This Day in Pro Wrestling History (July 18)

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-34 years ago today, Verne Gagne defeats Nick Bockwinkel in Comiskey Park in Chicago, IL to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. It's his tenth and final AWA world title reign. He would retire ten months later after defeating Bockwinkel again as AWA champion.
-25 years ago today at a Saturday Night's Main Event taping the Worcester Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts, The Brainbusters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard) defeated Demolition (Ax and Smash) two falls to one to win the WWF Tag Team Championship. The win made Anderson and Blanchard the first team to win both the WWF and NWA tag team championships.
-21 years ago today, WCW held Beach Blast (WWE Network link) from the Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi. About 8,600 were in attendance, with 100,000 homes purchasing the event on PPV. This was the final PPV for WCW under the NWA banner, as they would break away from the NWA officially by the end of the summer.
Paul Orndorff defeated Ron Simmons by disqualification to retain the WCW World Television Championship. Simmons threw Orndorff over the top rope; at the time, it was a DQ in WCW.
2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Bagwell defeated Tex Slashinger & Shanghai Pierce.
Steven Regal defeated Erik Watts.
Johnny B. Badd defeated Maxx Payne.
The Hollywood Blonds (Brian Pillman and Stunning Steve Austin) defeated the Horsemen (Arn Anderson and Paul Roma) to retain the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
Dustin Rhodes and Rick Rude fought to a 1-1 draw in a 30-minute Ironman match for the vacant NWA United States Championship. The championship would remain for six more weeks before Rhodes defeated Rude on WCW Saturday Night for his second US Championship.
Ric Flair defeated Barry Windham to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. It would be Flair's tenth and final NWA world title. The championship would be renamed the WCW International Championship when WCW and NWA split.
Sting & Davey Boy Smith defeated Big Van Vader & Sid Vicious. The match was set up by an infamous series of mini-movies set on a beach.
-15 years ago today, ECW presented Heatwave '99 (WWE Network link) from the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio. About 3,700 were in attendance, with 100,000 homes watching on PPV. It was ECW's most watched PPV, and the last ECW PPV before their national television deal with TNN started a month later.
Dark match: Vito LoGrasso defeated Simon Diamond.
Chris Chetti & Super Nova defeated Danny Doring & Roadkill.
Jazz defeats Jason.
Super Crazy defeated Little Guido (w/ Sal E. Graziano)
Balls Mahoney & Spike Dudley defeated The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray & D-Von) to win the ECW World Tag Team Championship.
Francine defeated Steve Corino
Taz defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri to retain the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.
Jerry Lynn & Rob Van Dam defeated The Impact Players (Justin Credible & Lance Storm).
-14 years ago today on an episode of WCW Tuesday Nitro, Lance Storm defeated Mike Awesome in the finals of a one-night tournament to win the vacated WCW United States Championship. Storm also defeated Buff Bagwell and Shane Douglas in earlier rounds. Other participants included "Positively" Chris Kanyon, Vampiro, The Great Muta, and Billy Kidman. Scott Steiner was stripped of the championship when he used the banned Steiner Recliner on Mike Awesome at Bash at the Beach a week earlier.
-7 years ago today, George Caiazzo, aka John Kronus, died in his fiancée's home in Laconia, New Hampshire due to heart failure resulting from an enlarged heart, a condition which may have been aggravated by recent knee surgery. He was 38. Caizzo was best known as one-half of the Eliminators with Perry Saturn. In ECW, he was a four-time tag team champion, three with Saturn, and once with New Jack. Caizzo would also have stints in USWA, WAR, XPW, and Dangerously Intense Wrestling before retiring in 2002. Enjoy this tribute from Youtuber MVKronus.
-5 years ago today, former WCW world heavyweight champion Ron Simmons was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Here's his Hall of Fame video package from the College Football Hall of Fame's official Youtube page.
-4 years ago today, WWE presented Money in the Bank (WWE Network link) from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. About 8,000 were in attendance, with 165,000 homes purchasing the event on PPV, down from 228,000 buys for the July 2009 PPV offering, Judgment Day. The show featured two Money in the Bank ladder matches, the first time such a match occurred at an event other than Wrestlemania.
-In a preshow dark match, Santino Marella defeated William Regal.
Kane defeated Big Show, Matt Hardy, Kofi Kingston, Christian, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre in a SmackDown 8-Man Money in the Bank ladder match for a World Heavyweight Championship match.
Alicia Fox defeated Eve Torres to retain the WWE Divas Championship.
The Hart Dynasty (David Hart Smith & Tyson Kidd) defeated The Usos (Jey & Jimmy) to retain the WWE Unified Tag Team Championship.
Rey Mysterio defeated Jack Swagger to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
Kane defeated Rey Mysterio to win the World Heavyweight Championship. The win gave Kane his first world title since a one-day reign as WWF Champion in 1998. Kane also became the first person to win and use his Money in the Bank in the same night.
Layla defeated Kelly Kelly to retain the WWE Women's Championship.
The Miz defeated Edge, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Evan Bourne, Ted DiBiase, John Morrison, Mark Henry in a RAW 8-Man Money in the Bank ladder match for a WWE Championship match.
Sheamus defeated John Cena in a Steel Cage match to retain the WWE Championship.
-Last year, TNA presented Destination X from Broadbent Arena in Louisville, Kentucky. In the featured bout, Chris Sabin defeated Bully Ray to win his only TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Sabin would lose the title just a month later back to Bully Ray.

[LionDen]

Another version:


July 18th

On this day in history in ....

1980 - Verne Gagne defeats Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight Title for his tenth, and final, time in Chicago, Illinois. Gagne would retire ten months later, still the champion.

1989 - Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeat Demolition for the WWF World Tag Team Title in Worcester, Massachusetts, ending the first title reign for Ax & Smash. This win made Anderson & Blanchard the first duo to have held both the NWA and WWF World Tag Titles.

1993 - At Beach Blast 1993, Ric Flair defeats Barry Windham for the NWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Title in Biloxi, Mississippi. This marked Flair's tenth and final run with the NWA World Title (this was actually the revived NWA World Title, which some title histories don't count as a "World" Title). WCW would withdraw from the NWA during Flair's reign, and the title would become known as the "WCW International World Title". Here are the full results from the Pay-per-view, which was held at the Gulf Coast Coliseum:
- WCW Television Champion Paul Orndorff defeated Ron Simmons via disqualification when Simmons threw Orndorff over the top rope.
- 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Bagwell defeated Tex Slashinger & Shanghai Pierce when Scorpio pinned Pierce after a 450 splash.
- Steven Regal defeated Erik Watts when Bill Dundee hit Watts with an umbrella, allowing Regal to roll him up for the pin.
- Johnny B. Badd defeated Maxx Payne with a flying bodypress.
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Brian Pillman & Steve Austin defeated Paul Roma & Arn Anderson when Austin pinned Roma after Pillman ran in and reversed a rollup Roma had on Austin.
- Dustin Rhodes vs. Rick Rude in an Ironman match for the held-up U.S. Title ended in a 30-minute draw with each wrestler only having one fall. Rude pinned Rhodes at the 13 minute mark, then Rhodes pinned Rude to tie it up with three minutes left. Rude continuously kicked out of Rhodes' moves until the time ran out.
- Ric Flair defeated Barry Windham to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title when Windham was pinned in a figure four while reaching for the ropes.
- Sting & Davey Boy Smith defeated Big Van Vader & Sid Vicious when Smith pinned Vader with a crucifix. This match featured the "memorable" vignettes leading up to it that included Vader & Sid hiring a midget to blow up a boat that Sting & Smith were on. No, I'm not kidding.

1993 - Vampire Warrior (Gangrel) defeats Jeff Jarrett for the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title in Memphis, Tennessee, ending Jarrett's eighth title reign.

1999 - Balls Mahoney & Spike Dudley defeat The Dudley Boyz for the ECW World Tag Team Championship in Dayton, Ohio, ending Buh-Buh Ray & D-Von's sixth title reign.

2000 - Lance Storm defeats Mike Awesome in a tournament final for the WCW United States Heavyweight Title. Storm would rename the belt the "Canadian Heavyweight Championship".

2005 - TNA teases they will be debuted on SpikeTV in a backwards message posted on their website.

2007 - Former ECW World Tag Team champion George "John Kronus" Caiazo was found dead in his New Hampshire home. Mike Johnson wrote the following look at his career:

Within wrestling, Kronus' claim to fame was working as half of the Eliminators tag team with Perry Saturn. Of the two, Saturn was always considered the more serious, militant, all business type while Kronus was more laid back and goofy. The personality clash often translated into their promos with Saturn cutting deadly serious, gravely voiced promos, followed by Kronus acting goofy and laughing to close them out.

In the ring, one could easily pick up on Saturn calling spots and controlling matches when they teamed. Saturn was the wrestling machine with crisp precision and stiff kicks. Kronus would bleed heavily in brawls and, billed at 6' 3", nail major highspots that were more likely to be performed by Cruiserweights, including a trademark 450, a handspring elbow and a Space Flying Tiger Drop, among others big moves.

The two worked the New England independent scene and had a brief run in the USWA where they defeated Eddie Gilbert and Brian Christopher for a six week Tag Title reign. The duo toured for WAR in Japan in the summer of 1995 before debuting in the original Extreme Championship Wrestling in September 1995, managed by Jason Knight as heels with the idea of feuding against The Steiners, although the team left the territory shortly after the Eliminators debuted.

The Eliminators were promoted by ECW as the best tag team in the world by ECW, meshing brawling with a series of high impact double team maneuvers, including stereo splashes off the ropes, combinations of kicks and their finisher, The Total Elimination, with Saturn kicking an opponent low at the same time Kronus would nail them high with a kick.

The team, which held the ECW Tag Team championships on three occasions, had several notable feuds in ECW against The Pitbulls, The Gangstas and an excellent series against Rob Van Dam and Sabu that ran for months on ECW house shows. The run against Sabu and Van started in the Fall of 1996 and run into February 1997, highlighted by an amazing 30 minute draw at the 1996 November to Remember. That bout was likely the in-ring highlight of Kronus' career as he had gotten into the best physical condition of any point of his in-ring run. It was easily the best match of that year's flagship ECW event, which was a loaded show. The feud continued into early 1997, including several tables and ladders matches.

In the spring of 1997, ECW jumped to PPV and The Eliminators, who had turned babyface due to the fan reaction of their work, made two brief cameos on WWF's Monday Night Raw to help promote the debut show, Barely Legal. The team actually opened the first PPV up, defeating The Dudley Boyz for what would turn out to be their last ECW World Tag Team championship win. The bout was designed to be a highlight reel of major spots to showcase the Eliminators and give Joey Styles a chance to push them to the (theoretically) new viewing audience as the best tag team in the business. The two teams had started their feud the month before when the Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley, who had just aligned after months of feuding with each other, shockingly captured the belts.

By August 1997, Perry Saturn had torn his ACL when slipping in the ring on weapons that were laying on the mat during a brawl in Trenton, New Jersey. He was expected to be out of the ring for an extended period of time. Saturn had surgery but instead signed a deal to jump to WCW as a singles star, leaving Kronus behind. The two never teamed again.

ECW later put Kronus and former foe New Jack together as a team, including a Tag Team title win over the Dudleys. The New Jack/Kronus team would be involved in the weapons and blood laden brawls of the ECW undercard. Kronus was then moved into a lower card enhancement position, including a loss to the debuting Sid Vicious at the Guilty as Charged 1999 PPV, before leaving the company.

Kronus popped up working for Rob Black's XPW promotion in California. While he was never in a major pushed position for that company, he worked more events for the group than any performer not based on the West Coast, working as something of an enforcer for Rob Black's Army. He also appeared for a number of shows promoted by John Zandig's Combat Zone Wrestling including bouts against Zandig, Wifebeater and Charlie & Russ Haas.

Kronus slowly faded away from the indy scene and wrestled sporadically at best in recent years, mostly in the New England area. He returned to the ring at the June 2005 Hardcore Homecoming event at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, where he and New Jack defeated Ian and Axl Rotten in a bloodbath. The original plan was for he and Saturn to reprise the Eliminators team for the first time since 1997 but the day before the show, Saturn canceled out, claiming neck problems. He also worked the final Hardcore Homecoming event, November Reign in November 2005, losing to Balls Mahoney in what may have been the final match of his career.

2008 - TNA announced they would hold their first international PPV in September 2008 as No Surrender would be held in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

2009 - Former WCW World champion Ron "Faarooq" Simmons was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

2010 - WWE holds the first-ever Money in the Bank PPV event. Buck Woodward filed the following PPV report:

vening with results from the show, so check back often.

Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and Matt Striker welcomed us to the show, and they are kicking things off with the Smackdown Money In The Bank match. There were ladders set up all around the ring, and the ringside area. The stage also had ladders, as well as two armored bank vans with the MITB logo on it.

Money in the Bank Match: Big Show vs. Matt Hardy vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Kane vs. Christian vs. Drew McIntyre.

Each man had their full entrance, with Big Show coming out last. There was a spotlight above the briefcase that resulted in a white light coming down in the center of the ring. Big Show and Kane cleaned house at the bell, while Cody Rhodes brought in a ladder and tried to climb it, but he was tossed out as well. Kane and Show then faced off, with Show shoulderblocking Kane from the ring. Big Show went to climb a ladder, but the rungs broke under his weight. Wrestlers ran in, but Show swatted them back out, then tossed the broken ladder from the ring, hitting Kane with it. Big Show went under the ring, but was kicked by Ziggler and Rhodes, then everyone except Kane ganged up on Show and rammed him into the ring steps. The wrestlers then brawled on the floor, with Drew McIntyre getting the better of it, including catapulting Christian into a ladder on the floor.

Drew tossed a ladder in the ring and set it up, but Hardy came in and hit Drew with a ladder across the back, then knocked him out of the ring with it. Matt climbed the ladder, but Christian pulled him down. Christian then went to climb up, but Matt pulled him down. Matt and Christian brawled to the floor, while Rhodes tried to climb the ladder, but Kofi cut him off, rammed him in the ladder and tossed him out. Kofi went to climb, but Ziggler stopped him. Ziggler climbed and reached the hook, but Christian climbed up and stopped him. Christian and Ziggler fought at the top of the ladder, and Christian hiptossed him off. Matt tipped the ladder to knocked Christian off, but he landed on his feet. Hardy gave Kofi a Twist Of Fate and Christian gave Rhodes a reverse DDT. Hardy and Christian gave Kane a double DDT. Hardy and Christian gave Kane a ladder sandwich, then hit each other with the ladders. Christian gave Hardy a Hotshot into a ladder leaning on the ropes, then stood on Hardy.

Christian went to climb a ladder, but Rhodes knocked it over and Christian fell to the floor, crashing into Big Show. Rhodes and Kofi hit Kane with kicks, and Matt gave Kane a Twist Of Fate. Kofi went to climb, but Rhodes gave Kingston a back suplex off the ladder. Rhodes and Hardy climbed and battled at the top of a ladder, but Drew knocked it over. Drew tossed Matt shoulder first into the ringpost, then did the same to Rhodes. Drew climbed the ladder, but Ziggler stopped him, only to be tossed into the ringpost as well. Kane pulled McIntyre to the floor, then started to clear the announce tables. Kane went for a chokeslam, but McIntyre battled back, only to be kicked onto the table. Kane decked Christian at ringside with a right hand. Kofi hit Kane with a baseball slide kick as Kane was picking up a ladder. Kofi went to McIntyre and pounded him with punches and a Trouble In Paradise kick on the table.

Kofi looked at a ladder at ringside, and positioned it so he could dive onto McIntyre on the announce table. Kofi gave McIntyre a Boom Drop off the ladder, putting him through the table. In the ring, Ziggler climbed a ladder, but Big Show got in and knocked the ladder down. Show chokeslammed Ziggler, who rolled to the floor. Kane choked Big Show, but Big Show punched him away, then gave him a back splash in the corner, using a ladder. Rhodes ran in, but Show knocked him out. Christian and Hardy hit Show with a ladder, but on a second attempt, Show shoved the ladder, knocking Hardy and Christian down. Show splashed the ladder onto Christian and Hardy. They rolled to the floor, and Show was left alone in the ring.

Show went under the ring and pulled out his heavy duty ladder. They noted it was a 350 pound ladder, and could hold a ton. Show struggled to get the ladder in the ring, finally pulling it between the ropes. Show got it set up, but before he could climb, Rhodes came in with a small ladder and hit Show in the ankle with it. Rhodes started to climb the big ladder, but Ziggler pulled him off with an Electric Chair. Ziggler started to climb the ladder, slowly, but Big Show chopped him off. Show headbutted Matt Hardy away. Kofi Kingston springboarded onto the big ladder, but Show pulled him off. Kofi managed to hook Show in a DDT on the way down, then began to climb the ladder again. Cody Rhodes hit a top rope dropkick on Kofi to knock him off the ladder.

Rhodes gave Kofi Crossroads on a ladder on the mat. Rhodes started to climb, but Ziggler knocked him off, then gave him a Zig Zag into the heavy duty ladder. Big Show headbutted Rhodes, then Ziggler. Show began to climb, but Kane toppled the ladder. Show fell into the ropes, and over the top to the floor. The other wrestlers piled and tossed a bunch of ladders onto Big Show, burying him. Everyone except Show and McIntyre were in the ring. Everyone tried to climb the ladder, but Kane pulled them down and cleaned house on them. Kane went to climb the ladder, but Dolph climbed over him and tried for the briefcase. Kane pulled him back and Dolph applied a sleeper on the ladder. Kane broke free by ramming Dolph's head in the ladder. Kane went to toss Dolph from the ring, but his leg got caught in the ropes. Kane freed him, then tossed him off the apron into the pile of ladders on top of Show. Kane was pulled from the ring by Kofi and Christian, so Kane blasted them, and tossed Kofi onto the pile of ladders on Show. Cody Rhodes tried to run from Kane, but Kane chased him and rammed him head first into the armored van. Kane went back to the ring where Christian and Hardy were trying to climb the ladder. Kane pulled them down and went to climb, but Hardy and Christian gave Kane a double powerbomb off the ladder.

Christian and Hardy climbed the ladder and slugged it out. Each went for the briefcase, only to be cut off by the other. They struggled right at the top of the ladder, then both shoved each other off, with Matt landing hard on the mat and Christian bouncing off the ropes before crashing. Drew McIntyre, slowly, crawled into the ring and began climbing the ladder. Kane got back up and climbed the other side. Kane grabbed McIntyre by the throat and tossed him off the ladder. Kane then grabbed the briefcase at the 23-minute mark.

Winner: Kane.

Backstage, Josh Mathews interviewed Sheamus. Sheamus talked about how his pride made him think that Nexus would never try to attack him the way they attacked others. Sheamus said that last Monday, he saw that the Nexus had no soul, and so he had to chose a side, which he did. Sheamus then talked about how he hates John Cena, and that he has never gotten respect for the times he has beaten him. Sheamus talked about Cena's constant jokes about his skin tone, and how Cena won't be making jokes tonight in the cage.

Divas Champion Alicia Fox vs. Eve.

They locked up at the bell, and jockeyed for position, with Fox taking Eve to the mat, but they maintained the collar-and-elbow tieup. Eve armdragged out of it, then grabbed a headlock. Eve hit a shoulderblock for a one count, then a jackknife cover for another one. Eve hit a sunset flip for two, then a dropkick. Alicia reversed a whip, then went for a tornado DDT, but Fox yanked her to the mat off the middle rope. They went to the floor, and Fox rammed Eve back first into the ring apron. Fox pulled Eve into the ring by her hair and got a two count. Fox hit a forearm to the back, then a second. Fox pushed Eve down in an over the knee backbreaker, then lifted Eve and hit the backbreaker again when Eve tried to fight out of it.

Eve rallied with some forearms, but Fox hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count. Fox put Eve in a surfboard, but Eve rolled out of it and hit a reverse monkey flip. Eve hit a cross bodyblock for a one count, then a pair of dropkicks. Eve went for a suplex, but her back went out on her. Eve kicked Fox in the leg, then the head. Eve hit a standing moonsault for two. Fox hit an upkick, but Eve hit a springboard kick from the bottom rope. Eve went to the middle rope and went for a somersault senton, but Fox got her knees up. Fox then hit the ax kick for the clean pin at the six minute mark.

Winner: Alicia Fox.

They reviewed the Kane-Swagger confrontation from Smackdown, including Rey Mysterio's run-in and how Swagger allowed his father to be chokeslammed and tombstoned by Kane.

Backstage, Jack Swagger was on the phone with his mom, who was apparently still hysterical. Swagger told his mom to shut up and that it wasn't his fault, and that it wasn't his idea for his father to come to the ring with him. Swagger said his father was trying to steal his spotlight. Swagger said he wanted to help his dad, but he couldn't risk Kane hurting him and ruining his title opportunity. Swagger said he would snap Rey's ankle tonight, and his dad could live vicariously though him as he wins the World Title. He then told his mom that he lovers her.

Unified Tag Team Champions The Hart Dynasty vs. Jimmy and Jey Uso.

David started out with Jey, traded waistlocks, then Smith grabbed an arm wringer. Jey broke out, but Smith hit a powerslam and delivered some forearms. Kidd tagged in and Smith hiptossed Kidd into a headscissors on Jey. David tagged back in, but Jey managed a double leg takedown and tagged in Jimmy, who pounded Smith in a corner. Jey tagged back in and Jimmy whipped Jey into a posterior butt on Smith. Kidd broke up the cover. Jey put Smith in a half-nelson with a crossface, but Smith battled out and backdropped Jey. Jimmy tagged in and cut off Smith from tagging Kidd. Jimmy hit a diving headbutt for a two count, then applied a chinlock.

Smith gave a belly to belly suplex to a charging Jimmy and tagged Kidd, just as Jey tagged in. Kidd dropkicked Jey's legs out and stomped him in a corner. Kidd kicked Jey while flipping over the top rope, then went for a slingshot rollup, but Jey tagged Jimmy. Kidd didn't see the tag, and got caught with a Samoan Drop by Jimmy. Jimmy went to the top rope for a Superfly splash, but Kidd got his knees him to block it. Smith tagged in and hit Jimmy with a shoulderblock, then went for a Sharpshooter. Tamina got on the apron, but Natalya pulled her down and slammed her on the floor. Jimmy went to kick Smith, but Smith caught it and tripped Jimmy to the mat. Smith put Jimmy in the Sharpshooter, while Kidd knocked Jey to the floor and hit a pescado on him. Jimmy submitted to the Sharpshooter at the six minute mark.

Winners: The Hart Dynasty.

A video package on the World Title match was shown.

World Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Jack Swagger.

Rey was limping during his entrance. At the bell, Swagger backed Mysterio into a corner, but Mysterio kicked away. Mysterio tried to slide under Swagger's legs, but couldn't and Swagger grabbed his ankle. Rey kicked him away, and tried for a 619, but Swagger got out of position. Rey went for a quebrada moonsault, but Swagger caught him. Rey floated out and hit Swagger with some kicks. Swagger missed a charge and went to the floor and Rey jumped off the top rope into senton on Swagger on the floor. Rey hit a kick on the floor, then tossed Swagger back in. Rey went to climb the ropes, but Swagger met him there with a belly to belly suplex off the middle rope.

Swagger stomped Mysterio's ankle, and Rey rolled to the floor. Swagger went after him and rammed him into the announce table. Swagger stood on Mysterio's ankle. Swagger tossed Rey into the ring for a two count, then applied a kneebar. Rey kicked out of it, and tried to rally, but Swagger hit a sloppy powerslam for a two count. Swagger hit a big hip toss, then went for a reverse splash off the middle rope, but Rey moved out of the way. Rey hit a kick to the head, then went to the top rope. Rey hit a senton, but Swagger shoved Rey into a corner. Rey used a headscissors to sent Swagger head first into a turnbuckle, then hit a split legged moonsault for a two count.

Rey went for a bodyscissors, but Swagger turned it into a wheelbarrow suplex for a two count. Rey went for a tilt-a-whirl, but Swagger turned it into a gutwrench powerbomb. Rey got his foot on the bottom rope to break up the pin. Swagger went for the ankle, but Mysterio kicked it away. Mysterio got on Swagger's shoulders, then went into a rana, sending Swagger shoulder first into the ringpost. Rey went to the rope, but Swagger hit him with right hands. Swagger went for a second rope powerslam, but Rey swung around him and hit a DDT from the second rope for a near fall. Rey hit a 619, then went for a springboard rana, but Swagger caught it and put Rey in an ankle lock. Rey got to the ropes to break it, but Swagger then hit two reverse splashes off the middle rope.

Swagger stomped Rey's ankle repeatedly, then went for the ankle lock, as Rey was loosening his boot. Swagger got the hold locked in, Rey's boot came off, and Swagger fell into the ropes. Swagger tuned around and Mysterio grabbed Swagger with a rana and a cradle for the win at the 12 minute mark. Comparisons were made to Eddie Guerrero, who used the boot trick to beat Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 20.

Winner: Rey Mysterio.

Post-match, Swagger attacked Mysterio and put him in the ankle lock. Kane came out and attacked Swagger, battering him and running him into the back. Mysterio was then celebrating with the belt, when Kane's music hit and he came back out, this time with the Money In The Bank briefcase. Rey shook his head "no" but Kane gave the briefcase to the referee.

World Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Kane.

Kane grabbed Rey and slammed him to the mat by his injured ankle. Kane picked up Rey off the mat and hit a chokeslam. Kane scooped up Rey and hit a tombstone for the pin in under a minute.

Winner and new World Champion: Kane.

It was noted that this was the first time a Money In The Bank contract was cashed in on the same night it was won in a MITB match. They also noted it was the second time Kane has held a World Title.

Backstage, Edge was watching the monitor, and Chris Jericho approached him. Edge bragged about his Money In The Bank success, while Jericho reminded Edge that he was the man who created the MITB match. They went back and forth about who was more desperate to win the MITB and go on to get the title.

Women's Champion Layla vs. Kelly Kelly.

Kelly was accompanied by Tiffany, while Michelle McCool came out with Layla. Kelly charged Layla at the bell, the referee separated them, then Kelly charged and hit a Thesz Press. Kelly hit some slaps, then rammed Layla in a corner. Kelly missed a handspring elbow, but kicked Layla and grabbed a Victory Roll for a two count. Kelly kicked Layla from the ring. Layla tripped Kelly in the apron, trapping her leg and kicking at it. Layla put Kelly back in the ring and got a two count. Layla stretched Kelly's leg across the bottom rope. Layla kicked Kelly to the floor and she collided with McCool. Layla threw Kelly into the security wall. Tiffany came around, but the referee held her back. This allowed McCool to get a kick in, then she sat on the security wall and commented that she hadn't done anything. Kelly sprung up and shoved Michelle off the wall and into the crown. Kelly got in the ring and went nuts on Layla, getting a two count with a sunset flip. Kelly hit the K2 Rocker Dropper, but Layla got her foot on the bottom rope, although I think McCool was supposed to put it there. Kelly went to the floor and she and Tiffany gave McCool a double shoulder block. Kelly got back in the ring and went for a sunset flip, but Layla blocked it and leaned forward to get the pin at the four minute mark.

Winner: Layla.

The events from earlier in the evening were recapped.

Money in the Bank Match: Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Mark Henry vs. The Miz vs. John Morrison vs. Evan Bourne vs. Chris Jericho vs. Ted DiBiase.

Randy Orton was the first to come out, and Edge was last. Maryse accompanied Ted DiBiase, and was seated at ringside near the announcers. Edge put a ladder in the ring before the bell rang.

Edge slid out of the ring at the bell, and some wrestlers tried to grab the ladder, but Mark Henry stood on it. Everyone started brawling, and Miz hit a clothesline in the corner on Henry, then Bourne hit Miz with a jumping knee and Henry with a kick in a corner. Everyone cleared out of the ring, and Edge ran in and tried to climb, but Orton cut him off and brawled with Edge to the floor. In the ring, DiBiase went for a ladder, but Morrison kicked him. DiBiase clotheslined Morrison, who fell onto a ladder. DiBiase used the ladder to knock Orton off the apron, then Bourne ran in and kicked the ladder into DiBiase's face. Miz ran in and rammed Bourne into the ladder, then tossed him from the ring.

Jericho got in and brawled with Miz. Mark Henry came in and knocked both of them down with a ladder. Henry straddled Miz on the middle rope. Jericho hit Henry with a ladder, then dropped it on him. Bourne dodged a ladder shot by Jericho and hit an enzugiri. Bourne climbed the ladder, but Edge stopped him. Bourne gave Edge a rana, sending him to the floor. Orton got in and stomped Bourne, then gave him an elevated DDT off the ladder. Morrison got in and gave Orton a Flying Chuck kick, sending him from the ring. Morrison went to suplex DiBiase, but Miz broke it up. Miz and DiBiase stomped Morrison, and they put a ladder in a corner. They whipped Morrison towards it, but he slid to a stop. Morrison gave Miz a Hot Shot and DiBiase a drop toe hold into the ladder.

Morrison, now alone in the ring, set up a ladder and began to climb. Edge climbed up the other side and brawled with Morrison on the ladder. Jericho set up another ladder and climbed up. Orton climbed the other side, and we had four men fighting and reaching for the case. Mark Henry came in and tipped over both ladders, sending all four men crashing to the floor. Evan Bourne spingboarded and used the ladder to fly into Henry with a kick. Maryse checked on DiBiase, then seeing no one in the ring, got on the apron and took her shoes off. Maryse set up a ladder and began to climb. John Morrison stopped her, and gently pulled her down. Morrison told her to leave, while DiBiase snuck in behind them and began to climb. Morrison turned and stopped him, but DiBiase rammed him into a ladder. Morrison went to the floor and pulled DiBiase outside.

Miz hit Morrison with a ladder on the floor, then wedged it against the ringpost on the floor. Miz dropped Morrison throat first across the security wall, then catapulted him into the ladder against the ringpost. Morrison jumped onto the ladder, climbed it, rode another ladder out of the corner, and landed on a ladder in the center of the ring that Edge had set up and was starting to climb. Edge and Morrison battled, and Edge got Morrison caught between the rungs of a set up ladder. Edge took another ladder, and with Miz helping, rammed it into Morrison's midsection repeatedly. Edge then blasted Miz with the ladder, knocked him from the ring, and toppled the ladder with Morrison on it.

Edge set up a ladder to climb, but DiBiase cut him off with a ladder shot and laid Edge out. Jericho tried to come in with a ladder, but DiBiase knocked him away, then hit Orton with the ladder from the apron. There were several ladders in the ring now, including one that was upside down, with another leaning against it. DiBiase climbed an upright ladder, but Henry pulled him down and hit a World's Strongest Slam. Jericho came in with a small ladder, but Henry knocked him down. Miz came in, but Henry slammed Miz on top of Jericho, and a ladder. Mark Henry started to climb, and Evan Bourne got on his back, but Henry kept climbing. Edge and Orton pulled Henry down and sent him from the ring. Edge and Orton then went to throw Bourne from the ring, but Henry caught him and gave him a powerslam on the floor. Henry was given a Morrison Flying Chuck, a Jericho Codebreaker and a Edge spear on the floor.

Everyone in the match except Bourne and Henry were trying to climb a ladder, battling for position. DiBiase bridged another ladder, and there's a lot of metal in the ring not. Guys would get knocked off and then climb back up. Edge and Orton dumped DiBiase, on a ladder, to the floor. Orton then hit Edge with an RKO. Jericho kicked Orton from the ring. Jericho and Morrison were left in the ring, slugging it out on the ladder. Jericho got hung upside down in the ladder, while Orton pulled Morrison off the ladder. Orton gave Morrison an RKO, at the same time, Bourne jumped off the top rope giving Orton Air Bourne just as he landed to the mat with the RKO.

Bourne climbed the ladder, but had trouble with the hook. Jericho stood back up, and brawled with Bourne on the ladder. Jericho rammed the briefcase into Bourne's face, knocking him off the ladder. Jericho went for the briefcase, which was swinging wildly above the ladder. Edge climbed up and brawled with Jericho on the top of the ladder. Jericho started to fall down, and Orton hit him with an RKO. Orton then knocked Edge off the ladder into the ladder that was set up upside-down, so Edge hit gut first on the metal supports. Randy Orton then climbed up, but Miz toppled the ladder, sending Orton into the top rope. Miz climbed up and pulled off the briefcase at the 20-minute mark.

Winner: The Miz.

The Miz called for the microphone and said everyone was "living in his moment" and said that whether you call him "overrated" or "created" his winning the MITB proved that he had "made it" and proved all the critics and skeptics wrong. The Miz said he is "Mr. Money In The Bank" and a future WWE Champion. He then finished with his catchphrase.

The events leading to the World Title match were shown.

WWE champion Sheamus vs. John Cena - Steel Cage match.

They locked up in the center of the ring, and Sheamus went to ram Cena into the cage, but Cena blocked it and broke away. Sheamus kicked Cena in the gut and hit a kneedrop. Sheamus hit Cena with shoulder blocks in the corner, then stomped him. Cena reversed a whip and hit a clothesline. Cena went to ram Sheamus in the cage, but Sheamus blocked it and tossed Cena into the cage for a two count. Sheamus slugged Cena to the mat, but Cena came back with a tackle and a series of punches. Cena whipped Sheamus into a corner, but ran into a back elbow. Sheamus worked over Cena, but Cena came back with a fisherman's suplex for a two count. They were both getting up slowly after every move, as if the match had gone 40 minutes, not four.

They slugged it out in the center of the ring, and Cena got some momentum. Cena went for a shoulderblock, but Sheamus moved and Cena crashed into the cage. Sheamus pounded Cena with right hands, then stomped him. Sheamus hit a backbreaker for a two count, then went to climb out of the cage. Cena stopped him and got onto the top rope with him. They slugged it out on the ropes, and Cena hit a superplex off the top rope for a two count. Cena went for an Attitude Adjustment, but Sheamus blocked it and hit a DDT for a two count. Sheamus hit a Celtic Hammer for a two count. Sheamus hit a second and got a two count. Sheamus went for a third, but Cena ducked it and Sheamus put Cena in a sleeper instead.

Cena battled up in the sleeper, but Sheamus added a bodyscissors to take Cena to the mat and applied a rear naked choke. Cena got to his feet, then began climbing the ropes with Sheamus on his back. Sheamus got off and crotched Cena on the top rope. Sheamus covered and got two. Sheamus stomped Cena and choked him with his boot. Sheamus climbed up to the top rope to exit the cage, but Cena pulled him down, sending Sheamus throat first across the top rope. Cena hit some shoulderblocks and hit back suplex into a powerbomb. Cena did the "You Can't See Me" and hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop. Cena went for the Attitude Adjustment, but Sheamus pulled himself onto the cage and started to climb. Cena stopped him and punched Sheamus on the ropes. Cena rammed Sheamus head first into the cage support, sending Sheamus to the mat. Cena did the You Can't See Me on the top rope and went for a top rope fistdrop, but Sheamus moved out of the way.

Sheamus tied Cena in the top and middle rope. Sheamus punched and kicked Cena, then climbed right over him to go up the cage. Cena broke out of the ropes and stopped Sheamus as he had one leg over the top. Cena gave Sheamus a bulldog off the top rope and covered for two. Sheamus went for an Attitude Adjustment, but Sheamus blocked it and hit the Irish Curse backbreaker. Sheamus hit the pump kick for a two count. Sheamus picked up Cena from the mat, but Cena grabbed an Attitude Adjustment out of nowhere and hit it. Sheamus kicked out at two. Both men were laid out on the mat.

The Nexus came out, with Michael Tarver carrying bolt cutters. A referee crabbed the cutters and left with them. Nexus then approached the referee with the key, but the referee tossed the key into the crowd instead. In the ring, Cena went for another Attitude Adjustment, but Sheamus floated out. Cena accidentally shoved Sheamus into the referee, knocking him out. Cena put Sheamus in an STF, and Sheamus tapped, but there was no referee. Cena released the hold and saw Nexus at ringside.

Cena climbed up the cage, and Justin Gabriel climbed up as well. Cena brawled with Gabriel on top of the cage and flipped him into the ring, which didn't look good as they took a while to set it up. Cena began climbing out of the cage, but was fighting with Nexus members on the way down. Sheamus climbed out the other side, with only Heath Slater in his way. Sheamus knocked Slater away, hit the ground first (the referee woke up to see it) and ran into the crowd at the 23-minute mark.

Winner: Sheamus.

Cena got to the floor after fighting away Tarver and Young and realized what had happened. He threw Darren Young into the cage wall clipped Michael Tarver with a chop block. Cena picked up the ring steps and hit Tarver with them. The other Nexus members had chased Sheamus into the crowd. Cena screamed "I told you I would take every one of you out" and ripped off Tarver's Nexus wristband before leaving. Young and Tarver were laid out on the floor, and Gabriel was laid out in the ring, while Michael Cole tried to make Nexus sound devastating, and that ended the show.


Continued:

[LionDen]

Continued:


2011 - One day after winning the WWE title and walking out of Chicago with the belt, CM Punk, title and all were at the Chicago Cubs game while WWE was filming Raw at the same time.

2011 - WWE broadcast Raw. Richard Trionfo filed the following:

We are live from Green Bay, Wisconsin and your announcers are Michael ‘What about Sin Cara’s Trampoline’ Cole and Jerry ‘Where in the World are Carmen Sandiego and CM Punk’ Lawler.

Vince McMahon’s music plays as Day One of WWE Under Punk and he comes to the ring with John Laurinaitis and the entire WWE locker room is watching in the back. The crowd chants ‘CM Punk’ and Vince isn’t sure what to do. Vince says that you will never hear him say that man’s name again. Vince says that they don’t get it. They are chanting the name of the biggest ingrate in WWE history. A man who turned his back on each and every one of you. He walked out on everyone in the locker room. He walked out on everyone who has ever been in this ring. He is nothing more than an egotistical, selfish turd. No one is bigger than the WWE and no one will ever be bigger than the WWE. Vince says that this is a global marketing promotional juggernaut that cannot be stopped.

Tonight, a new WWE Champion will be crowned tonight. Eight of Raw’s best will compete in a single elimination tournament. Rey Mysterio will face Dolph Ziggler. Jack Swagger will face R Truth. Kofi Kingston will face Alberto Del Rio. Alex Riley will face the Miz.

Vince says that conspicuous by his absence is a man whose name he will mention. That is John Cena. Vince says that he will boo John Cena too because Cena let him down. Vince says that he warned Cena and said that if Punk left the arena with the title belt in his hands, there would be severe consequences. After consulting with John Laurinaitis, there will be severe consequences.

This will be a night of historic proportions and a night that you will never forget.

Cole and Lawler talk about what Vince just said and Lawler wonders what John Cena will do. Cole says that John Cena thinks that he has already been terminated by the WWE and Cole reads one of John Cena’s Twitter posts.

We see the tournament brackets and now it is time for the first match in the first round.

Match Number One: Miz versus Alex Riley in a First Round Tournament Match



Riley goes for the injured leg but Miz is able to get away from Riley. Riley goes for the leg again and he misses one more time. Miz with a front face lock when Riley goes for the leg a third time. Miz with a rollup for a near fall. Riley backs Miz into the corner and grabs the leg but he has to let go. Riley with a kick to the leg and then he drops a few elbows to the knee and thigh.

Riley sends Miz’s leg into the ring post a few times. Riley with a single leg crab but Miz is able to kick Riley off and Riley goes to the floor and Miz tries to get the feeling back in his leg. Riley with a kick to the head from the floor and Riley gets a near fall. Riley misses a charge into the corner and Riley hits the ring post with his shoulder. Miz with a rollup for another near fall. Miz punches Riley until the referee threatens to disqualify him. Miz with a cravate but Riley gets to his feet and he gets out of the hold. Riley with a neck breaker and both men are down.

Riley with a back elbow or two and then he hits a spinebuster but he can only get a two count. Riley sets for the DDT but Miz counters for a Skull Crushing Finale but Riley sends Miz into the turnbuckles. Miz misses a missile drop kick from the turnbuckles and Riley with a Texas Cloverleaf but Miz is able to get to the ropes.

Miz rolls to the floor and he draws Riley to the floor as well but they return to the ring and Riley with a double leg take down and punches. Miz uses the referee to hit the Skull Crushing Finale for the three count.

Winner: Miz

Miz advances to face the winner of the Alberto Del Rio/Kofi Kingston match in the second round.

R Truth is walking in the back and he looks over his shoulder thinking that one of the Jimmys or Jennys are watching him. We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time for a John Morrison video package since he is on the road back to the ring after suffering an injury.

Match Number Two: R Truth versus Jack Swagger in a First Round Tournament Match



They lock up and Swagger with a side head lock and shoulder tackle and Swagger gets a near fall. They lock up again and Swagger with another side head lock. Truth with punches to Swagger after a break. Truth kicks Swagger and then he gets a near fall with a rollup. They lock up again and Swagger backs Truth into the corner and Swagger with shoulders in the corner.

Swagger with a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Swagger with a forearm to the kidneys and then he chokes Truth in the ropes. Swagger with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Swagger punches Truth in the ropes and he adds some kicks until the referee warns Swagger.

Swagger with a hard Irish whip and then he thinks about the Swagger Bomb and he hits it and gets a near fall. Swagger traps Truth’s arms and then he knees Truth in the back Truth gets out of a power slam and Truth with a split and leg lariat for a near fall. Truth tries for the axe kick but Swagger sweeps the leg and he tries for the ankle lock but Truth rolls through and gets the three count.

Winner: R Truth

Truth will face the winner of Dolph Ziggler/Rey Mysterio match in the semifinals.

We go to commercial.

Alberto Del Rio drives into the arena and he has something to say.

Alberto Del Rio comes out and he has changed his name to Mr. Money in the Bank Alberto Del Rio. Alberto reminds everyone that he won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match so he has the right to have a title match at any time and any place. He tried to cash it in last night, but CM Punk ran and ran like a chicken. All of this happened because John Cena couldn’t do the job. He says that he hopes that John Cena gets fired because the WWE needs a new leader. A better one, a stronger one. A superstar that everyone can respect. Alberto says that we all know that it is his destiny to be the WWE Champion.

Ricardo Rodriguez comes out and he announces Alberto as the winner of the Money in the Bank match since he was not there last night.

Match Number Three: Alberto Del Rio versus Kofi Kingston in a First Round Tournament Match



They lock up and Del Rio backs Kofi into the corner and Del Rio with a kick and snap mare followed by a drop kick to the head and he gets a near fall. Kofi with a forearm and drop kick for a near fall. Del Rio with a kick to the leg followed by a knee to the head. Del Rio with a shoulder tackle but Kofi with a leaping back elbow after a few leap frogs.

Kofi leaps into the corner and he punches Del Rio before rolling out of the corner. Kofi with a European uppercut for a near fall. Del Rio sends Kofi into the ropes and Del Rio misses a splash into the ropes when Kofi moves. Del Rio goes to the floor and Kofi hits a suicide dive onto Del Rio.

Del Rio is sent back into the ring and Del Rio hits an enzuigiri and he gets a near fall. Del Rio with knees to the back of the head before getting another near fall. Del Rio with a reverse chin lock. Del Rio sends Kofi to the mat as he continues to work on the head and neck. Del Rio with a kick to Kofi for a near fall. Del Rio with an elbow drop for another near fall. Del Rio returns to the reverse chin lock. Del Rio with a head butt and then he sends Kofi into the corner but he runs into an elbow. Kofi with a kick to Del Rio and then Del Rio misses a running drop kick into the corner and Del Rio lands on his shoulder.

Kofi with chops followed by a drop kick and then he hits the Superman punch. Kofi sets for the Boom Drop but Del Rio rolls out of the way. Del Rio kicks Kofi away and then he hits a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a near fall. Del Rio punches Kofi. Del Rio sets for the rolling cross arm breaker, but unlike every other time he does it, he takes his time and that allows Kofi to get a rollup and the three count.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

Kofi advances to face Miz in the semifinals.

Rey Mysterio walks in the back as we go to commercial.

We are back with a SummerSlam Rewind: Footage from Davey Boy Smith versus Bret Hart from 1992 in Wembley Stadium.

We see footage of the pinfall in the Kingston/Del Rio match and Cole claims that Del Rio was robbed, but Cole has a change of heart.

Kofi Kingston is in the interview area with Josh Mathews. Josh asks Kofi for his thoughts about advancing in the tournament. Kofi says that he was in one of the most brutal and devastating matches in WWE history. He came up short last night but tonight is a new opportunity. Kofi took the first step to becoming the new WWE Champion. One down, two to go.

Match Number Four: Rey Mysterio versus Dolph Ziggler with Vickie Guerrero in a First Round Match



Ziggler punches Rey and kicks him in the ropes. Ziggler with an Irish whip but Rey with a boot and arm drag. Ziggler with a kick and then Ziggler sends Rey under ropes. Ziggler goes to the floor and he hits a flapjack. They return to the ring and gets a near fall.

Ziggler with a leaping elbow drop for a near fall. Ziggler works on Rey’s leg while he has him contorted but Rey kicks Ziggler and Rey gets a near fall but Ziggler counters with a near fall of his own. Rey with a series of kicks to Ziggler and Ziggler with a reverse power bomb for a near fall. Ziggler misses a splash into the corner and then Rey with a kick to the head and he gets a near fall.

Rey goes up top and he hits a seated splash but Ziggler with a kick. Ziggler with a sunset flip but Rey rolls through. Ziggler avoids the kick and then Ziggler gets a near fall. Ziggler with an Irish whip but he misses a clothesline. Ziggler tries for a sleeper but Rey sends Ziggler into the corner. Rey hits a slingshot rana and then he tries for the 619 but Rey misses the 619 and Ziggler with a reverse exploder suplex for a near fall.

Ziggler kicks Rey but Rey with a rana and then Rey hits the 619 after Ziggler remembers to go into the ropes and then Rey gets the three count with a splash from the top turnbuckle.

Winner: Rey Mysterio

Rey advances to face R Truth in the semifinals.

Vince McMahon is shown in his office with John Laurinaitis.

We have a Wrestlemania 28 video package commercial featuring the biggest main event ever.

We are back and Did You Know that Oprah wishes she had as many Facebook fans as WWE. Pepsi too.

Match Number Five: Kelly Kelly, Eve Torres, AJ Lee, Gail Kim, Beth Phoenix, Kaitlyn, and Natalya versus Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Alicia Fox, Melina, Maryse, Rosa Mendes, and Tamina in a Which 12 Divas Don’t Even Wrestle Match



Beth and Rosa start things off and Beth with a clothesline and back elbow. Beth tries for a suplex but Rosa blocks it. Beth with a slingshot suplex but the Bellas break up the cover. AJ and Natalya take care of the Bellas. There are twelve Divas fighting on the floor while Beth and Melina are still in the ring. Beth with an elbow and she hits the Glam Slam on Rosa for the three count.

Winners: Kelly Kelly, Eve Torres, AJ Lee, Gail Kim, Beth Phoenix, Kaitlyn, and Natalya

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time to discuss the WWE Facebook page and the fans think that Rey will win the WWE Title.

Match Number Six: Kofi Kingston versus Miz in a Second Round Match



They lock up and Kofi goes for the leg but Miz gets to the ropes. Kofi with a rollup for a near fall. Kofi with a side head lock and cross body. Miz tries to send Kofi to the floor but Kofi bounces off the ropes and hits a drop kick and gets a near fall. Kofi works on the leg but Miz tries for a sunset flip. Kofi rolls through and hits a double stomp on Miz. Kofi charges into the corner but Miz drops Kofi on the top rope and Kofi appears to have hurt his leg as well. Miz gets a near fall.

Miz with elbows to Kofi and he applies a reverse chin lock. Kofi with a kick to Miz’s knee and then he misses a drop kick. Kofi with a slingshot elbow drop from the apron for a near fall. Kofi with another drop kick to the knee followed by one to the head for a near fall. Kofi misses a splash into the corner but he hits the pendulum kick. Kofi goes up top and hits a cross body but Miz’s momentum sends him over for a near fall. Kofi with a knee breaker and Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise but Miz rolls to the apron and the referee stops Kofi.

Miz drops Kofi’s throat across the top rope and Miz tries for the Skull Crushing Finale but Kofi rolls through. Kofi is sent into the turnbuckles and Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale for the three count.

Winner: Miz

Miz advances to face the winner of Rey Mysterio and R Truth in the finals.

Scott Stanford is in the back with R Truth. Truth interrupts and says that he deserves to be the WWE Champion more than anyone in this tournament. The conspiracy kept him from getting the briefcase, but the conspiracy won’t stop him from getting Little Rey Rey or anyone else after Rey Rey. The Little Jimmys better watch out because the WWE Title is gonna get got.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time for an Andy Leavine video package. We see where he grew up and the house is boarded up. He says this is where Silent Rage was born and created. He talks about growing up across the street from a meth lab. Andy’s high school wrestling coach talks about how he only saw the ‘Silent Rage’ once during his high school career. He goes back to where he grew up to remember where he came from. He says that he wouldn’t change a thing.

Match Number Seven: Rey Mysterio versus R Truth in a Second Round Tournament Match



Truth with a kick and punch to Rey and then he gets a near fall on Rey. Truth with a kick to the midsection followed by punches. Truth with an Irish whip and Rey hits the turnbuckles sternum first and Truth gets another near fall. Truth with a suplex to Rey and he gets a near fall. Rey with a kick and punches to Rey but Truth with a near fall. Truth with a front face lock on Rey but Rey with punches but Truth with a knee and he gets a near fall.

Truth with a body scissors on Rey but Rey escapes. Truth with a punch to Rey but Truth runs into a kick from Rey. Rey with a wheelbarrow arm drag that sends Truth to the floor. Rey with a suicide dive onto Truth and both men are down on the floor as we go to commercial.

We are back and Truth with a chin lock on Rey and Truth with forearms to the head. We see footage from the commercial break when Rey was tripped on the top turnbuckle and put into the tree of woe. Rey hit a split legged moonsault later during the break.

Rey gets a near fall with a rollup but Truth with a drop kick for a near fall. Truth punches Rey and the referee warns him. Truth gets a near fall. Truth with the Lie Detector but Rey kicks out at two. Truth chokes Rey in the ropes. Truth is sent into the ropes but Truth gets up and hits a body block and gets a near fall.

Truth with a front face lock and then he hits a sit out gourdbuster for a near fall. Truth runs into the corner but Rey with a drop toe hold and Truth hits the turnbuckle hard. Rey with kicks to Truth but Truth with punches. Rey with a springboard cross body for a near fall. Truth with a kick and Truth set for the axe kick but Rey moves. Truth with a sunset flip but Rey rolls through and hits a drop kick for a near fall.

Truth with a suplex into a stunner and Rey gets his hand on the rope to stop the count. Truth pulls Rey into the center of the ring. Truth kicks Rey when he returns to the ropes. Rey with a shoulder from the apron and then Rey with a head scissors that sends Truth into the ropes and that leads to the 619 and dive from the top for a three count.

Winner: Rey Mysterio

Rey advances to face The Miz in the Finals.

We go to commercial and when we come back we will have a wwe champion.

Match Number Eight: Rey Mysterio versus . . .

Vince McMahon’s music plays while Rey is introduced and he makes his way to the ring. Vince apologizes to Rey and he says that he is not going to deny Rey or the Miz the opportunity to be the WWE Champion. Vince asks Rey and Miz to postpone the finals until next week. Vince apologizes and says that he has something else to do.

Vince tells Rey not to be selfish and that this is bigger than Rey.

Vince says that there is no one bigger than the WWE itself and he is talking about Rey Mysterio and John Cena. Vince says that he can make a new John Cena. Vince says that there is no denying the contributions of John. John is respected all over the world and he wants to thank John for his contributions to the WWE. Vince says that he has to make some difficult decisions and you have to make some tough decisions in business.

Vince says that he does what is right for everyone from a business perspective. Some times you are blinded by the short sightedness. Vince says that he is long term oriented and over time you will understand and in time you will thank him.

Vince says that he would prefer not to have to do this but he wants to get this over with.

John Cena’s music plays and he comes out to the stage and then he makes his way to the ring.

Cena takes the mic from Vince and he tells Vince to relax He says that he is not going to go on a profanity laden tirade so there is no need for a seven second delay. Cena says that he is not going to go through the same things that Shawn Michaels did. John says that for all of Shawn’s accomplishments, they said that he screwed Bret. No matter how many championships he won, he had that burden his entire career. Cena says that he put himself in Shawn’s shoes and he wondered if he wanted to be the guy who screwed Bret. Did he want to be the guy who screwed CM Punk. Cena says that he knew what was at stake. It was more than CM Punk versus John Cena with his career on the line. It was about Vince keeping his bubble intact. Nobody can embarrass Vince McMahon so he needed someone to play ball. Cena says that he was not going to be Vince’s patsy.

Cena tells Punk that it was a hell of a match last night and he thanks him for last night. Cena says that Vince put him in a position to make a tough decision and that is not the way that Cena works because Vince would have made the WWE Championship meaningless.

Cena tells Vince to go ahead and make another John Cena or even ten. Vince has eight months to find another opponent for The Rock at Wrestlemania. He knows that Vince will find someone else for Dwayne and things will go off without a hitch.

Cena says that he gets to walk out with his pride and his dignity. Before we get to all of the formalities, he wants to tell Vince one thing. He says that he loves the WWE and he thinks that he truly belongs here. Cena says that if Vince tells him that he is not welcome, then he will walk on someone else’s television show and do it again . . . BROTHER. Cena says that is not a threat, it is a promise.

Cena says that people say that he does a lot of things, but one thing he will not do is kiss Vince’s ass.

Vince says that Cena is not going to deny him the satisfaction of what he is going to do. No matter how much it hurts him personally or business wise. John . . .

Triple H makes his way to the ring and he is dressed for business, not for spitting water. Hunter says something to Vince and he gives Hunter a mic. Hunter says that there was a board of directors meeting this morning and he wanted to get here as quickly as possible. Hunter says that he went back to the office where there was a board of directors meeting this morning.

Hunter tells Vince that the board asked him to come here to talk to Vince because they are concerned about the current situation. Hunter wants to talk about this in the back. Hunter says that he tried to stop Vince before he came to the ring. He says that the board is concerned about Vince. Hunter says that they understand that he built a global empire. This is all because of Vince. Hunter says that the board is concerned about his extremely questionable decisions as of late.

Hunter tells Vince that the board has asked him to tell Vince that they have filed an injunction against Vince with a vote of no confidence. Hunter says that the family agrees. The board has appointed someone to take over the day to day operations of the WWE. Hunter has a hard time saying that it is him.

Vince cannot believe what he just heard and that his son in law is doing this. Hunter tells Vince that he is not going to fire John Cena. He is not going to be doing anything else. Hunter tells Vince that he taught him from day one that nobody is bigger than this business. Hunter says that this is just business. He cannot believe that he is saying this. He tells Vince that he is relieved of his duties.

Vince starts to cry and the fans in Green Bay serenade him. Hunter tells Vince to understand that he didn’t want to do this and he is doing what is right for the business. Hunter wants Vince to look at him. He tells his Pop that he loves him and he is sorry.

Hunter leaves the ring and Vince is alone in the center of the ring.

The crowd starts to give Vince a standing ovation and he thanks everyone. We go to credits.

2012 - Lucha Libre USA began airing episodes online via Hulu Plus.

2012 - Hulk Hogan began recovering from yet another back surgery.

2012 - It was publicly reported that John Cena had finalized his divorce from his first wife.

2013 - TNA broadcast their Destination X PPV on Spike. Stu Carapola filed the following PPV report:

Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of TNA Destination X 2013!

The show opens with a video package looking at Chris Sabin's road to his title shot tonight, then we go to the ring where Bully Ray comes out to talk about how all he's heard about all week has been one little boy. The fans start chanting for Sabin, so Bubba says they can chant for him all they want because he has no chance of beating the World Champion. It's the perfect night for him to destroy Sabin while the rest of Aces & Eights destroys the Main Event Mafia, so that only leaves one thing: he wants Brooke Hogan to come out and talk to him right now. Brooke comes out and says he doesn't know what else Bubba could possibly want from her, she's moved on (holding up her new engagement ring to drive the point home) and she wants Bubba to as well. Bubba says that she moves on when he says she moves on, and holds up his own wedding ring to Brooke. Hulk comes out and says that enough is enough, he's raped and pillaged this company enough, and Bubba says he's right that this isn't over because he's the World Champion and he's never gonna lose it. The Main Event Mafia suddenly comes up on screen and tells Bubba that they're going to make sure he faces Sabin in a fair fight tonight, and that he's going to lose that title.

Jason Hervey catches up to Bobby Roode backstage to ask about tonight's match with Austin Aries, and Roode says it's no secret that he hasn't scored any point yet in the BFG Series, but he'll do whatever he has to in order to regain the World Title.

Gail Kim is backstage and she'll be on Twitter for the next hour...on her phone. Geez, things must be tight at TNA if they can't even give her a laptop.

Bound For Glory Series: Bobby Roode vs Austin Aries

Jeremy Borash (who is sitting in for Taz at the broadcast booth) points out how far Roode has fallen, having won the BFG Series two years ago and been the champion while last year's series was going on, but now has yet to score any points in this year's series and is up against the man who took the title from him at last year's Destination X. They feel each other out until Roode hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and punts Aries out to the apron. Roode tries to suplex Roode back in, but Aries suplexes him out to the floor and then takes him out with a double axhandle off the top rope to the floor. Aries sends Roode back inside and goes for a flying bodypress, but Roode dropkicks him on the way down. Roode connects with another shot as we go to commercial.

We're back as Roode puts Aries on the top rope for a superplex. Aries fights him off and hits the 450 splash, but Roode is out at 2. Roode slides out to the floor to dodge a slingshot senton, but Aries rolls through and wipes him out with a dive through the ropes that actually drives Roode's back into the ring steps. Aries sends Roode back in and connects with a missile dropkick, the IED, Roode escapes the brainbuster but gets rolled up for 2. Roode rolls Aries right into the Crippler Crossface as he kicks out, they trade pinning combinations, and Aries drop's Roode with a chinbreaker. Roode gets his boot up on another IED attempt and goes for a spear, Aries catches him in a front facelock and goes for a brainbuster, Roode escapes and runs Aries over with a clothesline for 2. Aries blocks a fisherman's suplex and drills Roode with a roaring elbow, then drops him with the brainbuster for 3.

Winner: Austin Aries

For the second year in a row, Aries defeats Bobby Roode at Destination X. Aries picks up 7 points, Roode still has yet to score any points in the BFG Series, and he does not look happy as he approaches the broadcast table. He picks up Borash's flat panel screen, throws it on the floor, and stomps it out, then picks up their chairs, throws them at the ring, and smashes a soda on the ringpost to boot. Bobby, calm down! TNA doesn't have the money to replace all that stuff you're breaking!

Hernandez is backstage catching up with Homicide, and Chavo Guerrero, Jr comes in and celebrates that LAX is back together, then wishes Homicide luck tonight. Chavo then tells Hernandez that he's going to win the X Division Title, Hernandez will win the BFG Series and win the World Title, then it'll be them facing each other for the title next year.

X Division Title Qualifier: Homicide vs Petey Williams vs Sonjay Dutt

We've got three qualifying matches tonight, with the winners facing off next week in Ultimate X. Good to see Homicide back in TNA, and this match was largely focused on him as he destroyed both opponents, nearly beating Dutt with an Ace Crusher and then nearly killing Petey with the Gringo Killer. Dutt breaks up the cover after that and hits Homicide with the moonsault double stomp to get the win and advance.

Winner: Sonjay Dutt

One down, two to go!

X Division Qualifier: Manik vs Chavo Guerrero, Jr vs Kenny King

They do the three way thing until Guerrero gets dumped out to the floor, then King and Manik go to the mat. He gets King in a submission until Chavo comes in and dropkicks him out to the floor, then starts working King over. Manik nearly pins Chavo off a crucifix, Chavo gives both men Three Amigos, King knocks him to the floor with a leaping enziguiri, and Manik gives King a double chickenwing into a lungblower for the win.

Winner: Manik

One more spot to fill, and we'll find out who gets it later tonight!

The Main Event Mafia is backstage getting fired up for tonight's mission: taking out Aces & Eights and making sure Bully Ray loses the TNA World Title.

We see a video package looking at Chris Sabin wanting this since he was a kid, then we go backstage where Hulk Hogan has some advice for Sabin. He understands the injuries and setbacks, but he will give him the same advice he gave Bully: go out there and win the title, and make sure they remember you.

The Main Event Mafia comes out to the ring and take turns proclaiming how they're the greatest set of champions ever assembled, and they tell Aces & Eights to come out and face the family. Aces & Eights appears on the screen and Ken Anderson says they're not going to come out there at their beck and call, and cordially invites them to come to the clubhouse. The Main Event Mafia thinks that's a great idea, and they make their way backstage to go looking for a fight. We follow them to tha back where Anderson lures them into the clubhouse so Aces & Eights can ambush them. Bubba and Devon drag Angle outside, lock the door behind them, and dump Angle in the back of a pickup truck that drives off with him. Looks like the Mafia is down one man already as we go to commercial!

Austin Aries is backstage and now he'll take over for Gail Kim on Twitter, then we go back to the ring for the final X Division qualifier!

X Division Qualifier: Greg Marisciulo vs Rubix vs Rockstar Spud

Spud won the British Bootcamp and is making his first TV appearance for TNA since then, while Marisciulo is the former Trent Baretta, as the fans remind us by chanting his old name. Well, at least he wasn't Husky Harris. Spud plays the guy who's afraid to lock up with either opponent and spends much of the match outside and letting the other two go at it. He looks really tiny when he is in there next to the other two. He finally dodges a charge from Rubix and dishes out some offense, but Marsciulo is the former WWE wrestler and, by laws of physics, will look awesomer than anyone TNA has. He does hit an awesome dive to the floor onto Spud but gets drilled with a shot from Rubix. Spud tosses Rubix to the floor and steals the cover, but Marsciulo is out at 2 and Spud wastes way too much time screwing around making faces at the fans and allows Marsciulo to get up, hit him with the Jig & Tonic (which also happens to be Rubix's finish) for the win.

Winner: Greg Marsciulo

Marsciulo looked awesome here, her really came off like someone who felt like he had something to prove and he worked his ass off to make an impression.

Bully Ray is backstage on the phone with whoever drove off with Angle talking about how perfectly their plan went earlier. He tells him to take Angle to the spot they talked about earlier and, to do it mafia style, make him an offer he won't refuse.

We see Kurt Angle coming back to the arena in the pickup truck he was taken away in, and he staggers inside as we're left to wonder what turn of events happened to rescue him from his earlier predicament.

Mickie James is in the ring talking about what a momentous moment we saw last week, and she plays the video for us on the screen. Yeah, I know you're expecting the ladder match, but instead we see Mickie's concert in Nashville where she performs, waves at her fans, and says that like the moon landing and the invention of the Twinkie, this is one of the greatest moments in history. We go back to the ring where Mickie gloats some more, but she's interrupted by Gail Kim, who strolls out to say that the real moment last week was when she won the ladder match, and she'll top it when she beats Mickie for the Knockouts Title. Mickie tells her to step back because she has a certain amount of breathing room written into her contract, and says that the ladder match was good, it was like a 2, while her performance was a solid five. She goes to slap Gail, Gail ducks and slaps her, and they wind up fighting in the middle of the ring until they're separated by TNA referees. Mickie takes her belt and leaves, but that doesn't stop Gail from trying to get past the referees to get to Mickie.

Austin Aries comes to Chris Sabin backstage and says that he's not here to start anything, but he wants Sabin to know that he doesn't want to diminish anything Sabin has done here over the last ten years, but he's responsible for Sabin being where he is tonight. He doesn't mean Option C, he means that he made Sabin elevate his game to a level even he didn't probably realize he could, and that's what Aries does: he tests people because he's the litmus test. He's beaten Bubba before so he knows he can do it, but Sabin beat him so that means his odds tonight are pretty good. Aries says this probably doesn't mean much to Sabin, but he's pulling for him tonight. Awesome segment.

AJ Styles is backstage and says he made the X Division and put it on the map. Next week, he's up against Jeff Hardy: a great wrestler and a hero. TNA is no place for a hero, and he's taking his points.

It's all on the line, because it's main event time!

TNA World Title Match: Bully Ray vs Chris Sabin

Bubba backs Sabin into the corner and talks trash to him, saying he can walk out right now because he's going to take him out just like he's done to everyone else. Bubba turns around to take his belt off and set it on the top turnbuckle, and Sabin now gets in his face to say that he's going to pin him and become the new World Champion. Bubba shoves him down and the ref calls for the bell, and Bubba backs off from Sabin until he sees an opening to take him down with a single leg, drag him around by the leg, then toys with him by standing on his face. Sabin fires some kicks at Bubba, Bubba returns fire with a big chop, a second one reels Sabin, a third one fires Sabin up, and he tells Bubba to give him more and kicks him in the ribs. Sabin's chest has marks on it already as he goes nuts unloading on Bubba with chops, forearms, then mounts Bubba in the corner and hammers him with punches to the face. Bubba takes Sabin back down and drops an elbow on one of his bad knees, and Sabin rolls out to the entry ramp to recover. Aces & Eights comes down the walkway and stands over Sabin as he lays on the ramp clutching his knee, but the Main Event Mafia comes out and Aces & Eights backs off. The two groups surround the ring as we go to commercial.

We're back and Bubba is working Sabin's knee over on the rampway, then points down at Rampage Jackson on the floor and talks trash to him before kicking Sabin's knee back out from under him. Bubba goes around giving his buddies the pound before kicking Sabin's knee out again, then grounds him with a leg grapevine. Sabin gets out and fires back at Bubba, but Bubba takes his knee out again and starts firing right hands right into his skull. Bubba pulls off both knee braces just to make Sabin that much more vulnerable before firing a low clothesline to the back of Sabin's knee. Bubba pulls out a new trick and hits a kneeDT, then gets back in Rampage's face. bubba dares Sabin to hit him, so Sabin throws a few forearms before Bubba kicks his leg out again. Someone in the crowd pops me by yelling "GET HIM A BODYBAG!" Gotta love Karate Kid references. Devon yells to Bubba to do what he's gotta do as Bubba fires a chop down at Sabin before going back to mouthing off to the Main Event Mafia. Bubba whips Sabin across the ring, but Sabin collapses on the way across, prompting a smiling Bubba to stroll across the ring to go after him. Sabin kicks him off and goes up top, Bubba shakes the ropes and tells Rampage that this is for him before superplexing Sabin and going for a cover. Sabin kicks out at 2, so Bubba goes for the Bully Bomb, Sabin blocks and lays him out with an enziguiri, then goes to the top rope. Angle cheers Sabin on as he gets to the top and comes off with a missile dropkick that drives Bubba into the referee and knocks him out. Bubba calls for the hammer, but the Main Event Mafia gets in and stops that action, then brawls all the way back to the locker room with Aces & Eights, leaving Bubba and Sabin alone in the ring. Bubba is up first and has the hammer, he tres to hit Sabin with it but Sabin ducks and kicks Bubba, causing him to drop the hammer. Sabin picks it up and goes after Bubba with it, Bubba dodges and nails Sabin before going for a powerbomb, but Sabin drills Bubba with the hammer and lands on top of him just as the referee comes to. Sabin cradles Bubba's leg, the referee counts three, and we have a new World Champion!

Winner and NEW TNA World Champion: Chris Sabin

Great match and a hell of a way to wrap up a terrific show. They did a great job building to this, I really felt like making the show about how hard Sabin worked to get here made you feel like something special was going to happen, and it did! He deserves it, and TNA deserves credit for giving Sabin his day in the sun.