On this day in history in ....
1949 - Stan Hansen is born.
1970 - An event in Omaha, Nebraska saw the following results:
-Billy Red Cloud (sub Pedro Sanchez) defeated John Gadaski.
-Beautiful Brutus (Bugsy McGraw) defeated Plowboy Stan Frazier (aka WWF's Uncle Elmer) by DQ.
-Reggie Parks Harleyfought Harley Race to a double DQ.
-Midwest Heavyweight Champion Tarzan Tyler defeated Red Bastien.
1970 - Big Time Wrestling ran Akron, OH, headlined by Chief White Owl & Johnny Powers beating Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch to win The International Tag Team Titles.
The remainder of the card featured a tournament to crown the new International Champion with the following results:
-Sonny King beat Bill Miller via referee's decision.
-Hans Schmidt beat Stomper via referee's decision.
-Mitsu Arakawa beat Johnny Powers by DQ.
-Chief White Owl pinned Masked Executioner.
Semi-Finals:
-Sonny King beat Mistu Arakawa by DQ.
-Hans Schmidt beat Chief White Owl by countout.
Final:
-Sonny King beat Hans Schmidt via referee's decision to win International Title
1973 - Sinn Bodhi aka Kizarny is born.
1977 - An event in Ft. Worth, Texas saw the following results:
-Jimmy Snuka & Tommy Siegler beat Ox Baker & Big John Studd by countout.
-Mike Paidousis beat Bruce Lankford.
-Al Madril beat Bull Ramos DQ.
-Skip Young beat Eddie Mansfield.
-Iron Sheik Farouk beat Joe Blanchard.
1977 - The WWWF ran New York City's Madison Square Garden with the following results:
-Lenny Hurst defeated Rocky Tomayo.
-Johnny Rivera defeated Joe Turco at 10:51.
-SD Jones defeated Jack Evans at 8:19.
-Peter Maivia defeated Stan Stasiak at 7:35 via countout after Maivia avoided the Heart Punch on the floor and Stasiak accidentally hit the ringpost.
-Tony Garea & Larry Zbyzsko defeated George Steele & Baron Mikel Scicluna in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0. Fall One: Steele & Scicluna were disqualified after Steele shoved the referee. Fall Two: Garea pinned Scicluna with a sunset flip off the top.
-WWWF World Champion Superstar Billy Graham defeated Ivan Putski via countout at 18:01 after the challenger was backdropped to the floor.
-Bruno Sammartino (with Arnold Skaaland) pinned Ken Patera in a Texas Death Match at 12:13 by kicking off the corner, as Patera had a full nelson applied, and falling backwards onto his opponent.
-Verne Gagne pinned Nikolai Volkoff at 7:10 with a roll up as Volkoff attempted an over-the-knee backbreaker.
-Chief Jay Strongbow fought Mr. Fuji to a curfew draw at around the 6 minute mark. Fuji was subtituting for Toru Tanaka.
1980 - A live event in the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA saw the following results:
-Tom Prichard defeated Prof. Ito.
-Al Madril defeated the Assassin.
-Ron Starr defeated John Tolos.
-The Golden Boy defeated Walter Johnson.
-Mando Guerrero defeated the Great Goliath.
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Butcher Brannigan.
1981 - Georgia Championship Wrestling ran The Omni in Atlanta, GA with the following results:
-The French Angel defeated Rick Ferrara.
- Bruno Sammartino Jr. defeated David Sierra.
-Steve O defeated Prof. Sonoda.
-Kevin Von Erich defeated Bryan St. John.
-Bruiser Brody defeated Chris Cannon.
-Mr. Wrestling II & George Wells defeated Iron Mike Sharpe & Big John Studd.
-National Heavyweight Champion Masked Superstar defeated Georgia Heavyweight Champion Tommy Rich to unify the titles.
-Andre the Giant & Michael Hayes defeated Georgia Tag Team Champions Terry Gordy & Jimmy Snuka.
1981 - Championship Wrestling from Florida ran St. Petersburg, Florida with the following results from the Bayfront Arena:
-Hiro Matsuda wrestled Tommy Gilbert to a draw.
-El Gran Apollo defeated Bobby Jaggers.
-The Kiwi Sheepherders (Jonathan Boyd and Luke Williams) defeated Mike Graham and Steve Keirn.
-Florida champ Charlie Cook defeated Buzz Sawyer.
-Jerry Lawler vs. Terry Funk ended without a winner as a double countout in a Taped Fists match.
-Jerry Brisco defeated Assassin #3 in a Hair vs. Mask match.
-Jack Brisco defeated Dory Funk Jr.
-NWA World Champion Dusty Rhodes defeated Assassin #1 in a Texas Death match.
1982 - Otto Wanz defeats Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight Title in St. Paul. Minnesota, ending Bockwinkel's second run with the belt. The remainder of the event, held at the Civic Center saw the following:
-Ken Patera & Bobby Duncum & Jesse Ventura fought to a no contest against Baron Von Raschke & Larry Hennig & Brad Rheingans.
-AWA World Tag Team Champions Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Rick Martel & Tito Santana when Brunzell pinned Santana after a dropkick.
-Steve Olsonoski beat Jacques Goulet.
-Bobby Heenan beat Ray Stevens by DQ in 5:31 when Stevens assaulted referee Curt Hennig.
-Buck Zumhofe beat Kenny Jay (substituting for Greg Valentine).
1982 - Super Destroyer (Scott Irwin) wins a tournament for the Georgia National Heavyweight Title at the Omno in Atlanta. The title had been vacated by Paul Orndorff so he could "train" for an NWA World Title match with Ric Flair (which he lost). The complete results of the show saw the following:
Quarterfinals:
-Matt Borne defeated Johnny Rich
-Paul Orndorff defeated Ole Anderson
-Buzz Sawyer defeated Tom Prichard
-Brad Armstrong defeated the Iron Sheik
-Ernie Ladd fought the Masked Superstar to a double countout.
Quart Finals:
-Super Destroyer defeated Brad Armstrong
-Paul Orndorff defeated Matt Borne
-Paul Orndorff defeated Buzz Sawyer
Final:
-Super Destroyer defeated Paul Orndorff to win the title.
Non Tournament matches:
- The Samoans (with Sonny King) defeated National Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy to win the titles,
-Tommy Rich defeated Don Muraco in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
1982 - Mid-Atlantic Wrestling ran Roanoke, VA with the following results:
-Kelly Kiniski beat Bill White.
-Mike Rotundo beat Ben Alexander.
-PVT. Nelson & PVT. Kernodle beat Jake Roberts & Jay Youngblood.
-Ricky Steamboat beat Matt Borne.
-Jack Brisco beat Sgt. Slaughter via DQ.
-Jimmy Valiant beat Ivan Koloff in a Steel Cage match.
1982 - The WWF ran Baltimore, Maryland at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center with the following results:
-Little Beaver & Tiger Jackson defeated Sky Low Low & Sonny Boy Hayes.
-WWF Women's Champion the Fabulous Moolah defeated Sherri Martel.
-Steve Travis defeated Jose Estrada.
-Salvatore Bellomo defeated Johnny Rodz.
-Ivan Putski defeated Jimmy Snuka with special guest referee SD Jones.
-Andre the Giant defeated Blackjack Mulligan.
-WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Buddy Rose.
1983 - Southeastern Championship Wrestling ran The Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama with the following results:
-Super Olympia defeated Norman Frederick Charles III.
-Tom Stanton defeated Randy Barber.
-Ricky Gibson defeated Chick Donovan via countout.
-Mr. Olympia defeated Buck Robley.
-Brad Armstrong & Ricky Gibson defeated Randy Rose & Ron Starr via DQ.
1983 - Mid-South Wrestling ran Baton Rouge, LA with the following results:
-Art Crews defeated Rip Rogers.
-George Weingeroff defeated Doug Vines.
-Johnny Rich defeated Boris Zurkov.
-Crusher Darsow defeated Tim Horner.
-The Missing Link defeated Magnum TA.
-Hacksaw Butch Reed defeated Tommy Rich.
-The Junkyard Dog defeated King Kong Bundy.
-Hacksaw Jim Duggan defeated Ted DiBiase in a steel cage match.
1984 - An event in Waco, Texas at the Convention Center saw the following results
-Steve Dupree beat Bo Beck.
-Al Madril beat Juan Reynosa.
-Tony Falk beat Dan Greer.
-Chicky Starr beat Eric Embry.
-Killer Brooks beat Manny Fernandez.
-The Road Warriors fought The Sheepherders to a Double DQ.
1985 - Central States Wrestling ran Memorial Hall in Kansas City, featuring the following results:
-Art Crews fought David Peterson to a draw
-Rufus R. Jones defeated Dave Nevins.
-Mr. Pogo defeated Gypsy Joe.
-Bart & Brad Batten defeated Rick Starr & Starship Coyote.
-Mr. Pogo fought Akio Sato to a draw.
-Rufus R. Jones & Sonny Myers defeated Edcar Thomas & Sheik Abdullah.
-NWA World Juniorheavyweight Champion Gary Royal defeated Denny Brown.
-Bulldog Bob Brown battled Harley Race to a double countout.
1986 - The WWF held the Sam Mushnick Tournament in St. Louis, MO at The Kiel Auditorium before an announced sellout of 10,612 for the following results:
Round One:
-Harley Race defeated B. Brian Blair.
-Don Muraco fought Greg Valentine to a double DQ.
-Adrian Adonis defeated King Tonga.
-The Junkyard Dog defeated Hercules.
-Brutus Beefcake defeated Lanny Poffo.
-Pedro Morales defeated Dory (Hoss) Funk Jr.
-Billy Jack Haynes defeated Jimmy Jack Funk.
-Ricky Steamboat defeated Jim Brunzell.
Quarter Finals:
-Harley Race receives a bye.
-The Junkyard Dog defeated Adrian Adonis.
-Brutus Beefcake defeated Pedro Morales.
-Ricky Steamboat defeated Billy Jack Haynes.
Semi Finals:
-Harley Race defeated the Junkyard Dog.
-Ricky Steamboat defeated Brutus Beefcake.
Finals: Harley Race defeated Ricky Steamboat.
In a non-tournament match: Paul Orndorff defeated WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan by DQ.
1987 - The WWF ran Baltimore, MD -at the Baltimore Arena before 12,000 fans with the following results:
-SD Jones defeated Barry Horowitz.
-Sika defeated Jerry Allen.
-Demolition defeated Chavo Guerrero & Sam Houston.
-WWF Women's Champion Sensational Sherri defeated the Fabulous Moolah.
-Butch Reed defeated Superstar Billy Graham.
-Tito Santana pinned Hercules.
-The Junkyard Dog defeated Kamala via disqualification.
-Brutus Beefcake fought Ted Dibiase to a 20-minute draw.
-WWF Champion Hulk Hogan & Bruno Sammartino defeated King Kong Bundy & The One Man Gang when Hogan pinned Bundy in Sammartino's final WWF appearance until he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.
1987 - The WWF ran Los Angeles, CA at The Sports Arena before 4,000 fans with the following results:
-Rick Rude defeated Scott Casey
-Outback Jack defeated Tiger Chung Lee
Greg Valentine & Dino Bravo defeated Jacques & Raymond Rougeau
-Butch Reed pinned Billy Jack Haynes
-Don Muraco pinned Bob Orton Jr.
-Killer Khan defeated George Steele via disqualification
-Superstar Billy Graham (with Ken Patera) pinned King Harley Race in a whipping match after Patera interfered. After the bout, Patera whipped Bobby Heenan.
1988 - WWF holds their first Summerslam Pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Here are the results:
- The British Bulldogs vs. Jacques & Raymond Rougeau ended in a twenty minute draw.
- Bad News Brown defeated Ken Patera.
- Rick Rude defeated The Junkyard Dog via DQ when Jake Roberts ran in and attacked Rude, who was wearing tights with a picture of Roberts' wife on them.
- The Powers Of Pain defeated Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zuhkov.
- The Ultimate Warrior defeated The Honky Tonk Man in 31 seconds, the fastest Intercontinental Title win ever, to end the longest Intercontinental Title reign of all time.
- Dino Bravo defeated Don Muraco.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated The Hart Foundation.
- Big Bossman defeated Koko B. Ware.
- Jake Roberts defeated Hercules.
- Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage defeated Andre The Giant & Ted DiBiase when Savage pinned DiBiase after Miss Elizabeth distracted him by taking off her skirt. Jesse Ventura was the special referee, and wouldn't count the pin until he was forced to.
1988 - All Japan Pro Wrestling ran a Bruiser Brody Memorial event as part of their Summer Action Series II tour in Tokyo, Japan at Nippon Budokan featuring the following results:
-Mitsuo Momota defeated Tsuyoshi Kikuchi in 7:24.
-Isao Takagi defeated Tatsumi Kitahara in 6:42.
-Mighty Inoue and Isamu Teranishi defeated Haruka Eigen and Motoshi Okuma by disqualification in 9:55.
-Toshiaki Kawada and Yoshinari Ogawa defeated Masanobu Fuchi and Kenta Kobashi 9:38.
-Akira Taue and Shin'ichi Nakano defeated Rocky Iaukea and The V in 11:22.
-The Great Kabuki defeated Goro Tsurumi in 5:24.
-Hiroshi Wajima and Takashi Ishikawa defeated Tom Zenk and Jerry Oates in 15:36.
-Jimmy Snuka and Johnny Ace defeated Tiger Mask #2 (Misawa) and Shinichi Nakano in 10:10.
-Giant Baba defeated Rusher Kimura in 11:20.
-Stan Hansen defeated Abdullah the Butcher by disqualification in 10:39.
-Genichiro Tenryu and Ashura Hara defeated Jumbo Tsuruta and Yoshiaki Yatsu in 29:51 to win the AJPW Tag Team Titles.
1990 - WCW, under the National Wrestling Alliance banner, ran Rome, GA at Baren Stadium with the following results:
-Brad Armstrong defeated Dutch Mantell.
-Tim Horner defeated Buddy Landell by DQ.
-Mike Rotunda defeated the Iron Sheik.
-NWA U.S. Champion Lex Luger pinned Barry Windham (substituting for Sid Vicious).
-The Rock N' Roll Express defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions Doom in a non-title match
-The Junkyard Dog pinned Mark Callous (the future Undertaker).
-Brian Pillman & Tom Zenk defeated The Midnight Express, Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane.
1991 - Sam Gradwell is born.
1991 - WCW ran The Meadowlands in East Rutherfold, NJ with the following results:
-Dustin Rhodes pinned Joey Maggs at 7:52.
-Richard Morton pinned Robert Gibson at 7:25.
-Terrance Taylor pinned Big Josh at 7:11.
-Tom Zenk pinned the Diamond Studd in a tuxedo match at 3:22.
-Ron Simmons pinned Thomas Rich at 3:29.
- The Patriots, Todd Champion & Firebreaker Chip fought WCW U.S. Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin to a double countout.
-WCW World TV Champion Steve Austin defeated Johnny B. Badd via disqualification at 9:23.
-El Gigante & Rick Steiner & Bill Kazmaier & The Yellow Dog (Brian Pillman) defeated Dick Murdoch & Dick Slater & The One Man Gang & Oz (Kevin Nash) at 14:17 when Gigante pinned Slater.
-WCW U.S. Champion Sting pinned Cactus Jack at 7:01. Lex Luger attacked Sting but Barry Windham made the save...
-WCW World Champion Lex Luger pinned Barry Windham at 9:52 by putting his feet on the ropes for leverage.
1991 - The USWA ran Humboldt, TN with the following results:
-Leatherface defeated Lord Humongous.
-Bill Dundee defeated Danny Davis.
-USWA Southern Champ Eric Embry defeated Dirty White Boy Tony Anthony.
-USWA Tag Team Champs Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller defeated Goon Squad #1 & Leatherface.
-Jimmy Valiant vs. Tom Prichard ended in a double countout.
1992 - WWF Summerslam is held in London, England at Wembley Stadium in front of almost 80,000 fans. This is the first (and so far, only) major WWF Pay-per-view event to be held outside of North America. Because of the time difference, WWF decided to air the Pay-per-view on a tape delay, so it wasn't shown in the U.S. until August 31st. Here are the results:
In matches not shown on the PPV broadcast but later aired on Prime Time Wrestling:
- Papa Shango defeated Tito Santana.
- Tatanka defeated The Bezerker.
- The Bushwackers & Hacksaw Duggan defeated The Nasty Boys & The Mountie.
In matches shown on the PPV broadcast:
- The Legion Of Doom defeated Ted DiBiase & Irwin R. Schyster.
- Nailz defeated Virgil.
- Shawn Michaels vs. Rick Martel ended in a double countout.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions The Natural Disasters defeated The Beverly Brothers.
- Crush defeated Repo Man.
- The Ultimate Warrior defeated WWF World Champion Randy Savage via countout after interference from Ric Flair.
- The Undertaker defeated Kamala via DQ.
- Davey Boy Smith defeated Bret Hart to win the WWF Intercontinental Title.
1992 - WCW ran Kansas City, MO at the Municipal Auditorium before 1,100 fans with the following results:
-The Junkyard Dog pinned Vinnie Vegas.
-Erik Watts pinned Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker.
-Cactus Jack pinned Van Hammer.
-The Barbarian pinned Brian Pillman.
-Johnny B. Badd pinned Scotty Flamingo.
-Dick Slater pinned Tom Zenk.
-Dustin Rhodes pinned Greg Valentine.
-Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton.
-WCW World TV Champion Steve Austin pinned Ricky Steamboat.
-WCW U.S. Champion Rick Rude & Jake Roberts defeated Sting & Nikita Koloff when Roberts pinned Koloff following the DDT.
-WCW World Champion Ron Simmons pinned Big Van Vader.
1993 - The USWA ran "Caged Kings' 93" in Memohis at theMid-South Coliseum drawing 2,100 fans for the following results:
-Jeff Gaylord pinned Colin Scotts in 3:29.
-JC Ice pinned The American Eagle (Danny Davis) in 10:01.
-Mike Anthony pinned Wolfie D in 5:26.
-Brute Forcz beat Randy Rockett & Johnny West in 6:01 when Brute Forz #1 pinned Rockett.
-Miss Texas pinned The Black Pussycat in 2:42.
-Giant Gonzales pinned The Vampire Warrior (Gangrel) in 2:21.
-USWA Southern Champ Jeff Jarrett pinned Owen Hart in 12:18.
-USWA Tag Team Champs The Dog Catchers beat Moondogs Spike & Cujo in 3:50.
-Brian Christopher pinned Chris Adams in 10:33 in a loser leaves town match.
-Jerry Lawler pinned Bret Hart in 15:39 in a steel cage match.
1994 - WWF Summerslam is held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Here are the results:
- In a dark match, Adam Bomb defeated Kwang.
- Bam Bam Bigelow & Irwin R. Schyster defeated The Headshrinkers via DQ.
- WWF Women's Champion Alundra Blayze defeated Bull Nakano.
- Razor Ramon defeated Diesel to win the WWF Intercontinental Title. Ramon was accompanied to the ring by Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton.
- Tatanka defeated Lex Luger.
- Jeff Jarrett defeated Mabel.
- WWF World Heavyweight Champion Bret Hart defeated Owen Hart in a steel cage match.
- The Undertaker defeated Ted DiBiase's Undertaker (Brian Lee).
2000 - Al Snow defeats Perry Saturn for the WWF European Heavyweight Title in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
2002 - Former WCW champion Bill Goldberg made his first appearance inside a professional wrestling ring since the demise of WCW this morning for All Japan Pro Wrestling at Budokan Hall, defeating Satoshi Kojima. The complete results of the event:
- Kazushi Miyamoto defeated Tomoaki Honma in 2:26.
- Hideki Hosaka defeated Nobukazu Hirai in 4:16.
- Mitsuya Nagai, Yoji Anjoh, & Shigeo Okumura defeated Arashi, Nobutaka Araya & Yuto Aijima in 10:36 when Nagai pinned Aijima.
- George Hines, Johnny Smith & Gran Hamada defeated Steve Williams, Mike Rotundo & Gran Naniwa in 12:46 when Hines pinned Naniwa.
- Abdullah The Butcher & Kendo Ka Shin defeated Masa Fuchi & Mr. Problem in 8:12 when Abdullah pinned Fuchi.
- Kaz Hayashi defeated Jimmy Yang in 13:58 to become the top contender to the Junior Heavyweight Title.
- Genichiro Tenryu defeated Hiroshi Hase in 14:32.
- Bill Goldberg defeated Satoshi Kojima in 4:02.
- Kronik defeated Mike Barton & Jim Steele to retain the World Tag Team Championship when Brian Adams pinned Jim Steele in 17:25.
- Keiji Mutoh defeated Taiyo Kea in 19:47.
2002 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Jeff K. filed the following TV report:
Location: Uncasville, CN
[A commercial/promo aired featuring Brock Lesnar. The voiceover asked “What is in store for Brock Lesnar?” and hyped the show coming up next.]
[WWE Attitude montage airs.]
Highlights of Lesnar’s SummerSlam win over Rock are shown, including Cole’s call of the match. Heyman’s laughter grows louder as the promo goes on.
[Opening Airs]
Stephanie McMahon strides to the ring with a smile, as Cole announces that the “Brock Lesnar Era has begun.” Cole and Tazz discuss Stehpanie’s “coup for all time” in bringing Brock to Smackdown.
Steph welcomes the crowd to Smackdown, the Home of Brock Lesnar. The crowd boos Lesnar at first mention. Steph hypes Lesnar’s exclusivity, to more boos. She next asks who the number one contender is. “It’s not Triple H, and we’re going to find out who it is tonight.” Starting “right now” a single elimination style series of matches will proceed, with the final winner being named number one contender.
Edge’s music hits, and he runs to the ring where Steph is waiting. Tazz and Cole hype the match series, and put over Steph for her ability to bring surprises to Smackdown. Steph fawns over Edge, and then announces that Latino Heat will be his opponent. Steph stresses that Eddie jumped from Raw for the competition on Smackdown.
The Smackdown ring has a new apron as well as a silver frame. The refs are in their new blue shirts. These differences at least try to give Raw and Smackdown a different feel.
1. Eddie Guerrero Defeats. Edge in 7:57.
Eddie took control early, going to work on the left shoulder he brutalized at SummerSlam. A large Eddie Sucks chant broke out. Edge takes over offense with a faceplant for one. Eddie offers Edge his hand, and Edge pulls him into a clothesline. Eddie hides behind the ref, and takes down Edge. Eddie kicks Edge repeatedly into the corner, and taunts him, following up with punches, uppercuts, and more kicks. An Irish whip is reversed, but Edge runs into an Eddie elbow. Suplex by Eddie, for two. The announcers stress the injured shoulder. Fujiwara armbar applied. Eddie fights back with punches, but a low dropkick to the knees stops Edge’s momentum.
Edge countered a suplex and reversed Eddie back over the ropes to the outside. Edge went up top and flew into Eddie on the outside. After throwing Eddie back into the ring, Edge again went up top, but Guerrero was able to get to the turnbuckles and superplex Edge. Eddie crawled into a cover but Edge kicked out at two. Eddie hammered away with punches and elbows as Edge remained on one knee. Edge reversed an Irish whip into a faceplant and then hit a strong powerbomb. Both men stay down, with Edge selling the previous damage done by Eddie. Both men struggle up, with Eddie using the ropes and making it to his feet at seven. Edge fights back with right hands and hits a back body drop, followed by a clothesline. The EdgeOMatic puts Eddie down for two. Cole and Tazz speculate on who the next competitor in the tournament will be. Edge again goes to the top rope, and hits a missile drop kick into Eddie’s chest. Edge dropped to the Apron as Edge tried to set him up top.
Eddie grabbed two chairs and walked around the ring. Eddie entered with one chair, which Edge grabbed only to have it taken away by the ref. Eddie grabbed the other chair while the ref tossed the other away, and the chair attempting a spear hits Edge. Eddie showboats up top and hits the frogsplash to get the win at 7:57.
Guerrero punks out Edge, and strides to the back holding his ribs. Tazz and Cole marvel at Eddie’s ability to manipulate the ref.
[Commercial Break. Unforgiven commercial hypes Lesnar’s upcoming defense.]
[Second Quarter Hour]
Steph is walking backstage when Matt Hardy grabs her and alludes to his huge pop. Steph informs Matt that he is not the next competitor and announces Rikishi as the next entrant. Matt wants a shot in the tournament.
Back at the ring, John Cena walks out. D-Von enters next, and highlights of Bautista’s turning on D-Von are shown.
2. Revered D-Von defeats John Cena in 4:05
D-Von starts the match by tossing his jacket in Cena’s face, but Cena fights back with dropkicks and a cross body block. D-Von his Cena with elbow and rams his head into a turnbuckle. The announcers put over D-Von as being “extra intense and vicious.” D-Von punches Cena and hits an elbow “right to the heart” for two. Cena fights back with punches and elbows, but runs into a powerslam by D-Von for a series of quick covers and two counts. D-Von pounds on Cena who tries to fight back, only to again fall victim to a D-Von punch. Cena reverses a suplex attempt into a spinning neckbreaker of some kind, and hits D-Von with two clotheslines and two crossbody blocks for two. Cena hit an inverted atomic drop but D-Von hit Cena with an elbow when Cena tried to come off the ropes. D-Von missed a flying headbutt, and Cena blew a rollup which the announces put over as being due to inexperience. D-Von hits an inverted atomic drop and puts Cena away with the Curtain Call to score three at 4:05. Bautista clears the ref and Cena from the ring and hits D-Von with a clothesline. Bautista destroyed D-Von with a falling powerbomb on D-Von. The announcers put over Bautista more in the two minutes at the end of the match than they put over Cena in the entire match.
A vignette airs hyping Rey Mysterio. Sort of a Hispanic-sounding rap music video montage which ends with the word “Next” below Rey’s mask.
[Commercial Break]
[Third Quarter Hour]
[Commercial hyping confidential airs.]
Rey Mysterio’s music hits! According to Cole, Rey is the “poster boy for motion sickness.” All righty. Rico comes out with Billy and Chuck.
3. Rey Mysterio defeats Rico (with Billy and Chuck) in 5:33.
Rico goes for a bodyslam but Rey lands on his feet, and then sends Rico out of the ring. As Billy and Chuck push Rico back in the ring, Rey hits a crossbody on the duo after launching off Rico’s back. The ref throws out the Ambiguously Gay Duo, but Rico takes control while the ref is distracted. Rey comes back with a flying leg scissors, but Rico hits a kick, latches on the dragon sleeper, and then hits a powerslam/sidewalk slam combo. Rico grounds Rey by pinning him into a corner. Rico holds a headlock and hits two suplexes and then a powerbomb. Rico chokes Mysterio and begins to kick him, but he crowd distracts him with a “Rico sucks” chant. Rico hits a series of heel kicks, throws Rey into the ropes and then catches him and hits a hard powerslam. Rico styles above Rey, and Rey rolled out of the way of a moonsault. Rey hit a bulldog for two, and then rana’d Rico into the turnbuckle. Rey hit a split-leg moonsault, but Rico fought back with chops on a frustrated Rey. Rico countered another Rey rana into a sidewalk slam. Rey kicked Rico into the ropes for the 6-1-9, and then nailed the West Coast Pop at 5:33. Cole “loves this guy.” Tazz and Cole put over Mysterio after the match and hype his exclusivity to Smackdown.
Backstage, Bob Holly demands to be in the number one contenders’ tournament. Bob rags on the other entrants, but Steph blows him off for a phone call announced by Dawn Marie. Bob berates Marie and then storms away.
[Commercial Break]
[Forceable Entry commercial airs featuring and intense Chris Benoit.]
[Commercial for the Hogan DVD airs.]
Back at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Cole and Tazz put over the Pledge to Participate Tour and highlights are shown. Angle, Edge, and Rock are featured with Gov. Pataki.
Steph is shown on the phone with someone from Raw. Steph offers to have Dawn deliver papers to the mystery person. Matt Hardy barges in, asking when he will be in the tournament. The caller hangs up on Steph, who is angry, and puts Matt in a non-title batch with Lesnar. Matt is excited, and Steph is livid.
Backstage, Rikishi and Mark Lloyd are having a pow wow. Rikishi remembers being F5’d, and announces his intent to destroy Lesnar. Eddie Guerrero strides in and makes fun of Rikishi’s vow to give Brock a “piece of the ‘Kish.” Eddie makes fun of Rikishi’s diaper being too tight and cutting off blood flow to Rikishi’s ass. Eddie is angry about being overlooked for Brock, and Rikishi demands to know how to say “Back dat ass up” in Spanish before leaving a fuming Eddie.
[Fourth Quarter Hour]
[Commercial Break]
[Fozzy commercial airs.]
Lugz boot of the week: Eddie’s chair gambit earlier tonight.
Eddie is in the ring as the break ends, with Rikishi following.
4. Rikishi defeats Eddie Guerrero in 5:03
After tossing Eddie from a lockup, Edie comes back with a headlock. Rikishi shoulder blocks Eddie off the ropes and punches Eddie, setting up a Stinkface tease. Eddie gets up, escapes a body slam, and dropkicks the knees of Rikishi. Eddie continues to work over the knee, leaping onto it while falling outside the ring. Eddie uses the ring steps to further break down the knee. Back in the ring, Eddie uses and ankle lock. Tazz makes a good point by saying that Eddie isn’t doing a lot of good due to Rikishi’s fat. Guerrero kicks Rikishi’s knee and beats him down into a corner, choking Rikishi, and then kicking him yet again. Back on their feet, Rikishi fights back with right hands, but Eddie barely gets out of the way of Rikishi’s falling ass when Eddie was on the ground. Great facials by Eddie.
Eddie goes back to left leg of Rikishi, using his own knee as a fulcrum. Rikishi fights back with chops, knocking away Guerrero. Eddie again takes control but Eddie issues an elbow into the corner. Rikishi hits a superkick on Guerrero for three at 5:03.
After the match, Benoit runs down and the two men doubleteam Rikishi, setting up a frogsplash by Eddie onto Rikishi’s back. Benoit then locked on the Crossface, but Edge broke up the hold and cleared the ring.
[Fifth Quarter Hour]
The announcers ponder the status of Rikishi and wonder who the next in line for a match is.
[Commercial Break]
[WWE commercial ripping on MLB airs.]
Benoit walks backstage, and is criticized by Steph for his aggression and for losing the IC title. Steph makes Benoit the next entrant.
Tajiri’s music hits, and he walks out accompanied by Jamie Noble and Nidia. Nidia poses for the announcers. Cole mutters something about kissing and Nidia. Shannon Moore, with the Hurricane, enters the ring next.
5. Shannon Moore defeats Tajiri in 6:36.
Tajiri takes control first with an armbar but Moore gets a two count with an armdrag and heel kick. Tajiri tosses Moore midsection first into the ropes, and begins to work on Moore’s back and neck with kicks and a headlock. Cole and Tazz finally hype the phone call Steph made, and wonder who the Raw star is. Tajiri hit a vicious heel kick on Moore, and then his great baseball slide into Moore’s head while he hung upside down on the ropes. Tajiri went back to a headlock, with Noble cheering him on. Tajiri locks on a modified Cobra Clutch, but Moore escaped into the ropes. Tajiri punks out Moore and gets a two count when Moore put his foot on the ropes. Another two for Tajiri. Tajiri locked on another chinlock, while Hurricane tried to rouse Moore, who fought back with right hands after breaking the hold. Moore hit an elbow and then a neckbreaker, and then a flying headscisors from the top rope. Moore landed awkwardly, and Tajiri hit a brutal looking German suplex for two. Noble tripped Moore, but was assaulted by the Hurricane. Tajiri cleaned up the Hurricane, but was rolled up and defeated by Moore in 6:36.
The announcers hype the contenders’ series as it’s time for a break.
[Commercial Break]
[An NOW highlight film is hyped for InDemand. This is the first time I have seen WWE market something that is based mostly on WCW library footage. Most interesting.]
[Sixth Quarter Hour]
Whack of the Night: Rikishi’s superkick on Eddie, followed by the beatdown.
Back on the show, Rikishi is waiting in the ring for Benoit, who enters promptly.
6. Chris Benoit defeated Rikishi in 3:35.
Rikishi took the lead early with right hands, but Benoit stopped the momentum with an elbow, and then kicks to Rikishi in the corner. Benoit continued to hammer at Rikishi, who tried to fight back with right hands and a Samoan drop, which hurt Rikishi. Benoit locked on the Crossface suddenly. The announcers urged Rikishi to struggle on, putting over the importance of the match. Rikishi made it to the bottom rope, but Benoit drug him out and locked on the Crossface again, making Rikishi tap rapidly in 3:35.
Benoit smirked and went to the back, with the announcers speculating as to who the final challenger would be.
[Commercial Break]
Back from the break, Kurt Angle “apologized” for beating Rey Mysterio. Kurt makes a pun about his medals, and speculates that he will be the final entrant in the series, making reference to Benoit’s stealing his medals and hiding them in his pants. Angle turns serious and pledges to beat both Benoit and Lesnar.
Funaki tries to interview Brock Lesnar by grabbing Paul Heyman. Heyman runs down Funaki, and Funaki decides it’s not a good time to bother Brock. Matt Hardy shows up, and claims that from here on, WWE will have “Mattitude.” Heyman and Funaki are stupefied as Matt departs, and Heyman enters the dressing room to inform Brock of Matt’s “death wish.”
[Commercial Break]
[“See it Live” spot airs.]
[Seventh Quarter Hour]
Lesnar and Heyman enter to good heat. The “animalistic future of the WWE” has arrived, according to Cole. Cole really puts over Lesnar, probably a little too much so to sound believable. Matt Came out to mild applause as well as some boos.
7. Brock Lesnar defeated Matt Hardy in 3: 39.
Lesnar drills Hardy to the outside as he strutted on the second rope. Lesnar forces Hardy into the post, and then continued the back assault by driving him into the turnbuckle and giving him repeated shoulder blocks. Hardy dodged a block and then hit an elbow, but was immediately driven down with a clothesline after a legsweep. Lesnar grabbed Matt’s right arm and began to choke the prone Matt Hardy, throwing in clotheslines for good measure. Lesnar punked out Hardy by slapping him, but Hardy scored a two-count rollup. Lesnar took control again with a belly-to-belly suplex. A powerful scoop-slam led to more strutting by Brock. Lesnar is showing a lot of confidence and heelish posturing in this match.
Hardy threw Lesnar out of the ring but was caught in mid air attempting a flying body press. Hardy took control and tried for a Twist of Fate which was reversed into an F5 for three in 3:39. Tazz puts over Lesnar as the “scariest human he’s ever seen.” Lesnar took the belt and began to walk to the back, but hesitated and then returned to the ring to deliver a pair of powerbombs after Hardy gave the Hardy Boyz hand signal. Heyman was pleased.
The announcers hyped the main even of Benoit and Angle, but Dawn Marie was shown delivering papers to Steph, who then made the match a triple threat. Dawn dialed up Bischoff to make sure he watched the debut.
[Commercial Break]
[Eighth Quarter Hour]
Blast of the Night: Benoit’s Crossface on Rikishi
Returning from the break, Benoit waited in the ring for Angle and the mystery opponent from Raw. The announcers expressed their puzzlement at who the mystery man could be. Angle entered to a lot of crowd heat. Steph came out to announce the mystery opponent…. “A legendary superstar…. The Undertaker!” The crowd pop was good, as Angle and Benoit looked surprised in the ring.
8. The Undertaker defeated Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle in 8:49 to earn a number one contender’s status.
Angle and Benoit began by double-teaming the Undertaker, beating him in a corner. Cole put over Angle and Benoit’s submission specialties. Undertaker fought off both men, while Cole stressed that the first man to score a pinfall would win. I would prefer an elimination match, but alas. Angle crotched Taker on the ropes, and the doubleteam began again. Doubleteam backbody drop on the Undertaker. After dispatching Taker from the ring, Angle tackled Benoit and tried for the Ankle Lock, but Benoit escaped, only to receive two German suplexes. Benoit reversed, and hit 2 Germans of his own. Angle then reversed yet again and hit another German, and locked on the Ankle Lock. Benoit made it to the ropes, but Angle continued to apply pressure with Taker on the outside. Benoit hit a release German which flipped Angle and scored a two count when the Undertaker saved reentered the ring and began to beat on Benoit as Angle languished on the outside. A Big Boot from taker le to a two count. Undertaker signaled for the Last Ride, but Angle hit the knee of the Undertaker. Angle tried to bring in a chair, but Benoit was able to hit a hard chairshot while the ref was distracted. Angle drug Benoit off Taker and tried for his own pin attempt, but Taker kicked out. All three men in the ring at 5:20, but Taker threw Angle out. Benoit then hit a German on Taker who fought his way out of another with elbows. Taker then hit a chokeslam for two, but Angle locked in the Ankle lock breaking up the pin. Take was able to flip taker in a preposterous spot, and knocked him to the floor. Benoit then used the Crossface on Taker, who struggled to get to the ropes. Angle reentered and locked on an Ankle Lock to Taker. The announcers wondered what would happen if Taker tapped and both men were involved. Angle missed an Angle slam on Benoit, who used the Crossface, but Angle reversed and used the Ankle Lock on Benoit. Taker remained lying to the side. Benoit cried out and tried to make it to the ropes. Cole and Tazz think Benoit would tap, but he made it to the ropes but was drug out. Benoit kicked Angle away into a rollup by Taker for two. Angle slam to Undertaker, but Angle was tossed from the ring. Undertaker got up and set up Benoit for the Last Ride, hitting it for three at 8:49. The Undertaker is now the Number One Contender.
As the match ended, Cole and Tazz put over the Undertaker’s surprise appearance and hyped the coming match with Lesnar.
Summary: A solid if not spectacular Smackdown. The Undertaker’s appearance was a surprise, but it leaves Raw very thin on several levels. Also, I’d prefer someone younger and fresher to face Lesnar, but the triple threat match was at least passably good. I like the idea of the double submission ending, and wouldn’t have minded seeing where that could have gone. However, the match did a good job of not making the Undertaker look like he could defeat two excellent workers by himself. Well done.