This Day in History - 22nd Jul, 2016
On this day in history in ....
1923 - The Fabulous Moolah is born in Columbia, South Carolina.
1937 - Hiro Matsuda is born in Yokohama, Japan.
1943 - Earl McCready wins his third Toronto British Empire Heavyweight Title in Toronto, Ontario, by ending Whipper Billy Watson's fourth reign.
1947 - Herb Welch defeats Tex Riley for the Tennessee World Junior Heavyweight Title in Nashville, Tennessee, to begin his seventh reign.
1958 - David Von Erich is born in Dallas, Texas.
1958 - Corsica Jean defeats Ray Stevens for the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Nashville, Tennessee, ending Stevens' second reign.
1960 - Danny Hodge wins the first of eight NWA World Junior Heavyweight Titles, ending Angelo Savoldi's fourth reign in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
1960 - Don Leo Jonathan defeats Torbellino Blanco for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title in Houston, Texas, ending Blanco's third reign and beginning Jonathan's second.
1960 - Dick Steinborn defeats The Mighty Yankee to win the vacant Georgia NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning his fourth reign.
1961 - Don Greene defeats Len Rossi to win the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1963 - Ron Etchison and Dan Miller defeat Mitsu Arakawa and Kinji Shibuya for either the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia, or the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta. The title change is listed in both histories.
1963 - Gene Kiniski defeats Whipper Billy Watson in Vancouver, British Columbia for the Vancouver British Empire Heavyweight Title, beginning Kiniski's second reign and ending Watson's third.
1964 - The Destroyer defeats Dick the Bruiser to win the WWA World Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, California, to begin his second reign.
1965 - Shawn Michaels is born in Chandler, Arizona.
1966 - Shaun Simpson is born in Johannesburg, South Africa.
1967 - The Japan Wrestling Association held an event at Kawasaki Stadium in Kawasaki, Japan. The results:
- Mitsu Hirai defeated Raizo Kojika.
- Michiaki Yoshimuta defeated George Drake.
- Antonio Pugliese defeated Umanosuke Ueda.
- Kintaro Oki fought to a no-contest Tank Morgan in a best-of-three falls match. Each man won a fall before both being counted out in the third.
- JWA All Asia and NWA International Tag Team Champions - NWA International Heavyweight Champion Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki defeated Art Mahilik and Jesse Ortega in a best-of-three falls match, 2-1, to retain the JWA title.
1967 - Johnny Kostas defeats Moondog Mayne to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title.
1968 - Paddy Barrett and Don Leo Jonathan defeat Abdullah the Butcher and Armand Hussein for the Vancouver NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.
1969 - Jack Brisco and Ciclón Negro defeat Hiro Matsuda and The Missouri Mauler for the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Tampa, Florida.
1972 - Tommy Gilbert and Sputnik Monroe defeat Don and Ron Wright to win the NWA Tennessee Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This began Gilbert and Monroe's second reign and ended the Wrights' fifth.
1972 - Opearl Anston and Masked Lee defeat Miyoko Hoshino and Jumbo Miyamoto to win the WWWA World Tag Team Title in Irima, Japan, ending Hoshino and Miyamoto's third reign.
1974 - Tex McKenzie and Ken Patera defeat The Blackjacks (Lanza and Mulligan) for the NWA American Tag Team Title in Fort Worth, Texas.
1975 - Mr. Wrestlings I and II defeat Don Green and Jerry Lawler to win the NWA Macon Tag Team Title in Macon, Georgia.
1976 - Abdullah Kobayashi is born in Nagano, Japan.
1976 - Larry Lane wins a tournament to win the vacant Amarillo NWA International Heavyweight Title in Amarillo, Texas.
1977 - Keith Franks (Adrian Adonis) and Roddy Piper defeat Mando Guerrero and Tom Jones for the NWA Americas Tag Team Title.
1977 - Mr. Wrestling II ends Dick Slater's third NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title reign in Atlanta, Georgia.
1978 - The Valiant Brothers (Jimmy and Johnny) defeat Dominic DeNucci and Wilbur Snyder for the WWA World Tag Team Title in Indianapolis, Indiana, beginning the Valiants' fourth reign.
1978 - Jean and Pierre Martel defeat Carlos Colón and Chief Thundercloud to win the WWC North American Tag Team Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico. At the same event, Gorilla Monsoon wins his second WWC North American Heavyweight Title by defeating Bruno Sammartino.
1978 - Dutch Mantel defeats Whipper Watson, Jr. for the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to begin his third reign.
1979 - Mark Lewin defeats Bruiser Brody in Dallas, Texas to win the NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title. This began Lewin's third reign and ended Brody's second reign.
1981 - Kenny King is born in Orlando, Florida.
1981 - Bob Roop defeats The Super Destroyer for the Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Title in Shreveport, Louisiana. At the same event, Butch Reed wins the Mid-South Television Title from Dutch Mantel.
1985 - Akira Tozawa is born in Kobe, Japan.
1985 - Phil Hickerson defeats Terry Taylor to win the CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Taylor's second reign and beginning Hickerson's second.
1986 - The Masked Superstar defeats Lex Luger for the Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Tampa, Florida, ending Luger's second reign.
1987 - Rumi Kazama defeats Esther Moreno to become the first JWP Junior Champion in Tokyo, Japan.
1988 - Scott Armstrong defeats Nelson Royal in Knoxville, Tennessee on a USA Wrestling card to win the World Junior Heavyweight Title. This was a branch of the title created in the promotion.
1988 - The Cuban Commandos (Cuban Assassin and Jerry Morrow) defeat Bad Company (Bruce Hart and Brian Pillman) for the Stampede International Tag Team Title in Calgary, Alberta, ending Bad Company's second reign.
1989 - Jumbo Tsuruta and Yoshiaki Yatsu defeats Stan Hansen and Genichiro Tenryu to win the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Title in Ishikawa, Japan, beginning Tsuruta and Yatsu's fifth reign.
1990 - Dr. Wagner, Jr. defeats Astro de Oro in Naucalpan, Mexico to win his second UWA World Junior Heavyweight Title.
1992 - La Tigresa is awarded the vacant WWC World Women's Title in Corozal, Puerto Rico, when her scheduled opponent, Sasha, no-showed.
1994 - After 16 hours of deliberation, a jury finds WWF owner Vince McMahon not guilty of conspiracy to distribute steroids to wrestlers.
1995 - The Love Brothers (Chad and Eric) defeat Frankie DeFalco and State Trooper for the Mid American Wrestling Tag Team Title in West Allis, Wisconsin. DeFalco wouldn't be without gold for long, because in the main event of the show, he won a Battle Royal for the vacant MAW Heavyweight Title. The title was vacated after Jawbreaker Jones was injured in a motorcycle accident.
1996 - In this week of the Monday Night War, "WCW Monday Nitro" won over "WWF Monday Night RAW", 2.6 to 2.2 in the ratings.
"WWF Monday Night RAW" was live from the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. The results:
- Mankind defeated Freddie Joe Floyd.
- Goldust defeated Barry Horowitz.
- Marc Mero (with Sable) defeated The Goon.
- WWF Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson and WWF Champion Shawn Michaels defeated WWF Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns (Bart and Billy (with Sunny)) by disqualification. The Gunns retained the title. The Gunns were disqualified because a newcomer in a blue gladiator suit attacked Ahmed Johnson from behind, causing him a legit ruptured kidney. This newcomer was Faarooq Asaad.
"WCW Monday Nitro" was live from the Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida. The results were:
- Squire David Taylor defeated Scott Norton by disqualification.
- Konnan defeated VK Wallstreet.
- Joe Gomez, Jim Powers and Alex Wright defeated The Barbarian, The Leprechaun (Buddy Lee Parker), Hugh Morrus and Kevin Sullivan.
- Diamond Dallas Page defeated Prince Iaukea.
- Dean Malenko defeated Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
- Meng defeated Ice Train by disqualification.
- Eddie Guerrero defeated Psychosis.
- WCW World Television Champion Lex Luger, Randy Savage and Sting defeated Arn Anderson, Chris Benoit and Steve McMichael.
1997 - Fritz Von Erich suffers a mild stroke. Upon further examination, doctors discover that he has lung cancer which was spreading to his brain and adrenal glands.
1998 - The Haas Brothers (Charlie & Russ) defeat The Nation of Immigration (Homicide & Kane D) and The Skinhead Express (Flash Wheeler & Lord Zieg) in a three-way match to win the vacant JAPW Tag Team Title in North Bergen, New Jersey.
1999 - WCW held a live "Thunder" at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois, which got a 2.6 rating on TBS. The results:
- Van Hammer defeated Kaz Hayashi.
- Miss Madness (with Gorgeous George) defeated Brandi Alexander.
- Curt Hennig (with Bobby Duncum, Jr. and Barry and Kendall Windham) defeated Chase Tatum (with BA and Swoll).
- Eddie Guerrero and WCW Cruiserweight Champion Rey Misterio, Jr. defeated Juventud Guerrera and Psychosis.
- WCW World Television Champion Rick Steiner defeated Sick Boy to retain the title.
- Sid Vicious defeated Lenny Lane and Lodi in a Handicap match.
- Ric Flair (with Asya) defeated Dean Malenko.
1999 - Chris Candido defeats champion Ace Darling and 2 Cold Scorpio in three-way match in Wildwood, New Jersey to win the Independent Superstars of Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title.
1999 - Dan Denton and Spyder defeats Toxic Insanity (Biohazard and Juggernaut) for the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
2000 - Rockford 2000 defeats Tony Kozina to win the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Surrey, British Columbia. At the same event, Juggernaut wins his fourth ECCW Heavyweight Title by defeating Leatherface for the vacant title.
2000 - Kenichiro Arai defeats Judo Suwa for the NWA World Welterweight Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2000 - Two titles change hands at CZW's "No Rules, No Limits" in Sewell, New Jersey. Lobo wins the CZW Heavyweight Title from Zandig, ending Zandig's second reign, and Nick Gage defeats The Wifebeater in a Fans Bring the Weapons match for the CZW Iron Man Title, ending Wifebeater's second reign. Wifebeater had won the title earlier in the show from Mad Man Pondo.
2001 - The WWF held its "Invasion" pay-per-view at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The show got a 1.43 buyrate, the company's highest since WrestleMania X-Seven, and highest non-WrestleMania buyrate since SummerSlam got a 1.71 in 1999. "Invasion" was the first pay-per-view to feature the infamous Invasion storyline, featuring wrestlers from the WWF taking on a combined force of wrestlers from WCW and ECW, later known as The Alliance. The results were:
- In a match airing on Sunday Night Heat, Chavo Guerrero, Jr. pinned Scotty 2 Hotty after a brainbuster.
- Edge and Christian defeated Mike Awesome and Lance Storm , when Edge pinned Awesome after a spear from Christian.
- Earl Hebner (with the WWF referees) pinned Nick Patrick (with the WCW referees) after a shoulder block. Mick Foley was the guest referee, and put the mandible claw on Patrick after the match, after he complained to Foley about his officiating.
- WWF Tag Team Champions The A.P.A. (Bradshaw and Faarooq) defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo, when Bradshaw pinned Palumbo after the Clothesline From Hell.
- WCW Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion X-Pac after a shooting star press.
- Raven pinned WWF Commissioner William Regal after a Tazz interfered and gave Regal a T-Bone suplex, and Raven hit the Raven Effect.
- Chris Kanyon, Hugh Morrus and Shawn Stasiak defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Albert, The Big Show and Billy Gunn, when Morrus pinned Gunn after a reverse DDT from Stasiak.
- Tajiri pinned Tazz after the Buzzsaw Kick.
- Rob Van Dam pinned WWF Hardcore Champion Jeff Hardy, after a Five-Star Frog Splash with the title belt on top of Hardy, to win the title.
- Lita and Trish Stratus defeated Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson in a Bra and Panties match. Mick Foley was the guest referee.
- Team WCW/ECW (WCW United States and World Heavyweight Champion Booker T, The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von), Diamond Dallas Page and Rhyno) (with Paul Heyman, WCW owner Shane McMahon and ECW owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley)) defeated Team WWF (Kurt Angle, WWF Champion Steve Austin, Chris Jericho, Kane and The Undertaker (with WWF Chairman Vince McMahon)), when Booker pinned Angle after Austin gave Angle the Stone Cold Stunner, turning on the WWF and siding with WCW/ECW.
- The final "score" of the event was WCW/ECW winning with six victories to the WWF's five.
2001 - Hiroyo Muto and Sumie Sakai defeat The Bloody and Fang Suzuki for the JDStar TWF World Women's Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.
2002 - WWE held a live "RAW" at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which got a 4.3 rating on TNN. The results:
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam defeated WWE European Champion Jeff Hardy in a Ladder match to unify the titles, ending the European Title's five-year run. RVD climbed and grabbed the Intercontinental Title belt after knocking Jeff off of one ladder and hitting the Five Star Frog Splash off another.
- WWE Women's Champion Molly Holly and William Regal defeated Bubba Ray Dudley and Trish Stratus, when Regal made Trish submit with the Regal Stretch.
- Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) pinned Tommy Dreamer in a Singapore Cane match after the F5.
- D'Lo Brown and Shawn Stasiak fought to a no-contest. Eric Bischoff had stopped the match after three minutes, because he felt they weren't entertaining enough. Brown and Stasiak were taken out by two debuting big men who would become known as Jamal and Rosey, 3-Minute Warning.
- Chris Benoit defeated Booker T by submission with the Crippler Crossface to become #1 contender to the WWE Intercontinental Title, earning a match with Rob Van Dam the following week.
- The Big Show pinned Spike Dudley after a chokeslam.
- WWE Undisputed Champion The Rock pinned Eddie Guerrero after the People's Elbow. After the match, Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman came to the ring, with Brock having a staredown with Rock. Heyman told everyone that he and Brock had officially signed with SmackDown!.
2004 - The Night Prowlers (Mad Dog and Pitbull) defeat Iron Cross and Jimmy Valiant in Grundy, Virginia to become the first NWA Blue Ridge Tag Team Champions.
2005 - Atlantis defeats Dr. Wagner, Jr. for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
2005 - Bobby Roode defeats A-1 to win the Border City Wrestling Can-Am Heavyweight Title at "Wrestlefest" in Oldcastle, Ontario. At the same show, Phil Atlas and Jimmy Jacobs defeat Danny Daniels and N8 Mattson for the BCW Can-Am Tag Team Title.
2005 - Lionel Knight defeats his brother Mickey Knight in a Street Fight for the vacant UWA Light Heavyweight Title at "A Call for Blood" in Mississauga, Ontario. Josh Prohibition had refused to defend the title.
2005 - Damian and Pierre Vachon defeat The Big Islanders (Kahoku and Makua) and champions The Rough Ryders (Nyxx and Devin Raines) in a three-way match to win the NWA New England Tag Team Title in Everett, Massachusetts. At the same show, Adam Booker defeats Beau Douglas in a tournament final for the vacant NWA New England Television Title.
2006 - Eddie Kingston defeats Larry Sweeney at CHIKARA's "The Crushing Weight of Mainstream Ignorance" in Hellertown, Pennsylvania to win the ICW/ICWA Texarkana Television Title, ending Sweeney's 19th reign.
2006 - N8 Mattson defeats Colt Cabana for the WORLD-1 Great Lakes Openweight title in Bay City, Michigan at "Hostile Invasion".
2006 - Ian Rotten defeats Corporal Robinson to become the first Pro Wrestling Unplugged Hardcore Champion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at "East Meets West: Global Warming".
2006 - Bobby Sanford defeats Heath Miller by forfeit in Columbus, Georgia to win the Great Championship Wrestling Columbus Heavyweight Title.
2006 - Steve O defeats J.T. Quest to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight title in Columbia, Tennessee, ending Quest's second reign.
2006 - Jeff Lewis defeats Chad Parham for the NWA Anarchy Heavyweight Title at "Hostile Environment" in Cornelia, Georgia.
2006 - The Wild Boys (Billy King & Mike Lynch) defeat 2D Edge (Pat Masters & José Perez) and Scott Reed & TJ Richter in a three-way match for the vacant New England Championship Wrestling Tag Team Title in Quincy, Massachusetts.
2006 - Josh Daniels defeats Qenaan Creed, Eddie Edwards and Danny Jaxx in a four-way match to win the vacant Maryland Championship Wrestling Rage Telvision Title at "Red, White, Black & Bruised" in Laurel, Maryland.
2007 - WWE held its fourth-annual "Great American Bash" pay-per-view at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The show got a 0.58 buyrate, and 13,851 fans attended. The results were:
- In a dark match, Chuck Palumbo pinned Chris Masters.
- WWE United States Champion MVP pinned Matt Hardy after the Playmaker to retain the title.
- Hornswoggle defeated Funaki, WWE Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero, Shannon Moore, Jamie Noble and Jimmy Wang Yang in a Cruiserweight Open to win the title. Hornswoggle was not an originally scheduled participant, but was in the ring when the bell rang. The match was open to cruiserweights, so this made him officially part of the match.
- Carlito pinned The Sandman after a Back Stabber in a Singapore Cane on a Pole match.
- WWE Women's Champion Candice Michelle pinned Melina after a Candy Wrapper to retain the title.
- WWE Intercontinental Champion Umaga pinned Jeff Hardy after a Samoan Spike to retain the title.
- ECW World Champion John Morrison pinned CM Punk after a kick to the knee as Punk attempted a springboard into the ring to retain the title.
- Randy Orton pinned Dusty Rhodes in a Texas Bullrope match after hitting him in the head with the cowbell on the rope.
- World Heavyweight Champion The Great Khali defeated Kane and Batista in a Triple Threat match to retain the title, by pinning Kane after a tree slam following a Batista Bomb from Batista.
- WWE Champion John Cena pinned Bobby Lashley after an FU from the second rope to retain the title.
2007 - Naruki Doi, Magnitude Kishiwada and Masato Yoshino defeat Cyber Kong, Jack Evans and Shingo Tagaki to win the vacant Open the Triangle Gate Title in Kobe, Japan.
2007 - Darkside defeats champion Drew Galloway, Jack Jester, Liam Thompson and Wolfgang in a five-way match for the Insane Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Title at "ReZerection" in Glasgow, Scotland.
2007 - Dan James defeats Dan Head in Portsmouth, England to win the Frontier Wrestling Alliance Academy Title.
2007 - Justin Corino and Frank Scoleri defeat Kevin Knight and Nick Sabre for the Independent Wrestling Federation Tag Team Title in West Paterson, New Jersey.
2008 - WWE broadcast ECW on Sci Fi. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:
Sunday night, Mark Henry successfully defended his ECW Title against Tommy Dreamer thanks to outside interference, but it was not from Tony Atlas. Colin Delaney was the man to cost Dreamer the title. How will Dreamer respond in the ‘Home of ECW’? Which man will be the one to challenge Mark Henry for the title at SummerSlam? Will Armando Estrada wrestle anyone tonight? Will we see any surprises tonight?
We are live on tape from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and your announcers are ‘THE’ Tazz and Mike ‘Is there a link between ECW and Philadelphia’ Adamle.
Teddy Long is in the ring and we see the new ECW title belt. Teddy says that in honor of his first title defense, he has a new title belt for Mark Henry. Mark comes to the ring with Tony Atlas. Mark kisses the belt and he holds it proudly over his head. Tony says that they are so happy to receive the title belt where ECW began. Tonight is where it is going to begin again. Tony says that it is a title with prestige with credibility and it is a title that everyone can be proud of because it is being held by the World’s Strongest Champion, Mark Henry. For everyone who tries to hold on to yesteryear, you are going to get squashed and pushed under the rug like Tommy Dreamer. Those who realize it is a new day, you be rewarded. That includes Mark Henry and Colin Delaney.
Colin comes to the ring. Colin says that for the past two days, everyone has been asking him why he would do it and turn his back on his mentor, Tommy Dreamer. Tommy was his friend and mentor, but what did he get for it? He got his butt kicked night in and night out. He achieved his dream of being a WWE Superstar and he became a laughingstock. He saw a legend in the ring and a Hall of Famer in the corner of Mark Henry. Then he saw Tommy Dreamer, a washed up loser. Tommy cannot do anything for himself or for Colin. Tommy Dreamer is the past and Tony Atlas and Mark Henry is where it is at. Colin says that everyone would have done that. Colin says that he is on board. He says that he will carry their bags.
Teddy Long interrupts Colin. Teddy says that Tommy Dreamer is not the past, but he is the future and Colin will be wrestling Tommy tonight. Teddy points out that this is Philly and this is Extreme. Teddy wants a referee because the match starts now.
Match Number One: Colin Delaney versus Tommy Dreamer
Colin tries to get out of the ring, but Dreamer pulls him back in and runs Delaney into the corner. Dreamer with a biel to Delaney. Colin goes outside on an Irish whip and Delaney walks into Dreamer and Tommy sends him back into the ring. Delaney with kicks to Dreamer followed by punches and an elbow drop. Dreamer with a punch and a series of clotheslines. Dreamer puts Delaney in the Tree of Woe and it is time for punches followed by a baseball slide drop kick. Dreamer tries for a pump handle suplex and he hits it. Delaney begs for mercy and Dreamer helps him up. Dreamer does not tell Delaney that he is sorry or that he loves him as he hits a DDT for the three count.
Winner: Tommy Dreamer
Miz and John Morrison are in the locker room and he says that Sunday will be known as Black Sunday because nobody beat them for the tag titles. Miz talks about the four way match tonight. Morrison says that he thinks that Miz will win the match tonight. Miz tells Morrison not to sell himself short. Miz wishes Morrison luck tonight. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for a video package about WWE’s work with Generation Rescue at Saturday Night’s Main Event with Jenny McCarthy.
Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely are at the announce table to watch the next match.
We see footage from Evan Bourne’s victory over Chavo Guerrero last week. Chavo says that a lot was going on last week and he says that he took Evan lightly.
Match Number Three: Evan Bourne versus James Curtis
They lock up and Bourne with a hammer lock but Curtis with a waist lock. Bourne with an arm drag take down. Bourne with a rollup into an arm bar submission, but Curtis gets to the ropes. Curtis sends Bourne into the turnbuckles and connects with an elbow. Curtis with a snap mare but Bourne lands on his feet and he hits a drop kick followed by a rana for a near fall. Bourne with an arm bar but Curtis sends Bourne into the turnbuckle. Bourne with kicks to the head followed by an attempted monkey flip but Curtis holds on to the ropes. Curtis with boots to Bourne. Curtis with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall and then he works on the neck and back. Curtis with a reverse chin lock. Curtis with a forearm to the back and then he tries for another belly-to-back but Bourne lands on his feet and he connects with a series of kicks including a jumping back kick but Curtis kicks out. Bourne with a rana to Curtis followed by a drop kick. Bourne goes up top for the Shooting Star Press and he hits it for the three count.
Winner: Evan Bourne
After the match, Neely and Chavo try to surround Bourne, but Bourne gets out of the ring.
Finlay and Hornswoggle are in the back and Finlay talks about he is one match closer to the ECW Title. Finlay says who needs luck when you have a shillelagh. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Raw Rebound.
Tiffany is talking to Ricky Ortiz in the office and she talks about her background. Ricky says that he used to party in New Orleans with John Elway. Ricky says that he has been working on some catch phrases and t-shirt ideas. He suggests the ‘Latin Assassin’. Teddy suggests that Ricky should ask for an action figure after more than one match and three weeks. Next week, Ricky will be in action to see if he can make it two for two. Tiffany asks Teddy if his hair really looked like Ricky’s.
Time for a Mike Knox video package.
Matt Hardy is in the back and he says that he has a great opportunity tonight because he can face Mark Henry for the ECW Title. Matt says that he is a little down because he lost the US Title on Sunday. Matt says that he is going to take the opportunity and he is going to go to SummerSlam. We are going to commercial.
Match Number Four: John Morrison versus The Miz versus Fit Finlay versus Matt Hardy in a Fatal Four Way to determine the Number One Contender at SummerSlam
All four men start off in the ring and Miz tries to get a quick rollup on Morrison but it breaks down. Finlay battles with Miz while Hardy deals with Morrison. Hardy sends Miz over the top rope to the floor and Finlay clotheslines Morrison over the top to the floor.
Hardy and Finlay lock up and Finlay backs Hardy into the corner and Hardy has some words for Finlay and then he pushes Finlay. Finlay with a short arm clothesline. Hardy tries to float over, but Finlay catches him. Hardy punches Finlay from the apron but Morrison pulls Hardy off the apron. Miz kicks Finlay while Morrison kicks Hardy. Miz with elbows and kicks to Finlay. Morrison with a European uppercut to Hardy. Hardy with a clothesline. Finlay with a short arm clothesline to Miz. Hardy punches Morrison and slams him. Finlay with an elbow drop to Miz and Hardy with an elbow to the back of Morrison’s head for a two count. Morrison punches Hardy but Hardy punches back. Hardy with a back slide on Morrison for a two count. We go to commercial.
We are back and the match continues with Miz connecting with a back elbow for a near fall while Morrison chokes Finlay in the corner followed by a neck breaker. Morrison and Finlay try for covers but cannot pin the other. Finlay with a boot to the midsection and then he punches Miz. Finlay with a reverse atomic drop and punch to Miz. Hardy sends Morrison into the turnbuckles and hits a flying clothesline for a near fall. Finlay with a rollup on Miz for a near fall. Miz and Morrison break up an inside cradle on Finlay by Hardy. Miz punches Hardy while Finlay has Morrison in a Fujiwara arm bar. Hardy covers Miz but the referee is out of position. Finlay sends Morrison into the ring post. Hardy and Miz each hit clotheslines and both are down. Finlay covers Hardy for a near fall followed by one on Miz. Morrison sends Finlay outside the ring and he tries for a baseball slide but he stops before Finlay can use the ring apron. Morrison with a baseball slide and then he goes after Hornswoggle, but Finlay attacks Morrison and clotheslines him into the crowd. Morrison throws a drink in Finlay’s face and Miz joins in. Morrison wants Miz to catapult Finlay to him and Morrison with a forearm and then he hits an elbow drop while Miz has Finlay on his knees.
Miz and Morrison set their sights on Hardy but Hardy fights both of them until they double team him. Miz and Morrison choke Hardy in the corner. Miz and Morrison with a double gut buster on Hardy. Miz with a snap suplex to Hardy and Morrison applauds the effort. Morrison with an inside cradle while he tells Miz to watch for Finlay. Miz and Morrison argue. And Hardy pushes Morrison into Miz and Hardy gets a two count with a rollup. Miz with a clothesline to Hardy. Hardy with an elbow to Morrison and he avoids a Miz clothesline into the corner. Miz holds Hardy and Morrison with a springboard round kick that accidentally hits Miz. Hardy with the Twist of Fate to Morrison for a two count. Finlay with a Fireman’s carry slam for a two count. Finlay slaps Morrison and then he hits some shoulders in the corner. Finlay with clotheslines to Miz and Morrison. Morrison charges into a boot from Finlay and Finlay with a missile drop kick for a two count. Hardy with a clothesline and bulldog to Miz while hitting a clothesline on Morrison. Finlay with a seated splash to Hardy for a two count followed by a seated splash to Morrison. Miz drops Hardy on the top rope but Morrison with a Shining Wizard. Hardy throws Morrison out of the ring and he covers Finlay but Miz breaks up the cover. Miz hits the clothesline into the corner but Hornswoggle gets on the apron and that allows Finlay to hit Miz with the shillelagh. Morrison kicks Finlay and Hardy stops Morrison on a springboard attempt and hits the Twist of Fate for the three count.
Winner: Matt Hardy
Mark Henry and Tony Atlas come out to make their presence known as we go to credits.
2009 - Roddy Piper was criminally charged with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence and one count of driving without a valid license based on his 7/2 DUI arrest in Hollywood, California. Piper could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
2010 - TNA broadcast Impact on SpikeTV, which featured the announcement of an ECW-themed Hardcore Justice PPV event. Richard Trionfo filed the following live report:
This week's episode opens with a video package of Abyss talking about how nobody understands him, and he's going to do what he's going to do because of Them, and TNA's never going to be the same. From there, we go to the big show ending brawl between the TNA and ECW guys and Dixie Carter saying that she invited them!
Speaking of Dixie Carter, she's backstage, and she's...WALKING! And tonight, she'll explain why she invited the ECW guys to TNA! Also tonight, Kurt Angle continues his rise up the ladder as he wrestles #7 contender Hernandez, and Samoa Joe takes on Jeff Hardy!
Interestingly, we open the show with not just a match, but a championship match...
Global Title Match: Rob Terry vs AJ Styles
Rob Terry, we are informed, is now the longest reigning Global Champion in TNA history. Well, that's what happens when you let a guy go two and a half months between title defenses. AJ's good, but let's see if even he can carry this stiff to a halfway decent match. AJ punches Terry in the abs, but Terry no-sells as AJ acts like he hurt his fist. AJ gets a kick to the leg of Terry and dances around, throwing it in Terry's face, but Terry just slugs him, then rams him into the corner and literally squashes him with a shoulder in the corner, then Beels AJ across the ring. AJ tries to climb out of the ring and Terry and Kazarian play tug of war with AJ, but Terry wins. Terry eats boot on a charge into the corner, but catches AJ trying a springboard something, presses him several times, and then just launches him across the ring. Terry goes for the crappy spinebuster, but AJ escapes and hits an enziguiri. Terry again no-sells and hits a leaping spinkick, which seems to almost connect this week, but Kazarian is distracting the referee, so Terry nails Kazarian, allowing AJ to roll Terry up from behind...for 2. AJ goes to the apron and Terry goes to suplex him in, but Kazarian grabs the ankle from the outside and AJ falls on top to get the win and the title.
Winner and NEW Global Champion: AJ Styles
We go to Mike and Taz, who tell us that tonight is going to be a night of answers, and Mike says he's had doubts about Taz because of his history with ECW and asks if he knew about Dixie's invitation, and Taz says he knew nothing. By the way, Mick Foley made his return last night as well, and wouldn't you know it, but he's got history with ECW as well!
We go backstage to Sarita and Madison Rayne, who are laughing over the beating Sarita handed Taylor Wilde, and then Madison starts making fun of Velvet Sky, but Velvet just happens to walk in with Lacey. Velvet gets in Madison's face and Lacey tries to calm them down, and they both tell her to shut up. They keep fighting and Lacey keeps trying to get them to make up, and they keep telling her to shut up until finally Madison and Sarita walk out.
Backstage, Dixie Carter is yelling at the TNA agents and asking them what the hell happened last week, and they said they had no idea what was going on and Dixie said "you're agents, you don't need to know what's going on!" Can't argue with that logic. Finally Simon Diamond gets up and slams the door on the cameraman as Dixie continues lambasting them.
Back to the ring for Knockouts action...
TNA Knockouts Champion Angelina Love & Taylor Wilde vs Madison Rayne & Sarita
Before the match, referee Earl Hebner tells Angelina that the board has no proof of who was on the motorcycle at Victory Road, so she must surrender the Knockouts Title and return it to Madison Rayne. Angelina hesitantly hands the belt to Hebner, then goes after Madison as Taylor goes to work on Sarita. Sarita gets tossed to the floor as Angelina and Taylor hit a double clothesline on Madison. Sarita gets back in and gets speared by Angelina, who then tags in Taylor, but Sarita gets an STO on Taylor. Taylor regains her feet and now she and Sarita go toe to toe, but Sarita with a big flapjack suplex on Taylor, but she tags Angelina right in and she goes to work on both Sarita and Madison. Taylor comes back in and all four girls fight it out again, with Taylor and Sarita rolling out to the floor as Angelina hits a Flatliner on Madison for the win.
Winners: Angelina Love & Taylor Wilde
Suddenly, the Bike Girl With The Dumpy Ass zooms down to ringside and makes her way towards the ring. Lacey and Velvet come out from the back looking shocked as Madison and Sarita jump Angelina and Taylor from behind and joins in the beatdown. Madison grabs her belt back as Dumpy Ass gets back on her bike and Madison & Sarita join her. Madison yells at Lacey to come with them and, after much hesitation, Lacey leaves Velvet and heads away with Madison, Sarita, and Dumpy Ass. Velvet looks shocked, then she and Angelina glare at each other as we go to commercial.
Okay, we're back, and it's time for more action...
Kurt Angle vs Hernandez
Tieup and Hernandez powers Angle to the corner, but breaks clean. Angle with a nice duck under and takes Hernandez down, then floats over to a front facelock. Hernandez gets to his feet and backs Angle to the corner and breaks clean again, but Angle pops him with a series of European Uppercuts. Angle backdrops Hernandez to the apron, but Hernandez nails him and comes over the top with a shoulderblock. Hernandez with a big tackle and an over the shoulder backbreaker for 2. Angle starts firing back and whips Hernandez to the corner and follows in with a clothesline. Hernandez skins the cat to the top rope and Angle tries the running up suplex, Hernandez shoves him off, but Angle goes up again and gets the suplex this time for 2. Angle ducks a clothesline and hits four rolling Germans for 2. Hernandez slips out of the Angle Slam and picks Angle up and plants him with a sitout Dominator for 2. Hernandez goes for the Border Toss but Angle slips out and hits the Angle Slam...for 2. Angle goes for a moonsault but misses and Hernandez bowls him over with a running shoulderblock, then goes for a big delayed vertical suplex, but Angle slips out the back and hooks the Ankle Lock and grapevines the leg and Hernandez taps out.
Winner: Kurt Angle
Kevin Nash comes strolling out from the back after the match and shakes hands with Angle, then continues into the ring as Angle heads to the back. Nash calls Jeff Jarrett out to the ring, and we'll find out what he has to say...AFTER THIS!
We're back, and Jeff Jarrett makes his way to the ring. Kevin Nash says that he's had a week to think about it, and he says that Jarrett's really good at what he does. He almost had Nash convinced that Sting left a log in the punch bowl, but he's known Sting for 20 years and he let Nash sleep at his place because he was broke, and he's not sure it was Sting that left the log in the punch bowl, he thinks it was Double J. Nash says there's a group of guys who look up to him in the back as a veteran, and those guys are the victims. Jarrett says he has no idea what Nash is talking about and he's not buying it and he's sure the fans aren't either. Jarrett says it was Nash that screwed Hulk and Eric when he brought in Hall and Waltman, and that hurt this company. Jarrett says Nash can spin his tale any way he wants, but he knows Nash and so to the fans, and it's been well documented over the years. Nash says forget the history lesson, he knows it and has come to accept it, but he has a question for Jarrett: when his three daughters grow up and realize that their father is a selfish prick, he can chuckle that in his sleep. Nash walks out. Okay, that still made no sense.
Meanwhile, Dixie Carter is backstage, and she's...PACING! Kurt walks by and gives her a kiss on the cheek and asks what's going on, and Dixie says Kurt needs to just trust her. Kurt says to be careful what she's getting into because these guys have a reputation, and Dixie says she knows and to just trust her. Kurt kisses her on the cheek again and walks off.
Samoa Joe vs Jeff Hardy is next!
Samoa Joe vs Jeff Hardy
Bells rings, and Hardy rolls to the floor...and starts walking around high fiving fans at ringside. Um...okay. Well, can't blame him, I wouldn't want to fight Joe either. Hey, Eric Bischoff is on the phone! He mentions Hogan's surgery as Joe starts kicking the crap out of Hardy, rubbing his throat across the ropes, and tossing him to the floor. Joe rams Hardy to the apron as Bischoff says he and Hulk came to TNA to help and they'll support whatever decisions Dixie makes. Hardy starts to fight back and rams Joe to the stairs, then tosses him back in the ring. Eric says TNA's an exciting place to be and they're just here to help them grow as Hardy does the ten punch count in the corner, then snapmares Joe and he HITS THE CHINLOCK! Bischoff wraps up his phone call, and now we can return to the match at hand as Joe gives Hardy a jawbreaker. Joe with the snapmare/chop/kick/kneedrop combo as a Joe chant starts. Hardy fires back and Joe reverses a whip into the corner, Hardy leapfrogs, but Joe catches him with a savate kick to the jaw, then starts ramming elbows to the top of the skull of Hardy. Joe with a running knee and enziguiri in the corner and covers for 2. Hardy fires back again and comes off the ropes but Joe with a snap powerslam for 2. Hardy with a series of running forearms and an inverted enziguiri, and the springboard dropkick in the corner for 2. Hardy with a sleeper drop for 2 and tries a move off the second rope, but Joe catches him with an inverted atomic drop, running boot, and senton for 2. Joe with a powerbomb for 2, and converts Hardy's kickout into an STF, and then converts that into a Crippler Crossface and makes Hardy's eyes bug out from cranking so hard on the move. Hardy makes the ropes and Joe starts mocking him and goes for a slam, Hardy escapes out the back and goes for a Twist Of Fate, Joe escapes that and goes for the Kokina Clutch, and Hardy escapes that and hits the Whisper In The Wind. What a sequence. We get the announcement that 30 seconds remain, then they start going toe to toe with 15 seconds left and they go crashing to the mat as time expires.
Time Limit Draw
Crowd chants for Brian Hebner to let them fight and Joe's totally in favor of that, so Hardy takes his shirt off and goes after Joe and they brawl again until the referees separate them.
Backstage, Jeff Jarrett is complaining to Dixie about Kevin Nash, but Dixie says she needs his help in telling everybody whatever it is that she has to tell them, and needs Jarrett to help spread the word. Jarrett says she can trust him.
Back to the ring...
Matt Morgan vs Ken Anderson
Anderson stops on the way to the ring to ask the fans if there's any assholes in the building, getting the usual wonderful pop, and he then introduces himself as the Head Asshole. Anderson ducks behind Morgan with a schoolboy rollup for 2 right off the bat, then a rolling cradle for 2, then goes to a side headlock. Morgan takes Anderson to the corner and nails him, then puts the boots to him. Morgan with the machine gun elbows in the corner and follows in with a splash in the corner, and finally a side suplex for 2. Anderson starts a comeback and goes for a crossbody, but Morgan catches him and hits a fallaway slam for 2. Morgan with a short clothesline and another, and goes for a roaring clothesline but Anderson ducks and hits the Flatliner for the win.
Winner: Ken Anderson
We start to go to Mike and Taz, but jump right back to the ring where Morgan attacks Anderson from behind with his own mic, hitting him in the head and busting him open.
After a quick commercial break, we head back to the ring...
Best Of 5 Series Match Two - Anything Goes Streetfight: TNA World Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns vs Beer Money
The MCMGs dive over the ropes onto Beer Money to start the match, and the fight spilles right out to the floor. Storm sends Sabin into the guardrail and then the ramp as Roode beats up Shelley on the ramp. They try to double suplex Shelley to the floor but Sabin makes the save and then hit a series of double team moves on the rampway. Shelley gets Roode in a rear chinlock and Sabin goes all the way to the top of the ramp, gets a running start, and gets a leaping dropkick to the face of Roode, followed by Shelley hitting a leaping double stomp off the rampway onto Roode for 2. Roode swings a chair at Shelley but misses and hits the ringpost and Shelley follows with a running knee off the apron. Sabin tries a dive through the ropes onto Roode but Roode cracks him in the face with a chair coming through and then takes out Shelley's knees with a chair as well. Roode tosses Shelley back in the ring where Storm hits a lungblower for 2. Shelley recovers and tosses a chair to Roode and Sabin hits a springboard dropkick to the chair into Roode's face for 2. Storm drags Shelley to the floor then jumps in and spits beer in the face of Sabin, allowing Roode to hit a spinebuster for 2. Shelley comes in with a kendo stick which he nails both Roode and Storm with, and Roode tries a lariat but nails the ref. Sabin tosses a trash can at Roode's head to send him to the floor and tries a baseball slide, but Roode moves and Sabin hits the other ref. Storm tosses Shelley in the ring and Beer Money put him on top and try a double superplex but Sabin makes the save and they hit a Sliced Bread #2/powerbomb combo, but no ref, and Storm slips in and hits Shelley with the beer bottle and superkicks Sabin, then drags the ref over to make the three count.
Winners: Beer Money
Backstage, Brother Devon walks in on Brother Ray and says he's not here to talk about all their issues with Jesse, but he wants to know where he was last Thursday. He needed to let the ECW guys know he has their back, and asks if Brother Ray has their back, too. Ray says they have nothing to prove with those guys and don't need to have their back, then walks out.
Christy is backstage with Rob Van Dam and says he has a history with ECW, and asks how it felt to be with those guys again. RVD said it was great, and he's proud of everything he did...back then. But he's evolved and now he's the Whole F'n Show and the World Champion, so having these guys back is like having the best of both worlds. Christy wants his thoughts on Dixie's speech tonight, and RVD said he's excited to see what the news is but he has no info on what it's going to be. While RVD is happy to see all this coming together, he can't forget that Abyss wants the belt so he'll have to keep his eyes out for him too.
We go to Mike and Taz, who filibuster for time for the upcoming announcement. Mike thinks that Dixie owes us an explanation, and Taz thinks that as the owner, she's not accountable to anyone. From there we go to a video package recapping the history of the ECW angle culminating in last week's brawl to lead us into tonight's announcement, which will be up next. Meanwhile, Dixie Carter is backstage, and she's...WALKING SOME MORE!
It's main event...uh...promo time, and here comes Dixie Carter, complete with entrance music. She starts by kissing the fans' butts by saying TNA has the best fans, and she's always said this company is going to be for the fans. She's loved meeting everyone and hearing what they have to say, and puts over her Twitter. There's been one common theme brought up time after time, and that's the fans' love for extreme, hardcore wrestling. At this time, she'd like to introduce some men who made hardcore wrestling popular, and out come Tommy Dreamer, Rhino, Stevie Richards, Mick Foley, and Raven. She says she wants the ECW guys to tell the fans what they meant to this industry. Foley says this is the first time he remembers Dixie cutting a promo, and Dixie says it's not a promo it's her being real, and says that what Hogan meant to the 80s, ECW meant to the 90s. She pauses as the crowd starts an ECW chant. Dixie says it's not about being hardcore, it's about honor, dedication and respect, and not doing it for fat paychecks, but doing it because they love the business, their fellow wrestlers, and the fans, and they always gave the fans what they asked for and the fans will never forget that. Dixie has a history with four of the guys up here and she has a lot of respect for them and thanks them for setting the bar high. Foley says it should be them thanking her because last time he was here, he got fired, and he wants to thank her for giving them another chance. Foley points out Tommy Dreamer and says he's as good an ambassador as there's ever been in this business, and hands the mic off to Tommy. Tommy says he's watched TNA since the beginning when they were in Nashville, and watched TNA grow. His friends kept telling him to quit his job and come to TNA, but he has a wife and kids and was scared to leave the security of his job. He saw many similarities between ECW and TNA: where unknowns became legends, where legends came to reinvent their career, and before Samoa Joe was dumping people on their heads, there was Taz, the Human Suplex Machine, doing it in the 90s. What Ric Flair did for Jay Lethal, Terry Funk did for him and Mick Foley. There was Francine and Beulah, and he when Dixie invited him to Slammiversary, he got to see what TNA did for passion, for the love of the business, and what they do for each and every one of the fans. Tommy has to thank Dixie for reigniting his passion, because at One Night Stand, he got his closure...and then they brought it back, and he had to witness his friends get fired, get destroyed, and all for what...(silence from the crowd)...Tommy says exactly. It bothered him so much that he had to quit his job at 38 years old because he couldn't stomach watching what they did with that company. Everyone else in the ring would talk to him, and Foley showed him all the similarities between what happened and they put this plan together, and only one person could make it happen: Dixie Carter. It's not about an ECW invasion or them taking over, it's about men and women who lost their jobs, it's for the fans who chant it and the friends who lived it, so their legacy is not destroyed, and he begs Dixie for one night to show what they can do so their legacy is not destroyed forever. Dixie says that if everyone wants to do this, then we'll do it...with one stipulation: Tommy and his people plan it and do it the right way, it's got to be real and nothing that has to do with TNA. Sabu chant starts as Tommy tells the Impact Zone that we're going EXTREME.
Continued ...
