This Day in History - 16th Jul, 2016
On this day in history in ....
1983 - Butch Reed defeats Junkyard Dog for the Mid South North American Heavyweight Title in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1988 - Frank Goodish, better known as Bruiser Brody, is stabbed in a shower stall in the locker room of Juan Lobriel Stadium in Bayamon, Puerto Rico by wrestler (and WWC part-owner) Jose Gonzalez (aka Invader I) prior to a WWC event. Brody is taken to a hospital, but dies on the operating table later that night (technically the morning of July 17th) from blood loss. Gonzalez is charged with first degree murder, but is later acquitted. Brody, a true legend in the business, particularly in Japan, was 42 years old.
1994 - Sid Vicious defeats Jerry Lawler by forfeit for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Lawler's 19th run with the title.
1995 - WCW held their Bash at the Beach Pay-per-view at Huntington Beach in California, setting up a ring on the beach and allowing fans and beachgoers to see the show live for free. Footage was also filmed during the event for an episode of Baywatch. Here are the results:
In matches shown on TBS' Main Event:
- Johnny B. Badd defeated Chris Kanyon.
- Road Warrior Hawk defeated Mark Starr.
- Dick Slater & Bunkhouse Buck defeated Marcus Bagwell & Alex Wright.
In matches shown on the Pay-per-view:
- United States Champion Sting defeated Meng when Meng missed a kick and Sting rolled him up for the pin. Meng attacked Sting after the match, until Road Warrior Hawk made the save.
- WCW Television Champion The Renegade defeated Paul Orndorff when he floated over a vertical suplex and delivered a back suplex for the pin. The crowd booed the babyface Renegade, who didn't give them much to cheer for, totally missing a dropkick (that Orndorff then had to sell). Post-match, Orndorff hit a piledriver on Renegade, to cheers, but Renegade but bounced right up and and hit Orndroff with a cross bodyblock, to boos.
- Kamala defeated Hacksaw Jim Duggan when the Zodiac (Brutus Beefcake) hit Duggan with a foreign object.
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Dave Sullivan with a Diamond Cutter after distraction from Max Muscle.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat defeated The Nasty Boys and Bobby Eaton & Steven Regal in a Triangle match when Booker T pinned Regal after a Brian Knobs splash.
- Randy Savage defeated Ric Flair in a Lifeguard Lumberjack match (Lifeguards, actually Baywatch extras, and wrestlers acted as the lumberjacks) with the top rope elbowdrop.
- WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan, with Dennis Rodman, defeated Big Van Vader in a steel cage match after two legdrops and kicking Vader away as he climbed out. This was the first time that WCW used the "escape the cage" rule, as they traditionally only had pinfall and submissions in the cage. The reason for the rules change was that Vader would not do a pinfall or submission job for Hogan (because Hogan said he wouldn't do the same for Vader when their program began)
2000 - ECW Heatwave 2000 Pay-per-view took place at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show.
Last week's WCW PPV will be remembered more for the Hulk Hogan incident with Vince Russo than for any action in the ring. We still don't know for sure if that incident was a shoot or a work. This week's ECW PPV, Heat Wave, may likewise be remembered more for an out-of-the-ring shoot incident involving wrestlers from the Los Angeles-based XPW promotion. There has been heat between ECW and XPW for some time, over both the XPW name (Xtreme Pro Wrestling) and their use of Sabu as a wrestler after Paul Heyman let it be known that he was still under ECW contract. Throughout the week, XPW wrestlers had been indicating they would create a disturbance of some sort at the PPV. And they did. A group of XPW performers bought ringside tickets, with the wrestlers identified as Supreme, Messiah, and Jimmy the Homeless Guy, along with valet Kristy Mist. Until the main event, they behaved themselves, but as the main event began, a confrontation occurred involving them and Francine. Apparently Mist grabbed at her, or something along those lines. The guys then got involved and the ECW locker room (heels and babyfaces alike) emptied and a brawl broke out. On commentary Joey Styles tried to explain it as some drunken fans getting out of control. Atlas Security also got involved and the brawl was fairly quickly subdued on camera. But in the parking lot it continued with the XPW guys taking a major beating before escaping in their limo. Paul Heyman was reportedly involved in the outside brawl. From all indications this was not a work. (Note from Buck: I was backstage at the show, and I can assure all that this was not a work)
As for the show itself, it was a clear thumb's up with solid action and a good crowd at the historic Olympic Auditorium who were into the action in a big way. ECW has taken some hits in recent months but they still deliver with workrate and intrigue at their big shows. Commentary from Styles and Cyrus was strong. There were a ton of shots at TNN throughout the show.
The show opened with Blue Meanie, who now calls himself Blue Boy (does he know what that means?), and Jasmin St. Claire on the beach. They picked out some guy who wasn't fat at all and accused him of being fat. Jasmin gave him a low blow. Sinister Minister arrived and did his usual style of promo saying L.A. isn't really a City of Angels but is better known for rioting and violence and is the devil's playground. The camera then showed Mikey Whipwreck buried in the sand with only his head sticking out and the tide coming in.
Styles & Joel Gertner introduced the show from the arena. Gertner went further than he has ever gone before in his lewd opening promo. Cyrus came out to an incredibly loud "a$$hole" chant and took credit for getting ECW cancelled by TNN, for deporting Super Crazy, costing Rob Van Dam and Yoshihiro Tajiri the TV Title, and using the ECW ad budget to promote Rollerjam. Gertner said Cyrus was also known for looking through the glory hole when George Michael was caught spankng it. Cyrus said the only good Gertner has ever done for ECW was to bring in the fat faggot demographic. Gertner said Cyrus enjoys fat faggots and said he was tired of Cyrus running him down all the time and acted like he would leave. Cyrus called him gutless. Gertner then attacked Cyrus from behind and took him down as security hit the ring. Gertner was "arrested". For the rest of the show, Cyrus made jokes about Gertner being, shall we say, used as a sex object down at the L.A. county jail.
BIG SAL GRAZIANO beat BALLS MAHONEY in 2:07. This was an "unscheduled", very brief match that began as Gertner was being hauled out. Sal and Tony Mamaluke came out to sort of see him off, and Balls then arrived and the match just began. Balls plastered Mamaluke but Sal attacked him. Balls broke a chair over Sal's head, which he didn't sell. Sal then squashed Balls with a belly-to-belly on the chair and got the surprisingly quick pin.
Rob Van Dam did a promo promising to debut his new Van Terminator move in the main event. Actually, it was debuted on some recent house shows but this was the TV premier.
Footage aired from the recent ECW Arena show where Bobby Eaton debuted and was cleaning house on Simon Diamond, Swinger, and C.W. Anderson until they eventually overpowered him and left him laying.
DANNY DORING & AMISH ROADKILL & KID KASH defeated SIMON DIAMOND & SWINGER & C.W. ANDERSON in 11:02. Anderson sent Lou E. Dangerously & Electra away, to signify his new alliance with Diamond & Swinger. The commentators kept noting that Eaton was Kash's wrestling idol and that he was out to avenge him. Kash stayed in for most of the match and he was great. He hit some great moves, including a springboard huracanrana and a moonsault. Kash traded chops with Anderson. Doring came in and was on a roll until being caught in the wrong corner. Diamond and Swinger got some near falls on him. Anderson floored Doring with his left handed punch, which they are selling big since Eaton has a right punch. Doring was nearly pinned but Kash made the save. Roadkill got the hot tag to a really big pop and sent all three opponents out, where Doring hit them with a somersault plancha. Kash then did a high springboard plancha, and finally Roadkill dived on them. Back in the ring, Diamond & Swinger double suplexed Roadkill off the top but Kash broke up the pin. All six began brawling and the match got lost for about a minute but Kash then hit the moneymaker (piledriver) on Swinger for the pin. Good match!
JERRY LYNN beat STEVE CORINO in 15:25. Lynn attacked before the bell and lariated Corino over. They brawled on the floor. Lynn kicked a chair into Corino's face and tornado DDT'd him on the floor. Corino juiced a major gusher from this. He came back despite the blood loss with the announcers putting over his courage again for an eventual face turn. He used Dusty Rhodes' bionic elbow to put Lynn down and got some near falls. Lynn kicked yet another chair into Corino's face. They messed up a corner spot but quickly recovered with Lynn DDT'ing Corino on a chair for a near fall. Lynn smeared Corino's blood on his face like war paint and wrote "die" on his chest in blood. Corino did another comeback with his face literally the proverbial Gordon Solie "crimson mask". Corino hit the old school explosion for a near fall. Jack Victory threw powder but it missed Lynn and hit the ref. Victory then KO'ed the ref. With the ref out, Corino used his boot on Lynn and Victory used a cowbell on him. They still only got two when the ref revived. They then went to some fast spots where they traded a ton of two counts back and forth before Lynn finally hit the cradle piledriver for the win. Another good match.
Sandman did a promo talking about avenging his wife Lori. Rhino flattened him with the cane and dragged Lori into a bathroom and tried to shove her face in a toilet until security broke it up.
Dawn Marie joined Styles & Cyrus on commentary. She really didn't say much during the matches (other than a few verbal shots at Francine during the main event), but between matches Cyrus got in a lot of double entendres about her.
NEW JACK came out on crutches (he busted his leg up doing a balcony dive on a Milwaukee house show), which isn't the smartest thing to do on an ECW show. Angel & Tony DeVito attacked him and used the staple gun on him. Nova & Chris Chetti made the save, which led to the next match.
NOVA & CHRIS CHETTI beat ANGEL & TONY DEVITO in 4:38. Chetti hit a springboard plancha and Nova did a tope. DeVito flattened Chetti with the Bronx Bomb but missed a moonsault. Nova gave DeVito two piledrivers and a powerbomb in sequence. Chetti nailed Angel with the Amityville Horror and they pinned him with their double team Tidal Wave move. Good short match.
Tommy Dreamer did a promo talking about how much he has lost and suffered because of wrestling but said he'd do it all over again and rammed his head several times into a locker to draw blood, which is kind of sick.
YOSHIHIRO TAJIRI won a four-way elimination match over PSICOSIS & GUIDO MARITATO & MIKEY WHIPWRECK in 9:16. This was originally a three-way but Mikey just strolled in and it became a four-way. Mikey was mopping up the floor with everyone. He hit the whippersnapper on Tajiri and a plancha on Guido and Psicosis. He then tried to dive on Big Sal (who was there with Guido), but got caught and posted. Psicosis legdropped Mikey and Guido (formerly Little Guido, now using his full name) pinned him at 1:38. Tajiri traded fast spots with Psicosis (this was his first match back in ECW in several years). Tajiri hit the Asai moonsault. Psicosis did a somersault legdrop on Guido. Guido retaliated with the Kiss of Death on Psicosis. Tajiri kicked Guido hard and hit a German suplex on Psicosis to pin him at 4:26. Tajiri and Guido went at it and Tajiri did a cool move where he sort of hooked the tarantula hold coming off the ropes and nearly pinned Guido. He also hooked the tarantula on the ropes. Tajiri did a somersault elbow. Guido kicked a chair into Tajiri's face and hit a legdrop. Guido brought in a chair but Tajiri sprayed the mist in his eyes and DDT'd him on the chair for the pin to end a very good match.
Justin Credible did a promo to put over the barbed wire stips for the main event.
RHINO beat SANDMAN in 8:38 to retain the TV Title. Sandman did his usual long intro with the beer. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want Sandman spitting beer on me. Cyrus said Sandman should be given a breathalyzer. Styles replied that Sandman's wrestling, not driving. Try telling that to his opponents. Sandman broke a cane on Rhino, but Rhino didn't sell it despite taking numerous shots. Rhino then stomped the hell out of Sandman. Sandman got the upper hand long enough to bring a guard rail into the ring, and Rhino took several bumps on the rail. Sandman scored some near falls as Rhino sold these shots. Victory & Corino ran in and laid the ref out. Spike Dudley arrived to help Sandman and Victory got tossed out and Corino was 3D'ed. Rhino gored Spike and piledrived hm through a table off the apron. That spot always looks scary as hell. Rhino then hit a legsweep on Sandman and piledrived him on the rail for the pin. Sandman is very limited in what he can do now but there were enough props and run-ins to keep it interesting.
ROB VAN DAM defeated SCOTTY ANTON in 19:01. This one was too long, not because of Van Dam, but because Anton really isn't over at this level. Anton's offense was one of the few points in the show where the crowd heat died. They were big into Van Dam's offense, though. Anton quickly bailed out but Van Dam hit a moonsault off the rail and a legdrop from the apron onto Anton on the rail. Van Dam did a cool spot where he simply lifted Anton up and dropped him, and then did a backflip on him. Van Dam hit a quebrada for a near fall, one of many in this match. Anton used a chair on Van Dam and bulldogged him from the apron onto the rail. Van Dam juiced from the mouth. Anton scored several twos with DDT's and other moves but got no heat. Bill Alfonso tossed Van Dam a chair which he kicked into Anton's face. Van Dam did his split-legged moonsault. Alfonso climbed to the top and leaned back with a chair, with Van Dam using it on Anton in an intricate spot. Anton used a chair on Van Dam's bad leg, hooking the Clapper (Scorpion or Sharpshooter) but broke the hold to go after Alfonso on the apron. He put the hold on Alfonso but Van Dam made the save with a Van Daminator and a five star frog splash. Van Dam then hit the Van Terminator, which is a dropkick from off the top all the way across the ring (which is amazing) into a chair, which then hit Anton's face like in the Van Daminator. The spot is awesome. Van Dam got the pin to end a good match.
JUSTIN CREDIBLE beat TOMMY DREAMER in 14:57 to retain the ECW World Title. Barbed wire was hanging above the ring and could be legally used by whoever retrieved it. Francine was there with Credible, and whatever happened between her and the XPW crew occurred and the dressing room emptied for the scuffle with security, which spilled off camera out into the parking lot. Jazz & George came out with Dreamer, with Jazz being his "surprise". The commentators kept saying she was gorgeous, but couldn't say Gorgeous George due to copyright. Dreamer, like Sandman, is too banged up to do much but they kept it interesting enough. They brawled through the crowd, with Credible juicing. Dreamer took a scary bump off a ladder. The ladder got set up at ringside and both guys took bumps into it. The ladder then made it into the ring for more bump spots. Dreamer tried to climb up to get the wire but Francine pulled him down and he landed right on her, which apparently legit hurt her but she was saying she was okay afterward backstage. Jazz was about to go after Francine but George turned and attacked Jazz from behind. Jazz recovered quickly and sent George from the ring and stripped Francine's top off. She was wearing electrical tape over her nipples. You mean she knew she was going to be stripped ahead of time? Wink, wink. She ran to the back and put on a T-shirt. Credible tombstoned Jazz. Dreamer hit the Tommyhawk on Credible and got a near pin. Dreamer climbed up and got the wire. It wasn't used all that much. Credible got crotched on it. Credible then recovered and DDT'd Tommy on the wire, followed by That's Incredible on the wire for the pin.
2001 - Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy (Terry Ray Gordy Sr.), who with Michael Hayes founded the Fabulous Freebirds tag team in the late-1970's and rose to fame as the heel foils for the Von Erichs in Texas in the mid-1980's, then went on to become a huge star in Japan, was found dead in his home of a heart attack. He was 40.
2007 - The Georgia Bureau of Investigations and the State's Chief Medical Examiner held a press conference to disclose the results of the toxicology tests done on the bodies of Chris, Nancy and Daniel Benoit. Highlights from the conference:
-Fayetteville Georgia District Attorney Scott Ballard stated that the investigation into the Benoit tragedy is still ongoing and as they continued to investigate, all aspects still lead them to believe it was a murder-suicide. He said that one aspect of the investigation is the toxicology reports. He thanked the G.B.I and their crime lab for all the investigation assistance. Ballard said they wouldn't answer questions regarding the crime scene and aspects of the investigation until they could discuss the entire investigation accurately.
-Ballard turned it over to the GBI's Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kris Sperry.
-Sperry said that with Nancy Benoit had three drugs in her system - Hydrocodone (a prescribed pain reliever - Vicodin is considered Hydrocodone), Hydromorphone (which the body creates when Hydrocodone is broken down in the body) and Xanax. All of the drugs were at a therapeutic level, not a toxic level. Sperry said that the levels they found could have been affected by the decomposition of her body and that they may have been higher levels before she died. She had a blood alcohol level of 0.184, which could be clearly due to the decomposing of her body.
-Daniel Benoit's blood was positive for Xanax. Sperry noted that Xanax was not a drug that would be given to a child under normal circumstances, so their belief is that Daniel was sedated at the time of his murder.
-Chris Benoit's blood was positive for Hydrocodone and Xanax, both at levels within therapeutic range for normal usage of the drugs, not toxic or elevated usage.
-Chris Benoit's urine was tested for the presence of steroids and the "only steroid drug that we found was testosterone, which was measured at the level of 207 micrograms per liter." He said that the level of led them to ascertain that Benoit had been using testosterone "at least in some reasonable period before the time that he died."
-There were no other "steroids or artificial steroid-like drugs that were found in his urine."
-There was no evidence of GHB in Nancy, Chris or Daniel Benoit.
-When asked about the testosterone level, Sperry said that they test urine to see what the levels were. They said the ratio of Testosterone to Epitestosterone was an indicator that he had been using it, "but how much, how often and for how long is something that cannot be answered through this."
-When asked if the drug tests would shed any light on what happened that night in the Benoit home, Sperry said, "No, I would not say that they do. These results give answers as far as drug and medication usage. They do show that Daniel Benoit was sedated at the time he was murdered. beyond that, I don't think they reveal anything at all, other than the fact that Chris Benoit had been using at least testosterone for some period of time."
-Daniel Benoit did not die of a drug overdose of Xanax based on the autopsy findings, which they did not discuss due to the ongoing investigation. There was never any indication that it was an overdose death.
-When asked about how the combination of drugs in Benoit's system may have affected his behavior, Sperry said there was no way to tell that at all. He said that the level of drugs in Chris Benoit's system were at therapeutic level for someone with pain and being prescribed them. Sperry said there are thousands of people walking around with the same levels in their system. Benoit wasn't at a toxic or overdose level.
-In regard to whether testosterone creates mental disorders and outbursts of range, there are "conflicting data" as to whether that can be the case and "I think that's an unanswerable question." He said he was relying on the scientific date, which states that no one really knows.
-Chris Benoit's abnormal range of ratio of Testosterone to Epitestosterone (10 times the normal range) shows Chris Benoit was injecting it but couldn't prove that led to changes in his behavior. When asked why, Sperry said the scientific data when individuals are given these drugs under monitored conditions, the ratio does not translate to something abnormal in that person's thought process or behavior.
-When asked about needle marks found on Daniel Benoit's body and what the needle marks were from, Sperry said that they were not able to find what they were from. He said that they appeared to be needle marks, but they did not have enough urine specimen from Daniel to analyze for HGH or other growth hormones.
-Sperry said there was nothing on Daniel Benoit's body that led Sperry to believe Benoit had been using needles for long periods of time. "I would say at this point and time that will never be known."
-The levels of the drugs in Nancy Benoit's body were therapeutic, not at an extremely elevated or toxic range. Sperry did note that the decomposition of the body could lead to the levels being lower than they were at the time of death. He said that he knew that she had orthopedic surgeries in the past and wouldn't be shocked to see she was taking the drugs for pain and muscle spasms.
-When asked if anything stands out as significant. Sperry said the Xanax in Daniel Benoit's blood was surprising. He said that beyond the testosterone, there was no finding of any other illegal type or anabolic steroids that are out there to be used. He said that the presence of the Testosterone could be an indication Benoit was being treated for testicular insufficiency [Note from Mike: Dr. Phil Astin had claimed shortly after the Benoit family was found that he was treating Benoit with Testosterone replacement therapy].
-When asked about the Fragile X rumors of Daniel Benoit, Sperry said that it was impossible to perform that type of chromosome analysis post-mortem.
-When asked if he was given results of WWE's drug testing of Chris Benoit, Sperry said he hasn't seen the results and only knows about that from what he's seen on the news. He said he has no knowledge of what WWE tested for or what they look for.
-Ballard was asked how the results help the investigation. Ballard said they are trying to decipher what happened in the home and this part of the investigation will help them put a complete picture in focus with other aspects of their investigation.
-When asked about Daniel Benoit being sedated, Ballard said, "I could speculate but I'm not going to."
-Ballard said that the level of cooperation in the investigation (including from WWE) has been good, but noted there has been "help" (obviously said in a sarcastic way) from some with theories and emails that they have gotten that they do look into, but find it hasn't helped the investigation.
-Ballard declined to comment on what direction the investigation would take at this point. He said you want to try and re-create the who, what, why but he suspects many of the answers they may never learn.
-Sperry said that the testing only gives the examiners a "snapshot" of what was in Benoit's body in the period before he died. He said that they found no evidence of any other drugs that would be used for bodybuilding purposes. He said that neither he nor anyone else can tell what Benoit used in the past.
-Sperry said the most common usage of Testosterone injections would be to treat testicular inefficiency and there are thousands of men who use injections for the same reasons.
-When asked about the effect of the drugs on Benoit's mental state, Sperry again pointed out that there is no scientific data that supports those theories.
-Nancy Benoit's blood alcohol level would be legally drunk, although there's no way of saying how that factored into the deaths. It was also noted the alcohol level could have changed with the decomposition of the body.
-Nancy Benoit's body had decomposed much more than Daniel or Chris, so she was murdered first.
2007 - WWE's primary attorney Jerry McDevitt and Dr. David Black, head of Aegis Science, which oversees the WWE Wellness Program appeared on MSNBC to discuss the Chris Benoit toxicology results, being interviewed by Dan Abrams. Highlights of their appearance saw:
- McDevitt said the toxicology essentially removed steroids from the case and points the evidence to what was in the house. He said that Daniel Benoit was sedated before he was murdered. Steroids had nothing to do with this and there were no anabolic steroids found. He said that Benoit took testosterone after his April 2007 WWE drug test.
-Dr. Black said it was reasonable and logical that Benoit took the testosterone after he passed the WWE's most recent test. He noted there were tests before April and Benoit was on testosterone replacement therapy "as a consequence of that." When asked if it was a medical condition that led to Benoit being under the therapy, Black said that they are dealing with a program overseeing WWE talents that have used anabolic steroids in the past, which can lead to problems with the body producing testosterone and Epitestosterone. Black said that Benoit was not producing testosterone naturally, which could lead to "debilitating fatigue" and was on, "appropriate medicine", replacement therapy. Once a talent goes on replacement therapy, the focus is no longer on the body's T:3 ratio, "the focus goes onto the blood compartment." Black said Benoit's physician reported to Black that Benoit was being treated for testosterone replacement therapy and his diagnosis was accepted, as was the use of the replacement therapy.
-Dr. Black said they are in the business of changing behavior for performers and that testosterone replacement therapy was mainstream medicine and accepted practice for what Benoit was dealing with.
-When asked if anyone was "kicked out" of WWE due to the Policy, McDevitt said there would have to be three failures, which there have not been yet. He said there have been discipline imposed for violations of the Wellness Policy, including steroids..
-McDevitt pointed out that Dr. Phil Astin has not been charged with anything in regard to the Benoit situation to date.
-McDevitt said only Astin and Benoit knew what their dealings were and they will come out in time. He said the emphasis on "roid rage" has diverted the focus on the evidence of what happened in the home. He understands that "some people don't like" what science has proven. He pointed out that it was reported by People Magazine that Benoit was keeping a diary in the wake of Eddie Guerrero's passing, but the diary has never found to date. McDevitt said the crime scene was handed over to the family after a day, and no one knows where this diary is and whether Benoit wrote anything in regard to the tragedy that weekend. [a journal is later found in the trash by a neighbor and given to Michael Benoit.]
2009 - TNA broadcast Impact on SpikeTV. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV Report:
We start off tonight’s show with the comments that Jeff Jarrett had for Mick Foley and Mick’s response. We see the footage of the wreckage left after the Main Event Mafia was done.
We are live on tape from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Don ‘True Orlando Wrestling’ West and Mike ‘Remember Victory Road is Sunday’ Tenay.
Mick Foley comes to the ring to start off this week’s show. Mick says that he feels a bit naked without the title belt over his shoulder. He says that nobody wants to see Foley naked so he is going to do his best to get the TNA title back on his shoulder. Foley says that there is so much more at stake because as the TNA Title goes, there goes TNA. Mick says that if Kurt holds on to the title, the company goes one way. Mick says that if he wins the title back, it goes another way. Mick says that he has a few favors for Kurt Angle. He wants Kurt to meet him in the ring one-on-one.
Kurt comes out and Mick appreciates him coming to the ring. Mick says that he was a bit hurt by the comments of the Main Event Mafia after he lost the title. Mick says that he knew that they were playing with his mind. Last week, he got a new signal by being wrapped up in barbed wire. Foley says that when Angle put him in the ankle lock, he did not give up but Eric Young called for the bell. Foley tells Kurt not to take it away from him. He mentions the night in 1991 when he tapped out to Dory Funk Junior. At that time he said that he would never give up again. Foley tells Angle that he can try to beat him on Sunday. Foley says that he will have to be at his best to beat Angle. Foley tells Angle that he will not tap out on Sunday. The second favor is to have no outside interference from the Main Event Mafia or any of Mick Foley’s security. He wants it to be a one-on-one match.
Angle says that he runs with the Mafia because of what they believe in and he says that Foley shares some of their values. Angle says that you have to do what you have to do to survive in the business. Angle says that is why they are angry at the young punks. They are spoon fed and are paid more than they deserve. He talks about how they won’t wrestle if they have a boo boo. Angle reminds Foley that they wrestled hurt. Angle says that it isn’t about money and they are trying to help Foley and Jarrett.
Sting’s music plays and he comes out. Sting asks Kurt if he heard him right that he was doing it for Jarrett and Foley. Sting says that it is a bunch of bull. Sting tells Kurt that the Main Event Mafia stands for deceit. Sting says that a lot will be settled on Sunday. We will find out who will run TNA. Sting says that he has an agenda. He will take Joe and his handler up one side of the Impact Zone and down the other. Sting asks Foley for a big favor tonight. He wants Mick to give him a match against Kurt Angle tonight.
Foley starts to talk, but Angle stops him. Angle tells Sting that Foley says yes. Angle says that there will be one small tweak. The match will be inside the six sides of steel.
We go to commercial.
We see Samoa Joe attacking Red in the back as he throws Red into everything in the back.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Joe with a kick that sends Red down the ramp inside the Impact Zone. Joe with a clothesline to Red and then Joe throws Red into the ring and the match officially starts.
Match Number One: Samoa Joe versus Red
Joe kicks Red in the corner and Joe hits the referee and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Red by disqualification
After the ‘match’, Joe with a muscle buster followed by punches to Red’s head. Security comes to the ring and they have night sticks. Joe decides to leave the ring before hurting anyone else.
We have a Samoa Joe video package.
Lauren is in the interview area with Sarita and she says that she has been looking forward for tonight. She has been wrestling all over the world to get ready. Lauren asks Sarita about Alicia Flash and she is not sure about her opponent. Sarita addresses her fans in Spanish.
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at the issues between Jenna and Sharmell.
Don West is in the interview area with Sharmell and Jenna and their helpers. Don asks Sharmell why she has been the instigator. Sharmell says that she is the only woman in the Main Event Mafia. She says that Jenna has not shown any respect. Sharmell says that if Jenna had apologized, we wouldn’t have this match. Jenna says that she was invited to be with the Main Event Mafia. Don points out that Sharmell has a definite advantage and then Jenna interjects and we are about to have fireworks. Sharmell says that she will have the advantage and she has some words for Jenna. Don asks Jenna why she thinks she can compete with Sharmell. Jenna says that she has Kong. Things have broken down while Kong sits and watches.
Suicide is in a cage as we go to commercial.
We are back with comments from Kurt Angle and we go to Jeremy Borash. Jeremy talks about how they have been around the world together and he says that he thinks he knows what is going on inside Kurt’s head. Jeremy wonders why Kurt would agree to a match with Sting and then tweak it to put the match inside the six sides of steel. Kurt says that he wants to prove to Sting, to TNA, and the entire world that he is the real icon, not Sting. The only way to do that is to get Sting in the cage. Jeremy asks Angle about the match on Sunday. Angle says that Foley was right because the future of TNA relies on Victory Road. Kurt says that they will have to win all of the titles. Kurt says that even Jeremy will be calling him boss.
Match Number One: Chris Sabin with Alex Shelley versus Suicide in a Non-Title Match
They lock up and Suicide with arm drags. Sabin with a chop and Suicide chops back. Suicide with an arm drag and arm bar. Sabin with an arm drag but Suicide holds on to the arm bar. Suicide with another arm drag. Sabin with a knee to the midsection. Shelley grabs Suicide’s leg and Suicide stomps on his hand. Sabin with a back kick and a drop kick. Sabin with a choke in the corner and then he chokes Suicide in the ropes and then he starts to go after the mask. Shelley with a kick to the head when the referee was with Sabin. Sabin with an Irish whip and a flying forearm. Sabin with a snap mare and then he goes to the apron and tries for the springboard clothesline but Suicide moves. Suicide with punches to Sabin and a side Russian leg sweep. Sabin goes to the apron and then Suicide with a slingshot into a TKO for a near fall. Sabin with an enzuigiri but Suicidie with a fireman’s carry slam and then he hits a pescado onto Shelley. Sabin runs into a shoulder. Sabin with a corkscrew neck breaker using the ropes for a near fall. Suicide avoids the Cradle Shock, but he cannot avoid a running boot into the corner. Sabin puts Suicide in the Tree of Woe. Suicide stops Sabin and he runs Sabin into the turnbuckles and then Suicide hits the Suicide Solution for the three count.
Winner: Suicide
After the match, Alex Shelley spits in Suicide’s face and then Shelley works on the leg and then he puts a chair under Suicide’s head and Sabin with a springboard leg drop onto the chair.
Homicide comes to the ring and he hits Sabin and Shelley with the briefcase.
Match Number Two: Homicide versus Suicide for the X Division Title
Homicide with a cover on the prone Suicide but Suicide kicks out. Suicide with punches but he falls to the mat. Homicide with the Gringo Killer for the three count.
Winner: Homicide
We see Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, and Madison Rayne walking in the back and Angelina has a beekeeper suit on. We go to commercial.
We are back and we see the Ultimate Opportunist with his title belt. Lauren congratulates him on winning the title. She asks if the win was a bit questionable. Homicide tells Snowflake that he did not come up with the rules and now he is the champion. Homicide says that he is going to party now.
Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, and Madison Rayne come out to the ring and Angelina has a mic and a beekeeper suit. Velvet has Spider spray and Madison has a broom.
Angelina says that she has filed a formal complaint with PETER, whoever that is against a certain new TNA knockout who was trying to endanger her with a big freaking spider. Angelina tells Tara that she is a big ugly freak show and there is no place for her in TNA. Angelina says that the match last week did not happen and it was a fluke. It was not an official match so Angelina says that she is still the champion. There was no contract signed and it was never official. Angelina says that she will make it official on Sunday.
Tara’s music plays and she comes out with her title match. Tara says that the belt around her waist says that she is the TNA Women’s Champion. Tara says that she will have to confirm it on Sunday night. Tara says that Angelina doesn’t have to worry about Poison because Poison likes dark and warm places. Tara put Poison in Angelina’s beekeeper suit. Angelina freaks out at the thought that the spider in in the suit.
Tara with a kick and then she hits the Widow’s Peak.
We go to commercial.
Match Number Three: Alissa Flash versus Sarita
Flash spits at Sarita and then she punches her in the midsection. Sarita with chops and then she uses the ropes and hits an arm drag. Sarita with a drop kick that sends Flash to the floor and then Sarita with a suicide dive. Flash sends Sarita into the ring post and then hits a forearm to the back. Flash with a slam on the floor. Flash sends Sarita into the guardrail. They return to the ring and Flash with a series of kicks. Flash with a slam and then she gets a near fall. Sarita with punches and forearms but Flash sends Sarita into the turnbuckles and she kicks Sarita in the back of the head. Flash with punches in the corner. Sarita with a cross body for a near fall. Flash with a clothesline and then she grabs Sarita by the hair. Flash with a hip lock take down. Sarita with chops and a kick. Sarita with a cross arm breaker but Flash turns it into a near fall. Flash with a curb stomp for a near fall. Flash with a version of a power bomb for a near fall. Sarita with a forearm and clothesline. Flash with a wheelbarrow suplex that sends Sarita into the ropes but Flash can only get a two count. Sarita with a victory roll for the three count.
Winner: Sarita
After the match, Flash kicks Sarita and then hits a Michinoku Driver.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Lauren is with A.J. Styles. A.J. says that everything that Lauren said was true. He says that he can do nothing about it. He says that it is what it is. A.J. tells the Main Event Mafia that he will take them apart piece by piece if he has to. He tells Nash that he can give a history lesson of what he accomplished. A.J. says that Nash took companies to the next level, but it was for the worst. Others suffered because Nash had to make the money. A.J. says that it is not about the money. At Victory Road, Nash has cashed his last paycheck.
Match Number Four: Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, and Booker T with Jenna and Sharmell versus James Storm, Robert Roode, and A.J. Styles
Styles and Steiner start things off and Steiner works on the arm. Steiner with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Styles with a knee drop to Steiner and then he works on the arm before tagging in Roode. Roode sends Steiner into the turnbuckles. Steiner with an Irish whip but Roode floats over. Roode with a snap mare and a leap frog neck breaker. Booker tags in and Roode with a drop toe hold. Storm tags in and they hit a double suplex and it is time for names to be announced. This allows Booker to tag in Nash. Storm and Roode with punches as they pinball Nash. Styles with a springboard forearm and then all six men are in the ring for a moment. Styles and Nash remain in the ring and Styles punches Nash. Nash with an eye poke and a jackknife power bomb for the three count to eliminate Styles.
Nash with a side slam to Roode for a two count. Steiner tags in and he kicks Roode and chops him. Steiner with a clothesline and the flex elbow drop. Booker tags in and he chops Roode. Booker misses a side kick and Roode punches Booker. Booker with a kick and then he tries for another side kick and he crotches himself. Storm and Steiner come in and Storm with clotheslines. Storm with a facebuster and a neck breaker. Storm takes care of Booker and Nash. Storm with a lungblower and Nash breaks up the cover. Storm chops and punches Nash. Nash sends Storm to the apron. Storm with a kick and Roode with a clothesline. Booker crotches Storm and Roode and Nash fight to the floor. Steiner with a Flatline for the three count to eliminate Storm.
We go to commercial and when we return it will be three on one.
We are back and Roode takes care of all three of his opponents. Booker with a Bookend but he pulls Roode up. Booker with the back heel kick and then he tags in Steiner. Steiner kicks Roode and chops him. Steiner with a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Nash tags in and he connects with knees in the corner. Nash punches Roode and we see the laser beams being exchanged by Sharmell and Jenna on the floor. Nash with a clothesline for a near fall. Roode avoids a jackknife power bomb and the referee misses a low blow and Nash is eliminated.
Steiner chops Roode and then hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Steiner misses the flex elbow and Roode punches Steiner. Nash trips Roode and the referee wonders how Roode fell.
Storm comes to the ring with a steel chair but he is stopped by Matt Morgan. Morgan sends Storm into the guardrail.
Storm with a flying double clothesline and all three men are down. Roode punches Storm and Steiner. Steiner clotheslines Booker and then Roode with a reverse atomic drop on Steiner. Roode with a flying forearm to Booker and a swinging neck breaker to Steiner. Roode with a David Young Spinebuster for a two count. Steiner puts Roode on the turnbuckle and Roode knocks Steiner off and then Roode with a blockbuster to Steiner. Booker with a kick to the midsection but he misses the axe kick. Roode with the Payoff but Sharmell is in referee distraction point number one and he misses the cover. Roode turns into Steiner and Steiner holds Roode up for a jumping side kick for the three count.
Winners: Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner, and Booker T
After the match, the tempers flare between Jenna and Sharmell and we have a brief preview of Sunday’s match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Jeremy Borash is with Team 3D, but first a Twitter plug. Jeremy asks Team 3D about their match against the British Invasion. Devon tells Jeremy that must be how they roll across the pond. If you are going to swim in it, you are going to drown in it. Devon says that he thought they had potential, but they lack two things . . . respect and class. Devon says that Storm and Roode had the same problem until they were taken to school. It will happen on Sunday. Ray says that after twenty-two world titles and a tag team dynasty, they should have expected some respect from the British Invasion. Ray blames them for losing the titles at Slammiversary. They were screwed a second time by them in the number one contender match. Ray says that they have one thing on their minds and that is revenge.
The British Invasion come out and security separates them. Magnus says that they have signed the contract. The IWGP titles are on the line and Big Rob poses. Ray and Devon are ready to fight now.
It is time to run through the card for Victory Road.
Lauren is with Abyss in the back and he says that he is so sorry for everything that happened. He says that he will never let anyone harm her again. Abyss points out that Stevie tazed him, took his best girl, and then drugged him. Abyss says that he is not an animal. He is a pissed off 350 plus pound monster. He was taught to control his lust for pain and suffering and carnage. Abyss tells Stevie that he has failed. Abyss pulls out some thumbtacks and he says that he likes pain, suffering, carnage, and inflicting damage as he puts thumbtacks in his arm. Abyss says that he does not need Dr. Stevie anymore. He says that he has a prescription for Dr. Stevie for Sunday. There will be one more session on Sunday but this one is on him.
Jeff Jarrett is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
Jeff Jarrett comes to the announce table with his founder’s guitar to sit in the founder’s chair with Don and Mike. Don asks Jeff about his hidden hamstring injury and Jeff does everything not to attack or fire Don.
Match Number Five: Kurt Angle versus Sting in the Six Sides of Steel
They lock up and Sting with a side head lock. Sting with a shoulder tackle and Angle has a smile on his face. They lock up again and Sting with a waist lock but Angle with a standing switch. Sting and Angle with a series of standing switches and then Sting with a front face lock but Angle escapes and applies a hammer lock. Sting with punches and chops in the corner but Angle with a kick. Angle charges into a boot and then Sting with a suplex for a near fall. Angle with a rake of the eyes and then he sends Sting into the cage and we go to commercial.
We are back and Angle sends Sting into the cage one more time. Angle and Sting exchange punches and then Sting with clotheslines. Angle with a kick but Sting hot shots Angle into the cage for a two count. Sting hits the Stinger Splash but Angle avoids the Scorpion Death Drop. Angle with shoulders in the corner and then Angle charges but Sting moves. Sting sends Angle into the cage and then hits a clothesline for a near fall. Angle hits a German suplex and the straps are down. Angle tries for the Olympic Slam but Sting with an arm drag. Sting applies the Scorpion Death Lock.
From out of nowhere, Samoa Joe attacks Jeff Jarrett at the announce table and then Joe attacks the referee on the floor to get the key to the lock for the cage. Joe has the lock reapplied and Sting attacks Joe. Sting puts Joe in the Scorpion Death Lock. The lights go out and we see a graphic that says FTW and the number 13. Joe has Sting in a choke that looks a lot like a former ECW Champion’s finisher. Jarrett and Foley try to get into the cage but they are stopped by Angle with a night stick. Nash, Booker, and Steiner attack Foley and Jarrett on the floor as we go to credits.
2009 - WWE broadcast Superstars. Richard Trionfo filed the following report:
Match Number One: Cryme Tyme with Eve Torres versus Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith with Natalya
Smith and Shad start things off and they lock up and Shad has a brief advantage and he backs Smith into the corner and he has a clean break but Smith with a punch. Shad with a forearm and then they both exchange forearms. Smith with an Irish whip but Shad with a clothesline and a back elbow. Smith goes to the abdomen. Shad tries for the STO but Smith blocks it. Shad with a thrust kick and Kidd makes a blind tag but Shad hits a pounce on Smith. Shad then presses Kidd over his head and he drops Kidd to the mat. Shad clotheslines Kidd over the top rope to the floor and the Hart Dynasty regroups on the floor as we go to commercial.
We are back and Shad with a knee to Kidd. Shad has Kidd up for a slam but Kidd escapes the hold and Kidd clips Shad. Smith tags in and he starts to work on the injured leg. Smith with a step over toe hold and he drops down to the mat to work on the knee. Smith with a bridge when he reapplies the hold. Smith with cross faces to Shad and then he brings Shad into their corner to tag in Kidd who kicks Shad in the leg. Kidd wraps the leg in the ropes and then he hits a drop kick into the knee. Kidd returns to the knee. Smith tags in and he kicks Shad in the head as he tries for the tag. Smith turns his attention to the back and then he returns back to the leg. Shad tries to get free from the clutches of Smith but Smith holds on. Shad with an inside cradle but Smith is able to immobilize Shad. Kidd tags in and Shad has to hear from Natalya. Kidd with a spinning toe hold but Shad shoots Kidd through the ropes to the floor. Shad is able to tag in JTG and he hits a shoulder from the apron and he rolls Kidd back into the ring. JTG with a flying shoulder and then he does a drop kick and hits a float around clothesline but Smith makes the save.
All four men are in the ring and then Natalya tries to get in but Eve pulls her from the apron. JTG with a Japanes choke into a back breaker for the three count.
Winners: Cryme Tyme
We see Rey Mysterio walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and did you know that John Cena does a lot of work for the Make-A-Wish Foundation?
Rey Mysterio comes to the ring and he starts off by speaking in Spanish. He reminds everyone about what happened last week on Smackdown when he defeated Chris Jericho to retain the Intercontinental Title. Rey returns to the Spanish for the Miami crowd. He says that beating Chris Jericho felt great, but his celebration was cut short because of Dolph Ziggler and we go to the footage of the attack.
Rey says that he does not get it. Instead of making the challenge to his face like a man, Dolph had to jump him like a coward. Rey’s comments are interrupted by Dolph’s music and he comes out onto the stage. Dolph starts off by reminding everyone what his name is. After what he did to Rey last week, he says that it is a name that Rey and the fans will never forget. Rey asks Dolph if he wants to come out and make an impact and a name for himself. Dolph says that he did that. Rey wants to give Dolph the 411 that it won’t be at his expect. Rey says that Dolph isn’t the first person to dye their hair blonde, do a few sit ups. Rey says that he has been a performer, entertainer, and competitor his entire life. Rey says that he has beaten better. Dolph asks Rey if he thinks that Rey can beat him. Rey suggests that Dolph come into the ring right now and find out. Dolph says that when and if he fights Rey, it will be on his terms. Dolph says that if Rey thinks he has a chance against him, why doesn’t Rey put up his title at Night of Champions. Rey looks at the belt and he thinks about it for a minute and then he tells Dolph that he agrees with the people who say that Dolph sucks. Rey says that if it means that he gets to show everyone that Dolph is not on his level, Dolph has a title match. Rey tells Dolph that since he is so big on introductions, Rey says that he would love nothing better than to introduce Dolph to the 619. Rey tells Dolph to come to the ring.
Dolph walks to the ring and Rey is ready for a fight. Dolph gets to the ring steps and then he decides that it isn’t time. Rey hides behind a cameraman and Rey chases Dolph into the ring. Dolph is able to escape to the back and we go to commercial.
It is now time to go extreme for our next match.
We see footage from the match between Katie Lea Burchill and the Bellas.
Match Number Two: Katie Lea Burchill versus Brie Bella with Nikki Bella
Brie with a rollup for a near fall. Katie with a kick and forearm but Brie with a kick of her own. Brie with a flying mare but then she misses a running boot into the corner. Brie with a monkey flip and forearms. Katie with a back breaker for a near fall. Katie kicks Brie and then she sends Brie into the turnbuckles and snap mares Brie followed by a drop kick to the back for a near fall. Katie with an arm bar but Brie with forearms and clothesline. Brie continues the attack with drop kicks and then she gets kicked out of the ring. Nikki decides to lie down next to her sister and the referee and Katie are confused. They both get into the ring and the referee accidentally sends Brie to the floor. Nikki with a rollup for the three count.
Winners: The Bellas
We go to commercial.
We are back with an R Truth video package.
It is time for the vintage portion of Superstars and we go to Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.
Who wants a Raw Rebound?
Match Number Three: Kofi Kingston versus Big Show
Kofi avoids a punch and he kicks Show in the leg. Show with a kick to a charging Kingston and Show follows that with a forearm to the back. Show kicks Kofi and then he chops the champion. Show with a head butt but Kofi with punches. Show responds with a vicious clothesline to Kofi. Show head butts Kofi out of the ring. Show pulls Kofi to the apron and then he connects with a chop that brings Kofi back into the ring. Show with a slam. Kofi with kicks to Show and a forearm. Show with a side slam for a near fall. Show with an Irish whip but Show takes too long charging into the corner and Kofi with a kick and then he hits a drop kick that sends Show into the corner. Kofi leaps onto the turnbuckles but Show with a reverse power bomb. Kofi with a drop kick to the knee and head. Kofi sets for the boop boop leg drop. Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise but it was blocked by Show and Show with a choke slam for the three count.
Winner: Big Show
Continued ...
