-1/21/92
-From Topeka, KS
-Hosts are JR & Tony
-JR & Tony hype surprises and a big announcement before throwing it over to Eric Bischoff & Missy Hyatt, who then throw it to Gary Michael Chiapetta.
-Match 1: Big Van Vader & Mr. Hughes (w/Harley Race) VS The Steiner Brothers
-Hell of a choice for an opener. Crowd is molten to start the show. JR & Tony note that Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton won the WCW World Tag Team Championship at a live event the Thursday before this. Hughes and Scott start, and it doesn't go well for Scott until Hughes stops to jaw with the fans, allowing Scott to hit a scary-looking overhead belly-to-belly throw. Heels double team Scott, and throw both Steiners out of the ring, but then stop to bask in the glory, allowing the Steiners to hit stereo flying clotheslines from the top. Vader & Rick tag in, and Vader casually tosses Rick around. Rick fights back with a clothesline, another scary-looking overhead throw, and a clothesline to send Vader outside. Rick stupidly dives off the apron at Vader, who catches him and sends him back-first into the post.
Back in, Rick falls right on his head and neck bumping off a Vader clothesline. Vader goes up, but Scott shakes the ropes, allowing Rick to hit an overhead throw off the second rope. Scott gets in. Vader blocks a German suplex by holding the ropes, so Rick repeatedly punches Vader in the face, allowing Scott to complete the release German. Vader catches a flying Scott with a powerslam, then counters a sunset flip with a sit-down splash before tagging Hughes. Hughes accidentally smashes his nuts on a turnbuckle, allowing Scott to make the tag. Hughes not-so-subtly jumps into a hiptoss, but gets impressive air on a backdrop. Match breaks down, and Rick hits the top rope bulldog on Hughes for the pin. Good opener. Was pretty much all action from bell-to-bell, and the kept the crowd hot.
-Match 2: Tracey Smothers & Terry Taylor VS Brian Pillman & Marcus Alexander Bagwell
-So instead of turning Taylor, they kept him heel and gave him the "Taylor Made Man" gimmick. Taylor opens things up by bitch-slapping Pillman. Taylor loses a chop exchange, and Pillman hits a flyig head scissors. Taylor bounces back-and-forth between Pillman & Bagwell before flopping face-first. Babyfaces keep control of the match, flying around the ring and finishing the sequence with stereo dives to the floor. Bagwell and Smothers get in. Bagwell stops to punch Taylor, and turns right into a sweet superkick from Smothers. Bagwell becomes the face-in-peril for a short time before blocking a Smothers' splash with his knees, and making the hot tag to Pillman.
Pillman cleans house, but Bagwell has the referee, allowing the heels to double team Pillman, including Taylor suplexing Pillman from the inside to the floor. Taylor hits Pillman with a gutwrench sitout powerbomb for two. Smothers knocks Pillman off the apron into the guardrail, but then stops to jaw with Bagwell, allowing Pillman to hit a springboard clothesline and make the tag. Cute finish as Bagwell tries to sunset flip Smothers, who holds onto Taylor to block until Pillman dropkicks Taylor, allowing Bagwell to complete the move and gets the pin. Another pretty good match.
-JR & Tony preview the next match, including a short video highlighting Light-Heavyweight Champion Jushin Thunder Liger. JR announces that Liger will defend the title at SuperBrawl II against an opponent yet-to-be-named.
-Match 3: Richard Morton VS Johnny B. Badd
-I think WCW could have gotten more mileage out of Badd as a heel, but Mero does a good job of keeping the gimmick as a babyface, and the crowd seems to be into him. Fast pace to start. Morton takes Badd outside and sends him face-first into the post. Morton controls the match for the most part. Morton goes for a cross-body, but Badd rolls through and gets a really weak and awkward pin. Match was decent while it lasted before that weak sauce finish.
-Eric interviews Brian Pillman and Johnny B. Badd. Pillman grows visably irritated as Bischoff puts Liger over. Pillman goes on a weird rant about how his rivaly with Liger goes deeper than wrestling and how he has to see friends lose jobs because of Japanese auto makers. Badd mugs for the cameras the whole time and plants a big kiss sticker on Eric's cheek. As Pillman wraps up his rant, Badd plants the kiss on Pillman, who responds by punching Badd in the face. Badd is SHOCKED at this for some reason.
-Match 4: Diamond Dallas Page VS PN News
-They actually cut a good pace. News dominates the first couple minutes until DDP avoids an avalanche. DDP works News over, but then makes the mistake of trying to slam News, who falls on top of him for two. DDP controls the match until News hits a belly-to-belly and quickly finishes with the Rapmaster Splash off the top. Short and sweet. Man the Diamond Cutter really saved DDP from being an undercard worker his whole career.
WCW TOP TEN:
10. Larry Zbyszko
9. El Gigante
8. Big Van Vader
7. Dustin Rhodes
6. Cactus Jack
5. Rick Steiner
4. Ricky Steamboat
3. Steve Austin
2. Sting
1. Rick Rude
-Tony introduces K. Allen Frye. Frye announces that Lex Luger will defend the WCW title at SuperBrawl, then introduces WCW's newest commentator: Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Frye lets Tony announce the World title match at SuperBrawl; Lex Luger defending against Sting. Sting comes out, and the crowd is happy to see him. Before Sting signs the contract, he introduces a video of some comments from Luger. Luger doesn't want to be known as just the greatest wrestler of all time, but the greatest athelete of all time, and that Sting will be just another footnote after SuperBrawl. Sting signs the contract for SuperBrawl, but wishes they could do it now.
-Match 5: Cactus Jack VS Van Hammer (Falls Count Anywhere)
-Cactus has his fans in Topeka. JR clarifies that falls count anywhere not just in or outside the building, but anywhere in Kansas. Hammer starts off fast, getting two near-for two. Cactus clothesline sends them both to the floor. Cactus exposes the floor, and shockingly does not get tossed into it right away. Cactus tries a sunset flip off the second turnbuckle to the floor, but doesn't catch Hammer, and Cactus lands ass-first on the concrete. That must have felt WONDERFUL. Nick Patrick's "eww" face said it all.
Hammer gets a powerslam on the ramp for two. They fight up the ramp. Hammer reverses a hip toss and throws Cactus off the ramp to the floor. Hammer leaps off the ramp with a clothesline for two. Cactus drags Hammer backstage as the crowd boo's and we go to a mid-match commercial.
Back from commercial, they're outside the arana, and Cactus is hitting Hammer with anything he can get his hands on. Cactus rakes Hammer's face with a cow skull. You don't see that every day. They fight into a rodeo arena, and Abdullah the Butcher (in cowboy garb) joins the fight. Abby tries to hit Cactus with a shovel, but accidentally hits Hammer, and Cactus gets the pin off that.
Abby and Cactus continue the fight. Abby dunks Cactus' head into a water trough before grabbing Missy Hyatt (who had rushed outside to help with the coverage) and dunking her as well. The fight continues as we go to commercial. Really fun brawl, definitely deserving of the Kip Frye Bonus. I would imagine this was Hammer's best match of his career.
-The Freebirds debut a new song, with a video intercut with their entrance. The Freebirds (badly) lip-synch until they go into the crowd and actually start "singing". Song isn't bad, especially by wrestling standards. Mixed reaction for this.
-Match 6: The Fabulous Freebirds VS Big Josh & Brad Armstrong
-Another fast-paced start. After Armstrong does some work with both 'Birds, Big Josh gets in and does his log roll on Garvin. Really good back-and-forth action. Armstrong tries to suplex Hayes, and Garvin helps Hayes block it before they finish with a double DDT. Freebirds' entrance was longer than the match, which was good while it lasted.
-Lengthy video hypes the Steiner Brothers. Eric brings them out, and they challenge AA and Bobby Eaton for the World tag titles.
-Match 7: Thomas Rich VS Vinny Vegas
-JR & Tony try really hard to sell this as Kevin Nash's first WCW appearance. Nash's "Itallian" accent is horrendous. Nash acts like he's getting Rich's help in taunting the fans before hitting Rich with a cheap shot. Nash finishes quickly with snake eyes. Nash was trying with the gimmick (the rolling of the dice before the finish was a nice touch), but he really didn't fit it.
-Eric brings out Paul E. Paul predicts that one of the Dangerous Alliance's opponents for tonight will never wrestle in WCW again.
-Match 8: WCW World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton & Larry Zbyszko (w/Paul E. Dangerously) VS Dustin Rhodes, Ron Simmon, & Barry Windham
-Windham and Eaton start. Windham no-sells a superplex, and floors Eaton with a couple lariats. Windham hits Eaton with a second rope superplex for two. Match breaks down, and the babyfaces lock all three opponents in figure 4s in a cute spot. Simmons fights off a double suplex from AA and Larry. Simmons dominates Larry until Larry can tag Eaton. Dustin gets in with Eaton. Dustin throws Eaton over the top onto the ramp (which the ref doesn't see because he's talking to the faces). Dustin follows up with a slingshot clothesline. Barry & Larry get in, and the crowd gets hot for Windham. Windham counters a backdrop with a piledriver, then dropkicks Eaton off the top to the floor, then drives AA face-first into the canvas before tagging Rhodes.
Larry helps Eaton avoid Rhodes, and Dustin spills outside, where Eaton holds him so Paul can hit Dustin in the stomach with the mobile phone. Back in, AA hits Dustin with a spinebuster for two. Dustin counters a AA splash with knees, but then walks into a vicious DDT for two. Eaton gets in, and hits an elbow off toe top for two. Eaton misses a flying somethingorother in the corner, but tags AA before Dustin can make a tag himself. AA goes up top again, but this time hits feet instead of knees. Eaton & Windham gets tags, and Windham dominates until AA lands a cheap shot. Match breaks down. Eaton comes off the top, but Windham catches Eaton with a punch on the way down for the pin. Really strong six man, Shocking lack of Simmons though. Was he nursing an injury here?
-After a commercial break, Tony interviews the six man winners in the locker room. Windham says Larry will suffer 10,000 times more pain than Windham did when Larry & AA broke his hand. Windham predicts every member of the Dangerous Alliance will be crippled.
-Match 9: United States Champion Rick Rude & Television Champion Steve Austin (w/Paul E. Dangerously) VS Sting & Ricky Steamboat
-Jesse is on color for this. Austin & Steamboat start. Steamboat wins a slugfest. Steamboat sends Austin outside, where the DA talk strategy. Rude gets the tag, and slaps Sting across the face, so Sting DEMANDS the tag. Sting hits a couple inverted atomic drops, then scratches Rude, which of course doesn't please Jesse. Sting locks in a camel clutch, then mocks Rude before switching with Steamboat. Steamboat does the same, and Jesse goes nuts because the faces are cheating. Sting tries to jump on Rude's back, and Rude quickly spins and punches Sting in the nuts.
Sting becomes the face-in-peril. That doesn't last long. Austin tries to block a Sting sunset flip with a punch, but Sting avoids it and makes the hot tag. Steamboat gets Austin in a victory roll, but Sting stupidly distracts the ref, allowing Rude to break up the pin and turn Steamboat into the face-in-peril. Austin tries to get Steamboat in a back breaker, but Sting comes off the top with a cross-body, and both Steamboat & Sting pin Austin (which Jesse rightly objects too).
Rude hits Steamboat with two Rude Awakenings while Sting misses a Stinger Splash on Austin. Rude whips Steamboat with a belt until Sting dives on top of Steamboat to protect him. Huge heat for the Dangerous Alliance. Pretty good, if surprisingly short, main event. Not a fan of the double team finish, but the post-match beat down was good.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty good show overall, with the potential crap being kept mercifully short. The hot crowd really helped this show. The Dangerous Alliance rules the world.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
EWR Diary: 1/30/12-2/5/12
Raw 1/30/12:
-ANNOUNCED FOR TONIGHT: John Cena & Big Show VS WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio & Kevin Nash, Jack Swagger VS Dolph Ziggler for the United States Championship, and Air Boom VS Awesome Truth in a Royal Rumble rematch for the WWE tag team championship, plus there is a steel cage hanging above the ring...
-The show opened with WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio celebrating last night's win over John Cena, complete with balloons, streamers, a cake, and a mariachi band. The fun and games are interrupted by the winner of the 2012 Royal Rumble: CM Punk. Punk announces that he will be challenging Del Rio for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Del Rio reminds Punk that their match at TLC was to be Punk's last title shot, but then Punk remindes Del Rio that WWE rules state that winning the Royal Rumble supercedes any previous agreement when it comes to championship matches. Del Rio gets mad, then Punk offers ADR a piece of cake by shoving it in his face. Punk drops Ricardo Rodriguez with a roundhouse kick, then KO's ADR with the Go to Sleep.
-Raw General Manager Michael Cole says he made tonight's main event tag team match because Del Rio wanted to prove his win last night was not due to Cole's officiating, but Cena did not deserve another title match (which Cole agrees to), so it is a tag match. Cole also announces that the WWE Board of Directors has declared that the next pay-per-view will be the return of Braggig Rights, with the two brand's WrestleMania main events facing off against each other in a tag team match. Cole says the board has also declared that the WrestleMania main events be set in stone before the show, so next week Del Rio will have his last WWE title defense, against an opponent to be selected by random draw later tonight.
-Match 1: Rey Mysterio VS Michael McGuillicutty
-Rey's return to Raw. Rey wins quickly and easily with the 619 and springboard splash. (**)
-The Miz is backstage, and he is PISSED about Triple H costing Awesome Truth the WWE Tag Team Championship last night. Miz says HHH is jealous because it was Miz who cost HHH his job as COO at Survivor Series, and now HHH is a forgotten memory who has to sit at home and watch Miz dominate Raw. Miz announces that the tag title match will be a cage match in order to prevent any interference.
-Match 2: John Morrison VS David Otunga
-Another nothing match. Morrison wins clean with Starship Pain. (*1/4)
-Michael Cole comes to the ring, where a tumbler is waiting. Cole says that every member of the Raw roster is included in this random drawing. Cole pulls out a ball, and announces that next week Alberto Del Rio will defend the WWE Championship against (smirk)...Santino Marella.
-John Cena did an interview with Matt Striker. Cena says he's not surprised that Michael Cole screwed him out of the WWE Championship last night, but what he was surprised by was the Rock Bottom he got after the match. Cena reminds everyone that he is here every week, and challenges the Rock to come meet him face-to-face instead of delivering sneak attacks.
-Match 3 for the WWE Tag Team Championship: Air Boom [c] VS Awesome Truth (Cage Match)
-Long TV match that for some reason was not nearly as good as the PPV match. Kevin Nash steals the key to the door from the outside ref, gets in, and lays out the champions. As Nash is being escorted from ringside, Truth escapes, but HHH comes from the crowd to attack him. HHH then gets in the cage, hits Miz with the Pedigree, and Evan Bourne rolls on top for the pin. (**1/2)
-Match 4 for the United States Championship: Dolph Ziggler [c] VS Jack Swagger
-Really good match while it lasted. Just as Swagger starts to build momentum, Vickie Guerrero slides the title belt into the ring, and Ziggler KO's Swagger to draw a DQ. (***3/4)
-After the U.S. title match, Ziggler continues to pound on Swagger. Domination come to the ring to help, and they end up putting Swagger through the Spanish announce table. Ziggler stands over Swagger and holds the U.S. title in the air to close the segment.
-Match 5: John Cena & Big Show VS WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio & Kevin Nash
-Show and Nash brawled into the crowd, leaving Cena and ADR. Cena wins clean with the Attitude Adjustment. (**1/2)
-Smackdown 2/3/12:
-Announced for tonight: World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry teams with Cody Rhodes to face new Intercontinental Champion & Money in the Bank holder Daniel Bryan and the Smackdown superstar who made his return at the Royal Rumble: Kane. ALSO: Sheamus goes one-on-one with Christian.
-World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry opened the show. He says he's beaten the "little man" Justin Gabriel, and that another "little man" Daniel Bryan is trying to be the one who challenges him at WrestleMania. Henry says he'll squash Bryan like a bug, and begs Teddy Long for some "real competition".
-Smackdown GM Teddy Long comes out, and says he's happy Mark feels that way, because next week, Henry will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against...Kane. Tonight's tag team main event is also important, because Daniel Bryan will defend his Money in the Bank briefcase and the Intercontinental Championship in a rematch against Cody Rhodes, and the winning team gets to choose the stipulations for their title matches next week. HOLLA!
-Match 1: Randy Orton VS Tyson Kidd
-Orton squashes Kidd in short order with an RKO. (**1/2)
-As Orton celebrates his win, Wade Barrett comes on the Titantron and tells Orton that Barrett will be out of action again, because he seems to have aggrivated his head injury while competing in the Royal Rumble. However, when Barrett is ready to compete again, Orton will be the first to know.
-Match 2: AJ VS Natalya
-Natalya wins in short order with the Sharpshooter, almost bending poor AJ in half. (*1/2)
-Sin Cara II cuts a short promo, challenging Sinc Cara I to a mask-vs-mask match for next week's Smackdown, with the winner keeping the rights to the Sin Cara name.
-As Mark Henry is warming up for tonight's main event, Cody Rhodes enters his lockerroom. Cody says it will be an honor to face Mark for the World Heavyweight Championship...whenever Cody decides to cash in Money in the Bank after he wins it next week. Henry doesn't look exactly pleased with this statement.
-Match 3: Ted DiBiase VS Drew McIntyre
-Pretty competitive match. McIntyre wins after thumbing DiBiase in the eye, and hitting the Future Shock DDT. (***1/2)
-Kane cuts a promo. Tonight will be the beginning of the torment Kane brings on Mark Henry, but don't expect it to end next week after Kane wins the World Heavyweight Championship...
-Match 4: Sheamus VS Christian
-Another competitive match, but somewhat disappointing. Sheamus wins clean with the Brogue Kick. (***)
-Match 5: Intercontinental Champion Daniel Bryan & Kane VS World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry & Cody Rhodes
-OK main event. Rhodes KO's Bryan with Rhodes' face shield, allowing Henry to hit Bryan with the World's Strongest Slam for the pin. Henry & Rhodes back away from the ring smiling as the show ends. (**1/2)
NWA/WCW Big Event Project #46: Starrcade '91
-12/29/91
-From Norfolk, VA
-Hosts are JR & Tony
-So, this is the first BattleBowl tournament. The idea is that 20 teams are picked at random, then paired in a series of 10 matches, with the winning teams advancing to a 2 ring battle royale to end the night. I like the idea, just not as what is supposed to be WCW's biggest show of the year.
-Eric Bischoff, Missy Hyatt, & Magnum TA draw the teams. All forty wrestlers involved are on the stage, and head to the ring when their name is called.
-Match 1: Michael Hayes & U.S. Tag Team Champion Tracey Smothers VS Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Jimmy Garvin
-Smothers and Bagwell start. Smother flops around after taking a shoulderblock. Lots of stalling to start, with Smothers bitchig at the ref after every move. Bagwell completely owns Smothers, who refuses to make a tag to Hayes. Garvin gets tagged in, and Smothers mocks the Freebird dance. Crappy dropkick sends Smothers to the apron, where Garvin kicks Smothers in the face, sending Smothers into the guardrail. Smothers tries to cheap shot Garvin after a handshake, and gives Smothers an atomic drop, which Smother sells by flying out over the top rope.
Smothers finally gets control of Bagwell and tags Hayes, who struts after striking Bagwell with a back elbow. Bagwell turns the tide on Smothers and works him over some more. Bagwell tags Garvin, and Smothers dives to his corner to tag Hayes. Crowd comes alive at the thought of a Freebirds explosion. They do more dancing than wrestling before tagging their partners. The crowd loves that, then goes silent once Bagwell and Smothers lock up. Garvin gets in and nails Smothers with a running forearm, then tags in Bagwell, who gets two off a cross-body off the top.
Bagwell cheap shots Hayes, who lays Bagwell out with a left hand, then accidentally punches Hayes. The Freebirds argue as Bagwell counters a Smothers' splash with knees, then pins Smothers with a fisherman's suplex. Not good, but not terrible either thanks to the crowd caring about the Freebirds.
-Match 2: TV Champion Steve Austin & U.S. Champion Rick Rude VS Van Hammer & Big Josh
-Only the finish is shown with Tony narrating. Rude makes a blind tag, and pins Hammer after a Rude Awakening.
-Match 3: Larry Zybysko & El Gigante VS WCW World Tag Team Champion Dustin Rhodes & Richard Morton
-Again only the finish, as Gigante gets tired of Larry yelling at him, and tosses Larry into the ring right into a double dropkick and the pin by Rhodes.
-Match 4: Bill Kazmaier & Light-Heayweight Champion Jushin Thunder Liger VS Mike Graham & Diamond Dallas Page
-Graham & Liger start, and don't seem to be on the same page. Kazmaier gets in and tosses Graham around. DDP gets in, and doesn't do much better. Kazmaier skins the cat in an impressive spot. DDP actually does get the advantage on Kazmaier. Liger gets in and takes DDP down with a spinning heel kick. Graham gets in, and immediately takes an enziguiri and slingshot splash for two. Kazmaier gets back in and over powers both opponents. Liger gets back in, and Graham gets him in a Boston crab. No reaction for any of this, BTW.
Graham & Liger do some more mat wrestling to silence. Liger hits some rapid fire kicks to momentarily wake up the crowd, which dies again when Kazmaier tags in. After a couple more exchanges and tags, Liger hits a big dive on Graham to a pop. Finish finally comes when Kazmaier presses Liger onto DDP for the pin. Match was technically fine, but went way too long, and they didn't adjust when the crowd wasn't respondig to anything.
-Eric draws the next two teams (with the faces and heels now in their respective locker rooms).
-Match 5: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger & Arn Anderson (w/Harley Race) VS Terrence Taylor & The Z Man
-Zenk & Taylor actually win the first exchange. They completely dominate the first few minutes. Zenk almost overshoots AA on a cross-body off the top. Harley trips Zenk (on the second try), and AA hits a big DDT. Luger works Zenk over, but when AA gets in, he lowers his head too early, and takes a modified face buster. Luger gets back in, and Zenk is officially the face-in-peril. Luger gets two off a powerslam. AA dives into Zenk's boots, allowing the hot tag. Taylor gets a couple near-falls on Luger. Taylor hits a gutwrench powerbomb for two, as AA makes the save. AA catches Taylor with a knee to the back, and Luger quickly finishes with the Attitude Adjustment piledriver. Best match so far. They really put Taylor over right before, I'm assuming, a face turn.
-Match 6: WCW World Tag Team Champion Ricky Steamboat & Todd Champion VS Cactus Jack & Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker
-Abdullah the Butcher gets pissed at not being Cactus' partner, and beats the shit out of Parker as the other heels sit and watch. Cactus gets excited when Abby walks down to the rings, but Abby is escorted away from ringside. Parker makes the mistake of passing Abby on the entrance ramp, and Abby adds some shots with his walking stick. Steamboat starts with Cactus (did they ever have a 1-on-1 match?). Cactus' shrieks as he rakes Steamboat's face are horrifying. Steamboat skins the cat, backdrops Cactust to the outside, then follows up with a suicide dive.
Champion gets in and works on Cactus as Parker gets a small "Buddy" chant for continuing to crawl towards the rings. Cactus throws Champion outside, and hits the flying elbow. Cactus avoids a legdrop, but gets caught with a punch as he flies off the top. Cactus tags Parker and throws him in the ring, and Steamboat quickly finishes him with a powerslam and cross-body off the top. Cute booking elevated a pretty mediocre match.
-Match 7: Sting & Abdullah the Butcher VS Brian Pillman & Bobby Eaton
-Johnny B. Badd mugs for the camera as Abby is drawn as Sting's partner. Eaton has apparently turned heel, coming out of that locker room. Abby is all smiles as he walks down the ramp, before suddenly attacking Sting with Abby's walking stick. Tremendous. Pillman goes after Abby, hitting Abby with the stick. Eaton works on Sting as Pillman brawls with Abby. Sting turns the tide and hits a splash onto the ramp. Abby keeps attacking Sting when it looks like Sting might gain control. Pillman slams Abby to big pop, then refuses to tag Eaton.
Sting almost break Eaton's neck with a botched tombstone. Cactus Jack interferes, but accidentally hits Abby with the stick. That allows Sting to finish Eaton with a cross-body off the top. Pretty wild match.
-Abby gets pissed and goes after Cactus, triggering a huge brawl. They have to be pulled apart by security.
-Match 8: Rick Steiner & The Nightstalker VS Big Van Vader & Mr. Hughes
-Vader is sans helmet and mask here. Nightstalker (Bryan Clarke) is filling in for an injured Diamond Studd. Vader & Hughes are a regular team at this time. Vader pounds on Rick, who answers with a big clothesline, belly-to-belly suplex, and another clothesline to send Vader outside. Rick dives off the apron onto Vader, who takes control on the outside, ramming Rick's back into the ring post. Rick suplexes Vader inside, then gets two on Hughes off a backdrop when Hughes gets in.
Rick refuses to tag Nightstalker, who finally tags himself in. Rick hits a bulldog off the top while Vader drops Nightstalker and hits a big splash (on Nightstalker's head and neck, since he forgot to lay down) for the pin. Not much here.
-Match 9: Scott Steiner & Firebreaker Chip VS Johnny B. Badd & Arachnaman
-Another match clipped down to the finish. Scott pins Arachnaman after an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
-Match 10: U.S. Tag Team Champion Scott Armstrong & PN News VS Ron Simmons & Thomas Rich
-Another clipped match. Simmons pins Armstrong after a really crappy spinebuster.
-Match 11: BattleBowl Finals: Big Van Vader VS Marcus Alexander Bagwell VS Jimmy Garvin VS Dustin Rhodes VS Bill Kazmaier VS Jushin Thunder Liger VS Steve Austin VS Richard Morton VS Todd Champion VS Abdullah the Butcher VS Firebreaker Chip VS Thomas Rich VS Ron Simmons VS Ricky Steamboat VS Mr. Hughes VS Scott Steiner VS Lex Luger VS Rick Rude VS Arn Anderson VS Sting
-Wrestlers have to be thrown from ring 1 into ring 2 to be eliminated from ring 1. Last man in ring 1 will meet the last man in ring 2. AA & Steamboat fight on the ramp. Vader & Hughes dump Kazmaier onto the ramp, but it doesn't matter, since he didn't go into ring 2. Steamboat gets caught on the ramp with Vader, but avoids a big splash. Just a big clusterfuck (I know you're shocked). Vader tries to march Steamboat across ring 1 into ring 2, but fails. Vader does manages to gorilla press Steamboat onto the ramp.
Rich is the first to be sent into ring 2. Crowd gets into it as Sting goes after Luger. Bagwell soon joins Rich in ring 2. Ring 2 starts to fill up. Liger starts hitting Morton with some high-flying moves, to the crowd's approval. Liger eliminates Morton, but the momentum takes Liger out too. Rich is eliminated as Vader works Dustin over on the outside of ring 1. Steamboat and AA brawl with each other, eventually ending up in ring 2.
Garvin is eliminated from ring 2 by Chip. Simmons charges Rudes, who moves out of the way, and Simmons goes flying into ring 2. Sting and Rude go at it, and go tumbling into ring 2, leaving Luger & Vader in ring 1. Chip is eliminated, then Luger clotheslines Vader into ring 2, winning ring 1. The herd starts to finally thin, as Dustin eliminates AA, then gets dumped himself. Simmons eliminates Hughes and himself. Steiner, Bagwell, and Vader all go out in short order. That leaves Sting, Steamboat, Rude, and Austin in ring 2. Rude accidentally eliminates Austin with a clothesline. Steamboat pulls Rude out with a headscissors, then Rude pulls Steamboat out in revenge, so Sting wins ring 2. Rude gets back into ring 2 and hits Sting with a Rude Awakening.
Luger takes his time in working Sting over. Luger throws Sting through the ropes onto the ramp, then holds Nick Patrick so Harley ca gets a cheap shot in, but Sting slams Harley. Luger knocks Sting off the ramp onto the guardrail. Sting fights back, ramming Luger into the guardrail before dragging him back into the ring. Sting drapes Luger over the corner and hits a bunch of kicks, stopping to suplex Harley when he tries to interfere.
Sting misses a Stinger splash, but does not go over. Luger throws Sting, who holds on. Luger thinks he's won, but Sting Hulks up, and eliminates Luger to win. Match was pretty boring until the final segment between Sting & Luger.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Well this was...interesting. The show only really picked up when the booking was able to carry it, as the wrestling itself wasn't that great, at least what was shown here.
-From Norfolk, VA
-Hosts are JR & Tony
-So, this is the first BattleBowl tournament. The idea is that 20 teams are picked at random, then paired in a series of 10 matches, with the winning teams advancing to a 2 ring battle royale to end the night. I like the idea, just not as what is supposed to be WCW's biggest show of the year.
-Eric Bischoff, Missy Hyatt, & Magnum TA draw the teams. All forty wrestlers involved are on the stage, and head to the ring when their name is called.
-Match 1: Michael Hayes & U.S. Tag Team Champion Tracey Smothers VS Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Jimmy Garvin
-Smothers and Bagwell start. Smother flops around after taking a shoulderblock. Lots of stalling to start, with Smothers bitchig at the ref after every move. Bagwell completely owns Smothers, who refuses to make a tag to Hayes. Garvin gets tagged in, and Smothers mocks the Freebird dance. Crappy dropkick sends Smothers to the apron, where Garvin kicks Smothers in the face, sending Smothers into the guardrail. Smothers tries to cheap shot Garvin after a handshake, and gives Smothers an atomic drop, which Smother sells by flying out over the top rope.
Smothers finally gets control of Bagwell and tags Hayes, who struts after striking Bagwell with a back elbow. Bagwell turns the tide on Smothers and works him over some more. Bagwell tags Garvin, and Smothers dives to his corner to tag Hayes. Crowd comes alive at the thought of a Freebirds explosion. They do more dancing than wrestling before tagging their partners. The crowd loves that, then goes silent once Bagwell and Smothers lock up. Garvin gets in and nails Smothers with a running forearm, then tags in Bagwell, who gets two off a cross-body off the top.
Bagwell cheap shots Hayes, who lays Bagwell out with a left hand, then accidentally punches Hayes. The Freebirds argue as Bagwell counters a Smothers' splash with knees, then pins Smothers with a fisherman's suplex. Not good, but not terrible either thanks to the crowd caring about the Freebirds.
-Match 2: TV Champion Steve Austin & U.S. Champion Rick Rude VS Van Hammer & Big Josh
-Only the finish is shown with Tony narrating. Rude makes a blind tag, and pins Hammer after a Rude Awakening.
-Match 3: Larry Zybysko & El Gigante VS WCW World Tag Team Champion Dustin Rhodes & Richard Morton
-Again only the finish, as Gigante gets tired of Larry yelling at him, and tosses Larry into the ring right into a double dropkick and the pin by Rhodes.
-Match 4: Bill Kazmaier & Light-Heayweight Champion Jushin Thunder Liger VS Mike Graham & Diamond Dallas Page
-Graham & Liger start, and don't seem to be on the same page. Kazmaier gets in and tosses Graham around. DDP gets in, and doesn't do much better. Kazmaier skins the cat in an impressive spot. DDP actually does get the advantage on Kazmaier. Liger gets in and takes DDP down with a spinning heel kick. Graham gets in, and immediately takes an enziguiri and slingshot splash for two. Kazmaier gets back in and over powers both opponents. Liger gets back in, and Graham gets him in a Boston crab. No reaction for any of this, BTW.
Graham & Liger do some more mat wrestling to silence. Liger hits some rapid fire kicks to momentarily wake up the crowd, which dies again when Kazmaier tags in. After a couple more exchanges and tags, Liger hits a big dive on Graham to a pop. Finish finally comes when Kazmaier presses Liger onto DDP for the pin. Match was technically fine, but went way too long, and they didn't adjust when the crowd wasn't respondig to anything.
-Eric draws the next two teams (with the faces and heels now in their respective locker rooms).
-Match 5: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger & Arn Anderson (w/Harley Race) VS Terrence Taylor & The Z Man
-Zenk & Taylor actually win the first exchange. They completely dominate the first few minutes. Zenk almost overshoots AA on a cross-body off the top. Harley trips Zenk (on the second try), and AA hits a big DDT. Luger works Zenk over, but when AA gets in, he lowers his head too early, and takes a modified face buster. Luger gets back in, and Zenk is officially the face-in-peril. Luger gets two off a powerslam. AA dives into Zenk's boots, allowing the hot tag. Taylor gets a couple near-falls on Luger. Taylor hits a gutwrench powerbomb for two, as AA makes the save. AA catches Taylor with a knee to the back, and Luger quickly finishes with the Attitude Adjustment piledriver. Best match so far. They really put Taylor over right before, I'm assuming, a face turn.
-Match 6: WCW World Tag Team Champion Ricky Steamboat & Todd Champion VS Cactus Jack & Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker
-Abdullah the Butcher gets pissed at not being Cactus' partner, and beats the shit out of Parker as the other heels sit and watch. Cactus gets excited when Abby walks down to the rings, but Abby is escorted away from ringside. Parker makes the mistake of passing Abby on the entrance ramp, and Abby adds some shots with his walking stick. Steamboat starts with Cactus (did they ever have a 1-on-1 match?). Cactus' shrieks as he rakes Steamboat's face are horrifying. Steamboat skins the cat, backdrops Cactust to the outside, then follows up with a suicide dive.
Champion gets in and works on Cactus as Parker gets a small "Buddy" chant for continuing to crawl towards the rings. Cactus throws Champion outside, and hits the flying elbow. Cactus avoids a legdrop, but gets caught with a punch as he flies off the top. Cactus tags Parker and throws him in the ring, and Steamboat quickly finishes him with a powerslam and cross-body off the top. Cute booking elevated a pretty mediocre match.
-Match 7: Sting & Abdullah the Butcher VS Brian Pillman & Bobby Eaton
-Johnny B. Badd mugs for the camera as Abby is drawn as Sting's partner. Eaton has apparently turned heel, coming out of that locker room. Abby is all smiles as he walks down the ramp, before suddenly attacking Sting with Abby's walking stick. Tremendous. Pillman goes after Abby, hitting Abby with the stick. Eaton works on Sting as Pillman brawls with Abby. Sting turns the tide and hits a splash onto the ramp. Abby keeps attacking Sting when it looks like Sting might gain control. Pillman slams Abby to big pop, then refuses to tag Eaton.
Sting almost break Eaton's neck with a botched tombstone. Cactus Jack interferes, but accidentally hits Abby with the stick. That allows Sting to finish Eaton with a cross-body off the top. Pretty wild match.
-Abby gets pissed and goes after Cactus, triggering a huge brawl. They have to be pulled apart by security.
-Match 8: Rick Steiner & The Nightstalker VS Big Van Vader & Mr. Hughes
-Vader is sans helmet and mask here. Nightstalker (Bryan Clarke) is filling in for an injured Diamond Studd. Vader & Hughes are a regular team at this time. Vader pounds on Rick, who answers with a big clothesline, belly-to-belly suplex, and another clothesline to send Vader outside. Rick dives off the apron onto Vader, who takes control on the outside, ramming Rick's back into the ring post. Rick suplexes Vader inside, then gets two on Hughes off a backdrop when Hughes gets in.
Rick refuses to tag Nightstalker, who finally tags himself in. Rick hits a bulldog off the top while Vader drops Nightstalker and hits a big splash (on Nightstalker's head and neck, since he forgot to lay down) for the pin. Not much here.
-Match 9: Scott Steiner & Firebreaker Chip VS Johnny B. Badd & Arachnaman
-Another match clipped down to the finish. Scott pins Arachnaman after an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
-Match 10: U.S. Tag Team Champion Scott Armstrong & PN News VS Ron Simmons & Thomas Rich
-Another clipped match. Simmons pins Armstrong after a really crappy spinebuster.
-Match 11: BattleBowl Finals: Big Van Vader VS Marcus Alexander Bagwell VS Jimmy Garvin VS Dustin Rhodes VS Bill Kazmaier VS Jushin Thunder Liger VS Steve Austin VS Richard Morton VS Todd Champion VS Abdullah the Butcher VS Firebreaker Chip VS Thomas Rich VS Ron Simmons VS Ricky Steamboat VS Mr. Hughes VS Scott Steiner VS Lex Luger VS Rick Rude VS Arn Anderson VS Sting
-Wrestlers have to be thrown from ring 1 into ring 2 to be eliminated from ring 1. Last man in ring 1 will meet the last man in ring 2. AA & Steamboat fight on the ramp. Vader & Hughes dump Kazmaier onto the ramp, but it doesn't matter, since he didn't go into ring 2. Steamboat gets caught on the ramp with Vader, but avoids a big splash. Just a big clusterfuck (I know you're shocked). Vader tries to march Steamboat across ring 1 into ring 2, but fails. Vader does manages to gorilla press Steamboat onto the ramp.
Rich is the first to be sent into ring 2. Crowd gets into it as Sting goes after Luger. Bagwell soon joins Rich in ring 2. Ring 2 starts to fill up. Liger starts hitting Morton with some high-flying moves, to the crowd's approval. Liger eliminates Morton, but the momentum takes Liger out too. Rich is eliminated as Vader works Dustin over on the outside of ring 1. Steamboat and AA brawl with each other, eventually ending up in ring 2.
Garvin is eliminated from ring 2 by Chip. Simmons charges Rudes, who moves out of the way, and Simmons goes flying into ring 2. Sting and Rude go at it, and go tumbling into ring 2, leaving Luger & Vader in ring 1. Chip is eliminated, then Luger clotheslines Vader into ring 2, winning ring 1. The herd starts to finally thin, as Dustin eliminates AA, then gets dumped himself. Simmons eliminates Hughes and himself. Steiner, Bagwell, and Vader all go out in short order. That leaves Sting, Steamboat, Rude, and Austin in ring 2. Rude accidentally eliminates Austin with a clothesline. Steamboat pulls Rude out with a headscissors, then Rude pulls Steamboat out in revenge, so Sting wins ring 2. Rude gets back into ring 2 and hits Sting with a Rude Awakening.
Luger takes his time in working Sting over. Luger throws Sting through the ropes onto the ramp, then holds Nick Patrick so Harley ca gets a cheap shot in, but Sting slams Harley. Luger knocks Sting off the ramp onto the guardrail. Sting fights back, ramming Luger into the guardrail before dragging him back into the ring. Sting drapes Luger over the corner and hits a bunch of kicks, stopping to suplex Harley when he tries to interfere.
Sting misses a Stinger splash, but does not go over. Luger throws Sting, who holds on. Luger thinks he's won, but Sting Hulks up, and eliminates Luger to win. Match was pretty boring until the final segment between Sting & Luger.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Well this was...interesting. The show only really picked up when the booking was able to carry it, as the wrestling itself wasn't that great, at least what was shown here.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Ring of Honor Presents: Final Battle 2011
-12/23/11
-From New York City
-Hosts are Kevin Kelly & Nigel McGuinness
-Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuinness, & Jim Cornette are in the ring. Audio problems remove Nigel's opening spiel. They throw it to Cary Silkin and the CEO of RoH, who wishes everyone a happy holliday of their choosing.
-Match 1: Michael Elgin (w/Truth Martini) VS TJ Perkins
-Elgin tosses Perkins around and no-sells a couple kicks. Perkins dives at Elgin, sending both over the top. Elgin avoids a dive, and catches Perkins as he tries a somersault off the apron. Elgin charges and drives Perkins' midsection into the barricade. Elgin blocks a flying headscissors, and dumps Perkins on his face for two. Elgin tosses Perkins in the air, but Perkins manages to catch Elgin with a headscissors to send Elgin outside, then follows up with a dive. Perkins hits a missile dropkick for two.
Perkins goes up, but Elgin somehow manages to catch him coming down right in vertical suplex position. Elgin turns that into a Rock Bottom for two. Perkins avoids the sitout powerbomb, but takes shock treatment for two. Perkins scores with a neck breaker. Perkins goes for double knees in the corner, but Elgin catches him, and hits a buckle bomb. Elgin goes for the sitout powerbomb, but Perkins counters with a reverse rana for two. Elgin takes a superkick, but comes right back with a spinning back fist, buckle bomb, and spinning sitout powerbomb for the win. Good opener with some really cool spots. First match I've seen from Perkins that didn't feel like an exhibition.
-Match 2: Tomasso Ciampa (w/The Embassy) VS Jimmy Rave
-R.D. Evans compares Jimmy Rave to a desperate ex-girlfriend crashing a family Christmas dinner. Rave is almost unrecognizable with facial hair. Scientific start. Ciampa knocks Rave for a flip with a follow clothesline. Ciampa works Rave over on the outside, then when they get back in, Ciampa hits a couple running knee strikes for two. Rave hits some chops and a clothesline, then catches a running Ciampa with the heel hook. Rave knocks Ciampa off the apron, but Ciampa counters a baseball slide and throws Rave into the barricade.
Rave hits a Shining Wizard and Rave Clash for two. Rave sets up for the Greetings From Ghana (pedigree), but Prince Nana distracts Rave by offering him the old Embassy robe. Rave, like an idiot, goes after Nana. Rave wipes out the Embassy, but that allows Ciampa to recover and hits Project Ciampa for the win. Match was OK. Finish is a waste if Rave isn't sticking around though.
-Match 3 for the RoH Television Championship: Jay Lethal [c] VS Mike Bennett (w/Brutal Bob Evans & Maria Kanellis) VS El Generico (3 Way Elimination Match)
-Maria's hoodie has "Prodigy Girlfriend". Crowd chants "CM Punk", so Bennett makes out with Maria. Bennett tries to cut a promo, but is interrupted by a "sloppy seconds" chant. Bennett pretends that he's going to let the other two fight it out, then nails Lethal from behind. Lethal & Generico double team Bennett. Lethal & Generico argue over who is going to dive onto Bennett first, then decide to hit a double suicide dive.
Lethal and Generico go at it. Lethal hits his hip toss/low dropkick combo for two. Bennett interrupts. Bennett pounds on Generico, and hits a bodyslam for two. Generico low-bridges Bennett, but then runs into a springboard missile dropkick from Lethal for two. Generico scores with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker on Lethal for two. Bennett gets some shots in on Lethal, but takes a handspring elbow. Generico works on Lethal, than catches Bennett with an arm drag.
Generico tosses Lethal into the turnbuckles with an exploder. Bennett prevents Generico from following up, and hides behind Evans, then Maria to get the advantage on Generico. Bennett hits a powerslam on Lethal, then a TKO on Generico. Generico hits a Yakuza Kick on Bennett (which the camera misses), then walks into a superkick from Lethal. Lethal hits Generico with the Lethal Combination (back breaker/downward spiral) for two. Bennett hits a spinebuster on Lethal for a very close two count.
Generico hits Bennett with a Michinoku Driver for two. Generico knocks Lethal off the top with a Yakuza Kick. Generico hits a double springboard dive onto Lethal, then follows up by diving in between the turnbuckles to deliver a tornado DDT on Bennett. Generico hits Bennett with a Yakuza Kick and half-nelson suplex for two. Lethal catches Generico with a neck breaker and a Savage elbow for two. Generico tries to hit the turnbuckle brainbuster on Lethal, but Bennett rolls Generico and pulls the tights for the pin to eliminate him, but then Lethal catches Bennett with the Lethal Injection (hand spring diamond cutter) for the pin to eliminate him and retain. Really good three-way match. Bennett didn't show a whole lot though.
-Match 4: Steve Corino VS Kevin Steen (Special Guest Referee Jimmy Jacobs-if Steen wins, he is reinstated into RoH)
-Steen gets a big babyace reaction for his Sandman-esque (minus the beer and cigarette) entrance. Slug fest to start. Steen hits a cannonball on the apron. Corino hits a running chairshot. Second one is countered with a superkick. Steen powerbombs Corino on the ring apron, then follows up with a frog splash off the apron. Steen grabs a section of the barricade and runs it into Corino's head. Corino lays a chair across the barricade, but Steen powerbomb Corino onto that chair.
Steen bridges the ring apron and the barricade with a table. Corino tosses a garbage can and a chair into the ring. Steen drills Corino in the head with the garbage can lid. Steen bites the ear of Corino, busting it open. Corino blocks a garbage can shot with a back kick to the nuts. Corino hits Steen in the head with the garbage can a couple times, then suplexes him on the garbage can. Corino bodyslams Steen on a chair, then hits a big splash from the top for two.
Corino creates a bridge with four chairs and the section of the barricade. Corino super plexes Steen on the bridge (as the crowd chants "please don't die"), and that gets two. Steen adds a bridge of chairs on top of the table that is bridging the ring and the barricade. Steen tries to super plex Corino into the contraption, but ends up taking a shot to the head with the garbage can lid and falling through it. Crowd shows its appreciation by chanting for fire. Corino gets two off that.
Corino uses one chair to smack another chair into Steen's face, and that gets two. Steen hits an ugly Cobra Clutch suplex, then follows up with a pump handle onto a seated chair for two. Corino takes an unprotected chairshot (ugh) across the face for two. Jacobs stops Steen from hitting Corino again, and that allows Corino to nail Steen with a roll of quarters for two. Corino sets up a bridge of chairs, stopping to throw one at Steen's head. Steen blocks a suplex with a low blow, and hits a package piledriver through the chair bridge for the pin, with Jacobs looking at Cornette for approval before making the count.
It looked like they were going for an ECW PPV grudge match feel, and it was pretty effective, since it doesn't happen that much in major U.S. wrestling anymore. The psychology ended up getting really screwed up though, as the supposed heel (Steen) ended up fighting the system to win his career back, and received cheers for it.
-Steen says he came to do three things: win back his RoH Career (check), two: *package piledrives Jimmy Jacobs* and three...Steen stalks Cornette, but El Generico makes the save. Generico hits a Yakuza Kick, but Steen fights off a turnbuckle brainbuster, and hits a package piledriver off the apron through a table.
-Intermission.
-Match 5: Tag Team Gauntlet-Winners get an RoH World Tag Team Championship Match at some point in 2012
-ROUND ONE: The Bravado Brothers VS Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander
-I love the Bravados' gimmick. Too bad they never win. Order was determined by random draw. Bravados get the jump on Coleman & Alexander at the opening bell. Alexander hits a dive on both Bravados, who do a shitty job of catching him. Harlem low-bridges Coleman, then after waiting forever for Coleman to get to his feet, hits him with a bicycle kick. Lancelot tosses Alexander in the air, and Harlem catches him with a Diamond Cutter on the way down. That gets two. Kelly notes that RoH officials aren't happy with the Bravados' win-loss record. Alexander is face-in-peril for a bit until he catches Lancelot with an enziguiri meant for Harlem, then Coleman takes Lance outside before hitting Harlem with a flying clothesline.
Coleman hits Harlem with a Gory Guerrero Special (which the camera misses) for two. Harlem counters a suplex with a small package for two. Reversal sequence leads to Coleman pinning Harlem to win the first fall. OK start, but some of the work was sloppy and there was some obvious miscommunication.
-ROUND TWO: Coleman & Alexander VS Future Shock
-O'Reilly hits Alexander with a running kick to the chest for two. Futureshock hit a kick combination on Alexander for two. Cole hits Alexander with a snap suplex for two. Futureshock hit Alexander with a flapjack/bulldog combo for two. C & A hit O'Reilly with a powerbomb/Rough Ryder combo for two. Cole hits Coleman with a Northern Lights Suplex for two. O'Reilly hits an exposed knee drop to Coleman's back for two.
Alexander gets in and trades strikes with O'Reilly. Coleman hits Cole with an Attitude Adjustment onto Alexander's knees. Coleman hurricaranas O'Reilly off the top, and Alexander follows with a Frog Splash for two. Futureshock recover, and quickly finish Alexander with Ride the Lightning. Nothing to write home about here.
-ROUND THREE: Future Shock VS The Young Bucks
-Futureshock try to get the jump on the Bucks, but Cole ends up taking an assisted Sliced Bread #2 on the apron from Matt. Bucks hit Cole with a wheelbarrow/Diamond Cutter combo for two. Cole becomes the face-in-peril, as the Bucks work a lot slower than usual. Bucks hit Cole with a clothesline/enziguiri combo, then Nick hits a double stomp off the top before diving onto O'Reilly as Matt gets two on Cole. O'Reilly gets the hot tag, and cleans house.
O'Reilly hits Matt with a series of nine rolling butterfly suplexes. Futureshock hit a double team series that ends with a Cole German suplex on Matt, and Nick makes the save. Nick hits a slingshot X-Factor on Cole, but then takes a wheelbarrow suplex onto the ring apron from O'Reilly. O'Reilly misses a dive, and the Bucks finish Cole with More Bang For Your Buck. Decent enough. Poor Cole is going to be screwed if Futureshock break up anytime soon.
-ROUND FOUR: The Young Bucks VS The All-Night Express
-Bucks had attacked Titus with chairs at a live RoH event. Don't know why the ANX are in this, since they should already have a guaranteed title shot after beating WGTT in a "Proving Ground" match. ANX take control early. As King works on Matt, Nick wraps Titus' injured knee around the ring post. King hits Nick with a spine buster for two. With Titus out of the equation, the Bucks take control on King. Kevin Kelly likens Titus trying to wrestle with his injury to Ben Roethlisberger playing injured for the Steelers and them losing.
King manages to make the tag to Titus. Titus hits Matt with a Sky High, but eats a knee to the face from Nick. King hits Nick with the Coronation (TKO into a Rock Bottom), but then takes a springboard into a DDT on the apron from Matt. Titus knocks Nick for a loop with a clothesline, but he then takes a chop block from Matt. Matt locks Titus in a step-over toehold, then Nick adds a 450 splash. Titus can't defend himself, so the ref stops the match, giving it to the Bucks. Bucks try to do more damage to Titus, but King chases them off with a chair. This was more of an angle than a match. Not much crowd reaction for the gauntlet at all.
-Match 6: Roderick Strong Invitational Challenge: Roderick Strong (w/Truth Martini) VS ????
-Stong bitches that he doesn't have an opponent, and that RoH sent him a list of unsuitable opponents. Strong wants a ten count, then a forfeit victory, but when Martini gets to nine, Chris Hero answers the challenge, having, as rumor has it, failed his WWE mandated drug test. If that is the case, I have to wonder what he failed for, considering they let Claudio Castagnoli go to FCW. Hero does look like he hasn't seen the sun in a while, maybe that's why he's not in WWE.
Hero lands some chops as Martini freaks out. Strong avoids a monkey flip and hits a chop, but then takes a big boot that sends him outside. Martini nails Hero with the book of truth to turn the tide. Strong drops Hero back-first on the corner of the ring apron. Strong keeps the pressure on. Strong sends Hero outside, and Martini takes the opportunity to land a couple cheap shots. Strong whips Hero into the barricade, and gets two off that.
Forearm exchange proves nothing, and Hero abruptly ends a criss-cross with a big kick to the head. Hero no-sells a chop, and hits a big elbow. Match spills outside, and Hero works Strong over. Back in, Hero hits a cravat suplex for two. Strong counters a hangman's neck breaker and hits a high knee for two. Strong hits a turnbuckle back breaker for two. Hero gets out of the Stronghold, and hits another cravat suplex.
Strong hits an enziguiri, German suplex into the corner, another enziguiri, Death From Above, and a Gibson Driver for two. Strike exchange proves nothing. Hero lures Strong into two roaring elbows, then a spinning bicycle kick for two. Death Blow (roaring elbow to the back of the neck) gets two, as Martini dives into the ring to provide a distraction. Hero goes after Martini like an idiot, and gets rolled up for two. Hero misses Strong with a kick and hits Martini, but then turns into the Sick Kick for the pin. Match was good, but not great. Not sure where Strong goes from here, as he's not in the World title picture, but they're still protecting him.
-Match 7 for the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team [c] VS The Briscoe Brothers
-Babyface reaction for the Briscoes, mixed reaction for WGTT. WGTT go on the attack before the bell, striking the Briscoes with the title belts before working them over. Shelton suplexes Mark on the ramp. Haas drops Jay back-first on the barricade. WGTT grab chairs and go to town. Shelton whips Mark into an unprotected chairshot to the head from Haas. Jay is at least smart enough to protect himself when Shelton delivers a chairshot. Haas nails Mark a couple times in the back, then threatens the ref.
WGTT continue to use a chair, and Jay is busted open after taking an unprotected shot to the head. Shelton botches the Leap of Faith on Jay, and the crowd gets on his case, The bell finally rings to officially start the match. Mark tries to fight back, but takes a spike DDT from Shelton. Jay interrupts a second Leap of Faith on Mark with a superkick to Shelton. Jay wins a slug fest with Haas, but then runs into a big boot. Shelton hits a Stinger Splash on Mark, but hurts his already injured ribs, and that allows Mark to hit a spear.
Jay works on Shelton, but ends up running into a BAAAAACK body drop. Shelton makes the tag, and Haas cleans house. Haas hits Jay with an exploder suplex for two. Haas catches Jay with a powerslam for two, as Mark makes the save. Mark hits Haas with a slam off the top, and Jay gets two. WGTT break up a springboard spike Jay Driller, and Haas hits rolling Germans on Jay. Haas locks Jay in the Haas of Pain. Shelton lays in front of Haas to take the hit when Mark flies off the top to break the hold. Shelton is helped to the back.
Briscoes hit Haas with a double shoulder block for two. Haas hits Mark witn an Angle Slam, wiping out the ref in the process. Shelton comes back and grabs a board from under the ring. WGTT use the board, prompting "Hoooooooo"s and a "USA" chant from the crowd. WGTT go for the Doomsday Device, but Mark knocks Shelton off the top with a piece of broken table, and the Briscoes hit Haas with the Doomsday Device for the pin and the titles.
Well that was...interesting. Not sure about the double turn, but WGTT did need freshening up.
-Match 8 for the Ring of Honor World Championship: Davey Richards [c] (w/Team Richards) VS Eddie Edwards (w/Dan Severn)
-Both try to finish early, Edwards with a Dragon sleeper, and Richards with the running kick that won the title for him. Richards locks in the Trailer Hitch, but Edwards makes it to the ropes. Edwards gets the advantage. Richards pulls Edwards off the turnbuckles and hits the Alarm Clock. Richards locks in a Tequila Sunrise. Edwards scores with a throw that sends Richards outside. Richards whips Edwards into the barricade, then connects with a big boot.
Edwards locks in a toe hold with a bridge. Richards back drops Edwards to the outside. Edwards avoids the running apron kick, but then takes a back kick, and the apron kick. Richards hits a missile dropkick for two. Richards lands a series of elbows to the chin and an exploder for two. Richards gets the ankle lock. Edwards then gets the Achillies' lock, but Richards counters that into a small package for two.
Edwards catches a charging Richards with a Rough Ryder for two. After a strike exchange, Edwards catches Richards while he's attempting a hand spring elbow, and dumps Richards outside. Edwards hits a dive, but smacks his leg against the barricade. Edwards hits the backpack chin breaker for two. Edwards counters a cross-arm breaker with a rollup for two. Edwards locks in an STF, then an anklelock.
Richards repeatedly kicks Edwards in the head to escape, so Edwards tries to kick Richards' head in. Another strike exchange leads to Richards essentially no-selling a superkick and hitting a clothesline for one. Richards hits a double stomp to the back, running kick to the chest, and a double stomp to the chest for two. Richards sets Edwards up top, where they exchange headbuts (which Nigel audibly winces at). Richards hits a superplex and rolls through, but then Edwards suplexes Richards, which sends them both out over the top.
Edwards lands a series of chops in the corner, and Richards responds with a series of kicks. They go back-and-forth like this another time. They exchange chops/slaps (Edwards) and kicks (Richards) in the center of the ring, then in a stupid sequence, back drop drivers, as they have to no-sell them. They exchange kicks to send them both down. Roderick Strong comes to ringside, and gets into it with Team Richards. Severn gets a hold of Strong, which brings out Elgin and Martini for a full-fledged brawl. Everyone leaves ringside, leaving just the two combatants in the ring.
Edwards wins another strike/kick exchange, then drops Richards on his head, missing the turnbuckles that he was aiming for. Edwards hits a top rope hurricarana, shotgun dropkick, powerbomb, and a sit-out powerbomb for two. Edwards chops Richards down for two, and locks in a Dragon sleeper. Richards counters into a rollup for two, then Edwards re-applies the hold. Edwards hits a tombstone and the Die Hard (formerly the 2k1 Bomb) for two. Richards fights out of a superplex, and hits a full nelson suplex off the top for two.
They fight on the apron, and Richards tosses Edwards to the floor. Edwards sticks his head through the ropes at 19, so Richards punts him in the head, and hits a full nelson suplex on the apron. Richards hits a kick to the head and a buzzsaw kick for two. Edwards counters the anklelock with a rollup for two. Richards re-applies the anklelock, then hits another kick to the head for two. Richards hits another two buzzsaw kicks to finally put Edwards down for three.
Match was a pretty epic war, but I can't say it's an all-time classic. If you are familiar with these two, you know what you're getting, for better or worse.
-Richards starts to give a speech, but he's interrupted by Kevin Steen, who vows to win the World title in 2012 and hold RoH hostage.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty good show, but not a blow-away show. It at least sets up some interesting stuff for 2012. I was expecting a turn from Edwards, but nothing yet.
-From New York City
-Hosts are Kevin Kelly & Nigel McGuinness
-Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuinness, & Jim Cornette are in the ring. Audio problems remove Nigel's opening spiel. They throw it to Cary Silkin and the CEO of RoH, who wishes everyone a happy holliday of their choosing.
-Match 1: Michael Elgin (w/Truth Martini) VS TJ Perkins
-Elgin tosses Perkins around and no-sells a couple kicks. Perkins dives at Elgin, sending both over the top. Elgin avoids a dive, and catches Perkins as he tries a somersault off the apron. Elgin charges and drives Perkins' midsection into the barricade. Elgin blocks a flying headscissors, and dumps Perkins on his face for two. Elgin tosses Perkins in the air, but Perkins manages to catch Elgin with a headscissors to send Elgin outside, then follows up with a dive. Perkins hits a missile dropkick for two.
Perkins goes up, but Elgin somehow manages to catch him coming down right in vertical suplex position. Elgin turns that into a Rock Bottom for two. Perkins avoids the sitout powerbomb, but takes shock treatment for two. Perkins scores with a neck breaker. Perkins goes for double knees in the corner, but Elgin catches him, and hits a buckle bomb. Elgin goes for the sitout powerbomb, but Perkins counters with a reverse rana for two. Elgin takes a superkick, but comes right back with a spinning back fist, buckle bomb, and spinning sitout powerbomb for the win. Good opener with some really cool spots. First match I've seen from Perkins that didn't feel like an exhibition.
-Match 2: Tomasso Ciampa (w/The Embassy) VS Jimmy Rave
-R.D. Evans compares Jimmy Rave to a desperate ex-girlfriend crashing a family Christmas dinner. Rave is almost unrecognizable with facial hair. Scientific start. Ciampa knocks Rave for a flip with a follow clothesline. Ciampa works Rave over on the outside, then when they get back in, Ciampa hits a couple running knee strikes for two. Rave hits some chops and a clothesline, then catches a running Ciampa with the heel hook. Rave knocks Ciampa off the apron, but Ciampa counters a baseball slide and throws Rave into the barricade.
Rave hits a Shining Wizard and Rave Clash for two. Rave sets up for the Greetings From Ghana (pedigree), but Prince Nana distracts Rave by offering him the old Embassy robe. Rave, like an idiot, goes after Nana. Rave wipes out the Embassy, but that allows Ciampa to recover and hits Project Ciampa for the win. Match was OK. Finish is a waste if Rave isn't sticking around though.
-Match 3 for the RoH Television Championship: Jay Lethal [c] VS Mike Bennett (w/Brutal Bob Evans & Maria Kanellis) VS El Generico (3 Way Elimination Match)
-Maria's hoodie has "Prodigy Girlfriend". Crowd chants "CM Punk", so Bennett makes out with Maria. Bennett tries to cut a promo, but is interrupted by a "sloppy seconds" chant. Bennett pretends that he's going to let the other two fight it out, then nails Lethal from behind. Lethal & Generico double team Bennett. Lethal & Generico argue over who is going to dive onto Bennett first, then decide to hit a double suicide dive.
Lethal and Generico go at it. Lethal hits his hip toss/low dropkick combo for two. Bennett interrupts. Bennett pounds on Generico, and hits a bodyslam for two. Generico low-bridges Bennett, but then runs into a springboard missile dropkick from Lethal for two. Generico scores with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker on Lethal for two. Bennett gets some shots in on Lethal, but takes a handspring elbow. Generico works on Lethal, than catches Bennett with an arm drag.
Generico tosses Lethal into the turnbuckles with an exploder. Bennett prevents Generico from following up, and hides behind Evans, then Maria to get the advantage on Generico. Bennett hits a powerslam on Lethal, then a TKO on Generico. Generico hits a Yakuza Kick on Bennett (which the camera misses), then walks into a superkick from Lethal. Lethal hits Generico with the Lethal Combination (back breaker/downward spiral) for two. Bennett hits a spinebuster on Lethal for a very close two count.
Generico hits Bennett with a Michinoku Driver for two. Generico knocks Lethal off the top with a Yakuza Kick. Generico hits a double springboard dive onto Lethal, then follows up by diving in between the turnbuckles to deliver a tornado DDT on Bennett. Generico hits Bennett with a Yakuza Kick and half-nelson suplex for two. Lethal catches Generico with a neck breaker and a Savage elbow for two. Generico tries to hit the turnbuckle brainbuster on Lethal, but Bennett rolls Generico and pulls the tights for the pin to eliminate him, but then Lethal catches Bennett with the Lethal Injection (hand spring diamond cutter) for the pin to eliminate him and retain. Really good three-way match. Bennett didn't show a whole lot though.
-Match 4: Steve Corino VS Kevin Steen (Special Guest Referee Jimmy Jacobs-if Steen wins, he is reinstated into RoH)
-Steen gets a big babyace reaction for his Sandman-esque (minus the beer and cigarette) entrance. Slug fest to start. Steen hits a cannonball on the apron. Corino hits a running chairshot. Second one is countered with a superkick. Steen powerbombs Corino on the ring apron, then follows up with a frog splash off the apron. Steen grabs a section of the barricade and runs it into Corino's head. Corino lays a chair across the barricade, but Steen powerbomb Corino onto that chair.
Steen bridges the ring apron and the barricade with a table. Corino tosses a garbage can and a chair into the ring. Steen drills Corino in the head with the garbage can lid. Steen bites the ear of Corino, busting it open. Corino blocks a garbage can shot with a back kick to the nuts. Corino hits Steen in the head with the garbage can a couple times, then suplexes him on the garbage can. Corino bodyslams Steen on a chair, then hits a big splash from the top for two.
Corino creates a bridge with four chairs and the section of the barricade. Corino super plexes Steen on the bridge (as the crowd chants "please don't die"), and that gets two. Steen adds a bridge of chairs on top of the table that is bridging the ring and the barricade. Steen tries to super plex Corino into the contraption, but ends up taking a shot to the head with the garbage can lid and falling through it. Crowd shows its appreciation by chanting for fire. Corino gets two off that.
Corino uses one chair to smack another chair into Steen's face, and that gets two. Steen hits an ugly Cobra Clutch suplex, then follows up with a pump handle onto a seated chair for two. Corino takes an unprotected chairshot (ugh) across the face for two. Jacobs stops Steen from hitting Corino again, and that allows Corino to nail Steen with a roll of quarters for two. Corino sets up a bridge of chairs, stopping to throw one at Steen's head. Steen blocks a suplex with a low blow, and hits a package piledriver through the chair bridge for the pin, with Jacobs looking at Cornette for approval before making the count.
It looked like they were going for an ECW PPV grudge match feel, and it was pretty effective, since it doesn't happen that much in major U.S. wrestling anymore. The psychology ended up getting really screwed up though, as the supposed heel (Steen) ended up fighting the system to win his career back, and received cheers for it.
-Steen says he came to do three things: win back his RoH Career (check), two: *package piledrives Jimmy Jacobs* and three...Steen stalks Cornette, but El Generico makes the save. Generico hits a Yakuza Kick, but Steen fights off a turnbuckle brainbuster, and hits a package piledriver off the apron through a table.
-Intermission.
-Match 5: Tag Team Gauntlet-Winners get an RoH World Tag Team Championship Match at some point in 2012
-ROUND ONE: The Bravado Brothers VS Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander
-I love the Bravados' gimmick. Too bad they never win. Order was determined by random draw. Bravados get the jump on Coleman & Alexander at the opening bell. Alexander hits a dive on both Bravados, who do a shitty job of catching him. Harlem low-bridges Coleman, then after waiting forever for Coleman to get to his feet, hits him with a bicycle kick. Lancelot tosses Alexander in the air, and Harlem catches him with a Diamond Cutter on the way down. That gets two. Kelly notes that RoH officials aren't happy with the Bravados' win-loss record. Alexander is face-in-peril for a bit until he catches Lancelot with an enziguiri meant for Harlem, then Coleman takes Lance outside before hitting Harlem with a flying clothesline.
Coleman hits Harlem with a Gory Guerrero Special (which the camera misses) for two. Harlem counters a suplex with a small package for two. Reversal sequence leads to Coleman pinning Harlem to win the first fall. OK start, but some of the work was sloppy and there was some obvious miscommunication.
-ROUND TWO: Coleman & Alexander VS Future Shock
-O'Reilly hits Alexander with a running kick to the chest for two. Futureshock hit a kick combination on Alexander for two. Cole hits Alexander with a snap suplex for two. Futureshock hit Alexander with a flapjack/bulldog combo for two. C & A hit O'Reilly with a powerbomb/Rough Ryder combo for two. Cole hits Coleman with a Northern Lights Suplex for two. O'Reilly hits an exposed knee drop to Coleman's back for two.
Alexander gets in and trades strikes with O'Reilly. Coleman hits Cole with an Attitude Adjustment onto Alexander's knees. Coleman hurricaranas O'Reilly off the top, and Alexander follows with a Frog Splash for two. Futureshock recover, and quickly finish Alexander with Ride the Lightning. Nothing to write home about here.
-ROUND THREE: Future Shock VS The Young Bucks
-Futureshock try to get the jump on the Bucks, but Cole ends up taking an assisted Sliced Bread #2 on the apron from Matt. Bucks hit Cole with a wheelbarrow/Diamond Cutter combo for two. Cole becomes the face-in-peril, as the Bucks work a lot slower than usual. Bucks hit Cole with a clothesline/enziguiri combo, then Nick hits a double stomp off the top before diving onto O'Reilly as Matt gets two on Cole. O'Reilly gets the hot tag, and cleans house.
O'Reilly hits Matt with a series of nine rolling butterfly suplexes. Futureshock hit a double team series that ends with a Cole German suplex on Matt, and Nick makes the save. Nick hits a slingshot X-Factor on Cole, but then takes a wheelbarrow suplex onto the ring apron from O'Reilly. O'Reilly misses a dive, and the Bucks finish Cole with More Bang For Your Buck. Decent enough. Poor Cole is going to be screwed if Futureshock break up anytime soon.
-ROUND FOUR: The Young Bucks VS The All-Night Express
-Bucks had attacked Titus with chairs at a live RoH event. Don't know why the ANX are in this, since they should already have a guaranteed title shot after beating WGTT in a "Proving Ground" match. ANX take control early. As King works on Matt, Nick wraps Titus' injured knee around the ring post. King hits Nick with a spine buster for two. With Titus out of the equation, the Bucks take control on King. Kevin Kelly likens Titus trying to wrestle with his injury to Ben Roethlisberger playing injured for the Steelers and them losing.
King manages to make the tag to Titus. Titus hits Matt with a Sky High, but eats a knee to the face from Nick. King hits Nick with the Coronation (TKO into a Rock Bottom), but then takes a springboard into a DDT on the apron from Matt. Titus knocks Nick for a loop with a clothesline, but he then takes a chop block from Matt. Matt locks Titus in a step-over toehold, then Nick adds a 450 splash. Titus can't defend himself, so the ref stops the match, giving it to the Bucks. Bucks try to do more damage to Titus, but King chases them off with a chair. This was more of an angle than a match. Not much crowd reaction for the gauntlet at all.
-Match 6: Roderick Strong Invitational Challenge: Roderick Strong (w/Truth Martini) VS ????
-Stong bitches that he doesn't have an opponent, and that RoH sent him a list of unsuitable opponents. Strong wants a ten count, then a forfeit victory, but when Martini gets to nine, Chris Hero answers the challenge, having, as rumor has it, failed his WWE mandated drug test. If that is the case, I have to wonder what he failed for, considering they let Claudio Castagnoli go to FCW. Hero does look like he hasn't seen the sun in a while, maybe that's why he's not in WWE.
Hero lands some chops as Martini freaks out. Strong avoids a monkey flip and hits a chop, but then takes a big boot that sends him outside. Martini nails Hero with the book of truth to turn the tide. Strong drops Hero back-first on the corner of the ring apron. Strong keeps the pressure on. Strong sends Hero outside, and Martini takes the opportunity to land a couple cheap shots. Strong whips Hero into the barricade, and gets two off that.
Forearm exchange proves nothing, and Hero abruptly ends a criss-cross with a big kick to the head. Hero no-sells a chop, and hits a big elbow. Match spills outside, and Hero works Strong over. Back in, Hero hits a cravat suplex for two. Strong counters a hangman's neck breaker and hits a high knee for two. Strong hits a turnbuckle back breaker for two. Hero gets out of the Stronghold, and hits another cravat suplex.
Strong hits an enziguiri, German suplex into the corner, another enziguiri, Death From Above, and a Gibson Driver for two. Strike exchange proves nothing. Hero lures Strong into two roaring elbows, then a spinning bicycle kick for two. Death Blow (roaring elbow to the back of the neck) gets two, as Martini dives into the ring to provide a distraction. Hero goes after Martini like an idiot, and gets rolled up for two. Hero misses Strong with a kick and hits Martini, but then turns into the Sick Kick for the pin. Match was good, but not great. Not sure where Strong goes from here, as he's not in the World title picture, but they're still protecting him.
-Match 7 for the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship: Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team [c] VS The Briscoe Brothers
-Babyface reaction for the Briscoes, mixed reaction for WGTT. WGTT go on the attack before the bell, striking the Briscoes with the title belts before working them over. Shelton suplexes Mark on the ramp. Haas drops Jay back-first on the barricade. WGTT grab chairs and go to town. Shelton whips Mark into an unprotected chairshot to the head from Haas. Jay is at least smart enough to protect himself when Shelton delivers a chairshot. Haas nails Mark a couple times in the back, then threatens the ref.
WGTT continue to use a chair, and Jay is busted open after taking an unprotected shot to the head. Shelton botches the Leap of Faith on Jay, and the crowd gets on his case, The bell finally rings to officially start the match. Mark tries to fight back, but takes a spike DDT from Shelton. Jay interrupts a second Leap of Faith on Mark with a superkick to Shelton. Jay wins a slug fest with Haas, but then runs into a big boot. Shelton hits a Stinger Splash on Mark, but hurts his already injured ribs, and that allows Mark to hit a spear.
Jay works on Shelton, but ends up running into a BAAAAACK body drop. Shelton makes the tag, and Haas cleans house. Haas hits Jay with an exploder suplex for two. Haas catches Jay with a powerslam for two, as Mark makes the save. Mark hits Haas with a slam off the top, and Jay gets two. WGTT break up a springboard spike Jay Driller, and Haas hits rolling Germans on Jay. Haas locks Jay in the Haas of Pain. Shelton lays in front of Haas to take the hit when Mark flies off the top to break the hold. Shelton is helped to the back.
Briscoes hit Haas with a double shoulder block for two. Haas hits Mark witn an Angle Slam, wiping out the ref in the process. Shelton comes back and grabs a board from under the ring. WGTT use the board, prompting "Hoooooooo"s and a "USA" chant from the crowd. WGTT go for the Doomsday Device, but Mark knocks Shelton off the top with a piece of broken table, and the Briscoes hit Haas with the Doomsday Device for the pin and the titles.
Well that was...interesting. Not sure about the double turn, but WGTT did need freshening up.
-Match 8 for the Ring of Honor World Championship: Davey Richards [c] (w/Team Richards) VS Eddie Edwards (w/Dan Severn)
-Both try to finish early, Edwards with a Dragon sleeper, and Richards with the running kick that won the title for him. Richards locks in the Trailer Hitch, but Edwards makes it to the ropes. Edwards gets the advantage. Richards pulls Edwards off the turnbuckles and hits the Alarm Clock. Richards locks in a Tequila Sunrise. Edwards scores with a throw that sends Richards outside. Richards whips Edwards into the barricade, then connects with a big boot.
Edwards locks in a toe hold with a bridge. Richards back drops Edwards to the outside. Edwards avoids the running apron kick, but then takes a back kick, and the apron kick. Richards hits a missile dropkick for two. Richards lands a series of elbows to the chin and an exploder for two. Richards gets the ankle lock. Edwards then gets the Achillies' lock, but Richards counters that into a small package for two.
Edwards catches a charging Richards with a Rough Ryder for two. After a strike exchange, Edwards catches Richards while he's attempting a hand spring elbow, and dumps Richards outside. Edwards hits a dive, but smacks his leg against the barricade. Edwards hits the backpack chin breaker for two. Edwards counters a cross-arm breaker with a rollup for two. Edwards locks in an STF, then an anklelock.
Richards repeatedly kicks Edwards in the head to escape, so Edwards tries to kick Richards' head in. Another strike exchange leads to Richards essentially no-selling a superkick and hitting a clothesline for one. Richards hits a double stomp to the back, running kick to the chest, and a double stomp to the chest for two. Richards sets Edwards up top, where they exchange headbuts (which Nigel audibly winces at). Richards hits a superplex and rolls through, but then Edwards suplexes Richards, which sends them both out over the top.
Edwards lands a series of chops in the corner, and Richards responds with a series of kicks. They go back-and-forth like this another time. They exchange chops/slaps (Edwards) and kicks (Richards) in the center of the ring, then in a stupid sequence, back drop drivers, as they have to no-sell them. They exchange kicks to send them both down. Roderick Strong comes to ringside, and gets into it with Team Richards. Severn gets a hold of Strong, which brings out Elgin and Martini for a full-fledged brawl. Everyone leaves ringside, leaving just the two combatants in the ring.
Edwards wins another strike/kick exchange, then drops Richards on his head, missing the turnbuckles that he was aiming for. Edwards hits a top rope hurricarana, shotgun dropkick, powerbomb, and a sit-out powerbomb for two. Edwards chops Richards down for two, and locks in a Dragon sleeper. Richards counters into a rollup for two, then Edwards re-applies the hold. Edwards hits a tombstone and the Die Hard (formerly the 2k1 Bomb) for two. Richards fights out of a superplex, and hits a full nelson suplex off the top for two.
They fight on the apron, and Richards tosses Edwards to the floor. Edwards sticks his head through the ropes at 19, so Richards punts him in the head, and hits a full nelson suplex on the apron. Richards hits a kick to the head and a buzzsaw kick for two. Edwards counters the anklelock with a rollup for two. Richards re-applies the anklelock, then hits another kick to the head for two. Richards hits another two buzzsaw kicks to finally put Edwards down for three.
Match was a pretty epic war, but I can't say it's an all-time classic. If you are familiar with these two, you know what you're getting, for better or worse.
-Richards starts to give a speech, but he's interrupted by Kevin Steen, who vows to win the World title in 2012 and hold RoH hostage.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: Pretty good show, but not a blow-away show. It at least sets up some interesting stuff for 2012. I was expecting a turn from Edwards, but nothing yet.
EWR Diary: 1/23/12-1/29/12
-Raw 1/23/12:
-Match 1: 20 Man Battle Royale to Determine #30 in the Royal Rumble Match
-Awful battle royale. Final three are Christian, Sheamus, & Randy Orton. Orton manages to dump Sheamus, but then Christian sneaks up from behind and eliminates Orton to win. (1/2*)
-Backstage, The Conspirators [WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio, WWE Tag Team Champions Awesome Truth, & Kevin Nash] cut a group promo. They say that when Alberto Del Rio retains the WWE Championship, Awesome Truth retain the WWE Tag Team Championship, and Kevin Nash wins the Royal Rumble, the group will completely own WWE. They plan to start eliminating opposition, starting tonight when ADR & Awesome Truth face John Cena & Air Boom in a six man tag in tonight's main event.
-Match 2: Layla, Kelly Kelly, Eve, & Naomi Night VS Divas of Doom & Bella Twins
-Layla & Natalya are on loan from Smackdown. Naomi surprises Beth with the spinning heel kick to win, and Beth throws another hissy fit. It was a Divas match. (*)
-Christian cut a celebratory promo. He says that winning #30 in the Royal Rumble has pretty much guaranteed that he will finally get his "one more match" for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event at WrestleMania.
-John Cena came to the ring for a promo. He gets in serious mode and talks about Michael Cole stacking the deck by making himself the special guest referee for his title match against ADR at the Royal Rumble. Cena says that nothing will deny him the opportunity to make his match against the Rock at WrestleMania even bigger by making it be for the WWE Championship. Cena talks about The Conspirators' threat to eliminate all competition, starting with him. Cena says many have tried to eliminate him from WWE and all have failed. They will be no different.
-Match 3: Cryme Tyme VS Domination
-I am keeping Cryme Tyme around to bolster the tag division. OK undercard tag match. Vickie Guerrero provides a distraction, allowing Dolph Ziggler to interfere, which in turn leads to Ezekial Jackson pinning JTG with the Book of Ezekial. (**1/2)
-United States Champion Dolph Ziggler cut a backstage promo. Ziggler says that even though he is not #30 in the Royal Rumble, he is still the favorite to win the Rumble.
-Rey Mysterio is still coming back at the Royal Rumble.
-Match 4: Goldust VS Jinder Mahal
-I needed a filler match, and it ended up being a lot better than I anticipated. Goldust wins with the Final Cut. (***1/4)
-Match 5: John Cena & Air Boom VS WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio & WWE Tag Team Champions Awesome Truth
-OK main event. John Cena gets ADR in trouble and locks in the STF, but Kevin Nash nails the ref to draw a DQ. (**3/4)
-After the bell, The Conspirators destroy Cena & Air Boom, standing triumphant as the show ends.
-WWE NEWS: Rating dropped quite a bit this week for RAW. NO SWAGGER = NO BUYS.
-Smackdown 1/27/12:
-Justin Gabriel opened the show. He called out World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry for a confrontation later tonight. Based on the segment rating, it will be a long, long time before I let him cut a promo again.
-Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes came out to the ring for the opening match. Before it started, he cut a promo on Daniel Bryan, saying that tonight Bryan has to watch Rhodes destroy his mentor, then at the Royal Rumble, Bryan will have to watch Rhodes leave with the Money in the Bank briefcase.
-Match 1: William Regal VS Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes
-Good match. Regal tries to load the Power of the Punch, but Rhodes manages to knock the brass knuckles out of Regal's hand, and finish with Cross Rhodes. After the pin, Rhodes KO's Regal with his own brass knuckles, then add another Cross Rhodes. (***)
-Sheamus confronts Randy Orton about last week's RKO. Orton reminds Sheamus that he told him that they weren't friends, and that Orton was sending a message to Sheamus in advance of the Royal Rumble. Sheamus says he'll send his own message when the two face each other plus Christian in a Triple Threat match tonight.
-Match 2: Daniel Bryan VS Drew McIntyre
-Good, but I was hoping for great. Bryan counters the Future Shock DDT and gets the submission with the Labelle Lock. Cody Rhodes comes down to ringside to see the action, but does not interfere as Bryan keeps the hold on while staring down Rhodes. (***1/4)
-Wade Barrett cut another promo via satellite. Barrett says Orton better worry about HIM, not Sheamus or Christian come the Royal Rumble.
-Match 3: Brodus Clay VS Trent Barreta
-Quick squash for Clay to kill some time. (*1/2)
-Kane is still returning at the Royal Rumble.
-Match 4: Layla VS Natalya
-Match was typical Divas fare, but the crowd was into it. Layla wins with the Layout, but is then attacked by Divas Champion Beth Phoenix and taken out with the Glam Slam. (*1/4)
-Match 5: Randy Orton VS Sheamus VS Christian
-Another match that was good when I was hoping for great. Orton hits Christian with the RKO, but then walks into a Brogue Kick, and Sheamus pins Orton. (***)
-Justin Gabriel called out Mark Henry for their confrontation. They had a short brawl, and Gabriel managed to hit Henry with the World Heavyweight title belt, then add the 450. Gabriel poses with the belt as the show closes.
-NOTE: I was going to run Sin Cara VS Sin Cara II mask-vs-mask at the Rumble to end that feud, but I forgot to put in segments to build to it on the last couple Smackdowns, so it's been cut.
-WWE NEWS: Smackdown gets its highest rating since I took over WWE, despite the Justin Gabriel segments bombing.
-Royal Rumble 1/29/12:
-Match 1 for the WWE Tag Team Championship: Awesome Truth [c] VS Air Boom
-Good opener. Frustrated Miz pulls the ref in the way of a flying clothesline by Kofi. With the ref out, Awesome Truth manage to lay both members of Air Boom out, but then Triple H comes out through the crowd and throws Truth out of the ring before hitting Miz with a Pedigree. When the ref wakes up, Kingston hits the still-stunned Miz with Trouble in Paradise for the pin and the titles. (***1/4)
-Match 2 for the Divas Championship: Beth Phoenix [c] VS Layla
-Beth managed to overcome the recent losses, and retain with the Glam Slam. Typical Divas fare. (*1/2)
-Match 3 for the Intercontinental Championship & the Money in the Bank briefcase: Cody Rhodes [c] VS Daniel Bryan
-Good match where I was hoping for great. Bryan manages to fight off Cross Rhodes, and win the title with the Labelle Lock. (***1/4)
-Match 4 for the World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry [c] VS Justin Gabriel
-Probably as good as I could hope. Gabriel manages to hit the 450, but Henry throws him off the cover at two, and quickly finishes with the World's Strongest Slam. (**3/4)
-Match 5 for the WWE Championship: Alberto Del Rio [c] VS John Cena (Special Guest Referee: Michael Cole)
-Cole was blatantly biased in favor of ADR. Cena appeared to have the match won with the Attitude Adjustment, but Cole wouldn't make the count. Cena argued with Cole, then avoided a charging ADR, who ran into Cole. Cena managed to hit another AA and lock in the STF, but before a second ref could ring the bell because ADR was tapping, Cole pulled the ref out, and retook charge. Cena let go of the hold, and Cole shoved Cena into a schoolboy from ADR, then Cole quick-counted to give ADR the win. After ADR and Cole took off for the back, Cena stood in shock in the ring. He stared ADR and Cole down, not noticing that THE ROCK had gotten into the ring. Cena turned right into a Rock Bottom. Rock soaked in the adulation of the crowd before leaving. (**1/2)
-Match 6: The Royal Rumble
-Heath Slater is #1, followed by Zack Ryder at #2. Ryder hits the Broski Boot as Wade Barrett enters at #3. The former Nexus/Corre members double team Ryder, but cannot eliminate him. Dolph Ziggler enters at #4, and the heels eliminate Ryder. Tyson Kidd enters at #5, and the tag partners take on the other heels. That all stops when JTG enters at #6, and the heels gang up to eliminate him. The heels all agree to work together as Sheamus enters at #7. Sheamus takes a 4-on-1 beating, but hangs in there. Santino Marella enters at #8, but the babyfaces are still getting beaten down when Rey Mysterio makes his return as #9. The faces start fighting back, and Rey eliminates Kidd, then Sheamus eliminates Slater. Barrett & Ziggler are in trouble until Drew McIntyre enters at #10 to even the odds.
JBL is a surprise entrant at #11, but he takes his time cutting a long promo on his way to the ring, making sure to mention that he is "better than anyone from St. Louis". Naturally, Randy Orton is #12. JBL still hasn't gotten in the ring when Orton makes his way down. JBL offers an insincere handshake. Orton takes it, but then pulls JBL into an RKO on the floor. Orton rolls the KO'd JBL into the ring, then eliminates him. Orton sets his sights on Wade Barrett, and the two slug it out as Big Show enters at lucky #13. Show eliminates McIntyre. CM Punk is #14. Punk lays Ziggler out with the GTS as Jack Swagger enters at #15. Punk allows Swagger to dump the KO'd Ziggler. Barrett hits Wasteland on Orton, then blocks THE COBRA from Santino, and eliminates Santino. Sean Waltman is a surprise entrant at #16, and he lays everyone out with spinning heel kicks except for Big Show, who hits Waltman with the WMD. Goldust is #17. Goldust is immediately KO'd and eliminated by Big Show. Kevin Nash is #18. He and Show go at it. Waltman tries to help Nash, but takes a chokeslam. Nash gets some help from Barrett to eliminate Show. Waltman wants a high five from Nash, who responds by throwing him out. Ted DiBiase is #19, but he doesn't last long, taking a big boot and a jackknife from Nash before getting tossed. Barrett and Orton brawl on the outside, and Orton hits Barrett with an RKO on the Spanish Announce Table. John Morrison is #20. Nash tries to jackknife Rey, but Rey manages to counter with a head scissors to eliminate Nash.
Mason Ryan enters at #21, and eliminates Morrison. Ryan & Sheamus go at it, and Sheamus eliminates Ryan with a Brogue Kick. William Regal enters at #22. Nothing much happens as Shad Gaspard enters at #23. Everyone pairs off as Alex Riley enters at #24. Ezekial Jackson is in at #25, and he promptly eliminates Riley. Brodus Clay is in at #26, and he goes right after Rey. Brodus almost has him eliminated when Kane enters at #27. Kane goes on a tear, eliminating Jackson, Clay, Swagger, Regal, Shad, and Mysterio. Sin Cara is #28. He is jumped from behind during his entrance by Sin Cara II. Sin Cara II throws the KO'd Sin Cara I in the ring and leaves. Kane tosses Sin Cara I. Diamond Dallas Page is the last surprise entrant at #29. DDP counters a Kane chokeslam with a Diamond Cutter, then hits Diamond Cutters on Punk and Sheamus before taking an RKO from Orton. Christian is #30. Orton eliminates DDP. Orton almost gets Christian out, but Wade Barrett finally gets back in, and manages to catch Orton unaware to eliminate him. Barrett celebrates, but then takes a Brogue Kick from Sheamus, who then eliminates Barrett.
FINAL 4: Sheamus, CM Punk, Kane, & Christian. Punk/Christian and Sheamus/Kane pair off. As Sheamus/Kane struggle against the ropes, Christian kicks Punk in the nuts, then tips Sheamus and Kane out. Christian hits Punk with the Killswitch, but takes his time trying to eliminate Punk. That gives Punk the opportunity to hit the GTS, and elminate Christian to win. (**1/4)
NWA/WCW Big Event Project #45: Clash of the Champions XVII
-11/19/91
-From Savanah, GA
-Hosts are JR & Tony
-Eric Bischoff is with Missy Hyatt, who is excited about interviewing WCW's newest rookie: Marcus Alexander Bagwell.
-Match 1: Thomas Rich (w/Alexandra York) VS Big Josh [Lumberjack Match]
-Rich jumps on Josh as he enters the ring. Josh Hulks up, and Rich tries to bail, but has nowhere to go. Josh dominates Rich, until Rich manages to send Josh out on the heel side. Judging by the sides, the Freebirds are now babyfaces, while the Young Pistols are heels. Mostly punch-kick offense. Rich goes up, but gets tossed by Josh. Josh hits a snap suplex for two. They do a criss-cross, and for some reason Terrence Taylor trips Rich, and Josh finishes with the Northern Exposure (sit down splash). Nothing special. Finish is a bit intriguing though.
-Match 2: Firebreaker Chip VS Bobby Eaton
-Crowd is pro-Eaton. Chip tries flying around, and it's awkward to say the least. Chip misses a splash in the corner, but no-sells the miss, and hits a flying clothesline off the top. They go on the mat as the crowd gets restless. Chip runs right into a nice clothesline, and Eaton follows up with a back breaker for two. Eaton smashes Chip's face into the turnbuckle, and finishes with a belly-to-back suplex. Nothing to see here.
-Starrcade '91: Battlebowl-The Lethal Lottery promo.
-Tony brings out the United States Champion Sting, as he is to receive the final gift box tonight. Sting, like an impatient kid on Christmas morning, wants the final box RIGHT NOW. Some guys carry a royal-looking cart down the ramp. Madusa exits and acts all seductive towards Sting. Sting, as we all know, is the biggest idiot in wrestling, so he falls for it. That allows Lex Luger to attack Sting and go after his previously-injured knee.
-Match 3: Z Man VS The Diamond Studd
-Match is joined in progress after a commercial break. The match is rendered pretty much inconsequential, as Sting is placed in an ambulance. Zenk wins in short order with a crucifix, but Studd destroys him after the fact with a chokeslam and Diamond Death Drop. Well that didn't help anybody.
-Match 4 for the Television Championship: Steve Austin [c] (w/Lady Blossom) VS PN News
-Austin tries to get the early jump, but gets caught with a tree slam. News hits a bodyslam and elbowdrop, causing Austin to bail. News sends Austin into the guardrail. Austin goes for a slam, but can't hold News, who falls on top for two. News suplexes Austin into the ropes, and gets two off that. News hits a belly-to-belly, but Lady Blossom puts Austin's foot on the bottom rope at two. News stupidly goes after her, and gets nailed by Austin for his troubles. News misses an avalanche, and Austin gets the pin with his feet on the ropes. Match was OK. Austin really put News over before retaining the title.
-Missy interviews Bagwell, who is presented as a rookie to wrestling itself. Missy is mad Bagwell didn't ask her out.
-WCW TOP TEN:
10. Big Van Vader
9. Bobby Eaton
8. Bill Kazmaier
7. Cactus Jack
6. Barry Windham
5. Dustin Rhodes
4. Ron Simmons
3. Steve Austin
2. Rick Steiner
1. Sting
-Match 5: Cactus Jack VS Van Hammer
-Cactus gets an organ version of "the funeral march" as his entrance music. Hammer gets a good reaction. Cactus gets the jump at the bell, but takes a belly-to-back suplex and a shitty dropkick to send him outside. Hammer hits a slam and legdrop for two. Jack comes back with a Jericho bulldog, Cactus clothesline, and flying elbow off the second rope to the outside. Crowd chants for Hammer, who Hulks up. Hammer hits a flying knee to the back of Jack's head for two. Jack goes outside, and rams the edge of Hammer's guitar into Hammer's throat, then rolls Hammer up for the pin, and Hammer's first loss. Hammer doesn't take the loss well, hitting a slingshot suplex onto the runway. They brawl to the back to continue the feud. Best match so far, but the bar was pretty low.
-JR gets Eric Bischoff on the phone (as we can hear the director tell Tony to move his head so we can see JR). Eric says Sting's injury isn't as bad as was feared, but his knee has swelled up.
-JR & Tony preview the world tag team title match. Video of the Enforcers attacking Barry Windham before Halloween Havoc is shown.
-Match 6 for the World Tag Team Championship: The Enforcers [c] VS Dustin Rhodes & ?????
-Windham comes to the ring with Dustin, but says he can't wrestle because he just had surgery on his hand. Windham calls out Dustin's partner, who comes to the ring in a dragon costume. Naturally, it's Ricky Steamboat. The crowd goes wild as The Enforcers lose their shit.
Challengers start out fast, as the champions have no answers for Steamboat. Ricky & Dustin go after Larry's arm. AA gets in, and manages to take over on Dustin. Dustin comes back with bionic elbows, and the champs bail out. Brilliant sequence as Larry slaps Steamboat across the face, which causes Steamboat to chase him. AA makes a blind tag as the chase continues, then nails Steamboat from behind when Steamboat gets his hands on Larry.
AA gets two off a belly-to-back suplex. Steamboat turns the tide on AA, but Larry gets in, and regains control. Long heat segment on Steamboat, and the crowd is with them the whole time. They throw in a false tag. AA goes off the top, and meets both Steamboats' feet, finally allowing the hot tag. Dustin gets the bulldog on AA, and Ricky makes a blind tag. Ricky hits AA with the cross-body off the top for the pin and the titles. To say the crowd goes wild would be an understatement. Excellent tag formula match. If you haven't seen it, it's well worth going out of your way to track down.
-After a commercial break, JR & Tony note that the Enforcers are protesting the decision on the grounds that they signed to wrestle Dustin and Windham. JR & Tony introduce a hype video for the soon-to-debut Jushin Thunder Liger, who will challenge the winner of the Light-Heavyweight title match.
-After the video, JR is with Paul E., who is ashamed to have ever known Lex Luger or Madusa. Paul shows JR the contract for the U.S. title match, specifically a clause (and Paul notes that "I'm not lying this time"), that states that if Sting is not in the ring by bell time, he will forfeit the U.S. title to Rick Rude.
-After another commercial, JR gets on the phone with Eric Bischoff, who is at the hospital with Sting. Sting gets out of the examining room, and when Eric informs him of the "loophole" on the title match contract, Sting flips out, and steals an ambulance to get back to the arena.
-Match 7 for the Light-Heavyweight Championship: Brian Pillman [c] VS Johnny B. Badd (w/Teddy Long)
-JR notes that Badd and Long have been having issues recently. Badd has a few female plants stuff dollar bills in his garter belt. Badd lands some rapid body punches, and Pillman responds with a STIFF overhand chop. Pillman hits Air Pillman out onto the entrance ramp. Pillman tries a piledriver on the ramp, but Badd counters. Badd takes Pillman off the ramp and into the guardrail. Pillman hits a slingshot cross-body for two. Pillman goes for a big splash off the top, but only gets Badd's knees.
Badd flies off the top, but is met with a dropkick from Pillman. Pillman hits another really stiff chop. Pillman hits a spinning heel kick for two. Badd comes off the top with a sunset flip, but Long has the referee detained. Badd tells Long to get off the apron, but Pillman runs Badd into Long, and gets a rollup for the pin to retain. Badd KO's Long after the loss. Match was good while it lasted, but seemed to be more of a backdrop for the turn after the match.
-Match 8 for the United States Championship: Sting [c] VS Rick Rude (w/Paul E. Dangerously)
-Paul takes the time to trash talk Sting, conveniently giving Sting enough time to arrive at the arena. Paul sees this, and frantically calls for Nick Patrick to ring the bell. Sting has until the count of ten to get to the ring. Sting goes to thr wrong door, but fortunately, there are some babyfaces waiting for him, and they guide him to the right entrance.
Rude rushes out to meet Sting on the entrance ramp. Sting completely dominates the first couple minutes until Rude gets a hold of Sting's injured knee and wraps it around the ring post. Rude hits an axe handle off the top, and poses to huge heat. Sting blocks the Rude Awakening, but gets poked in the eye. Paul nails Sting with the mobile phone, and Rude gets a very close two count off that. Sting goes after Paul, but gets clipped from behid. Rude gets a schoolboy, and pulls the tights to get the pin and the title. More of an angle than a match, but the perfect way to get the title off Sting and prepare him for a run at Luger, while putting more heat on Rude.
-After a commercial break, Tony is with Paul, Rude, and Madusa. Paul reveals that everything was a conspiracy between Paul, Rude, Madusa, and Luger. Paul spits on WCW, and says the championship commitee now answers to the Dangerous Alliance. Rude says that tonight shows nice guys finish last.
-After another commercial break. JR interviews the injured Ron Simmons. Simmons is here to scout the world title match, and vows to be the first black world champion.
-Video shows recent confrontations between Lex Luger and Rick Steiner.
-Match 9 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Lex Luger [c] (w/Harley Race & Mr. Hughes) VS Rick Steiner (w/Scott Steiner)
-Randy Anderson ejects Mr. Hughes before the match starts. Mat wrestling to start, which obviously goes Rick's way. Rick catches Luger with a powerslam for two, and clotheslines him outside the ring. Luger bashes Rick's head into the turnbuckle, but Rick no-sells, and regains control. Rick hits a German suplex for two. Luger shoves the ref out of the way, and crotches Rick on the top rope. Rick tries a somersault sell off a clothesline, but it doesn't go well. Luger punches Rick in the throat (reality: the forehead), and throws him through the ropes.
Rick fights back with punches and a powerslam for two. Rick hits the Steiner bulldog for two, as Luger gets his foot on the bottom rope. Rick hits an overhead belly-to-belly throw off the second rope. Scott goes after the returning Hughes, throwing him into the ring, and hitting a sloppy Frankensteiner. Rick hits a belly-to-belly suplex on Luger, but then goes after Harley, suplexing him into the ring. As Randy Anderson gets Harley out of the ring, Luger grabs the title belt and KO's Rick to retain. Match was pretty much the same as the TV title match, with the challenger dominating before the champion retains with a cheap pin.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: This was a pretty good show, especially once the title matches started. The tag title match is awesome, while everything else watchable and pretty heated at least. Possibly the best Clash so far.
-From Savanah, GA
-Hosts are JR & Tony
-Eric Bischoff is with Missy Hyatt, who is excited about interviewing WCW's newest rookie: Marcus Alexander Bagwell.
-Match 1: Thomas Rich (w/Alexandra York) VS Big Josh [Lumberjack Match]
-Rich jumps on Josh as he enters the ring. Josh Hulks up, and Rich tries to bail, but has nowhere to go. Josh dominates Rich, until Rich manages to send Josh out on the heel side. Judging by the sides, the Freebirds are now babyfaces, while the Young Pistols are heels. Mostly punch-kick offense. Rich goes up, but gets tossed by Josh. Josh hits a snap suplex for two. They do a criss-cross, and for some reason Terrence Taylor trips Rich, and Josh finishes with the Northern Exposure (sit down splash). Nothing special. Finish is a bit intriguing though.
-Match 2: Firebreaker Chip VS Bobby Eaton
-Crowd is pro-Eaton. Chip tries flying around, and it's awkward to say the least. Chip misses a splash in the corner, but no-sells the miss, and hits a flying clothesline off the top. They go on the mat as the crowd gets restless. Chip runs right into a nice clothesline, and Eaton follows up with a back breaker for two. Eaton smashes Chip's face into the turnbuckle, and finishes with a belly-to-back suplex. Nothing to see here.
-Starrcade '91: Battlebowl-The Lethal Lottery promo.
-Tony brings out the United States Champion Sting, as he is to receive the final gift box tonight. Sting, like an impatient kid on Christmas morning, wants the final box RIGHT NOW. Some guys carry a royal-looking cart down the ramp. Madusa exits and acts all seductive towards Sting. Sting, as we all know, is the biggest idiot in wrestling, so he falls for it. That allows Lex Luger to attack Sting and go after his previously-injured knee.
-Match 3: Z Man VS The Diamond Studd
-Match is joined in progress after a commercial break. The match is rendered pretty much inconsequential, as Sting is placed in an ambulance. Zenk wins in short order with a crucifix, but Studd destroys him after the fact with a chokeslam and Diamond Death Drop. Well that didn't help anybody.
-Match 4 for the Television Championship: Steve Austin [c] (w/Lady Blossom) VS PN News
-Austin tries to get the early jump, but gets caught with a tree slam. News hits a bodyslam and elbowdrop, causing Austin to bail. News sends Austin into the guardrail. Austin goes for a slam, but can't hold News, who falls on top for two. News suplexes Austin into the ropes, and gets two off that. News hits a belly-to-belly, but Lady Blossom puts Austin's foot on the bottom rope at two. News stupidly goes after her, and gets nailed by Austin for his troubles. News misses an avalanche, and Austin gets the pin with his feet on the ropes. Match was OK. Austin really put News over before retaining the title.
-Missy interviews Bagwell, who is presented as a rookie to wrestling itself. Missy is mad Bagwell didn't ask her out.
-WCW TOP TEN:
10. Big Van Vader
9. Bobby Eaton
8. Bill Kazmaier
7. Cactus Jack
6. Barry Windham
5. Dustin Rhodes
4. Ron Simmons
3. Steve Austin
2. Rick Steiner
1. Sting
-Match 5: Cactus Jack VS Van Hammer
-Cactus gets an organ version of "the funeral march" as his entrance music. Hammer gets a good reaction. Cactus gets the jump at the bell, but takes a belly-to-back suplex and a shitty dropkick to send him outside. Hammer hits a slam and legdrop for two. Jack comes back with a Jericho bulldog, Cactus clothesline, and flying elbow off the second rope to the outside. Crowd chants for Hammer, who Hulks up. Hammer hits a flying knee to the back of Jack's head for two. Jack goes outside, and rams the edge of Hammer's guitar into Hammer's throat, then rolls Hammer up for the pin, and Hammer's first loss. Hammer doesn't take the loss well, hitting a slingshot suplex onto the runway. They brawl to the back to continue the feud. Best match so far, but the bar was pretty low.
-JR gets Eric Bischoff on the phone (as we can hear the director tell Tony to move his head so we can see JR). Eric says Sting's injury isn't as bad as was feared, but his knee has swelled up.
-JR & Tony preview the world tag team title match. Video of the Enforcers attacking Barry Windham before Halloween Havoc is shown.
-Match 6 for the World Tag Team Championship: The Enforcers [c] VS Dustin Rhodes & ?????
-Windham comes to the ring with Dustin, but says he can't wrestle because he just had surgery on his hand. Windham calls out Dustin's partner, who comes to the ring in a dragon costume. Naturally, it's Ricky Steamboat. The crowd goes wild as The Enforcers lose their shit.
Challengers start out fast, as the champions have no answers for Steamboat. Ricky & Dustin go after Larry's arm. AA gets in, and manages to take over on Dustin. Dustin comes back with bionic elbows, and the champs bail out. Brilliant sequence as Larry slaps Steamboat across the face, which causes Steamboat to chase him. AA makes a blind tag as the chase continues, then nails Steamboat from behind when Steamboat gets his hands on Larry.
AA gets two off a belly-to-back suplex. Steamboat turns the tide on AA, but Larry gets in, and regains control. Long heat segment on Steamboat, and the crowd is with them the whole time. They throw in a false tag. AA goes off the top, and meets both Steamboats' feet, finally allowing the hot tag. Dustin gets the bulldog on AA, and Ricky makes a blind tag. Ricky hits AA with the cross-body off the top for the pin and the titles. To say the crowd goes wild would be an understatement. Excellent tag formula match. If you haven't seen it, it's well worth going out of your way to track down.
-After a commercial break, JR & Tony note that the Enforcers are protesting the decision on the grounds that they signed to wrestle Dustin and Windham. JR & Tony introduce a hype video for the soon-to-debut Jushin Thunder Liger, who will challenge the winner of the Light-Heavyweight title match.
-After the video, JR is with Paul E., who is ashamed to have ever known Lex Luger or Madusa. Paul shows JR the contract for the U.S. title match, specifically a clause (and Paul notes that "I'm not lying this time"), that states that if Sting is not in the ring by bell time, he will forfeit the U.S. title to Rick Rude.
-After another commercial, JR gets on the phone with Eric Bischoff, who is at the hospital with Sting. Sting gets out of the examining room, and when Eric informs him of the "loophole" on the title match contract, Sting flips out, and steals an ambulance to get back to the arena.
-Match 7 for the Light-Heavyweight Championship: Brian Pillman [c] VS Johnny B. Badd (w/Teddy Long)
-JR notes that Badd and Long have been having issues recently. Badd has a few female plants stuff dollar bills in his garter belt. Badd lands some rapid body punches, and Pillman responds with a STIFF overhand chop. Pillman hits Air Pillman out onto the entrance ramp. Pillman tries a piledriver on the ramp, but Badd counters. Badd takes Pillman off the ramp and into the guardrail. Pillman hits a slingshot cross-body for two. Pillman goes for a big splash off the top, but only gets Badd's knees.
Badd flies off the top, but is met with a dropkick from Pillman. Pillman hits another really stiff chop. Pillman hits a spinning heel kick for two. Badd comes off the top with a sunset flip, but Long has the referee detained. Badd tells Long to get off the apron, but Pillman runs Badd into Long, and gets a rollup for the pin to retain. Badd KO's Long after the loss. Match was good while it lasted, but seemed to be more of a backdrop for the turn after the match.
-Match 8 for the United States Championship: Sting [c] VS Rick Rude (w/Paul E. Dangerously)
-Paul takes the time to trash talk Sting, conveniently giving Sting enough time to arrive at the arena. Paul sees this, and frantically calls for Nick Patrick to ring the bell. Sting has until the count of ten to get to the ring. Sting goes to thr wrong door, but fortunately, there are some babyfaces waiting for him, and they guide him to the right entrance.
Rude rushes out to meet Sting on the entrance ramp. Sting completely dominates the first couple minutes until Rude gets a hold of Sting's injured knee and wraps it around the ring post. Rude hits an axe handle off the top, and poses to huge heat. Sting blocks the Rude Awakening, but gets poked in the eye. Paul nails Sting with the mobile phone, and Rude gets a very close two count off that. Sting goes after Paul, but gets clipped from behid. Rude gets a schoolboy, and pulls the tights to get the pin and the title. More of an angle than a match, but the perfect way to get the title off Sting and prepare him for a run at Luger, while putting more heat on Rude.
-After a commercial break, Tony is with Paul, Rude, and Madusa. Paul reveals that everything was a conspiracy between Paul, Rude, Madusa, and Luger. Paul spits on WCW, and says the championship commitee now answers to the Dangerous Alliance. Rude says that tonight shows nice guys finish last.
-After another commercial break. JR interviews the injured Ron Simmons. Simmons is here to scout the world title match, and vows to be the first black world champion.
-Video shows recent confrontations between Lex Luger and Rick Steiner.
-Match 9 for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Lex Luger [c] (w/Harley Race & Mr. Hughes) VS Rick Steiner (w/Scott Steiner)
-Randy Anderson ejects Mr. Hughes before the match starts. Mat wrestling to start, which obviously goes Rick's way. Rick catches Luger with a powerslam for two, and clotheslines him outside the ring. Luger bashes Rick's head into the turnbuckle, but Rick no-sells, and regains control. Rick hits a German suplex for two. Luger shoves the ref out of the way, and crotches Rick on the top rope. Rick tries a somersault sell off a clothesline, but it doesn't go well. Luger punches Rick in the throat (reality: the forehead), and throws him through the ropes.
Rick fights back with punches and a powerslam for two. Rick hits the Steiner bulldog for two, as Luger gets his foot on the bottom rope. Rick hits an overhead belly-to-belly throw off the second rope. Scott goes after the returning Hughes, throwing him into the ring, and hitting a sloppy Frankensteiner. Rick hits a belly-to-belly suplex on Luger, but then goes after Harley, suplexing him into the ring. As Randy Anderson gets Harley out of the ring, Luger grabs the title belt and KO's Rick to retain. Match was pretty much the same as the TV title match, with the challenger dominating before the champion retains with a cheap pin.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: This was a pretty good show, especially once the title matches started. The tag title match is awesome, while everything else watchable and pretty heated at least. Possibly the best Clash so far.
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