Wrestling History Today - Aug 16th
On this day in history in ....
1946 - Ted Cox defeats Dave Levin in Houston to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title. It marked the end of Levin's second title reign and the beginning of Cox's second run with the belt.
1960 - Verne Gagne becomes the AWA World Heavyweight Champion for the first of a record ten times. Pat O'Connor, the defending NWA World Heavyweight Champion, had been recognized as the first AWA World Champion in May of 1960, but was given 90 days to defend against number one contender Gagne, or be stripped of the title. The match never happened, and Gagne was given the title.
1992 - The Great Muta (Keiji Mutoh) defeats Riki Choshu in Fukuoka, Japan to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title. This marked the end of Choshu's third and final reign as New Japan Pro Wrestling's top champion.
1993 - Jimmy Del Ray defeats Ricky Morton to win the vacant Smokey Mountain Wrestling "Beat The Champ" Television Title. The belt, which was only defended on TV tapings, would be surrendered by the champion if they won five consecutive title defenses. However, on this occasion the belt had been vacated because a suspended Tony Anthony had won the title under a mask as the "Mighty Yankee" two months earlier.
2002 - The Backyard, the Paul Hough documentary focusing on the lives of backyard wrestling and those who practice it, won Edinburgh International Film Festival's "Best of Fest 2002" Award in Great Britain.
2002 - WWE broadcast Byte This on their website. Joe Shearer filed the following report:
The show starts by noting the passing of Ronnie Lamons a frequent Byte This caller who passed away Aug. 1. Kevin Kelly and Dr. Tom Pritchard dedicated the show to Ronnie.
The show began with the closing scrum from the RAW 8-man match. Excellent action and commentary from J.R.- "Come get some you Un-Americans!" Classic stuff as always.
Byte This's Dynamic Duo of Dr. Tom and Hermie Kelly started by discussing the differences between the "edgy" RAW and "Solid wrestling" of SmackDown, and the two discuss how the brand extension allows for pushes of deserving people, including today's guests, the Un-Americans. SmackDown is more old school, according to Dr. Tom.
Droz makes his weekly appearance, discussing those "dirty bastards," the Un-Americans. He says that we should kick their Canadian asses out of the country. Dr. Tom defends their freedom to say what they want. From there, they discuss Booker T and Goldust, and Dr. all three agree that Booker is ready for a big-time push. They also discussed the phantom-Takerooni after RAW went off the air, and mentioned that they would try to have footage of the incident next week. That segment was, from what I've heard, very funny, and the Byte This crew is trying to pare the 40-minute clips into an efficient video segment.
Droz also mentions that he thinks the Rock will emerge victorious over Brock at Summer Slam, and the three men compared Lesnar to the number one pick in the NFL draft, saying it's time for him to step up. Droz also didn't take too kindly to Matt Hardy turning on his brother, and says that he thinks that Matt's time to shine will be later rather than sooner. Kevin Kelly compared the Hardyz's break-up to Edge and Christian's and the Rockers, saying that Matt could either fade away or take center stage very quickly.
Droz excuses himself and Dr. Tom talks about Kev's positive review of Rollerball. Kelly recommends the movie, saying that he has more in common with Roger Ebert than build. I'm glad Kev doesn't review movies for my local paper, I can tell you that.
They move on to HHH and Shawn Michaels, and get ready to read an instant response before Dr. Tom pulls the plug on the computer, so they go to the phones. Jason from Tallahassee says that he'll be at Summer Slam in the third row because his little sister bought him tickets. Jason asked about the Hulkster and why he wasn't in Australia. Kev mentioned that he wasn't there because the Next Big Thing beat him down. Nothing like a little spin control. Anyhow, Kev said not to expect Hollywood back for awhile.
Next was a replay of the priceless SmackDown promo between Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio and Mark Henry (ok, so the memorable part was Kurt and Rey, but Henry was involved in it). Angle does it all, doesn’t he? Unmatched in the ring, and just as good on the mic. No one in the company deserves a push more than Angle. But I digress.
Tales from the Hook with Tazz was up next, and the Thug Superstar didn’t appreciate Kevin Kelly’s segue way into the segment with talk of Mini-dust and dwarfs. Kelly said that SmackDown was excellent and Tazz agreed. The SmackDown color man was interrupted by lightning out in the Red Hook section, but said not to worry about him being struck by lightning because he had a Trojan on his cell phone. Tazz then discussed Chris Benoit’s return, saying that with his barnburner match against the Rock (and especially finally delivering the diving head butt) the Wolverine had finally gotten back to where he was before his injury. At this point Tazz stops again, saying there were Mexicans surrounding his house. He then went off on a tangent, talking about how he buys Mexicans by the dozen (clarifying that they were mixed with several other unnamed nationalities), wraps them with bubble wrap and throws rocks at them. Most of them were around four feet tall (which, Tazz noted, was a foot taller than him), except for one that he suspected was El Gigante. All of this really happened.
Kevin Kelly changed the subject and asked Tazz why Kurt Angle got busted open by Rey’s huracanrana on SmackDown, and Tazz responded that he must have either caught his head on the canvas (stretched mat canvas and stretched skin often causes cuts, he said) or else he hit it on the side of the ring on his way out. Either way, Tazz said Kurt needed 10 stitches to close the wound. The former ECW champion then praised Rey and Edge’s match with Eddie and Chavo, saying that all four performers were great stars.
Someone from the chat room asked Tazz if he felt threatened by Funaki’s interview skills. Tazz said no, but Funaki was still much better than Marc Loyd. He also added that Brock Lesnar was a pressure player and wouldn’t choke at Summer Slam. Tazz then excused himself to deal with his Mexicans.
Mike from New Jersey thought that Goldust is getting more popular, and Kevin Kelly and Dr. Tom discussed whether Goldust and Booker T would make it in singles action. Kelly said that Booker should be next in line for a shot at the Undisputed Title, and Goldust has the talent and experience to make it in the singles ranks as well. Mike closed by asking Dr. Tom what he was a doctor of. “I’m a doctor of life,” he replied.
Kevin and Dr. Tom welcomed WWE Tag Team Champions Lance Storm and Christian to the show, and Lance opened by saying that Dr. Tom deserved a PhD. in wrestling. The Canadian said that he was feeling great other than a case of jet lag from the trip to Australia.
Kevin mentioned that Storm, Christian, and Kurt Angle had a little excursion to a park in the land Down Under, and had an encounter with a man in big yellow boots, and he wasn’t Hulk Hogan. Christian said the man looked as if he hadn’t had a bath in months and had a dog with him. The man said things like Jimi Hendrix was still alive. Storm said he thought the man was a woman at first.
A chat roomer asked if everyone behaved on the plane. Lance chuckled and said “Of course. This is the SmackDown roster.” They then got into the Un-Americans gimmick. Lance said that he liked the gimmick and that it had an element of truth that they, of course, took to the extreme. Christian added that with patriotism at such a high in America (and rightfully so, he noted), it was natural to have an Un-American gimmick. Storm jumped back in, saying that WWE parallels the United States in that they are both under attack by un-American forces. Some people are taking the angle too seriously.
They did say, though, that most fans can tell the difference between the angle and reality. Storm said he gets spit at after the events but when he’s recognized in the malls fans tend to be warm and friendly. They discussed the difference between their angle and Sgt. Slaughter’s pro-Iraq angle during the Gulf War, which caused him to receive death threats and almost ended his marriage. Storm says the Un-Americans are different because they aren’t pigeonholed to support one country like Slaughter was, they’re simply against Americans (though they are also pro-Canada).
Christian called it an honor to win the belts from Hulk Hogan and Edge, especially since Christian grew up worshiping Hogan. He said that as a child he had a poster on his wall six feet wide of the Hulkster. Lance chimed in that though Hogan is derided by internet fans for his workrate, Hollywood brings an amazing amount of energy to a match and gets the crowd into it.
Christian loved Funaki’s interview skills, and Storm said that if all of his interviews were like that he was watching SmackDown every week. Marc Loyd may be in trouble, they added. Both men said they loved the live aspect of RAW, and it was a refreshing change of pace from the taped SmackDown.
Kelly asked about their most embarrassing moments in the ring, and Storm mentioned his Power Rangers underwear on RAW, which Christian revealed. How times have changed.
Christian mentioned that he didn’t have any indication from Stone Cold Steve Austin that he was unhappy, and that he hasn’t spoken with the Rattlesnake since his departure. Storm added that Austin’s situation goes to show you that anyone in WWE can be replaced. He recalled the time when Bret and Shawn Michaels were lost to the company at virtually the same time and Rock, Austin and HHH emerged. Today, he said, Edge, Lesnar, and Mysterio are ready to step up. Kelly then described the business as a tree—you cut off the big branches from time to time to let the smaller ones grow out.
The Un-Americans departed at this point, and Kelly and Dr. Tom went into point/counterpoint. This week’s topic was the cross-promotion of the brands. Kelly said that cross-promotion is good for business. He said that the differences between the shows are evident: RAW’s defining moment of late, he said, was Stacy Kiebler dancing on the announce table while a midget (Mini-dust) was being carted off after being destroyed by Rosie and Jamal. No kidding there. And they say business isn’t down.
Dr. Tom argues that WWE should be careful in cross-promoting. The shows, and the talent, should be speaking for themselves, not the GMs. The shows should be about the superstars, not Eric Bischoff shilling Subway and RAW during SmackDown.
Sunday is Dr. Tom’s birthday, and Byte This celebrated with a cake bearing a picture of Dr. Tom as Zip from the Bodydonnas. Then they cut to a picture of Slick in a party hat, then Sunny in a party hat. Various random shots included the obligatory Heyman skullet shot. Kevin Kelly mentioned that next week Coach would be taking his place and that they would try to have the Takerooni footage. He also mentioned that Howard Finkel was on probation and would not be allowed on the show until he apologized to Lillian Garcia, or next week, which ever came first. With that the show ended with the tail end of the “Match made in Hell” between Iraqi sympathizer Sgt. Slaughter (too bad that wasn’t a G. I. Joe figure; I would have bought that one in a second), General Adnan and Col. Mustafa against Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior. Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan added their timeless commentary to the match.
2003 - Justin Credible defeats Terry Funk for the 3PW Heavyweight Title in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Electric Factory.
2007 - The AP released the following article:
WWE Officials Meet With NY Prosecutors
Pro Wrestling Officials Meet With NY Prosecutor Probing Steroids
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Officials from World Wrestling Entertainment met this week with New York prosecutors investigating illegal steroid sales.
The meeting Tuesday came a day after a former pro wrestler was found dead at his Florida home, but a WWE official said it had been scheduled well before the death.
An autopsy on Brian "Crush" Adams, 44, failed to show a specific cause of death. The Hillsborough County medical examiner's office said Tuesday it expects a more complete report in six to eight seeks from tissue and toxicology tests on Adams, who wasn't breathing when his wife found him unconscious in their Tampa home Monday morning.
World Wrestling Entertainment Vice President Jennifer McIntosh said Tuesday's meeting had nothing to do with Adams, that he had not been a wrestler for the sports entertainment company since 2001 and WWE has no knowledge of any involvement by Adams with Signature Pharmacy of Orlando, Fla. Signature is at the center of Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares' investigation into illegal steroid sales in upstate New York.
"WWE was invited to meet with representatives of the investigation being directed by District Attorney Soares prior to Mr. Adams' death, as have representatives of the NFL, NBA, and other entities," McIntosh said in a prepared statement.
McIntosh declined to comment on what was discussed.
Calls to Soares' office were not immediately returned Thursday.
Adams' death came less than two months after pro wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife and son before hanging himself on the cable of a weight machine in his Georgia home. Prescription anabolic steroids were found in the family's home, raising questions about whether the drugs played a role in the killings.
Benoit had been a client of Signature Pharmacy, Soares' office has confirmed.
Adams was also a Signature client, according to a law enforcement official who did not want to be named.
Nine people, including three current or former physicians, have pleaded guilty in Soares' multistate investigation, most affiliated with Internet and phone-order companies that filled orders for anabolic steroids and growth hormones through Signature and sent drugs to customers around the country, including Albany County.
Signature's owners have pleaded not guilty.
In New York, it is illegal for a doctor to prescribe drugs without examining the patient in person, and illegal for a pharmacy to dispense prescription drugs without a valid prescription.
National Football League officials met with Soares and other investigators in March. An NFL spokesman said they had asked the prosecutors' office for any information relevant to the league.
Soares has said repeatedly he's targeting distributors supplying illicit drugs and physicians writing prescriptions for patients they've never seen, not customers
2009 - TNA presented Hard Justice from Orlando, FL on PPV. Mike Johnson filed the following TV report:
Welcome to PWInsider.com's TNA Hard Justice 2009 coverage!
Steel Asylum: Suicide vs. Chris Sabin vs. Amazing Red vs. Alex Shelley vs. Black Machismo vs. Daniels vs. Consequences Creed vs. D'Angelo Dinero.
Each competitor had their own entrance into the Six Sides of Steel, at which point the roof of the Asylum. Dinero is the former WWE star Elijah Burke.
It was all chaos from the bell. The Machineguns tossed Daniels into the cage. They then worked over Dinero. Lethal tried to climb out but was pulled down. Sabin and Daniels battled on the top rope but Daniels slammed him off the top. Shelley grabbed Daniels with a jawbreaker. Suicide hit a superplex on Red. The Guns worked over Suicide with Sabin whipping Shelley into a overhead suplex, landing on Dinero. The fans chanted TNA. They were pushing the Guns off TV storyline hard on commentary.
Lethal and Sabin battled while standing on the top rope. Daniels was speared off the top rope by Dinero. Suicide hit a rolling Samoan Drop on Red. Shelley hit a double bodypress on Lethal Consequences. As you can imagine, there is way too much to follow but all of it is entertaining as hell.
Dinero hit a reverse STO on Sabin. Dinero and Daniels went back and forth. They went into the Tower of Doom spot in the corner with tons of car crash bumps out of the superplex/powerbomb combination. Creed went for a fireman's carry but Shelley escaped and sidestepped a dropkick. Shelley went for the Oriental Torture Device but Lethal got involved. Suicide hit an elbow off the ropes on Lethal.
Red and Suicide traded blows in the center of the ring. Dinero hit a huge elevated powerbomb on Suicide. Shelley drilled Sliced Bread #2 on Daniels. Lethal nailed a Faceplant on Shelley but was caught with a Sabin tornado DDT. Red used a rana to drill Creed into the mat in a sweet spot. Red climbed up towards the top but Shelley caught him in the turnbuckles. Everyone followed suit in the same corner,. Daniels hit an uranage off the ropes on Dinero. Creed suplexed Suicide out of the corner. The Guns hit a double team sliced bread/powerbomb on Lethal.
Red was left alone in the corner but went after Guns. He took them both out and the crowd chanted, "He's amazing." Red made his way to the inside of the Asylum roof. Daniels was close behind and puilled Red down. Red crashed onto a bunch of wrestlers standing below. Daniels was left hanging upside down from the Asylum.
Suicide began pulling himself towards the top. Dinero followed him and took him out. Suicide took a clean bump from the inside of the roof into the ring. Insane. Dinero was close to the roof but returned to the ring, limping. He went right after Suicide. Daniels freed himself and made his way through the opening to the outside and won.
Your winner, Daniels!
Daniels wins an X-Division championship bout at No Surrender. Dinero stood over Suicide staring at him after the match as Don West wondered what their history might have been.
Great opener. Tons of fast paced action, car crash bumps and all sorts of innovative action. Really great way to open the PPV. Dinero had a fun debut as well.
Jeremy Borash grabbed Daniels at ringside after the bout. Daniels said what we just saw was what the X-Division was all about. He said he has history with Samoa Joe and Homicide, but would love to get into the ring with Joe over the choices he made. Daniels said whoever wins, they were in a lose-lose situation because in the end, they will be in the ring with him. Daniels addressed AJ Styles at home, saying he was at home and had his doubts but to come back soon. Strong promo.
Backstage, Matt Morgan was interviewed by Lauren Jones. He told her that at one point, he wanted to be in the Main Event Mafia, but Kurt Angle kept jerking him around with all his dirty work. He said that he wanted to make clear that no one can control him and it was his destiny to become the TNA World champion tonight. Good promo. Nice to see the focus on the World title.
Abyss vs. Jethro Holiday (with Dr. Stevie) - Bounty Match with All Weapons Legal
They slugged it out in the middle of the ring and Abyss drilled Holiday with a right as he rebounded off the ropes. He went into the corner but Holiday caught him and drilled Abyss with chops and shoulderblocks. Abyss retaliated with a clothesline. Abyss clotheslined Holiday over the top to the floor. He followed Holiday and they battled outside. Abyss tossed Holiday into the rail and the ring steps. By the way, this new look for Abyss is a BIG improvement.
Abyss and Holiday returned to the ring. Abyss drilled him with rights and lefts in the corner as Holiday covered up. Abyss went to the floor and grabbed a steel chair. Dr. Stevie slid a baton in to Holiday. Holiday drilled Abyss in the leg and began working Abyss over. He pulled Abyss up on the outside of the apron and clubbed him with a forearm over the chest, then shoved him into the rail outside.
While Abyss was on the floor, Stevie began browbeating him. Holiday went to the floor and tossed Abyss into the ring and garnered a two count. Holiday grabbed the chair but before he could use it, was grabbed in a goozle for a chokeslam. Holiday used an elbow to escape but was hit with the big boot to the face, then a backdrop. Abyss charged Holiday in the corner and hit a sideslam for a two count.
Abyss grabbed the chair and placed it over Holiday's chest. Abyss went for the Earthquake splash but Holiday turned the chair around and Abyss crotched himself. Holiday grabbed the baton and cracked him in the head for a two count. Holiday wedged the chair in the corner and tried to whip Abyss into it. Abyss reversed the charge but Holiday saved himself from going into the chair. He acted like he was going to leap up and over a charging Abyss, but the Monster just waited, the grabbed Holiday from the back of the head and slammed him into the chair for a two count.
Stevie got on the apron, which distracted Abyss enough for Holiday to hit a bulldog. Stevie tossed Holiday brass knuckles. He reared back and charged to nail Abyss but was caught with the Black Hole Slam for the pin.
Your winner, Abyss!
After the bout, Stevie got in Holiday's face but was drilled with a right hand.
Good match. These two had really good chemistry in the ring, to the point that it accentuated the usual spots that you usually see in an Abyss bout. This may have been Holiday's best TNA showing to date and it was a good bout. I was glad to see there wasn't a reliance on the usual culprits - blood, tacks and tables - for an Abyss match.
We went backstage to Jeremy Borash interviewing Kurt Angle. No reference to the arrest, obviously. Borash said it was going to be every man for himself tonight and Angle said he didn't think so. Angle said that for weeks, Matt Morgan has been talking about how bad he wants to be in the Main Event Mafia but is now changing his tune. After Angle has a little talk with him, by the time they get to the ring, Morgan will be thinking differently.
Hernandez vs. Big Rob - Feast or Fired Briefcase on the line
Rob has the World title shot briefcase, since he stole it from Hernandez before he took time off for the neck surgery. This has to be a complete squash or else all is lost.
Hernandez took the mic and said he has family in Mexico and the United States. He said that makes him a Latino American and all the fans here are his family. He said the Impact Zone is his house. He said when the British Invasion stole his briefcase, it was the same as breaking into his house and stealing from his family. He told them they could hand over his case and walk out or he could take it and "walk out of here on top of all three of you."
All three attacked Hernandez but he made his own comeback, tossing Brutus Magnus and Doug Williams out of the ring. He drilled Rob with a flying shoulderblock and scored the pin.
Your winner, Hernandez!
Squash city and exactly what it needed to be to get over.
Lauren interviewed Beer Money, Inc. James Storm said that they've shown Scott Steiner and Booker T respect, something they haven't shown anyone. Robert Roode said that the last few months, they've been soft and shown they have emotion and heart. He said he is sick and tired of it. He said tonight, they are going to do what they do best, kicking ass, getting cash and getting trashed. He warned The British Invasion they were coming for them. Another good promo.
IWGP Tag Team champions The British Invasion vs. Beer Money, Inc.
Eric Young, wearing a suit, is at ringside commentating. The crowd chanted, "Wanker" at the champs. James Storm opened up early on Brutus Magnus with a series of rights. Magnus came back to toss Storm over the top but he skinned the cat and came back with a charging right hand. Magnus and Williams ended up on the floor. Roode elevated Storm into a plancha onto both.
Roode tossed Magnus back into the ring and unloaded with rights and turnbuckle smashes. Williams came back, shoulderblocking Roode down. Storm tagged in and they double teamed him, culminating with a big Storm knee drop. Magnus got involved but Storm nailed a double flying clothesline.
All four battled in the corner. Magnus was whipped into his own partner in the corner. Williams was left tied to the tree of woe. Beer Money crotched Magnus into the post, pulling his lower extremities into William's head. Storm was caught with a shoulderblock to the gut. British Invasion began working over Storm with punches and kicks. They continued tagging in and out, working over Storm in their corner as Young took credit for preparing them.
Williams hit a big diving knee drop on Storm for a two count. Magnus began slapping Storm and badmouthed him, leaving himself open for a superkick. Storm made the hot tag to Roode. Roode backdropped Williams, then hit an inverted atomic drop on Brutus. Roode caught Williams with a rolling snap mare off the ropes for a two count. Beer Money caught Magnus with a double suplex, then nailed Williams with DWI. Magnus broke it up at two.
Young grabbed one of the IWGP Tag straps and tossed it into the ring. That caught the attention of Roode, who Young spit on. Roode went after him as the referee removed the belt. That allowed Magnus to drill Roode with a low blow and Williams rolled him forward into a cradle for the pin.
Your winners and still IWGP Tag Team champions The British Invasion.
Beer Money ran Young and the Invasion off after the bout.
Good tag match but I expected way more. Magnus appeared off from recent appearances.
Lauren Jones interviewed ODB and Cody Deaner. Lauren tried to find out what would happen if Cody scored the pin, since the Knockouts title on the line. Note from Mike: Please DO NOT GO THERE. ODB and Cody were both oblivious to the idea as ODB talked about being sexually harassed daily by cougars and ODB talked about winning the strap and shining it up on her boobies. Hey, her words, not mine.
TNA Knockouts champ Angelina Love & Velvet Sky vs. ODB & Cody Deaner - Mixed Tag with Knockouts title on the line.
Hey, uh, whatever happened to Tara?
Love and ODB opened up. ODB caught her and slammed her into the corner, then began beating the champ with forearms and punches. Love fought back with strikes and kicks. Love missed a clothesline and went for a high cross bodyblock but was caught and dumped. ODB missed a charge into the corner and was hit with a facejam for a two count.
Sky tagged in and ripped at ODB kicking and screaming. She rebounded off the ropes but was killed with a shoudlerblock for a two count. ODB grabbed Sky and tagged in Deaner. He slapped Sky in the rear end. It was an open palm strike, so I guess it's legal. He put her on the top rope and spanked her. The last one, he and ODB did a double slap on the blonde's derriere.
Sky tagged in Love, who was caught with a kick to the stomach by ODB. ODB went to the top and shoved away Sky and Madison Rayne. Love caught ODB and slammed her off. The Beautiful People worked over ODB, kicking her in the ribs. The People whipped each other into ODB in the corner. Love nailed a basement dropkick while rebounding off the ropes. Love locked on a sleeper hold while using her weight to hold down ODB. ODB got to her feet and drilled Love backwards.
Deaner tagged in and kissed Sky. Love tried to attack him so he planted one on her too. Rayne jumped on the apron screaming so he puckered her one good one as well. He nailed a drop toehold on Sky, sending her into the ropes, then teased the Big Wiggle, Lord help us. Sky kicked him low. ODB nailed Love with a Thesz Press and they battled on the floor.
Madison Rayne went for the hairspray but Deaner ducked and Sky was blinded. Deaner scored the pin but THANKFULLY, ODB was announced as the new Knockouts champion. Well, nevermind as Deaner grabbed the title belt and walked out with it as ODB chased him. My head hurts.
Your winners ODB and Cody Deaner!
Love got in Sky's face over the loss but Sky told her she was blinded by Rayne. They both turned to Rayne. Sky and Rayne screamed at each other as the referee got in between them. Love walked off angry.
Match was mostly shenanigans. If you liked goofy comedy, you might enjoy the Deaner stuff, but all I could think of was Oklahoma in WCW (and guess who wrote that stuff???). When the women in, it was fine.
Lauren interviewed Taz and Samoa Joe. Taz said that last week, Joe beat himself but tonight Joe is in the zone and is going to win the X-Division championship. Taz said that Homicide was going to leave without the belt because the title was going to the Main Event Mafia right now.
TNA X-Division champ Homicide vs. Samoa Joe
They locked up and Joe jabbed him in the corner early. Homicide avoided a charge and rolled up Joe for a quick two count, then flipped over for another. Joe stalked him in the corner and whipped him out. Homicide ducked under and nailed a leg lariat. Joe retreated to the floor, where Taz instructed him to get his head right and "play your game."
Joe returned to the ring and hit a great overhead suplex, sending Homicide through the ropes to the floor. Joe brought him back to the ring and slammed him down for a two count. Joe tweaked Homicide's neck. The X- champion fought his way to his feet, driving elbows into Joe's stomach but was taken back down. Joe choked him against the ropes. As the ref admonished him, Homicide caught Joe with a kick and several chops.
Homicide went for a suplex but was overpowered by Joe, then caught in a powerbomb. Joe turned him over into a crossface. Joe began working over Homicide in the corner with boots and strikes. The Impact Zone chanted "187." They slugged it out. Homicide took Joe down with a clothesline and several dropkicks and Lucha takedowns.
Homicide went to the top rope with a missile dropkick, sending Joe to the floor. Homicide drilled him with the tope con hilo over the ropes. Homicide and Taz stared each other down and Taz dared him to try but Homicide instead returned to the ring. The announcers pointed out that it gave Joe a chance to catch his breath. Homicide nailed a neckbreaker for a two count. Homicide went for the gringo killer but Joe escaped. Homicide avoided a Joe charge but ended up caught in an attempted choke. Homicide tried to escape but was taken down into the Tazmission and tapped.
Your winner and new X-Division champion, Samoa Joe!
It was solid, but considering the body of work these two have had against each other in the past, I was let down. They could have easily gone 30 minutes, but it was not to be.
Backstage, Kurt Angle entered Matt Morgan's locker room. Morgan screamed at him to knock before coming into his locker room. Angle apologized for the way he spoke to Morgan at Impact. Morgan said he told everyone he wanted to be in the Mafia but Angle made him jump through hoops and now he has to deal with the consequences. Angle told Morgan there was a contract waiting for him in the Mafia but all he has to do is make sure either he or Angle win the World title tonight. If so, Morgan is in but if Sting wins, all bets are off. Morgan made it clear that if he won the title, he'd be in the Main Event Mafia and Angle agreed. They shook on it and Morgan walked off. Angle looked satisfied.
TNA Tag Team champions Scott Steiner & Booker T vs. Team 3D - NO DQ, Two Referees, Falls Count Anywhere
All four began brawling at the bell. Team 3D ran off the champs, who tried to regroup outside on the floor. 3D followed them and they went into the crowd. They all brawled around the Impact Zone as dual cameras followed them going in different directions. Brother Ray slammed a guard rail over Steiner. Devon and Booker battled at the top of the bleachers.
Since it was Falls Count Anywhere, Steiner got a two count after nailing Ray with a chair. Ray missed a chair shot on Steiner, hitting the wall of the Impact Zone. Steiner got the chair back and drilled it over Ray's back. Steiner did a dive off the first alcove of the Zone onto Ray on the floor.
The battle continued in the stands. It looked like the type of brawl that is always a lot more fun live than it is on television since you can't see everything. Booker dropped Devon throat-first over the railing and began kicking and stomping him. Steiner covered Ray on the floor for a two count. Devon choked out Booker on the floor.
Back in the ring, Steiner clotheslined Ray for a two count. Ray scooped up Steiner for a slam and Devon hit the Wazzup headbutt low. They led the fans in a chant for the tables. They set a table up and placed Steiner atop of it. Booker jumped Ray. Devon was stopped on the top rope by Steiner, who was going for a top rope Frankensteiner into the table. Ray dispatched Booker and got Steiner on his shoulders. Devon went for a top rope clothesline but Booker moved the table.
Team 3D took out Booker as the fans chanted for tables. Booker nailed an uranage through a table on Ray for a two count as Devon pulled Booker off. Booker drilled Devon with a kick and Steiner covered him for a two count. They got several two counts on Devon. Devon catches Steiner with a scoop powerslam for a two count. Steiner goes to clothesline Devon but hits Booker but accident. Devon hits a back suplex on Steiner for a two count.
Steiner clotheslined Devon in the corner and worked him over with punches. Devon grabbed him out of the corner with a powerbomb for a two count. Booker missed the scissor kick. They drilled Booker with 3D and Devon covered Booker as Steiner covered Bubba with a rollup The referees couldn't agree on who won so they reviewed the videotape. Seriously.
After a review, they ruled Scott Steiner and Booker T had retained the belts.
Your winners and still TNA Tag Team champions, Scott Steiner and Booker T!
The fans chanted "Bulls***" which is the reaction TNA wanted coming out of this. Good, fun brawl to start and the rest of the bout was fine. If nothing else, the finish was unique and leaves things open for a rematch as it gives the former Dudleys a legitimate gripe.
Jeremy Borash interviewed TNA Legends champion Mick Foley and asked him if he was ready for Nash. Foley said that he doesn't know but tonight, Nash wants the belt to make more money while Foley wants it for the pride he has holding the title. Foley said his entire career is about truth in advertising, noting his lost ear, the stitches he's received and the beatings he's taken. He pointed out he was on the Hard Justice poster with a barbed wire bat but for some reason he couldn't seem to find one around and wanted to know why that was. I'm guessing it's under the ring.
TNA Legends champion Mick Foley vs. Kevin Nash
Nash started off with knee and clobbering shots in the corner on Foley. Nash missed a short-arm clothesline and Foley opened up with punches and slammed Nash into the turnbuckles face-first. Foley nailed a headbutt several times. Foley came off the ropes with a kneelift. Nash kicks off Foley, knocking him off the apron into the rails on the floor.
Foley pulled himself up but Nash punched him back down to the apron and kicked him back to the floor. Nash followed and slammed Foley into the railing face-first. He slammed Foley back-first into the apron. He grabbed a chair and swung, but Foley ducked and Nash hit the ringpost. Foley drilled Nash over the back with a chair.
Foley did his elbow drop onto Nash with the chair, but the chair smashed Foley as well and busted him big-time around the eye. Nash tossed Foley back in the ring and began measuring him with punches to the face and bad eye. The referee asked Foley to stop the match because he couldn't see and Foley refused, so they are going for the underdog factor here.
Foley called for Nash to give him more, then fought back with a series of rights and a forearm smash that looked light. Nash went outside, where Foley smashed him into the ring steps. Nash came up from that with a trickle of blood from his forearm. Foley began beating him with rights to open the cut. The referee tried to get in between them but ended up bumped.
Foley went under the ring and grabbed the barbed wire bat, as he teased earlier. Traci Brooks came to the apron to stop Foley. Nash kicked Foley in the back of the head with a big boot. The impact sent Foley into Brooks and she bumped to the floor. Nash pinned Foley.
Your winner and new TNA Legends champion Kevin Nash!
Nash smashed Foley over the head with the barbed wire bat and threatened to do more, but Abyss' music played and he came out with a barbed wire bat of his own. Nash left the ring, holding the belt above his head. Foley, bloody, lifted a thumbs up to Abyss in thanks.
This was way better than you would have expected going in. They worked a lot better than you'd think given the differences in their work styles and their physical limitations. The blood added a nice gritty feel to their bout as well. The finish came out of nowhere and was forced but that was the only real issue I had with the bout.
Lauren interviewed Sting. Sting warned Matt Morgan that the only person you can trust in this business is yourself. He said that while a lot people in TNA are losing hope, but he never will. He promised that honor, dignity and respect will come back in style in TNA.
TNA champ Kurt Angle vs. Matt Morgan vs. Sting
Morgan and Angle worked over Sting early, as they discussed. Morgan splashed Sting in the corner. Angle charged Sting, but he moved and Angle slammed shoulder-first into the ringpost in spectacular fashion. Sting avoided the Carbon Footprint and Morgan crotched himself on the top rope and went to the floor. Sting whipped Morgan into the railing. He attempted to do the same to Angle but the whip was reversed and Morgan clotheslined Sting.
They tossed Sting back into the ring. Morgan legdropped Sting. He and Angle hit a double back elbow as Sting rebounded off the ropes. Sting kicked Morgan and tossed Angle out of the ring. Sting peppered Morgan with a series of rights in the corner. Angle returned to the ring but was nailed with a Stinger splash. Sting clotheslined Morgan from behind, sending him over the top to the floor.
Sting rolled up Angle for a two count. Sting and Morgan battled outside. Angle went for a bodypress off the apron but Sting moved and Morgan cauight him. Sting took them both out. Back in the ring, Sting locked on the Scorpion Deathlock but broke it when he saw Morgan coming. Angle powerslammed Sting for a two count. Angle locked in the anklelock but Sting kicked him off and out of the ring.
Morgan nailed Sting from behind. Morgan railed away at him with elbows in the corner, then splashed him. He covered Sting for a two count. Morgan nailed a Fall Away Slam on Sting. Angle got involved and Morgan didn't want to hear it. Morgan nailed the Carbon Footprint to Angle on the floor. Angle claimed he injured his arm, playing into the shoulder-ringpost spot earlier. At the same time, Morgan covered Sting but there was no referee to count.
Sting nailed the Scorpion Death Drop for a two count and that time, referee Earl Hebner returned to the ring to count. The referee went back outside and Sting screamed at him to return. Morgan hit the Carbon Footprint for a two count but the referee was pulled out by Angle. Angle grabbed a chair and went to hit Sting but nailed Morgan. Angle covered Morgan. The referee returned to the ring and counted three.
Your winner and still TNA champion, Kurt Angle.
Your typical three-way TNA bout with all three going back and forth with spots and not much in the way of storytelling. The storyline was that in the end, Angle outsmarted everyone. Morgan didn't receive any major elevation coming out of this in my eyes.
2010 - Lou D'Angeli, who worked for World Wrestling Entertainment in the marketing and live events end since 2006, bid farewell to WWE with Summerslam, according to several sources that noted D'Angeli went out of his way to say goodbye to them over the course of the weekend in Los Angeles. D'Angeli, who most fans would know from his runs as Sign Guy Dudley and Lou E. Dangerously in the original ECW, was recruited by Cirque Du Soliel last June to join their company. According to sources within WWE, D'Angeli accepted a job as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for all the Cirque shows based out of Las Vegas last month and returned to work for WWE this weekend since he was so involved in the production and logistics of the AXXESS events for Summerslam weekend. AXXESS had been one of D'Angeli's main projects during his time in WWE. D'Angeli was telling those he spoke to that while he loved working for WWE, Cirque as a brand was too good a job and new challenge to pass up the chance. He and his family will be relocating to Vegas shortly from the Northeast. D'Angeli was also telling wrestlers this weekend that TNA had contacted him to appear on the Hardcore Justice PPV and while he technically could have made the appearance, he chose not to out of respect for WWE and several executives who went out of their way for his family after the passing of his mother several weeks ago. He joked that with all the ECW reunion shows, he's never had the chance to appear on any of them. With D'Angeli's departure from WWE, Joey Styles remains the only "ECW Original" employed in any fashion by World Wrestling Entertainment to date.
