-10/28/89
-From the Civic Center in Philadelphia, PA
-Hosts are JR & Bob Caudle
-Match 1: Mike Rotunda VS The Z Man
-Zenk controls the early going with a couple shoulderblocks. Match is clipped to Rotunda giving Zenk a suplex for two. Rotunda locks in an abdominal stretch and uses the ropes for leverage. Rotunda flying clothesline gets a big pop. Match is clipped again to Rotunda getting whipped into the corner. Rotunda tries a flying crossbody, but Zenk rolls through for the pin to a mixed reaction. Match was pretty slow and dull from what was shown.
-Match 2: The Midnight Express & Steve Williams (w/Jim Cornette) VS The Samoan Swat Team & The Samoan Savage (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink)
-Savage is Tama. SST do a fire dance. Halloween theme is of course perfect for this show. Match is clipped to Fatu working over Eaton. Eaton tries a double noggin knocker on the SST, which they naturally no-sell. Eaton blocks a Tama splash by using his knees. Dr. Death gets in to clean house. Match turns into a pier six brawl. Lane gets knocked into Cornette and pinned by Tama. Weak finish. What was shown is too short to really comment on.
-Match 3: The Cuban Assassin VS Tommy Rich
-JR puts over how great Rich was in 1981. Match is clipped after Rich starts to turn the tide to Assassin dishing out more punishment. JR chides Assassin's lack of amateur wrestling skills as he uses brawling tactics to maintain control. Crowd gets really restless. Assassin misses a splash and Rich hits the Thesz Press to finish. And you though the F-U/Attitude Adjustment is a weak finisher. Crowd is happy that the match is over.
-Match 4: NWA World Tag Team Championship: The Fabulous Freebirds [c] VS The Dynamic Dudes (w/Jim Cornette)
-Philly crowd despises the Dudes, even with the Cornette association. Freebirds get pyro and a huge babyface reaction to their entrance. Match is clipped to Ace controlling Garvin with a side headlock. Ace kicks Hayes' hand away when he tries to make a tag in a nice touch. Ace takes both men down with a headlock/headscissors combo, and gets booed for it. Ace locks in another side headlock, and the crowd just gets to the point, chanting "you suck" at Ace. Anything the Freebirds do draws a big pop. Crowd chants for the DDT. Hayes tries to ablidge, but Ace blocks it. Ace makes the hot tag. Dudes get Garvin in position for the Wipeout (double team slingshot belly-to-back suplex), but Hayes helps him break it up, and Garvin pins Ace to retain. Match was interesting in that it was total tag formula that looked to be done well, but the crowd's reaction was the complete opposite of what it was supposed to be.
-Match 5: The Steiner Brothers VS Doom (w/Woman)
-Doom, for those who may not know, are Butch Reed and Ron Simmons, and at this point, they are under masks. Robin Green has turned against the Steiners and formed her new tag team. Match breaks down right away. Steiners pound away on Doom, whip them into each other, then toss them with stereo German suplexes. Rick is a ornery tonight, putting a little extra mustard into his strikes and clothesline. JR mentions that Scott was going to be a school teacher until Rick talked him into wrestling. Great, now I want to see Big Poppa Pump teach kindergardeners. Make it happen TNA. Match is a pedestrian brawl, and the crowd seems to tune out while Doom are on offense. They do wake up when the Steiner finally regain control, but Woman puts an object into Simmons' mask, and he KO's Rick for the pin.
-Match 6: NWA United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Brian Pillman
-Pillman has the cheerleaders again. Philly loves them some Lex Luger, starting a big "Luger" chant before his music kicks in. Pretty good power vs speed match. Luger tries to heel it up, but it doesn't work at all. Luger knocks Pillman for a flip with a running clothesline to the back of his head. Luger drops his elbows different from everyone else, opting to simply raise his arm and fall down, instead of jumping or doing anything to try to add impact to the move. Pillman gets a sunset flip for two, causing Luger to take a wild swing with a clothesline, sending himself out over the top. Air Pillman (springboard clothesline) connects, but Lex gets his foot on the bottom rope. Pillman misses a dropkick from the top, then leaps into a hot shot, allowing Luger to get the pin to retain. Best match of the show so far.
-Match 7: The Skyscrapers (w/Teddy Long) VS The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering)
-Irresistable force vs immovable object. Something you don't see everyday: Hawk taking Sid over with a monkey flip. Sid responds by later kipping up and dropping Hawk with a cothesline. Sid gets the helicopter toss on Hawk, effectively making him the face-in-peril. Sid drops Hawk neck-first across the guardrail. Match breaks down, and Teddy hands the Skyscrapers a giant golden key, which they use to draw a DQ. Weak sauce. If you like big heavyweight slugfests, you'll probably like this one more than I did.
-Match 8: Thunderdome Cage Match: NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair & Sting VS Terry Funk & NWA World Television Champion The Great Muta
-Bruno Sammartino is the guest referee. Only way to win is for the other team's cornerman (deemed the "designated terminator" in this case) to throw in the towel. Faces have Ole Anderson, heels have Gary Hart. JR actually makes note of Bruno's first WWF title win (although he refers to it as a "world title"). The cage is similar to the one used for Hell in a Cell, in that it has a roof (supposedly electrified), and it extends to cover portions of the floor. Something catches fire on the cage, so Muta sprays mist to put it out. Awesome. The match, for some unknown reason, starts out like a regular tag match. They eventually decide to brawl all over the place, before settling back into a regular tag match again, with Sting as the face-in-peril. Funk & Muta try to climb the cage (especially Funk). Funk gets caught in the cage, so Flair chops him. The distraction caused by Funk climbing the cage allows Muta to hide under the ring, then surprise Flair with the green mist. Sting gets caught up in the cage, allowing Muta & Funk to double team Flair. The faces come back. Flair gets the figure 4 on Funk while Sting splashes him. Ole nails Gary Hart, causing the towel to fly into the ring, giving Sting & Flair the win. This was terrible. The psychology was all over the place, and never got into a second gear that these four are capable of.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Nothing to go out of your way to see here, and that main event it TURRBILE, in the words of Charles Barkley. Only interesting matches were the tag title match (for the crowd reactions) and the U.S. title match.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
ECW on Sci-Fi 2/5/08:
-From Corpus Christie, TX
-CM Punk opens the show. He introduces video from last week of him interrupting Chavo Guerrero's championship fiesta. Punk wants to envoke his rematch clause tonight, but Chavo interrupts to tell him that the rematch will not be taking place tonight. He tells Punk not to cry, because the rematch will take place in two weeks at No Way Out. Chavo says he's going to embarrass Punk tonight. ECW GM Armando Estrada comes on the titantron, and explains that Punk & Chavo will compete tonight in a "Gulf of Mexico" match. Extreme rules apply, and the winner is the man who throws his opponent into the Gulf of Mexico.
-Match 1: Victoria & Layla (w/Lena Yada) VS Kelly Kelly & Michelle McCool
-Kelly & Layla start the match. Kelly does a nice ropes-assisted counter to wristlock before spectacularly botching a cartwheel into a back elbow. Michelle & Victoria get in, and Michelle's strikes don't look like they'd hurt anyone, save for a nice roundhouse kick she delivered while on her knees. Michelle tags Kelly. Lena trips Kelly, and Michelle decides to be a shitty tag partner, going after Layla & Lena while Victoria is hitting Kelly with the Widow's Peak and getting the pin. Match was a decent divas match except for Kelly's botch and Michelle's clotheslines.
-Joey & Tazz recap last week's Kane/Shelton match, and announce a rematch signed for Smackdown (Kane was a Smackdown wrestler, and Smackdown had a talent exchange agreement with ECW, allowing wrestlers to appear on both shows).
-Match 2: WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison (w/The Miz) VS Tommy Dreamer (w/Colin Delaney)
-Funny exchange as Joey goes over some of the things that have happened to Dreamer during his career.
Joey: We saw Tommy be suplexed ten feet off a stage, courtesy of my colleague.
Tazz: My bad.
Match is what it needed to be. Morrison hitting his flashy offense (including the breakdance legdrop, I wish he'd bring that back) and Dreamer fighting from underneath. Morrison misses a corkscrew moonsault. Dreamer gets the advantage, but a distraction from the Miz allows Morrison to hit the Moonlight Drive for the pin.
-EARLIER TODAY: Joey interviews Stevie Richards, who is returning next week from five surguries he needed to have from October to December of 2007, after suffering another neck injury. Interview includes footage of his original injury from the original ECW. Could have been the start of something good for Stevie, but since he's maybe one rung above Colin Delaney, this ended up meaning nothing. Stevie returns to the ring next week.
-Match 3: Kofi Kingston VS James Curtis
-Curtis is actually pretty decent, getting to show some nice arm work. Unfortunately, that's not something to get a crowd into a jobber squash. Kofi hits a back elbow and the Boom Drop. Curtis charges into Trouble in Paradise to finish.
-No Way Out preview. They don't include the ECW title match.
-Match 4: Gulf of Mexico Match: ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero VS CM Punk [non-title]
-They immediately go out of the ring and through the crowd. We lose sight of the match as they make their way towards the arena exit. Once outside, they incorporate a couple of passing cars. Chavo teases a frog splash off a ledge. Punk counters a suplex into the GTS, which sends Chavo into the Gulf of Mexico to give Punk the win. Interesting match, and the crowd seemed to be into it even when they made their way outside. The finish teases got loud reactions, as did Punk's win.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not a bad show. Main event was different. The divas didn't do too bad, Morrison/Dreamer was OK, and Kofi's jobber match was the best one so far.
-CM Punk opens the show. He introduces video from last week of him interrupting Chavo Guerrero's championship fiesta. Punk wants to envoke his rematch clause tonight, but Chavo interrupts to tell him that the rematch will not be taking place tonight. He tells Punk not to cry, because the rematch will take place in two weeks at No Way Out. Chavo says he's going to embarrass Punk tonight. ECW GM Armando Estrada comes on the titantron, and explains that Punk & Chavo will compete tonight in a "Gulf of Mexico" match. Extreme rules apply, and the winner is the man who throws his opponent into the Gulf of Mexico.
-Match 1: Victoria & Layla (w/Lena Yada) VS Kelly Kelly & Michelle McCool
-Kelly & Layla start the match. Kelly does a nice ropes-assisted counter to wristlock before spectacularly botching a cartwheel into a back elbow. Michelle & Victoria get in, and Michelle's strikes don't look like they'd hurt anyone, save for a nice roundhouse kick she delivered while on her knees. Michelle tags Kelly. Lena trips Kelly, and Michelle decides to be a shitty tag partner, going after Layla & Lena while Victoria is hitting Kelly with the Widow's Peak and getting the pin. Match was a decent divas match except for Kelly's botch and Michelle's clotheslines.
-Joey & Tazz recap last week's Kane/Shelton match, and announce a rematch signed for Smackdown (Kane was a Smackdown wrestler, and Smackdown had a talent exchange agreement with ECW, allowing wrestlers to appear on both shows).
-Match 2: WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison (w/The Miz) VS Tommy Dreamer (w/Colin Delaney)
-Funny exchange as Joey goes over some of the things that have happened to Dreamer during his career.
Joey: We saw Tommy be suplexed ten feet off a stage, courtesy of my colleague.
Tazz: My bad.
Match is what it needed to be. Morrison hitting his flashy offense (including the breakdance legdrop, I wish he'd bring that back) and Dreamer fighting from underneath. Morrison misses a corkscrew moonsault. Dreamer gets the advantage, but a distraction from the Miz allows Morrison to hit the Moonlight Drive for the pin.
-EARLIER TODAY: Joey interviews Stevie Richards, who is returning next week from five surguries he needed to have from October to December of 2007, after suffering another neck injury. Interview includes footage of his original injury from the original ECW. Could have been the start of something good for Stevie, but since he's maybe one rung above Colin Delaney, this ended up meaning nothing. Stevie returns to the ring next week.
-Match 3: Kofi Kingston VS James Curtis
-Curtis is actually pretty decent, getting to show some nice arm work. Unfortunately, that's not something to get a crowd into a jobber squash. Kofi hits a back elbow and the Boom Drop. Curtis charges into Trouble in Paradise to finish.
-No Way Out preview. They don't include the ECW title match.
-Match 4: Gulf of Mexico Match: ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero VS CM Punk [non-title]
-They immediately go out of the ring and through the crowd. We lose sight of the match as they make their way towards the arena exit. Once outside, they incorporate a couple of passing cars. Chavo teases a frog splash off a ledge. Punk counters a suplex into the GTS, which sends Chavo into the Gulf of Mexico to give Punk the win. Interesting match, and the crowd seemed to be into it even when they made their way outside. The finish teases got loud reactions, as did Punk's win.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Not a bad show. Main event was different. The divas didn't do too bad, Morrison/Dreamer was OK, and Kofi's jobber match was the best one so far.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
NWA/WCW Big Event Project #25: Clash of the Champions 8 "Fall Brawl '89"
-9/12/89
-From Columbia, SC
-Hosts are Jim Ross & Jim Cornette
-Opening video recaps the end of the Great American Bash and previews tonight's main event.
-JR & Cornette discuss rumors of discord in the camp of Gary Hart. They throw it to the back with Gordon Solie, who is with Hart. He naturally denies that there are any issues, and says that Sting & Flair must be spreading these rumors.
-Match 1: The Samoan Swat Team (w/Paul E. Dangerously) VS The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering)
-Halloween theme VS Iron Man. Roadies dominate the early going as Cornette, bastion of political correctness that he is, basically says that all Samoans are savages. Pure tag formula as the SST turn Hawk into the face-in-peril. Hawk gets his foot off to block...something from the top from Fatu, allowing him to make the hot tag. Animal gets Samu down. Fatu makes the save, and the match breaks down. Hawk gets a hold of Paul's phone and nails Fatu (somehow not drawing a DQ), and that sets up the Doomsday Device for the win. Ellering destroys the phone after the pin. Condensed version of the tag formula, but it was almost all action, so I can't complain.
-The SST question Paul, then leave him in the ring following the loss.
-Halloween Havoc '89: "A pay-per-view even bordering on the edge of insanity", according to the commercial.
-Match 2: The Z Man (Tom Zenk) VS The Cuban Assassin
-Extended squash for Zenk, who finishes with a sleeper. Not bad, but nothing to write home about either. Most notable part is Zenk getting a rip-off of the 1989 Batman theme.
-The World According to Theodore R. Long: Basically an add for upcoming NWA events. Disappointing.
-This Flyin' Brian Pillman video is brought to you by Coors' Light.
-Another video of it being declared "Ric Flair Day" in South Carolina.
-Match 3: Ranger Ross VS Sid Vicious (w/Teddy Long & Dan Spivey)
-Sid is announced as being from Metropolis. I don't see this going well for Ross. Sid destroys Ross with a helicopter toss followed by a powerbomb for the pin.
-Missy Hyatt and Robin Green (Nancy Sullivan/Benoit) go on a shopping spree set to "Material Girl" by Madonna. It's mainly Nancy buying ridiculously expensive stuff while Missy looks bored.
-Gordon Solie interviews NWA World Tag Team Champions Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes, who bitch about not getting any respect.
-Match 4: NWA World Tag Team Championship: The Fabulous Freebirds [c] VS The Steiner Brothers (w/Missy & Robin)
-Steiners toss the champs around for a bit until Hayes manages to send Rick into the guardrail. Rick tries the twisting Marty Jannetty clothesline sell, but it doesn't look nearly as pretty. Rick makes the hot tag to Scott, who hits a really nice Frakensteiner on Garvin. Hayes whips Scott into the ropes. He stumbles (with the camera missing how it happened), and Hayes spikes him with a DDT for the pin to retain. The Steiners figure out one of the girls tripped Scott, but don't know which one. Match was pretty good with a nice finish.
-Match 5: Norman the Lunatic (w/Teddy Long) VS Brian Pillman (w/cheerleaders)
-Wonder how many of the cheerleaders Pillman nailed? Norman attacks before the bell, but Pillman comes back with a flying clothesline, then a dive to the outside. Pillman grabs the key from Teddy, but that allows Norman to attack him from behind. Norman gets a splash from the second rope, but that only gets two. Norman gets an avalanche with Pillman pressed against the ringpost, but misses on the second try. Pillman connects with a missile dropkicks and a couple power moves, but dives into a World's Strongest Slam for two. Pillman takes Norman down with a crucifix for the pin. Match was a really good big man VS surprisingly strong little man battle.
-Teddy chews Norman out after the loss.
-Gordon Solie is back with Gary Hart again. Gordon thinks there's a problem with Terry Funk.
-Match 6: Mike Rotunda VS Steve Williams
-THE VARSITY CLUB EXPLODES! Dr. Death gets a big military press slam seconds in. Rotunda comes back with a ropes-assisted abdominal stretch. Rotunda controls with his basic offense with brief flurries by Williams. Williams backdrops Rotunda to the outside. As Rotunda tries to get back in, Williams tries to slam him from the outside back in. Rotunda grabs the top rope to block, and the referee kicks his hand away, turning the move into a rollup, and Williams gets the pin off that. ROTUNDA WAS SCREWED. Match needed more Dr. Death offense.
-Gordon Solie interviews U.S. Champion Lex Luger, who proclaims himself the "showpiece" of the NWA, and claims that he transcends wrestling itself.
-Match 7: NWA United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Tommy Rich
-Tommy Rich comes out to "All My Rowdy Friends". After all these years, it's weird to hear that song in a non-Monday Night Football context. Luger is rocking a rather Flair-esque robe. Luger gets a lot of babyface reactions when he hits something, but Rich still gets his share. Good story with Rich throwing everything he has at Lex, and barely hanging on when Lex withstands it, and turns the tide to his advantage. Major turn when Lex misses a splash from the top. Tommy fires up with a couple clotheslines. Thesz Press gets a two count as Lex gets his foot on the bottom rope. Lex rolls out, and Rich pounds away, but misses his last punch and nails the ringpost. Rich gets a sleeper with Lex still on the apron. Lex drops down to snap Rich's throat into the ropes, and Lex gets the pin off that to retain. Don't see that finish everyday. Rich tries to get more of Luger after the pin, but Lex won't allow it.
-Gordon Solie is in the back with Gary Hart for a third time, and this time, Hart presents a video of Terry Funk post-surgery after Flair hammered his arm with a branding iron. Funk claims the arm became infected and he almost lost it. Funk says he'll get revenge, presumably tonight.
-Sting & Flair don't care who Funk's replacement is. They know Terry is in the building, and he has an open invitation to come on down the aisle.
-Match 8: NWA Television Champion The Great Muta & Dick Slater (w/Gary Hart) VS NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair & Sting
-Slater has a small cast because of Flair as well. Muta spits red mist to start the match. JR explains that there's a yellow mist that is the most dangerous, but has never been seen in the U.S. These four go all-out. Quick pace, and really physical. The face team controls for the most part for the first few minutes. Flair focusing on Slater's injured arm, while Sting tries to get retribution from Muta after getting screwed out of the TV title. Match takes a turn when the heels are able to focus on Flair's neck. The faces regain the momentum. Sting hits the Stinger Splash on Muta and gets him in position for the Scorpion Deathlock, but the ref's back is turned, and Gary Hart KO's Sting with a roll of coins. That gets two for Muta, as does a powerbomb. Sting counters a Slater sleeper with a jawbreaker. Flair gets in and the match breaks down. Muta sprays Sting with the green mist. Flair gets the Figure 4 on Muta, but Slater breaks that up with a shot from his cast, which busts Flair open. Terry Funk comes in and ties a plastic bag over Ric Flair's head, because a big even isn't complete without at least one attempted murder. Stings takes a shot with the branding iron across the shin for good measure, as the match is thrown out.
-After a commercial break, JR & Cornette states that Brian Pillman was the first person out there and gave Flair mouth-to-mouth. Pillman and a medic tend to Flair as the show ends.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: A pretty good show, with a teriffic show-closing angle to really keep the heat going into Halloween Havoc. Nothing here is bad, and the opener, tag title match, U.S. title match, and the main event being really good, with Pillman/Norman being surprisingly good, considering I haven't seen much from Mike Shaw.
-NEXT EVENT: Halloween Havoc '89
-From Columbia, SC
-Hosts are Jim Ross & Jim Cornette
-Opening video recaps the end of the Great American Bash and previews tonight's main event.
-JR & Cornette discuss rumors of discord in the camp of Gary Hart. They throw it to the back with Gordon Solie, who is with Hart. He naturally denies that there are any issues, and says that Sting & Flair must be spreading these rumors.
-Match 1: The Samoan Swat Team (w/Paul E. Dangerously) VS The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering)
-Halloween theme VS Iron Man. Roadies dominate the early going as Cornette, bastion of political correctness that he is, basically says that all Samoans are savages. Pure tag formula as the SST turn Hawk into the face-in-peril. Hawk gets his foot off to block...something from the top from Fatu, allowing him to make the hot tag. Animal gets Samu down. Fatu makes the save, and the match breaks down. Hawk gets a hold of Paul's phone and nails Fatu (somehow not drawing a DQ), and that sets up the Doomsday Device for the win. Ellering destroys the phone after the pin. Condensed version of the tag formula, but it was almost all action, so I can't complain.
-The SST question Paul, then leave him in the ring following the loss.
-Halloween Havoc '89: "A pay-per-view even bordering on the edge of insanity", according to the commercial.
-Match 2: The Z Man (Tom Zenk) VS The Cuban Assassin
-Extended squash for Zenk, who finishes with a sleeper. Not bad, but nothing to write home about either. Most notable part is Zenk getting a rip-off of the 1989 Batman theme.
-The World According to Theodore R. Long: Basically an add for upcoming NWA events. Disappointing.
-This Flyin' Brian Pillman video is brought to you by Coors' Light.
-Another video of it being declared "Ric Flair Day" in South Carolina.
-Match 3: Ranger Ross VS Sid Vicious (w/Teddy Long & Dan Spivey)
-Sid is announced as being from Metropolis. I don't see this going well for Ross. Sid destroys Ross with a helicopter toss followed by a powerbomb for the pin.
-Missy Hyatt and Robin Green (Nancy Sullivan/Benoit) go on a shopping spree set to "Material Girl" by Madonna. It's mainly Nancy buying ridiculously expensive stuff while Missy looks bored.
-Gordon Solie interviews NWA World Tag Team Champions Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes, who bitch about not getting any respect.
-Match 4: NWA World Tag Team Championship: The Fabulous Freebirds [c] VS The Steiner Brothers (w/Missy & Robin)
-Steiners toss the champs around for a bit until Hayes manages to send Rick into the guardrail. Rick tries the twisting Marty Jannetty clothesline sell, but it doesn't look nearly as pretty. Rick makes the hot tag to Scott, who hits a really nice Frakensteiner on Garvin. Hayes whips Scott into the ropes. He stumbles (with the camera missing how it happened), and Hayes spikes him with a DDT for the pin to retain. The Steiners figure out one of the girls tripped Scott, but don't know which one. Match was pretty good with a nice finish.
-Match 5: Norman the Lunatic (w/Teddy Long) VS Brian Pillman (w/cheerleaders)
-Wonder how many of the cheerleaders Pillman nailed? Norman attacks before the bell, but Pillman comes back with a flying clothesline, then a dive to the outside. Pillman grabs the key from Teddy, but that allows Norman to attack him from behind. Norman gets a splash from the second rope, but that only gets two. Norman gets an avalanche with Pillman pressed against the ringpost, but misses on the second try. Pillman connects with a missile dropkicks and a couple power moves, but dives into a World's Strongest Slam for two. Pillman takes Norman down with a crucifix for the pin. Match was a really good big man VS surprisingly strong little man battle.
-Teddy chews Norman out after the loss.
-Gordon Solie is back with Gary Hart again. Gordon thinks there's a problem with Terry Funk.
-Match 6: Mike Rotunda VS Steve Williams
-THE VARSITY CLUB EXPLODES! Dr. Death gets a big military press slam seconds in. Rotunda comes back with a ropes-assisted abdominal stretch. Rotunda controls with his basic offense with brief flurries by Williams. Williams backdrops Rotunda to the outside. As Rotunda tries to get back in, Williams tries to slam him from the outside back in. Rotunda grabs the top rope to block, and the referee kicks his hand away, turning the move into a rollup, and Williams gets the pin off that. ROTUNDA WAS SCREWED. Match needed more Dr. Death offense.
-Gordon Solie interviews U.S. Champion Lex Luger, who proclaims himself the "showpiece" of the NWA, and claims that he transcends wrestling itself.
-Match 7: NWA United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Tommy Rich
-Tommy Rich comes out to "All My Rowdy Friends". After all these years, it's weird to hear that song in a non-Monday Night Football context. Luger is rocking a rather Flair-esque robe. Luger gets a lot of babyface reactions when he hits something, but Rich still gets his share. Good story with Rich throwing everything he has at Lex, and barely hanging on when Lex withstands it, and turns the tide to his advantage. Major turn when Lex misses a splash from the top. Tommy fires up with a couple clotheslines. Thesz Press gets a two count as Lex gets his foot on the bottom rope. Lex rolls out, and Rich pounds away, but misses his last punch and nails the ringpost. Rich gets a sleeper with Lex still on the apron. Lex drops down to snap Rich's throat into the ropes, and Lex gets the pin off that to retain. Don't see that finish everyday. Rich tries to get more of Luger after the pin, but Lex won't allow it.
-Gordon Solie is in the back with Gary Hart for a third time, and this time, Hart presents a video of Terry Funk post-surgery after Flair hammered his arm with a branding iron. Funk claims the arm became infected and he almost lost it. Funk says he'll get revenge, presumably tonight.
-Sting & Flair don't care who Funk's replacement is. They know Terry is in the building, and he has an open invitation to come on down the aisle.
-Match 8: NWA Television Champion The Great Muta & Dick Slater (w/Gary Hart) VS NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair & Sting
-Slater has a small cast because of Flair as well. Muta spits red mist to start the match. JR explains that there's a yellow mist that is the most dangerous, but has never been seen in the U.S. These four go all-out. Quick pace, and really physical. The face team controls for the most part for the first few minutes. Flair focusing on Slater's injured arm, while Sting tries to get retribution from Muta after getting screwed out of the TV title. Match takes a turn when the heels are able to focus on Flair's neck. The faces regain the momentum. Sting hits the Stinger Splash on Muta and gets him in position for the Scorpion Deathlock, but the ref's back is turned, and Gary Hart KO's Sting with a roll of coins. That gets two for Muta, as does a powerbomb. Sting counters a Slater sleeper with a jawbreaker. Flair gets in and the match breaks down. Muta sprays Sting with the green mist. Flair gets the Figure 4 on Muta, but Slater breaks that up with a shot from his cast, which busts Flair open. Terry Funk comes in and ties a plastic bag over Ric Flair's head, because a big even isn't complete without at least one attempted murder. Stings takes a shot with the branding iron across the shin for good measure, as the match is thrown out.
-After a commercial break, JR & Cornette states that Brian Pillman was the first person out there and gave Flair mouth-to-mouth. Pillman and a medic tend to Flair as the show ends.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: A pretty good show, with a teriffic show-closing angle to really keep the heat going into Halloween Havoc. Nothing here is bad, and the opener, tag title match, U.S. title match, and the main event being really good, with Pillman/Norman being surprisingly good, considering I haven't seen much from Mike Shaw.
-NEXT EVENT: Halloween Havoc '89
Friday, July 22, 2011
ECW on Sci-Fi: 1/29/08
-LAST WEEK: Edge helps Chavo Guerrero win the ECW Championship from CM Punk.
-LATER TONIGHT: Chavo Guerrero's championship fiesta!
-Match 1: Kane VS Shelton Benjamin
-Kane no-sells a clothesline, and drops Shelton with one of his own to take over. Kane tries to toss Shelton over the top. Shelton skins the cat like he did last week, but Kane clotheslines him over and out. Kane follows Shelton down the aisle, and sends him back into the ring. Kane goes up top for a flying clothesline, but Shelton leaps to the top and throws Kane off. That gets a two count. Shelton targets Kane's left leg, slamming it into the ringpost before locking in a single-leg crab. Kane fights out of that, and gets a powerslam for two. Flying clothesline looks to set up a chokeslam, but Shelton gets the Dragon Whip kick. Shelton charges into a big boot, and decides enough is enough, taking a walk and getting counted out. Match was pretty good before the crappy finish.
-Kelly Kelly is up next.
-WWE SLAM OF THE WEEK BROUGHT TO YOU BY "RAMBO": Kelly Kelly wins last week's "Best Body" contest before being attacked by the other two divas.
-Match 2: Kelly Kelly VS Victoria
-Victoria dominates most of the match. Kelly gets a couple nice counters, including turning Victoria's spinning side slam into a headscissors. Widow's Peak wins this one pretty easily for Victoria. Kelly didn't look to bad in there. Layla & Leena get their licks in post-match.
-Colin Delaney has even more bandages, but he's in action next.
-Royal Rumble recap video. I've always loved MSG flipping out for Cena, then remember they're supposed to hate him and bringing the boos.
-Tazz is in the ring with Colin Delaney for our weekly recap of him getting killed the last few weeks. Tazz informs Colin that he's in a handicap match against the WWE Tag Team Champions.
-Match 3: Handicap Match: WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison VS Colin Delaney
-Colin doesn't get the benefit of the champions being forced to tag. Total destruction. Colin does manage to avoid a couple moves, but that just pissed M & M off. Reality Check from Miz, and Moonlight Drive from Morrison lead to the pin with Miz's boot and Morrison's index finger. M & M continue the assualt, but Tommy Dreamer comes out to run them off.
-Match 4: CM Punk VS Elijah Burke
-Burke is one WWE missed the boat on, and TNA is currently missing the boat on. Burke controls with a rear chinlock, but Punk escapes and hits his running knee to the face. Burke blocks the bulldog, but Punk catches Burke attempting a leapfrog, and hits the GTS for the win. Disappointing match. Good finish though.
-Preview of the Raw Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out.
-Match 5: Kofi Kingston VS Rob Eckerd
-Rob is another generic gym rat. Jobber squash. Boom drop and Trouble in Paradise finish quickly. Shorter and better than last week.
-The mariachi band warms up for Chavo's championship fiesta.
-ECW General Manager Armando Estrada introduces the new ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero. World Heavyweight Champion Edge and Vickie can't be there because Rey gave Vickie a 619 at the Royal Rumble, but Edge does appear in a pre-recorded video and presents a Chavo highlight reel. Chavo gives an "I told you so" speech before dancing to the mariachi music. One memeber of the band keeps his back to the hard camera. Eventually, that man turns around and KO's Chavo with a guitar, before revealing himself to be the former ECW Champion CM Punk. Punk stands over Chavo as the show closes.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty decent show. Still shake my head at the choice of Chavo being the one to take the ECW title off Punk. Chavo is a member of La Familia, but he just ends up being a whipping boy for whomever is feuding with Edge at the time, and him being ECW Champion is inconsequential.
-LATER TONIGHT: Chavo Guerrero's championship fiesta!
-Match 1: Kane VS Shelton Benjamin
-Kane no-sells a clothesline, and drops Shelton with one of his own to take over. Kane tries to toss Shelton over the top. Shelton skins the cat like he did last week, but Kane clotheslines him over and out. Kane follows Shelton down the aisle, and sends him back into the ring. Kane goes up top for a flying clothesline, but Shelton leaps to the top and throws Kane off. That gets a two count. Shelton targets Kane's left leg, slamming it into the ringpost before locking in a single-leg crab. Kane fights out of that, and gets a powerslam for two. Flying clothesline looks to set up a chokeslam, but Shelton gets the Dragon Whip kick. Shelton charges into a big boot, and decides enough is enough, taking a walk and getting counted out. Match was pretty good before the crappy finish.
-Kelly Kelly is up next.
-WWE SLAM OF THE WEEK BROUGHT TO YOU BY "RAMBO": Kelly Kelly wins last week's "Best Body" contest before being attacked by the other two divas.
-Match 2: Kelly Kelly VS Victoria
-Victoria dominates most of the match. Kelly gets a couple nice counters, including turning Victoria's spinning side slam into a headscissors. Widow's Peak wins this one pretty easily for Victoria. Kelly didn't look to bad in there. Layla & Leena get their licks in post-match.
-Colin Delaney has even more bandages, but he's in action next.
-Royal Rumble recap video. I've always loved MSG flipping out for Cena, then remember they're supposed to hate him and bringing the boos.
-Tazz is in the ring with Colin Delaney for our weekly recap of him getting killed the last few weeks. Tazz informs Colin that he's in a handicap match against the WWE Tag Team Champions.
-Match 3: Handicap Match: WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison VS Colin Delaney
-Colin doesn't get the benefit of the champions being forced to tag. Total destruction. Colin does manage to avoid a couple moves, but that just pissed M & M off. Reality Check from Miz, and Moonlight Drive from Morrison lead to the pin with Miz's boot and Morrison's index finger. M & M continue the assualt, but Tommy Dreamer comes out to run them off.
-Match 4: CM Punk VS Elijah Burke
-Burke is one WWE missed the boat on, and TNA is currently missing the boat on. Burke controls with a rear chinlock, but Punk escapes and hits his running knee to the face. Burke blocks the bulldog, but Punk catches Burke attempting a leapfrog, and hits the GTS for the win. Disappointing match. Good finish though.
-Preview of the Raw Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out.
-Match 5: Kofi Kingston VS Rob Eckerd
-Rob is another generic gym rat. Jobber squash. Boom drop and Trouble in Paradise finish quickly. Shorter and better than last week.
-The mariachi band warms up for Chavo's championship fiesta.
-ECW General Manager Armando Estrada introduces the new ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero. World Heavyweight Champion Edge and Vickie can't be there because Rey gave Vickie a 619 at the Royal Rumble, but Edge does appear in a pre-recorded video and presents a Chavo highlight reel. Chavo gives an "I told you so" speech before dancing to the mariachi music. One memeber of the band keeps his back to the hard camera. Eventually, that man turns around and KO's Chavo with a guitar, before revealing himself to be the former ECW Champion CM Punk. Punk stands over Chavo as the show closes.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty decent show. Still shake my head at the choice of Chavo being the one to take the ECW title off Punk. Chavo is a member of La Familia, but he just ends up being a whipping boy for whomever is feuding with Edge at the time, and him being ECW Champion is inconsequential.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
ECW on Sci-Fi: 1/22/08
-LAST WEEK: Edge helps Chavo Guerrero become the #1 contender for the ECW Championship.
-New intro video and the now-familiar shared set for all three shows.
-From the University of Virginia
-Joey Styles announces that tonight Chavo Guerrero will challenge CM Punk for the ECW title.
-Match 1: Over the Top Rope Challenge: Kane VS WWE Tag Team Champion The Miz VS WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison VS Tommy Dreamer VS Shelton Benjamin
-I guess "over the top rope challenge" sounds better than "5 man battle royale". This is a preview for the Royal Rumble, which is the following Sunday. Dreamer is the first man out, naturally, via Kane. The other three attack Kane until Miz & Morrison turn on Shelton. Kane comes back and cleans house, eliminating the tag team champions, but Shelton manages to take Kane over the top and out with a headscissors to win it. Not bad.
-Kelly Kelly is shown walking backstage. The Best Body Contest is next.
-SLAM OF THE WEEK BROUGHT TO YOU BY "RAMBO": Lena Yada enters herself into the Diva Dance contest and declares herself the winner.
-Coach is the MC for the contest. Start is delayed as the Divas watch Coach dance to the musice. Kelly Kelly wins, and gets attacked by the other two.
-Match 2: Kofi Kingston VS David Owens
-Owens has the typical tough guy look; shaved head and back tattoos. He also sucks, messing up on a leg sweep and a monkey flip. Kofi hits the same spots he still uses today. Jobber is almost out of position on the Trouble in Paradise, making the finish a little awkward. Kofi looked ok.
-Backstage, Edge pyschs up Chavo, and Vickie makes a surprise appearence. She tells Chavo "the family that sticks together wins together".
-Royal Rumble "numbers" video that they do every year now.
-Joey & Tazz run down the Royal Rumble card.
-LAST FRIDAY ON SMACKDOWN: Punk & Mysterio beat Edge & Chavo when Edge hits Rey with a chair after he hits the 6-1-9 on Chavo. Hawkins & Ryder join in the beatdown.
-Tazz is in the ring with Colin Delaney, who is more bandaged up than before. Highlights of his matches the last 4 weeks are shown. Tazz asks Colin if his mom knows he's wrestling. This leads to...
-Match 3: Colin Delaney VS The Great Khali
-How do you think this went? Overhand chop, tree slam, and Khali Vice Grip end this quickly.
-LAST WEEK: Edge helps Chavo beat Punk.
-Edge joins the commentators for the ECW title match.
-Match 4: ECW Championship: CM Punk [c] VS Chavo Guerrero
-Tony Chimel announces that this match is now no-DQ. Match has a little bit of heat, probably because it's a title match. Punk tries to take off one of the turnbuckle pads right away, but Chavo takes control and does it himself. Chavo drops Punk midsection-first on the ringsteps. Chavo hits the Three Amigos, but Punk moves out of the way when Chavo appears to be setting up the Frog Splash. Punk launches Chavo face-first into the exposed steel and hits the Go To Sleep, but Edge runs in and spears Punk, allowing Chavo to get the pin and the title. Match was too short to amount to much, and putting the title on career Jobber to the Stars Chavo really devalued the title, IMO.
-La Familia (Edge, Chavo, Vickie, Hawkins, & Ryder) poses in the ring as the show closes.
-Not a bad show. Setup the Rumble decently. Title match should have been on the PPV, and Chavo being in the Rumble while ECW champion killed any illusion that might have been left that it was anywhere near the level of the other two world titles.
-New intro video and the now-familiar shared set for all three shows.
-From the University of Virginia
-Joey Styles announces that tonight Chavo Guerrero will challenge CM Punk for the ECW title.
-Match 1: Over the Top Rope Challenge: Kane VS WWE Tag Team Champion The Miz VS WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison VS Tommy Dreamer VS Shelton Benjamin
-I guess "over the top rope challenge" sounds better than "5 man battle royale". This is a preview for the Royal Rumble, which is the following Sunday. Dreamer is the first man out, naturally, via Kane. The other three attack Kane until Miz & Morrison turn on Shelton. Kane comes back and cleans house, eliminating the tag team champions, but Shelton manages to take Kane over the top and out with a headscissors to win it. Not bad.
-Kelly Kelly is shown walking backstage. The Best Body Contest is next.
-SLAM OF THE WEEK BROUGHT TO YOU BY "RAMBO": Lena Yada enters herself into the Diva Dance contest and declares herself the winner.
-Coach is the MC for the contest. Start is delayed as the Divas watch Coach dance to the musice. Kelly Kelly wins, and gets attacked by the other two.
-Match 2: Kofi Kingston VS David Owens
-Owens has the typical tough guy look; shaved head and back tattoos. He also sucks, messing up on a leg sweep and a monkey flip. Kofi hits the same spots he still uses today. Jobber is almost out of position on the Trouble in Paradise, making the finish a little awkward. Kofi looked ok.
-Backstage, Edge pyschs up Chavo, and Vickie makes a surprise appearence. She tells Chavo "the family that sticks together wins together".
-Royal Rumble "numbers" video that they do every year now.
-Joey & Tazz run down the Royal Rumble card.
-LAST FRIDAY ON SMACKDOWN: Punk & Mysterio beat Edge & Chavo when Edge hits Rey with a chair after he hits the 6-1-9 on Chavo. Hawkins & Ryder join in the beatdown.
-Tazz is in the ring with Colin Delaney, who is more bandaged up than before. Highlights of his matches the last 4 weeks are shown. Tazz asks Colin if his mom knows he's wrestling. This leads to...
-Match 3: Colin Delaney VS The Great Khali
-How do you think this went? Overhand chop, tree slam, and Khali Vice Grip end this quickly.
-LAST WEEK: Edge helps Chavo beat Punk.
-Edge joins the commentators for the ECW title match.
-Match 4: ECW Championship: CM Punk [c] VS Chavo Guerrero
-Tony Chimel announces that this match is now no-DQ. Match has a little bit of heat, probably because it's a title match. Punk tries to take off one of the turnbuckle pads right away, but Chavo takes control and does it himself. Chavo drops Punk midsection-first on the ringsteps. Chavo hits the Three Amigos, but Punk moves out of the way when Chavo appears to be setting up the Frog Splash. Punk launches Chavo face-first into the exposed steel and hits the Go To Sleep, but Edge runs in and spears Punk, allowing Chavo to get the pin and the title. Match was too short to amount to much, and putting the title on career Jobber to the Stars Chavo really devalued the title, IMO.
-La Familia (Edge, Chavo, Vickie, Hawkins, & Ryder) poses in the ring as the show closes.
-Not a bad show. Setup the Rumble decently. Title match should have been on the PPV, and Chavo being in the Rumble while ECW champion killed any illusion that might have been left that it was anywhere near the level of the other two world titles.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
NWA/WCW Big Event Project #24: Great American Bash '89 "Glory Days"
-7/23/89
-From the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, MD
-Hosts are Jim Ross & Bob Caudle
-Match 1: $50,000 "Triple Crown" Battle Royale: Kevin Sullivan VS Mike Rotunda VS Rick Steiner VS Scott Steiner VS Brian Pillman VS Eddie Gilbert VS Terry Gordy VS Sid Vicious VS Dan Spivey VS Scott Hall VS Bill Irwin VS Ranger Ross VS Ron Simmons VS Steve Williams
-This is the finals of the "King of the Hill" battle royale series that took place during the Bash tour. It's two rings, and everyone starts out in ring one. Only way to be eliminated from ring one is to be thrown over the top into ring two. Last man standing wins ring one. Once a man is in ring two, he fights whomever else is in there under regular battle royale rules. Last man standing in ring two faces off against the winner of ring one in a regular match. Got it?
-Ross is the first man eliminated from ring 1. Simmons follows soon after. Ross is able to eliminate Simmons as Hall joins him in ring two. Gordy joins ring 2, so Hall & Ross double-team him until Irwin joins ring 2. Ring 2 quickly fills up. Spivey spikes Ross with a powerbomb. Sid & Pillman are the last two men in ring 1. Ring 2 quickly empties as Sid and Pillman continue to fight it out. Sid wins ring 1, and does his "I'm the man" pose to celebrate. Pillman is quickly dumped from ring 2. Williams, Rotunda, and Spivey are the final three in ring 2. Williams gets rid of Rotunda as Spivey stands around and watches. Williams works Spivey over, but can't get him out. Rotunda trips Williams up, distracting him. This allows Spivey to clothesline Williams over and out.
-The Skyscrapers' (Sid & Spivey) manager Teddy Long gets in the ring, says he's not going to be stupid and let his tag team tear each other apart. He announces that they will split the prize money instead. So we don't get to see if Sid's life was going to fade in Danny Spivey's hands. This was a battle royale, so you know what to expect. Relatively quick.
-Match 2: Brian Pillman VS Bill Irwin
-Match is clipped to Irwin clotheslining Pillman out over the top. Pillman comes back with a couple dropkicks, a clothesline, and a big splash for two. Pillman misses a missile dropkick, but does get a crossbody from the top of ring 2 into ring 1 for the pin. Clipped too much to make a judgement on it.
-Match 3: The Skyscrapers (w/Teddy Long) VS The Dynamic Dudes
-I don't like the Dudes' chances. Match is clipped to Sid dropping Shane, then posing and getting a huge pop for it. Sid applies a back claw. Don't think I've seen that before. Crowd boos Spivey as he's tagged in, then chant "We Want Sid!". Spivey misses a diving headbutt. Shane makes the tag to Vince's new right hand man. He takes Spivey down, but Sid breaks up the pin by kicking him in the face. Skyscrapers accidentally clothesline each other. Shane gets dropped on his head by Sid, and Spivey follows up with a really shitty and dangerous looking powerbomb for the pin. Needed more Sid.
-Match 4: Tuxedo Match: James E. Cornette VS Paul E. Dangerously
-Cornette punches Paul in the mouth, so Paul responds by throwing powder in his face. Match is not-so-subtly clipped to Paul working Cornette over. Paul looks like a sleazy villain from about 100 different 80's movies. Cornette gets tired of this shit and FIRES UP. Caudle sounds a little too excited at the prospect of seeing Paul stripped. Paul tries the powder for a second time, but Cornette kicks it in his face before pulling his pants off for the win. About as good and as heated as you will ever see a tuxedo match be.
-Match 5: Texas Tornado Match: The Steiner Brothers (w/Missy Hyatte & Rick's Dog) VS Mike Rotunda & Kevin Sullivan
-Match immediately breaks down. Rick no-sells a chairshot from Sullivan before delivering one of his own. Sullivan crotches Rick on the guardrail. Scott & Rotunda go back-and-forth while Rick & Sullivan continue the fight on the outside. Rick & Sullivan fight with the timekeeper's table. Scott is sent over the top, as Rick & Sullivan get in the ring. The Steiners quickly take over, and get a couple near-falls. Rick is sent back outside by Sullivan. Varsity Club get their own near-falls. Sullivan takes a shitty bump off a Rick clothesline. Sullivan tries to slam Rick, but Scott comes off the top, and they both pin Sullivan. Pretty wild brawl. Appears to be in full.
-Match 6: NWA Television Championship: Sting [c] (w/Eddie Gilbert) VS The Great Muta (w/Gary Hart)
-Muta has a giant gong for his entrance. Muta has such a presence about him. Sting goes after Muta to start, but makes the mistake of turning his attention to Hart, allowing Muta to take the advantage. Muta tries to finish quickly with the moonsault. Sting moves, but Muta lands on his feet. Sting no-sells one kick, but takes another. Muta hits a dive to the outside onto Sting. Lots of Muta fans in the house. Sting comes back with a flying clothesline. Sting goes out over the top, but it looks like Muta is out of position to catch him on a dive, so Sting lands on his feet and chops Muta. Back in the ring, Muta gets a sleeper. Sting fights out with a Gorilla Press, but misses an elbow drop. Sting avoids the handspring elbow and comes back. Muta bails to slow the momentum. Muta tries to red mist Sting, but gets Nick Patrick instead. Muta avoids the Stinger Splash. Muta gets the moonsault. Tommy Young rushes in, but Sting kicks out at two. Sting gets a belly-to-back suplex for the pin. Really good. HUGE pop for Sting's win. Hart grabs the belt and hands it to Muta. They take off. The crowd chants "bullshit", perhaps thinking the title was changing hands. Sting is not happy that his belt is gone.
-Match 7: NWA United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Ricky Steamboat (w/Bonnie, Little Ricky, and a Kimodo Dragon)
-Steamboat is carried out on a wooden plank. Announcers state that Luger is refusing to wrestle if the match is no-DQ, as it is supposed to be. Luger gets on the mic and confirms this. Steamboat, not really having a choice, agrees. Steamboat blitzes Luger right off the bat, getting a couple near-falls and working him over on the outside. Luger manages to turn the tide, and starts working over Steamboat's back. Nice sequence as Steamboat gets a schoolboy for two, so Luger nails three running clotheslines, with Steamboat popping right up after each one, before swinging wildly at nothing and falling back down. Steamboat manages to come back after sending Luger to the outside. Luger tries going up, but gets slammed down. Steamboat gets a big chop from the top for two. Luger grabs a chair, but Steamboat flips out instead, wearing Luger out with the chair and pushing Tommy Young down to draw the DQ. Steamboat chases after Luger all the way down the aisle, swinging the chair like a madman. Nice to see pissed-off Steamboat for once. Really good match, finish made Luger look really smart.
-Match 8: War Games: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Jimmy Garvin, & Terry Gordy) & The Samoan Swat Team VS The Road Warriors, The Midnight Express, & Steve Williams
-Eaton & Garvin start it out. They go back-and-forth. Garvin mashes Eaton into the cage while Hayes taunts him. Eaton locks in a Boston Crab as Terry Gordy enters the match. This naturally leads to Eaton getting double-teamed. Williams enters to even the odds. Williams focuses on Gordy. Samu enters to help Gordy while Garvin pulls on Eaton's face. Animal gets in to kick ass and chew bubblegum...and he's all out of bubblegum. Animal charges across one ring to send himself into the other with a shoulderblock on Samu. On the outside, Hayes orders Fatu to "KILL KILL KILL". Fatu gets in, but doesn't do any killing. Crowd deflates a little bit as Lane enters, as it looked like they were expecting Hawk. Hayes does not want any part of this. Hayes gets in, quickly lays out three of the other team members with DDTs, then struts before taunting Hawk. Hawk gets in the start "The Match Beyond".
-Total chaos as everyone gathers in one ring. Paul E. tries to break the cage open to get his phone in there. Garvin breaks up a Dommsday Device on Gordy, so he takes the flying clothesline instead. Hawk hits a couple neckbreakers, then puts Garvin in a hangman's submission for the win. GREAT match. The winners go to leave, but when it's only Animal inside, the heels keep the door closed and lay waste to Animal. Hawk finally gets in, and the heels scatter.
-Match 9: NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair [c] VS Terry Funk (w/Gary Hart)
-Anyone know what Funk's entrance music is? It's AWESOME, and the lighting effects make his entrance even better. Flair gets the golden showers for his entrance. Match starts with Flair pounding on Funk on the outside. Funk tries to get the guardrail to bring it into the ring. Back in, Funk lands some big chops, but Flair responds with some STIFF AS HELL chops of his own. Back outside, Funk sends Flair into the ringpost to turn the tide. Suplex takes them both outside, where they exchange chops again before they both go to the eyes, which Funks wins. Back in, Funk goes for a piledriver, but Flair backdrops him over the top and out. Flair starts going to work on Funk's neck. Flair gets a piledriver, then another, taking time to pose a little bit with the second one before falling back. Funk can't take anymore and bails, but Flair follows him out, and throws him back in.
After working on the neck, Flair locks in the Figure 4. Hart distracts the ref, allowing Funk to nail Flair with a branding iron to break the hold. Flair is busted wide open off that. Funk gets a piledrive, but Flair's foot is under the bottom rope. Funk moves some mats back and tries for a piledriver on the floor, but Flair counters. Funk comes back and continues to work on Flair's neck. Funk yells at Flair to submit. Flair gets a hold of the branding iron and nails Funk. That busts Funk open. Flair rams Funk's face into the ringpost before bringing him back in.
Flair misses a charge in the corner. Funk tries the spinning toe hold. Flair gets a rollup, Funk reverses, then Flair reverses again for the pin to retain. Excellent match that felt like a hate-filled FIGHT rather than your average wrestling match.
-The Great Muta comes out to spew green mist at Flair. He and Funk work Flair over while the crowd chants for Sting. Doug Dillinger is useful for once, stopping an attempt to spike piledrive Flair on a wooden chair. Sting finally makes his way out to even the odds, and the babyfaces clear the ring. Flair poses with the belt, but someone launches a chair at him, prompting the fight to continue down the aisleway, until the heels are chased off for good.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Wow, a great show that deserves the reputation as one of, if not the, greatest PPV event ever. Nothing that was shown in full is worse than good, with the last four matches being really good ---> really great. The crowd is absolutely MOLTEN throughout, which helps out tremendously. Highly recommended show if you have never seen it.
-From the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, MD
-Hosts are Jim Ross & Bob Caudle
-Match 1: $50,000 "Triple Crown" Battle Royale: Kevin Sullivan VS Mike Rotunda VS Rick Steiner VS Scott Steiner VS Brian Pillman VS Eddie Gilbert VS Terry Gordy VS Sid Vicious VS Dan Spivey VS Scott Hall VS Bill Irwin VS Ranger Ross VS Ron Simmons VS Steve Williams
-This is the finals of the "King of the Hill" battle royale series that took place during the Bash tour. It's two rings, and everyone starts out in ring one. Only way to be eliminated from ring one is to be thrown over the top into ring two. Last man standing wins ring one. Once a man is in ring two, he fights whomever else is in there under regular battle royale rules. Last man standing in ring two faces off against the winner of ring one in a regular match. Got it?
-Ross is the first man eliminated from ring 1. Simmons follows soon after. Ross is able to eliminate Simmons as Hall joins him in ring two. Gordy joins ring 2, so Hall & Ross double-team him until Irwin joins ring 2. Ring 2 quickly fills up. Spivey spikes Ross with a powerbomb. Sid & Pillman are the last two men in ring 1. Ring 2 quickly empties as Sid and Pillman continue to fight it out. Sid wins ring 1, and does his "I'm the man" pose to celebrate. Pillman is quickly dumped from ring 2. Williams, Rotunda, and Spivey are the final three in ring 2. Williams gets rid of Rotunda as Spivey stands around and watches. Williams works Spivey over, but can't get him out. Rotunda trips Williams up, distracting him. This allows Spivey to clothesline Williams over and out.
-The Skyscrapers' (Sid & Spivey) manager Teddy Long gets in the ring, says he's not going to be stupid and let his tag team tear each other apart. He announces that they will split the prize money instead. So we don't get to see if Sid's life was going to fade in Danny Spivey's hands. This was a battle royale, so you know what to expect. Relatively quick.
-Match 2: Brian Pillman VS Bill Irwin
-Match is clipped to Irwin clotheslining Pillman out over the top. Pillman comes back with a couple dropkicks, a clothesline, and a big splash for two. Pillman misses a missile dropkick, but does get a crossbody from the top of ring 2 into ring 1 for the pin. Clipped too much to make a judgement on it.
-Match 3: The Skyscrapers (w/Teddy Long) VS The Dynamic Dudes
-I don't like the Dudes' chances. Match is clipped to Sid dropping Shane, then posing and getting a huge pop for it. Sid applies a back claw. Don't think I've seen that before. Crowd boos Spivey as he's tagged in, then chant "We Want Sid!". Spivey misses a diving headbutt. Shane makes the tag to Vince's new right hand man. He takes Spivey down, but Sid breaks up the pin by kicking him in the face. Skyscrapers accidentally clothesline each other. Shane gets dropped on his head by Sid, and Spivey follows up with a really shitty and dangerous looking powerbomb for the pin. Needed more Sid.
-Match 4: Tuxedo Match: James E. Cornette VS Paul E. Dangerously
-Cornette punches Paul in the mouth, so Paul responds by throwing powder in his face. Match is not-so-subtly clipped to Paul working Cornette over. Paul looks like a sleazy villain from about 100 different 80's movies. Cornette gets tired of this shit and FIRES UP. Caudle sounds a little too excited at the prospect of seeing Paul stripped. Paul tries the powder for a second time, but Cornette kicks it in his face before pulling his pants off for the win. About as good and as heated as you will ever see a tuxedo match be.
-Match 5: Texas Tornado Match: The Steiner Brothers (w/Missy Hyatte & Rick's Dog) VS Mike Rotunda & Kevin Sullivan
-Match immediately breaks down. Rick no-sells a chairshot from Sullivan before delivering one of his own. Sullivan crotches Rick on the guardrail. Scott & Rotunda go back-and-forth while Rick & Sullivan continue the fight on the outside. Rick & Sullivan fight with the timekeeper's table. Scott is sent over the top, as Rick & Sullivan get in the ring. The Steiners quickly take over, and get a couple near-falls. Rick is sent back outside by Sullivan. Varsity Club get their own near-falls. Sullivan takes a shitty bump off a Rick clothesline. Sullivan tries to slam Rick, but Scott comes off the top, and they both pin Sullivan. Pretty wild brawl. Appears to be in full.
-Match 6: NWA Television Championship: Sting [c] (w/Eddie Gilbert) VS The Great Muta (w/Gary Hart)
-Muta has a giant gong for his entrance. Muta has such a presence about him. Sting goes after Muta to start, but makes the mistake of turning his attention to Hart, allowing Muta to take the advantage. Muta tries to finish quickly with the moonsault. Sting moves, but Muta lands on his feet. Sting no-sells one kick, but takes another. Muta hits a dive to the outside onto Sting. Lots of Muta fans in the house. Sting comes back with a flying clothesline. Sting goes out over the top, but it looks like Muta is out of position to catch him on a dive, so Sting lands on his feet and chops Muta. Back in the ring, Muta gets a sleeper. Sting fights out with a Gorilla Press, but misses an elbow drop. Sting avoids the handspring elbow and comes back. Muta bails to slow the momentum. Muta tries to red mist Sting, but gets Nick Patrick instead. Muta avoids the Stinger Splash. Muta gets the moonsault. Tommy Young rushes in, but Sting kicks out at two. Sting gets a belly-to-back suplex for the pin. Really good. HUGE pop for Sting's win. Hart grabs the belt and hands it to Muta. They take off. The crowd chants "bullshit", perhaps thinking the title was changing hands. Sting is not happy that his belt is gone.
-Match 7: NWA United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Ricky Steamboat (w/Bonnie, Little Ricky, and a Kimodo Dragon)
-Steamboat is carried out on a wooden plank. Announcers state that Luger is refusing to wrestle if the match is no-DQ, as it is supposed to be. Luger gets on the mic and confirms this. Steamboat, not really having a choice, agrees. Steamboat blitzes Luger right off the bat, getting a couple near-falls and working him over on the outside. Luger manages to turn the tide, and starts working over Steamboat's back. Nice sequence as Steamboat gets a schoolboy for two, so Luger nails three running clotheslines, with Steamboat popping right up after each one, before swinging wildly at nothing and falling back down. Steamboat manages to come back after sending Luger to the outside. Luger tries going up, but gets slammed down. Steamboat gets a big chop from the top for two. Luger grabs a chair, but Steamboat flips out instead, wearing Luger out with the chair and pushing Tommy Young down to draw the DQ. Steamboat chases after Luger all the way down the aisle, swinging the chair like a madman. Nice to see pissed-off Steamboat for once. Really good match, finish made Luger look really smart.
-Match 8: War Games: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Jimmy Garvin, & Terry Gordy) & The Samoan Swat Team VS The Road Warriors, The Midnight Express, & Steve Williams
-Eaton & Garvin start it out. They go back-and-forth. Garvin mashes Eaton into the cage while Hayes taunts him. Eaton locks in a Boston Crab as Terry Gordy enters the match. This naturally leads to Eaton getting double-teamed. Williams enters to even the odds. Williams focuses on Gordy. Samu enters to help Gordy while Garvin pulls on Eaton's face. Animal gets in to kick ass and chew bubblegum...and he's all out of bubblegum. Animal charges across one ring to send himself into the other with a shoulderblock on Samu. On the outside, Hayes orders Fatu to "KILL KILL KILL". Fatu gets in, but doesn't do any killing. Crowd deflates a little bit as Lane enters, as it looked like they were expecting Hawk. Hayes does not want any part of this. Hayes gets in, quickly lays out three of the other team members with DDTs, then struts before taunting Hawk. Hawk gets in the start "The Match Beyond".
-Total chaos as everyone gathers in one ring. Paul E. tries to break the cage open to get his phone in there. Garvin breaks up a Dommsday Device on Gordy, so he takes the flying clothesline instead. Hawk hits a couple neckbreakers, then puts Garvin in a hangman's submission for the win. GREAT match. The winners go to leave, but when it's only Animal inside, the heels keep the door closed and lay waste to Animal. Hawk finally gets in, and the heels scatter.
-Match 9: NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair [c] VS Terry Funk (w/Gary Hart)
-Anyone know what Funk's entrance music is? It's AWESOME, and the lighting effects make his entrance even better. Flair gets the golden showers for his entrance. Match starts with Flair pounding on Funk on the outside. Funk tries to get the guardrail to bring it into the ring. Back in, Funk lands some big chops, but Flair responds with some STIFF AS HELL chops of his own. Back outside, Funk sends Flair into the ringpost to turn the tide. Suplex takes them both outside, where they exchange chops again before they both go to the eyes, which Funks wins. Back in, Funk goes for a piledriver, but Flair backdrops him over the top and out. Flair starts going to work on Funk's neck. Flair gets a piledriver, then another, taking time to pose a little bit with the second one before falling back. Funk can't take anymore and bails, but Flair follows him out, and throws him back in.
After working on the neck, Flair locks in the Figure 4. Hart distracts the ref, allowing Funk to nail Flair with a branding iron to break the hold. Flair is busted wide open off that. Funk gets a piledrive, but Flair's foot is under the bottom rope. Funk moves some mats back and tries for a piledriver on the floor, but Flair counters. Funk comes back and continues to work on Flair's neck. Funk yells at Flair to submit. Flair gets a hold of the branding iron and nails Funk. That busts Funk open. Flair rams Funk's face into the ringpost before bringing him back in.
Flair misses a charge in the corner. Funk tries the spinning toe hold. Flair gets a rollup, Funk reverses, then Flair reverses again for the pin to retain. Excellent match that felt like a hate-filled FIGHT rather than your average wrestling match.
-The Great Muta comes out to spew green mist at Flair. He and Funk work Flair over while the crowd chants for Sting. Doug Dillinger is useful for once, stopping an attempt to spike piledrive Flair on a wooden chair. Sting finally makes his way out to even the odds, and the babyfaces clear the ring. Flair poses with the belt, but someone launches a chair at him, prompting the fight to continue down the aisleway, until the heels are chased off for good.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Wow, a great show that deserves the reputation as one of, if not the, greatest PPV event ever. Nothing that was shown in full is worse than good, with the last four matches being really good ---> really great. The crowd is absolutely MOLTEN throughout, which helps out tremendously. Highly recommended show if you have never seen it.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Live Reactions: WWE Money in the Bank
-Match 1: Smackdown Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Sin Cara VS Heath Slater VS Justin Gabriel VS Daniel Bryan VS Cody Rhodes VS Sheamus VS Kane VS Wade Barrett
-Match started out slow, but got hotter and hotter as it went on. Sheamus powerbombed Sin Cara outside through a ladder, and he was stretchered off. Lots of sequences where one guy would dominate. The former Corre members teamed up for a time. Bryan fights off Wasteland from Barrett off a ladder, and grabs the briefcase for the win. Good choice as Kane & Sheamus have already won world titles. Slater, Gabriel, and Sin Cara are nowhere near ready. Cody could be with some time, and Barrett will probably have his time without needing a Money in the Bank cash-in. Now Bryan can lose almost all of his matches before he cashes in, like Punk used to.
-Vince arrives with an attorney.
-Match 2: WWE Divas Championship: Kelly Kelly [c] (w/Eve Torres) VS Brie Bella (w/Nikki Bella)
-Kelly retains with the K2. Match was shockingly decent, actually.
-Match 3: Big Show VS Mark Henry
-Henry injured Show's leg by kicking the ring steps into it. Show actually came off the second rope with a
shoulderblock. Henry escapes a chokeslam and hits the World's Strongest Slam...for two. A second WSS and a couple splashes do get the pin for Henry. Henry then grabs a chair and does his own version of the Pillmanizer on Show, using a Vader Bomb instead of a stomp. Match didn't overstay its welcome, and really put Henry over strong. They may finally have something with him, if they want to keep it going.
-Show gets taken away. Crowd shows their sympathy by chanting "CM Punk".
-Vince is in the back with the attorney. Josh Matthews asks if he's re-signed Punk. He hasn't. Vince blames John Cena for demanding that tonight's match take place after Vince suspended Punk.
-Match 4: Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Alberto Del Rio VS Evan Bourne VS Alex Riley VS The Miz VS Rey Mysterio VS R-Truth VS Kofi Kingston VS Jack Swagger
-Everyone grabs a ladder on their way to the ring. Truth, who has a fear of hights grabs a step ladder. Miz grabs a step ladder too for some reason. Miz gets injured early. Bunch of spots. Highlight is everyone left on top of 4 ladders reaching for the briefcase at the same time. Miz comes back and almost wins it, but Mysterio powerbombs him off the ladder. Del Rio unmasks Rey, and grabs the briefcase for the win. Comparable to the opener.
-Match 5: World Heavyweight Championship: Randy Orton [c] VS Christian
-If the ref makes a bad call, or Orton gets DQ'd, Christian wins the title. Good match. Not as great as their first couple, but the matchup has been pretty played out. Orton kicked out of the Killswitch. Orton has everything going his way when Christian spits in his face. Orton responds by kicking Christian in the nuts, drawing the DQ and giving Christian the title! Orton freaks out and destroys Christian after the match, finishing him off with an RKO on the Spanish Announce Table. Randy leaves, but then comes back to give Christian another RKO on the SAT, to drive the point home. No cash in by Bryan, although it would be logical for him to do it.
-Match 6: WWE Championship: John Cena [c] VS CM Punk
-If Punk leaves the arena as WWE Champion, Cena is fired. Awesome match. They worked it as a straight babyface clash of the titans type of a match. Very slow early, as they had a lot of time to fill. Punk survived 2 Attitude Adjustments and several attempts at the STF. a couple of which got locked in. Punk hit a GTS to send Cena outside. Vince & John Laurinitis came out. Cena was about to get Punk in the STF again as Vince and Laurinitis signaled for the ref to ring the bell, but as soon as Cena saw that, he broke the hold and KO'd Laurinitis. Cena tells Vince that "we'll do it my way", but walks into a GTS for the pin, so Punk is the WWE champion.
-As Punk celebrates, Vince frantically calls for Alberto Del Rio to come out and cash in his briefcase. ADR rushes out, but Punk floors him before any match can start. Punk takes off through the crowd with the title as Vince stares in disbelief to close the show. No firing of Cena.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: An awesome show. The two ladder matches delivered what they promised. The undercard matches were decent, and the two world title matches delivered in terms of quality and in somewhat surprising results. The fall out should be interesting. Hopefully, they can keep the momentum going. Very much looking forward to Raw tomorrow night. Hopefully Christian keeps the title for longer than five days this time.
-Match started out slow, but got hotter and hotter as it went on. Sheamus powerbombed Sin Cara outside through a ladder, and he was stretchered off. Lots of sequences where one guy would dominate. The former Corre members teamed up for a time. Bryan fights off Wasteland from Barrett off a ladder, and grabs the briefcase for the win. Good choice as Kane & Sheamus have already won world titles. Slater, Gabriel, and Sin Cara are nowhere near ready. Cody could be with some time, and Barrett will probably have his time without needing a Money in the Bank cash-in. Now Bryan can lose almost all of his matches before he cashes in, like Punk used to.
-Vince arrives with an attorney.
-Match 2: WWE Divas Championship: Kelly Kelly [c] (w/Eve Torres) VS Brie Bella (w/Nikki Bella)
-Kelly retains with the K2. Match was shockingly decent, actually.
-Match 3: Big Show VS Mark Henry
-Henry injured Show's leg by kicking the ring steps into it. Show actually came off the second rope with a
shoulderblock. Henry escapes a chokeslam and hits the World's Strongest Slam...for two. A second WSS and a couple splashes do get the pin for Henry. Henry then grabs a chair and does his own version of the Pillmanizer on Show, using a Vader Bomb instead of a stomp. Match didn't overstay its welcome, and really put Henry over strong. They may finally have something with him, if they want to keep it going.
-Show gets taken away. Crowd shows their sympathy by chanting "CM Punk".
-Vince is in the back with the attorney. Josh Matthews asks if he's re-signed Punk. He hasn't. Vince blames John Cena for demanding that tonight's match take place after Vince suspended Punk.
-Match 4: Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Alberto Del Rio VS Evan Bourne VS Alex Riley VS The Miz VS Rey Mysterio VS R-Truth VS Kofi Kingston VS Jack Swagger
-Everyone grabs a ladder on their way to the ring. Truth, who has a fear of hights grabs a step ladder. Miz grabs a step ladder too for some reason. Miz gets injured early. Bunch of spots. Highlight is everyone left on top of 4 ladders reaching for the briefcase at the same time. Miz comes back and almost wins it, but Mysterio powerbombs him off the ladder. Del Rio unmasks Rey, and grabs the briefcase for the win. Comparable to the opener.
-Match 5: World Heavyweight Championship: Randy Orton [c] VS Christian
-If the ref makes a bad call, or Orton gets DQ'd, Christian wins the title. Good match. Not as great as their first couple, but the matchup has been pretty played out. Orton kicked out of the Killswitch. Orton has everything going his way when Christian spits in his face. Orton responds by kicking Christian in the nuts, drawing the DQ and giving Christian the title! Orton freaks out and destroys Christian after the match, finishing him off with an RKO on the Spanish Announce Table. Randy leaves, but then comes back to give Christian another RKO on the SAT, to drive the point home. No cash in by Bryan, although it would be logical for him to do it.
-Match 6: WWE Championship: John Cena [c] VS CM Punk
-If Punk leaves the arena as WWE Champion, Cena is fired. Awesome match. They worked it as a straight babyface clash of the titans type of a match. Very slow early, as they had a lot of time to fill. Punk survived 2 Attitude Adjustments and several attempts at the STF. a couple of which got locked in. Punk hit a GTS to send Cena outside. Vince & John Laurinitis came out. Cena was about to get Punk in the STF again as Vince and Laurinitis signaled for the ref to ring the bell, but as soon as Cena saw that, he broke the hold and KO'd Laurinitis. Cena tells Vince that "we'll do it my way", but walks into a GTS for the pin, so Punk is the WWE champion.
-As Punk celebrates, Vince frantically calls for Alberto Del Rio to come out and cash in his briefcase. ADR rushes out, but Punk floors him before any match can start. Punk takes off through the crowd with the title as Vince stares in disbelief to close the show. No firing of Cena.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: An awesome show. The two ladder matches delivered what they promised. The undercard matches were decent, and the two world title matches delivered in terms of quality and in somewhat surprising results. The fall out should be interesting. Hopefully, they can keep the momentum going. Very much looking forward to Raw tomorrow night. Hopefully Christian keeps the title for longer than five days this time.
ECW on Sci-Fi 1/15/08
So I got bored last night and looked around Hulu.Com, and noticed that the site appears to have every episode from this one until the last one. Since I haven't seen any of them, I figured it would be a good opportunity to add more content to the blog, so I'll be going through all these shows...
-From Birmingham, AL
-Hosts are Joey Styles & Tazz
-Tonight is the ECW Debut of World Heavyweight Champion Edge's talk show, "The Cutting Edge", and that starts the show. Edge plugs his world title defense VS Rey Mysterio at the Royal Rumble. Edge says the match won't be competitive because of what happened on Smackdown. A video airs, showing Rey beating Chavo Guerrero, but then taking a 3-on-1 beating at the hands of Edge, Curt Hawkins, & Zach Ryder.
Edge calls out his guest, ECW Champion CM Punk. Edge asks Punk who he's really beaten, noting that his recent victories over Chavo have come via count out and DQ. Edge asks Punk what would happen if Chavo were to challenge him for a third time. Punk says he'd accept. Punk says not only can he beat Chavo anytime, but Punk can beat Edge too. Edge doesn't take it too seriously, and just as things look like they'll get heated, Chavo interrupts.
Chavo challenges Punk for tonight. That leads to a 2-on-1 beatdown on Punk. Punk's shoulder looks to be injured after he's rammed into the ringpost. Good opening segment. After 3+ years, it's weird to see A.) babyface CM Punk and B.) Chavo being taken seriously as a challenger for anything. Although it was weird to see Chavo as a challenger then too.
-ECW ad during ECW. It's like they're on TNN all over again.
-Replay of the final moments of the opening segment.
-Edge is shown walking out backstage.
-Match 1: WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison & The Miz VS The Highlanders (Rory & Robbie McCallister) [Non-Title]
-To illustrate the state of the Smackdown/ECW tag team division at this time, the champions main challengers are Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore. Short match as Rory is face-in-peril for a bit for Robbie gets the tag and cleans house, but soon falls victim to the Reality Check (knee lift/neckbreaker combo) from the Miz for the pin. Short and sweet.
-Kofi "the phony Jamacan" Kingston vignette. Some asshole kicks sand in some kid's face, so Kofi beats his ass. Kofi makes his debut next week.
-LAST WEEK: A diva dance-off between Kelly Kelly and Layla. The ring announcer Leina Yada enters, and naturally declares herself the winner.
-Kelly comes out to announce that in ECW'S HD debut, there will be a "best body" competition between herself, Leina, and Layla. Kelly shows herself off in a skimpy bikini.
-Tazz is in the ring with a very bandaged up Colin Delaney. A replay of him getting killed by Shelton Benjamin, Big Daddy V, and Mark Henry airs. This leads to...
-Match 2: Colin Delaney VS Kane
-Kane's amused look at Delaney as he puts his fists up is tremendous. Quick squash (no shit), and Kane finishes with the chokeslam. It was cool seeing a local Western NY guy get a shot at WWE. Colin is a pretty charismatic guy. I remember going to an NWA Upstate TV taping, and some kid dropped Skittles off the floor...so Colin ate them.
-The trainer makes sure CM Punk wants to wrestle tonight.
-LAST NIGHT ON RAW: Jeff Hardy lays out WWE Champion Randy Orton, then gives him a swanton off the stage. This one segment made people really want Jeff to be WWE Champion. Good thing it didn't happen, as Jeff got his dumb ass suspended before WrestleMania.
-Armageddon DVD ad.
-Joey gives an update on the condition of Jeff & Randy, starting a run down of the Royal Rumble card.
-Match 3: Shelton Benjamin VS Nunzio
-Extended squash that the crowd barely reacts to. Shelton tosses Nunzio around and pounds away. Nunzio comes back with a dropkick. Shelton catches Nunzio in mid-air and powerbombs him into the corner. Jumping complete shot (I forget what Shelton calls it) finishes. Needed more Shelton manhandling Nunzio and less Shelton punching Nunzio.
-Match 4: ECW Champion CM Punk VS Chavo Guerrero [Non-Title]
-If Chavo wins, he gets another title shot. Edge comes back out to join in on commentary. Punk continues to sell the shoulder injury. Commentary spends the first part of the match talking about Edge VS Rey instead of this match. Punk backdrops Chavo over the top and out, so of course there's a commercial break.
Back from break, Punk lands some kicks as Joey & Tazz aren't aware that we're back from the commercial break. Chavo starts to work Punk's arm over. Punk gets an enziguiri, but Chavo comes back with a dropkick to the injured shoulder. Chavo keeps working over Punk's injured shoulder as the crowd doesn't react to anything he does. Punk gets some offense to wake the crowd up, but Chavo sends Punk to the outside, and Edge takes the opportunity to blast Punk in the back of the head with the World title belt. Punk is counted out, and Chavo is the #1 contender to the ECW title. Match was technically fine and Punk did a good job of selling the shoulder, but no one was buying Chavo as a possible champion.
-Logic says that this would lead to a CM Punk title defense over Chavo at the Royal Rumble before moving on to another challenger, but no one's ever accused WWE of being completely logical...
-An OK show, but this is the time when the ECW title really became devalued (this will be illustrated shortly) and the show started to become Sunday Night Heat with a championship. None of the matches were particularly good, and I could never get over Chavo Guerrero being given this spot. The fact that he did pretty much jack shit after his ECW run showed what he meant to the company.
-From Birmingham, AL
-Hosts are Joey Styles & Tazz
-Tonight is the ECW Debut of World Heavyweight Champion Edge's talk show, "The Cutting Edge", and that starts the show. Edge plugs his world title defense VS Rey Mysterio at the Royal Rumble. Edge says the match won't be competitive because of what happened on Smackdown. A video airs, showing Rey beating Chavo Guerrero, but then taking a 3-on-1 beating at the hands of Edge, Curt Hawkins, & Zach Ryder.
Edge calls out his guest, ECW Champion CM Punk. Edge asks Punk who he's really beaten, noting that his recent victories over Chavo have come via count out and DQ. Edge asks Punk what would happen if Chavo were to challenge him for a third time. Punk says he'd accept. Punk says not only can he beat Chavo anytime, but Punk can beat Edge too. Edge doesn't take it too seriously, and just as things look like they'll get heated, Chavo interrupts.
Chavo challenges Punk for tonight. That leads to a 2-on-1 beatdown on Punk. Punk's shoulder looks to be injured after he's rammed into the ringpost. Good opening segment. After 3+ years, it's weird to see A.) babyface CM Punk and B.) Chavo being taken seriously as a challenger for anything. Although it was weird to see Chavo as a challenger then too.
-ECW ad during ECW. It's like they're on TNN all over again.
-Replay of the final moments of the opening segment.
-Edge is shown walking out backstage.
-Match 1: WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison & The Miz VS The Highlanders (Rory & Robbie McCallister) [Non-Title]
-To illustrate the state of the Smackdown/ECW tag team division at this time, the champions main challengers are Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore. Short match as Rory is face-in-peril for a bit for Robbie gets the tag and cleans house, but soon falls victim to the Reality Check (knee lift/neckbreaker combo) from the Miz for the pin. Short and sweet.
-Kofi "the phony Jamacan" Kingston vignette. Some asshole kicks sand in some kid's face, so Kofi beats his ass. Kofi makes his debut next week.
-LAST WEEK: A diva dance-off between Kelly Kelly and Layla. The ring announcer Leina Yada enters, and naturally declares herself the winner.
-Kelly comes out to announce that in ECW'S HD debut, there will be a "best body" competition between herself, Leina, and Layla. Kelly shows herself off in a skimpy bikini.
-Tazz is in the ring with a very bandaged up Colin Delaney. A replay of him getting killed by Shelton Benjamin, Big Daddy V, and Mark Henry airs. This leads to...
-Match 2: Colin Delaney VS Kane
-Kane's amused look at Delaney as he puts his fists up is tremendous. Quick squash (no shit), and Kane finishes with the chokeslam. It was cool seeing a local Western NY guy get a shot at WWE. Colin is a pretty charismatic guy. I remember going to an NWA Upstate TV taping, and some kid dropped Skittles off the floor...so Colin ate them.
-The trainer makes sure CM Punk wants to wrestle tonight.
-LAST NIGHT ON RAW: Jeff Hardy lays out WWE Champion Randy Orton, then gives him a swanton off the stage. This one segment made people really want Jeff to be WWE Champion. Good thing it didn't happen, as Jeff got his dumb ass suspended before WrestleMania.
-Armageddon DVD ad.
-Joey gives an update on the condition of Jeff & Randy, starting a run down of the Royal Rumble card.
-Match 3: Shelton Benjamin VS Nunzio
-Extended squash that the crowd barely reacts to. Shelton tosses Nunzio around and pounds away. Nunzio comes back with a dropkick. Shelton catches Nunzio in mid-air and powerbombs him into the corner. Jumping complete shot (I forget what Shelton calls it) finishes. Needed more Shelton manhandling Nunzio and less Shelton punching Nunzio.
-Match 4: ECW Champion CM Punk VS Chavo Guerrero [Non-Title]
-If Chavo wins, he gets another title shot. Edge comes back out to join in on commentary. Punk continues to sell the shoulder injury. Commentary spends the first part of the match talking about Edge VS Rey instead of this match. Punk backdrops Chavo over the top and out, so of course there's a commercial break.
Back from break, Punk lands some kicks as Joey & Tazz aren't aware that we're back from the commercial break. Chavo starts to work Punk's arm over. Punk gets an enziguiri, but Chavo comes back with a dropkick to the injured shoulder. Chavo keeps working over Punk's injured shoulder as the crowd doesn't react to anything he does. Punk gets some offense to wake the crowd up, but Chavo sends Punk to the outside, and Edge takes the opportunity to blast Punk in the back of the head with the World title belt. Punk is counted out, and Chavo is the #1 contender to the ECW title. Match was technically fine and Punk did a good job of selling the shoulder, but no one was buying Chavo as a possible champion.
-Logic says that this would lead to a CM Punk title defense over Chavo at the Royal Rumble before moving on to another challenger, but no one's ever accused WWE of being completely logical...
-An OK show, but this is the time when the ECW title really became devalued (this will be illustrated shortly) and the show started to become Sunday Night Heat with a championship. None of the matches were particularly good, and I could never get over Chavo Guerrero being given this spot. The fact that he did pretty much jack shit after his ECW run showed what he meant to the company.
Friday, July 15, 2011
NWA/WCW Big Event Project #23: Clash of the Champions VII "Gust and Glory"
-6/14/89
--From Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC
-Hosts are Jim Ross & Bob Caudle
-Since this show is held at a military base, there's red, white, and blue decorations on the ring. There are quick videos with various military members cut into the show.
-Match 1: NWA Tag Team Championship Tournament Semi-Finals: The Dynamic Dudes VS The Freebirds of Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin (w/Terry Gordy)
-Garvin is the newest member of the group, being revealed just now. Dudes start off fast as Ace gets a sunset flip off the top on Hayes while Shane gives Garvin an awkward clothesline. One of the few times I've seen one man lower his head too early, but dodge the inevitable kick that comes with it. Well done Johnny Ace. Dudes get some double teams before Shane gets tackled from behind by Garvin and double teamed himself. Johnny becomes the face-in-peril. This is apparently the 214th birthday of Fort Bragg. Shane gets in, and has Garvin pinned until Hayes DDTs him behind the referee's back, allowing Garvin to get the pin. Match was decent, aided greatly by a hot crowd.
-Match 2: Rangers Ross VS *sigh*...The Terrorist
-Terrorist is a masked jobber. I've read it's Jack Victory. I don't care enough to look into it further. JR plus Coors Light and Domino's Pizza as The Terrorist attacks Ross. Wasn't Jim Heard a Pizza Hut guy? Ross finishes quickly with a crappy side kick.
-A Road Warriors video set to "Iron Man" airs.
-Match 3: The Ding Dongs VS George South & Cougar Jay
-This is pretty infamous. The Ding Dongs are two guys in orange bodysuits and masks with bells all over them. The crowd is not exactly pleased to see them. The one who is not in the ring constantly rings a bell in the corner. It gets really annoying about 2 seconds after it starts. The match is secondary to the fact that JIM HEARD THOUGHT THE DING DONGS WAS A GOOD IDEA. They finish rather quickly. Ross comes right out and says "that was horrible", then realizes what he said, and tries to say that he was referring to a play on words that he tried to make. I was expecting more vitrol from the crowd and from the announcers the way this had been built up, so it even disappointed on that level.
-Match 4: NWA Tag Team Championship Tournament Semi-Finals: The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette) VS The Samoan Swat Team (w/Paul E. Dangerously)
-A fan tries to jump into the ring during Cornette's intro of the Midnights, and they graciously do not take the opportunity to kill him. The SST earn my love by coming out to the theme from HALLOWEEN. I wonder if WCW actually paid John Carpenter royalties for that. Paul threatens Cornette to kick off the match. Stan and Fatu fuck up a backdrop in spectacular fashion. The Midnights have the early momentum, but the SST turn it around, leading to Fatu giving Bobby a snap suplex on the floor. Bobby is face-in-peril until Fatu misses a corner splash and rams into the ringpost. Match breaks down. The ref is bumped, allowing the Road Warriors to lay out the SST and the Midnights to get the pin. Not much here. HUGE pop for the run-in.
-Match 5: Battle of the Bulls: Terry Gordy VS Dr. Death Steve Williams
-This is a result of Kevin Sullivan paying Gordy to jump Doc over in Japan. Doc jumps all over Gordy to start, but runs into a big clothesline. JR goes over the history between the two, including their feud in Mid-South and the UWF. Match is a pretty fun heavyweight slugfest. Ross goes over the top in his shilling of Coors' Light. They eventually both say "fuck this" and fight outside to a double count-out. Fans chant "bullshit" to show how they feel.
-Match 6: Mike Justice VS Norman The Lunatic (w/Teddy Long)
-Mike is not to be confused with Sid Justice. Norman is Mike Shaw, who would go on to greater "fame" as Bastion Booger in the WWF. This would have been a more appropriate person to use the HALLOWEEN theme. Norman finishes very quickly with an avalanche. Teddy controls Norman by dangling the sanitarium's keys in front of Norman, threatening to lock him back up. Norman is placed on a gurney and taken away by orderlies as the crowd sings "the goodbye song".
-Preview for the "King of the Hill" battle royale series at the Great American Bash.
-JR interviews the Freebirds.
-A video for "Flyin' " Brian Pillman set to "Oh Yeah" by Yello, a.k.a. that song from FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF.
-Match 7: Austrailian Style Tag Team Match: The Steiner Brothers (w/Missy Hyatt) VS Mike Rotuna & Kevin Sullivan
-Odd choice for a gimmick match, and no explanation is given as to what that means. Sullivan is now being billed as from Boston. Scott is wearing gold trunks and boots. Steiners clear the ring, and Scott celebrates by doing an Ultimate Warrior rope shake. Rick might be bigger than Scott at this point. Match is a pretty pedestrian brawl until Scott gets dumped over the top onto the announce table. JR loses his shit as Sullivan works Scott over on the outside, hitting him with the ring steps and sending him into the ringpost. Rotunda falls down after missing a clothesline, but makes for it by creaming Scott on the second attempt. Cool spot as Rick gets the hot tag, and gets Rotunda into position for the corner punches. Since Sullivan walks over, Rick alternates between punching Rotunda and punching Sullivan. Sullivan steals Bob Caudle's chair and slides it into the ring. Rotunda suplexes Scott on the chair for the pin. Match was OK, didn't need a gimmick announced that was never explained, and never came into play.
-JR interviews Jim Cornette, who mocks the idea of The Freebirds being ladies men ("If one of the Midnight Express ever woke up next to what the Freebirds go out with, they'd knaw their own arm off to escape without waking the beast") while hyping the tag title match.
-Match 8: NWA World Television Championship: Sting VS "Wild" Bill Irwin
-Irwin would later suffer the indignity of wrestling as The Goon in the WWF. Irwin takes control quickly and pounds on Sting. JR foreshadows future events by noting that he asked Lex Luger to join in on color commentary, but Luger refused because he's unhappy with his spot in the Top 10 Rankings. Irwin avoids a Stinger Splash, and powers Sting down with a spinebuster, but stops to gloat, and takes the Stinger Splash and a rollup for the pin. Nothing to see here.
-A hype video for Scott "Gator" Hall, who looks strange as hell with blonde hair and his 70's porn stache.
-Pre-taped interview between JR and the injured Ric Flair at Flair's home in Charlotte. Very subdued Flair is not nearly is entertaining as raving maniac Flair. He says he'll make an announcement on July 1st, but won't go after Terry Funk until he's 100%.
-Match 9: NWA World Tag Team Championship: Jimmy Garvin & Michaels Hayes (w/Terry Gordy) VS The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette)
-Paul E. knocks Cornette out with the loaded tennis racket to remove him from the match. The Dynamic Dudes come out to carry Cornette from ringside. The Midnights control the early going. The Freebirds tell the crowd to shut up, so they respond by getting louder. Not much here. The teams go back and forth until Gordy sneaks in to powerbomb Eaton, allowing Garvin to roll on top for the pin and the titles.
-Match 10: Terry Funk VS Ricky Steamboat
-Funk had made it into the top 10, sitting at the 10 spot. Steamboat is still the #1 contender at this point. Funk is in great shape here. Both men just go for it right off the bat. Steamboat is cranky, hitting some stiff chops. Funk hits a hangman's neckbreaker, then adds a backsplash on top of it. Funk does a flip in the corner, but goes the extra mile by diving out onto the floor. Steamboat follows, picks Funk up, and walks him around the outside of the ring before finally slamming him on the floor. Funk tries to get back in, so Steamboat slams him over the top back out to the floor. He does not get DQ'd for this for no explained reason. Funk fights back, Nick Patrick gets bumped, and Funk piledrives Steamboat on the floor. That only gets two, so Funk goes up for a splash, which hits Steamboat's knees. Steamboat takes over, so Funk gets desperate, and nails Steamboat with the house microphone for the DQ. Good main event. I'm glad they didn't just have Funk run through everyone on his way to Flair.
-Lex Luger rushes out, ostensibly to stop Funk from attacking Steamboat. Luger helps Steamboat up, only to drop him with a big clothesline. Luger nails Steamboat with a chair, then locks in the Human Torture Rack to finish him off. Excellent heel turn from Luger. Sting rushes out to help Steamboat. It would have been awesome if Sting jumped him too, but that wasn't in the cards. Probably would have been more distructive than any benefit they might have gotten out of it.
-A cake is brought out to help celebrate the 214th birthday of the U.S. armed forces. WCW gets a replica of an "Iron Mike" in return for them having the show there. Members of the 82nd airborne sing "Happy Birthday" and "God Bless the U.S.A.". Shockingly, no one ends up getting smashed with the cake.
-JR & Caudle recap the event.
-This show was just there wrestling wise, with a lot of squashes, and a couple matches that didn't get out of first gear. The only thing that really stood out was the main event and the Lex Luger turn immediately after.
--From Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC
-Hosts are Jim Ross & Bob Caudle
-Since this show is held at a military base, there's red, white, and blue decorations on the ring. There are quick videos with various military members cut into the show.
-Match 1: NWA Tag Team Championship Tournament Semi-Finals: The Dynamic Dudes VS The Freebirds of Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin (w/Terry Gordy)
-Garvin is the newest member of the group, being revealed just now. Dudes start off fast as Ace gets a sunset flip off the top on Hayes while Shane gives Garvin an awkward clothesline. One of the few times I've seen one man lower his head too early, but dodge the inevitable kick that comes with it. Well done Johnny Ace. Dudes get some double teams before Shane gets tackled from behind by Garvin and double teamed himself. Johnny becomes the face-in-peril. This is apparently the 214th birthday of Fort Bragg. Shane gets in, and has Garvin pinned until Hayes DDTs him behind the referee's back, allowing Garvin to get the pin. Match was decent, aided greatly by a hot crowd.
-Match 2: Rangers Ross VS *sigh*...The Terrorist
-Terrorist is a masked jobber. I've read it's Jack Victory. I don't care enough to look into it further. JR plus Coors Light and Domino's Pizza as The Terrorist attacks Ross. Wasn't Jim Heard a Pizza Hut guy? Ross finishes quickly with a crappy side kick.
-A Road Warriors video set to "Iron Man" airs.
-Match 3: The Ding Dongs VS George South & Cougar Jay
-This is pretty infamous. The Ding Dongs are two guys in orange bodysuits and masks with bells all over them. The crowd is not exactly pleased to see them. The one who is not in the ring constantly rings a bell in the corner. It gets really annoying about 2 seconds after it starts. The match is secondary to the fact that JIM HEARD THOUGHT THE DING DONGS WAS A GOOD IDEA. They finish rather quickly. Ross comes right out and says "that was horrible", then realizes what he said, and tries to say that he was referring to a play on words that he tried to make. I was expecting more vitrol from the crowd and from the announcers the way this had been built up, so it even disappointed on that level.
-Match 4: NWA Tag Team Championship Tournament Semi-Finals: The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette) VS The Samoan Swat Team (w/Paul E. Dangerously)
-A fan tries to jump into the ring during Cornette's intro of the Midnights, and they graciously do not take the opportunity to kill him. The SST earn my love by coming out to the theme from HALLOWEEN. I wonder if WCW actually paid John Carpenter royalties for that. Paul threatens Cornette to kick off the match. Stan and Fatu fuck up a backdrop in spectacular fashion. The Midnights have the early momentum, but the SST turn it around, leading to Fatu giving Bobby a snap suplex on the floor. Bobby is face-in-peril until Fatu misses a corner splash and rams into the ringpost. Match breaks down. The ref is bumped, allowing the Road Warriors to lay out the SST and the Midnights to get the pin. Not much here. HUGE pop for the run-in.
-Match 5: Battle of the Bulls: Terry Gordy VS Dr. Death Steve Williams
-This is a result of Kevin Sullivan paying Gordy to jump Doc over in Japan. Doc jumps all over Gordy to start, but runs into a big clothesline. JR goes over the history between the two, including their feud in Mid-South and the UWF. Match is a pretty fun heavyweight slugfest. Ross goes over the top in his shilling of Coors' Light. They eventually both say "fuck this" and fight outside to a double count-out. Fans chant "bullshit" to show how they feel.
-Match 6: Mike Justice VS Norman The Lunatic (w/Teddy Long)
-Mike is not to be confused with Sid Justice. Norman is Mike Shaw, who would go on to greater "fame" as Bastion Booger in the WWF. This would have been a more appropriate person to use the HALLOWEEN theme. Norman finishes very quickly with an avalanche. Teddy controls Norman by dangling the sanitarium's keys in front of Norman, threatening to lock him back up. Norman is placed on a gurney and taken away by orderlies as the crowd sings "the goodbye song".
-Preview for the "King of the Hill" battle royale series at the Great American Bash.
-JR interviews the Freebirds.
-A video for "Flyin' " Brian Pillman set to "Oh Yeah" by Yello, a.k.a. that song from FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF.
-Match 7: Austrailian Style Tag Team Match: The Steiner Brothers (w/Missy Hyatt) VS Mike Rotuna & Kevin Sullivan
-Odd choice for a gimmick match, and no explanation is given as to what that means. Sullivan is now being billed as from Boston. Scott is wearing gold trunks and boots. Steiners clear the ring, and Scott celebrates by doing an Ultimate Warrior rope shake. Rick might be bigger than Scott at this point. Match is a pretty pedestrian brawl until Scott gets dumped over the top onto the announce table. JR loses his shit as Sullivan works Scott over on the outside, hitting him with the ring steps and sending him into the ringpost. Rotunda falls down after missing a clothesline, but makes for it by creaming Scott on the second attempt. Cool spot as Rick gets the hot tag, and gets Rotunda into position for the corner punches. Since Sullivan walks over, Rick alternates between punching Rotunda and punching Sullivan. Sullivan steals Bob Caudle's chair and slides it into the ring. Rotunda suplexes Scott on the chair for the pin. Match was OK, didn't need a gimmick announced that was never explained, and never came into play.
-JR interviews Jim Cornette, who mocks the idea of The Freebirds being ladies men ("If one of the Midnight Express ever woke up next to what the Freebirds go out with, they'd knaw their own arm off to escape without waking the beast") while hyping the tag title match.
-Match 8: NWA World Television Championship: Sting VS "Wild" Bill Irwin
-Irwin would later suffer the indignity of wrestling as The Goon in the WWF. Irwin takes control quickly and pounds on Sting. JR foreshadows future events by noting that he asked Lex Luger to join in on color commentary, but Luger refused because he's unhappy with his spot in the Top 10 Rankings. Irwin avoids a Stinger Splash, and powers Sting down with a spinebuster, but stops to gloat, and takes the Stinger Splash and a rollup for the pin. Nothing to see here.
-A hype video for Scott "Gator" Hall, who looks strange as hell with blonde hair and his 70's porn stache.
-Pre-taped interview between JR and the injured Ric Flair at Flair's home in Charlotte. Very subdued Flair is not nearly is entertaining as raving maniac Flair. He says he'll make an announcement on July 1st, but won't go after Terry Funk until he's 100%.
-Match 9: NWA World Tag Team Championship: Jimmy Garvin & Michaels Hayes (w/Terry Gordy) VS The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette)
-Paul E. knocks Cornette out with the loaded tennis racket to remove him from the match. The Dynamic Dudes come out to carry Cornette from ringside. The Midnights control the early going. The Freebirds tell the crowd to shut up, so they respond by getting louder. Not much here. The teams go back and forth until Gordy sneaks in to powerbomb Eaton, allowing Garvin to roll on top for the pin and the titles.
-Match 10: Terry Funk VS Ricky Steamboat
-Funk had made it into the top 10, sitting at the 10 spot. Steamboat is still the #1 contender at this point. Funk is in great shape here. Both men just go for it right off the bat. Steamboat is cranky, hitting some stiff chops. Funk hits a hangman's neckbreaker, then adds a backsplash on top of it. Funk does a flip in the corner, but goes the extra mile by diving out onto the floor. Steamboat follows, picks Funk up, and walks him around the outside of the ring before finally slamming him on the floor. Funk tries to get back in, so Steamboat slams him over the top back out to the floor. He does not get DQ'd for this for no explained reason. Funk fights back, Nick Patrick gets bumped, and Funk piledrives Steamboat on the floor. That only gets two, so Funk goes up for a splash, which hits Steamboat's knees. Steamboat takes over, so Funk gets desperate, and nails Steamboat with the house microphone for the DQ. Good main event. I'm glad they didn't just have Funk run through everyone on his way to Flair.
-Lex Luger rushes out, ostensibly to stop Funk from attacking Steamboat. Luger helps Steamboat up, only to drop him with a big clothesline. Luger nails Steamboat with a chair, then locks in the Human Torture Rack to finish him off. Excellent heel turn from Luger. Sting rushes out to help Steamboat. It would have been awesome if Sting jumped him too, but that wasn't in the cards. Probably would have been more distructive than any benefit they might have gotten out of it.
-A cake is brought out to help celebrate the 214th birthday of the U.S. armed forces. WCW gets a replica of an "Iron Mike" in return for them having the show there. Members of the 82nd airborne sing "Happy Birthday" and "God Bless the U.S.A.". Shockingly, no one ends up getting smashed with the cake.
-JR & Caudle recap the event.
-This show was just there wrestling wise, with a lot of squashes, and a couple matches that didn't get out of first gear. The only thing that really stood out was the main event and the Lex Luger turn immediately after.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Live Reactions: TNA Destination X
-So this show is essentially a nostalgia show for the X-Division, even though it is still active in TNA. That would be like WWE having a nostalgia show filled with tag team matches.
-Match 1: Kazarian VS Samoa Joe
-Good opener. Crowd was 100% behind Joe. Match was a throwback to when Joe was the hottest thing in wrestling. Kazarian gets to the ropes to break the rear naked choke, and after Joe argues with sensitive Earl Hebner, Kazarian counters another attempt at the choke into a rollup for the pin.
-Christopher Daniels arrives.
-EARLIER TODAY: Suicide, Curry Man (which would actually explain why Daniels is just now showing up), and someone I don't recognize are doing an autograph signing. Eric Young interrupts to ask if any of them want to be his tag partner. Curry Man declines, but Stone Cold Shark Boy steps in to accept.
-Match 2: Open Challenge: Douglas Williams VS Mark Haskins
-Haskins looks like a John Morrison rip-off, when Morrison was still transitioning from Johnny Nitro, complete with jacket, sunglasses, and he even stops to do the same pose. Good technical wrestling for about half the match before they transitioned into more traditional wrestling spots. Haskins messes up before the finish, slipping off the ropes before going back up. He misses a shooting star, and Douglas rolls him up for the pin. They put Haskins over as a British prospect who impressed on a recent tour. I'd like to see more of him, but he needs a new look.
-Austin Aries says he'll win the Fatal 4 Way for a TNA/Impact Wrestling contract because the other three are good, but they're not great like him. Surprised they'd have him back after the issues they had with him "not being reliable" a few years ago.
-Match 3: Generation Me (Max & Jeremy Buck) VS TV Champion Eric Young & Shark Boy
-Least of the three matches so far. They actually explain that the Bucks reunited after their split due to the "threat to the X Division", which A.) makes no sense, as their gimmick is that they don't care about anyone (including each other) but themselves, and B.) this is the third of fourth time someone or a group has tried to end the X division, when all they have to do is let TNA booking take its course. Young & Shark Boy win after a stunner and wheelbarrow neckbreaker on Max.
-Zema Ion delivers his own backstage promo. It's the biggest match of his life, and he's honored to be in the ring with the other three. He knows he's the undercard, and he's there to prove that he deserves to be in TNA. I've seen a little bit of Ion in Pro Wrestling Ohio when I watched a bit of it last year. He's more impressive as the arrogant male model gimmick he was using there.
-Match 4: Ultimate X #1 Contender's Match: Alex Shelley VS Shannon Moore VS Robbie E VS Amazing Red
-Really disappointing, but considering at least two of the four really suck (Moore, Robbie), it's probably the best we could have gotten. A bunch of spots, everyone tries to get the X hanging above the ring, everyone gets knocked off the cables until Shelley is the last man left, and he grabs it to win. Nice to see the most talented man in the match win, which doesn't happen nearly as often as it should.
-Low Ki talks about having to fight to prove that he belongs in TNA, which is sad, considering he's come and gone a few times already.
-It should be noted that everyone keeps switching back-and-forth between calling the company TNA and calling it Impact Wrestling (where "Wrestling Matters"), so no one knows what the hell is going on with the rebranding.
-Match 5: Rob Van Dam VS Jerry Lynn
-Pretty strong match. Started out as pretty much a cut & paste version of their ECW matches, until Lynn said "fuck this" and started wrestling as a heel. Lynn eventually introduced a couple chairs. Lynn busted RVD open by dropping a leg on the back of his head, driving Rob's head into a chair. Wild swing misses, leading to a Van Daminator and Five Star Frog Splash to give RVD the win. Match suffered a bit because I didn't think for a second that RVD would lose.
-Match 6: Winner Gets a TNA/Impact Wrestling Contract: Austin Aries VS Zema Ion VS Low Ki VS Jack Evans
-Evans looks really stupid with his bad haircut and MMA gloves. Great match. I expected Aries/Ki.Evans to be able to work together because of their time in RoH and other indies, but Ion gave a good accounting of himself as well. Aries wins after Low Ki blocks Evans' 630 splash with his knees, only for Aries to give him a stiff kick to the head and a brainbuster for the pin. Aries is a great choice, but I agree with the crowd when they chant "sign them all!".
-Aries takes the contract and proclaims himself "the greatest man who ever lived".
-Match 7: X-Division Championship: Abyss [c] VS Brian Kendrick
-Match was slow, and boring, which is par for the course when Abyss isn't in a garbage match (and sometimes when he is). Earl gets bumped, Kendrick hits the Sliced Bread #2, but Immortal (Brother Ray, Gunner, and Scott Steiner) attacks. Almost the whole X-Division rushes out to fight them off, and Kendrick counters a chokeslam into a rollup for the pin and the title. Kendrick gets the confetti treatment, and this is the only context in which that'll happen for an X-Division title change.
-Match 8: AJ Styles VS Christopher Daniels
-Nothing technically wrong with this match, but I just couldn't get into it. Styles wins with the Spiral Tap, then they shake hands after teasing a Daniels turn.
-All in all, a really good PPV for TNA, which was aided greatly by not having their crappy (f0r the most part) heavyweights stink it up, with the exception of Abyss. Unfortunately, this show will be buried and forgotten by the company.
-Match 1: Kazarian VS Samoa Joe
-Good opener. Crowd was 100% behind Joe. Match was a throwback to when Joe was the hottest thing in wrestling. Kazarian gets to the ropes to break the rear naked choke, and after Joe argues with sensitive Earl Hebner, Kazarian counters another attempt at the choke into a rollup for the pin.
-Christopher Daniels arrives.
-EARLIER TODAY: Suicide, Curry Man (which would actually explain why Daniels is just now showing up), and someone I don't recognize are doing an autograph signing. Eric Young interrupts to ask if any of them want to be his tag partner. Curry Man declines, but Stone Cold Shark Boy steps in to accept.
-Match 2: Open Challenge: Douglas Williams VS Mark Haskins
-Haskins looks like a John Morrison rip-off, when Morrison was still transitioning from Johnny Nitro, complete with jacket, sunglasses, and he even stops to do the same pose. Good technical wrestling for about half the match before they transitioned into more traditional wrestling spots. Haskins messes up before the finish, slipping off the ropes before going back up. He misses a shooting star, and Douglas rolls him up for the pin. They put Haskins over as a British prospect who impressed on a recent tour. I'd like to see more of him, but he needs a new look.
-Austin Aries says he'll win the Fatal 4 Way for a TNA/Impact Wrestling contract because the other three are good, but they're not great like him. Surprised they'd have him back after the issues they had with him "not being reliable" a few years ago.
-Match 3: Generation Me (Max & Jeremy Buck) VS TV Champion Eric Young & Shark Boy
-Least of the three matches so far. They actually explain that the Bucks reunited after their split due to the "threat to the X Division", which A.) makes no sense, as their gimmick is that they don't care about anyone (including each other) but themselves, and B.) this is the third of fourth time someone or a group has tried to end the X division, when all they have to do is let TNA booking take its course. Young & Shark Boy win after a stunner and wheelbarrow neckbreaker on Max.
-Zema Ion delivers his own backstage promo. It's the biggest match of his life, and he's honored to be in the ring with the other three. He knows he's the undercard, and he's there to prove that he deserves to be in TNA. I've seen a little bit of Ion in Pro Wrestling Ohio when I watched a bit of it last year. He's more impressive as the arrogant male model gimmick he was using there.
-Match 4: Ultimate X #1 Contender's Match: Alex Shelley VS Shannon Moore VS Robbie E VS Amazing Red
-Really disappointing, but considering at least two of the four really suck (Moore, Robbie), it's probably the best we could have gotten. A bunch of spots, everyone tries to get the X hanging above the ring, everyone gets knocked off the cables until Shelley is the last man left, and he grabs it to win. Nice to see the most talented man in the match win, which doesn't happen nearly as often as it should.
-Low Ki talks about having to fight to prove that he belongs in TNA, which is sad, considering he's come and gone a few times already.
-It should be noted that everyone keeps switching back-and-forth between calling the company TNA and calling it Impact Wrestling (where "Wrestling Matters"), so no one knows what the hell is going on with the rebranding.
-Match 5: Rob Van Dam VS Jerry Lynn
-Pretty strong match. Started out as pretty much a cut & paste version of their ECW matches, until Lynn said "fuck this" and started wrestling as a heel. Lynn eventually introduced a couple chairs. Lynn busted RVD open by dropping a leg on the back of his head, driving Rob's head into a chair. Wild swing misses, leading to a Van Daminator and Five Star Frog Splash to give RVD the win. Match suffered a bit because I didn't think for a second that RVD would lose.
-Match 6: Winner Gets a TNA/Impact Wrestling Contract: Austin Aries VS Zema Ion VS Low Ki VS Jack Evans
-Evans looks really stupid with his bad haircut and MMA gloves. Great match. I expected Aries/Ki.Evans to be able to work together because of their time in RoH and other indies, but Ion gave a good accounting of himself as well. Aries wins after Low Ki blocks Evans' 630 splash with his knees, only for Aries to give him a stiff kick to the head and a brainbuster for the pin. Aries is a great choice, but I agree with the crowd when they chant "sign them all!".
-Aries takes the contract and proclaims himself "the greatest man who ever lived".
-Match 7: X-Division Championship: Abyss [c] VS Brian Kendrick
-Match was slow, and boring, which is par for the course when Abyss isn't in a garbage match (and sometimes when he is). Earl gets bumped, Kendrick hits the Sliced Bread #2, but Immortal (Brother Ray, Gunner, and Scott Steiner) attacks. Almost the whole X-Division rushes out to fight them off, and Kendrick counters a chokeslam into a rollup for the pin and the title. Kendrick gets the confetti treatment, and this is the only context in which that'll happen for an X-Division title change.
-Match 8: AJ Styles VS Christopher Daniels
-Nothing technically wrong with this match, but I just couldn't get into it. Styles wins with the Spiral Tap, then they shake hands after teasing a Daniels turn.
-All in all, a really good PPV for TNA, which was aided greatly by not having their crappy (f0r the most part) heavyweights stink it up, with the exception of Abyss. Unfortunately, this show will be buried and forgotten by the company.
Monday, July 4, 2011
NWA/WCW Big Event Project #22: Wrestle War '89 "Music City Showdown" (Turner Home Entertainment Edit)
-5/7/89
-From The Municiple Auditorium in Nashville, TN
-Hosts are Jim Ross & Bob Caudle
-Match 1: The Great Muta (w/Gary Hart) VS Doug Gilbert
-Muta's entrance music is suitably creepy. This is the first time Nick Patrick is refereeing on one of these big events. Gilbert tries to interrupt Muta's pre-match ritual, and that doesn't go well for him. Handspring elbow draws a small "Muta" chant. Moonsault misses, but Muta lands on his feet. Second attempt finishes quickly after, however. Not much to it, but good enough to showcase Muta. Eddie Gilbert comes out to look after his brother, and has a short staredown with Muta.
-Match 2: Butch Reed VS Ranger Ross
-Ross gets some members of the Color Guard to accompany him to the ring. Ross swivels his hips after taking his jacket off, and Reed is not amused. Ross controls the early going, until Reed catches him with a blow to head as Ross steps through the ropes. Vertical suplex and top rope shoulderblock finish quickly for Reed.
-Match 3: Bullrope Match: Bob Orton (w/Gary Hart) VS Dick Murdoch
-Match is butchered to pretty much just the finish, with Murdoch tying Orton up with the rope and pinning him. Orton beats Murdoch down, and hangs him after the pin.
-Match 4: The Samoan Swat Team (w/Paul E. Dangerously) VS The Dynamic Dudes
-The Dudes are Johnny Ace & Shane Douglas. Johnny takes Fatu down with an X-Factor, but Fatu no-sells, because he's Samoan, and Samoans have really hard heads. Fatu gets two off a powerslam, then threatens to bitch slap the ref. SST make a wish with Ace. Samu locks in a Boston Crab, and Paul takes the opportunity to get on the mic and let Ace know that he's as useless as a woman from Nashville. Hot tag is made, and Shane cleans house before getting dropped with a clothesline from Samu. Fatu hits a splash from the top to finish, but Ace makes the save. Fatu tries to slam Shane, but Ace hits a missile dropkick on Shane's back, putting him on top of Fatu for the pin. Big pop for the upset. Match was decent.
-Match 5: NWA United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Michael P.S. Hayes (w/Hiro Matsuda)
-Hayes gets a crossbody for a one count. Teddy Long as it ringside, looking like a black Colonel Sanders. Hayes gets tired of Luger slapping him in the face, so he lands several punches before Luger fights back and launches him with a backdrop. Luger blocks a DDT attempt. Luger completely overpowers Hayes at every opportunity. Hayes manages to crack Luger's head against the ringpost, and struts to celebrate. Hayes keeps the pressure on, utilizing chinlocks. Hayes throws Lex outside and distracts the ref, allowing Matsuda to slam Luger's head onto the guardrail. Hayes drops an elbow for two. Luger blocks a bulldog, and makes his comeback. Two gorilla press slams set up the Torture Rack, but Hayes slips out and hits the DDT. Ref gets bumped as they knock heads, and Terry Gordy pushes Hayes on top of Luger for the pin and the title, making sure to keep Luger's foot off the bottom rope. Huge upset here. Match was OK, if a little slow. Finish was awkward.
-Match 6: NWA Television Championship: Sting [c] VS The Iron Shiek (w/Rip Morgan)
-Shiek attacks Sting with the flag pole right off the bat. Sting quickly has enough of that shit, and chokes Shiek with his own jacket. Quick squash, and Sting finishes with the Scorpion Deathlock. Not much here.
-Match 7: NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Rick Steamboat [c] VS Ric Flair
-Flair has 40 women with him, most of which look like they're ready to get out of there and cash their checks. Steamboat comes out with Bonnie and The Little Dragon, who is on a pony. Match is being judged by Lou Thesz, Pat O'Connor, and Terry Funk, in case this goes the time limit. I think this is the only context in which Funk would be described as "distinguished". They go out and do their usual, which, I have to say, if it's not broke, don't fix it. These two are awesome at making their matches seem like physical struggles, rather than cooperative dances. That art is really lost, and has been for a long time. Steamboat controls the first ten minutes, mainly working over Flair's arm.
-Flair finally turns the tide a little bit around the fifteen minute mark, and the two have a really stiff chop exchange. Flair keeps control of the match by making it a brawl, taking Steamboat over the guardrail with another stiff chop. Steamboat very quickly has enough of that, and regains control, until he tries a crossbody, which Flair ducks, sending Steamboat over the top and out. Flair gets a belly-to-back suplex, and keeps trying to hold Steamboat's shoulders down, but he can't do it. Flair gets annoyed with Tommy Young ("count faster, or you'll be working somehwere else tomorrow"), but keeps the pressure on Steamboat. Steamboat counters a suplex into a rollup for two. Flair tries a crossbody, sending both men out over the top.
-Flair tries going up top, and Steamboat slams him down. Superplex sets up the double chicken wing, but Flair gets his feet into the ropes to cause the break before Steamboat can sinch it in. Flair "accidentally" sends Steamboat out over the top, and Steamboat hurts his leg. Flair quickly locks in the Figure 4, but cannot get the submission. Steamboat connects with an enziguiri, but tries a bodyslam, which Flair, using the same counter Steamboat used to pin Randy Savage at WrestleMania III, rolls him up for the pin and the title. Steamboat shakes his hand and raises it before leaving. Typically great Flair/Steamboat match, but I think it's the least of their trilogy, but you can't go wrong with any of them.
-Jim Ross interviews Ric Flair. Then, in an angle as well-known as the match itself, Terry Funk keeps interrupting the interview, and eventually challenges Flair for the title. Flair responds that since Funk hasn't been active, and is not in the top 10 challengers, and that comes first. Terry takes this as Flair saying he's not good enough to face him, and ends up attacking Flair, culminating with a piledriver on the ringside table, which doesn't break. GREAT angle after the match, and this should have been the show closer.
-Match 8: NWA World Tag Team Championship: Mike Rotunda & Dr. Death Steve Williams [c] (w/Kevin Sullivan) VS The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering)
-The Varsity Club are surrounded by cheerleaders for their introduction. Nikita Koloff is special guest referee inside the ring. Nick Patrick is on the outside. The Roadies waste no time in going after the champions. Sullivan gets in Nikita's face, and gets ejected from ringside. Match quickly spills outside, and Hawk accidentally clotheslines the ringpost, giving the champions an oppening. That doesn't last long, and the Roadies get Williams up for the Doomsday Device, but Kevin Sullivan & Dan Spiver rush out to attack Nikita to prevent him from making the count. This kicks off a big brawl, and the Road Warriors are declared the winners by DQ. The Varsity Club would not keep the belts long, as they were stripped shortly after this.
-Match 9: NWA United States Tag Team Championship: Rick Steiner & Eddie Gilbert [c] (w/Missy Hyatt) VS Kevin Sullivan & Dan Spivey
-Match immediately spills outside. Spiver rams Steiner's shoulder into the ringpost. This essentially turns the match into a handicap match. Spivey gets a big side slam, but opts to tag Sullivan instead of going for the cover. Referee disallows a tag for the champions, but as Sullivan tries to piledrive Gilbert, Steiner clotheslines him. This allows Gilbert to get a jackknife cover for the pin the retain. Spivey nails Rick in the shoulder with a chair, and Sullivan has Missy cornered until Gilbert makes the save. Match was nothing special, and a really odd choice to go on last.
-From what is shown, this was a one match show. The only match that got any real time is Steamboat/Flair, which was great as usual. The rest is pretty inconsequential. Flair/Steamboat and the aftermath is on the first Flair set, so you can safely skip this show.
-From The Municiple Auditorium in Nashville, TN
-Hosts are Jim Ross & Bob Caudle
-Match 1: The Great Muta (w/Gary Hart) VS Doug Gilbert
-Muta's entrance music is suitably creepy. This is the first time Nick Patrick is refereeing on one of these big events. Gilbert tries to interrupt Muta's pre-match ritual, and that doesn't go well for him. Handspring elbow draws a small "Muta" chant. Moonsault misses, but Muta lands on his feet. Second attempt finishes quickly after, however. Not much to it, but good enough to showcase Muta. Eddie Gilbert comes out to look after his brother, and has a short staredown with Muta.
-Match 2: Butch Reed VS Ranger Ross
-Ross gets some members of the Color Guard to accompany him to the ring. Ross swivels his hips after taking his jacket off, and Reed is not amused. Ross controls the early going, until Reed catches him with a blow to head as Ross steps through the ropes. Vertical suplex and top rope shoulderblock finish quickly for Reed.
-Match 3: Bullrope Match: Bob Orton (w/Gary Hart) VS Dick Murdoch
-Match is butchered to pretty much just the finish, with Murdoch tying Orton up with the rope and pinning him. Orton beats Murdoch down, and hangs him after the pin.
-Match 4: The Samoan Swat Team (w/Paul E. Dangerously) VS The Dynamic Dudes
-The Dudes are Johnny Ace & Shane Douglas. Johnny takes Fatu down with an X-Factor, but Fatu no-sells, because he's Samoan, and Samoans have really hard heads. Fatu gets two off a powerslam, then threatens to bitch slap the ref. SST make a wish with Ace. Samu locks in a Boston Crab, and Paul takes the opportunity to get on the mic and let Ace know that he's as useless as a woman from Nashville. Hot tag is made, and Shane cleans house before getting dropped with a clothesline from Samu. Fatu hits a splash from the top to finish, but Ace makes the save. Fatu tries to slam Shane, but Ace hits a missile dropkick on Shane's back, putting him on top of Fatu for the pin. Big pop for the upset. Match was decent.
-Match 5: NWA United States Championship: Lex Luger [c] VS Michael P.S. Hayes (w/Hiro Matsuda)
-Hayes gets a crossbody for a one count. Teddy Long as it ringside, looking like a black Colonel Sanders. Hayes gets tired of Luger slapping him in the face, so he lands several punches before Luger fights back and launches him with a backdrop. Luger blocks a DDT attempt. Luger completely overpowers Hayes at every opportunity. Hayes manages to crack Luger's head against the ringpost, and struts to celebrate. Hayes keeps the pressure on, utilizing chinlocks. Hayes throws Lex outside and distracts the ref, allowing Matsuda to slam Luger's head onto the guardrail. Hayes drops an elbow for two. Luger blocks a bulldog, and makes his comeback. Two gorilla press slams set up the Torture Rack, but Hayes slips out and hits the DDT. Ref gets bumped as they knock heads, and Terry Gordy pushes Hayes on top of Luger for the pin and the title, making sure to keep Luger's foot off the bottom rope. Huge upset here. Match was OK, if a little slow. Finish was awkward.
-Match 6: NWA Television Championship: Sting [c] VS The Iron Shiek (w/Rip Morgan)
-Shiek attacks Sting with the flag pole right off the bat. Sting quickly has enough of that shit, and chokes Shiek with his own jacket. Quick squash, and Sting finishes with the Scorpion Deathlock. Not much here.
-Match 7: NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Rick Steamboat [c] VS Ric Flair
-Flair has 40 women with him, most of which look like they're ready to get out of there and cash their checks. Steamboat comes out with Bonnie and The Little Dragon, who is on a pony. Match is being judged by Lou Thesz, Pat O'Connor, and Terry Funk, in case this goes the time limit. I think this is the only context in which Funk would be described as "distinguished". They go out and do their usual, which, I have to say, if it's not broke, don't fix it. These two are awesome at making their matches seem like physical struggles, rather than cooperative dances. That art is really lost, and has been for a long time. Steamboat controls the first ten minutes, mainly working over Flair's arm.
-Flair finally turns the tide a little bit around the fifteen minute mark, and the two have a really stiff chop exchange. Flair keeps control of the match by making it a brawl, taking Steamboat over the guardrail with another stiff chop. Steamboat very quickly has enough of that, and regains control, until he tries a crossbody, which Flair ducks, sending Steamboat over the top and out. Flair gets a belly-to-back suplex, and keeps trying to hold Steamboat's shoulders down, but he can't do it. Flair gets annoyed with Tommy Young ("count faster, or you'll be working somehwere else tomorrow"), but keeps the pressure on Steamboat. Steamboat counters a suplex into a rollup for two. Flair tries a crossbody, sending both men out over the top.
-Flair tries going up top, and Steamboat slams him down. Superplex sets up the double chicken wing, but Flair gets his feet into the ropes to cause the break before Steamboat can sinch it in. Flair "accidentally" sends Steamboat out over the top, and Steamboat hurts his leg. Flair quickly locks in the Figure 4, but cannot get the submission. Steamboat connects with an enziguiri, but tries a bodyslam, which Flair, using the same counter Steamboat used to pin Randy Savage at WrestleMania III, rolls him up for the pin and the title. Steamboat shakes his hand and raises it before leaving. Typically great Flair/Steamboat match, but I think it's the least of their trilogy, but you can't go wrong with any of them.
-Jim Ross interviews Ric Flair. Then, in an angle as well-known as the match itself, Terry Funk keeps interrupting the interview, and eventually challenges Flair for the title. Flair responds that since Funk hasn't been active, and is not in the top 10 challengers, and that comes first. Terry takes this as Flair saying he's not good enough to face him, and ends up attacking Flair, culminating with a piledriver on the ringside table, which doesn't break. GREAT angle after the match, and this should have been the show closer.
-Match 8: NWA World Tag Team Championship: Mike Rotunda & Dr. Death Steve Williams [c] (w/Kevin Sullivan) VS The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering)
-The Varsity Club are surrounded by cheerleaders for their introduction. Nikita Koloff is special guest referee inside the ring. Nick Patrick is on the outside. The Roadies waste no time in going after the champions. Sullivan gets in Nikita's face, and gets ejected from ringside. Match quickly spills outside, and Hawk accidentally clotheslines the ringpost, giving the champions an oppening. That doesn't last long, and the Roadies get Williams up for the Doomsday Device, but Kevin Sullivan & Dan Spiver rush out to attack Nikita to prevent him from making the count. This kicks off a big brawl, and the Road Warriors are declared the winners by DQ. The Varsity Club would not keep the belts long, as they were stripped shortly after this.
-Match 9: NWA United States Tag Team Championship: Rick Steiner & Eddie Gilbert [c] (w/Missy Hyatt) VS Kevin Sullivan & Dan Spivey
-Match immediately spills outside. Spiver rams Steiner's shoulder into the ringpost. This essentially turns the match into a handicap match. Spivey gets a big side slam, but opts to tag Sullivan instead of going for the cover. Referee disallows a tag for the champions, but as Sullivan tries to piledrive Gilbert, Steiner clotheslines him. This allows Gilbert to get a jackknife cover for the pin the retain. Spivey nails Rick in the shoulder with a chair, and Sullivan has Missy cornered until Gilbert makes the save. Match was nothing special, and a really odd choice to go on last.
-From what is shown, this was a one match show. The only match that got any real time is Steamboat/Flair, which was great as usual. The rest is pretty inconsequential. Flair/Steamboat and the aftermath is on the first Flair set, so you can safely skip this show.
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