This Day In History - September 18th
On this day in history in ...
1950 - The Green Hornet defeats Danny Dusek in Tampa, Florida for the Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Dusek's second reign.
1956 - Gene Kelly (Kiniski) & Len Crosby defeat Ray Gunkel & Herb Freeman in Dallas, Texas for the NWA Texas Tag Team Title.
1956 - The Fabulous Moolah won a tournament in Baltimore, Maryland by defeating Judy Grable in the finals. As a result, when June Byers retired, Moolah was awarded the Women's World Title.
1961 - Dick Hutton & Sam Steamboat win a tournament for the NWA Texas Tag Team Title in Fort Worth, Texas. The belts had been vacated by champions Angelo Poffo & Bronco Lubich the month before.
1972 - Masked Lee & Sylvia Hackney defeat Jumbo Miyamoto & Aiko Kyo for the WWWA World Tag Teal Title in Muroran, Japan. Lee would have a career total of 12 reigns with the tag straps with various partners. For Miyamoto & Kyo, this was the end of the third of their six reigns with the belts (Miyamoto would hold the belts with other partners as well).
1980 - Andre The Giant defeats Hulk Hogan in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1982 - WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pins Jimmy Snuka at the Philadelphia Spectrum in Pennsylvania. After the match, Backlund offered his hand to Snuka, and shockingly, Snuka shook it. This was the beginning of Snuka's babyface turn which would result in him feuding with former manager Captain Lou Albano.
1990 - At a WWF television taping in Toledo, Ohio, during an edition of The Brother Love Show, Rick Martel sprayed Jake Roberts with "Arrogance" cologne, blinding Roberts for several weeks and eventually setting up the Wrestlemania VII "blindfold" match between the two. Also at the taping, the October 13th edition of Saturday Night's Main Event was taped, featuring the following matches:
- The Ultimate Warrior & The Legion Of Doom defeated Demolition.
- Randy Savage defeated Dusty Rhodes via countout.
- Hulk Hogan & Tugboat defeated Greg Valentine & Honky Tonk Man via DQ.
- Sgt. Slaughter defeated Koko B. Ware.
- Intercontinental Champion Kerry Von Erich defeated Haku.
1993 - Mima Shimoda defeated Bat Yoshinaga in a tournament final to win the All Japan Singles Title in Omiya, Japan. The belt had been vacated when a leg injury forced champion Debbie Malenko to retire.
1993 - ECW held their "UltraClash" card in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the ECW Arena. Here are the results:
- In their ECW debut, Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge) defeated Jason Knight & Ian Rotten when Rock pinned Ian.
- Pennsylvania State Champion Tony Stetson defeated Tommy Cairo.
- Super Destroyer #1 defeated Super Destroyer #2 in a mask vs. mask match.
- The Dark Patriot defeated JT Smith in a Scaffold match.
- Terry Funk & Stan Hansen defeated Kevin Sullivan & Abdullah the Butcher via DQ in a Bunkhouse match when Eddie Gilbert interfered.
- Tigra won a battle royal that included Don E. Allen, Angel, manager Hunter Q. Robbins III, Sherri Martel and television announcer Jay Sulli.
- Sal Bellomo defeated Richard Michaels in a strap match.
- ECW Champion Shane Douglas defeated The Sandman.
- The Headhunters defeated Miguel Perez Jr. & Crash The Terminator in a baseball bat match.
1994 - WCW held their Fall Brawl Pay-per-view event in Roanoke, Virginia. Here are the results:
- In a dark match, Brad & Brian Armstrong defeated Steve Keirn & Bobby Eaton.
- Johnny B. Badd defeated Steven Regal to win the WCW Television Title.
- Kevin Sullivan defeated Cactus Jack in a Loser Leaves WCW match. This would be the end of Cactus Jack's career in WCW.
- Due to injury (the back injury that resulted in his retirement), Ricky Steamboat was forced to forfeit the U.S. Heavyweight Title. It was awarded to his scheduled opponent for the evening, Steve Austin. However, Hacksaw Jim Duggan came out, challenged Austin, and won the U.S. Title in less than a minute.
- NWA World Tag Team Champions Paul Roma & Paul Orndorff defeated The Patriot & Marcus Bagwell.
- Vader defeated Sting and The Guardian Angel (Big Bossman) in an elimination match. Vader eliminated Angel at the seven minute mark, then the match went on for another twenty minutes before Vader pinned Sting.
- Dusty Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes & The Nasty Boys defeated Terry Funk, Arn Anderson, Bunkhouse Buck & Robert Parker in a War Games match.
1995 - The Monday Night Wars continued, with WWF's Raw earning a 2.7 rating for a show featuring The 1-2-3 Kid defeating Razor Ramon, Kama & Tatanka defeating Bob Holly & Savio Vega, and Yokozuna & Owen Hart defeating Men On A Mission. Nitro, meanwhile, did a 1.9 rating for a show featuring The American Males defeating Harlem Heat for the WCW World Tag Team Title, Paul Orndorff defeating Johnny B. Badd and Ric Flair defeating Brian Pillman.
1997 - Salvatore Sincere defeats Tracey Smothers in Louisville, Kentucky to win the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title.
1999 - Wifebeater defeated Nick Gage to win the CZW World Heavyweight Title in Mantua, New Jersey, starting the first of his three title reigns.
1999 - Vic Grimes defeated Steve Bradley in Memphis, Tennessee to win the Memphis Power Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title.
2000 - The final edition of Raw on USA Network (until 2005) took place at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, headlined by The Undertaker defeating WWF World Champion The Rock in a non-title match. The show would earn a 5.7 rating.
2002 - At the weekly NWA:TNA Pay-per-view event in Nashville, Tennessee, America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris & James Storm) won a Tag Team Gauntlet Battle Royal to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. When the match came down to the last two teams, AMW and Brian Lee & Ron Harris, it became a regular tag team match, which AMW won when Chris Harris pinned Lee.
2005 - WWE held their Unforgiven Pay-per-view in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, highlighted by Ric Flair defeating Carlito for the Intercontinental Title, a steel cage match between Matt Hardy and Edge, and a main event of John Cena vs. Kurt Angle. For the original PPV coverage of that event,
Unforgiven
Intercontinental Champion Carlito vs. Ric Flair.
Ric Flair came out first, in a new blue robe. As Carlito entered, they recapped the initial confrontation between the two in Carlito's Cabana on Raw. Flair started playing mind games at the start, faking out Carlito into a lockup attempt, then strutting. Flair took Carlito down with side headlocks, which Carlito broke out of by pulling Flair's hair. Flair applied a hammerlock, then Carlito grabbed a headlock and hit a shoulderblock. Carlito mocked Flair's strut. Flair went to a hammerlock again, shoved Carlito in a corner, then strutted and let out a "Whoo". Flair faked a test of strength, then grabbed a hammerlock, but Carlito elbowed him in the face and punched him. Flair floored Carlito with a chop, then went for a leg, but Carlito rolled out to the floor. They locked up, and Carlito elbowed and punched Flair in a corner. Flair poked Carlito in the eyes, to a pop, then hit some chops and punches.
Flair whipped Carlito across the ring, but Carlito came back with a clothesline. Carlito punched Flair in a corner, but Flair walked out with a reverse atomic drop and then hit a chop. Flair went for a figure four, but Carlito kicked it off, sending Flair to the floor. As Flair got on the apron, Carlito yanked his arm across the top rope. On the floor, Carlito rammed Flair shoulder first into the ringpost. Carlito whipped Flair into the ringsteps. Carlito covered Flair for a two count in the ring, then stomped his shoulder. Carlito applied an overhead wristlock on the bad arm, but Flair chopped his way out. Carlito pulled Flair to the mat by the hair, then pounded him with punches. A "Let's Go Flair" chant broke out, as Carlito worked Flair over in a corner. Carlito backdropped Flair for a two count.
Carlito hit a cross armbreaker for a two count, then went into a keylock. Carlito hit a knee to the gut and a punch, then went for the armbreaker again, but Flair held onto the top rope, allowing Carlito to fall to the mat. Flair mounted a comeback, hitting chops and elbows. Flair delivered his trademark kneedrop, then lifted Carlito off the mat and chopped him down. Ric Flair went to the top rope, and Carlito went to meet him, but Flair punched him away.
Ric Flair then SUCCESSFULLY hit a forearm off the top rope! The place popped huge for Flair hitting a move off the top rope, and Flair celebrated with a strut.
Flair then went to the top rope again, but as he came off, Carlito caught him with a dropkick. Carlito went to ringside and got his apple. He took a bite out of it, but Flair punched Carlito in the face, and Carlito started choking on the apple. Flair took Carlito down, and applied the figure four leglock. Carlito tapped out at the thirteen minute mark. Winner and new Intercontinental Champion: Ric Flair.
Ric Flair got on the microphone and said it was an honor, at this stage of his career, to win the Intercontinental championship. Flair said this win meant as much to him as his 16 World Title wins. Flair said he wished his best friend Triple H was there to celebrate with him. Flair then said he was going to party in Oklahoma "all night long", and picked out a couple of babes from the front row to go party with him.
Backstage, Todd Grisham tried to interview Carlito, who walked off. They went back to ringside, where Flair was strutting out with four hot women, and saying he was going to be doing it "all night long".
In the locker room, Edge and Lita talked about how, when Matt was injured, he would call both of them, and they would be in bed together answering their phones without Matt knowing. Edge said he would destroy Matt tonight. Lita said she knew Edge would make her happy later, so she was going to make him happy now, and the two started making out.
Trish Stratus & Ashley vs. Torrie Wilson & Victoria, with Candice Michelle.
Torrie was carrying a puppy with her to the ring, and all four of them (the ladies and the dog) were wearing gold. Trish and Victoria were trash talking at the start, and Torrie reached around Victoria and slapped at Trish, then hid behind Victoria. Torrie teased starting the match with Trish, but tagged out to Victoria. Victoria took Trish down with a front facelock, and flipped over Trish and bridged to put pressure on the neck. Trish came back with a headscissors takedown and a sloppy Thesz press. Trish went after Torrie, who ducked on the apron, and Trish went back to chopping Victoria. Ashley licked Trish's hand before she chopped Victoria. Ashley, still wearing her baseball cap, tagged in and hit a clothesline, then, for whatever reason, did a somersault over Victoria (her hat fell off) and a slow motion dropkick. The crowd groaned. Torrie came in and tossed Ashley to the floor. Candice gave Ashley a weak kick. Victoria tossed Ashley back in, then hit a slingshot legdrop and put her in a headscissors. Victoria took her down with a reverse chinlock, then tagged in Torrie, who hit some weak stomps and threw Ashley face first to the mat. Victoria tagged in, and Ashley tried to hit some shots to the gut, but Victoria kneed her in the face.
Victoria teased letting Ashley make a tag, then took her away from her corner with a front facelock. Ashley did manage a tag, but Torrie was distracting the referee. Victoria gave Ashley a snap suplex, then went to the top rope, but Ashley crotched her and tagged Trish. Trish gave Victoria a headscissors off the top, then hit some forearms. Torrie grabbed Trish from the apron, but Trish knocked her to the floor. Victoria put Trish in a fireman's carry, but Trish turned it into a headscissors. Trish matrixed under a Torrie clothesline, then cleaned house on Torrie and Victoria with clotheslines. Trish hit Victoria with a spinebuster, but Candice distracted the referee. Trish threw Candice to the floor, and Ashley rammed her face first into the apron. In the ring, Trish took Victoria and Torrie down with a side mare/headscissors combo. Torrie fell to the floor, and Trish hit Victoria with the Chick Kick at the seven minute mark.
Winners: Trish Stratus & Ashley.
Backstage, Flair, with champagne in hand, led the women into a limo, asking them if they had ever seen a "theme park in a limo" before. Flair put all the women in the limo, then pulled out some pills (insinuating that it was Viagra) and took a few. Flair then remembered how many women were with him, and took a few more.
A vignette aired hyping the move of Raw to USA, featuring Vince McMahon, Carlito, Triple H, John Cena, Roddy Piper, Kurt Angle and Divas packing up to "move out" of a house.
Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons of ZZTop, sitting at ringside, were introduced to the crowd.
Big Show vs. Gene Snitsky.
Big Show shook hands with ZZTop as he came out. They started brawling as soon as Snitsky got into the ring, interrupting the highlights of their previous confrontations, including Snitsky hitting Show with the ringbell. Show tossed Snitsky around with a pair of hiptosses, then hit a headbutt. Snitsky fought back with punches, but Show powered him down. Snitsky got out of the ring and headed up the ramp, but Show grabbed him and tossed him back into the ring. Show quieted the crowd, then chopped Snitsky. Snitsky went to the floor again, and Show followed. Show missed a clothesline and hit the ringpost. Snitsky then yanked Show shoulder first into the ringpost.
They went back into the ring, and Snitsky put Show in an overhead wristlock. For some reason, they showed the clips package they didn't finish showing earlier. Show armdragged out of the wristlock, and went for a choke, but Snitsky kept hitting the injured arm. Snitsky avoided another chokeslam attempt, and continued his assault on the arm. Snitsky avoided a Show charge, with Show hitting his shoulder in the corner, and Snitsky hit a back suplex on Show. Snitsky hit a shoulderblock on Show, then took him down with a running boot. There was a "Big Show" chant, as Snitsky went for the overhead wristlock again. Show shoved off the hold and hit a spinebuster. Both men were down, and Show sort of did a kip up (he used the ropes for help), and then went on the offensive, hitting punches, a headbutt and a shoulderblock. Show then hit a left-hand chokeslam (Snitsky had been working on the right arm) for the clean win at the six minute mark. Winner: The Big Show.
Show teased leaving, then laid out Snitsky with a shot from the ring bell for good measure. Which would explain why they insisted on finishing the video package of Snitsky hitting Show with the bell earlier. Show teased leaving again, then stood over Snitsky and drove the bell into the back of Snitsky's head. Show then finally left.
Backstage, there was steam coming out of the limo that Flair was partying in with the ladies.
A video package on the Chris Masters-Shawn Michaels feud was shown. Michaels was shown warming up in the back.
Kerwin White vs. Shelton Benjamin.
Benjamin drove out to the ring on his gold cart, carrying a hanger for his sweater vest. Kerwin did his Chi Chi Rodriguez impression with a golf club. Shelton slid out of the ring as Kerwin was stalling on the apron and yanked Kerwin face first into the apron. Shelton tossed Kerwin into the ring to start the match, ripping off his polo shirt and hitting a back elbow. Kerwin kicked away a backdrop attempt, but Shelton hit him with a knee to the gut. Kerwin slid under Benjamin, but was given an elbow drop. Kerwin dropkicked Shelton's leg out from under him. Shelton came back with a flapjack and a clothesline for two. Shelton missed a running knee in the corner, and Kerwin gave him a chopblock. Kerwin kicked at his leg and dropped some elbows. Kerwin hit a forearm.
The fans chanted "Chavo Sucks", and Kerwin yelled "My name ain't Chavo". Kerwin hit a shinbuster, but as he went for a second, Shelton floated over him. However, Kerwin held onto his leg and put a torture rack on the leg. Benjamin broke out, but Kerwin took him down with a spinning headscissors. Kerwin scored a two count, then yanked Benjamin's leg across the bottom rope. Kerwin went for a monkey flip, but Shelton landed on his feet. Benjamin hit a Samoan Drop, but was favoring his leg, allowing Kerwin to come right back with punches. Shelton returned fire, hit a clothesline, then a back elbow. Shelton hit a backbreaker for a two count, then backdropped Kerwin as he charged him. Shelton delivered a back suplex, then went to the top rope, but Kerwin crotched him, and Shelton got hung up by his bad leg. Kerwin hit a top rope superplex, but Shelton kicked out at two. Kerwin applied a single leg Crab on the bad leg, and Shelton went for the ropes, but Kerwein pulled him back into the middle of the ring. Shelton twisted out, and gave Kerwin a catapult into the corner. Kerwin grabbed his golf club from ringside, and went to hit Shelton with it, in clear view of the referee. Shelton ducked the club, tossed Kerwin in the air, and when he came down, Shelton hit Kerwin with an Exploder for the pin at the nine minute mark. Winner: Shelton Benjamin.
Shelton picked up the golf club, and contemplated using it on Kerwin, then tossed it to the referee instead and walked off.
Todd Grisham interviewed Matt Hardy, asking if he still thinks Lita is a "female dog". Matt said he still thinks Lita is a "bitch". Todd said that if Hardy still thinks that, Hardy must still care about her. Hardy said all he cares about is hurting Edge inside the cage.
A video package on the Hardy-Lita-Edge feud was shown.
Steel Cage: Matt Hardy vs. Edge, with Lita.
They had a big staredown at the start, then they locked up and rolled around the ring before starting to throw punches. Matt went to throw Edge into the cage, but Edge blocked it. Edge then tried the same, but Hardy blocked. More punching, with Matt getting the better of it. Matt whipped Edge across the ring, and Edge jumped onto the top rope and started climbing out. Hardy stopped him, and they slugged it out on the top rope. Hardy headbutted Edge to the mat, then hit a double axehandle off the top rope. Edge crawled for the door, but Hardy stopped him. A "Hardy" chant broke out. Hardy applied a side headlock, and Edge hit a back suplex, but Hardy maintained his hold. Hardy hit a shoulderblock, then went back to the headlock, taking Edge over with a side mare. Edge broke out with an eye rake, then hit some punches and kicked Hardy in the gut. Edge began climbing, but Hardy pulled him down, and Edge went chest first across the top rope. Hardy hit a clothesline and scored a two count.
Hardy rammed Edge into a turnbuckle and hit some forearms to the chest. Edge reversed a whip, but Hardy caught him with a reverse elbow. Hardy hit a second rope clothesline, then went for a Twist Of Fate, but Edge shoved it off, sending Hardy into the cage. Edge hit a reverse facebuster, then went to climb out of the cage, but Hardy followed him up. They fought on the top rope again, and Hardy went for a Side Effect off the top rope, but Edge rammed the back of Hardy's head into the cage. Hardy fell to the mat, and Edge hit a missile dropkick to the back of the head, grazing Hardy. Edge hit some elbows to the back of the neck, then delivered a pair of back suplexes. Edge continued to work on Hardy's head, ramming the back of his head into the turnbuckles, then hitting a running kick to the head. Edge hit a DDT for a two count, then covered him again for another two.
Edge punched Hardy on the mat, then powerbombed him into the cage wall and dropped him to the mat. There was another "Hardy" chant. Edge then powerbombed Hardy into the turnbuckles in a corner. Edge punched Hardy repeatedly in the back of the head. The referee asked Hardy if he wanted to quit, but Hardy refused. Edge hit a running kick to the head, then another. Hardy still refused to quit. Edge put Hardy on the top rope, then went for a back superplex, but Hardy elbowed Edge off the ropes. Hardy stood up on the top rope, facing away from the ring, but Edge got under him, and hit a second rope powerbomb on Hardy. Both men were down, and Edge crawled onto Hardy, who kicked out at two. There was another "Hardy" chant. Edge went to walk out the door, but Hardy grabbed onto Edge's foot. Edge kicked Hardy, then shoved him in the head. Hardy bit Edge's hand, and Edge started pounding him in the corner. Hardy slipped under Edge, then dropped him face first on the top turnbuckle.
Edge went for a spear, but Hardy sidestepped it and Edge went into the turnbuckles. Hardy hit Edge with the Side Effect for a two count. Edge crawled for the door, but Hardy grabbed his leg and dragged him back into the ring. Lita threw Edge his briefcase. Edge kicked Hardy away, and swung the briefcase, but Hardy ducked it. Hardy threw a bunch of wild punches, then tied Edge in the ropes and continued pounding him. Edge came loose, and Hardy catapulted him into the cage. Hardy gave Edge a bulldog into the briefcase, then rammed him into the cage on all four sides. Lita started to climb the cage, but Hardy shoved the mesh and Lita fell to the floor. Edge was busted open, and Hardy punched him in the head. Hardy told the referee to ask Edge if he wanted to continue. Edge wouldn't submit, so Hardy gave him a running kick to the head, then a second. Edge was bleeding heavily, and Hardy hit another kick to the head.
Hardy picked up the briefcase and went to the top rope. Edge shoved the referee into the ropes, and Hardy fell down, dropping onto the apron between the ropes and cage. Edge hit a spear between the ropes, ramming Matt into the cage. Edge started to climb up, but Matt met him on the top rope. They battled, and Hardy gave Edge a top rope Side Effect. Lita grabbed a chair and tried to enter the cage, but the outside referee took the chair away. Lita got into the cage anyway, and broke up the cover as Matt tried to pin Edge. Matt got up and pointed at Lita. Edge started to crawl for the door, but Matt turned and grabbed him to stop his exit. Lita picked up the briefcase and went to hit Matt with it. Matt blocked the shot and laid out Lita with the Twist Of Fate, to a big pop. Edge gave Hardy the spear, but Hardy kicked out at two. Edge then tried to climb out of the cage, but Hardy followed him, and rammed Edge into the top of the cage. Edge fell to the mat. Hardy stood on the top of the cage, contemplated what to do, and gave Edge a legdrop off the top of the cage. Hardy the got the pin at the twenty-two minute mark. Winner: Matt Hardy.
Hardy walked out triumphant, as Lita and Edge were left laying in the ring.
Backstage, Cena was having his ankle taped up. Eric Bischoff came in, and started gloating about how Kurt Angle was going to beat Cena for the WWE Title tonight. Bischoff said he didn't even think Cena could survive tonight, much less keep the belt. Cena took and piece of tape and put it over Bischoff's mouth.
Back in the arena, Edge crawled up the ramp, refusing to let the referees help him.
A pre-taped interview with Trevor Murdoch & Lance Cade was shown, promising to win the World Tag Team Title.
World Tag Team Champions Hurricane & Rosey vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch. Murdoch stalked ring announcer Lilian Garcia (who is looking smoking tonight) as the challengers got into the ring. Cade started off with Hurricane, hitting a slam, but missing an elbowdrop. Hurricane leapfrogged Cade and hit an armdrag, then armdragged Murdoch when he ran in. Rosey hit Murdoch from the apron, and Hurricane gave him a headscissors. Murdoch and Cade regrouped on the floor, and Murdoch was staring at Lilian again. Cade said "after the match" and got him to focus. Back in the ring, Murdoch hit Hurricane with right hands, but ran into an elbow. Hurricane hit a second rope dropkick, and tagged in Rosey, who hit an elbowdrop on Murdoch as Hurricane hit a drop toe hold. Murdock tried to headbutt Rosey, which didn't work, and Rosey hit him with a headbutt, then rammed him with his rear end in a corner. Cade broke up a cover, then tagged in and gave Rosey a kneedrop for two.
Cade put Rosey in a front facelock, while Murdoch went to Lilian and asked for a kiss. Hurricane ran around and decked Murdoch. Hurricane checked on Lilian, then slid across the ring to get at Murdoch on the floor again. Murdoch grabbed him, and with Hurricane draped off the apron, Murdoch DDT'd Hurricane on the floor. In the ring, Rosey hit Cade with a backdrop and a clothesline, then knocked Murdoch off the apron. Hurricane was out cold on the floor. Rosey went for an avalanche on Cade, but Murdoch pulled him out of the way, and Rosey ran into the turnbuckles. Murdoch tagged in, but Rosey kept kicking out of his covers. Referees came out to check on Hurricane. Rosey was rolled to the floor, and Cade rammed him back first into the ring apron. Back in the ring, Murdoch and Cade began tagging in and out, working him over. Hurricane was carried out. Cade hit Rosey with a neckbreaker. Rosey came back, hitting a double clothesline on Murdoch and Cade, and struggled to the corner. Hurricane seeing what was happening on the big screen, broke away from the officials and staggered back towards the ring. Hurricane tagged in and threw some punches, but Murdoch and Cade took him down with a combination lariat/chopblock and got the pin on him at the eight minute mark. Winners and new World Tag Team Champions: Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch.
We went back to the limo, where a woman got out wearing Ric Flair's robe. Flair yelled for her to get back in, and she said she just needed to catch her breath. She turned back towards the limo and opened the robe (presumably she was naked) and asked for a "Whoo!", which she got, and then got back in the limo.
Maria interviewed Chris Masters, asking why he was called "The Masturbate". Masters said it was the "Masterpiece" and said it was because he resembles a work of art by Michelangelo. Maria asked if he meant Michelangelo, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and began singing the cartoon theme song. Masters promised to destroy Shawn Michaels tonight.
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Masters.
Masters attacked Michaels as he was making his entrance and put him in the Masterlock, swinging him around and throwing him to the mat. Masters stomped Michaels on the mat as the referee backed him up. The bell rang to officially start the match, and Masters went for the Masterlock again, but Michaels slipped away and threw some punches and chops. Michaels hit a kneelift and a clothesline, then clotheslined Masters from the ring and hit a pescado. Michaels chopped Masters on the floor and threw him into the ringsteps. Michaels hit another chop and went for a chair, but the referee took it away, allowing Masters to kick Michaels in the gut. They got back in the ring, with Michaels hitting Masters in the back, and Michaels dragged it back to the floor. Masters went for a powerbomb on the outside, ramming Michaels back into the ringpost twice before dropping Michaels on the floor on his side.
Masters got back into the ring, as Michaels struggled to get up on the floor. Michaels got back into the ring, and Masters hitting forearms to the back. Masters drove a knee into Michaels' back, then hit a legdrop for a two count. Masters hit a delayed vertical suplex, and scored a two count. Masters continued to hit Michaels in the back with forearms. Michaels tried to fight back with a chop, but Masters hit a backdrop for a two count, then delivered a side backbreaker. Masters got another two count, then pounded Michaels on the mat. An "HBK" chant started. Masters hit two backbreakers, holding onto the second and pushing down on Michaels' chin to add pressure to it. Michaels punched out of it, and tried to rally, going for a crucifix. Masters didn't go down, and spun Michaels into Masterlock position, but Michaels elbowed Masters and backed him into a corner. Michaels hit a chop, but Masters whipped Michaels into a corner.
Masters put Michaels in a Torture Rack (over the shoulders backbreaker), and Michaels began to fade. The referee checked Michaels arm, but Michaels kept it up on the third try. Michaels squirmed out of the hold and went into a sunset flip. Masters kicked out and hit Michaels with a clothesline. There was blood coming from Masters' nose. Masters gave Michaels a press slam, then called for the Masterlock. Masters went for the Masterlock, but Michaels squirmed, and grabbed the referee, and gave Masters a low back kick. Masters and Michaels fell to the mat. Masters got up first, but Michaels hit him with punches and chops. Michaels hit a flying forearm, then kipped up and hit a reverse atomic drop and a pair of clotheslines. Michaels slammed Masters and hit a top rope elbow. Michaels started to stomp in the corner, but missed the superkick, and Masters locked in the Masterlock. Michaels tried to kick off the ropes, but Masters held onto the hold. Michaels tried it again, but again, Masters held on. Michaels started to fade, and the fans chanted "HBK". Michaels hulked up, and kicked his legs over the top rope so he was on the apron. The referee forced Masters to break the hold.
Masters argued with the referee as Michaels was laying on the apron. Masters went after him, and Michaels yanked Masters throat first across the top rope. Michaels went to the top rope and jumped off, but Masters caught him. Masters spun Michaels around and went for the Masterlock, but Michaels ducked out of it and hit the superkick for the pin at the 18-minute mark. Winner: Shawn Michaels.
Back at the limo, the ladies exited, looking very happy, and straightening out their outfits. Flair came out, his trunks pulled halfway down. Flair took a final swig of champagne and threw the bottle away. Flair was about to give a "Whoo!" but did the Flair Flop and passed out on the ground instead. The live crowd could be heard reacting to it.
A commercial for Raw's return to USA Network, mentioning all the stars (Hogan, Foley, Austin, etc.) that would be appearing aired.
The events leading to John Cena vs. Kurt Angle were recapped.
WWE Champion John Cena vs. Kurt Angle.
Cena had his left ankle taped up, but didn't limp coming to the ring. They locked up at the bell, and Angle took Cena down with a side headlock. Cena shoved it off, but Angle hit a shoulderblock. Cena leapfrogged Angle, then hit a hiptoss. Angle rolled to the floor and regrouped. They locked up again, and Angle grabbed a hammerlock, then worked on the arm with a Fujiwara armbar. Angle drove his knee into the arm, then applied an armwringer. Cena reversed, grabbed a side headlock and went to the mat with Angle. Cena was shoved off, but he hit a pair of shoulderblocks, and Angle went to the floor again, frustrated, to regroup.
Angle got back in and started punching Cena, then hit some forearm uppercuts in a corner. Angle whipped Cena hard across the ring, but ran into a boot. Cena slammed Angle and dropped a pair of elbows for a two count. Cena rammed Angle into the turnbuckles, hitting all four corners of the ring. Cena delivered a side slam for a two count. Angle raked Cena's eyes, then delivered a German suplex. Angle stomped Cena, then delivered a forearm uppercut.
Angle stomped Cena on the mat, then hit a vertical suplex for two. Angle applied a rear chinlock, then tore at Cena's face. Angle hit a crossface blow, then went back to the chinlock, driving his knee into Cena's back. Angle hit an elbow to the back of the head, but Cena came back with a sunset flip as Angle went for a backdrop. Angle kicked out and hit an overhead belly to belly suplex. Angle delivered a pair of kneelifts, then applied a reverse bearhug. Cena tried to elbow out of it, but Angle turned the waistlock into a German suplex, then applied a bodyscissors. Angle added a chinlock to it, and Cena got out of the bodyscissors first, then the chinlock. Cena hit a DDT out of nowhere, and both men were slow to get up.
Angle and Cena traded right hands, with Cena getting the better of it. Cena hit a pair of clotheslines, then a flying shoulderblock. Cena hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Cena measured Angle and went for the FU, but Angle turned it into a sunset flip and applied the ankle lock, but Cena kicked it away. Angle charged, and Cena hit him with a spinebuster for two. Angle missed a charge in the corner, and Cena went for the FU, but Angle floated out and hit the Angle Slam for a two count. Angle grabbed the ankle lock, but Cena rolled into it and kicked Angle away. Cena hit a side slam, then did the "You Can't See Me" gesture. Cena hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop for a two count. Cena punched Angle in the corner, then Angle went for a clothesline, but accidentally hit the referee. Cena hit Angle with the FU, but the referee was down.
Cena went to check on the referee, then went back to Angle, and Angle kicked him in the groin. Angle then wrapped his Olympic medal around his wrist, and used the medal like knucks to knock Cena down. Angle hit a kneedrop to the injured ankle of Cena, then applied the ankle lock. Eric Bischoff came out, and got into the ring and taunted Cena with the title belt. Cena struggled to get to the ropes, but Bischoff kicked his hand off, and Angle dragged Cena back into the center of the ring. Cena rolled out of the ankle lock, and Angle crashed into Bischoff, knocking Bischoff to the floor. Cena picked up the WWE Title belt and hit Angle with it. The referee, seeing this happen, called for the bell and, presumably, disqualified Cena. Winner via disqualification: Kurt Angle.
Bischoff got back in the ring, and told the referee he was not going to give the title belt back to Cena. Bischoff said he didn't care what the rules were, Cena was not leaving with the title belt. Cena grabbed Bischoff and gave him the FU. Angle attacked Cena, throwing him to the floor and pounding him. Angle cleared off the Spanish Announcers table, and went for an Angle Slam, but Cena floated over it and gave Angle the FU through the table.
Angle was out cold on the floor, Bischoff was out cold in the ring. Cena got back into the ring, and the referee handed him the title belt. The announcers watched the replay of the end of the match, and clarified that Angle had won via DQ, so Cena retains the title. Officials checked on Angle, and Cena walked off in celebration, holding up the title belt, as the show ended.
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