Wrestling History Today - 6th Mar, 2021

Wrestling in history today - 6th Mar, 2021

1939 - Jesse James defeats Danny McShain by disqualification in the third of three falls in Hollywood, California to become recognized as World Light Heavyweight Champion by the California State Athletic Commission, however the National Wrestling Association retained its recognition of McShain. This ended McShain's second reign in California.

1945 - Pierre Labelle defeats Frankie Talaber to win the Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title in Dayton, Ohio, ending Talaber's fourth reign.

1951 - Al Mills defeats Sky-Hi Lee in Edmonton, Alberta for the Calgary NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title, beginning his second reign.

1952 - Sonny Myers defeats Enrique Torres to win the NWA Heart of America Heavyweight Title in Kansas City, Kansas, beginning his second reign.

1953 - Bull Curry defeats Danny McShain to become the first NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Champion in Houston, Texas.

1959 - Angelo Savoldi defeats Ivan the Terrible for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, beginning his third reign.

1961 - Guy and Joe Brunetti defeat The Outlaw (Dory Funk, Sr.) and Pancho Pico to win the Vancouver NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1962 - Taro Sakuro and Yoshinosato are named the first Mid-America NWA United States Tag Team Champions.

1962 - Art and Stan Neilson defeat Johnny Barend and Magnificent Maurice for the American Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Title, beginning the Neilson's second reign.

1970 - Fred Blassie wins his third NWA Americas Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, California, defeating Rocky Johnson.

1970 - Bobby and Jerry Christy defeat Bill Dromo and Gil Hayes to win the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta, beginning their third reign.

1971 - Jimmy Golden and Dennis Hall defeats Bobby Hart and Lorenzo Parente for the Mid-America NWA World Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee, ending Hart and Parente's second reign.

1971 - Irma Asebedo and Masked Killer defeat Miyoko Hoshino and Jumbo Miyamoto to win the American Girls' Wrestling Association International Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Hoshino and Miyamoto's second reign.

1973 - Kintaro Ohki and Umanosuke Ueda defeat Killer Karl Krupp and Johnny Valentine for the NWA International Tag Team Title in Nagoya, Japan.

1974 - Santino Marella (real name Anthony Carelli) is born in Mississauga, Ontario.

1974 - Karl and Kurt Von Brauner defeat Rocky Johnson and Pat Patterson to win the San Francisco NWA World Tag Team Title in Sacramento, California, ending Johnson and Patterson's third reign.

1974 - Jumbo Miyamoto defeats Jane O'Brien to win the WWWA World Singles Title in Maehashi, Japan, to begin her second reign. The title was vacated days before when Bambi Ball was injured.

1974 - Eddie Sullivan defeats John Quinn for the Superstar Championship Wrestling Western States Heavyweight Title in Yakima, Washington.

1975 - Chris Colt defeats Bob Kelly for the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, ending Kelly's 13th reign.

1976 - Mr. Kennedy (real name Ken Anderson) is born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1979 - The Valiant Brothers (Jerry and Johnny) defeat Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko to win the WWWF World Tag Team Title at a Championship Wrestling taping in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The match aired on March 24.

1986 - The Long Riders (Bill and Scott Irwin) defeat Alofa (Rikishi) and Dan Kroffat for the International Wrestling International Tag Team Title in Sudbury, Ontario. The title had been vacated in January when then-champions Jacques and Raymond Rougeau left for the WWF.

1987 - Mike Miller and Rip Oliver defeat Coco Samoa and Ricky Santana for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Portland, Oregon.

1988 - Kerry Von Erich defeats Al Perez to win the World Class Heavyweight Title in Dallas, Texas.

1990 - Terry Gordy and Steve Williams win their first of five AJPW Unified World Tag Team Titles from Stan Hansen and Genichiro Tenryu in Tokyo, Japan, ending their third reign.

1991 - Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki win their second IWGP World Tag Team Title in Nagasaki, Japan, by defeating Hiro Saito and Super Strong Machine.

1993 - Three Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation titles are decided in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Bob Starr defeats C.C. Danger to become the first MEWF Mid-Atlantic Champion, The Lightning Kid (Sean Waltman) defeats Jimmy Jannetty for the MEWF Light Heavyweight Title, and Ricki Lane and Quinn Nash defeat Ricky Blues and Nick Tarentino to win the MEWF Tag Team Title.

1993 - Chi Chi Cruz defeats Gene Swan for the West Four Wrestling Alliance Canadian Heavyweight Title in Winnipeg, Manitoba, beginning his second reign.

1994 - At a television taping at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, there were three title changes. The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) defeated Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac to win the ECW Tag Team Title, ending Sullivan and Tazmaniac's second reign. This would be the first of four reigns for The Public Enemy. The Tazmaniac defeated Sabu for the ECW Television Title, but lost it later in the event to J.T. Smith.

1994 - Danny Collins defeats Mal Sanders for the European Middleweight Title in Hove, England, ending Sanders' eighth reign.

1994 - Shu el Guerrero defeats Gran Hamada to win the UWF Super Middleweight Title in Hiratsuka, Japan, beginning his second reign.

1995 - The SMW Television Title changes hands twice at a television taping in Council, Virginia. Boo Bradley (Balls Mahoney) defeats Killer Kyle for the vacant title, then lost it to Kyle later.

1996 - WCW taped the March 9 episode of WCW Saturday Night in Macon, Georgia, with the following results:
- In a dark match, Chris Kanyon defeated Kid Flash.
- Lex Luger defeated WCW World Television Champion Johnny B. Badd (with Kimberly) to win the title after Diamond Dallas Page interfered. This began Luger's second reign and ended Badd's third and final reign. Badd would leave WCW and debut in the WWF a month later, and wrestle under his given name, Marc Mero. The win made Luger a double-champion as he was already one-half of the WCW World Tag Team Champions with Sting.
- The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) defeated The Faces of Fear (The Barbarian and Meng).
- Alex Wright defeated Bobby Walker.
- The Blue Bloods (Earl Robert Eaton and Squire David Taylor (with Lord Steven Regal)) defeated Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) by disqualification.
- Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Benoit.
- Pat Tanaka defeated Disco Inferno.
- V.K. Wallstreet defeated Joey Maggs.
- Arn Anderson, WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair and Kevin Sullivan defeated The American Males (Mark Bagwell and Scott Riggs) and Sgt. Craig Pittman.

1997 - Kid Dynamo (Shannon Moore) defeats Will O' the Wisp (Jeff Hardy) to win the National Championship Wrestling Light Heavyweight Title in Asheville, North Carolina. NCW merged with NWA Georgia in 1998 to create NWA Wildside.

1997 - The American Kickboxer defeats Tarek the Great for the IWA Mid-South Lightweight Title in Louisville, Kentucky. This ended Tarek's fifth reign and began the Kickboxer's fifth.

1998 - Steve Corino wins his second Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Title in Baltimore, Maryland, defeating Flexx Wheeler for the vacant title.

1999 - Vader defeats Akira Taue to win the AJPW Triple Crown Title in Tokyo, Japan. The title had been vacated by Toshiaki Kawada on January 29 after he suffered a broken arm during his January 22 title win over Mitsuharu Misawa.

1999 - Inferno Kid defeats Kevin Knight for the NWA New Jersey Junior Heavyweight Title in Ocean County, New Jersey.

2000 - The Monday Night War continued, and WWF RAW is WAR won the night over WCW Monday Nitro, 6.4 to 2.7 in the ratings.

The 233rd WCW Monday Nitro was live from the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The results:
- Kaz Hayashi defeated Psychosis (with Juventud Guerrera).
- Big Ron (with Heavy D) defeated Big Vito (with Disco Inferno and Johnny the Bull).
- David Flair (with Daffney) defeated The Wall by disqualification.
- The Dog (with Fit Finlay and Brian Knobbs) defeated Evan Karagias (with Shane Helms and Shannon Moore).
- Curt Hennig defeated Ric Flair.
- Norman Smiley defeated Lenny Lane (with Lodi).
- Stevie Ray (with J. Biggs) defeated Billy Kidman (with Torrie Wilson).
- Jeff Jarrett and The Wall defeated Vampiro and Sid Vicious.

The 354th edition of WWF RAW is WAR was also live, at the Civic Center in Springfield, Massachussetts. The results were:
Jakked:
- The Godfather defeated Mideon.
- Tazz and Test vs. Prince Albert and The Big Bossman ended in a double countout.
- WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Essa Rios (with Lita) defeated D'Lo Brown.
- Funaki defeated Thrasher (with Mosh).
RAW is WAR:
- Big Show (with Shane McMahon) defeated Kane (with Paul Bearer) by disqualification after The Rock interfered.
- Mark Henry (with Mae Young) defeated WWF Tag Team Champion D-Von Dudley (with WWF Tag Team Champion Bubba Ray Dudley). After the match, Mae was superbombed through a table.
- Road Dogg and X-Pac (with Tori) defeated Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty) by disqualification.
- Chris Jericho defeated WWF European and Intercontinental Champion Kurt Angle by disqualification after Bob Backlund interfered. Angle retained his Intercontinental Title.
- Rikishi defeated WWF Champion Triple H (with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) by disqualification.
- Steve Blackman (with Al Snow) defeated Matt Hardy (with Jeff Hardy).
- Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn (with Eddie Guerrero) defeated Edge and Christian.
- WWF Hardcore Champion Crash Holly defeated Viscera to retain the title, after Faarooq hit Viscera with his chair because the match broke up the A.P.A.'s poker game.
- The Rock defeated Chris Benoit in a Steel Cage match.

2000 - Tarzan Boy defeats Black Warrior to win the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Puebla, Mexico, ending Black Warrior's second reign.

2001 - Jushin Liger and El Samurai defeat Koji Kanemoto and Minoru Tanaka for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

2003 - Chris Sabin defeats Frankie Kazarian and Jerry Lynn in a three-way match to win the vacant Border City Wrestling Television Title in Oldcastle, Ontario. At the same show, D'Lo Brown defeats Johnny Swinger for the BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Title, ending Swinger's second reign.

2003 - Azumi Hyuga defeats Kyoko Inoue to win the NWA Pacific Women's Title in Tokyo, Japan, ending Inoue's second reign.

2004 - Ray Fernandez, better known as Hercules Hernandez, dies in his sleep at his home in Tampa, Florida due to heart disease. Fernandez made his debut in the early 1980s in Florida and Texas before moving to Central States and later to Jim Crockett Promotions, where he was known as The Masked Assassin II. After this, he moved to Mid-South Wrestling where he was the first of many to be known as Mr. Wrestling III, before moving back to Florida. He got his first national exposure in 1985 when Hercules dropped his last name in the WWF, where he was until 1992. Fernandez was 46 years old.

2004 - CZW held "Overdrive" at Viking Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The results:
- DJ Hyde vs. Gutter vs. Merc ended in a no-contest.
- Jon Dahmer defeated GQ and Jude in a three-way Ladder match.
- Rockin' Rebel defeated Rob Hartog in an Arm Wrestling match.
- All Money is Legal (K-Kash & K-Murder) defeated CKNY (Cory Kastle & Niles Young) and Nick Berk & Z-Barr in a three-way match to earn an immediate Tag Team Title match.
- CZW World Tag Team Champions The Rebel's Army (Greg Matthews and Rockin' Rebel) defeated All Money is Legal (K-Kash and K-Murder) to retain the title.
- Gran Akuma, Icarus and Mike Quackenbush defeated Hallowicked and The Wild Cards (Eddie Kingston and Jack Marciano).
- The BLKOUT (Joker, Ruckus and Sabian) defeated Chris Ca$h, CZW Junior Heavyweight Champion Sonjay Dutt and Jimmy Jacobs in a Tables match.
- Nick Gage defeated Roderick Strong in a CZW Xtreme Strong Style Tournament match.
- Jack Evans and Petey Williams defeated Teddy Hart in a three-way match.
- B-Boy defeated Adam Flash.
- The Messiah defeated CZW World Heavyweight Champion John Zandig in a Taipei Bed of Nails Deathmatch to win the title. This began Messiah's third reign and ended Zandig's sixth.

2004 - Bill Dundee defeats Jerry Lawler in a tournament final for the vacant Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee.

2004 - The Shaolin Wrecking Crew (Magic and Suba) defeat Slyck Wagner Brown and April Hunter for the Jersey All-Pro Wrestling Tag Team Title in South Plainfield, New Jersey.

2004 - C.B. Kool wins his third NWA Florida Junior Heavyweight Title in Ocoee, Florida, ending Kevin Rhodes' second reign. At the same event, Rouge defeats Magnum Steele for the NWA Mid-Florida Heavyweight Title.

2004 - The Natural Born Blondes (Atlas and Kruz) defeat Big 'n Tasty (Brodie Lee and Freddie Midnight) to win the Rochester Pro Wrestling (now NWA Upstate) Tag Team Title in Rochester, New York.

2005 - Dragon Kid, Genki Horiguchi and Ryo Saito defeat interim Dragon Gate Open the Triangle Gate Champions CIMA, Naruki Doi and Shingo Takagi to become undisputed champions in Sapporo, Japan. CIMA, Doi and Takagi became interim champs by defeating Kenichiro Arai, Masaaki Mochizuki and Toru Yokosuka on February 23, due to Milano Collection A.T., who held the title along with Anthony W. Mori and YOSSINO, being injured.

2005 - Josh Daniels defeats Mike Tobin to win the NWA Cyberspace Internet Title in Wayne, New Jersey.

2005 - GAINA and Jinsei Shinzaki defeat Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kensuke Sasaki for the Michinoku Pro Wrestling Tohuku Tag Team Title in Tokushima, Japan.

2005 - KAZMA and Kengo Mashimo defeat Ryota Chikuzen and Taka Michinoku to win the UWA/UWF Intercontinental Tag Team Title in Chiba, Japan. The title was then unified with KAZMA and Mashimo's Strongest-K Tag Team Title and abandoned.

2007 - Allen Coage, better known to fans as Bad News Allen and Bad News Brown, dies at Rockyview Hospital in Calgary, Alberta of a heart attack. Coage was 63 years old. He was trained by two of the all-time greats, Antonio Inoki and Stu Hart, and wrestled for many years in Hart's Stampede Wrestling before moving on to the WWF in 1988, where he remained until 1990. After leaving the WWF, Coage worked in many independent promotions, as well as in Nobuhiko Takada's UWF International until his 1998 retirement. Prior to his pro wrestling days, Coage was an accomplished heavyweight judoka, winning gold medals in the 1967 and 1975 Pan-American Games, as well as a bronze in the 1976 Olympics, and is the only American heavyweight, and one of only eight Americans overall to earn an Olympic judo medal since it became an Olympic sport in 1964.

2008 - TNA announced that Judas Mesias would be leaving the company once he finished his booking commitments.

2008 - Ken "Mr. Kennedy" Anderson booked a lead role in the WWE Studios film "Behind Enemy Lines - Colombia", which was released direct to DVD.

2008 - "The Buffalo Bomber" Don Curtis (real name Don Beitelman, although he later legally changed his last name to Curtis), best known for his work in Championship Wrestling from Florida, passed away.

Curtis suffered a massive stroke on 2/26 and was transported to a hospice facility at the Mayo Clinic in Florida several days later. Curtis was found by his wife Dot face down in their bedroom and an MRI confirmed the stroke was caused by a blood clot breaking loose and striking the left side of his brain.

Before entering professional wrestling, Curtis served the United States during World War II doing submarine service. After his service, he went on the the University of Buffalo, where he was considered a legendary athlete, having been inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1980 for both football and amateur wrestling. While in Buffalo, Curtis was discovered and trained by the legendary Lou Thesz.

After debuting, Curtis soon settled into Florida, where he eventually relocated and remained. In the Sunshine State, Curtis is probably best known for his legendary heel tag team with Mark Lewin. The duo feuded with the likes of Eddie and Jerry Graham and the Fabulous Kangaroos in Florida.

The tandem held the predecessor to the WWE Tag Team championships, the WWWF United States Tag Team titles in 1958, losing them a year later to the Grahams. They also held the NWA World Tag Team belts in November 1963.

Beyond his aforementioned team with Lewis, Curtis also briefly held the NWA belts with both Joe Scarpa (who would go on to be best known as Chief Jay Strongbow) and Abe Jacobs. Curtis also captured the NWA Southern Tag Team championships with Jose Lothario, who is best known to today's fans as Shawn Michaels' trainer.

After retiring, Curtis promoted locally in Jacksonville, Florida for Eddie Graham. He also worked as City Manager for Jacksonville and at one point was the Chief of the Gator Bowl complex.

Curtis was survived by his wife Dottie, their three children and seven grandchildren.

In announcing Don's stroke on 2/28, Dottie wrote, "Please know that Don is in no pain, and would want nothing more that to end the life that he presently lives in. If anyone could say, "I've done it all!", it would be Don. A wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend no one could have asked any more from."

2008 - Matt Morgan signed a deal to bring him into NBC's American Gladiators playing a character known as "The Beast."

Former WWE Women's champion Trish Stratus signed a deal to star and host a travel series titled ‘Stratusphere’. The series featured Stratus traveling to cultures outside of North America and learning about them, airing for one season in Canada.

2009 - Entertainment Weekly broke word that that Survivor: Amazon winner and former Playboy cover girl Jenna Morasca would debut for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Morasca would be with the company for some time as a regular, including a bout against Sharmell that would be considered one of the worst of the year.

WWE ran Albany, GA, Ryan Ortiz filed the following results:

*Melina and Kelly Kelly beat Maryse and Beth Phoenix. Rosa Mendes was at ringside but there was no sign of Santino Marella.

*Ted DiBiase beat Goldust.

*The Miz and John Morrison beat Cryme Tyme.

*Finlay, with Hornswoggle, beat Tyson Kidd, with Natalya.

*Jack Swagger beat Christian to retain the ECW Title.

*Kofi Kingston beat William Regal.

*In the main event, John Cena and Rey Mysterio beat Chris Jericho and Edge.

2011 - Colt Cabana defeated Adam Pearce to win the NWA championship for the first time at a NWA Championship from Wrestling TV Taping in Hollywood, CA.

Continued:

2012 - Lucha Libre USA, after two short runs on MTV2, has announced they will return to television in certain markets they intend to run, syndicating their weekly series.

LLUSA's TV will be syndicated to the following markets and stations:

San Jose, CA: Thursdays and Fridays at 12:30am PST on Estrella TV KTNC 42.

Reno, Nevada: Fridays at 2am, Saturdays at 7am on Univision KREN; Saturdays from 7am-10am on Telefutura KNVV.

Stockton, CA: Saturdays at 9am PST on KSTV AZTECA 32 and COMCAST 26.

Fresno, CA: Wednesdays at 2am PST on Univision 21 KFTV!

2012 - TNA issued the following press release:

TNA IMPACT WRESTLING STAR COWBOY JAMES STORM’S “LONGNECKS AND REDNECKS” ENTRANCE MUSIC RELEASED TO RADIO THIS WEEK

Montgomery Gentry joins James Storm for video shoot

NASHVILLE, TN – (March 6, 2012) – TNA IMPACT WRESTLING star Cowboy James Storm’s entrance music “Longnecks and Rednecks,” is hitting country radio this week as superstars Montgomery Gentry join Storm in Columbia, Tennessee to shoot the music video. The song is performed by TNA Knockout Music Vice President Serg Salinas and is written by Salinas and Dale Oliver for Knockout Music Publishing. TNA IMPACT WRESTLING airs Thursday’s at 9:00pm ET on SPIKE TV.

Former World Heavyweight Champion and multi-time World Tag Team Champion Cowboy James Storm currently resides in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee and grew up listening to country and southern rock music. When he approached his friends Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry to be a part of this video, the duo jumped in with both feet.

“I am thrilled that the guys had time in their schedule to be a part of the video,” says Storm. “We had a great time shooting and my other buddies Cowboy Troy and Sean Patrick McGraw joined us for the party. Even my wife made an appearance in the video,” he added.

This is the first time TNA Knockout Music has serviced a song to country radio and “Longnecks and Rednecks” is already receiving a lot of interest.

“The response to this song has been so overwhelming and fits James’ persona so perfectly, we felt like releasing it as a single and shooting a music video was a great way to expose James in a different way,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “Having Montgomery Gentry, Cowboy Troy and Sean Patrick McGraw join us in the video truly made it a party,” she continued.

TNA Knockout Music is a division of TNA Entertainment, LLC. Writer and executive Serg Salinas had his own career in music prior to leading the publishing and merchandising division of the company. This Texas native had his own country show at a 4000 seat amphitheatre in Texas, has had title tracks to motion pictures and commercials and became a celebrity spokesperson and model for the true American apparel icon Wrangler. Salinas oversees all the recording and music publishing for the TNA Knockout Music themes which can be purchased at www.shopTNA.com or on iTunes.

Cowboy James Storm was recently featured in Country Weekly magazine and is seen every Thursday at 9:00 pm ET on SPIKE TV during the top-rated IMPACT WRESTLING.

2013 - WWE broadcast Main Event on the Ion Network. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

Tonight’s show starts off with a graphic ‘In Memory of William Moody “Paul Bearer” 1954-2013’.

We are in Albany, New York and your announcers are Michael ‘Percy’ Cole and The Miz

Before our first match, Wade Barrett say that before he annihilates the Viper again, he wants to give everyone a glimpse into his life as a Hollywood superstar. Last week, he attended the premiere of his new movie Dead Man Down. He reminds us that he was hobnobbing with people. He had offers for blockbusters. The world wants a piece of Wade Barrett.

We take a look at Wade at the premiere.

He says that everyone should agree that Dead Man Down is going to be a box office winner, just like he will be the winner against Randy Orton. He tells Orton and any other wannabe superstar who wants to be a movie star. Maybe someone who wants to be a Marine.

Orton attacks Barrett and the referee has to separate them when they get into the ring.



Match Number One: Randy Orton versus Wade Barrett in a Non Title Match



Barrett charges at Orton but Randy moves. Randy with punches in the corner but Barrett with a kick to the midsection. Orton with a back elbow and then he runs the laces against Barrett’s face. Orton with the Garvin Stomp to Barrett. Orton with a knee drop to the back of the head and Orton gets a near fall.

Barrett with a head butt and jabs to Orton. Orton with punches and a European uppercut. Orton clotheslines Barrett over the top rope to the floor and we go to commercial.

We are back and Orton with an Irish whip but Barrett gets his boot up when Orton charges into the corner. Barrett with a kick to the midsection followed by a neck breaker for a near fall. Barrett with a knee drop to Orton followed by a reverse chin lock. Orton with a belly-to-back suplex to escape the head lock.

Orton with a drop kick to Barrett and he gets a near fall. Barrett with punches and an elbow to the head. Orton with punches of his own and he climbs the turnbuckles and punches Barrett. Orton with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Barrett rolls to the floor and Orton goes after him but Barrett with a kick and he sends Orton’s head into the ring steps.

Barrett sends Orton back into the ring but Orton with a kick to Barrett on the apron and Orton tries for the IEDDT but Barrett sends Orton to the apron and Barrett with a back heel kick that sends Orton to the floor and we go to commercial.

We are back and Barrett with a knee to the midsection. Barrett punches Orton and then he stomps on Orton’s chest. Barrett chokes Orton in the ropes. Barrett with knees to the midsection while Orton is in the ropes and then Barrett with a running boot to the head and Orton falls to the apron.

Barrett pulls Orton back into the ring and Barrett gets a near fall. Orton goes to the floor and Barrett follows. Orton with a kick and forearm to the back and then he sends Barrett into the ringside barrier. Orton with punches to the head but Barrett reverses an Irish whip and Orton is sent shoulder first into the ring steps.

Barrett brings Orton back into the ring and Wade gets a near fall. Barrett goes to the turnbuckles for an elbow drop but Orton recovers and stops Barrett on the turnbuckles. Orton sets for a superplex after a European uppercut and head butt. Orton hits the superplex and gets a near fall. Orton and Barrett exchange punches and kicks.

Barrett with an Irish whip but Orton with a clothesline out of the corner. Orton with another clothesline and he avoids a clothesline from Barrett but Wade knows that a power slam is coming and Barrett holds on to the ropes. Barrett misses a running boot and Orton with a back breaker that sends Barrett to the apron.

Orton with the IEDDT and then he looks around the arena before twisting to the mat for the RKO pushups. Barrett goes to the floor and he drops Orton on the top rope. Barrett with a boot to the head for a near fall. Barrett prepares for the Bull Hammer but Orton with a power slam. Orton twists to the mat again and this time he hits the RKO and gets the three count.



Winner: Randy Orton



Cody Rhodes walks in the back as we go to commercial.



Match Number Two: Cody Rhodes versus Zack Ryder



They lock up and Ryder with a waist lock but Cody with an elbow. Ryder with an arm drag into an arm bar. Cody with a punch and Irish whip. Ryder with an elbow and he leaps over Cody. Ryder with a flapjack and he gets a near fall. Cody goes to the floor but Ryder follows after him. Ryder with a punch to Rhodes.

They return to the ring and Ryder tries for a shoulder on the apron but Cody with a knee and drop down uppercut. Rhodes gets a near fall and he kicks Ryder. Cody with a gourdbuster for a near fall. Rhodes with a front face lock.

Ryder with a knee and then he sends Cody face first into the mat. Rhodes with a forearm to the ribs but Ryder gets his knees up in the corner and he hits a missile drop kick. Ryder with a running forearm into the corner and it is Broski Boot time but Rhodes moves and then he hits Beautiful Disaster to the back of the head followed by Cross Rhodes for the three count.



Winner: Cody Rhodes



Cole and Miz talk about Old School Raw. We go back to Triple H’s comments challenging Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania.

This Monday, Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman will respond to the challenge.



Match Number Three: Sin Cara versus Antonio Cesaro in a Non Title Match



Cara with a waist lock but Cesaro with a standing switch and take down followed by a boot to the back. They lock up and Cesaro with a leg sweep. Cara with an arm drag that sends Cesaro to the floor and Cara with a slingshot rana to Cesaro on the floor. Cara with a kick to the back and he sends Cesaro back into the ring.

Cara tries for a sunset flip but Cesaro stays on his feet and he picks up Sin Cara and tosses him to the mat. Cesaro gets a near fall. Cesaro with a kick to the head and he slaps him. Cesaro with punches in the corner and then he kicks Cara.

Cara with punches but Cesaro with a knee and he hits the dead lift side salto and gets a near fall. Cesaro with a sleeper to Cara. Cesaro tries for a tilt-a-whirl back breaker but Cara counters with an inside cradle for a near fall. Cara kicks Cesaro and hits a flip power bomb for a near fall.

Cara with chops to Cesaro and Cara with a satellite head scissors that sends Cesaro to the floor. Cara sets for a suicide dive but Cesaro recovers and connects with a European uppercut to Cara. Cesaro goes up top but Cara with an enzuigiri. Cara tries for a double jump rana but Cesaro blocks it and he sets for a Super Ricola Bomb but Cara counters with a super rana and he gets the three count.



Winner: Sin Cara



We go to commercial.

We are back with a look at the return of the Undertaker and a look at who will face the Undertaker at Wrestlemania.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time to take a look at the confrontation between John Cena and the Rock.

2015 - Bill Demott announced the following on Twitter:

"I deny the recent allegations made about me, however, to avoid any embarrassment or damage to the WWE, I've decided to step down from my role effective immediately."

Obviously, this was all the end result of the recent letters publically leaked regarding allegations of wrong-doing by DeMott in his role as a WWE Coach and Trainer.

PWInsider.com confirmed with sources within WWE has DeMott had "resigned completely" from the company and later reported the following:

Only a select few will know the circumstances of Bill DeMott's resignation from his position as the Head Coach of WWE developmental today, but it's interesting that it came just three days after a WWE statement noting that a previous investigation "was unable to validate the claims" against DeMott.

That statement did little to stave off the onslaught of continued allegations this week, which continued over the last 24 hours leading into DeMott's exit.

Former WWE developmental talent Austin Matelson returned to the Vendetta Wrestling radio show last night to respond to the aforementioned WWE statement about his letter, now alleging that WWE Talent Relations informed DeMott about what Matelson had written. Matelson claimed that DeMott "interrogated" him in a room alone, a room that Matelson claimed it was well known DeMott kept a firearm. Matelson, claiming he was "in fear for his life" then denied the charges to DeMott, leading to the end of the investigation as Talent Relations did not feel he was being truthful. If you wish to listen to the entire interview, you can hear it in Matelson's own voice at this link.

As if that (and the previous few days' allegations) were not enough, female independent wrestler Terra Calaway took to Twitter last night with a series of Tweets alleging that during a WWE tryout several years ago, DeMott took to using racist phrases and comments towards a wrestler with a Middle Eastern background, whom she did not name.

There were other talents, including the former Brandon Traven, preparing to come out with statements via their own podcasts later this week as well as those, like Kevin Matthews, who has been championing the exit of DeMott for years, all over social media.

As if that wasn't enough, there were other postings from "anonymous" talents that piled on to the situation over the last several days and from reading some of them, they were far too detailed with circumstances to be ignored, even if they couldn't be proven.

Each claim, each interview, each posting began building a case against DeMott in the court of public opinion that is social media, where he was being attacked regularly all week. Similar to the Bill Cosby accusations of the last few months, what began as a snowball on Monday had suddenly become an avalanche to the point that WWE and DeMott really had no choice but to part ways. What had formerly been whispers or attacks dismissed as coming from "bitter" former developmental talents who had washed out in training were now out in the open, coming from all directions.

Whether DeMott fell on his sword alone or at WWE's behest, we will likely never 100% know, but it was obvious the stories and the allegations weren't going away. They were either going to grow as more talents spoke out or something had to give. Something finally did - and it was Bill DeMott.

DeMott's last date for the company was last night working the NXT TV Taping in Columbus, Ohio. We are told that nothing was said to the NXT roster last night, so it's believed the resignation went down today. No one working last night's taping had any indication that something was going down although privately, there was a lot of discussion as to whether DeMott's days were numbered amongst the wrestlers.

DeMott's resignation Tweet was his only comment publicly, and privately, he did not address the NXT talents in Ohio about his departure.

PWInsider.com has confirmed that Matt Bloom aka Jason Albert, formerly Tensai, has been named the interim Head Trainer and will take over DeMott's duties at the Performance Center and WWE developmental. Whether he is named to that position permanently will remain to be seen.

The change to Bloom was announced via an email from Mark Carano of WWE Talent Relations to the developmental roster shortly after DeMott issued his resignation publicly.

Among WWE developmental talents we've heard from, there was something of a celebratory feeling as the crew traveled to tonight's house show as DeMott was, as you might imagine based on everything that has come out, not beloved. What all involved should remember is that while DeMott had a lot of resentment among the talents, the position he was in was going to lead to that, as he was in charge and was going to be the one delivering the bad news when it needed to be delivered. Whoever ends up in what was formerly DeMott's position will also have to do the same, so it will be interesting to see how long it is, if ever, before they are seen in the same negative light as DeMott.

As of this evening, it appears WWE's only official statement on the matter will be that they retweeted DeMott's resignation announcement on their own social media accounts.

2015 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:

Welcome to the Impact Wrestling Report here on PWInsider.com!

We start off with a look at the end of last week's main event, and after announcing tonight's Knockouts Title match between Taryn Terrell and Awesome Kong, we go to the ring as the Beat Down Clan makestheir way to the ring and MVP...well, he does not look happy. Kenny King says he hears that Drew Galloway was called the Chosen One, but he chose to get involved when they were going to have fun with Grado, he chose to get involved in the World Title match, so now they get to choose which piece of his ass they're going to take first. MVP asks Drew if he knows what he's done and who he did it to, because Al Snow and Grado were fun, but the World Title was business. BEAT DOWN CLAN BUSINESS...ONE YEAR IN THE MAKING. He came to TNA for one singular focus, and that was domination of the World Title, and now Drew stuck his nose in their business. MVP says he's not an unreasonable man, so he'll give Drew the chance to come out here and explain his motivations, apologize, and make things right, so he wants Drew to come out here while he's calm and collected and explain himself. Drew finally appears in the crowd, so MVP says he wants Drew to know that he just made himself public enemy #1. Drew says he's home right now, and he's not far from where he came in the ring and cost him the World Title. He's surrounded by professional wrestling fans, not sports entertainment fans. Drew comes over the rail to ringside and explains that he's in TNA to speak up for those who have not been listened to, to stand up for wrestling, and give the fans a voice. MVP's not just screwing with Lashley or Bobby Roode. He asks several fans their names and he tells MVP that he's screwing with every one of them. People like MVP try to dictate what wrestling is to the fans, but wrestling should be decided by people in the crowds and watching at home, and he'll be damned if MVP is going to decide what will happen around here. King says that's enough because he hit Low Ki with a pipe and spilled his blood, and they demand retribution and satisfaction, and they will get it tonight. And if they don't, they're going to take a ride up the road to his mum and dad's house and take it out of their asses. Drew gets a determined look on his face and says that he didn't just come here to embarrass them on the microphone, he came here to stand up for wrestling and fight, and if Kenny wants to fight, he can send his boys to the back and he'll fight him right now. King says the BDC is a family, but Kenny King is a one man army, so he asks the BDC to let him fly this one solo. They'll face off after this commercial break!

Drew Galloway vs Kenny King

King uses a distraction from MVP on the floor to get the early advantage, but Galloway fires back and they go out to the floor. King goes to Galloway's eyes to briefly take advantage, but Galloway picks King up on a charge and gives him a tilt-a-whirl on the ring apron. OUCH! They go inside where Galloway hits a flying clothesline for 2, but King recovers quickly and connects with a cartwheel kick, followed by a blockbuster for 2. He gets too cocky, and Galloway catches him out of nowhere with the Future Shock DDT for the win.

Winner: Drew Galloway

Galloway hightails it into the crowd before the BDC can get their hands on him.

Bobby Roode is backstage, and he's...WALKING! We'll hear what's on his mind after this break!

Bobby Roode comes out to the ring and has a message for Eric Young: Young tried to take his career from him, but he has his sights set on the TNA World Title and nothing is standing in his way tonight. Kurt Angle comes out to the top of the ramp and wants to make something clear to Roode: Kurt Angle is going to get in his way, he'll become the #1 contender, he'll beat Bobby Lashley, and if Roode disagrees, then they don't have to wait. Angle drops his mic and starts down to the ring, but Young comes out of the crowd as Angle makes his way down the aisle and attacks Roode from behind. Angle gets in Young's face and Young tries to suckerpunch him, but Angle is ready and fights him off to the floor. Roode is up and in Angle's face, and we'll see what happens in the three way later on.

We see a video package hyping tonight's Terrell-Kong match, then we go to a backstage meeting of the minds between Bram and James Storm. Storm says he likes what Bram did to Magnus, and Bram says he likes what Storm did to Jeff Hardy, and they agree that neither of them has any regrets. Bram has Matt Hardy tonight, and Storm says that if Bram takes him out as a favor to the Revolution, Bram will never have any regrets ever again. Storm pats Bram on the arm and walks off with a sinister smile on his face.

we see a video package hyping Kurt Angle's championship history, then we go back to the ring!

Bram vs Matt Hardy

Bram tries to get the drop on Hardy, but Hardy sees him coming and unloads with right hands and rams him into the corner before coming out with the bulldog. Bram goes out to the floor and shoves Hardy into the apron when he comes out after him, then brings him back inside and continues pummeling Hardy with right hands and forearms. Bram Tullys Hardy into the corner and then hits a flying knee for 2, but Hardy turns it around and comes off the second rope with an elbow to the back of Bram's head for 2. Hardy hits the Side Effect for 2, a moonsault for 2, but Bram kicks Hardy in the ding-ding behind the referee's back and hits the implant DDT for the win.

Winner: Bram

Bram grabs his pet turnbuckle from under the ring and stalks Hardy with it, but Magnus' music hits and he comes tearing out of the back, laying into Bram and just HAMMERING him with right and left hands until Bram literally scurries out of the ring and runs for his life. Magnus tells Bram to look him in the eyes and listen to him because when Bram beat him up and left him in an alley, he knew his son would either see someone slink home in shame, or someone who stood up for his family and get his hands on Bram. It's not about titles or money, it's personal, and he's going to give him the beating his daddy should have given him years ago. Before it's all done, Bram's blood will stain the hallowed grounds of England. Awesome promo.

Spud is backstage telling Ken Anderson that he has to end this tonight, and Anderson's been great the last few weeks, but he's going to the ring to end things with EC3. Spud walks off and Anderson goes "Sounds great, I'm here for you, Spud!"

We see a promo for a show on Destination America with a bunch of armed hillbillies, wasted on moonshine, wandering around in the woods hunting for monsters.

We look back at Drew Galloway's win over Kenny King earlier tonight, and then we see footage of King getting his knee looked at by the trainer backstage while Low Ki loses his mind over Galloway's interference. Then we go backstage to Galloway, who talks about how great he feels for standing up for pro wrestling.

We see ANOTHER video package, this time of the history of Spud and Ethan Carter III wanting to shave each other's heads, before going to the ring so Spud can come out and give EC3 a piece of his mind. He says it's been an embarrassing few months, and the only thing that's gotten him through it is the fans. But there comes a time when things have to come to an end, so he asks Ethan Carter III to come to the ring, no Tyrus, no friends, just the two of them in the ring. EC3 comes out and they glare at each other for several seconds, then Spud says he wants to fight him because it has to end with them in a fight, man-on-man, just the two of them. Carter says that people like Spud don't get to challenge people like him, because it's his destiny to carry this company on his back into the future, and Spud is just a little boy. EC3 is undefeated, and...Spud tells him to shut up because he was there when he beat every legend in TNA and helped him do it, and he wants Carter to fight him so he can be the one to end his streak. Carter says that if Spud wants to fight him right here in front of his fans in England, then that's fine, BUT....if Carter wins, he gets to shave Spud's head. Spud says that's fine if Carter puts his hair on the line too so that he can embarrass Carter like Carter embarrassed Spud, and he'll end his streak to boot. Carter says challenge accepted, but he tells Spud to remember that in this world, the bad guys win. Spud reminds Carter that whenever he was down, Carter told him he was fierce, he was a lion, he was a gazelle, but Spud says he's a man, he's going to end Carter's streak, and he's going to shave him bald. Carter scowls, but walks off as Spud stares after him with his serious face.

We see a video package putting over how unpredictable and dangerous Eric Young is ahead of tonight's main event.

Knockouts Title Match: Taryn Terrell vs Awesome Kong

Taryn's entrance was one of those "created by the business" things where she comes out smiling and does her ass shake thing, then gets her deadly serious face on and storms the ring to jump Kong. Kong beats her into next week and tosses her across the ring by the hair. Kong is just obliterating Terrell here, and Terrell comes off the second rope with a clothesline to literally no effect. Crossbody winds up with Terrell getting caught and dumped across the ring. Kong isn't even breathing heavy as she stands on Terrell's neck in the corner, but Terrell finally connects with a dropkick and a flurry of forearms. She gets backdropped to the apron, but shoulderblocks through the ropes and comes off the top with a crossbody. Kong powers out at 1, blocks the Stunner, and goes for the Implant Buster. Terrell escapes and goes for another stunner, but Kong just shoves her off again. Terrell looks like she might have actually hurt her shoulder on that one, but Kong is undeterred and stands on Terrell's throat, then shoves the ref across the ring when he tries to get her off of Terrell.

Winner: Taryn Terrell by DQ

Kong throws Terrell to the floor, chucks her into the ring steps, and goes for the Implant Buster, but Gail Kim runs out and stops Kong, then gets in her face. Kong listens for a moment, then shoves Gail down before the two fight it out all the way to the back as the champion is left in a heap at ringside.

We see a look back at the history between the Wolves and the Revolution, and then the promo for next week's episode spoils the outcome of tonight's main event. WAY TO GO, GUYS!

We see a video package extolling Bobby Roode's excellence, then it's back to the ring for our next title match...

World Tag Team Title Match: James Storm & Abyss vs The Wolves

Sanada, Khoya, and Manik attack the Wolves on their way to the ring, then toss Davey Richards into the ring to start off the match. Storm and Abyss try a double team, but Eddie Edwards makes it into the ring and thwarts that. They knock Storm and Abyss out to the floor and go for the double dive, but the Revolution grabs their legs from the floor and allow Storm to run in and nail Davey. The Revolution interferes AGAIN by yanking Eddie off the apron before Davey is able to make the hot tag, and Storm just CREAMS Davey with a right hand. Davey finally makes the tag, and Eddie comes in like a house of fire, hitting the backpack driver on Storm for 2. Manik again interferes by dragging Davey to the floor as Storm counters a top rope move from Eddie to Closing Time. That only gets 2, and Eddie almost gets 2 with a rollup after Storm is distracted by Matt Hardy coming down to ringside. The Wolves escape a double chokeslam, clothesline Storm and Abyss to the floor, take out Manik and Sanada with a double dive, another takes out Khoya, and a third takes out Storm and Abyss. Eddie accidentally clipped Hardy on the last dive, but he fights Sanada and Manik off yet again as Hardy slips in the ring and hits Abyss with the Twist of Fate. Wolves hit stereo top rope double stomps and Eddie covers Abyss for the win.

Winners and New World Tag Team Champions: The Wolves

Whoa, Storm is MAAAAAAAAAAAAD! He walks around ringside abusing his Revolution guys as Hardy and the Wolves celebrate.

After the commercial, Matt Hardy is backstage congratulating the Wolves and issuing a challenge for the title as soon as Jeff's ready to return. The Wolves say that tag team wrestling wouldn't be what it is without the Hardys, and they'd be honored to defend against them.

Josh and Taz run down next week's card, and then it's...MAIN EVENT TIME!

#1 Contender's Match: Kurt Angle vs Eric Young vs Bobby Roode

Roode and Young wind up brawling out on the floor before making their way inside, where Young is quickly disposed of and Angle starts suplexing Roode all over the ring. Roode catches Angle with a blockbuster for 2, and Young is in and putting the boots to Roode. Young holds onto the referee to avoid getting suplexed as well and chucks Angle out to the floor, then goes back to beating up Roode. Actually, he takes his time going back and forth and dishing out punishment to both opponents. Young finally goes for a superplex on Roode, but Angle comes in and powerbombs him to do a tower of doom spot. Now Young gets his suplexes from Kurt, a full ten of them in a row. Roode comes in and goes for the Roode Bomb, Kurt gets out of that, and Roode gets the Crippler Crossface. Angle escapes and counters to the anklelock and has Roode trapped right in the middle of the ring. Roode rolls through and we go back into the crossface, but Young breaks that up. Roode flattens Young with a spinebuster, Angle comes in and hits Roode with the Hacker Slam for 2, then gets Young in the anklelock. Roode grabs Angle, but Angle rolls through into another anklelock. Roode rolls through and Angle knocks right into the referee and wipes him out. Young whacks Roode right in the head with a chair, but Angle takes Young out and capitalizes by hitting Roode with the Hacker Slam for the win.

Winner: Kurt Angle

As Destination America so thoughtfully revealed to us about an hour ago, Kurt Angle is now the #1 contender to the TNA World Title and will challenge Bobby Lashley on next week's Impact. He helps Roode back to his feet and shakes his hand before pumping his fist at the fans in victory. Lashley comes out to the ring and applauds Angle's win, and they go nose-to-nose in the middle of the ring. Lashley holds the belt high as Roode stands in the background, watching from outside the department store window.