place over a long period of time. He joked that Vince is a great salesman and said it probably started in 1998 or so. He joked that it happened way before he got involved with Stephanie. HHH said Vince talked about him doing it when he got out of the ring and said he was aware of what Pat Patterson's role was. He said he enjoys the process of the behind the scenes not for his own stuff but others. He said watching The Shield and The Wyatt Family, he was "Giddy Dad" on Sunday. He said it's not an easy process but the kids are taking to it and to seeing them succeed is something special.
Dave mentioned the "This is awesome" chant before they even locked up and HHH said it was the first time he's ever seen it. He said that it's a testament to the creative. He said that you can bring in a character but they have to come up with the nuances, like The Shield and The Wyatts' entrances. He said all the table dressings and ambiance and environments that is worked on is just as important as anything else. He said that they are about spectacle as much as the in-ring stuff. He said you want everything to always work and you do the best you can with it. He said it's an awesome process to put it together. He said after the match, Vince McMahon had a huge smile on his face and said, "Wow!" HHH pointed out to Vince that it was great, especially since they weren't on the main roster a year ago.
Dave asked him about taking over creative and asked if it was done to streamline the process. HHH said that is part of it because you want everything to match up. You don't want to have a great character or talent down "here" and then they have to start over when they come up. He said that Stephanie did a great job but she was running the operations of the department. It grew from Vince working with one guy to an entire team pitching ideas to Vince. He said that one guy drives the ship. He said that doesn't mean when the time comes, someone else can turn the wheel, but at the end of the day, someone has to be the authority and say, "This is where we are going" and that's Vince. He said it's been proven that committees don't work. HHH said that having developmental in the same "line of thought" as the main roster is extremely important. He said you have to know who's on the bench when you need to add someone to the field. You have to know every player in order to utilize them.
OK, I am back.
The next question was asked about how the promo classes are preparing people.
He said that it's working well. A lot of guys never really got a chance to do it so it prepares them for it. It is allowing guys that couldn't do promos before learn how to do them.
He was asked about the coaches and what he looks for in them.
H said there is a difference between being able to do it and be able to coach it. He and Pat Patterson were on a plane and Ray Stevens came up. He said Pat said Ray just did it, he can't teach. Pat is a guy that can teach. They are interested in a lot of trainers so they bring them in to see how they will do. Some guys were great workers, but can't teach. Some never "made it" but they are great trainers. He talked about how great of a teacher Norman Smiley is with beginners. Then he has guys for the next levels. Terry Taylor is the finishing touch guy. They want all kinds of trainers to create the best finished product possible.
He was asked what guys from the indies need to learn most.
He said that the moves are great but the biggest thing they need to learn is telling stories. He said slowing down and letting people digest stuff is important. He talked about using killers moves as transition spots as being an issue and damn he is right. Learning the art of storytelling is the most important thing.
They allowed one more question. Jason Powell asked about doing more live shows.
H said it's awesome that they have a spot on the Network. He is glad they have a TV slot for the young guys. He hopes a year from now people are watching NXT and can't wait for the talents there to get to the main roster. He is hoping that it will be successful that they can do a few big shows a year or quarterly but right now he is just concerned with knocking it out of the park tomorrow while keeping in sight that this is development. There goals should not be to get to NXT but to get to the big leagues.
He was asked that since he likes to keep it simple in NXT, if he ever takes over WWE creative, is that how he would do it?
He said that Vince is going to live forever, joking. He said hopefully it's a long time before that becomes a factor. He will deal with it when it comes. H says he has been a fan since he was five years old. It's his passion and life's work. He wants to deliver a great product. It's about what he thinks his fan base wants, not what he or Vince want.
He was asked how involved he is with the creative process.
He said he is kind of like the Vince there, steering the overall product. They don't train just wrestlers, but also announce teams, referees, etc. He is trying to create the future, including young writers.
That ended the call. It was very informative. As I said in my question, Triple H really is passionate and proud about NXT.
He said they have talked about it. He said this year they had too much else going on but it's an option going forward.
He was asked about doing a live NXT show during WrestleMania weekend. He is hoping that next year the Network and NXT are a success and they have that ability to run NXT shows around Mania, The Rumble and SummerSlam. They want to make sure that when they do it, they do it well.
H then thanked us for calling in. He said he wished he could have gotten everyone and reiterated that we are invited to come down and tour the Center. I have to do it. He added that he would like to have an open relationship on the subject.
NXT Arrival is available on the WWE Network tomorrow.
2015 - Rey Mysterio departed WWE upon the expiration of his contract.
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